1900 Farmhouse

The Latest Of The Kitchen

2011-06-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the latest pictures of the kitchen. While there's still some small amount of work to be done, these will give a general idea of the completed project.

Coffered Ceiling

2011-05-21T21:38:00.000-07:00

For whatever reason, I really am into interesting ceilings. After spending many dinners out while the kitchen remodel trudged on, one particular place that caught my attention was Caldera, a neighborhood pub named after the extinct volcano about 10 or 15 blocks from my house. Since I stole all their color ideas for the breakfast nook, as well as the bench, I might as well copy the coffered ceiling as well. It was the final main construction of the kitchen remodel and it turned out pretty good.

The first step was to add furring strips to add depth to the main stiles

In mid-stile addtion.

After a few coats of paint

Cabinet Hardware

2011-05-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

The drawer pulls finally arrived which means the drawers don't have to be opened by pieces of tape anymore.

I copied the drawer pull from the antique table that my mother left for me so I have some consistency.

An opportunity to include Scully in the blog.

Bench Stain

2011-05-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

Taking advantage of the combination of a sunny day with staining and varnishing the bench that will go into the breakfast nook. I stole this idea from Caldera Public House, a great neighborhood spot just over the hill. I also stole the color scheme which I will hopefully complete in the next several weeks.

Rejuvanation Contest

2011-05-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

The 3rd annual Rejuvenation contest is underway and I entered this time around. The winner get a $1000 gift certificate to be used at the store. Check it out....

http://www.rejuvenation.com/advice_ideas/contest/entrant.html?rid=121

Wallpaper

2011-04-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

In keeping with the whole French country theme, I wanted to include some toile. In looking into this print, it turns out that toile was actually originated in Ireland. However, the french adopted it and used it in more frequency. I've always liked that printed look, and also wanted to do something unique and a bit against the grain of the typical solid color look that everyone seems to be doing. That is why I went with wallpaper. I was a concerned that it'd be too busy and obnoxious and it surprisingly isn't.

Cabinet Paint

2011-04-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

And the process of cabinet painting begins....

Painting the mullion white cabinet doors (slowly) in the breakfast nook.

The lower cabinets are primed with a red paint as a "primer" or base undercoat.

A coat of black is added on top of the red then using a wet towel, I lightly rubbed off some of the black before it dries to give it a bit of a distressed look.

A close up showing the distressed look.

The white cabinets upon completion

The black cabinets shown with some of the hardware on. I'm still waiting for the drawer pulls.

Espresso Machine

2011-04-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

What can I say. I splurged on this one.

Pot Rack

2011-04-24T07:52:00.000-07:00

Having a pot rack really clears up cabinet space, while providing even more of a rustic feel to the kitchen. I got this rack from Kitchen Kaboodle.

Clawfoot Tub & Fixtures

2011-04-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

I got this 67" slipper from Signature Hardware. The have great customer service and I highly recommend them. The bottom is painted "Hollingsworth Green" by Benjamin Moore which will match the bathroom ceiling, for balance.

The fixture close up for the clawfoot tub. Also from Signature Hardware.

The fixture for the vessel sink is from Belle Forte.

Bath Vanity Sink

2011-04-19T07:38:00.000-07:00

Sharon Greenwood Pottery (former Creative Director gone potter) made the vessel sink for the bathroom. It originally started with just the shape. Then I mentioned it'd be cool to have some relief design in there but I wasn't quite sure what it would be. After showing me some pattern samples, we somehow got on the fleur-de-lis concept, then the pie plate shape. The whole process went great and was a lot of fun to see it develop.

The results blew me away.

Photo credit: Sharon Greenwood

The vanity is white carrara marble sitting on a simple black antique cabinet

Butcher Block Table

2011-04-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

I was originally going to have a custom made butcher block table built to a specific size with an integral knife block and separate cutting board and all that jazz but it turned out to be way too expensive. I ended up getting this online for about half the price of the several bids I got. It's a bit smaller than I'd like but it's great to have.

Scully giving me that look. She's either waiting to go to the park or eat.

Trim and Molding

2011-04-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

For the end of March/start of April, the remodel entered the finishing phase by installing the trim and molding. To me, the appeal of remodeling is venturing into things never attempted before, however cutting and installing molding which I've done a lot of still gives a ton of satisfaction. It's easy but yields great results......when done right, of course. I had to redo the garden window trim twice. It's best not to install trim when you're totally sleepy.

Window trim and the start of the picture rail in the breakfast nook.

Base boards and trim around the fridge and bathroom door

Bathroom and pantry door. I had to get fairly creative in this tight area.

Quarter round to cover the gaps between the base board and hex tile.

I didn't take any pictures of the crown molding, but here's a cell phone shot of my guide on how to set the saw up with regards to the orientation of the crown molding and angle of the saw. This is my 4th or 5th time cutting crown molding and it's STILL confusing.

The garden window trim between attempts

The finished garden window trim

Countertop

2011-04-05T07:24:00.000-07:00

For the countertops I decided to go with Corian which just about everyone tried to talk me out of. Since it's essentially plastic, you can't place any hot items on there. However, living with formica for the last 15 years, I am used to that and didn't think that'd be an issue. What I like about the Corian is the clean solid look and the cool feel of it. With granite and silestone and all the other hip tops with a speckled pattern, it tends to hide food crumbs. I like a sterile food prep area myself.

The bullnose edge makes it easier on your hip when you walk by.

The installer did a great job terminating at the farmhouse sink.

At the last minute I added a short, coved backsplash, with the intention of containing small spills without covering too much of the travertine backsplash wall

Kitchen Appliance Install

2011-04-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

The gas range finally arrived.

So far, this was the only subject of aggravation in the entire project. The original lead time given to me was 10 weeks and a few weeks before it was to arrive, the lead time doubled to 20 weeks. I could tell you the reason that was given to me, but I doubt it would be factual.

I ended up finding another supplier (AJ Madison) that told me they had the range in their warehouse and could get it to me in a week or two. This was too good to be true. After receiving an automated reply that it was on back order just before scheduled delivery date, I was concerned and called them. A lot. I was on hold for so long so many times and never got a good response However, in retrospect it didn't turn out too bad as they got it to me in about 4 weeks. I think the wait was worth it too.

I was blown away after inching the range into place and stepping back to see. It's starting to look like a real kitchen.

The ergonomic control knobs hooked me.

Temperature gauge

The Waterstone Gantry Faucet. I splurged on this but it's used everyday so it's worth it.

The Insinkerator Excel disposal with an air switch (not shown and not sure where it will be installed just yet).

Panel ready Bosch dishwasher without the panel.

Hidden dishwasher controls

Kitchen Floor Finish

2011-03-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

Three coats of polyurethane, and I gots me some floor shine....

The title of this post is not completely true because I still need to add epoxy to the larger gaps and knot hole openings to avoid a food catch-all. I tried Clear Coat epoxy but it was so viscous that it just disappeared into the sub floor. I need to either find an epoxy thickener or a pre-caulk method to contain the epoxy. Suggestions anyone?

