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Sunday, May 26, 2013

Gearing up for the reveal of the Modernist Nest

Many of you have followed the construction of the apartment behind my house, where I now live since turning my property into a family compound of sorts, with my daughter, SIL and two grandsons living in the main house. Fellow blogger Brismod called it my "modernist nest," and the name stuck. I've been promising a reveal for some time now, but I've been waiting to iron out all the kinks and get all the landscaping done before showing it.

We worked on the yard yesterday and will put the finishing touches on it today. The photographer is scheduled to arrive at 11 a.m. tomorrow. He has promised a speedy turnaround on the photos, so...barring any more unforeseen problems...the reveal should take place Wednesday. I have my fingers crossed!

In the meantime, I'll share a few before and in-progress shots of the yard.


Before: During construction

Before: All sand and weeds in front of my door

In progress: Stepping stones, rock and planters are in place.
To do: Bird bath and feeder and plants in the flower bed

Before: The back yard...just a pile of dirt

In progress: Where there was once only dirt...grass! Luckily, we've had lots of rain since laying the sod.
To do: Galvanized tubs for herbs and vegetables, lights, mow!
(Rocks and plants behind trellis/fence are for my back yard.)

In progress: Last time I showed you, there were only a few baskets hung.
To do: More pavers to form a seating area, stone, mulch and more plants


It's been a slow go. It's taken us almost as long to get the landscaping done as it took to build the apartment, but it's almost over. Thanks to all of you who have offered me encouragement along the way and have assured me that construction projects really do end eventually.

29 comments:

  1. Oh the teasing! ....but I will wait till Wednesday! xx

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    1. The photographer promises 24-hour turnaround, so I ought to be writing my reveal post on Tuesday for publishing on Wednesday! I feel bad about dragging this out so long, but the landscaping has taken so much longer than I expected, and I really didn't want to have a photographer come out till everything looked just right.

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  2. Wow! How exciting. I also love the idea of a compound. Dana you can grow old disgracefully and know the kids will be right next door to look after you. That's the way it should be. Can't wait to see the photos ... it'll be like reading an interiors magazine, I know it!

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    1. I'm getting excited about the photos myself. The photographer has a lot of glowing testimonials from realtors in the area. I hope he lives up to them.

      As for growing old disgracefully, I think I already am. :)

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  3. Replies
    1. Thank you! I can't wait for our trellis/fence to be completely covered. I think that will be a nice soft barrier that provides each house some privacy.

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  4. we will all no doubt appreciate your dedication to perfection!!...just bloody hurry up! lol....all looking fab so far!...nice lawn! x

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    1. My daughter and SIL were the ones who didn't get in any hurry. I'm notorious for my lack of patience! :)

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  5. I can't wait to have a sticky!

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  6. I'll be out of the country Tuesday so if I don't have a timely reaction, it's not because of a lack of a suspenseful build-up on your part!

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    1. I honestly didn't mean to drag this out so long. I wanted to do it in a timely fashion, but it seemed that roadblocks kept popping up everywhere. Now I'm afraid the reveal will be a little anticlimactic. :)

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  7. I admire your perfectionism! I was far too impatient with my reveal, the floor still covered, nothing on the walls...
    Looking forward to it, Dana!!

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    1. Very often my perfectionism gets me in trouble. I wish I could be less obsessive about decorating, but I've been this way since my first apartment, back in 1968. :)

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  8. Looking forward to the reveal, Dana. I absolutely love everything you've shown so far. And what a wonderful idea to live so close to your daughter's family and yet still have your own space.

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    1. You know, it's interesting to me that my parents' generation broke the tradition of family members living together. My great-grandparents lived with my grandmother till they died. Now, it seems that concept doesn't seem as strange to my daughter's generation as it did to mine and my mother's...although my mother did live with us for the last three years of her life.

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  9. Woohoo - I'm excited!! It already looks fabulous to me. Can't wait to see it! : )

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    1. I'm pretty excited though, as I write this, I have 3 hours before the photographer gets here, and I'm finding things I forgot to do. So much for perfectionism...

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  10. It's really looking great, Dana. Looking forward to your final reveal!

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    1. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's Wednesday.

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  11. Oh I am so excited! I cant wait to be in the "photo stages" of my addition!

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    1. Mick, I know if seems like that day will never come, but I've finally reached the end...and if feels sooooooooooo good. Your addition will be finished before you know it, and all the trials and tribulations of the project will be behind you.

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  12. Hi there! By now your photographer has come and gone. I really like the idea of professional pictures. After I do my kitchen remodel I will take a page out of your book. I think you should try to get the project published in a local magazine. Perhaps you have it in mind. You really should solicit. The angle of mid-century plus multi-generational housing is perfect. They will eat it up. Looking forward to the reveal. Please don't apologize for the perfectionism. I torture people with my drip drip drip pictures of every little thing... I like your approach better. Kind of BOOM! Here it is!!! See you Wednesday.

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    1. There's a young woman in Dallas who owns a vintage store and also contributes to Apartment Therapy, and she has asked if she can submit an article about my apartment. I imagine you're right about the combo of vintage modern/the "family compound" appealing to a magazine. I might scout around and see if anyone is interested.

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    2. Do it. What about local Dallas pubs? I think it would have a really good shot. Also, I think Dwell would like it. the trick is you can't waste the story. Meaning you have to give your first shot to your favorite pub. Wait a little while, then your next shot, etc... They want "exclusives"... Once it is up, it is up. I hope I don't scare you from posting the reveal!

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  13. The outside looks great! Now for the inside! Hurry up photographer-person! Cheers - CT

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    1. The photographer has come and gone. Now I'm just waiting for him to send me the images!

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  14. It's Wednesday in Australia! ...just saying is all xx

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    1. And now it's Wednesday in the U.S. I just emailed the photographer to see if he is ready to send me the web version of the photos. I think he may be putting in some extra time on the print version.

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