tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10965495726987472202024-03-13T23:15:29.545-07:00227 North StreetFrom beginning to end, follow the resurrection of a Grand Ol' LadyMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-69686946872737007022021-01-04T05:29:00.011-08:002021-01-04T05:34:32.586-08:00A New Year, new Start, new Website, and a new Blog<h3 style="text-align: center;"> Happy new year everyone!</h3><p>To document our ongoing journey in France I have created a new Website and Blog and I hope you will follow along as the story unfolds.</p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b><a href="http://www.atthechateau.com">AtTheChateau.com</a></b></span></h2><div><br /></div><div>On the new blog I am picking up from the end of the sale of 227 North Street and bring you up to date. Moving to France during a pandemic, the ups and downs of living in another country, and Château shopping of course.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Thank you for your continued support of 227northsteet,</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and we will see you all at the Château in France!</b></div><div><br /></div><div>www.atthechateau.com</div><div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/atthechateau.france" target="_blank">Facebook</a> - at the chateau or atthechateau.france</div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/atthechateau.france/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> - atthechateau.france</div><div><a href="https://twitter.com/atthechateau_fr" target="_blank">Twitter </a>- atthechateau_fr</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-607cXedkX4g/X_MXmW_BXhI/AAAAAAAACWQ/vSjss74sElEjI3Lx0Tf0Aog2jH_k3i-VQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/Chateau-shopping-image.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-607cXedkX4g/X_MXmW_BXhI/AAAAAAAACWQ/vSjss74sElEjI3Lx0Tf0Aog2jH_k3i-VQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h240/Chateau-shopping-image.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>New blog post on www.atthechateau.com</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-11841436556687477152020-12-22T09:54:00.017-08:002021-01-04T05:33:22.491-08:00A great amount of hard work, some fleeing and returning, and an enormous amount of waiting patiently<style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black;"><span> </span>As I write this it has been almost five years to the day that our Journey began. Five years filled with twists and turns, a great amount of hard work, some fleeing and returning, and an enormous amount of waiting patiently, or not so patiently as the case may be. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black;"><span> </span>I am Mark and my Husband is Phillip, the Goffengels, a combination of our two last names Goff/Engel. Or as a dear friend once told us… You know, the fifth house at Hogwarts... the Gay one! Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Gryffindor, Goffengel, and Ravenclaw. Makes me smile every time! We are from the Wine Country of Northern California in the United States <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Inknut Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Inknut Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Our Great Adventure started in late 2015,<br />and yet truly began in March of 2009</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Inknut Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Inknut Antiqua", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black;"><span> </span>Stepping back for a moment, the end of 2008 found us living bi-coastal in our home in Studio City California (part of Los Angeles) and in an apartment on the upper west side of Manhattan. An apartment we rented almost four years earlier when Phillip's work required his presence in New York City. I being West Coast born and raised could not imagine living in NYC full-time, so a deal was struck – two weeks in Manhattan followed by two weeks in Los Angeles. As they say ‘wash, rinse’ repeat!’, every other weekend on an airplane bound for the opposite coast. Phillip had spent years living in the city including his years spent at NYU, and loved it, I on the other hand… New York city and I tolerated each other, and I really came to learn the differences between the two cultures, Los Angeles and New York City, while living there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black;"><span> </span>In October 2008, two weeks at a time, we completed the work on our home in Los Angeles, and what do you do when a project is complete? Why sell it of course. It was the bottom of the financial crash of 2008 and we did not have great expectations, but the house really was fabulous; our real estate agent described it as – A Magnificent Mid Century Modern with Jetliner Views – Within two weeks the house was in contract with a twenty-day closing, and we were moving. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black;">The easiest place for us to go was the apartment<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black;"><span> </span>in New York City… full time… I should have known better!</span></i></b><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black;"><span> </span>We had been looking all over the country for a new home base...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="acumin-pro, serif" style="color: black;"><i>Read more on <a href="http://atthechateau.com">atthechateau.com</a></i></span></p>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-77048025585930908402020-12-13T00:45:00.004-08:002020-12-13T00:47:32.595-08:00<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-weight: normal;">So Much to Tell</span></h2><div><br /></div><div>Howdy to everyone! I have reactivated my blog in anticipation of filling you all in on our new life journey. There is so much to tell and I am currently writing it all down for you to read and enjoy. Grab a cup of spiked hot chocolate, get out your fur blanket, cozy up in an oversized chair next to a roaring fireplace and get ready for the read. </div><div><br /></div><div>As a small teaser, I am sitting at my computer in Carcassonne France!...</div><div><br /></div><div>PS... don't forget the cake, you will need lots of cake!</div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-2535058318994747192018-04-29T17:27:00.002-07:002020-12-12T22:04:30.284-08:00Springtime, and we are ready!The house is officially back on the market and we are ready. Ready as in the house is complete, ready as in ready to sell, and ready to make our move to Europe.<br />
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A few photographs of the house in spring were taken last night, and I want to share one with you...<br />
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227 North Street Healdsburg California - Twilight<br />
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And one more, the rarely seen, and surprisingly large, Back of House.<br />
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-51982304672848871732018-01-08T16:53:00.004-08:002020-12-12T22:05:35.939-08:00Happy New Year! It's time for a New Adventure!All those rumors going around turn out to be true! 227 North Street is on the market.<br />
As much as we love our home, we have decided it is time for a new adventure.<br />
We have graced the halls of this grand old house for a little over eight years, brought it back from ruins, and loved every moment of it. But the itch has begun, a new place, a new existence, a new home.<br />
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Not being the timid or shy types, we have turned our sights to Europe. The South of France to be exact. A Chateau turned boutique hotel. We have spent a total of five weeks looking at properties between Bordeaux and Carcassonne, and have fallen in love with the beauty of the area. The properties available are incredible, and there are many to choose from. As this new adventure unfolds I will post further information.<br /><br />
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-77528431739084261392016-09-15T17:00:00.001-07:002016-09-15T17:01:53.122-07:00Prepping for a Reveal! Somehow Summer is almost over... what happened? It was Christmas and New Years just a few days ago! and we find ourselves on the verge of Fall. We are in fast paced preparation for a photoshoot here at the house on the 30th of September, just 15 days away.... EEEEK!<br />
Madly working on details and unfinished thoughts and projects. The photoshoot is the final installment of a six week, ongoing restoration article about our adventure with the first instalment having gone live today at <a href="http://www.curbed.com/2016/9/15/12904840/renovation-diary-victorian-house-healdsburg-california-part-one" target="_blank">Curbed.com</a><br />
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Have a read of the cumulation of eight and one half hours of interview. Along with photos, old, new, and everything inbetween!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.curbed.com/2016/9/15/12904840/renovation-diary-victorian-house-healdsburg-california-part-one" target="_blank">Curbed.com</a></td></tr>
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-25341654180307993562016-04-22T13:54:00.002-07:002020-12-12T22:06:29.059-08:00The first bloom of springIt is Spring in the wine country and the roses surrounding the house are in full bloom. It is quite a spectacular show, and one of our neighbors told us they are practically causing car accidents!<br />