Kitchen Cabinet Installation

2011-03-11T15:17:00.000-08:00

I was holding out on posting any cabinet pictures until they were competed and painted. However, at this rate, the blog would never be updated since the painting's going extra slow it seems. Besides, it's been a month since I've added anything and I was getting some pressure to post more on the blog.

So, do people really read this thing?

Here is Kevin Reedy in action, installing the base for the copper hood

Freshly installed upper cabinets. And a BIG level.

The view from the kitchen entrance, showing the base cabinet boxes with drawers sans fronts.

Hood Base after crown molding installation

Another view of the lower cabinets

A view of the upper and lower cabinets from the ladder

Kitchen Lighting

2011-03-10T00:42:00.000-08:00

Since the demolition of the kitchen at the end of November, my source of light has been this:

But soon after the floor was installed, the task lighting monorail which go above the counter finally arrived:

The brand is W.A.C., which I have since found out is a "so-so" brand and I purchased online through Y-Lighting. Not blaming anyone but myself, but figuring out exactly what was required for the monorail install was a trial by error process, ending up in 3 different shipments. That's the price you pay for online shopping I suppose.

Anyway, I like the looks of the fixtures now that I have the white frosted shades. Before was a metallic mesh which didn't seem to work quite right.

For the pendant fixtures, Rejuvenation had a long lead time for their basic chain pendant lighting, so I ended up getting the 3 pendants from Schoolhouse Electric. It was my first purchase from them and was a blessing in disguise because the chain is thicker (a good thing) and the shape of the shade could do no wrong.

More lighting to come with the internal cabinet lighting...

Kitchen Floor

2011-03-04T13:57:00.000-08:00

After 2 weeks and nearly 50 hours of work, the kitchen floor is finally complete.

In 2003 I did a remodel where I removed unusable attic space and installed an upstairs bathroom, enlarged a bedroom and tacked on a balcony. After the demolition of the original roof, I kept the old full dimensioned 2x4s for sentimental sake and also in case I might have a chance to reuse them again.

In the design stage of the current kitchen remodel, I came across an interesting wood and tile inlay and the thought occured to me to finally utilize those old 2x4s. To give it more of a worn look, I had them sandblasted. Here are some close up shots.

The next picture is the collection of split 2x4s after coming from the sandblaster. Earlier, I had cut these to size and checked for nails before running through the bandsaw by Kevin Reedy, who would later become the cabinet maker. He was a reference from my dining room table maker, Dennis.

The kitchen that I'm remodeling was a later addition at the back part of the house. As a result, the floors are at different levels so I had to add some 1/4" plywood to bring it to the same level as the adjacent dining room.

Before installing the 2x4 halves and bricks, I first laid out the centerlines of the 2x4s based on the location of the sink and range for symmetry.

Once the 2x4s were nailed in place, I installed Durock as a solid foundation for the brick veneers to be install on.

Here's a shot of the brick veneer lined up to be installed. I purchased through Holbird Enterprise and the brick is from the Alabama Charcoal Co. in Oklahoma, so lots of character and various colors on the faces.

Thin setting and brick veneer install. I only worked a small area at a time, since there was a lot of cutting due to the angles. After a section or two, I got a good process down and it went fairly smooth, although I felt it in my back the following day, that's for sure.

The grouting was a bit more of an unexpected challenge. The grout tended to adhere to the brick face much more than a glossy tile face so clean up was a bit frantic. I ended up taking a day of "vacation" the next morning to scrub the brick faces to get as much grout off as possible. Later, they went through an acid wash by Gary and that made a huge difference.

More finished shots below.

The two wood "rugs" were strategically placed in front of the sink and the range since a lot of standing is spent there. I figured standing on wood rather than brick would be easier on the body over time.

Copper Hood Install

2011-02-20T13:51:00.000-08:00

Now with the backsplash completed, the copper hood can finally be installed. This also clears up more floor and storage space. That plywood template that I cut out made it super easy to screw to. There will be a base underneath it that encloses the actually exhaust system, to be later installed.

This weekend also lent the opportunity to stain and install the bracing for the headers. They're really not structural but create a cool rustic look. I even used wrought iron nails to install them. It's a small detail that goes a long way.

Kitchen Backsplash

2011-02-16T13:43:00.000-08:00

Who knew throwing some tile up for a backsplash would take so long? I have been immersed in the backsplash since the start of February that I sort of forgot about this blog. Now it's time for catch up...

The first step was create a point of attachment for the copper hood. I didn't want to waste tile that would sit behind the hood and not be seen, so I cut out a plywood template that would in turn allow for easier hood to wall attachment.

The next step was cement board attachment which for wall tile applications, 1/2" thick board is required. There are quite a few varying cement board products out there but Durock was by far the easiest to use - lightweight, inexpensive, and cuts as easy as drywall.

Now for the fun part: cutting the travertine to match the shape of the hood. I have a simple wet tile saw that's good for straight cuts but for outlet openings and curves I needed something else.

I purchased this italian travertine tile on closeout from Oregon Tile and Marble and got a great deal. When I went back to get thin set and some other advice, it turned out that one of the workers was trying to unload his RotoZip on Craigslist. Perfect. This was exactly what I needed. It was only$40 so I thought I got a great deal, until I had to buy the diamond bit for cutting the tile. That was $40 too.

And the finish...

Liebherr Fridge

2011-02-11T16:28:00.001-08:00

Back in September, a mere 5 months ago, I started the appliance shopping. I didn't have a definitive budget but after the salesperson showed me the Liebherr with a price tag of over $8000, I knew that's NOT what I wanted to spend.

Until they realized they had (2) 24" side by side on close out, for over 60% off. It was still a lot of money to spend, but I couldn't pass it up.

This last Wednesday it was delivered and that evening I skipped my backsplash install fun to install the trim kit. It is such a nice refrigerator.

Kitchen Drywall

2011-02-02T09:14:00.001-08:00

What a difference drywall makes. The kitchen is now really starting to take shape.

Although I'm doing most of the work myself for the overall remodel, there are 3 things that I've hired out: plumbing, drywall, and cabinetry. I feel these are best left to the professionals. So far, I've been very successful. Alternative Drywall hung the sheetrock and applied the first mud in probably 5 hours, then came back the next day and applied the second mudding and primer. I was very impressed and the detail around the beams is great. If it were me, I'd still be haggling with hanging. I highly recommend these guys to any of you Portlanders out there.

First Mudding...

And the finale....

Kitchen Ductwork

2011-01-28T23:56:00.000-08:00

With the pantry door installed and the drywall next on the list, it was time to get heat to the kitchen. Heat will help the drywall guy in faster drying times with the drywall finish. There's not a whole to running ductwork but I still felt like a hack. Fortunately (and surprisingly), no blood was shed in dealing with the shards of metal. Previous ductwork projects sent me scrambling to the band aid department.

I buy my goods at Vinje & Son. Nice folks but spendy. They are also 2 blocks from me which is kind of handy. I had them fabricate 3 boxes to connect the round duct to so it speeds up the installation and it's all custom made. I actually screwed up and forgot about the extra reinforcement I did in the bathroom floor so I ended up "rebuilding" the box as shown here.

