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life{in}grace

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Project Restoration:: Stone and Porch Ceilings

by 257 Comments

greetings from the minnesota north woods!

here’s where we are on the house;
-the stone foundation is finished.
-the concrete was poured at the walkout basement patio area.
-the trim crew has begun.
-the tile man is starting today, i think.
-the porch ceilings are done.
-the power is on and the air has been turned on.
-hardwood will go in as soon the doors are hung.
-i finalized all my cabinetry but haven’t picked colors yet. (i need your fave white–off-white and your fave charcoal/black)
i love this stain.  i think it’s called early americana.   it’s the yummiest caramel color ever.

we got this wood very cheap—so we’ve used it on all our outdoor ceilings and in several spots inside.   i love the pine imperfections coming through the stain. this is the front porch ceiling–which has the same stain color.

and this my friends, is my take on haint blue.

it took me three weeks to finalize this color.    i searched on forums and blog posts to find the perfect haint blue but just couldn’t settle on one perfect color.

finally, we took a vote.   caiti and my sister voted on the same color—which i can’t remember the name of at the moment—-and i voted on hazel blue.

i did what any schizophrenic half-crazed woman would do and i bought a gallon of each one and mixed it together.

it’s THE most perfect shade of haint blue ever!

my furniture for the screen porch is here so i’m DYING for it to be done.   we could live on the porch til this house is done, could we not?

the kitchen ceiling is painted.   i just love it.  we used the beaded board side of the wood in here.

the painters were mad i didn’t stain it.   i know, it would’ve been cool but i really wanted it white.  it’s white dove by benjamin moore.

then there’s the wood wall at the beverage center in the butler’s pantry.   love it too.    i could plank all my walls and be perfectly content.  and broke.

the stacked stone is looking mighty fine too.

they’re probably done with it now.   we’re still on vacation and can’t wait to get home to see the progress.

we stand around and gaze at the house alot.   my kids have said to me more than once,   “why do you just look at it so long?”

i don’t know.   i just do.  and apparently stevie does too:)

and this is the walk out basement area.  the concrete was poured here on tuesday.

maybe if you’re in the area, you’ll text me a pic?!!!

we’re having a blast in mini–sohta.    we’re ‘camping’ in the family cabin this week.   and by ‘camping’ i mean sleeping in bunk beds with air conditioning.

lots of  lakeside fun, bonfires, s’mores and  early morning reading time.   i think i’ve taken 500 pics this week.

there are new babies in the family and we’ve been just giddy with baby-love.

hope you’re summer fun continues!

much love and hugs from MN,
xoxo
edie

p.s.  you can thank my dear friend ms. nester for this post.  it’s been in draft on my computer for a week but i’ve been too lazy to post it.

she sent me a tweet this morning requesting a house update.   i love that girl and apparently will blog on demand for her!!!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Glenda Childers says

    Wow . . . great progress. I am staring at the pictures . . . can’t imagine the real thing. Plus . . . the lake, oh my.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

    Reply

  3. Katie @ Wildwood Creek says

    The porch ceiling is perfection!  Love that you mixed the two favorite colors together to get the best favorite!

    Reply

  4. Southern Gal says

    I’ll know who to contact from now on when an update is way overdue!

    Love your take on haint blue and the white ceiling in the kitchen. 

    Have fun kissing on those babies.

    Reply

  5. Lanakwaustin says

    Oh my heavens I love that haint blue/combo color (you are crazy in the best way!) on the ceiling and all the b.board & ……..

    You are ROCKIN’ this house!!!

    I pray that you have an amazingly restful/joyful vacation!!!

    Love/hugs/blessings,
    Lana

    Reply

  7. courtney vassar says

    i live about 2.5 hours from you.  i would happily drive up there and take photos for you.  only if i could set up residence on your screened porch.  and bring my two year old. i think you’d like us 🙂
    love the blue ceiling.  your schizophrenia paid off.

    Reply

  9. Sarahslhome says

    Everything is looking good. Thanks for the update, I’d love to build but will do it via you for now and just enjoy the progress without “the process”. Enjoy your vacation, can’t wait to hear more about it along with some great photos.

    Reply

  10. Lisa says

    Love your porch, what an amazing view!  I’m getting ready to paint our front porch ceiling haint blue.  I think I’ve settled on Aegean Blue for the color, from Martha Stewart at Home Depot.  It looks similar to your gorgeous shade, with a hint of turquoise – love it!

