byron_wilde's Profile

I live near Atlanta in a 1910 bungalow. Most of our windows are original. We've gone the storm window route, with less expensive double hung aluminum windows on the back and side that have been carefully painted to match the two-tone of the windows. The front windows will be storm picture windows. The storms have made a great difference in terms of drafts, but what made an even bigger difference is the in-wall insullation we've been adding this summer as part of our exterior rennovation. So far we have about half of the house insullated and the difference is amazing. We've saved what siding we could using a heat gun and removed the bad. When the walls are exposed we fish the pink batting up the walls - each section has to be cut to fit because of course no measurements are the same - the joys of an old house.

The other thing I'd say about storms is that they are a great crime deterrent. One of the ways criminals access houses is by shoving the flat end of a shovel under the lower part of the window and prying up and then snapping the sash. They can't do this with the storm. yes they can still throw a brick through the window, but that will 'hopefully" set off the alarm and slow them down.

My husband and I were married in September and we had a pig roast - his family is from TX. It was fun - everyone chipped in - but it was exhausting. Do not underestimate how much work this can be.

We used to live in a loft with exposed brick and we painted the bedroom a straw yellow and had burgandy curtains. In the office we used a wine on the walls with orange accents. In the main room was a celery - very light green - and we painted the mantle eggplant. yes - I like color - but it really brightened the space and showed off the brick.