Scully. Spying on me:

All done. Shiny duct work.

Pantry French Doors

2011-01-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in a previous post, remodels never seem to be contained in the same room that they were intended to be in. Adjacent rooms always seem to pulled into the surge of improvement. Now that the bathroom door was moved down towards the pantry, it now interefered with the location of the existing pantry door. Henceforth, a need for a new pantry door was born.

With the layout of the kitchen & bathroom, the pantry door now needed to swing IN to the pantry. With the narrow-ness of the pantry, I thought it best for mobility in the pantry if there were two small doors (french doors), rather than one 30" wide. Several months ago, I came across these doors in an antique/salvage store in Portland and knew I had to have them, though I would not need them anytime soon.

Here's a cell phone snapshot of the doors in the store.

I didn't think about taking any before shots until I was well into the work. I first started out trimming the door down a half inch on each side, then a good 4" from the bottom. I was fortunate to have the door remain intact after all that removal.

After the trim down, when I went to install the door jamb, the framed doorway seemed to be racked, I assume by the brunt of the east winds that batter the house. In order to get the jamb level, I need to cut away a bit of the door frame. Hack job.

A close up of the mortise job for the hinge on the door:

After 17 hours of door size modification, door frame notching, shimming, jamb leveling, mortising, more leveling, planing, and sanding, the doors are in and working!

The last step was adding the door hardware, which I got from Rejuvenation. Since there's not a whole lot of room, I used knobs that would normally be used for a screen door, along with some ball catches at the top. The only thing left to do is gasket and a repaint.

Pantry Lighting

2011-01-17T09:43:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's common occurrence among other remodelers, but it seems when I do a fairly substantial size remodel, it tends to bleed into other rooms. When I did my dining room remodel for example, I ended up repainting and reflooring my den/family room, simply because it was next to the dining room. The kitchen + bath remodel is having the same effect. I'm redoing the pantry.

It's not a major deal but definitely is taking some time. So far, I've just added needed lighting to replace the fluorescent fixture. I got this raw fixture at Rejuvenation along with the replica bulbs. I wired them to have a 3-way switch and also added conduit. I'm digging the industrial look.

Future plans for the pantry are to add open shelving and really get it organized, along with installing another window to peer in at the waterfall.

Hand Hewn Timber Beams

2011-01-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

The moment I've been waiting for. Installing old timbers as "beams" to create a rustic feel for the kitchen, which will later be contrasted by clean white glass mullion cabinetry. I can't wait to see it all together but this was the first step.

All in all, it went pretty smooth with only a few challenges as every project must unveil. There are a total of five and these "beams" do nothing that a beam would usually do structurally, other than look cool. They were purchased at Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage and I was told they came from an old barn in Southern Oregon.

The hand hewn, or rough hewn, helps the old timber look even more rustic as if it's been sculpted. The lower exposed part of the beam is actually the rounded part of the tree.

The bleach container seen at the bottom was for killing off the algae that developed after sitting in the Oregon rain.

The big challenge was the mortise and tenon to join the beam that ties into the header. The mortise part took a good hour or more of chiseling out. I even came home on my lunch break, just to knock some of it out to make it less tiring to do in the evening. The tenon was a piece of cake, actually pretty fun.

Here's the tenon part. The first picture is marking out what needs to be chiseled away. I made cuts in to the beam with my circular saw to help move it along. The last picture is the end result of the tenon, or at least before I had to round up the corners to get it to fit. Whoa! How'd that beer get in there???

Here's what the final mortise and tenon joint ended up as. It's doesn't get more 19th century...

Ceiling 1x4s

2011-01-10T10:19:00.001-08:00

Although the electrical is not quite wrapped up, due to some circuit adjustments and outlet additions, I could still move on to the next step in the list which is adding the ceiling 1x4s. These were purchased at Mr. Plywood and I choose rough cedar for a more rustic look. I primed them on the floor prior to install to alleviate some of the over the head painting. This was another project that the nail gun was a HUGE help.

I'm very happy how these turned out but I think the old rustic hand hewn timber beams will take the spotlight. Stay tuned for those...

Electrical Check

2011-01-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

I got some great news this morning. I asked a licensed electrician to come and do a pre-check of my wiring before moving on any further. I didn't quite pass because I did some code violations. Nothing major, or anything that would burn down the house, just that some lights were on the same circuit as the outlets. The other mistake I made was that I did not place enough outlets per the 4 foot rule on the countertop. I knew of this rule, but ignored it thinking I personally didn't need all those extra outlets. I decided to go by the book and add them.

It will certainly be a bit more time on top of what I've already put in (3o hours), but the best part is that I know I will have done it correctly. My original estimate of the electrical was way off - 16 hours. As it turns out, that electrician confirmed that my actual hours are pretty good. She thought my project would have been a 2 man - 3 day job. Wow! That's 48 hours!

And the best part is that I saved over $4,000....

Wires, Wires, Wires!

2010-12-31T16:16:00.000-08:00

After running the wires in the lower bathroom, I knew I was in for a massive project with the kitchen due to the amount of dedicated circuits and lighting needs. In my Gantt Chart, I blocked away 10 days, gave myself 16 hours and estimated about $125 in materials. So far, (and I'm still not done) I have taken about 30 hours and spent about $260.

Though the pictures might not show much to you, seeing all the yellow wiring (I used 12 GA for everything regardless of 15A or 20A) really brought the new kitchen closer to reality. I'm having a qualified electrician come check my work prior to covering the walls with drywall. I'll probably do a second check once everything is connected, just to be safe.

Here's a shot of the ceiling boxes. I'm going to have 3 levels of lighting - low nightlight type lighting in cabinets, medium overhead lighting with fixtures from Rejuvenation, and high level task lighting over the counters by means of modern rail lighting hung from old hand hewn rustic beams.

Wiring in the breakfast nook/cove/snug. I'm going to have the outlet halves controlled by switch, so I can have lamps also provide lighting.

The wall boxes for a couple of Rejuvenation sconces

One 3-way switch for the pantry lighting:

The wires on the left are for the low level lighting rope lights that will go at the base of the copper hood. In the middle is wiring for the exhaust liner and the wiring on the right is for the low level and high level light switches:

Header and Posts

2010-12-15T15:01:00.000-08:00

The theme of the new kitchen is angled more towards a "french country" style so lots of rustic materials will be implemented. The rustic design concepts started with a brick inlay floor with reclaimed full 2x4s, then faux timber beams were added. After the breakfast nook idea was born, there was a need for support of the joists above. It was back to Aurora Mills to find some big beefy timber.

Here are the posts getting sprayed with bleach water to kill the moss that grew on the timbers as they were stored outside:

After speaking with a structural engineer, he guided me to use 4x4s underneath the posts with a concrete block to spread the load since I don't have reinforced concrete in the basement floor. Try not to look at my messy basement, please:

I lucked out with the post location. Check out this tight fit next to the gas line:

I'm no woodworker (as you can see by the direction the chisel is aimed) but I wanted a keyed type fit for the header to sit on the posts. It might be called a "simple mortise & tenon"? Here I am notching out the header:

After nixing the idea of using human strength to support the header while the posts were installed below due to the chance of the header getting away and falling, I rented a drywall jack from my neighbors across the street. Good folks, they are.