    Reply

  11. Lisa says

    Love your porch, what an amazing view!  I’m getting ready to paint our front porch ceiling haint blue.  I think I’ve settled on Aegean Blue for the color, from Martha Stewart at Home Depot.  It looks similar to your gorgeous shade, with a hint of turquoise – love it!

    Reply

  12. Ruth Emond says

    I am loving all that wood painted white. It’s gorgeous. Reminds me of Sarah Richardson’s cottage. She’s my fave. Your haint blue is just perfect.

    It is so exciting to see all the progress!!! I would stand and stare at it, too.

    Love your type of camping!!! Enjoy the rest of your vacation.

    Ruth

    Reply

  14. Beachchica08 says

    When i first saw greeting from Minnesota North woods I thought….have I been wrong all this time?  Is Edie from Minnesota?  I thought she was in TN,…a mountain girl?  I was relieved and excited to read you were on vacation in Minnesota.  I thought it was ironic because we just returned from our annual family vacation in minnesota.  I so miss it already…cabins, tubing, fishing, family and seemingly never ending daylight!  Makes me wonder if we stay in similar areas…we stay in the leech Lake walker area.  Are you familiar with this area?  The house is gorgeous and I LOVE the haint blue porch ceiling!!!  Happy vacation!

    Reply

  15. Linda says

    So happy for you to be coming closer to finishing this lovely home.  I love the stone and all the wood ceilings and walls.  And it will just all be so wonderful to sit on thos porches and gaze at that beautiful view.  God is so good!

    Have a wonderful time in Minnesota with the family, and all of those precious babies!  I adore babies.  They are so precious.

    Reply

  16. heartland farmhouse says

    Beautiful!  Beautiful House!  Beautiful View!  Beautiful Taste!  Just Simply Beautiful!  Rising from the ashes even better than before!  To God Be the Glory!
    So Happy for YOU!

    Rebecca

    Reply

  18. June says

    You nailed it on the haint blue,,,saweet,,,Love the stone and the stain color and the white on the house all so beautiful.  I would just sit and stare too,,,what a blessing!!!

    Reply

  19. June says

    You nailed it on the haint blue,,,saweet,,,Love the stone and the stain color and the white on the house all so beautiful.  I would just sit and stare too,,,what a blessing!!!

    Reply

  22. Robin says

    I have such joy when I see your house coming together; I know you desperately want to return home and based on your photos / progress it shouldn’t be long now.

    To your point about living on the screened porch … that’s exactly how we first returned to our home last summer after our fire.  We didn’t camp overnight, but as soon as we had access to indoor plumbing and electricity to run the ceiling fan the porch became our home base and our temporary housing was just where we spent the night and did laundry.  You can never get away from the laundry!

    As soon as the vacation is over I hope you get the furniture on the porch and celebrate the first phase of coming home. 

    Reply

  25. Nester says

    WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!

    I thought it was a mistake when I saw a post by your blog name in my reader!!!  If I lived closer I’d so be there texting you photos~I’m living vicariously through your new home design

    Reply

    • Nester says

      oh and of course I love and also want to marry every single decision you have made with every design detail. love.

      Reply

  26. Hadams007 says

    I absolutely love it! it is looking so pretty. That’s the perfect shade of blue, and the wood is SO pretty – as is the stacked stone. The porch is amazing.

    Reply

  27. Leslies57 says

    LOVELY LOVELY, JUST LOVELY …   THE BLUE IS PERFECT JUST LOVE EVERYTHING!!!!  And the Northern MN
      Area is really cool too!!!  Keep having fun!!! 🙂

    Reply

  29. Jennifer Kiko says

    LOVE IT ALL! The caramel is luscious, the haint blue is perfection and every detail is splendid. On the edge of my seat waiting for the decorating fun to begin!!

    Reply

  30. Erica says

    Beautiful home…I enjoy reading about all of your projects!  How fun!!  MN sure is nice this time of year…we are in the west central lakes area.  Hope you enjoy your vaca!

    Reply

  32. Tracy D. says

    Edie, 
    I’m pretty sure we have the same wood on our porch ceilings. Got it super cheap too!
    The front is painted white and the back porch is stained. Love it both ways.
    We also used the beadboard side on our kitchen island. Your house is looking awesome.

