Our Rustic Little Casa (Viva el Alamo de San Miguel): before and after!

2013  BEFORE PICS

View from the outside front gate.

Front of our house with decorative security bars.

Non-working fountain.

Removing rocks along the drive.

Back wall prior to replacing.

Maria’s pasture.

First priority is to get the wall replaced.

On the right side of pic no wall.

Back Patio with previous renter’s furniture.

Family Room with previous renter’s furniture.

Front door.

While we were waiting for our container to arrive.

Dinning Room with previous renter’s furniture.

Kitchen

1 week after we moved in the front door of the oven door blew up!

Previous renter’s kitchen.

Guest room

Previous renter’s furniture.

Guest Bathroom

Master Bedroom previous renter’s furniture. Note storage above closet we had more cabinets added.

Waiting for our container to arrive. 30 days no furniture except for a blow-up bed and table from a friend.

Master Bathroom

Work on the house began before our container arrived.

Sealing and staining ceilings

2014 AFTER PICS

Fountain in front of house removed, front of the house painted, reduced size of the driveway for plants and sidewalks curving around the house, wood resealed and stained, added pots and blue aqua bowl from Texas. Added our Texas patio furniture and swing. Plants are added everywhere! New front door and Santa Ana above the door for protection of the home.

Backyard

Removed some tall trees blocking the view, replaced the top of the patio that was filled with bees replaced the back wall.

Flowers!

 

The back wall rebuilding was the very first thing we did. However, we now cannot view the pasture with cows.

We have planted what is called Tuber Roses along the fence but in Texas, they are called Lantana. In Ecuador, these plants have lots of thorns and will grow over the fence. When they were planted they were in 2-inch pots so they are really growing fast.

More flowers

 

 

Fruit trees: mandarin, fig, avocado, lemon, cherry all fruit-bearing.

Avocado and figs

 

lemons

 Waterfall from Texas.

Patio with Texas furniture.

Anti room with Winky  soon to be a bar with remodel

Sidewalk side of the house with my swing in the background under the tree.

Family Room and Dining Room: open space

Ceilings throughout the house were sealed and restrained, new windows, new security bars added that can be opened in the daytime for a view, baseboards added, a new front door, paint in the family room and dining room soften to another shade of yellow, chandelier’s added, new media cabinet built, the color of fireplace changed, drapes and window shades added.

Master Bedroom

Did not change the wall color except for the fireplace, removed the built-in wall heater, added new drapes, and window shades, replaced ceiling lights, added baseboards, added storage above the built-in closet and recovered bed pillows and headboard.  Family & friends’ pictures are in the window.

 

New security bars are closed and locked at night throughout the house.

Master Bathroom or My Very Small  Bathroom

Did not change the color. Very gaudy colors! Added new light and mirror.

Guest Bedroom

Soften the yellow wall color changed the color of the fireplace, removed the built-in wall heater, added new drapes, and window shades,  replaced ceiling lights, added baseboards, added storage above the built-in closet, and added new bed headboards.

Guest Bathroom or Bill’s Very Small Bathroom

Did not change the color but wow so bright I may soften it later!

Kitchen: during remodel will become a laundry room and a new kitchen, patio and bar created. Oh and new real grown-up appliances. Yeah, we have the plans back from the builder. Best of all the new patio will have glass windows that mimic table 4 at La Mirage!

 the coldest beer around 

I think this says it all

Texas Annie Ecuador