Big Brick Energy at Pauline Manor

We have been waiting a long time to say this: Pauline Manor has her bricks. Well, at least most of them. And let me tell you, nothing transforms a house like seeing her wrapped in thousands upon thousands of bricks.

The journey to this point started way back in 2023 when we first walked through a brickyard, wide-eyed at all the options. We must have looked at a dozen different shades, but wouldn’t you know it, the very first brick we picked up that day ended up being the one. After plenty of second-guessing and more trips to other brickyards than I care to admit, we circled back to that first choice. Sometimes you just know.

Of course, Pauline Manor is no small cottage. To cover her, we had to order more than 20,000 bricks, along with 100 bags of mortar, and an entire truckload of sand. When the sand arrived, Lando was absolutely convinced it had been delivered for him.

The crew started in the back of the house, working their way around. In just a few days — including working right through the 4th of July — they managed to complete the entire pool side, the back side, and the wall along our bedroom. Watching the bricks go up was nothing short of magic. Day by day, the house looked more and more complete, like she had been waiting all these years to finally wear her proper red dress.

Now, it wouldn’t be a Pauline Manor project without a little hiccup. When it came time to start the front, we discovered more work was needed on the porch before the brick could continue. Because of course we did. This house always has one more surprise for us.

So the brick crew wrapped up what they could, leaving us at about 75 percent finished, and we made a plan to reinforce the porch before bringing them back out to finish the job.

Even with the front still waiting, the difference is incredible. Walking into the backyard and seeing the pool framed by brick, or looking up from the garden and seeing those strong walls instead of bare plywood, is enough to make me grin every single time. It feels like Pauline Manor is standing taller, stronger, and prouder now that she’s bricked.

There are still steps ahead — porch repairs, more mortar, more time — but this milestone feels huge. For the first time since we moved in, the house looks like the vision I’ve carried in my head for years.

So here’s to bricks, to perseverance, to over 20,000 tiny pieces working together to make something big and beautiful. And here’s to Pauline Manor, radiating her Big Brick Energy loud and proud.