Old wooden windmill added to Mill

     Well we finally have the old wooden windmill top hanging in the mill.  When we purchased our property several years back, we inherited the original wooden windmill that was used on this property years ago.  We always knew that we would find a use for it and we have.  It now is hanging on a huge wall in the atrium part of the mill on the second floor.

     I believe it is at least 6' tall.  It is huge!  So glad that my brother in law was willing to help give it a new home in our mill.  My husband used his handmade crane to lift it up.  I was so skeptical when my hubby Ross had told me of his idea to make a crane inside the mill for lifting furniture and such up to the second and also 3rd floor.  All I could think of was how hideous it is going to look inside the mill.

     He proved me wrong!  It looks like it belongs in the mill and blends in nicely.  The crane has also been such a back saver.  So many very heavy pieces of furniture, washer and dryer went up way of the crane.  It is not uncommon for Ross to invent such things.  He is such a clever man!

     After it was attached to the wall, my brother in law Perry had a spot light that he added to a beam to highlight and accent the wind mill at night.  Cant wait to see it when it gets darker!  Just love how it makes a statement in here.  A conversation piece indeed.

     Here are a few photos of the process of hanging the wind mill.  Can't wait till our next project, whatever that may be!

Here is the before photo of the wall the windmill will hang on.  Looking at it from the main floor up to the second floor area.

Now it is being lifted by the crane up to where it will hang.

Now this is where muscle is needed to lift up onto that peg looking thingy.

It's up!!!!

Wow!  Now this is what I'm talking about!  Sure makes a statement.

Here is a look from another angle.  Looking up from the main floor.

Here is my husband Ross.  This is the crane he built that I mentioned earlier.

French Doors made into room divider

     When we moved into our mill, I had no idea of how hard it would be to decorate with an open floor concept.  Having walls in a room is so much easier I think.  I just miss not having a few other walls to add a cupboard here, a few pictures there and so on.

     I feel that I have done a good job at furniture placement, but just needed an extra wall to add a buffet table or something into the dining area.  We had these 4 matching french doors which have plenty of glass windows to see through that I just love.  I proposed to my husband that we use them on the main floor to break up the space between dining room and sitting area.  He was totally all for it!  He trusts my judgement as he is not the decorator.

     One side of the french doors is painted black and the other side is wood.  Perfect!  The black side is facing the dining room.  Right now he has them standing upward by using L brackets but when he has a chance we are thinking of hanging them from the beams off the floor about 2 inches instead.  I can not get over how great they look!  Total transformation!  I love the fact that I can see into the sitting area or visa versa through the french doors.  They still let the light flow freely through the whole area.

     Now that the french doors are in place I need to find a great piece to have in front of the wall facing the dining room.  I am thinking some sort of buffet.    I would like it to be open at the bottom so that the piece of furniture will not obscure or block any light and also I do not want to see the back of a cupboard from the other side.  My husband and I found the perfect piece to go there, but needs some work.  Will show pics of what we have in mind later.  It's going to look great I do believe.  So here are a few photos of both sides of the french doors in place in the mill.

     I just get so excited when we can find things we already have and use them in the Mill.  Hope you like them too!

There is a small gap between the two sets of french doors that will be fixed if we plan to keep them on the floor instead of hanging them. 

Here is a view of the other side into the sitting area.

Update on our 160 year old flour mill renovation.

     Hi everyone.  I can not tell you how excited I am to share with you our progress on the mill.  We certainly have a ways to go but yet we have came such a long way.  We moved into the mill a week before Thanksgiving of last year.  Enjoying every minute living here.  Click on the link below to view images of what we have accomplished thus far.  More to come soon!


SHORT TOUR OF WHAT WE HAVE FINISHED INSIDE THE MILL