The Earl Grey Lean-to

The lean-to, you'll recall, was the first inkling of this project. The plan for siding it was one of the components that required we apply for a variance, since the siding deviates from the city building code, being neither lap siding nor board and batten. We're using fiber cement Hardie Panels, cut in two lengthwise, affixed to the house in staggered rows, like brick laid vertically.

A channel at the bottom of each wall, plus horizontal and vertical channels where the panels meet, plus a finishing piece that covers the vertical joints, hold the panels in place, along with nails driven into furring strips behind the panels.

The walls are painted Earl Grey; the soffits are painted Mariner, a more saturated version of the color often used for porch ceilings.

Next for the exterior: the first- and second-story decks, then the corrugated steel siding for the two-story main house. But first, there's a lot going on inside . . .

The Perfect Plank

We decided on unstained white oak floors. Because of the scale of the main room, we opted for three-inch wide planks instead of the two-inch wide ones typically used in residences.

Paint it Origami White, You Devils!

With the drywall mudded and sanded, it's time to paint the interior. We decided to paint all the walls and ceilings the same color—a pale gray from Sherwin Williams called Origami White—and to add color with accent paint on the kitchen and bar cabinets in the great room, and on one accent wall in each bathroom. We volunteered to paint the one-story north wing, but left the two-story great room to the professionals. One professional, in fact. Thanks, Brandon.

Once Brandon had put two coats on the ceiling, electrician Sam installed the two fans that will, in theory, regulate the temperature in the great room.

Meanwhile, we prepped and painted the downstairs bedrooms and bathrooms.

Testing accent colors for the bathrooms, to go with the pale blue one-inch mosaic tiles that will go on the floor. Feedback welcome.