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I will be posting all that has happened in the past year very soon. Decks are finished, including the staircases, and the upper deck. Our ancient garage has been disassembled and rebuilt in our back yard. We gave it a makeover and it resembles a Creole cottage from New Orleans, we call it "the Summer House" and it is the perfect entertaining space on a warm evening. And finally the third floor of the house is under way, actual rooms with walls of hidden storage cabinets that will look like wainscoting. Add to all that a continued clearing and landscaping of our yard, and two trips to Europe to look at property in France (oops, did I say that outloud?) all in all it has a very busy year!Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-7834911280373232015-02-18T15:54:00.002-08:002020-12-12T22:18:24.268-08:00What do you do when the weather is rough?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><i>Why, a home tour of course!</i></span></div>
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The Junior League Holiday Home Tour, to be exact. Is participating in a home tour something everyone should offer up their home for... absolutely not! No offense ladies, but imagine a group of "the ladies who lunch" meandering through your home and voicing their opinions on everything. Of course there are upsides also... you get things done! Our master bathroom received its finishing touches, including mirrors! a wonderful invention those mirrors are, except for the bald spot showing on top of my head in the mirror behind me... <i>where did that come from</i>??? And our laundry room inherited it's sink, a good old fashioned janitors sink that we rescued from a neighbors back yard.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The line began about a half an hour prior to admittance </td></tr>
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An attendee by the name of Lindsey Albrecht, an interior designer in Napa county, took quite a number of photographs of the house, and I hope she does not mind if I share a few with you.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sink and a work cabinet. Cabinet salveged, still not sold on it<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBE7Bp2PMew/X9Wxl9Nz1OI/AAAAAAAACUo/a_GMYkqeF6Ut6yjKqstQREOm2kdsWyKFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/IMG_8979-682x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="682" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBE7Bp2PMew/X9Wxl9Nz1OI/AAAAAAAACUo/a_GMYkqeF6Ut6yjKqstQREOm2kdsWyKFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_8979-682x1024.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">One side of the Master Bathroom, still needs vent covers<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a festive dining room set for Christmas dinner</td></tr>
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All in all it was fun day, with lots of really nice folks who wanted to see the house. Best part of all was that the Junior League raised more money during this Home Tour than they ever had!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-32927309516034028972015-02-06T12:26:00.001-08:002015-02-06T12:31:10.212-08:00It never rains in California...It is, again, pouring rain. But wait... it is never going to rain here again, we must save our bath water to wash our clothes, and save that water to water the garden. December found Healdsburg deluged in water, our "way back" yard held over a foot of water at the height of the storm. For that couple of days our property value went through the roof... "Lake View"! January was incredibly gorgeous, perfect weather for getting the garden ready for spring, and I did get all of the front and the two sides of the house done. But, here we are again in the pouring rain. The News says yat another 100 year storm, I even heard that CBS news sent their cameras to the Safeway parking lot yesterday in anticipation of Storm-a-gedon, so as to catch the kayakers cruising around after Foss Creek floods again.<br />
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<b>If you haven't noticed, when you own a house of this age, 145 and counting, you hate rain!</b></div>
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On the up side, we finally made the jump a couple of weeks ago, and bought something we have been putting off for years due to the high cost...</div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">GUTTERS and DOWN SPOUTS!</span></b></div>
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So Exciting, and seems to have solved our water issues, but we are still in test phase and time will tell.</div>
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This shot is out of one of the windows, white gutters, and bi-color downspouts. I would love to have a photo for you of the wood gutter with its copper down spouts that is on the front of the house...</div>
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But it's raining out there! I love you all, but I don't want to get soaked for the sake of a photo.</div>
Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-81026778857899133092015-02-02T13:18:00.004-08:002015-02-02T13:18:39.874-08:00A new Year, a new opportunity for a catch upYes it is true, I have not been writing, I have no real excuse. So much has been going on that life seems like a whirlwind! Our summer was spent re-trimming the back of the house in preparation for paint. Scaffolding everywhere, plywood frieze boards pulled down (how they got there I do not want to discuss, lets just say it was one of those last straw moments), sixteen inch wide redwood went up in it place, moldings, moldings and more moldings, casings and top trim went on windows and doors, columns were erected on the deck, and all corners of the back of the house were finally trimmed out.<br />
Let the painting commence. The house is ninety nine point nine percent painted, and is looking fantastic! I will follow soon with some photographs of the back of the house.<br />
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Last June we went to New Orleans for a long weekend to celebrate our sister in-law's unmentionable birthday. We both adore New Orleans and actually spent a week there in the summer of 2005 looking at real estate. We indeed had picked out a house and headed back to Los Angeles to put our house on the market and prepare to make an official offer... Katrina hit a few weeks after our home hunt visit, and although the house we were looking at fared very nicely, the hurricane took the wind out of desire to live there.<br />
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Astrid's Birthday party was an excuse to run away for a few days and visit a place we love. While there we had some time on our hands so we went shopping. Salvage! New Orleans is a great place for salvage, but we were just looking... or so we thought. If you will remember back ,we had cut one of the kitchen cabinets due to cost (<a href="http://www.227northstreet.com/2012/10/sometimes-you-just-gotta-cut-something.html" target="_blank">take a quick refresher look at this post from October 2012</a>). Although the cabinet we had rescued and placed in the breakfast room was interesting and did the job, it was never quite right. While at "<a href="http://www.thebankantiques.com/index.html" target="_blank">The Bank Antiques</a>" in New Orleans, we rounded a corner and were presented with this... ooooooooooooh, I wanted it so bad!<br />
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Just the look and feel we wanted, and she measured out as a perfect fit. Salvage in New Orleans is so amazing, everything you look at is stripped of all paint and just begging to be taken home, sanded down, shored up, and installed. The down side... shipping cost. So we passed on it and went home. But the cabinet kept haunting our thoughts. Two weeks later I called, it was still there and I bought it over the phone and planned a road trip. Onto a plane, a few days with family in the Big Easy, and then into U-haul, ready for the trip home.<br />
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We took an entire week driving across the country, junk shopping all the way, and filled up the truck with treasures. Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, following route 66 all the way. There are lots of stories, but suffice it to say the journey was a lot of fun. There are other treasures purchased in New Orleans, but I will hold back on those until a future post.<br />
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Our cabinet arrived in Healdsburg and went through days of sanding, glueing, nailing, and an almost complete hardware change. We chose to leave it raw, and not put a finish on it, and she is a beauty.<br />
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So it is a new year, and I promise to be more diligent about posting. I have a lot of things to show you all and stories to share. Spring is right around the corner, the days are getting longer, and I am not so grumpy anymore.<br />
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-53663793253908861212014-06-04T17:31:00.000-07:002014-06-04T17:43:45.685-07:00On the rails againOur second job, the restoration of this house, has stepped up again as we turn our attention to the back section of 227 North Street. Our house painter returns at the end of June and we are trying to be ready. So much trim to add, and create, and redo, and I do not want to discuss the redo part!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <i>@#drassen&*%frassen*^contractor%#*cheap-ass lumber&#....!</i></span></div>
