Building Built-ins

Here are some photos of the breakfast nook area that Greg worked on this week. He was on a mission to finish before leaving town this weekend and did it all. Nice work G!


This is leftover soapstone we had from our kitchen countertop. We're making a built-in desk area off of the kitchen and using some of this for the desk top. Soapstone was not as easy to work with as we thought it would be (and so very messy to cut) but we are definitely happy with the finished product.

I haven't been very hands on these days, but am getting pretty good at shopping for the things we need. Right now I'm working on finally getting something up in our windows- and there are a lot of them. At least I know the neighbors will be happy.

Life After the Holidays

Well, the holiday festivities have come to a close. So much fun seeing our friends and families, eating lots of good food and taking some much needed time off, but now it's back to work.

Our house has become a construction zone once again. Greg started on the built-ins this past week. He's building a window bench in our dining room, a kitchen nook and a desk area off of the kitchen. Here are some photos of his work in progress...

We picked out some fabric today and are having a bench cushion made.

Believe it or not, we haven't had to turn on the heat yet this year. Greg has kept that fire burning non-stop.

We found out right before Christmas that we won the contest I had entered at Repair Home!! Thanks for voting for us! We are looking forward to spending our prize money on future projects- and there are many, many more.

House contest finalists!

I just found out that our house was chosen as a finalist in a contest I entered back in October at Repair-Home! I can't believe we made the the final round.

So, now I'm here shamelessly asking for your help! Click the button below to vote for our house project (the middle one) in this final round that ends December 15th!

VOTE

Thanks! So exciting and couldn't have happened at a better time for us!

Thanksgiving 2009

Greg has been working soooo hard and finished out the back porch, built our butcher block kitchen island and got the woodstove installed and running all before my family arrived from PA for Thanksgiving.

We had a house full of people and dogs- and it was so nice to actually have plenty of room. Next year though, we promise to have doors up (at least in the bathrooms, ok?).

Here are some pics of what we have been working on since my last post.

the back porch

my brother and Greg loving the 70 degree weather

pretty door Greg made with a flap just for Ferlin

leftover roof slate we used on the porch wall

it took all of us to install this crazy chandelier

Greg made the butcher block top out of maple. It turned out really pretty and I don't want to actually cut anything on it now. Sorry Greg.

We scored these bar seats from the 42nd Street Oyster Bar years ago right before they were headed to the dumpster- they cleaned up pretty good.

pretty!

I am sad to say we lost our husky dog the weekend before Thanksgiving. That old girl was a trooper through all the construction and moving- we are so happy she got to enjoy the new house these past few months. We will miss you sweet Ferlin, the house is so empty without you.

Porches!!!

Work, a European tour and a sickly dog have kept us busy, busy, busy since moving in. I haven't updated this blog in a while, but we really have been making progress on the house. The pressure is off though since we actually live here now. whew.
Greg tore out the front porch rails (they were built and put in to meet code only) and came up with a fancy new design. Love it- and the house numbers too.

Clark and Greg put in the back screen porch this week. Lots to do though still. We are planning on using the leftover slate from the roof and putting it on the lower walls out back. Going to attempt to acid stain the cement floor which should be very interesting.

All this and more to be completed before my family comes down for Thanksgiving! No pressure G.

MOVED IN!!!!

Well, we are all moved in!

HOORAY!

Greg was able to come home for a week from his CCL european adventure and help move us in, but we couldn't have done it without Jay Brown. He not only painted most of the inside of the house, but he helped move us out of the old place and into the rental and then back into the new place. I am absolutely certain that he is sick and tired of seeing our old piano and my treadmill by now. Thanks Jay Brown! We love you!

Our fridge was a housewarming gift from Greg's folks. We love it. Ferlin loves it. Thanks Clark and Carolyn.

Ok Greg, get back from tour already so we can enjoy this beautiful house that you built!

Finishing Touches

The past couple of weeks have been chaotic over here as we prepared for the final inspections. Dad came up again to help complete the short list required for occupancy. While searching through the pile of leftover framing lumber for a 2 x 4, we found, and then exploited this little guy--a baby posssum.

Dad helped glue and clamp the douglas fir front door that I made.

This is the finished product--hung, with 2 of 3 coats of poly applied.

This is the fir back door we bought to match the front.

This is a photo of the kitchen cabinets with most of the drawer and door hardware attached. We cut the cobra soapstone to fit around the old sink, then sanded it and applied mineral oil to the top which turned it a rich dark black color.

Me setting a few nail heads deeper before the wood floor people showed up.

Short handrail sections were added to meet code requirements.

A close up of the handrail and newel post cap I made (doug fir as well)

The rooster came today.

A short video of the floor finishing crew in action.

Oh yeah, and we passed our final building inspection yesterday!

-Greg