Brick?????

If you were to ask Mel what her ideal material for a home would be - probably never a brick would be on the list.  Funny how some things choose you even if you don't choose them.  Gifft Hill is being designed to respect what was there and use it in new ways.  So, brick it is - considering this is an early 50's ranch and brick was all the rage.  

 So, the carport came down and so did the brick knee wall it was sitting on.  Time to dig through the brick pile.  We are pulling all the 'good' ones to use for patch repairs and to fill in the existing front door.  The ones that are harder to clean will become something in the landscape design (patio, path, who knows!).  This is our type of recycling.  Brent - our Builder - you can tell he thinks we are nuts.  :)

 When you buy a house 'as-is' - it comes with many a mystery.  Here is the back wall - must have been a tree limb or some sort of awol bomb.  The hole goes straight through to what will be the laundry/mud room.

 Back of chimney.  The brick will be left exposed here as part of the guest room wall.

 Front of chimney.  Can you believe they covered this up for the last 60 years?  We are exposing it all the way and adding a chunky mantel piece.  Trying to decide what to do abut how it jogs - that was a surprise.

Here is the front exterior corner.  It will now be inside the front door in the foyer - Mel is totally excited about being able to bring this indoors.