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One of the few remaining, well one of like 20, big missing pieces has been the railings for our deck. In the past, without a railing, if someone fell off (about ten feet down) we would have to bash them over the head with a shovel and bury them in the basement. With the basement getting so full we figured it was time to buck up and add the railings. We have been collecting the pieces for some time to lessen the financial burden, and with a final burst of money, and a little begging we began.<br />
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First... box in all of the pressure treated 6 x 6 posts with pre-primed cedar<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JETSYoa_97Q/U4-uqfLoyEI/AAAAAAAABzA/cUNiXhndMrM/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JETSYoa_97Q/U4-uqfLoyEI/AAAAAAAABzA/cUNiXhndMrM/s1600/1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a very exciting picture, but it does show the box floating above the finish level of the post</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The boxes were slid over the posts and held up in the air by wood blocks. We built two thirds of the railing above the finish height so that we could connect the railings inside the boxes. Then slide the whole thing down so that there are no screws showing in the railings at all.<br />
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Next... figure out how to assemble a section of railing...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u2oYrlu-4r8/U4-wC1iFcGI/AAAAAAAABzI/MJKHTnB3QYw/s1600/2.jpg" height="640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacks of parts everywhere</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is always best to start at the beginning</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As it would turn out, every section had a slightly different spacing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-92iycGFuVIg/U4-wDIqsXYI/AAAAAAAABzM/M_DUlL7Nawg/s1600/3.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-92iycGFuVIg/U4-wDIqsXYI/AAAAAAAABzM/M_DUlL7Nawg/s1600/3.55.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">almost ready for nailing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W2B9pj-Ed2A/U4-wD1rq7aI/AAAAAAAABzY/u0xbRvVzFGA/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W2B9pj-Ed2A/U4-wD1rq7aI/AAAAAAAABzY/u0xbRvVzFGA/s1600/4.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bottom of the balusters is sandwiched between two pieces of cedar so that water will drain right through</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One ring-shank, hot-dipped galvanized nail per baluster</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1GSi-H2Y9Y/U4-wEyY0GoI/AAAAAAAABzo/eBOG8vHLSUg/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1GSi-H2Y9Y/U4-wEyY0GoI/AAAAAAAABzo/eBOG8vHLSUg/s1600/6.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">upside down and ready to mount to the clear cedar top rail</td></tr>
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The first section took an entire day to figure out. We nailed it off and then walked away for the evening. Sunday morning the real fun began!...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvn5bGH0MgQ/U4-xxFf-C0I/AAAAAAAAB0E/HJBo-45Q6tA/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvn5bGH0MgQ/U4-xxFf-C0I/AAAAAAAAB0E/HJBo-45Q6tA/s1600/7.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Section by section</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l59BOcSWiWo/U4-xxJSJwQI/AAAAAAAAB0A/a_NGEyj6Jis/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l59BOcSWiWo/U4-xxJSJwQI/AAAAAAAAB0A/a_NGEyj6Jis/s1600/8.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piece by piece</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_C8gwZRxCBw/U4-xxFJEw6I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/6XYdhZcneBs/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_C8gwZRxCBw/U4-xxFJEw6I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/6XYdhZcneBs/s1600/9.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Sunday evening we were to the far corner</td></tr>
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In the one Sunday we built and mounted one eight foot section and three twelve foot sections. Monday, Memorial Day, we turned the corner and had the task of figuring out the final three sections... two twelve foot sections, and the last section that is only eighteen inches.<br />
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This new side has the three posts that hold up the upper deck. The boxes are larger and had to be installed in two pieces. First we furred out the posts so that there was secure attach points for the boxes, then we moved boldly forward pretending we had a plan for installing the railings...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--opxiwfOD-k/U4-zSvYE94I/AAAAAAAAB0Y/XehAPRIZFoI/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--opxiwfOD-k/U4-zSvYE94I/AAAAAAAAB0Y/XehAPRIZFoI/s1600/10.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Furred out and ready</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9ge5ta0oGs/U4-zS4JLOAI/AAAAAAAAB0g/7KsRyixHyh8/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9ge5ta0oGs/U4-zS4JLOAI/AAAAAAAAB0g/7KsRyixHyh8/s1600/11.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sixth section ready for installation</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cfc89E4CSbc/U4-zS5aGzcI/AAAAAAAAB0c/X5gMjGLzDzM/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cfc89E4CSbc/U4-zS5aGzcI/AAAAAAAAB0c/X5gMjGLzDzM/s1600/12.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second half of the box ready for fitting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNp-m83F6sk/U4-zTaksRJI/AAAAAAAAB00/dCR0IDtHYZU/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNp-m83F6sk/U4-zTaksRJI/AAAAAAAAB00/dCR0IDtHYZU/s1600/13.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The section installed! right before this picture was taken, we pulled the blocks and lowered all the other sections</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xXv0FgXSyis/U4-zTt9YntI/AAAAAAAAB0w/m0TQr1lq_ZY/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xXv0FgXSyis/U4-zTt9YntI/AAAAAAAAB0w/m0TQr1lq_ZY/s1600/14.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last large section ready to be put into place</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E4f12JZbUT0/U4-zTzv5ouI/AAAAAAAAB1E/_LDIbSueWDI/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E4f12JZbUT0/U4-zTzv5ouI/AAAAAAAAB1E/_LDIbSueWDI/s1600/15.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After this one, only the tiny one to go</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phillip holding the tiny section of railing before we installed it</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQ32UEVSCyw/U4-2irkEqLI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/kW_rOASraak/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QQ32UEVSCyw/U4-2irkEqLI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/kW_rOASraak/s1600/28.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The small bit, with its baseboards and caps</td></tr>
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Quickly (two days of quickly) we added the baseboards and the caps...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The opening is where the twelve foot wide staircase down to the yard will be</td></tr>
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The last pieces, the columns, and trim molding under the caps are still forth coming, but we are closer! Of course the down side is that we still have two staircases and the entire upper deck to do. SIGH! I have to be like a horse with blinders on!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juomuXP5Bjs/U4-3cq309gI/AAAAAAAAB1w/RuNmpY1SXt8/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juomuXP5Bjs/U4-3cq309gI/AAAAAAAAB1w/RuNmpY1SXt8/s1600/29.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The columns are now here and in a couple of days we will install them!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This is wine country. What do you do in wine country? You hurry your ass up, get those railings finished, and host a sit down wine tasting for fifty. Palmeri is the label, we are club members of this very small winery, and the winemaker requested we do this. Anything for a grand night!<br />
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Now we know... our deck can facilitate table space for fifty to fifty four. So if you need space for a large dinner party, the deck is available to rent... hey, we gotta support this monster somehow!<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20.020000457763672px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">#bobvila</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20.020000457763672px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-53656551978606965292014-03-10T16:37:00.001-07:002014-03-10T16:37:39.633-07:00Its Spring, time to write again and a Nip and a Tuck<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">NEWS UPDATE</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">WE FOUND THEM!</span></span></div>
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<i>The current owners of 227 North Street have allegedly been lying around enjoying themselves,</i></div>
