I'm with brickln - do you have any christmas miracle photos to share? New windows is a big big deal - so we are happy to see "in progress" photos that just show the seasons changing - we aren't proud . . .

It's true, we're just very, very needy :)
Feed the houzz machine !!!

Very curious we are too :-)

Pics please. Love your sense of humour calling this house "boring".

Ok here you go. It took until the beginning of November to get it finished. All windows replaced and all siding. The really interesting thing was that when they took off the ugly siding; they said the original wood siding was in very good shape. So if someone with buckets of money wants the wood back, it's there.

I have been promised a picture in the snow. The first pic is the front which I don't think I sent before. Please excuse the air conditioner, it's out now.

Yay, it looks great!! Just needed that touch of color. Enjoy the view from that wonderful front porch.

looks fabulous

The color is really interesting, because it changes depending on the light. I really like it. I am hoping to get a picture that exactly mirrors the first one. I would have loved to have the porch on the second floor, but it just cost too much.

gorgeous!

Love the shingles :)

Thanks for the update. The house looks beautiful. What a difference. I love the colour.

It's beautiful :)
I'm so happy for you, you must be thrilled. Perfect transformation, still retains all the charm without all the blemishes. Happy holidays!!!

Here's a more exact parallel for the pictures.

What a beautiful improvement! Painted our 100-yr-old house that colour a number of years ago and I never get tired of it. I used reclaimed wood siding on my addition (which is not yet painted blue). It looks wonderful and I feel good having re-used. Enjoy your home. It is beautiful. (Would like to see the inside some day).

Gorgeous. The porches are lovely, too.

I am resting from this experience but next comes the kitchen. When I get my strength back I'll send pictures of it. It is as much of a job as was the exterior. Stuck somewhere in the stone age.

I love the choice of shingles and the color, she looks fantastic!

Yes!!!! Another project, I can't wait, please post a link here so we can find it when it's ready :)

You got it. I can not thank everyone enough, without your help I would have been immobilized by fear of doing something wrong. All of you are the best!

You're welcome, thanks for sharing with us.

I like it.

Extraordinary home! Is there any chance you can get funds to fix up this house with the historical society?

great house pitched roof on tower lose some of the little windows in the tower break up the large wall of cladding with a verandah or just a band of different material

Dale, it's done

thanks for inviting us to the reveal - bet she is a darn sight warmer inside this winter! What a holiday gift - driving home to this sweetie all lit up at night in the snow. Enjoy your time by the fire, let the budget recover and start entertaining us with the kitchen planning asap -

wow , sorry to spoil the party. I have never seen anyone get more suggestions, ideas and advice only to install new windows and a new paint job ? I thought this house was going to get a remodel. That said does look better.

Did you read the whole thread? Numerous times sampleday mentioned that due to budgetary constraints that was really all that could happen. You do what you can when you can :)

The house looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing new pics!

Beautiful!!!!

Looks good. Merry Christmas!

I understand mforr, that said it didn't start out like that 8 months ago. I am glad a zillion people took the time to give suggestions and advice . Does a window replacement and a paint job really need 8 months of diatribe ? Really. If all they wanted ( or could afford to do ) was to replace their windows and a new coat of paint it should have been stated as such. Again sorry but a lot of people spent time and gave good professional advice and for what ? New windows. Remember this thread had been going on for over 8 months.

STOUSH?

But Steven, we all had a lot of fun, and for many Houzzers, this is an entertaining creative exercise. The homeowner got lots of terrific suggestions, and who knows? she may still be able to use them in the future. Budget rules in the end, for most people, and we don't know that she didn't try to incorporate more suggestions in her process of doing all new windows and siding, which was a big undertaking. Her first response up top was that siding and windows were taking every cent. :)

Congratulations! Love the color; thanks for sharing your results!

People often go beyond with ideas than what was requested Steven. Perhaps because you are in construction you would want more done. It is their house to do what they want. I once posted and appreciated ideas beyond what I planned as it turns on an idea one might never consider.

Actually, Steven Foster Construction, sampleday got about a months worth of advice and then went off to have the work done, which took many months. YOU haven't participated in this thread since May. What difference does it make to you if many other people wanted to make suggestions and give encouragement? I don't understand the need to make surly comments like this....

Your home project was a massive undertaking sampleday and it looks great! Congrats!

Look, Steven, sure, just feel free to jump in, as you say, 8 months later and criticize. As per your thinking, DON'T YOU HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO DO? After all, this isn't about you, so of course you do. If this was about you, you'd be taking every bit of advise and EXPECTING more.

I was a child in the 1950s, when my parents bought a ramshackle, cape cod style, fixer-upper. I grew up in an on-going construction project and every one of my siblings is now capable of home renovation. We're polishing up the property now, so my parents (who are in their nineties) can put it on the market. My own home was a thirty-year construction project, too. I love to be a vicarious part of other people's renovations and upgrades and if this poster continues to keep me/us involved in this project for the next several years, I will happily be a participant and cheering section.

Not everyone is in the business...some of us get the business and some of us just live with it.

The new paint job is amazing. Now all you need to do is brick paver the driveway and redo the flower beds. This would be an award winning exterior renovation.

A very unique and interesting looking house before new windows and siding and an absolutely stunning house now!!! Just love the mutisided gazebo looking porch that faces the river!! Enjoy it.

Sampleday, asking from the point of view of wanting to learn, can you explain why you didn't go with the wood siding when you learned it was in good shape? What was the process? What options explored? What guided your final decision? Appreciate so much your taking the time to share....and envy your view!

"I love to be a vicarious part of other people's renovations and upgrades and if this poster continues to keep me/us involved in this project for the next several years, I will happily be a participant and cheering section."

Yeah..what Joannpb said!

This was a particularly fascinating thread to follow, and even better, has a happy, beautiful end to the first chapter! I'm looking forward to the kitchen reno. My favorite Houzz discussions are the lengthy ones. Threads like this one have been truly inspiring, and I've gained so much insight from following them.

Perhaps Houzz is not the correct app for Steven. If he wants straight, to the point and only answering the beginning question, he should go elsewhere and let the rest of us enjoy the vicarious renos and inspiration that houzzers bring.

Well said all, sorry to ruffle feathers. I tend to look at things from the stand point of a professional in the business for over 30 years and value the time and advice given in good faith to anyone who wants or needs it. I tend to forget that this forum is not full of professionals but just those looking , planning, wishing etc. it is a good creative and benificial site and apparently a great place to get planning and design ideas. My bad. Hope all have a happy and healthy holiday.

To you, and to all houzzers everywhere, as well.

Amen.
And I hope you do continue to post on other threads, Steven. Your advice on is good, thoughtful and honest despite the lamentations. We appreciate that.

As to why I didn't have the siding painted when we discovered it was in good shape, money. The contractor told me that to patch and paint would cost more than the siding also he had already ordered the siding and he told me it was mine either way. More soon when I get some time.

Too bad. My recycled siding cost considerably less, even though it had to be cut down to size, patched and primed (it isn't repainted yet as I will be doing the whole house at once). My guess is that he just preferred to work with new (he could have cancelled the order), but each situation is different, I guess.