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Saturday, March 24, 2012

Week #11 of the Project at Tuck Inn


We are finishing up week #11 of the project at Tuck Inn. We feel like we have a new family in the carpenters, plumbers, electricians, tile experts and painters who have spent so much time with us this winter. They have all been great and the quality of their work is outstanding. They only wish the stove was hooked up so they could sample Scott's baked goods each morning. On that note, our big news this week is that the stove came back on Tuesday. (See pictures here) It looks like a brand new sparkling stove and should last another fifty years. Getting a 400 lb.+ appliance out the door (I overestimated the weight previously), onto a truck and back through newly plastered and painted hallways into its slot was no small task. It all went very smoothly on another one of those wondrous 50 degree March days we have been enjoying this winter. It seemed like a historical day here at the inn. We certainly won't foget it.

Also this week, the cabinets arrived on Monday and are now in place with trimwork and hardware going on. In the main kitchen the upper cabinets are cream colored maple and the lowers are stained cherry. A new island is cherry as well. The new Guest Kitchen has cherry uppers and lowers in a lighter shade of stain. Then appliances for both kitchens and the new laundry came in on Wednesday. In the Guest Kitchen we now have a full refrigerator and dishwasher, and there will be a microwave, electric kettle and space in the fridge for guests' snacks and leftovers.

The painters have finished, but will come back in a few weeks to touch up where needed. They found the painting to be a real challenge, as we have a new magnetic chalkboard in the kitchen for our photographs, math problems or maybe even love letters. Despite twenty years of painting, this is the first such project thier crew has tackled. To give you a preview of the colors Laura chose - the Guest Kitchen is Acorn Yellow and Devon Cream; Main Kitchen is Alexandria Beige, Marble White and Hazlenut Cream; Laundry is Whipple Blue and Navaho White, and Scott's office is Corinthian White. Then there are 3 colors of stains, 2 of which are a mixture of several stains - versus right out of the can. Laura is particularly expert at color choices and each room in this house reflects her talent. Unfortunately the people who paint our rooms (many times her father) don't always appreciate that talent. Sometimes each surface and wall seems to be a different color. One guest room for instance has 6 different colors. The finished product is always worth the "tension" in the house though.

Scott's office now is basically completed and needs furniture, which may be second-hand at this point. The laundry is just awaiting hardware on the closet doors. The Honeymoon Suite's new bath has a new tile floor with a gorgeous mosaic rug design, a tub surround is going in today and the roof window is getting its trimwork. The plasterers came last Saturday to finish the walls in the bathroom and the painters will be next in line. Cora (our 9 year old grandchild) wants to be the first guest to stay in that room - maybe we can accomodate her (afterall grandmothers are for spoiling). Lastly the Vermont tile floor throughout the kitchens downstairs (originally installed in the sixties) was cleaned, buffed and received three coats of wax last Saturday.

While the project isn't quite completed (particularly the countertops), at least the goal post is now in sight! Due to time constraints, we've decided to put the renovation of the guest check-in section on hold temporarily.

What do you think? Have we been busy? We will have our families over Easter and they will try everything out like Goldilocks did. It will be the first Easter we have ever been closed and it will give us an opportunity to thank our wonderful families for all they do for us.

With our next (and final renovation blog), we intend to welcome guests back on April 20th and are looking forward to the start of our 21st season (and to begin paying for all of the above).

To all of our guests over the years and to those yet to discover us - we thank you all for your friendship and patronage, and we plan to be here for another 20 years to come.

Happy Easter Everyone.
Liz & Scott