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<i>instead of working their home that so desperately needs their attention, </i></div>
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<i>and writing about their escapades...</i></div>
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Ok... I will admit it... I have taken the Winter off! With that said, Hi everyone! We have had a long spell of winter. Although we have continued to work away, it has been small projects, and upkeep. The first phase of exterior work came to a stop at the very end of October, just in time to begin the Holidays. We spent the next two months having a lot of fun in this big ole house. Starting with Halloween, which was immediately followed by a 75th birthday celebration for both of our Mothers, They were born 10 days apart. Family and friends gathered to wish them both the happiest of Birthdays, which concluded with a sit down dinner for forty six at <a href="http://healdsburgshed.com/" target="_blank">SHED</a>, our local modern grange. Suddenly it was Thanksgiving, I blinked and it was Christmas, I think we managed New Years just before it was Valentines day, and somehow we have quickly arrived at my favorite holiday of the year arrived, Day Light Savings Time!!!<br />
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Now it is time to begin to make the magic happen again. We will be hard at work and I will add photographs and updates on a regular basis. I know I owe pictures of the exterior of the front section of the house, but truthfully I have not had the heart to take any shots because of the super freeze we had in December that wreaked havoc on the thirty-five foot tall Avocado Tree beside the house. I am holding out to see how she comes back before I take pictures. <br />
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However, a picture is available in the new Sonoma Magazine. Chris Hardy, the photographer, took beautiful pictures, and the story is sweet, so I am posting the pages of the article here for you to read. Everything is posted except the first picture. Apparently the restoration of this house has taken its toll and its time for a redo on myself. I had no idea I had gotten so old in the past five years, so I have made an appointment with an expert to take care of it, a human restoration artist! Or at least that is what I am calling our new plastic surgeon.<br />
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-5987710603599882582013-09-27T12:28:00.001-07:002015-02-02T12:01:07.697-08:00Escherian Visions<br />
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If M. C. Escher were still with us, you would find him perched on a stool across from the house, with his easel set up and pencil in hand. As the painting continues, the house has become buried in a crazy retinue of ladders. Up down, in, out, every way you can imagine is now available.<br />
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The redwood gutter is about to go up on the front of the house, along with all of the trim for the front porch. Columns are completely stripped of paint, sanded and sculpted, primed and ready to be filled.<br />
Fiber glass column bases are on their way from back east (they will never rot again!) and molding for the new column pedestals are being cut as I write. Two new capitals will join three originals, and we will finally be ready to finish the porch. Got to hurry! Halloween is coming fast and we need to decorate! <br />
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Pick a ladder, climb on up and sit for spell!<br />
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<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span>
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<span class="post-author vcard"></span>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-42539679973325567272013-08-20T12:09:00.001-07:002013-08-20T12:09:15.576-07:00We have the house painting GraysIt all began seven weeks ago, and the forecast is easily another four to six weeks to go, and we are only doing the three story section of the house this year. We certainly have hired the absolute, with out a doubt, correct person for this job, Timothy Hilton, Earthtone Painting, is in charge of the sealing up and painting of the house. Seven weeks of burning paint, scraping, sanding, burning paint, scraping, sanding, priming, sanding, filling, sanding, priming, filling, sanding, priming, caulking, priming, filling, sanding.... Will it never end? But, the work is impeccable and for one hundred and forty three year old surfaces, it is looking better than we could have hoped for.<br />
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We are personally doing all of the rebuilding and are barely keeping up Timothy. It began with once again removing the front porch from the house, and then all of the quoins from the corners. Quoins are the trim blocks that make the corners appear to be made of stone blocks, very Italianate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C_puSOJKZJs/UhO3trr3X2I/AAAAAAAABuU/dwqf_VXSq-I/s1600/Before+porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C_puSOJKZJs/UhO3trr3X2I/AAAAAAAABuU/dwqf_VXSq-I/s640/Before+porch.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladder up, and ready to take her down</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTo4NizKano/UhO3tt8fQ6I/AAAAAAAABuY/xA_8bKAVYD0/s1600/Porchparts1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTo4NizKano/UhO3tt8fQ6I/AAAAAAAABuY/xA_8bKAVYD0/s640/Porchparts1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porch parts everywhere</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columns waiting their turn to burn </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPNPjGqL5Qg/UhO3uN5cv-I/AAAAAAAABug/6rsO6OIx4DA/s1600/Porchparts3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPNPjGqL5Qg/UhO3uN5cv-I/AAAAAAAABug/6rsO6OIx4DA/s640/Porchparts3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And burn we are, with a blow torch!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The porch restoration, the paint removal from the columns specifically, is part of what we agreed to do ourselves. We have both used chemical stripper, and heat guns in the past, but the job of removing all of the old paint from the columns would never get done with either of those methods, so out came the blow torch. Fire up, don't be timid, and use a handy high tech tool for scraping away the burned paint, an old large tablespoon. Work fast and watch for smoldering! As we work on the porch, we also stripped away moldings from the bay windows, and the quoins from the corners of the house. The front of the house is southern exposure and the sun has destroyed so many of the small pieces due to the negligence of the former owners. The moldings and quoins are being copied in redwood and cypress.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsJL7u7ol4c/UhO6yXnRa4I/AAAAAAAABwk/TPZ5roXHrKc/s1600/Paint1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsJL7u7ol4c/UhO6yXnRa4I/AAAAAAAABwk/TPZ5roXHrKc/s640/Paint1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we go, Timothy begins the burning</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Timothy and his part time helper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F4uBfzlDtb4/UhO6yXkdyqI/AAAAAAAABwU/YQFTJML6CnI/s1600/Paint3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F4uBfzlDtb4/UhO6yXkdyqI/AAAAAAAABwU/YQFTJML6CnI/s640/Paint3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just before the quoins are removed from the house</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gcvzKsyEW4/UhO6NeLBqoI/AAAAAAAABvM/DsHHb23ln8k/s1600/Prep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gcvzKsyEW4/UhO6NeLBqoI/AAAAAAAABvM/DsHHb23ln8k/s640/Prep1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Layers and layers of paint burned away, and now the sanding begins</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7wZvq_-Ji5c/UhO6NVQRJ4I/AAAAAAAABvA/Siply9cQPGc/s1600/Prep2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7wZvq_-Ji5c/UhO6NVQRJ4I/AAAAAAAABvA/Siply9cQPGc/s640/Prep2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Flashing for the bay windows</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NEKvPfLCScI/UhO6OJPdi7I/AAAAAAAABv0/slidrO9gc-8/s1600/Prep3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NEKvPfLCScI/UhO6OJPdi7I/AAAAAAAABv0/slidrO9gc-8/s640/Prep3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ANd did I forgat to mention a ridge vent?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_oEg3GutbE/UhO6OuGiUdI/AAAAAAAABvQ/7_FcSIxS4Dw/s1600/Prep5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u_oEg3GutbE/UhO6OuGiUdI/AAAAAAAABvQ/7_FcSIxS4Dw/s640/Prep5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gray primer and the filling commences</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azx1F36CMyM/UhO6PunfNqI/AAAAAAAABvk/p2Pu2xfWjp4/s1600/Prep6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azx1F36CMyM/UhO6PunfNqI/AAAAAAAABvk/p2Pu2xfWjp4/s640/Prep6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of the plants surrounding the foot of the house are about to be seriously cut back</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tINR_vKfZmI/UhO6Ph2sTPI/AAAAAAAABvg/MYXeaqCiv9w/s1600/Prep7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tINR_vKfZmI/UhO6Ph2sTPI/AAAAAAAABvg/MYXeaqCiv9w/s640/Prep7.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New skirting finally on the lower sides of the house</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNh1KGQxMEw/UhO6QdHXLXI/AAAAAAAABwI/UaZJhOwSOy8/s1600/Prep7a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNh1KGQxMEw/UhO6QdHXLXI/AAAAAAAABwI/UaZJhOwSOy8/s640/Prep7a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closer view of the smoothing of the old siding</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MRLiHSqRXUs/UhO6QkeaZRI/AAAAAAAABvw/9-Rs3Bw8BzU/s1600/Prep8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MRLiHSqRXUs/UhO6QkeaZRI/AAAAAAAABvw/9-Rs3Bw8BzU/s640/Prep8.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another close view</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VwXHWXrKQPY/UhO6RegLKCI/AAAAAAAABv8/Fh4BzuaCeaA/s1600/Prep9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VwXHWXrKQPY/UhO6RegLKCI/AAAAAAAABv8/Fh4BzuaCeaA/s640/Prep9.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Electric and gas lines finally exposed for the lighting</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--wOb2_wc-Zo/UhO6Nu3xnnI/AAAAAAAABu8/7teJ1KR9QNA/s1600/Prep11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--wOb2_wc-Zo/UhO6Nu3xnnI/AAAAAAAABu8/7teJ1KR9QNA/s640/Prep11.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The East side in case you thought we were missing it</td></tr>
