Bump in the Road
Posted on June 24, 2009
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For the most part, we have not had too many unexpected expenses, which is unusual for a complete house build. There was one expense, however, that was a real bummer.
Before we could get our permit for the plumbing work, we had to have some major, tear-up-the-street work done. It turns out that, back in the 60s when Gene began his grand remuddling, he never let the city know what he did with the water line from the house to the city’s line. Because it wasn’t recorded, the assumption was that the pipe was lead and, because of that, it needed to be replaced with a copper line.
So, thousands of dollars, and nothing exciting to show for it except some new cement in the road. Oh, well, at least it got people to slow down as they drove past.
Road work.
Digging to China.
Dueling cement trucks.
“If I Can’t Swim in the Lake Today”
Posted on June 20, 2009
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Today’s been relatively warm—in the mid-80s—and pretty humid. So, Briar found the coolest spot in the apartment.
Fill it up with cool water, please.
And the Winner Is…
Posted on June 18, 2009
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Sherwin Williams‘ Refuge (SW 6228). The color is (to my amusement) part of the Haute Couture collection, which, according to Sheri Thompson, Director of Color Marketing and Design, “isn’t for those with a follow-the-lead attitude.” The funny part? It came out in 2005, so we aren’t exactly blazing a bold trail with our color choice. We just thought it was pretty.
(This was the color on the far-right side in the paint samples photo.)
Deciding what to paint the house was a major decision, but we think we chose the right color. It’s a medium blue with a bit of green and gray, and it changes depending on whether the sun is bright or the sky is overcast. The white trim looks very crisp against it.
I think it has both a nautical and historic feel to it, if that makes sense. A couple of neighbors have commented on how much it reminds them of the lake. Santosh, who lives across the street, called it “very Nantucket.” So, we have a Nantucket-y, Greek Revival–inspired farmhouse, I guess. Works for me.
The photos don’t really do it justice, so you’ll just have to visit…
Front of house, with first coat and trim painted.
Back of house, with first coat and trim painted.
Body Discovered in Backyard
Posted on June 16, 2009
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Given the general weirdness of the house’s previous occupants, we were bound to find something creepy even after the house was completely gone. We predicted that Briar would eventually dig up a body part, but it was the construction crew who unearthed Ken.
He has seen better days.
Bro-Ken (ha ha)
No new developments on the painting front because it has been raining on and off all day.
Blue Monday
Posted on June 15, 2009
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Before applying the blue paint that we chose, Mark of Bay View Painters primed our house using a blue-based primer. So, now it looks like a giant robin’s egg (deluxe version with windows and stuff).
Step 1
The painters will start on the first coat of real paint tomorrow, if it doesn’t rain.
(Title-related flashback.)
Week in Review
Posted on June 13, 2009
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The drywall crew has been here for three days and they have completed installation for all of the interior walls and most of the mudding and taping. It is so cool to see all of the rooms defined.
Sunny corner of the kitchen.
The fireplace was installed on Wednesday.
The basement floor is finished. Our basement windows arrived earlier in the week—they’ll be in place next week.
Basement floor and basement windows in their packaging.
We knew that we wanted to go with blue for the exterior paint color, but weren’t sure exactly which blue. Our painter, Mark, gave us three different paint sample books to look at, each of them about two inches thick. That’s a lot of paint colors.
Given that each little paint sample is about the size of an address label, it’s kind of difficult to look at a color and imagine what it will look like when it’s covering a two-story house. To help us make a decision, Mark painted some larger samples on the front and the back of the house, where we could see how the colors look in sunlight and in shade.
A range of blue hues.
Our architect, the construction crew, neighbors, and passers-by have been happy to offer their opinions. Dan from the crew wondered whether we were planning to paint the entire house in blue stripes. Although this would make the house easy for visitors to identify, we’ve decided to go with a solid color.
Which one will we choose? Tune in next week to find out…
Ground Floor
Posted on June 10, 2009
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Another delivery today…
Cement for the new basement floor.
After the cement is numberswiki.com
poured, the crew smoothes it out.
Now I know why Bob brought galoshes.
Drywall Delivery
Posted on June 8, 2009
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Early this morning, a flatbed truck full of drywall pulled up in front of the house.
The drywall has arrived.
How do you get twelve-foot sheets of drywall to the second floor in more info
a house that doesn’t have a staircase?
Through an upstairs window, of course.
The drywall crew arrives tomorrow, so we will have interior walls by the end of the week. Yippee!
Inside Jobs
Posted on June 6, 2009
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Most of this week’s work was on the interior. On Thursday, the crew built the bumpout for the direct-vent gas fireplace that will be in the living room. I am sorry to report that a required front glass panel will preclude the indoor roasting of chestnuts.
Fireplace bumpout
Also on Thursday, Sam and Dan built the deck for the master bathroom soaking tub, which is a Kohler Purist. The tub included a paper template (for installation), which the guys were able to use as a template for the deck. They did a really nice job in just a couple of hours.
We’re still trying to figure out how many Koi will fit in it.
Soaking tub
As you can see, we also have some insulation at this point. Even with only half of the batting in, the house is already better insulated than the old house.
Here’s the happy, well-insulated place where my shoes will live with John’s blue shirts. (And where Briar will probably hide out during thunderstorms.)
Master closet
Someone on the crew was creative in letting light in.
Hearts and stars
Tub, Take Two
Posted on June 3, 2009
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There were few things worth saving from the old house because the previous owner had demolished and/or removed anything even remotely charming or usable. Cast iron clawfoot tubs, however, can take a lot.
Including being painted harvest gold.
Yellow tub-marine.
And, yes, that is what the master bathroom looked like. (Note how the previous owners just painted the floor along with the clawfoot tub feet.) The entire house was like this—in various stages of completion and states of absurdity.
Here’s what the tub looked like after John from Cream City Tub & Tile got his hands on it.
Shiny and new.
The feet were refinished in black enamel.
One foot.
This bathtub will go in the guest bathroom, along with a vintage-y looking Kohler Bancroft sink. Here’s the ceiling light that I’m ordering for the room from Rejuvenation.
Lombard flush-mount ceiling fixture.
If you’re in the market for lighting, check out their Web site—you can choose a fixture base in a number of finishes, add a shade, and then view how the fixture will look in your room after inputting your room’s dimensions. It’s very helpful, especially if you’re like me and you have trouble visualizing what the finished product will look like when it’s installed.