Going to a wedding, family reunion, HS reunion or just a party? We're your spot to sleep, replenish and refresh! Like these super cute wedding go-ers.... Thanks for making The Bond 1835 your place to stay.
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It could not have gone better. Thank you to EVERYONE involved in this crazy idea... Madi, I could not have survived the last couple days without your help and stability (talking me off those ledges!), Tom - thanks for the safe electricity, Richie, Josh & Sean (there are no words - seriously!), Kevin & team for the great yard care - it looks fabulous, Scott for being there today in a pinch (and for the best dry wall mud ever!), Tim for helping whenever and wherever but most of all, thanks to Markie Mark. Even though I am posting this blog, its been "us" day in and day out. I'm happy you can talk as much as I can (maybe more) and you know how to make everyone feel perfectly at home. Here's to a perfect first day. Love all around. Night night.
So, you know when you're watching the Academy Awards and the winner forgets to thank, like, their wife or something? Ya well, I forgot to thank two AMAZING people. Lynn & Chuck Stevens helped us remove wallpaper, paint, clean and provide overall moral support - so thank you thank you to Mark's sister and brother in-law for everything. We love you! As I sit here ready to write something about promoting our opening tomorrow, I find myself deeply emotional. We have had exactly two days of play in the past 3 month but we have accomplished so much that I'm tearing up over the whole experience. The people who came into our lives to help us with this project are now more than construction workers, they're our life-long friends. The "hiccups" and "oops" and "oh shits" along the way have humbled us both. We did something out of our box, something which felt very uncomfortable. Mark and I are great talkers, great at offering hospitality but not so smooth with a hammer. We are now.
So after almost 90 days of non-stop renovation, more money than we care to admit, about 3 bottles of Advil and even more Aleve, a couple injuries, hours of laughter, a few cuss words and some tears we are going to be ready. It won't be perfect - it never will, but it will be welcoming and cozy and still historic - still 1835. So from April 15 to July 10 we have touched every inch of this Inn: Two weeks solid of wallpaper removal, the floral pink & green kind. Six rooms & stair runners of carpet, tacks and padding - gone. Every square inch of the 2900 square feet - painted. One dining room converted to a beautiful lake view bedroom. Five bathrooms gutted down to the lath & plaster, new showers, tile, toilets, hardware, lighting and most importantly magnifying vanity mirrors! One powder room - added. Reclaimed brick floor laid in the breakfast room, hand grouted and sealed (the finger on my hands are still numb - seriously) New electrical, including all new panels in the basement - not pretty, not romantic, but SAFE. Air conditioning/heat units installed in each of the five bedrooms with remote controls (future guests, please don't lose them!!!) New small refrigerators in each King Bed room & Suite. Robes hung in each closet next to the iron & ironing board so you don't have to call for one! New mattresses, pillows, bedding & TV's in every room. Redesigned fireplace with reclaimed barn wood - not yet complete, we're waiting on one piece of wood. New reclaimed wood stair treads and railings - they're still steep but a little easier to navigate. A GORGEOUS barn door for the living room made from the American Chestnut we found under carpet but couldn't save for that room (oh, you should have seen that crazy mess!) Repainted kitchen, a few cabinets gone, new tile, new appliances (oh ya, the refrigerator just died - thank goodness I have a back-up in the garage... there were a few f-bombs over that!) All floors throughout the house are refinished - the pine, chestnut, tulip wood, and white oak are gorgeous. The amazing Jeremiah stayed until midnight on the 4th of July to insure they were done in time. Who does that? New flooring in the rooms which didn't have the original flooring - bye, bye carpet! Refreshed the garden with the help of Mark's high school bud and a new pergola graces the hill with gorgeous views of the lake. A ton of small touches which you may not notice, but that's okay - we do and we know that it makes the Inn just a little better. So with all that said we get to turn the page to a new chapter - the fun part! Welcoming people from all over the world to Skaneateles. A place so beautiful that it takes our breath away daily. If you haven't made plans yet, pack a bag and come visit us. Okay, off to finish up the getting ready and then to the local bakery & farm to pick up some fresh goodies.... gotta run - I'm sure we'll be doing a lot of "running" this summer but that's okay because nothing makes us happier than a happy guest. Here we go.... with all our love, sweat & tears, Corey & Mark One week from today we will welcome our first guest. There is still so much to do. Once we get the furniture in the rooms I'll post the pictures of our brand spankin' new Inn!!!
For almost three months, there's been a team of workers who have pretty much become family. Sean (the Grumpy Irishman), Josh (the Tattoo artist) and Richie (the Dirty Trucker) have been by our side through thick and thin. Working VERY late nights, weekends and never throwing something at me when I want to add a new design element :) They are truly my super heroes. So here's a special shout-out to the best construction crew anyone could ever ask for. And here's to counting the days - seven of them, not the weeks, until we welcome our very first guest to The Bond 1835. Our amazing floor guru has started the process of sanding these old 1835 floors and sealing with their magic solution that doesn't affect the color. I'm thrilled. Thank you Jeremiah at Crow Hill Flooring!
Today marks 16 days until we open our doors as The Bond 1835. Bedding on beds, groceries in the cabinets and most of the fine details in place. We're going to be ready. The last two days we spent grouting and hand feathering the reclaimed brick floors which will grace our breakfast/gathering room. They look just as I imagined, though my fingers are shot :) Today is a furniture day, which I LOVE. Refinishing the antique King set which will be placed in the suite. Started it last night and its turning out beautiful. Look for LOTS of pictures the end of this week. Our amazing flooring guru will be at The Bond tomorrow to start refinishing the 1835 pine floors. Can't wait to see how they come out and will share as soon as they're done. If you have a reservation already, we can't wait to meet you. If you don't, then book a room and come visit the Finger Lakes! See you in 16. There is nothing better than loving your sheets - unless its loving sheets from a loving company! Organic, sustainably produced and super cozy! Click below to find out what our future guests will be sleeping on!
We are making phenomenal progress but so much to do! Sleepless nights and long to-do lists :) Jeremiah the flooring guy is here and we couldn't be happier! More pics coming later today!
When you're maxed out by all the renovations and have a nothing-is-going-right kinda day, then this happens... Pretty happy to be saying "so long" to May 2018. Started the month with a 2900 square foot Inn which had been demo'd down to the lath & plaster (oh what have we done!)... We found gorgeous original hardwood floors under linoleum & shag carpet, peeled wallpaper (and peeled and peeled and...), scraped linoleum out of every kitchen drawer & cupboard, added walls and took some down, raised a ceiling, updated electrical and we are not done yet! As May wraps up, we've definitely turned a corner. Tile is almost done, kitchen cabinets refinished, new bathroom fixtures were being placed just today! This 1835 Inn is really showing a ton of charm ~ can't wait to start decorating :) June is a day away - BRING IT ON, we're ready. Counting the days until we can share this all with you!
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Corey BondOwner, Inn-Keeper, Designer, Renovation Intern! Archives
February 2024
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