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Timothy has been using the battleship gray primer as it really helps him to see the flaws, and this of course is making everyone in town confused and crazy.<br />
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The final colors are still somewhat in flux as our original gray looked, well, simply wrong when sampled. We now have a color pretty firmly in mind, but with the "White Faction" practically picketing in front of the house, we are keeping it a secret. Just know that the house will not be white.<br />
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Now it is back out into the yard for me. I have columns to burn, and quoins to install!<br />
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<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-42698548242147234962013-05-17T17:51:00.000-07:002013-05-17T17:51:01.761-07:00Got Up and Went<br />
The spring has found us moving at a snails pace. Perhaps our "get up and go", got up and went!<br />
We are both trying to get in gear, but at the same time we have been having a lot of fun! And that is a nice change. That is not to say that we have been completely idle. We have still been working on the deck - the wrap around porch.<br />
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With all of the super structure complete and the deck boards laid, we turned our attention to the upper layer. It has seemed for a long time that we would never complete the upper deck, but at long last we added the joists and (cursing every step of the way) covered it with T&G pressure treated plywood. Before winter comes we will install a water proof, aluminum decking that will keep the underside 100% dry and allow us to walk out onto it from the Master Bedroom.<br />
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At this point it is about creating the reality of that grand hotel porch. That means a ceiling! I received a few quotes for new tongue and groove beadboard, and like most lumber quotes, I had to have a little sit down after reading them. $1200-$1500 just seemed a bit high for a ceiling. It is true that for a fraction of the cost we could have done an artificial beadboard by using sheets of plywood that look like beadboard... but I couldn't do it<br />
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So we marched ourselves out to the salvage pile. An afternoon of sorting and piling left us with what we hoped would be enough 1 x 4 tongue and groove flooring from a section of the house we tore down. Another few evenings and afternoons of de-nailing and planing we were ready to begin the ceiling. Now mind you that this lumber had been rather hastily removed from the old section of the house and the tongue and groove that should allow you to nail it in place with no nails showing, was in poor shape at its best. Hours of fussing and surface nailing bought us finally to the last board, and it looks pretty damn good. A decent priming, sanding and nail hole filling, and we will be ready for paint!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UqRl9f21xYI/UZa7S6QcEwI/AAAAAAAABtA/gVMbBeDF0Oo/s1600/Deck01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UqRl9f21xYI/UZa7S6QcEwI/AAAAAAAABtA/gVMbBeDF0Oo/s640/Deck01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joists in place and ready for covering</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LKawUTW4RTI/UZa7TR9DlSI/AAAAAAAABtI/5PO_dgk8tpo/s1600/Deck02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LKawUTW4RTI/UZa7TR9DlSI/AAAAAAAABtI/5PO_dgk8tpo/s640/Deck02.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last shot looking up and through</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sTNgrnWj8bU/UZa7VHvwG1I/AAAAAAAABtg/RopqPBvHULk/s1600/Deck6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sTNgrnWj8bU/UZa7VHvwG1I/AAAAAAAABtg/RopqPBvHULk/s640/Deck6.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batons being applied so that the ceiling boards will run perpendicular to the house</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G2jy7FArdHs/UZa7YIVnKyI/AAAAAAAABto/GPoLqWGZAXs/s1600/Deck4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G2jy7FArdHs/UZa7YIVnKyI/AAAAAAAABto/GPoLqWGZAXs/s640/Deck4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished ceiling, and the boxed beams, next... columns!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xnSA9i6CX7U/UZa7Uq3HhnI/AAAAAAAABtY/nAmFmWj3hxw/s1600/Deck5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xnSA9i6CX7U/UZa7Uq3HhnI/AAAAAAAABtY/nAmFmWj3hxw/s640/Deck5.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temporary seating so more fun can be had!</td></tr>
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If you happen to see our "get up and go" wandering around somewhere, please phone us up!<br />
It's time for the boys to get their proverbial butts in gear!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;"><b>* NEWS FLASH *</b></span></span></div>
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It has been reported that the missing "get up and go" has been spotted! It is being returned, and just in time! This reporter has learned that a new rendering has been presented at 227 North Street, and a beginning date has been chosen. Healdsburg hold your breath... Starting July first 2013, the home at the corner of North and Fitch will no longer be white as it ALWAYS has been. Using our own private investigators, under cover agents, and a secret source at WikiLeaks, we present to you the future!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tgHezyLv6NY/UZbQFiVmMxI/AAAAAAAABt4/MN7R6TJ3aQQ/s1600/Front-Elevation-Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tgHezyLv6NY/UZbQFiVmMxI/AAAAAAAABt4/MN7R6TJ3aQQ/s640/Front-Elevation-Art.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span><br />
<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-29636251266722145522013-03-06T16:58:00.004-08:002013-03-06T17:01:24.349-08:00A shameless plugI thought today I would take a different route in my posting and let you know what it is I do, besides working on this big old house.<br />
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Mostly these days I am a graphic designer specializing in branding, logos, print material and website/email images. Most of my work is in the wine industry, but I have branched out into medical, theaters, and the food business. I am always looking for more clients, so if you need my services let me know.<br />
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I also am a paper engineer... a what??? a paper engineer, or one who creates popup books. I have a small line of popup books that are photobooks, and we sell them directly to the consumer. These are some shots of the books that are available and if you find you can't resist please visit...<br />
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<a href="http://www.goffengelworkshop.com/">www.goffengelworkshop.com</a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MthNr0hkij0/UTfirVIoOPI/AAAAAAAABpE/9tzwg0mvNhk/s1600/BabyMain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MthNr0hkij0/UTfirVIoOPI/AAAAAAAABpE/9tzwg0mvNhk/s640/BabyMain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_QNPmI9p0Y/UTfi8HtnpZI/AAAAAAAABpM/8R8W2PP1aeo/s1600/ba_Stork_sp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_QNPmI9p0Y/UTfi8HtnpZI/AAAAAAAABpM/8R8W2PP1aeo/s640/ba_Stork_sp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Baby Book</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sqLkgJOxx8Q/UTfi8biMipI/AAAAAAAABpQ/AW1dBzgPl3M/s1600/ba_balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sqLkgJOxx8Q/UTfi8biMipI/AAAAAAAABpQ/AW1dBzgPl3M/s640/ba_balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add yourt own pictures to the popups</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bshu96JluxE/UTfi8SFDziI/AAAAAAAABpU/nCLehdZ_zOY/s1600/ba_Toys_Cl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bshu96JluxE/UTfi8SFDziI/AAAAAAAABpU/nCLehdZ_zOY/s640/ba_Toys_Cl.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toys and your photographs</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-39GQYcZcZs0/UTfi8lzIHyI/AAAAAAAABpc/RCyzmwcL6GI/s1600/ba_bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-39GQYcZcZs0/UTfi8lzIHyI/AAAAAAAABpc/RCyzmwcL6GI/s640/ba_bear.