It is hard to believe that it has been three years this month since we bought The Clubhouse; so much has happened in those three years, most of it unexpected, some good, some not so good. I think that is called life! It has also been a while since I’ve updated my Blog, over six months! Looking back at my last Blog entry, it is rewarding to know we have actually completed all but two of the items, and those were more of a temporary change in plans. I also mentioned I was going to have a party and celebrate! We did host Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day here, but they were a fairly low-key celebration, but great fun to utilize the big Island and banquette area. More celebrations in the upcoming months! The following items we have completed:

1. Finished building, sanding, and painting the Island.
2. Removed the old kitchen flooring and installed new.
3. Designed and built the Vent Hood.
4. Installed countertops.
5. Textured and painted the walls in the kitchen.
6. Designed, built, and installed the Banquette.
7. Built a Coffee Bar

Of all those projects, the one that was the most challenging was removing the Kitchen flooring. We were going to hire it done, but our budget said otherwise. So, Greg took time off from work, and I went to Arizona to visit my parents (Greg’s idea) to escape the dust, noise, and mess! The Clubhouse flooring is a limestone looking porcelain tile. We are certain when it was installed it was intended to be a permanent feature. It took three days of back breaking, ear crushing, dust-filled work. Greg is not a complainer, he is the hardest working person I know (he has been called a slave driver by a few teenagers!) so when he said this job almost did him in, I believe it. I think he is still recovering.

         The two projects that we had to adjust our goals were the coffee bar and the banquette. The coffee bar was initially going to have a sink and built-in cabinets with open shelving above. For now, we decided to use what we already had, a stackable wire shelving unit. It has an industrial glam look (is that even a style?) and I can display many decorative items, along with housing our microwave and our coffee maker with all the accessories. It is conveniently located in the pantry by the side door so you can grab a coffee to go. We still have plans to build cabinets and install a sink, but no rush for now.

The banquette plans have also been altered. Greg custom built the frame, with storage in the seating area, to fit perfectly in the angled corner of the kitchen. We met and talked with a couple of fabricators to discuss the details on installation and fabric. They were all about 6 months out, plus the fabric we wanted was no longer available. Enter Plan B! I found some beautiful blue and cream striped, French looking, outdoor cushions at a local home store, and because it was the off season they were discounted! After three trips to the store, I finally found the correct configuration. It may be slightly overlapping in the corner, but a pillow in front of it and (Insert Julia Child’s voice) who’s to know!

        If I can give any advice, after almost three years of remodeling, building, contracting and some crying!- … be flexible and open to different ideas and changes in your plans. I think if you are too ridged it opens yourself up for disappointment when a project doesn’t work out or is postponed. Nine times out of ten, it seems to be for the better. We are learning to trust the process and to realize the wrong turns and mistakes we have made, we have learned from, and are hopefully better because of them.

        Right now, as I type this, they are pouring the cement for the driveway! We had to delay the driveway several times due to factors outside of our control. I do think we will appreciate it more, especially when we see the Grandkids riding around on their bikes, scooters, go karts, and skateboards! Papa Greg is planning on building a ramp out of the garage approach area so they will have a 360 degree racetrack around the clubhouse!

        Next up; Finish the open shelving in the kitchen and find a trestle or pedestal type table for the banquette. We are currently using a folding table with a tablecloth, I really want to find an antique or vintage table, so I guess I will just have to scour estate sales and garage sales, darn! We also have small finish items to work on including installing the astragals (say that three times fast!) for the double front and back doors. With the Oklahoma wind and severe changes in temperatures, it is important to have doors properly sealed; we have used duct tape in the past, but that look really doesn’t match the design aesthetic I am going for! Outside we have siding boards to paint and install, trim to paint, land scaping to work on, and we are scheduled to have our whole house pressure washed; the Oklahoma red dirt along with a two-story stone house with similar but still different types of stone, calls for a professional with the right tools. Greg could do it, but I think I talked him into hiring this one project out.

        That’s all for now; I have the summer off from work, so I plan on spending ‘lots of time with the grandkids, helping paint the siding and trim, going to a few Estate sales, and generally just puttering around the house. The older I get, the more I like the sound of that! Hope you all have a wonderful summer, and here is a picture of the Grandkids, just because, until next time…

Marcy and Greg aka flippingold.com