We’re not perfect. Our house isn’t perfect. This blog definitely isn’t perfect. Nothing is perfect. But, we try our best to be better in every way, every single day. Overt time persistence and patience bring you a smidgen closer to perfect than imperfect. Nick and I don’t go around saying this Marilyn Monroe quote or posting it on our walls, but it pretty much defines how we approach our lives. We embrace imperfection, turn left when everyone else is turning right and do what we want without regard for how crazy it seems to others. Of course we’re disappointed when a project doesn’t go the way we want, but that’s what makes life interesting!
Due to a faulty part that couldn’t be replaced, we were putting water in and taking water out of this beast 3 to 4 times a day for 4 months. Talk about an imperfect way to heat your house!
Accepting temporary imperfection allows you to do things right the first time. Temporary fixes don’t actually solving the problem so they should be avoided if at all possible. Just think, it is what it is for now because I am waiting until I have the time and money to replace/repair it correctly. We went through our first winter months with a Sears and Roebuck boiler {the boiler is the thing that allegedly keeps your house warm}. Ours was badly outdated and in desperate need of parts, but it was too old to even order the parts. I refused to just go with the first heating and cooling solutions that came up because I knew I wasn’t able to make an educated decision. Often times, skilled laborers are very good at their job, but they may not be so great at caring for your home on a larger scale, or your bank account for that matter! When embarking on a major project, do your own research by studying your home, consulting multiple experts and utilizing a multitude of resources. Being able to deal with an imperfect situation will allow you time to complete your project right the first time.
Due to water damage, all four corners of the main house needed to be repointed. {Scrape out old mortar, replace with new…hire someone to do this!}
As you well know, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Although, sometimes I wish it was so that I could justify my desire to have every facet of my life perfect at any given time…but, what’s the challenge in that, right? What’s challenging is putting your desire to have the perfect house RIGHT NOW aside to accommodate your budget and the inevitable delays associated with construction. Never, EVER rush a contractor to finish a job. You will pay the price in the long run. Make sure you hire good people who are also skilled, agree upon a completion date in advance and monitor project milestones along the way to keep the process on track. (This tip goes back to educating yourself on the project…do your own research!) Be sure to anticipate unforeseen issues and know that some things like drying times or weather are out of your control….for example, you may have scaffolding up during an event because it’s rained every day since the beginning of time and your guys can’t get the mortar to dry while repointing the brick…yes, that happened. Check out this link from the NPS Preservation Briefs to learn a little more about the process, it’s pretty interesting!
The main part of the house was completed in 1856 and there have been renovations from every era; some good and some not so good. The paint has chips, the plaster has cracks and some sort of invisible bug is eating on all our bushes. But, that’s ok, if everything was perfect wouldn’t life be so boring?! Once we decided to turn Warrenwood into a venue, we had to accept imperfection. Of course we want to offer all of our customers the “perfect venue,” but we can’t. When we set out on this endeavor our goal was and still is to preserve and share this beautiful property with others. Preservation takes time; it’s a labor of love. By accepting imperfection, our preservation efforts have been more rewarding than we ever thought possible both visually and emotionally.
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