The final result. Header and Posts.

It's not that impressive at this point because of all the other lumber around but once the drywall is installed, it will stand out more. I think the contrast from rough and old to clean + crisp makes a killer look

Kitchen Framing

2010-12-11T14:48:00.000-08:00

When I did the bathroom framing back a month or so ago, I did a little framing of the kitchen prematurely. After some plumbing changes and updates, I need to reframe. Here' s a few shots of my make shift plumb bob telling me where to correctly put my plates.

The following picture doesn't give justice to the time spent on this little section. I think it was about 3 hours just in locating, relocating, and notching out for this area.

The finished framing job...

The door on the end is the bathroom entrance, and the wider opening is for the fridge which I'm considering installing early.

Here is the wall between the recently shrunken bedroom and the breakfast nook...

Alternate Kitchen Set Up

2010-12-01T09:21:00.000-08:00

With the kitchen gutted to the 2x4s, the need for an alternate kitchen and placement of the fridge and microwave and cabinets arose.

What was my dining room, has now become my kitchen...

After two solid days of cooking, the freezer is now stocked with 30 meals. Frozen Famous Barr Onion Soup, Frozen Lasagne, Frozen Stew, Frozen Chili, Pulled Pork, Frozen Ham & Bean Soup, and Frozen Chicken Noodle. I can guarantee that the first meal cooked in the new kitchen with NOT be soup.

What was the newly, somewhat remodeled lower bathroom, is now the dishwasher space...

Kitchen Demolition

2010-11-27T09:08:00.000-08:00

A bit of a delay in posts I realize, but I'm back on it now. Something about demolitioning a kitchen doesn't leave a lot of time and energy to create posts on my delicate computer.

So here's the start of it...

Gary with the circular saw to the......counterTOP????

And the final outcome...

Magazine Rack

2010-11-18T15:49:00.000-08:00

When I did the attic remodel back in 2003, a little light bulb in my head went off to add a built in magazine rack next to the toilet. With the advent of great smartphones, I tend to not read magazines during those deeds anymore, but I still thought it would add some character for the downstairs bathroom remodel.

Rough opening between two wall studs...

With the 1x3's cut for the casing...

Using my kitchen countertop on it's last days as a nearby workbench...

Assembled and held in place by gravity...

This was all done by less than par drill bits so it has got its share of flaws but I think it turned out just fine. It will be painted white along with the trim and beadboard wainscoting.

The Copper Hood Is Here

2010-11-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

I didn't want to give any sneak peaks to the kitchen remodel but I was so psyched to see the copper hood, that I had to share.

This was made by Vlad at Art of Rain. I highly recommend him. He's personable, friendly, quick, very talented, and with reasonable cost. All the things that make a great experience when it comes to purchasing these types of items.

I didn't really need the hood this soon, but I sure like having it around so I can gaze at it.

Bathroom Door Install

2010-11-15T15:14:00.000-08:00

The bathroom floor was fairly easy to install. Now it came time for something more challenging - hanging the old $75 five panel bathroom door purchased from the salvage section at Rejuvenation. I've done this about 3 times before, none of them have been absolutely perfect, but good enough to be workable and to fool those who know not what to look for.

Things were going fine as I took my time on an evening after work, then all of a sudden 3 issues arose:

1. I cut the incorrect end of the jamb.

2. The floor sloped so bad that it created a half inch inch gap at one end of the door's side.

3. The rough in of the framing was too tight and gave no play for adjustment.

As panic sort of almost set in, I broke for dinner and had a solution after my first bite. I just needed to trim off about 1/4" of the jamb. This turned out perfect since I was able to lower the door about 1/4", meet halfway for the slope of a 1/4". The jamb end, that had a funny angle, could simply be caulked to hide my oversight of cutting the incorrect end. My door, which I had custom cut, still had plenty of room to fit within. The task continued to churn forward.

That first evening took 5 hours and I was up until midnight, but the successful ending made it all the worth it.

There is nothing easy about hanging a door, I've concluded. Even attaching the strike and knob hardware needs to be thought through carefully. It sure is fun opening and closing it now though only for the simple fact of.... because it works!

Getting Heat to the Bathroom

2010-11-13T15:34:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing about HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) work that I have learned, it's ALWAYS wear gloves. I'll never forget the first HVAC project that I worked on at my house (adding heat to the upstairs) and the next day, when I went to work, my hands were riddled with band-aids, much to the amusement of my co-workers. I eventually spilled some blood on this project, since there were some moments that I needed the fingertips.

When I put the bathroom floor in, I spaced and forgot to locate the heat register. That meant I had to rip up some tile and cut through the cement board. That cement board eats sawzall blades like bar pretzels, so you know!

I had some custom boxes made to fit the old registers I bought at Rejuvenation. Once those were installed, and taped up, running the hard and flex duct was a piece of cake.

Here's a shot of the register install...

A before and after view from below...

Bathroom Floor Install

2010-11-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

Now that I have the wainscoting almost ready, I realized that I needed the baseboard molding in before I could install the wainscoting. But before I could install the baseboard molding, I really should have the floor in. Works for me. I really enjoy installing floors. The outcome far exceeds the work put into it. That doesn't necessarily mean it's easy, just doable.

Since this section of the house is a tad lower than the rest, the floor needed to be built up to make a total of 1.25" thickness. Half inch plywood was cut to fit....

Then half inch cement board....

Making a nice thick floor...

And now for the 1" hex tile (1/4" thick), for the period bathroom look. They are not exactly authentic because I wanted glazed tile for ease of cleaning.

At the door, I needed to support the grout edge so I took one of the floor board samples I'm going to use in the kitchen and installed it as a threshold. I really like the worn antique wood look against the shiny new tile.

Wainscot Prep

2010-10-31T10:16:00.000-07:00

A pile of pre-cut wainscot sitting outside, ready to be stripped.

For Halloween this year, my costume consisted of a breathe respirator. Not very scary I realize, but helpful in keeping the lead dust out of my system, which could result in a pretty bad scare. As mentioned in previous posts, old wainscoting was found in the demolition of the bathroom and the thought came to utilize the original wainscot rather than buy new. What seemed like a green/environmentally-conscious and inexpensive solution is actually just the opposite. Not only is the lead dust harmful with cutting, but having to remove the extra gobs of paint on the panels is expensive and fairly nasty due to the hardcore paint remover.

On the positive side, the wainscot will have loads of character and can remain in it’s original home.

Drywall Finish

2010-10-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

The long, tedious process of finishing the drywall begins....

The drywall hanging came at a perfect time, since I was off to Colorado for a work trip soon after and Gary could have the house to himself to do his magic on the drywall finish. It’s November 19rd as I post this and the drywall finish still
continues, but it’s looking very good

.

Drywall Attach

2010-10-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

Here is the ceiling, all hung with care (with drywall).

