So if you have been following me for a while, you may remember the video I made of my sunporch to share how awful and in need of help it was. Old crank style windows that didn’t work, a leak that had caused water stains on the ceiling, and nasty linoleum flooring that was peeling up in some spots. It was AWFUL. I don’t have before pics because I never shared pictures of it on the blog because it was that bad. So if you want the before, you can see the video.
Since we are getting our house market-ready, these repairs needed to be made. With limited budget, we had put it on the back burner since we didn’t need to use the room. We had gotten a new roof last year to prevent further leaks, but the interior was yet to be fixed. My husband thought we could DIY the ceiling and the floors, and maybe we could have, but I wasn’t sure and we needed it done like yesterday. So I called my contractor, who by the way is AWESOME if you live in this area and need someone. Happy to pass the info on!!! He came by, looked at it and we talked about what we could do. We decided on wood laminate floors, and new stock windows that would framed out inside the old frames. When it came to the ceiling I assumed we would just do the same old beadboard style ceiling, but he made a suggestion… luan plywood. He told me he could poly it and it would look like a rich cherry or mahogany finish, and that it wouldn’t warp, and it would be cheap. I totally trust this man, so I said, let’s do it.
He and his helpers finished the project in 3 days. ALl that was left was for me to paint the room and the trim. I chose a very soft blue. I can’t give you a name because it was a mistint I had on hand. I didn’t want to spend any more money on the room, so I worked with what I already had a gallon of! And it is exterior grade paint which I thought was great for a sunporch. This room actually has ductwork, so can now be a totally usable year round room if one adds a regular door to it rather than the storm door we now have. Are you ready for the afters, and are you ready to see the plywood ceiling that rocks my world? OK, here you go!
That table was my first ever antique purchase from a store in New Braunfels, TX when we lived in Austin. It was $93 and was already painted and I loved it! Plus the legs come off and I only had a Jetta at the time. When we bought our first house in Louisiana my mom refinished those chairs and wove the seats as a housewarming gift to us! The chairs were purchased at an antique shop in PA. And there is a little white bench on the other side of the table I bought for $5 at the auction a couple years ago.
The trash bin is IKEA and it is actually where we put our recycling. The hutch was a craigslist purchase a couple years ago. I think I paid 50 for it, a table and some chairs. I painted it and added anthropologie knobs. The chippy aqua and white cabinet was a craigslist purchase a few years ago for $40. It is where we store dog supplies and all my spray paints (since I spray paint outside!) By the way I have the pink, coral, and orange in the fiesta ware, too, but I was keeping it cool and blue and green back here.
The green trunk/bench came straight out of my inventory, and the cushion on top came from another piece in my inventory, but they both worked well for that spot and suited the blues and greens I was going with in the room. And now the ceiling….
I mean, really, who knew?
I am sooo so happy with this room, and so thankful to Jimmy, our contractor for suggesting plywood. I love it! He is so wonderful that he has even offered to drive over an hour to our potential new house once this one is sold so he can inspect it and he will also be able to do any work we need to it. It’s so refreshing to find a contractor I trust, get along with, and who is so kind and helpful. I don’t even know if he knows what a blog is, but from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Jimmy!
