A Project Out of Necessity
My husband was taking down a ceiling fan that no longer worked in our family room over the weekend and while on a very long ladder, mentioned that the wainscot on the ceiling looked a little warped so he removed one of the boards.
Surprise!! Not a stitch of insulation to be seen. What the What ( as my kids would say). When we designed and built our home 12 years ago, this room was intended to be a screened in patio and in the 11th hour during the building process we decided to turn it into an enclosed space. We were under the impression that the roof was insulated…… for the last 12 years, during every blazing Georgia Summer and Cold winter! So this my friends, is why we embrace the DIY concept.
Here’s the plan.
Insulate the ceiling.
Install wood planks on the ceiling.
Install a dry wall trey ceiling at the very top. Maybe.
Create and install faux cedar beams to run across the ceiling.
Paint the room (walls) white.
Paint the wood ceiling white and beam color like this, similar to what is in the keeping room. The wood in this picture was actually cut from cedar trees on the property.
Since we desperately need a new couch and enough seating for the family, the 12 year old ‘very loved and very worn one’ will go back down to the game room, and I will be getting a sectional. An early christmas present from the donkeys. The Ikat accent chair will bring in a pop of color and everyone agreed on navy. Since it’s the family room, it’s a democracy and everyone gets a voice. I will get a natural sisal or jute rug for the floor.
A little more work then we wanted to do right now but I am hoping the results will be amazing….not to mention lower electric bills.
Have you discovered any ‘surprises’ lately in your home?
This is how this ‘no insulated ceiling room’ looked like last year during the holidays….before the ceiling came down.
Oh- wouldn't you know that would just all happen at the Holidays? Last year we had a "leak" in the small sitting room off our bedroom. Well, it is on the main floor so it wasn't the roof. However, it WAS the sewer pipe leading from the upstairs bathrooms to the basement. Had to tear the whole trayed ceiling out and replace some floor boards upstairs where the pipe had "sprayed" every time someone showered or flushed, What a fine mess THAT was! xo Diana
OK, I'm just going to put this out there as a Public Service announcement with the holidays coming up and all. One Christmas way back when my kids were small (they're both in their 30';s now lol) I as usual, had candles lit everywhere. I went around checking that they were all out before bedtime. Except. I had put a tealight on top of stacked pantry boxes. Which burned down through all the wooden boxes. No flame showed. No smoke. Just a slow burn. Which I didn't discover until sometime in the night when I got up to use the bathroom. By that time, flames were shooting up to the ceiling. Batteries were dead on the fire alarm. Dog apparently thought it was a new way to heat the house and did not bark. I scream. Hubby runs in, grabs a pitcher of tea on the sideboard (I like it room temp.) throws the tea on the fire and calls fire dept. The kids and me standing outside in the dark yard in our jammies in December. Good times. I ALMOST KILLED MY FAMILY! My guardian angel was on the job, thank God. Needless to say, I love these battery powered candles now. Cuz I'm not allowed to light regular candles anymore. ; )
Woe, no, insulation?? Wow, that room will feel so much better when y'all get it done. Sounds like a good plan.
I guess I need to get some donkeys.
I love the stone in this room. The wood you plan to add will be so pretty with that. It will be a warm, inviting room especially with insulation!
I bet the room is going to be great and warm when you are done-can't wait to see the transformation. Love the stone too!
I'm loving your plan! You know I'm a fan of navy. Between you and me we can start a whole new navy & white decorating trend! And I know our sun room is full insulated because I watched it happen. Now the basement is another thing. Full of surprises – all of them unpleasant! Its our money pit.
🙂 Linda
I love this room and the makeover will only add more charm and character, plus warmth and insulation.
Love the stone half wall & flooring. This is what we want to do for a 4 season room we are planning. Now I have a visual to show the hubby! 🙂
Wow! No insulation! You've gotta love the corners builders cut … we find weird stuff like this all the time in our house. But, there's nothing like a little "emergency" to get a project going, right? You can tell your donkeys I'd like some furniture for hubby's study, please! lol Can't wait to see it finished, it will be awesome!
It always seems to happen near or at the holidays. Think how much more comfortable this room will be when you get it done. Can't wait to see it finished. xo Laura
So glad that you found that problem!…but then again, that is leading to some great things happening in the room!!…love your vision!…Undoubtedly it will look amazing!!!…Where is that Ikat chair from…it is gorgeous!
That is going to look so good when it's all done. That looks like a nice large room to hang out in. The insulation will definitely help you be more comfortable in that room and lower your heat and air bills. Speaking of surprises, yes, we have come across many in our house of 18 years! We have had to replace many things since living here and some were the builders fault. We will be more careful in our next house.
That room will be spectacular when you are done. Good luck. Can't wait to see it
WOW, Laura that is alot to get finished but you two seem to have things so down with your projects I'm confident it will get finished. I'm also sure it will be beautiful. I can't wait to see. I'd like to add beams in the house. John said, can we finish projects first and then worry about that, LOL. He is right I have so much to get done by thanksgiving. We have time
Cindy
Don't ya hate when you get an unexpected surprise like that UGH! LOVE that shot of the room from last year!!
Oh my goodness that stone wall is incredible. I don't know it I've ever noticed this room in your posts. The ceiling looks great too. Can't wait to see what you do. Fun!