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A teddy bear to love</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq-lVzbSzLk/UTfi818WqcI/AAAAAAAABpk/MGKq8d9cCkY/s1600/ba_horse_sp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq-lVzbSzLk/UTfi818WqcI/AAAAAAAABpk/MGKq8d9cCkY/s640/ba_horse_sp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climb on!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wWLW8uU0aZU/UTfi86qlbkI/AAAAAAAABps/Zsfq2bG4UP0/s1600/ba_mobile_sp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wWLW8uU0aZU/UTfi86qlbkI/AAAAAAAABps/Zsfq2bG4UP0/s640/ba_mobile_sp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mobile and more photos</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xXR3nAOyTo4/UTfj0R-gBoI/AAAAAAAABp8/yShEWDGg0eI/s1600/Memory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xXR3nAOyTo4/UTfj0R-gBoI/AAAAAAAABp8/yShEWDGg0eI/s640/Memory.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Memory book</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXLjI3fKa7k/UTfj_LpatNI/AAAAAAAABqE/j4aR48oBpOo/s1600/MEM1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXLjI3fKa7k/UTfj_LpatNI/AAAAAAAABqE/j4aR48oBpOo/s640/MEM1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place your own photographs in the frames and add information</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kKsX-WkLawI/UTfj_K-NatI/AAAAAAAABqI/5f03_XOXTWA/s1600/MEM2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kKsX-WkLawI/UTfj_K-NatI/AAAAAAAABqI/5f03_XOXTWA/s640/MEM2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More space for photographs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NRnYLK0e0EE/UTfj_E4Mr6I/AAAAAAAABqM/LFXaMQxwBDY/s1600/MEM3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NRnYLK0e0EE/UTfj_E4Mr6I/AAAAAAAABqM/LFXaMQxwBDY/s640/MEM3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of space for adding memories</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ydet63L6-Q/UTfj_iEwkKI/AAAAAAAABqQ/bZ63eQtizO8/s1600/MEM5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="417" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ydet63L6-Q/UTfj_iEwkKI/AAAAAAAABqQ/bZ63eQtizO8/s640/MEM5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and more</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nNf7blWNDM/UTfj_QwyqBI/AAAAAAAABqU/27LBiWKB2y0/s1600/MEM4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9nNf7blWNDM/UTfj_QwyqBI/AAAAAAAABqU/27LBiWKB2y0/s640/MEM4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where Phillip said he came from... "Found in a Cabbage Patch"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ObCIs76gOFc/UTfj_9s9fTI/AAAAAAAABqY/9cF5Vqwpv_w/s1600/MEM7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ObCIs76gOFc/UTfj_9s9fTI/AAAAAAAABqY/9cF5Vqwpv_w/s640/MEM7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locks of hair and more photographs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SEVvG5HOxeQ/UTfkAFVS7WI/AAAAAAAABqc/Wvhok4TuSGA/s1600/MEM8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SEVvG5HOxeQ/UTfkAFVS7WI/AAAAAAAABqc/Wvhok4TuSGA/s640/MEM8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This where I was told I came from... "the Baby Store!" The blocks are small photo frames to track growth for the first year</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMb4IrfivHQ/UTfj_so86cI/AAAAAAAABqg/okWSkDKY5-E/s1600/MEM6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMb4IrfivHQ/UTfj_so86cI/AAAAAAAABqg/okWSkDKY5-E/s640/MEM6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family members go here in small photo frames, some that are part of the popup</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--6kdx3mXUFo/UTfkAlKAcCI/AAAAAAAABqk/o3G1DsfAjBQ/s640/MEM9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first birthday page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There are two more books available at sale prices on our website, and two that are out of print and out of stock, except a couple of each from my private stock. Check them all out at....<br />
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<a href="http://www.goffengelworkshop.com/">www.goffengelworkshop.com</a><br />
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-4138808098585423162013-03-05T17:14:00.003-08:002020-12-12T22:34:34.112-08:00Lifts, Beams, and Bells<br />
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Is it spring yet? The sun has been paying us an ongoing visit, the daffodils are in bloom, and the trees are beginning to flower! Still chilly at night, but this weather has finally given us a chance to get some work done. Up the ladders to build the second layer of our deck. The structure is almost complete, which means that this weekend we will be able to unbolt the upper master bedroom doors for the first time since we installed them, three years ago. Once the upper structure is complete we can begin the trim out, railings, columns, and finishes. The concept is loosely inspired by the porch of a Grand Hotel, but on a much smaller scale. Beadboard ceiling, flat baluster railing, weighty railing posts, columns, boxed beams, clean moldings, and a twelve foot wide staircase will all combine to create the effect. Add a flock of white rocking chairs and tall iced teas and we will be ready for summer!<div><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FEqAlXwvQa0/X9W1E_sXh_I/AAAAAAAACVA/-LnaOn6VIogl3FxstZyttMIeNTbZRgxBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s648/grand-hotel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="648" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FEqAlXwvQa0/X9W1E_sXh_I/AAAAAAAACVA/-LnaOn6VIogl3FxstZyttMIeNTbZRgxBQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/grand-hotel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption">The porch of the Grand Hotel<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The lower decking is installed and when the weather warms up we will be able to clean, sand and stain it. The posts for the railings are bolted inplace and ready for boxing in. The three main support uprights for the upper deck are in place, bolted down, and the simpson buckets are screwed on top awaiting the twenty six foot long, four by twelve, cross beam. To the rental company we went and came home with a gizmo called a beam lift. Simple contraption that allowed us to balance the beam on its two forks, lift it sixteen feet in the air, slide it forward and gently lower it into the simpson buckets.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POU4OLZ4aY4/UTaPItZ5ipI/AAAAAAAABnA/JIoRRudGhaI/s1600/Beam-lift-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-POU4OLZ4aY4/UTaPItZ5ipI/AAAAAAAABnA/JIoRRudGhaI/s640/Beam-lift-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our weekend help, Brent and Fabian, making sure the lift is centered on the beam</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rtFajb1T6Zs/UTaPITS9AdI/AAAAAAAABnE/baaOwzXuU8c/s1600/Beam-lift.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rtFajb1T6Zs/UTaPITS9AdI/AAAAAAAABnE/baaOwzXuU8c/s640/Beam-lift.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beam going up!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8iv0l0ilh4g/UTaPyz-TdnI/AAAAAAAABoA/YqxvDDigZn0/s1600/Beam-lift-Phillip.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8iv0l0ilh4g/UTaPyz-TdnI/AAAAAAAABoA/YqxvDDigZn0/s640/Beam-lift-Phillip.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phillip at the helm</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3zqGurYc65A/UTaPyZ2PCwI/AAAAAAAABn8/E0KzZiPIYeQ/s1600/Beam-lift-Phillip-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3zqGurYc65A/UTaPyZ2PCwI/AAAAAAAABn8/E0KzZiPIYeQ/s640/Beam-lift-Phillip-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep going</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br /></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnJcTwsCj7g/UTaPyWvd4cI/AAAAAAAABnw/efpp2yiGIwE/s1600/Beam-home-Fabian.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GnJcTwsCj7g/UTaPyWvd4cI/AAAAAAAABnw/efpp2yiGIwE/s640/Beam-home-Fabian.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabian to the right</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IAnxqvhycYY/UTaPype_lVI/AAAAAAAABn0/Tt_BQZxvas0/s1600/Beam-home-Brent.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IAnxqvhycYY/UTaPype_lVI/AAAAAAAABn0/Tt_BQZxvas0/s640/Beam-home-Brent.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brent to the left<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_224895418">Fabian to the right, Brent to the left, I was in the center. We pulled the beam forward on the lift and settled it down into the buckets.</span><span id="goog_224895419"></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xALmi0vEokE/UTaPxrRFAWI/AAAAAAAABng/Akkk6gVLDPQ/s1600/Beam-home-3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xALmi0vEokE/UTaPxrRFAWI/AAAAAAAABng/Akkk6gVLDPQ/s640/Beam-home-3.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy does it</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br /></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qjXFjhTIet0/UTaPxkhMskI/AAAAAAAABnc/hsmJ0Eatn94/s1600/Beam-home-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qjXFjhTIet0/UTaPxkhMskI/AAAAAAAABnc/hsmJ0Eatn94/s640/Beam-home-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for securing</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br /></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qRXjSE3kGHU/UTaPxmgMsOI/AAAAAAAABnY/JWwsfsO4nMo/s1600/Beam-home-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qRXjSE3kGHU/UTaPxmgMsOI/AAAAAAAABnY/JWwsfsO4nMo/s640/Beam-home-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for the floor joists<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_224895418"></span><span id="goog_224895419"></span>We move on to the joists for the floor above.