Home Renovation: Our Mid-Century Doors Purchased For a Song

Our double storm doors were original to the house (built in 1971). But as our home renovation wore on during the Summer, we began eyeing the dilapidated doors with critical eyes.  Who can blame us as they were a faded brown color, patchy-looking, hanging askew,  and taped? I wrote about them in a post H E R E .

Thank God for a bargain-hunting dear hubby.  He found Larry, a seller on Craigslist (I didn't even think to look there). Not only did Larry have a pair of Larson storm doors in good condition at the bargain price of $40 (retail approx. $400), he also had a set of Midcentury wood front doors with glass inserts in almost excellent condition. Yes, he'd be willing to sell them to us too.

We purchased the storm doors then and there; but had to wait 4 weeks to get the "matching" doors till Larry got his own order of new doors installed.

Craigslist pictures

While we waited, hubby painted the glass storm doors and installed them. Never had anything in black brighten our lives as much as these doors: Good condition. Sun shone in. Unobstructed views. Everyone loved them! 

(We felt even better after browsing online listings of mid-century doors with glass inserts.  A brand new set would have set us back approximately $2k.  We only paid $30 for the pair -- thank you, Lord!!! Praying hubby can install them without too much difficulty.  Will update soon, God willing).

our original storm doors

AFTER

painted, installed new-to-us Larson storm doors

enjoying the scenery

Sell your home for more by painting with these hues

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Hubby Romeo and House Doors

While there has been a recent increase in hubby's company stock valuation (read about it H E R E) -- for which we are very thankful to the Lord -- there has also been a delightful decrease:

Fewer expenses for 2019- hooorah!! Dear hubby has blessed our lives once again.  In addition to his hard-working, sacrificial tendencies, he also has a talent for words fitly spoken, gifts (chosen by yourse truly, but always within reason, lol), or a lessening of my worries:

1.  Hubby let me do the choosing among the gifts offered by his company to commemorate his employment anniversary.  He "allows" me to wear the beautiful bracelet, ha!  (stock photo, gold/Peridot bracelet)

pc: amazon

2. An extravagant-to-us Anthropologie light fixture became reality during our recent bathroom renovation -- just because *I* insisted.

Hobby Lobby oval mirrors; Anthropologie light

3. What more can I add to this loving reminder through his email?

4. I was stressing about finding affordable doors to replace our very old (read: original), taped, discoloured, dilapidated storm doors.  He took the time to search and found a set in very good condition through Craigslist. He also painted and installed them himself. It took 2+ days!

The Best Paint Color for Selling a Home

7.11.9.18

Weird Craigslist Adventure in Search of a Clarinet

It took over 4 hours, 252 miles, $7.10 in toll fees,  and $45 in gas. My husband's persistance finally paid off when we purchased a Clarinet for our son --- in Wisconsin !!!! 

Charlie, the seller who listed it on CraigsList, was fearful, suspicious, paranoid, and described himself as a "poor" man.  Because of a previous bad experience with what he perceived was an attempt to steal his identity, he insisted that WE prove ourselves honest and correctly-motivated to his satisfaction; plus we must meet him in front of a Walmart with cash in hand. He had even hinted of meeting us in front of a Police Station.  Huh?!! What kind of problem were we getting into if we deal with this seemingly-crazy man?  Does he want to sell his Clarinet, or not?  Thank God for my husband's self-control . He decided not to fire off an angry retaliatory response, but waits, instead, till the next morning to answer the latest of Charlie's disturbing emails.  Hubby is sympathetic, courteous, calm,  and re-assuring.  His soft answer worked, because, Voila, we are now the proud owners of a PROFESSIONAL-level, Made in France, Grenadilla wood, LeBlanc Sonata Clarinet at the reasonable price of $175 (worth $1400-$1600, Brand New).  We may end up eating our words because we don't know what type of repairs are needed and how much they'll cost. For now, we are happy and thankful that this rather odd Craigslist experience is behind us. We had purchased our refrigerator and microwave oven with cooperative and pleasant Craiglist sellers in the past, with no problems whatsover.  Anyhoo, we got AJ's Clarinet just in time for his first lesson this Friday, the 11th.  God is good!

We ate lunch at BK, with dessert, so add another $27 to the total cost of obtaining this Clarinet.

pic below from geocities.com

ETA:  The Clarinet is still going strong. We've been careful to keep it tuned and checked. Son will be attending a Music Conservatory in the Fall, God willing -- as a Clarinet Performance Major!

 ( June, 2016 )