“No one knows what you have been through or what your pretty little eyes have seen, but I can reassure you ~ whatever you have conquered, it shines through your mind.”
-Nikki Rowe
Hello!
I had planned to vlog about Kevin’s parents Bungalow Barn today, and of course, when given the choice of manning the camera with Daddy, or giving the tour with Mama and her microphone, Steevenson chose the latter. 😉
Click the play button if you’d like to watch:
Here are some still photos for those of you who aren’t able to/don’t want to view the video:
All the wood is in, and the electrician’s are installing the electrical meter and all of the (white) outlet covers and switch plates this week. After that, I’m assuming the painters will show up. (?) Which reminds me, I need to remember to ask them to prime the wood before they paint it Simply White. There are a lot of knots in those boards, and if they’re not primed well, they’ll eventually bleed through and look yellow. After that, I’m guessing the flooring and light fixtures will go in. (?) There will be reclaimed hardwood (from Southern Accents) in the den/kitchen and bedroom, and tile (from The Tile Shop) in the breakfast room and bathroom. All the light fixtures will be from Barn Light Electric.
…and boy do I know someone who would sure love to help install it all. 😉
He is doing wonderful! You must be soooo proud.
Do you send him to school or do you homeschool him?
What a wonderful time for you!
Love
Alissa
You had mentioned Kevin’s dad using a scooter. I assume the house will be scooter/wheelchair accessible?
Yup. She said in other videos that it is. 🙂
Yep! Our architect made sure to follow all of those codes! 🙂
Stevenson..Awesome job! ?
Steevenson…didn’t check the auto correct! ?
I watched the video. It was wonderful and all I can say is, “Thank you, Jesus!” Actually I said it over and over!!! What a blessing it is to watch Stevenson adapt and learn and love.
That video! The ending is priceless. Steevenson is a real doll.
That little face and smile of your son’s just brightened my day!
The bungalow is coming along beautifully, and so is Steevenson! What a fabulous job you are both doing as parents! So happy for you all! Thank you for sharing.
So fun and so much happiness!
He is just so adorable – onto the wood, with with the larger darker knots – before priming use a small paint brush and coat with shellac, let dry and lightly sand. I painted a knotty pine dresser not once but twice – using two coats of primer and paint in a tan color – years later I sanded primed and painted two coats of pale yellow so that 8 coats all together and the knots were showing through on the pale yellow. I stripped the dresser, followed what a carpenter at Lowe’s told me to do and repainted it ivory and no knots are bleeding through.
Make sure they use oil base primer. It’s the only thing that actually blocks bleed through. I have a house full of painted pine that has bled through a shellac based primer and I am slowly redoing with the oil base Primer I used in a previous house that really worked well. It doesn’t smell strong either.
Looking back, could you have imagined Steevenson giving a tour of his grandparents new construction? God is good!
I use the spray can lacquer based Kilz on knots, one or two quick coats, then prime the whole wall.
Get one of those birdhouse kits made for kids (Lowe’s) for your son to make. I started playing in my dad’s workshop at a very early age, and I (the momma) have been building stuff ever since. Your adventures with him will be epic.
The Bungalow Barn is amazing – and such a smart builder Steevenson is! Awesome to see him speak about his Granme & Granpe and I bet he’ll be watching TV with them soon! Loved the vlog.
The barn is looking fantastic! But, I’m loving seeing those little arms go around your neck! Such a beautiful family!
I loved watching you as a mama! I am sure the phrase “okay…gotta go” has become much more common around there! 😉
I cannot get enough! He is so so wonderful!
Oh my goodness, if you’re against having your heart melt into a puddle of happiness then don’t watch the video. Steevenson is such an adorable little guy and you are simply a wonderful mother navigating through all of this. So proud of you all!
I think this is your best tour yet!
I love the video!!! His accent and his words! WOW! He is doing so good.
Lovely progress! May I just give one bit of advice? We used shiplap in parts of our home and painted 2 coats of primer under our white paint. I have many spots showing through in the first year. Wish I had used something better than just primer that is designed to seal all of those knots.
It’s so beautiful!
Oh wow! Such a bundle of energy. It looks like he has bonded so well, I see lots of love there. The Barn is looking fantastic. I can practically smell all that wood when you give the tour and that’s my favorite smell. Keep up the good work on both counts. You’re making, loving and nuturing a family. Best years of my life were doing that!
Thank you, Lori! I appreciate your encouragement so much and I love that you said the best years of your life were spent making, loving and nurturting your family!! 😀
Lovely progress and Love, Love, Love your Helper!
“Yes Jesus loves me…” oh that made me cry
Sweet Steevenson
Jenn
Are you sure you want to paint all that beautiful wood? 🙂
110% sure! 😀
Hey Layla,
I’m a big supporter of yours and love your style and so much about you. But today I do have a question / “sad point” – if you’re going to paint the wood walls anyway, why not just put up a gyprock wall? Or why not one feature wood wall and the rest gyprock?
🙁 Our trees don’t grow as fast as people cut them down. 🙁 We all need to slow up on the wood consumption. This has looooots of wood.