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_224895418"></span><span id="goog_224895419"></span><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oxo7htOC2Jw/UTaSEoK-26I/AAAAAAAABoU/ZtMv3F13lqE/s1600/Long-shot2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oxo7htOC2Jw/UTaSEoK-26I/AAAAAAAABoU/ZtMv3F13lqE/s640/Long-shot2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for inspection and surfacing</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br /></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JvMixK3KN4o/UTaSEawD4cI/AAAAAAAABoY/xeGBKRYb3GI/s1600/Up-at-MB-doors.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JvMixK3KN4o/UTaSEawD4cI/AAAAAAAABoY/xeGBKRYb3GI/s640/Up-at-MB-doors.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The master bedroom doors that have been sealed up</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br /></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hNUHliWeBuQ/UTaSExseN6I/AAAAAAAABoo/QzxgdeeQZtA/s1600/dining-office-corner.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hNUHliWeBuQ/UTaSExseN6I/AAAAAAAABoo/QzxgdeeQZtA/s640/dining-office-corner.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining room doors and Office doors</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br /></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x7L7CfAZftM/UTaSEyHUgbI/AAAAAAAABow/Spm-xBVQ4Cs/s1600/kitchen-side-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x7L7CfAZftM/UTaSEyHUgbI/AAAAAAAABow/Spm-xBVQ4Cs/s640/kitchen-side-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Around the corner, outside of the kitchen</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hacfke8l3Y/UTaSFNjkMiI/AAAAAAAABo0/ozhsz83fMHQ/s1600/kitchen-side-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hacfke8l3Y/UTaSFNjkMiI/AAAAAAAABo0/ozhsz83fMHQ/s640/kitchen-side-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also around the corner, looking back toward the two layer end</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<span id="goog_224895418"></span><span id="goog_224895419"></span>Tomorrow the inspector comes and then we can begin the fun part, trimming it all out! We have some of the elements already and but we have a lot of things to conceptualize, details to consider, and pieces to locate and buy. But the next steps are my favorite part of the process. Making it pretty!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">An Aside</span></span></div>
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A side note for today. We all watch Downton Abbey and marvel at the grandeur of an existence like that. I particularly love the opening shot of the servants bells. I would love a row of them in our kitchen and be able to ring them whenever I wanted something. Of course I would have to get up and get whatever it is myself, but its a fun thought. I just really like the look of them. Then I discovered that the kitchen scenes in Downton Abbey are actually shot on a set in a studio, and the bells are not actually real. Well they are real bells, but not actually in the house. Kind of sad. I have wondered for a while where the scenic designer found the bells and today by accident I found them!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.antique-door-bells.com/doorbell-side.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="doorbell" border="0" height="640" src="http://www.antique-door-bells.com/jpegs/bell.jpg" width="381" />
</a></div>
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<span id="goog_224895418"></span><span id="goog_224895419"></span><br />
<span id="goog_224895418"></span><span id="goog_224895419"></span><br />
<span id="goog_224895418">How fun! They come with a mechanism that will pull the cord and ring the bell using a push button wired like a doorbell. Now I just need to figure out how to do that wirelessly </span><span id="goog_224895419"></span>and we would be good to go! I want to install eight of them in a row above the Kitchen triple window, with buttons in the dining room, living room, library, master bedroom, and the four guest bedrooms.<br />
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Now all we need is to import those people necessary for making this all work...<br />
A Butler, a footman, a valet, an upstairs maid, a downstairs maid, and a cook!<br />
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<br />
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<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span><br /></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-74642637101393783852013-01-11T16:28:00.002-08:002013-01-11T16:48:18.588-08:00Damn Mayans and their calendar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LfIa-JqMZN4/UPCgwEfGTdI/AAAAAAAABkI/1JYb5OWTHz0/s1600/hobbit_door-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LfIa-JqMZN4/UPCgwEfGTdI/AAAAAAAABkI/1JYb5OWTHz0/s320/hobbit_door-sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We just cracked open the doors on our doomsday bunker. Well wadda ya know... the world is still here. We have been holed up down there for weeks afraid to come out. Even our Facebook friends were scared and telling us to hide. CNN, Fox news, even Jerry Springer were sure this was it.<br />
Les Mis, the film was released and the Mayans had had it... or so I heard.<br />
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So that means...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;">HAPPY NEW YEAR! </span></span></div>
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We have had a brief moment of not working on the house. Holidays, winter, short days, and rain.</div>
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Those are the excuses we have been using, and we may get away with them for a little longer.</div>
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What we have been doing is enjoying our home, unfinished as it may be, it is amazing to be able to kick back for a little while, wear some clothes without stains, and shoes that have the soles intact, pour a bottle or three of wine, and welcome friends and family into our home.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl2A_Lv0O94/UPCh-xUo27I/AAAAAAAABkg/CB6tdVOUFZ4/s1600/Wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl2A_Lv0O94/UPCh-xUo27I/AAAAAAAABkg/CB6tdVOUFZ4/s640/Wine.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bottle was a huge highlight. For fun, look it up.... Abacus ninth bottling!</td></tr>
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Just before Thanks Giving we busted ass and finished the rest of the
floors (the rest as in, not the third floor). The sanding and oiling of the library, the office, the second
floor hall, the laundry room, the linen closet, and two guest bedrooms. The guest bedrooms were furnished with what we had and made ready for guests... just in case any came... hee hee hee he!<br />
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Thanksgiving came like a whirlwind and was so lovely. Phillips folks came out from Florida to surprise him. A few days before the day, Phillip was on the phone talking to his Mom about their plans for the holiday when she and Phillips dad walked in our front door. I admit it was my doing and it was grand!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then came the rain</span> </div>
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On and on it seemed to rain. We hunkered down and simply lived and entertained in our home.<br />
Sparkle it up with lights and candles and no seems to notice the unfinished bits. A tree went up and for the first time in seven years the ornament collection came out of storage. 1100-1200 ornaments from all over the world. Hand blown glass, wood, paper, wax, and fabric. A thirty year collection that used to be a sickness was unboxed and all hung on one tree. Each branch of the natural noble fir dripping with magic had to be wired diagonally back to the trunk the support the weight...<br />
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By the way... I could not get any decent tree shots... nighttime, no good, daytime, no good, but I tried.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS_StilMbCk/UPCmO7vZ0NI/AAAAAAAABk8/2Wbranvt0pE/s1600/Tree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS_StilMbCk/UPCmO7vZ0NI/AAAAAAAABk8/2Wbranvt0pE/s640/Tree2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AApLrbsYNQY/UPCmPKJc2BI/AAAAAAAABlA/MfqQ9_KNcbQ/s1600/Tree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AApLrbsYNQY/UPCmPKJc2BI/AAAAAAAABlA/MfqQ9_KNcbQ/s640/Tree1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Our Christmas present to ourselves was the redoing of some furniture for the living room.<br />
The sofa was in the house when we bought it. Dated in the late 1830's dirty, nasty, but solid and sound, we decided to have it reupholstered. We chose to not redo the wood finish but leave it somewhat rough and antique looking. No one wants to be yelled at by Antiques Road Show!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nUVMQ2mNIFU/UPCnpWw3JAI/AAAAAAAABlg/56O4UqptduE/s1600/Sofa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nUVMQ2mNIFU/UPCnpWw3JAI/AAAAAAAABlg/56O4UqptduE/s640/Sofa1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We also sent out two arm chairs that belonged to Phillips Grandmother. High style, post WWII, that had been redone in the early 70's in super groovy high-gloss black frames and white vinyl alligator!!!<br />
