Windows

Our house has a lot of unique features. It was literally built by the first owner in 1950. When we moved in in 1988, we knew there were things we wanted to change....especially the kitchen with its puke green linoleum, bright orange flowered wallpaper, and dark dark Mediterranean style cabinets. Eventually the four layers of kitchen wallpaper (representing the styles of 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980) were all removed, the rest of kitchen was remodeled, a entry-way was cut between the dining room and kitchen, and the back porch became our family room.

Along the way every appliance has been replaced and a number of exciting electrical and plumbing adventures have been undertaken. Every installer, plumber, and electrician who has entered this house has said something along the lines of "I've never seen a _____ installed QUITE LIKE THIS before."

Maybe we should have asked a few more questions about this home-made house before presenting an offer, but we were buying at the peak of a seller's market. If we hadn't put in an offer on the day BEFORE it officially went on the market, we probably wouldn't have gotten the house. We even presented the owners with a sappy letter about how we saw this as such a wonderful house in which to raise our family. Besides, it was the one house in Northbrook that came relatively close to both our wishes and budget.

Windows have not been a huge concern in this home-made house. They are triple track, so we haven't had to mess with taking storm windows up and down. We've replaced screens and every June we've paid Curt the Window Washer to shine everything up. (We learned in the first year of our marriage that paying someone to wash our windows was much cheaper than paying for marriage counseling.) No big changes to the windows....until this week!

Ken's carpenter brother replaced our kitchen window. Instead of four small windows separated by lots of wood, we now have a HUGE picture window over the sink. It is the coolest thing ever! I have stood transfixed looking at the gorgeous fall foliage in nearby yards. I have done some major moving around in the kitchen now that EVERYTHING in the kitchen is visible from the back porch. I'm about to move all the junk that has accumulated on the porch since EVERYTHING on the porch is visible from the kitchen window. I have plans for hanging Christmas lights out on the porch in a few weeks and maybe heart and egg lights in the new year. I actually went back and forth from the inside to the outside repeatedly this morning, Windex in hand, so that everything would be sparkly. I'm simply in love with my new window.