About five hours was spent this Sunday hanging drywall. Starting with the ceiling, we rigged up a 2x4 about 2 inches from the top of the wall for one edge to sit. One person held the other end, while the other person frantically screwed the wall in place (or fetched screws from the ground, or retrieved the dead battery for the drill). It was nearly a Laurel and Hardy episode

Sheer Panel

2010-10-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

Hand nailing the 3’ strips to the sheer panel.

In order to meet code when I did the attic remodel, sheer panels were install at the corners of the back of the house to meet wind and seismic loads. I had to tear these out with the bathroom remodel, so here we are putting them back in. Gary handled the nail gun part of the project and I did the hand nailing.

Insulation

2010-10-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

The bathroom walls finally see some insulation after over 100 years of nakedness.

Before installing the insulation, I remembered a few important items to take care of while I still had access, namely fire stops and wiring clean up. After a little research I learned that fire stops are critical in saving (or delaying castastrophic damage) a home when a fire breaks out. My home isn't balloon framing, but I had created openings in the floor which essentially acts like a flume if there is a fire in the basement.

Once I got those out of the way, Gary was set to insulation and did a great job installing the insulation while I was away at work. I gotta tell ya - coming home and seeing this was a big surprise and it was nice to have a day off! Of course, I had to give Gary a hard time for installing the insulation upside down...

Exhaust Fan Install

2010-10-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

Exhaust fan - all ducted up and wired. Ready for action. Bring it, stink!

About an hour job, but another line item crossed out, the exhaust fan is done! It only took one exhaust fan, two feet of duct, and a $25 back flow flap mounted on the outside as seen below. Sawzalling through that blocking, plywood and 3/4” siding was the most difficult part. That reciprocating saw is my most appreciated tool in the box.

Window Install

2010-10-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

Here I am nailing in the studs for the new window to attach to.

I rushed home after work and started this endeavor at 5:30, know
ing that I had little time before darkness fell upon us. Fortunately, the previous window was held in only by the molding from the outside so little time was needed on that. Overall it went well. Adjusting the window placement from the outside wa
s a challenge because I built the frame too tight. It eventually straightened out though after a few expletives. How many expletives does it take to straighten a newly installed win
dow o
ut?

The original window is on the left. When I was working to get it out, I twisted it unknowingly and the glass just exploded right in my ear. No blood though. I was lucky.

Window removed. It reminds me of a missing tooth.

New frame built for window to attach to that I was particularly proud of. The old windows were literally attached to the exterior trim molding.

Ta-da!

Electrical Rough-In

2010-10-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, if you survived that last post on the plumbing, may you be rewarded with a post on......

roughing in the electrical!

As I write this, I’m waiting to get an electrician in to kind of give me the go-ahead, pat on the back, whatever to make sure I know what I’m doing. It’s possible all these picture may be for nothing in case things change.

Plumbing Rough-In

2010-10-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

Plumbing. What can I say? So important, but pretty boring to blog about.

For this part of the remodel, I hired out. If anyone needs a sharp, young, energetic, inexpensive, down to earth plumber - let me know. I got just the guy for you.

A New Bath Wall

2010-09-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

A view from the bathroom into the kitchen sans wall.

In order to relocate the bathroom door opening, I pretty much had to remove the entire wall structure. Before doing this, I built a temp wall for support just a few feet away, directly over a beam in the basement.

Framing

2010-09-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

The base plates installed and ready for some stud.

This is my first framing attempt ever. It seems so simple in concept but when it comes to actually getting things level and straight with right angles and such, it’s pretty damn hard, not to mention time consuming. Oh, and then there’s the whole thing about using studs that don’t bow out! Whoa! How’d I get in THIS mess!

More Wainscoting

2010-09-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

More potential beadboard wainscoting uncovered on the ceiling as the nook is demolitionized.

From my previous post, I mentioned that I realized some wainscoting that I uncovered from the kitchen and bath demolition could possibly be used in the bathroom remodel but I wasn’t sure if I’d have enough. After ripping out the first layer from the bedroom ceiling, it looks like a hit a bit of a gold mine. I think there might be plenty.

Or will there be.....?

Stay Tuned!

Basement Reinforcement

2010-09-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

The floor taken up to get access to the joists so we can double them up to minimize deflection.

Since a clawfoot tub will eventually be installed, I thought it’d be best to strengthen up the floor joists. After meeting with a structural engineer on another subject, it wasn’t that this was needed to keep the tub from crashing through to the basement, but more to minimize deflection to avoid puddling of water at certain areas. Since I had little to no access due to wiring and plumbing from below, I had to cut out from above to make this joist doubling happen.

Of course, when you remove the floor, you’re only asking for trouble.

Breakfast Nook Idea - "The Gary Cove"

2010-09-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

Another shot from the kitchen into the bath and part of the bedroom that we’ll steal from to add a little breakfast nook.

Gary had a brilliant idea after I mentioned that I was going to miss the daylight from the bathroom window that would light up the kitchen in the afternoon. It was to steal half of the bedroom space that included a window, and turn it into a nook with a place to sit to eat At first I dismissed the idea, but after some thought, I realized this would solve a few other issues that I had been struggling with through the design, namely the problem of where to sit. Of course, the bedroom becomes smaller but instead of a long, narrow and awkward room, it’s just a little more cozier. Yeah, that's the ticket!

Out With The Walls

2010-09-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Looking from the kitchen INTO the bathroom, because there are simply no more walls.

The walls consisted of 1/2” sheetrock, 3/4” wood panelling, 1/4” thin crap wall, bunch of old wallpaper, and some wainscoting (but, enough for me to use in the bathroom?? - stay tuned!). It took a little more energy to remove than originally anticipated.

Beadboard Wainscoting

2010-09-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

As we demolished the bathroom and part of the kitchen, there were patches of 3/4” thick beadboard wainscoting that seemed to pop up now and again. Then it dawned on me as I uncovered more - this could be re-used in the bathroom as the wainscoting! But would I have enough?

I guess time will tell as more demolishment continues....

Support Post Discovery

2010-09-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

When I did the attic remodel/dormer addition back in 2003, all sorts of special attention and expense was provided to satisfy the city’s needs to meet code. To support the ridge beam, two posts were specially located, as well as basement floor reinforcement, etc. As it turns out, all that design work and “inspection” didn’t quite pay off as I discovered this post notched out past the mid-point, rendering it more like a 2x4.

I later replaced this with a nice notchless 4x6.

No Turning Back Now

2010-09-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

Continuation of the demolition of the bathroom shows some lovely hues of blue that would even embarrass a Robin.

The tear out of the bathroom is starting to get some more momentum. I could get used to this. Then again, I could get really sick of it.

I've Gone Mac

2010-09-03T22:41:00.000-07:00

Hello all...my blog has moved to www.1900farmhouse.com

Blogger's been great but I'm in need of a little more organization when it comes to past projects, so I'm giving a stab at iWeb.

Come over and check out the new site!

And So It Begins...

