Hello darling, 

The three of us are back at Chez Kim-Martin in Vermont, and though the days are gradually warming up, we’re still making fires in our wood stove to stay cozy. The spring ephemerals, whimsical woodland wildflowers, have begun to emerge with their delicate blossoms and tender green shoots poking through the brown landscape. I’m eager for warmer weather, but April is a tease. 

We were away from our home for nearly seven weeks, spending most of that time in Arlington, VA, at my in-laws’ place, where Gaston and I began our recovery process from our surgeries (an ACL reconstruction for me and a bilateral tibial plateau leveling osteotomy for my schmoopie, Gaston). I focused on healing, rehabbing my knee, taking care of Gaston, writing, and resting. We indulged in the robust restaurant scene of the DMV and went to H-Mart weekly. We left Arlington on Saturday, driving away from the blooming magnolias and daffodils, eager to see our dining room. 

The day after we closed on our home last August, Romaine and I planned to do some light DIY projects before we moved in. As a first-time homeowner, I naively believed that fifteen days would suffice. As I began unpacking our tools and assembling our shop vac, I heard Romaine making a ruckus in the dining room. I watched in horror as he scraped off tiny bits of the ceiling, showering himself with dust and debris. He hadn’t researched how to do it but was determined and had jumped right in. After a quick search, I learned you spray the ceiling with warm water, let it soak in, and scrape. We tested the paint for lead before beginning the arduous task, our necks straining as we scraped off layers of gunk and paint in the stifling August heat. After a couple of hours, a huge mess, and sheer willpower, we removed the popcorn ceiling and some canvas holding up ancient plaster. Though we felt victorious, we knew we would need professional help, and thus began our dining room renovation.

When setting a vision for our dining room, we wanted it to be the jewel of our home. She has three large windows overlooking the brook, and the canopy of the trees in the summer creates a lush backdrop. Initially, I wanted hand-painted silk wallpaper à la Pauline Des Rothschild’s Paris bedroom apartment, but I quickly dropped that fantasy after researching the costs. We realized we needed plaster repair before embellishing or decorating any surfaces. Romaine has loved lime plaster for some time. I’ve listened to his many monologues about the beauty of the natural materials, the walls' luminescence, and the textures' liveliness when the light hits the surface. Convinced by his ardor, I agreed to move in this direction. Luckily, we live in an area with skilled artisans specializing in natural lime plaster. We met with Chad in late August and got on his schedule for February. 

In December, our builder, Zach, replaced the hefty billiard green trim around the windows and floors with thinner pieces of maple, which we thought would be a nice complement to the plaster. He leveled and re-framed our doorways with fluted maple molding, fixed rough work from the past, and made the room paint-ready for Chad and his team. I convinced Romaine that we needed a Murano crystal chandelier to bring drama and opulence into the room. We picked an amber and crystal one with flowers emerging from the center, and our fabulous electrician, Nina, wired and installed the piece carefully. Zach is finishing up the bar area that was formerly a funky closet, and I have a bunch of little tasks left to do. Soon, Romaine will be able to use the bar to make refreshments for our guests. Our dining room is nearly finished after eight months of project planning, coordinating with our crew, and countless conversations and decisions.

While away, we’d seen the updates via photos but didn’t know how it would look in person. Had we made the right choices? When Romaine and I walked into our home for the first time in nearly two months, we felt relief and joy. The lime plaster is as mesmerizing as Romaine described; the textures and colors seem to change as the sun moves across the sky. The maple trim is clean and modern, a nice juxtaposition to the old rosettes and Victorian trim in the living room. The hand-blown flowers and intricate elements of the chandelier are exquisite. We’re so grateful to everyone who helped create this space for us.

I’ve been settling back into the rhythm of my life in Vermont, cooking in my delightful kitchen, nesting, and inviting people over again. With warmer days approaching, Romaine and I are working on garden planning and figuring out our vision for the next phase of renovations in our home. Next week, we’ll reconvene with our cribbage crew and have some friends over for Sunday supper. I’m taking delight in the spring ephemerals and waiting for more flowers to arrive, which I hope will bloom sooner than later.

Warmly,

Jen

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