Last weekend of 2023

I spent the last weekend of 2023 on the island working on the trim-out of Sophie's new windows and the new window in the master bathroom.

See y'all in 2024!

Trimmed out and paint started

Trimmed out and finished

Long view

Garage Bar upgrade!

Garage bar upgrades completed... I finished out the poolside wall, built the storage shelves and added the new bar. Love how this turned out!

 

Labor Day with the Family

Labor Day with the family!

Great times

Lower Cliff "Our House" sold!

Wow, this was a big day. We sold 205 Lower Cliff on 9/1/23 after 14 years! This was a bittersweet moment. Our goal is now to focus on Southaven as our forever Kelleys Island home.

Our House - SOLD!

Anna rocking Captains Corner with Steve Brownell

On the last weekend before Anna had to leave the island for the season, we all got to rock out with her and Steve Brownell at the Captains Corner for a very special performance.

Steve and Anna never practiced or played together before this show. However, they sounded fantastic, like they were a duo for years.

This was a very special night that we will never forget!

Pool upgrades

With the pool deck finally built, it was time to do a few other upgrades around the pool.

Filter platform

New ladder 

Deck project continues...

Mark and the crew continued to finish the deck, install the garage bar window and new trapezoid windows for Sophie's room.

Garage cutout roughed in

Garage cutout from the outside

Lower deck transition to upper pool level

Pool step and bench

Deck flow is nice

Pool deck bench

Adding new windows for Sophie's room

Deck project started...

We've been waiting to build the back deck for several years and now it was time to roll! Mark and his crew got underway early after the Menard's delivery the day before.

Menards delivery

Moving lumber into position in the back

Ground level deck underway and garage bar/window installed. A lot going on here. We had to wrap the deck around the pool and make several levels.

Mark and the crew

Sophie chillin'

Nice progress

Living room mantel makeover

I started the mantel makeover back in March. Here are some progress photos and the final product!

Day 1

Too much wood - time to re-do!

Removed wood wrap and trim, then drywalled

Painted drywall and mantel sanded

Finished - looking great!

Super clean and mantel looks awesome

Porch ready for the season

Got the porch ferns hung and ready to roll!

Cousin Owen came up to visit

Master bathroom vanity

Master bathroom vanity loaded on Black Betty.

This photo doesn't do it justice, but this friggin' vanity comes with the cultured marble counter top already installed. The vanity is 60' wide and probably weighs over 200 lbs. I had the delivery guys (in Olmsted Twp) load it right onto the truck. Then I had to back it into the garage for the night because we are in rainy season.

After hauling this beast to the island, me and Sophie tried to get it into the house from the front porch. It would not make it around corners and doorways. So... we reloaded it onto the truck and backed it up to the master bedroom sliding patio door from the back of the house. Ed Toll from next door help me get it unloaded. Super pain in the azz!

I was able to install the fixture in the bedroom and slide it into the bathroom, level it up and attach to the wall. Then finished drain plumbing and installed the backsplash. 

The girls bedroom furniture

 Working on assembling Anna and Sophie's bedroom furniture from (Grainwood.com)

Sophie's dresser

Sophie's bed and night stands

Anna's bed and night stands

Progress on the living room mantel... I had to add epoxy resin to the back right half to fill a huge gap and square off the back for a flush install to the wall.

2023 - Opening Weekend

Opening up for the season happened to be St Patrick's Day weekend. Nothing too exiting. I got the water turned-on by the city and had no issues getting everything all pressured up.

Funny, just when I thought the fireplace was almost finished other than the mantle... I decided to completely redo the whole thing when Chris gave an island sourced rough mantel piece of solid Hackberry.

More photos to come when the mantel is finished!

Started on the boring trim paint for front door, kitchen and windows.

Welcome to 2023!