2010-09-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

I have began official demolition on the kitchen and bath. Not just partial removal to find any hidden roadblocks or cash, but full on gutting. Like a trout. Not too much to see at this point. I have only removed the toilet, sink and half of the first layer of the linoleum and particle board. Fortunately the first level of flooring only 1/4 inch thick so it pops right up. Let’s see how easy the next level is.

Below are some snapshots of previous gutting to expose the plumbing to see what options I have.

Or don’t have.

Firewood Manger

2009-09-30T13:38:00.000-07:00

Holy Smokes! I can't believe it's been nearly a year since I've touched this blog. I'm surprised I remembered my password to access it. It's not that I've been lazy. Really. Just nothing blog-worthy. However, with the cool rain quickly approaching, I got busy with a little project of building a roof to keep my firewood dry. I also like the cedar shake look - like a cabin in the woods.

Here's the shelter in progressive assembly. It took about four hours and weighed a ton. I don't expect my fence to hold more than a month.

Snow!

2008-12-23T21:37:00.000-08:00

For about a week, Portland got it's share of the winter blast that the rest of the country went through. Though it's a bit of a pain, looking back it was a quite fun. I spent more time on Mt Tabor than ever and even got to snowboard down the east and west face, not to mention the roads! It's always best when it's in your backyard.

Scully got her share of exercise too. Here she is, trudging through the 2 foot drifts. Check out the video of her playing with her neighbor Sophie.

Of course snow is not all fun and games and being on a corner lot, my arms got a bit of a workout. I don't even own a snow shovel.

Christmas Tree

2008-12-07T21:54:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago, I had the guts to hang icicle lights from my gables, 20'+ from the ground. It looked so cool and I really wanted to do it again this year. Sort of. Mom hinted it wasn't such a great idea now that I'm "pushing 40". Moms are pretty smart. Not only that, it was a reasonable excuse NOT to go to all the trouble.

For this year, I headed out to the Mt Hood National Forest with a friend to cut down my own Christmas tree. At first it seemed so wrong, but upon learning the Forest Service provided permits for $5, I was on board with it.

So here it is....not sure why type. Maybe Hemlock? Spruce? Whatever it is, it smells great!

Dahlquist Art

2008-11-29T22:15:00.000-08:00

My original piece from Chris Dahlquist back from Labor Day 2007 finally got some friends. And just in the nick of time. These are created by a Polaroid print onto a sheet of aluminum, and they stopped making Polaroid film! What a drag for Chris. However, this will surely squeeze out another creative medium from her.

Being on aluminum, these are not exactly easy to photograph so be sure to check out her website to see what these are really supposed to look like.

Pub, Skye

2008-11-28T22:05:00.000-08:00

This picture was done by a friend of mine, a fellow fiddle player, upon her trip to Scotland. She was in a pub in Skye on a pretty dark dismal day, when suddenly the sun broke through the clouds. She immediately got her pastels and created this great picture. I am huge fan of the constrast from sunlight to dark clouds, and the colors work perfect for my den. I was stoked when I got this picture hung. Thanks Andrea!

Picket Fence Paint

2008-09-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

The long awaited chore of painting the picket fence has finally happened. It's only been about 10 years since it's needed a painting...

Here are some before shots:

And a couple of shots after pressure washing:

And the grand finale:

Front Rock Wall Part Three

2008-08-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

The last and easiest part of the rock wall project. Planting. I went to Portland Nursery which I knew was fairly spendy but figured it'd be worth it.

Raspberry Bush

2008-08-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

A friend on mine has a raspberry bush that's growing pretty frantically and offered some cuttings of it to me. Since I'm a huge fan of that berry and transplants always seem to work best, I was all over the offer.

I chose this location in my yard since it was readily close to an existing irrigation system and had lots of sun. Unfortunately, I think was a former driveway or something. Note the pick axe to break through the gravel/soil. Not to worry, I left plenty of growth room.

Front Rock Wall Part Two

2008-07-27T19:38:00.000-07:00

After getting the rock wall established, the next step is to create a foreground which is mostly as a mowing separation from the grass to the wall. Here is a pile of chips that will be place in a concrete/sand mixture, then mortared in.The first step is to dig out about 7" to 8" deep for a gravel base in front of the rock wall: I poured the gravel in place 4" deep, leaving about 3" to 4" for 2" of concrete/sand mix depth plus thickness of the chips:

Deviating from the concrete instruction to wet first then place the rock, I found it worked much better to place the concrete mix dry then place the chips, then wet it. Since the chips were fairly thin, I felt the concrete would hold them a bit better if they were already somewhat sunk in. Completion! Overall it was actually very easy to do. For some reason, I expect anything with concrete or mortar to be a challenge and everytime I work with it, I'm surprised how easy it is.

Front Rock Wall Part One

2008-06-22T21:50:00.000-07:00

There's a house up on the east slope of Mt Tabor (a few blocks from me) that inspired me to take on this summer project of recreating the front landscape. That's the reason for the previous posts of moving the rhodadendrun and butterfly bush, and finishing the front to back separation fence. They told me the crew they hired took most of the summer to build the dry stack landscape wall. Rather than use mortar, the rocks are placed on top of one another and fitted to match the contour of the shape created.

The first step is to create the desired contour using a garden hose:

The hose is flexible enough to bend and such, but also remains at place when it's time to dig out the shape created:

Here is the first layer of rock placed. It was from the original rock wall that I threw together a few years ago. I wish I would have taken before picture because it looked really lame:

Progress so far. There's still a lot to do

The West Fence

2008-06-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

Having a somewhat decent garden in front, with a crazy chocolate labrador retriever that likes to tear it up from time to time with Sophie from across the street, I thought this would be a good opportunity to separate the back from the front. I had the east part of the yard taken care of quite a while ago. This is the west side of the yard

Setting of the posts...

Scully giving an expression of concern realizing upon completion that she won't able to utilize the ENTIRE yard....

This type of fence is so easy to build. I think I got this done in 2 hours.

And the final product, all painted to match the house trim.

Butterly Bush Move

2008-06-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

So now that I have the Rhodie out of the way, it was time to take on the towering butterfly bush. I forgot to take pictures before the move (duh) but here's where it WAS:

This thing was a bear to move and I had already trimmed it down quite bit. I located it on the west side of the yard, with some future ideas in the works for that area. It looks green here but sorry to say, I think it's a goner. Or maybe it's just sleeping? Anyway, I have hopes it will come back because it usually grows like a weed.

Rhodadendrun Move

2008-06-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

In the first week of June, I decided it was time to get back to work on the house. The first project to take on was making the landscape in the front of the house somewhat presentable. But before I could do that, I had to move some pretty large foliage. This Rhodie has never done that great where it's at now, so maybe the move will be a good thing.

Since I am on a corner, I moved the Rhodie to the planting strip to block the incoming headlights to gain a little more privacy. I really wished I would have done this years ago.

Antique Clock

2007-12-05T16:42:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned before in an earlier post, I travelled to St. Louis where my family is based. My mom had gotten this clock when I was just a little kid from an auction, and wanted to pass it along to me. She believes it's from 1843 and made of walnut. I think it looks great in the den. What's interesting is that I had been thinking about getting a clock for this room for some time, but never acted upon it. I even remember thinking as a little kid that this was a pretty cool looking clock. Now, I just need to get it to work.

