More tiny posts

 It's the little things.  Lately we've been spending a lot of time cleaning up dust, patching holes, installing curtains and putting on switch plates.  These things all amount to whole weekend's worth of activity and don't appear here, in this blog, because they are boring BUT...they make for a much more comfortable space.  Our second floor is truly home now that we no longer have extension cords running the length of the floor and we can turn on the over head lights. 

This weekend, another small but huge thing happened.  Trent opened the wall between the foyer on the first floor and the stairwell to the second floor.  Psychologically, it's huge to unite the two spaces.  It's beautiful!

 

Going down...

And then to the left.

...and into the lower unit

looking back where you just were

Hallway colors

 

 

 

The lights are on!

Yes!  The final switch-plates and outlet covers are on.  We have light and everyone appears pleased.

That tiny chandelier in the background will be featured soon.  It's a lovely Tord Boontje fixture that was given to me for Xmas. It's sooo small.  It doesn't fit the space properly.  Thinking about moving it to the hallway.

Some New Non-Vinyl Pull Shades



Front Living Room



I have *finally* almost completed the process of making pull shades for the 2nd floor.  This task took so much longer than I anticipated and was frustrating beyond words.  After having made about 15 of them I now know a few things I could have done to make this so much easier.

1.  I replaced the vinyl on the pull shades with a thin poly blend material that does not hold it's shape when ironed.  Next time use cotton.  The thickness will be a little more bunched up on the roller, but it won't effect the look that much.

2.  Use a fabric that I like rather than buying a ton in bulk that is affordable.  We needed 75 yards of fabric.  It was going to be a huge expense so I bought something that was fine but not great.  Next time - smaller quantities.

3.  Measure better.  This fabric didn't rip well when I was cutting it off the rolls so even just a small variance made my seams way off.  Next time I will measure twice!

4.  More patience.  It looks fine.  It doesn't have to be perfect.



Library



Art Room

Sophia's Room has yet to be done

...and now for some real action

The last few months have breezed buy, we've been busy with a new school year, a few other houses that needed attention and that monstrosity of a tree that has finally left our yard as of this weekend.  Thanks Matt Gramling!  We now have generous amounts of firewood, for when the fireplace is running.

Trent has begun the most serious project to date- removal of the walls that separate the two back bedrooms of the 1st floor with the old kitchen.  The project has to be completely sealed off due to hazardous dust, so it's hard to get good photos, but you get the picture.  Plaster & lathe ripped down, clean up, repeat.

I spent a few hours in there this weekend, taking down the hallway with Trent.  I feel that we are in the home stretch of this remodel, yet this last leg is going to take awhile.  We are in the planning stages of how this will lay out.  With the help of Jack Golatke of Story Hill Renovation, we hope to have a floor plan soon.

She's been asking what all the noise is about



Wall between old kitchen and hallway

same wall, view into old kitchen

huge amounts of lathe, back closet

view to back porch through back bedroom

That tree!

Finally, the big tree is down and we can all breathe a sigh of relief and the kids have a new playground.  Now, we wait months until someone has time to remove it from the yard.



 

Through the screen door, a safe distance away

Climbing Heaven

Log Rolling

Happy as a Climbing Clam

If a tree falls in a forest...

This is the story of a very lovely 80 year old maple tree. Loved by many, it spent it's life trapped in this tiny backyard.

 

It provided shade to this fabulous porch.

Unfortunately, due to it's size, I cannot make a photo that illustrates it's grandeur.

The branches were hovering so dangerously close to the power lines, it appears to have been hit by lightning, perhaps many times.  The branches that hung over 3 garages, were split and strung up with tension wires by the previous owner.  It had become a danger to itself and everyone around it.  Sadly, we decided to have it cut down.

 

Over the past 3 weeks, we have watched The Tree Guy slowly whittle this fine mammoth beast down to a few tall stumps.  Complete with fun dangling pieces!  The neighbors loved this part.  Don't get too close... 

 

The wood will thankfully be used by one fabulous woodworker for various projects over the coming years.  There is a ton of beautiful lumber bearing solid mahogany colored centers.  it will make lovely furniture some day.

It's also great for exploration.

 

 And makes creepy sunset images

Now, it sits like this until the The Tree Guy comes back to finish the job.  We will miss this lovely tree, but look forward to having a back yard.

"We go to war with this tile job..."

Trent found himself quoting Donald Rumsfeld during this bathroom rehab, which must mean it went on far too long and started to affect his emotional and mental well-being. 

"As you know, you go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time." Donald Rumsfeld

Our second floor bathroom remodel started at the studs, with everything completely gutted, including the window (see "Window of Opportunity").  Many many months later (working off and on), another bathroom install is done for fun at my Mom's house and a multitude of other house projects have been completed. The Master Bath remodel is now nearing completion.  I took the inaugural shower on Sunday and it was amazing.   The Carrera marble tile has so much depth, it's like peering into a cloud. You can't help but feel calm. 



 
Carrera marble tiles in 3" subway & 2x2" hex for the floor from The Tile Shop.  Bancroft toilet and sink by Kohler, Danze shower head and stick wand.  The paint is Sherwin Williams Pro-Mar Zero Voc in Meershaum and Ancestral (Pratt & Lambert deck colors) chosen as to not conflict with all the grays in the tile.

Meerschaum



Ancestral

So, to get back to Rumsfeld. As any weekend home remodeler knows, things happen, measurements get wonky and lighting fixtures might be a little off center. You could even put a hole in the completely wrong place and just decide to leave it there. It's a great conversation starter. Just like the toilet and sink that are currently installed that have a slightly fun house feel to them. They will be the next things to get realigned, but in the meantime, we will be tilting to the right when walking into the bathroom. We're going to war with THIS tile job. It's OK, it took us a long time to get here so we can deal with it. By the time you get here, everything will be just fine. Until your next visit, here's some photos to pique your curiosity.

studs packed with foam insulation, shower pan

just add drywall

stain some cabinets for the basement while you're at it

frame out the window, install shower pan

mmmm...marble tile

make a new wall cabinet

clean it up



some more paint

and it's almost done!

And as far as Donald Rumsfeld goes, I think we will be quoting him again when we begin the kitchen remodel, which is going to be a enormous, looming beast of a project.  Get your demolition pants on! 
"[Osama Bin Laden is] either alive and well or alive and not too well or not alive."