Laurel_LaBauve Blog Posts
- The Gracious Gambrel: Before and After
on Dec 20, 2016
Front elevation - BeforeIt's a wrap! We've pulled out and the new owners are moving in. This was a huge project, that took many months. When we started, we knew this house had good bones - a solid foundation, strong structural members and... - Gracious Gambrel: Master Suite Before & After
on Dec 13, 2016
There wasn't a master suite when we bought the house....just a large bedroom with maroon carpet and a row of closets. You entered through a small room, that really didn't have a clear purpose. We opened up that wall and added a row of wardrobe... - Project Number 10: The Ugly Duckling
on Dec 7, 2016
Yup - that's our next project. And without a doubt, our biggest project yet! It's created quite a bit of conversation, so I thought I'd start with the FAQ's: Was it in a fire? Surprisingly - no. The top of the house has... - It's All About Sunlight
on Aug 31, 2016
When you have a house surrounded by large, mature trees, it's so peaceful. But sometimes not as bright as I'd like in the summertime, when all the leaves are on the trees. So we set out to change that by adding more glass to the house.Let... - Big City Style – Design Field Trip!
on Aug 23, 2016
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit NYC, checking out some of the latest trends in home design. First stop – tile for our latest project. Close to Union Square you can find some fantastic tile companies and it’s wonderful to... - Gracious Gambrel - The Floor Plan
on Aug 18, 2016
The floor plan has been a head scratcher, but after lots of tweaks and changes - we'll have 4 bedrooms, 2 full and 2 half baths. Plus a man-cave ready (or playroom ready) basement! Like most of our projects, we started with a floor plan we like... - Master Suite Update
on Aug 16, 2016
So......thanks so much for all the input from my previous post on the master suite plan. It helped me understand that giant bathrooms are no longer a 'must have' and that closet space is near and dear to many of you! Your input was invalu... - The Time Capsule
on Aug 9, 2016
Circa 1985 - Gambrel as originally designed. The bushes are so tiny!The previous owner was kind enough to leave a photo album showing the major renovation they made to the gambrel. In 1987, they made a large addition with a living room an... - Demo Day 1 - 2 - 3....
on Aug 3, 2016
We're off to a roaring start on the Gracious Gambrel. The guys from Demo Brothers showed up with a big team to get us started. I love working with them - they make a huge mess and then clean it all up!!They quickly filled a dumpster the f... - Cherished Bungalow - Before and After Second Floor
on Jul 26, 2016
While we made a lot of changes on the first floor of the bungalow, the most dramatic change was on the second floor. We started with an unfinished attic and transformed it into two bedrooms, a large bath and a loft.But it wasn't easy. The... - Master Suite Planning - What's Your Vote?
on Jul 19, 2016
As I finalize the plan for the new project, I'm trying to juggle the amount of space I allocate in the master suite. Big bathroom? Big bedroom? Giant closet? It comes down to trade offs in our fixed space.So I'm curious, what'... - Project Number 9 - The Soon-to-be Gracious Gambrel
on Jul 12, 2016
It’s got ‘good bones’. How many times have you heard that about a house? And what does it mean?Well, for our new project, it means we have a good solid house, with the foundations for a sophisticated, gracious home. The ‘bon... - Cherished Bungalow - Before and After - First Floor
on Jul 6, 2016
Once we finish a project, it’s always fun to go back and see how much it has changed. And there has been a lot of change at the bungalow!While the house had been well maintained over the years, it was time to do some updating. For... - Bungalow Bathrooms - Before and After
on Jun 30, 2016
Many of you are big fans of Mamie Eisenhower pink bathrooms, but truth be told - I'm relieved to see the pink go. This wasn't a true, vintage pink bathroom, just a mid century re-do with pink tile. It was time for an update!We wanted to r... - Willard Beach Gem - Open House 6/26 12-4 pm - 180 Preble Street, SoPo
on Jun 24, 2016
This 1927 bungalow has been completely renovated, adding modern amenities while retaining original, antique charm. By removing a few walls, the house now has a large open floor plan- including a living room and dining room that are flooded with sunsh... - Sneak Peeks - Open House Prep
on Jun 21, 2016
The finish line is in sight! With the Open House this weekend, there is a whirlwind of activity around here. And it occurred to me, it's been two years since we've had an Open House for one of our projects. It's so much fun to be ta... - Cherished Bungalow: Kitchen Update
on Jun 16, 2016
The kitchen has so many custom elements, it's taken a long time to pull it all together. We've had a few setbacks (the quartz countertops were damaged and we're still waiting for the last bit of crown molding). But we've made some nice pr... - The Joys and Challenges of Using Reclaimed Lumber
on Jun 14, 2016
We saved all the rafters and roof sheathing from the giant hole in the roof for the new dormer. And that gave us a mountain of reclaimed lumber to use for different projects. It's been so much fun to use this wood throughout the house!I a... - Lush Landscape - a Place to Relax and Enjoy the Beauty of Nature
on Jun 9, 2016
Everyone comments on the curb appeal of this home - but how many realize the impact landscaping has on this property? Have you heard the Edith Wharton quote - "to escape, to enjoy, to behold our own patch of beauty and pleasure"? This pro... - Colors, Patterns and More
on Jun 7, 2016
Benjamin Moore Simply WhiteNow that we're moving into the finishing stage of the project, I get to start working on the fun stuff! For our houses, I typically go with neutrals - to help a future homeowner have something that will work with what...