It will go for about a minute or 2 then just loses it momentum. I'm sure I've winded up to it's max point too. Next stop...clock repair shop.

Wood Stackage

2007-12-01T16:42:00.000-08:00

This rainy and cold afternoon in Portland was spent outside chopping wood to smaller more usable firewood for the woodstove. After being on the road from St. Louis to Portland for 4 days of driving, it felt great to get out and get some exercise. As I write, it's burning away. Well, sort of. It's a little wet.
Here's the remaining part of the half cord of wood that I split with my neighbor:
And here's Scully with her "cousin" Dooley, just moments before she had to spend the next several days on the road. She did great and was quite the trooper.

Leak From The Sink

2007-10-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

On Saturday morning I woke to a fairly large puddle in the downstairs bathroom. Such a drag. Fortunately, I didn't have any solid plans for the day so I was able to tackle the problem quickly. Here is the culprit - the connection point from the galvanized pipe to the copper.

Why they chose to use a 6" galv extension instead of extending the copper, or using longer flex lines to the sink is beyond me. Perhaps they liked the rusty water flavor it provided when not used for several days?

I have little experience with plumbing, so I gathered as much info on my situation on paper and headed for, not Home Depot, but a local plumbing store, George Morlan. They immediately had a much better solution than I had in mind and I was out, back home, hacking off the valve and galv pipe right at the copper line.

All I needed to do was install the valve right at the copper line, using compression fittings so I didn't need to solder. Then I ran the flexible pipe from the valve to the sink and that was it.

After Inspector Scully approved my work, the hideous sink-cabinet was back in place and I was done!

Toilet Fix

2007-10-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

Now that I got this blog up and running again, there's no stopping this next post. After all, this is a house blog, and toilets are a part of the house that sometimes need fixing.

New toilet components:

Old toilet components:

Finally, no more annoying leaky toilets. After a good 4 months of the internal dripping getting progressively worse, I took the initiative - the bull by the horns, if you will - and spent about 45 minutes making the repair.

Aren't you glad you looked at this post?

Maybe tomorrow I'll go into a detailed post of how I scrubbed the kitchen floor. Or how I replaced the paper towel rack!

Labor Day Painting

2007-09-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

Last year at Labor Day, I used the 3 day weekend to paint part of my house. Since house painted is such a daunting task, I decided to break up the painting into sections. Three day sections. Every year in the beginning of September. And this was the 2nd annual Labor Day paint fest with the area of interest being the upper half of the west side of the house. It's not exactly the most enjoyable since I'm up about 15 feet in the air on a ladder, but it's amazing how quick you get used to it

It's really not too much to show, but here it is:

Before:

After:

More Dining Room Art

2007-09-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

While waiting for the paint to dry during the Labor Day project, I took a bike ride downtown to Art in the Pearl, where I had found the "Imagined Forest" piece the prior year. From what I was told, there are 900 applicants to this show and only 90 are chosen, so you can imagine there is some pretty darn good stuff.

One particular artist caught my eye, not because her media was presented on metal and I like shiny things, but because one of her pictures was of trees, similar to the "Imagined Forest" that I just purchased. It turns out she is good friends with the artist of "Imagined Forest", Jim Brown. Not only that, her and her husband were at the University of Kansas the same time I was. And to think I never ran into her in the drab engineering hall...

So here it is. There is no title, but it's of a monastary in New Orleans. I think it compliments the "Fiddler's Light" pretty well, which hangs at the opposite wall in the dining room.

The picture is actually a photo transferred to a polaroid, then split off with heat and attached to a sheet of aluminum, that is raised off of another sheet of aluminum. I liked that extra dimension that gives, so when I hung it, I raised the picture off of the wall, giving it yet another layer. The darker border around the picture is the same aluminum sheet except that it's sandblasted. What's really weird is that the border matches exactly the color of the dining room wall. Though the picture is small for the large wall, I like it for now but I'm thinking this picture would also look great in the upstairs bathroom, with the shiny metal against the dark aubergine walls.

The artist is Chris Dahlquist. She has a lot of other great stuff so check out her website.

Leaky South Window Fix

2007-09-15T21:56:00.000-07:00

For Labor Day I decided to celebrate by being laborious. Actually, the truth is that the wet Portland winter is just around the corner and I really needed to rain proof my picture window in the front of the house that faces south. Though it's not that obvious in the picture below, the ship lap siding above the window is cracked. Water leaks can sometimes be maddening to find, but I'm fairly certain this has got to be the reason. By the way, other than mowing the lawn and general house chores, this is the only work I've taken on with regards to the house since finishing up the dining room remodel. Hence, a stale blog.

I was a little worried that once I got the old boards off, I'd be looking at dead air space (no insulation), but fortunately I uncovered some insulation so the project would continue as planned. One thing I did find was that there is no blocking from the first floor wall to the second floor wall. This is beneficial, I am told, from major damage should a fire break out by slowing the flames from spreading to the second floor from the first. Obviously, it would have been wise to take of this now with the siding off, but there's only so much time.
With the new boards on:
And the final product:

New Chandelier

2007-06-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

The new chandelier from Hubbardton Forge in Vermont arrived yesterday. Based on the comments from my mom, dynochick and one Ted Morgan, the result is a simple cast iron 8-light chandelier. This does it for the dining room remodel for now. There's nothing more and it feels great!

Imagined Forest

2007-06-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

On Labor Day last year, I went down to Art in the Pearl in downtown Portland to support some fellow irish musicians performing there. While having a look at the art, I came across Jim Brown's spot and really liked what he had. The problem was, I didn't really have a place for it at the time. Well, I did but it wouldn't have really fit or looked very good against the beige walls. That is until I painted the den !

Den Revision

2007-06-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

Lately, the focus of the blog has been on the dining room remodel. In fact, that's actually the reason for creating the blog - a means of relaying the remodel accomplishments to my ever so curious family in St. Louis. But since the dining room is just about done (chandelier arrives in a few weeks), and I want to keep this blog alive, here's some work that has been going on in the den, or the front room.

Before, the den had tan colored walls, and with the light carpet, the white canvas uphosltered furniture made the room fairly bland. I decided to give the room a little more kick and painted the walls a greyish-blue, as well as the ceiling a light yellow. I am very happy with how the wall color goes with the new floors. That blank wall in the picture below will soon be filled in with some art that I'm waiting for.

Oh yeah - and I also got a new TV. Since none of my friends come over anymore to watch games because I'm the only one with an outdated TV, I had jump on the HD wagon. Though I'm not a big TV watcher, I'm really liking it.

Here's what the den looked like before:

Fiddler On The Wall

2007-06-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

It's a pretty sure sign that the dining room is close to completion when I start hanging pictures on the wall. But it's actually not quite complete. I have been searching high and low for a chandelier for the last week and haven't quite got there.

I picked up the Fiddler's Light yesterday after work from the neighborhood framer and hung it within 10 minutes of stepping inside. Then rehung it, and rehung it again.