A painted wood wall isn’t hugely different than a painted gyprock wall – at least looks wise. Up here (in Canada) we have to insulate the snot out of our homes, so I don’t know if you used wood as an insulating measure because your climate is so much warmer – perhaps you can use wood instead of insulation and be done? Its just that you know lots of neat tricks to make a painted gyprock wall LOOK like a (painted) wood wall – and a really pretty one at that.
Its lovely, I don’t want to be a kill-joy, but the tree hugger in me cries when I see so much wood and know it’s just going to be painted. 🙁 because the question for me is if you’re going to paint the wood so it doesn’t really look like wood, then why not use a non-wood material?
Sorry to be a downer, but you influence so many and you’re usually awesome on the environmentally-friendly and budget-friendly ideas (stick wood, shop the house, copycat stuff) – it’s part of what I love about you.
Respectfully submitted…
Hi Maryjane!
I’m not sure what gyprock is (I’ll Google it!), but I guess the main reason why we wouldn’t put up a gyprock wall now is because the wood is already paid for and installed. 😉 Off to Google…thanks for the tip!
Ohhhhh! You’re referring to what we call drywall! We did have to do some drywall (for budget reasons) in the bedroom and bathroom, but I always tell people I’m (aesthetically) allergic to the stuff. 😉
This build ticks all the environmental boxes for me. Small footprint achieved using smart design. Authentic materials sourced domestically. Windows placed to maximize natural light thereby reducing the need for electric light. I think you have done a great job in balancing aesthetics and economics. I also don’t think there is any substitute for real wood and painting it makes it even better. This room would be very dark with stained wood on the walls and vaulted ceilings in drywall just look boring and cold. My wood walls are painted white which I love and my wood ceiling has a pickling stain on it which is a kind of whitewash. It is still bright and reflects light but you can see the knots and grain. I can’t wait to see this place progress.
I thought you had hinted at stairs to go into an attic space that could be used for guests(aka Grandkids). I haven’t heard you mention that again. Have you decided against it? Thanks for sharing your building process.
Nope! They’ll still go there eventually! 🙂
I think Thomas would want the mic as well. He likes to help with work but only for a few minutes, then on to something else. I love Steevenson’s contagious smile. Such a fun yet challenging age.
Awwww… what a “Cute” Helper!!!!! Love …. Love how the bungalow is coming along !!! Going to be amazing !!!! (It already is amazing … lolol ) Thank you for the updates!!
So nice to see Steevenson’s beautiful smile. I remember when you had to blur his pictures. Seems like so long ago. Your project is beautiful. Can’t wait to see the finished project.
I wish I was your neighbor!
He is so precious!! I especially loved his description of the toilet area! ??? What a beautiful life you guys have! Y’all are doing great! I know you are cherishing every moment! Thanks for sharing your lives with us!
Beautiful house, beautiful little boy.
Layla,
You are a fantastic mother! So patient and kind with such a warm, genuine smile! Thanks for letting us see this new side of you. You’re all so lucky to have found each other! And from an ESL teacher’s perspective, you’re a real natural at teaching language as well. ?
The barn is really coming along and love all the wood, but Sonny is just too precious. Love hearing him learn so many new words. You and Kevin are doing an incredible job :).
Oh, how I love to him sing “Jesus Loves Me”! I’m sure that many-many-many American children are not taught that song.
I love his sweet, little voice! 😀
ADORABLE. The barn bungalow will be beautiful when done, but I think Stevenson stole the show! Love hearing him speak in both languages and seeing you as a mom!
Cutest tour guide ever! We used to get old pine boards and set up a carpentry table when I taught the littles. They loved hammering and drilling (with hand drills), then they’d take their creations off to paint them . Good times!
That house for Granme and Granpe is awesome! That is going to be so nice for them!
Onto that sweet son of yours! He is learning so fast! What a blessing it will be to everyone when Kevin’s parents are there too!
The barngalow is looking so good!!!! What a nice, cozy home they will have in the end!! That Steevenson sure is precious!! It’s so cute to hear you two go back and forth ❤ What an exciting time for him to come home to!!
Oh Layla, I just love how you are
with Steevenson!! You’re a natural!
The barn is coming along nicely!!!
Can’t wait to see it finished!! Love!!
Steevenson, that was an awesome tour! Thank you so much for guiding us through the addition! And I loved your song too!
Oh such sweetness!
The barn rooms look huge with those high ceilings! What a perfect space this will be for them! Things are sure shaping up quickly!
Loved seeing Steevenson give the tour! Wish you both had mics, I think I missed a few words there, but got the gist of it. So fun to see you interact with each other.
Loving the progress on the G.P’s space – I bet that build is labor intensive!
We are almost finished with our build, only a few more weeks to go. Of course now, the days drag by, as the anticipation of moving in builds. Praying for the rains to lessen here so we can finish grading and get inspections done!
I do love the house set up–do you have a particular plan you used? I would love a little space like this! Can you even believe you are the mom running around with that cutie? It seems so unreal to me that your day has come! Thanks to God!
Too cute!
What an adorable little man… He is full of energy and that smile can melt any heart!
You talked about in an earlier video – possibly putting in stairs so the space above isn’t wasted. Did y’all decide against it?
Nope! They’ll still be there, eventually! 🙂
Oh my gosh. I just found your blog this morning, and I have fallen in love with Sonny! He is the most precious little guy, and I know you are so blessed to have each other