    Reply

  33. Victoria Chapman says

    Absolutely beautiful. I agree with the painted wood, my husband has a fit whenever I suggest painting something…but I am always right, of course. Everything looks perfect. Can’t wait to see pics of your first family gathering in your home. Prayers for you all.

    Reply

  34. Theresa says

    It makes me SO happy to see this house coming together!  I love it and I know you are so excited to get it finished!  Have a blessed day my friend, HUGS!

    Reply

  35. {darlene} says

    thank you ms. nester!!!!!! inspire that half crazed schizophrenic lady to keep us in the know!
    edie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT LOOKS GORGEOUS! You are right. The PERFECT shade of blue. I can’t wait to hear what you are dreaming up in the kitchen so I can find you some color ideas! Hugs. Eat a smore for me {I like mine with chocolate on the top AND bottom, k?}

    Reply

  36. Kathleen T. Jaeger says

    I hope it is cooler in MN than here in TN. We were recently there (in MN — where I am from) & it was still pretty roasty, toasty. Your home is looking beautiful. What part of the North Woods are you at? We were recently in Detroit Lakes & Nevis at Camper’s Paradise — it was a nice campground but there was no air-conditioning there.

    Take care!

    Reply

    • edie wadsworth says

      hey kathleen! we’re in alexandria–central minnesota about 2+ hours north of the cities. it’s beautiful here and we’ve had great weather this week. we’ve needed the air conditioning though 🙂 xo,
      edie

      Reply

  38. allyugadawg says

    You’re right. That is the most perfect shade of haint blue ever made. I absolutely love it. The house looks gorgeous. Can’t wait to see more update pics!!

    Reply

  39. patty says

    LOVE the porch ceilings… can we share some tea (or lattes) our there one fall morning??? 
    have fun at the lake there with your family!
    xo

    Reply

  40. Lisa says

    Love the stone and the siding.  Love the haint blue ceiling that’s everybody’s color.  Love the beadboard ceiling.  Love the view.  What a dreamy place to call home!  So glad it’s all coming along and you will be in there soon!

    Reply

  41. Tara says

    there really aren’t words.
    stunning.
    breath-taking.
    you will literally spend most of your waking moments, at least the early morning ones, on that porch with the blue ceiling.

    Reply

  42. Bailey17 says

    I live in MN! What lake do you guys go to? We’d like to find a good “camping” / place to rent a cabin! =)

    Reply

  43. Asuthernaccent says

    Beautiful! I just learned about haint blue when I was in Charleston last fall! They say it keeps bugs and spiders away too! Beautiful!

    Reply

  44. Jen says

    The house is just BEAUTIFUL!  I got excited when you said you were in MN, lol!  I’m in MN, 50 miles west of Minneapolis, and grew up in the north.  Where are you guys vacationing at?  Maybe post some picks when you get back and then I’ll probably be able to guess :o)  Hope you’re having a great time.  The weather has been very warm this summer!

    Reply

  45. Lewisfam5 says

    Hi Edie, I know this is an old post, but I was wondering if you found out the name of the other blue paint you used and what type of paint do you use?  We are about to do a blue porch ceiling and I’m collecting paint colors for options.  Also, is Early American the MInwax brand?  thanks!!!  Elizabeth

    Reply

  49. Jan Oliver says

    Please tell us the brand of stain used on the wood. I love the color and am in the middle of a new screened porch project!

    Reply

  50. Staci Ross says

    Did you ever find the name of the other color you mixed with Sherwin Williams Hazel to get that wonderful shade of haint blue? Perhaps Pool Blue, Atmospheric, or Blue Allure? It’s cruel to leave us hanging…

    Reply

  51. Diane Parks says

    Hey! I am wondering the same thing other ladies are…did you ever recall the other color you mixed with “Hazel”? 🙂 I have been on this laptop for weeks looking for the perfect Haint Blue; when I find it, there is never a comment with it, just a picture! I have bought 10 samples that looked beautiful on monitor, but on the ceiling…not so much. I have another list to take to Lowes for samples. Your color looks just PERFECT! The perfect blue-green I have looked for! I actually have Hazel on the kitchen cabinets of our fishing/hunting cabin and a much lighter color on the 65+ years old paneling, and I love the look. Maybe I should try mixing those two! I would be ever so grateful if you would answer our inquiring minds! Thank you kindly!

    Reply

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