Shopping
We first found the buildings in July 2022. We were still only playing with the idea of moving up here at this point. Finding these buildings and realizing we could make it work made the final decision to move up a pretty easy one.
July 2, 2022, the first time we drove past the buildings. We called the number in the window and met someone to see the inside a week later.
The first time we visited and got access inside, July 2022.
First time inside the ice cream shop.
We love the floor and yes we will be keeping it.
First floor of the salon on Day 1. The entire red ceiling balcony area will be removed to open the space up for Erica's work station.
The back area of the new salon. Used to be a kitchen for several restaurants since the 90s. We'll be gutting the whole thing. Removing the hood vent was a project let me tell you.
The upstairs of the salon and my future studio!
The roof of the ice cream shop is pretty easily accessed and has clearly been a favorite drinking spot for folks for years. We think we'll freshen up the fish and cover everything else.
Closing, Dec 21, 2021. I don't remember why but the agent we were working with couldn't come so we got keys from this random lady.
#92!
Demolition!
We did most of the demo ourselves in the freezing cold from January to April. We were in Boston five days a week and NH/Vermont two days a week at this point.
Demo team!
Most of the walls in the ice cream shop are concrete retaining walls, and the paint on them was peeling off in sheets. We spent a few days grinding aaalllllll the retaining walls to bare, fresh concrete.
We focused on the ice cream shop in the beginning so we could get it ready and rented as soon as possible.
All the drywall in the ice cream shop came out. When we opened up that wall up there, we found just an old Pepsi sign filling the space where a window had once been.
This loft structure housed a walk in freezer at some point.
Our friend Michael taking down the loft.
We decided relatively late to take down this wall between the front and back of the ice cream shop.
Doing so really opened the space up.
We didn't have to grind the walls in the back, but they did need a good sanding and scrubbing.
Professional mess makers. First floor of the salon.
Tiny Mother got in on the action!
All the benches removed. Several feet of the balcony will be removed to open up the salon space downstairs a bit more.
South wall of my upstairs space. The roof in this building was trash and water has been pouring through here for years. That white area below the window is the siding on the outside of the building. The 2x4s have literally rotted away entirely. Uncovering this was a real bad day.
That looks safe.
The sellers were kind enough to leave some old cash registers for us. We didn't have keys, but we did have an axe :) Turns out we bought the buildings for $110 less than we thought.
The great outdoors
Powerwashing! Painting! Tree work!
North wall before we powerwashed and painted it.
I'll be painting a mural on the wall there eventually.
Powerwashing the salon!
We first painted the shed a light grey, but didn't like it at all and repainted it dark.
Repainting the shed the darker grey.
As soon as it got warm enough, Erica got some flower barrels for the front of the ice cream shop.
We picked mint green and cream to reconnect the building to its mid century deco architecture. We weren't sure which color should be where, so you'll notice the bottoms of the two outside pillars are opposites. We decided more green would help ground the sides of the building, so we went with the left side.
I want to take a moment to give a shout out to Erica. She DOES NOT like heights, but she has repeatedly throughout this process been faced with situations that make her uncomfortable and she grits her teeth and goes for it. I'm a big fan.
Speaking of Erica and heights...
There was a great deal of water damage inside the walls here so they tore it out and replaced. I didn't get a lot of pictures of this project.
The salon getting a new roof. They finished in two days. Piece of cake.
Our two babies, starting to look like buildings that people care about.
Tree removal! I don't know how many trees they ended up removing, but I'd guess at least 40-50. Very exciting to watch.
After the tree work. That tree laying there is the one that ripped the power line off the building. Check out the blog for that ridiculous story.
We planted a bunch of stuff on the hill to prevent erosion and hopefully prevent trees from growing back. It'll probably be an annual chore for us to climb around and pull anything we don't want up there.
Guided tours available! Call now to book a private tour with Erica and Tim themselves!
The Flat Roof
We’ve spent a few bucks on this project as you can probably imagine. Almost half of all that money was spent getting the flat roof fixed. Mind you, we were told when we bought the place that the roof was new and in good condition, and we expected to be done with renovations in this building in like, April or something crazy optimistic like that. Lessons have been learned, believe you me.
In April or so, once the snow on the flat roof started melting, we got an idea of just how bad a condition the roof was in.
Believe it or not, this is after the roofers came the first time. This was apparently good enough for them to call it done. That drain should be the lowest point on the roof. Obviously.
Because otherwise this happens.
They came back and opened everything up (something we thought they were going to do the first time around) and found a whole mess of rotted beams.
Roof surgery.
This process took at least two or three weeks, so they needed to build a tent to keep everything inside dry.
Temporary wall built inside to support the roof while the rotted beams were being replaced
We have several teams of tradesmen in our employ at this point. Turns out putting things back together the right way is a really important of keeping your buildings healthy in the long run.
Putting things back together…
So this is where we started upstairs in the studio. You'll notice that the middle window has settled and the yellow wall is cracked in places, almost as if none of the things in this area are being supported by anything.
This is a repeat picture but I think it's important to reestablish the nightmare that was this wall when we first opened it up.
And voila! Our builder Steve showing us our fancy new wall. They had to take all the siding off outside in order to pull this off.
Erica's salon mostly cleaned out. We laid some 2x4s down to show them where we wanted walls. The overhang and red pole right there are also about to be removed.
And voila! Walls framed out, overhang removed. The room on the left is Erica's color mixing room. The other room is the new bathroom. Shampoo bowls will be in the back behind the bathroom. Waiting area is in the middle back there. We're thinking electric fireplace :)
And some drywall! Only about half complete, we were just waiting for electrical inspection, but I was just told 5 minutes ago that we passed and we can continue forward! Always nice to get good news.
Drywall in the ice cream shop.