Window and Door Blinds

2007-05-31T08:45:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, I came across Hunter Douglas honeycomb blinds through my friend Chris Berg. I remember how excited he was and he went on and on (which Chris sometimes does) about how great they were. Chris has good taste, so that sold me. Ever since, I've used them whenever I need window coverage. Some of the perks are that when retracted, they hardly take up any space so all the more light can enter. They also have a "top-down" feature (shown below) and has a good insulation factor with the honeycomb design.

Chairs For The Table

2007-05-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

For part of my weekend, I was able to obtain the chairs for the dining room. They're nothing fancy since I've already gone a bit over the top on the table, but I'm surprised how well I like them. I didn't want to go with a wood look since I already have the doug fir table on the doug fir floors. So, I opted for the black painted wood chairs. The table has plenty of black markings from what I believe is oxidation, and the black chairs really bring that out more in the table, as well and match up with the woodstove. All in all, it exceeds my expectiations of how well it all looks together.

The Little Lilies

2007-05-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

As I was waiting for the floor refinisher a few Wednesday morning's ago, I had a chance to see and capture the miniature lilies blooming in the front garden. Of course, I must take the classic shot with the house in the unfocused background. After all, it IS a house blog.

The Dining Room Table - Complete

2007-05-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

The reason why I love my house as much as I do is because of all the character it has: the many corners, the funky roof lines from with inside. When it came to obtaining a table for the newly remodeled dining room, I wanted something with equal character. Last night I picked up the table that I had Dennis at Brave New Wood build out of reclaimed timbers. I don't think this table could have any more character, and it really looks like it's 100 years old - just the way I wanted it. I also really like how the feet turned out. All that cutting and template making was worth it.

Now I just need to get a chandelier and some chairs and the dining room's a wrap.

Dining Room Painted

2007-05-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I painted the den walls, the panel wainscoting in the dining room, the den ceiling and finally the dining room walls. It was a long arduous weekend but I had to act on the motivation the newly refinished floors gave me.

Here's the dining room so far:

The color is called "Tankard" and is more of a brownish-gray, in case it appears different on your monitor. It's a Miller Paint color, but I had them mix it in Benjamin Moore. I selected the color on a whim, and I'm surprised how much I like it.

Floor Grilles

2007-05-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

I had posted something before regarding the new floor vent, but just had to show the finished product with the new paint job against the newly refinished floor. Here is the cold air return at the opposite side of the dining room. It's cast iron from Reggio Registers.

Fiddler's Light

2007-05-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I came across this photograph and instantly loved it. I love the beam of light, the two gents laughing in the back, and the irish pub feel with the abandoned glasses on the piano. When I decided to take on the dining room remodel, this photograph came to mind that it would need to go on one of the walls.

While I was getting my floors refinished, I needed to be out of the house. Since it was spanning over a weekend, I took advantage of some time off and a good plane fare to New York City to explore the streets, subway, and feel the beat of that great city. I had been in contact with the photographer of "Fiddler's Light", Jill Freedman and was proceeding with the order and 'ship to' address when it occured to me, that with her New Yorker accent, she was probably IN New York. Duh. That's when I bagged the shipping idea and met with her. She's a wonderfully fun person with a great wit to her and very kind. If you get a chance, check out her photo website. Jill's got some fantastic photos.

Floor Refinish In Entry Room

2007-05-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

In the front door entry section of the house, there is an oak parquet floor. This turned out great with the floor refinish because the parquet is made up of various species of oak and shows different colors. Of course, you can't really see it in the after photo, so you'll just have to take my word.

Floor Refinish In Office

2007-05-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

In continuing the floor 'before and after' series, the office floor probably saw the most effort in the refinishing of the floors. This is because half of this room didn't exist when the house was first built so there was a completely different floor on the north side that had to be completely removed. To get the new boards to match, reclaimed floor boards from another building in town were needed, since old growth has a much different look than new growth Douglas Fir.

David at Boardwalk Floors explained that he had to use several thicknesses of plywood below in order to shim to get the floor level. My neighbor also explained that David was there before she left in the morning, and worked well into the evening. I highly recommend him, if you're in Portland.

This is a little closet in the office:

Yesterday, I came across this post, which made my day.

Floor Refinish In Den

2007-05-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some more before and after pictures from the floor refinishing, but this time of the den/front room/family room:

Last Wednesday after the floors had the first sanding, I was able to stop in and take a look. It was looking great with only a few small issues, the biggest being this stain which happens to be the first thing seen after walking in the front door. Fortunately, it sanded out the second time around and is hardly noticable now. It is believed that the stain is actually lamp oil due to how the color changed after the first coat.

Can you see the "hill" on the floor?

Floor Refinish In Dining Room

2007-05-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

This last weekend and part of the week before, the dining room had a big jump in progress. I had the floors refinished by David of Boardwalk Floors. He did a great job and I highly recommend him.

See for yourself.

Before:

And after:

Exterior Painting Complete

2007-05-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

With the dry weather this past weekend, I was able to complete the exterior painting for the dining room section. I had it primed and caulked to protect from the weather shortly after the door was installed, but somehow, someway, I wasn't able to finish the actual painting part of it. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I dread painting. I better get over that dread because I've got a lot of interior painting ahead of me.

Here's the door view from before

And the after....

Gettin' the Garden Mo

2007-05-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

This past week I took full advantage of the good spring weather and got my garden, landscaping, and yard off to a good start. Check it, yo:

Chimney Base Cover

2007-05-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

It's frightning to think that my 20' high brick chimney is supported by this wood frame work, but it must be doing the job correctly, since it's supported it for over a hundred years.

One of the last details is figuring out how to cover this. I can't use drywall or any other combusible material, so I decided to use leftover tin ceiling material, particularly the filler since it's a simple design pattern that shouldn't be too distracting.

Here it is after being primed and installed. Hopefully it won't look as stiff as is it does in this picture after I get it painted. Incidently, just today I obtained several paint samples to decide on the final paint color for the dining room.

Country Cat

2007-05-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Ever since the opening of Bipartisan, the local coffee place in the little business district just 2 blocks from my house, there seems to have been a buzz about all the new stores and restaurants opening up. One restaurant that has particularly made a big buzz with lots of interesting rumors is the "Country Cat". It's taken them quite awhile to convert the old Dickson drugstore into the restaurant, and I began to wonder if it really was going to materialize. However, within the last few weeks it's been budding out as if it was just waiting for spring. Suddenly, a new brick wall facade appeared, a new sidewalk awning, new mosaic, and the most exciting- a big new sign. Last Friday, I noticed several people standing outside and as I worked in the yard, there seemed to be a lot more people walking by my corner. This was an exciting evening. The Montavilla Business District has come a LONG way in the 12 years that I've lived here.

I ate there tonight and was most impressed with the service, decor, and a most tasty pork chop. They have been surprised by the amount of business they've been getting within the last week. I hope it keeps up.

Here are some related articles:

Portland Food and Drink
Portland Mercury
Portland Food
A Neighbor's Blog

Willamette Week

Portland Food and Drink

Oregon Wine Press (thanks, Hilary!)