When we bought our cottage, built in 1873, we knew we were in for some renovations. The disgustingly old and dirty green carpet was the first thing to go. My husband spent almost 6 months sanding the aged wood floor—the big sanding machine wouldn’t work on paint so old. We replaced all of the trim, painted the walls, painted the trim, gutted the bathroom, laid tile, and added wainscoting to the upstairs bedrooms ceilings, for starters. Please note: when I say “we” I mean “we.” These jobs weren’t hired out, friends; this was some serious blood, sweat, and tears for a couple whose previous home renovation experience consisted of painting a bedroom and stenciling some sailboats in a kid’s room.
The one thing we knew we wouldn’t change, though, was this old-fashioned chandelier that hangs over our dining room table. It’s missing several of the glass teardrops, but for me that only adds to its charm. If you look closely, you can imagine that more than a little dust settles in the intricacies of the design. Plus, I’m not a big duster, so time contributes its fair share. Yesterday, though, I stood up on the dining room bench and took the time to go over every little crevice. No more cobwebs or hazy glass.
Hmmm, maybe I ought to dust more often.