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Can you imagine? horrifying! (sorry Mom) hee hee<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9u_0OPwRtk/UPCoWlLC2GI/AAAAAAAABls/E5iPtoSivV8/s1600/Chair1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9u_0OPwRtk/UPCoWlLC2GI/AAAAAAAABls/E5iPtoSivV8/s640/Chair1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh out of our storage</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The chairs were completely redone, frames and all. The wood is now a very dark, natural finish with a soft glow, and the fabric is a beautiful soft wool in a grey mushroom color.<br />
They could be brand new from any showroom. Fantastic!<br />
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The sofa received a simple wood cleaning and is now upholstered in natural white linen, just be careful with that glass of red wine!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLHBln4br6o/UPCpsVYE91I/AAAAAAAABmc/jv_0dkjE16k/s1600/Chairs+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wLHBln4br6o/UPCpsVYE91I/AAAAAAAABmc/jv_0dkjE16k/s640/Chairs+after.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-deEcAYR0jfw/UPCpsOpeNPI/AAAAAAAABmY/xhVtc7eJyd4/s1600/Sofa+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-deEcAYR0jfw/UPCpsOpeNPI/AAAAAAAABmY/xhVtc7eJyd4/s640/Sofa+After.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Tomorrow is another day, and it is not supposed to rain. Now that the world is here to stay we will pay our bills and get our butts back to work.<br />
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A closing note for the day... if you would like to see some of what I do for a living, I am giving myself a plug. We have opened a small online retail spot where you can see my popup work and purchase it if you are so inclined.<br />
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visit <a href="http://www.goffengelworkshop.com/">www.goffengelworkshop.com</a><br />
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<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span>
Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-56128118197152589212012-10-26T17:53:00.001-07:002012-10-29T15:31:37.326-07:00Sometimes, you just gotta cut something<br />
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Today I feel like I am on the verge of breaking one of my own rules. If it wasn't for the fact that we did this to save an immense amount of money, and yet attempt to not compromise style and finesse, I would feel this post was on the verge of posts that I despise on home restoration blogs... Gramma's famous cookie recipe, little Susie's latest potty training escapade, or the worst of the worst... A give away contest!<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">One Moment Please...</span></span></div>
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My apologies, after I wrote that last sentence and began to shake so badly I had to walk away from the computer.<br />
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I am referring to the cabinetry we had to cut from our breakfast room. A lovely piece designed to be a continuous flow across the thirty five foot wide space. But that cabinet was just shy of nine thousand dollars....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HTpc4GIoZM4/UIsnKQJNSAI/AAAAAAAABho/Gn3vQOaxjzw/s1600/kitcehn-sept-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HTpc4GIoZM4/UIsnKQJNSAI/AAAAAAAABho/Gn3vQOaxjzw/s640/kitcehn-sept-09.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on this image so you can see it larger, the cabinet we cut is the far left side</td></tr>
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So we let it go and moved on. I have kept my eye open for something to go there, especially as the time for closing down storage drew near. Nothing is ever perfect but I looked, and looked.<br />
One day a picture popped up on Craigs list. Like everything else I had seen, it was not perfect, but if you squinted your eyes and looked beyond the ungapatchka<br />
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<td class="text" colspan="2" id="entry_4895497"><div class="definition">
<i>(Yiddish word that describes the overly ornate, busy, ridiculously over-decorated, and garnished to the point of distaste)</i></div>
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<i><br /></i>
There was something there that could almost work.<i>..</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_1MH59srGbQ/UIsoo_Gwi4I/AAAAAAAABhw/Lr4tMtbxe7c/s1600/The+beginning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_1MH59srGbQ/UIsoo_Gwi4I/AAAAAAAABhw/Lr4tMtbxe7c/s640/The+beginning.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do not look at the far right of the picture... I have no explanation, hee hee, you looked!<br />
This photo came from the man we bought the cabinet from... I think it is him... eeeeek!</td></tr>
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We met the owner and struck a deal, and now we are the proud owners of, well, ummmmm, that southwesty thing that is eight feet tall and weighs a couple of tons.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time for a makeover! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And </span>a makeover we did... the following photo montage will show you the process and the finished product.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Bw81OFw1W0/UIsqH1-KYUI/AAAAAAAABh4/S602P-fef3w/s1600/Detail1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Bw81OFw1W0/UIsqH1-KYUI/AAAAAAAABh4/S602P-fef3w/s640/Detail1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So beautiful, well maybe ten years ago, super southwest patinad molding, its gotta go</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G5oqNOpBQh0/UIsqIQP231I/AAAAAAAABiA/6_ptx-_XWWc/s1600/Detail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G5oqNOpBQh0/UIsqIQP231I/AAAAAAAABiA/6_ptx-_XWWc/s640/Detail2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little trim bits and corner flowers... eeeek! they gotta go too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SePm2nKN5Kw/UIsqIxquhTI/AAAAAAAABiI/wjJ6LvlbCc8/s1600/Get-it-off1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SePm2nKN5Kw/UIsqIxquhTI/AAAAAAAABiI/wjJ6LvlbCc8/s640/Get-it-off1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piece by piece I carefully removed the moldings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1h6L0LCmgo/UIsqJv0VJ2I/AAAAAAAABiQ/apuYbvTnepo/s1600/Get-it-off2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1h6L0LCmgo/UIsqJv0VJ2I/AAAAAAAABiQ/apuYbvTnepo/s640/Get-it-off2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shim, a small crowbar, and a putty knife were my friends. I did not want to hurt the surface if I could help it</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bvj5iKC4TIk/UIsqKEJMfqI/AAAAAAAABiY/dM6j_5yHCuk/s1600/Get-it-off3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bvj5iKC4TIk/UIsqKEJMfqI/AAAAAAAABiY/dM6j_5yHCuk/s640/Get-it-off3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small trim moldings gone, and flowers replaced with simple square blocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now came the time for sanding. Days of sanding every nook and cranny in preparation for two serious coats of primer and finish coats of high gloss oil to match the Kitchen cabinets.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5pQyLXALg-g/UIsrw967iNI/AAAAAAAABio/Zh-LSh50dtE/s1600/Prime-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5pQyLXALg-g/UIsrw967iNI/AAAAAAAABio/Zh-LSh50dtE/s640/Prime-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At this point we have decided to leave the inside alone and cross our fingers it would work</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AEjSlfEL1Oc/UIsrwelu4NI/AAAAAAAABig/8y8Yg4nWhGQ/s1600/Level.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AEjSlfEL1Oc/UIsrwelu4NI/AAAAAAAABig/8y8Yg4nWhGQ/s640/Level.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primed and ready for finishing, we decided the best approach to finish paint was to put the cabinet in position</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SFH3SGjTlao/UIsrxSMIfII/AAAAAAAABiw/zrzaudEtHM0/s1600/Prime-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SFH3SGjTlao/UIsrxSMIfII/AAAAAAAABiw/zrzaudEtHM0/s640/Prime-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for more sanding</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The cabinet found its way to its new home, and I began the sanding task again in preparation for the finish paint. Hour and hours of sanding. I was in the home stretch when our dear old friend, and interior designer,<a href="http://stewartedwardallendesign.com/" target="_blank"> Stewart Allen, <i>visit his website here</i>,</a> walks in... "don't you dare paint that, your sanded primer is perfect in this room"... um... well... but... it looks so...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">SHABBY CHIC!!!</span></div>
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You have to understand that I hate, and I know I am not supposed to use the word hate, but I hate Shabby Chic. Whats wrong with a nice clean paint job? Why does it have to look like you picked it up at the dump and you are showing off to everyone how environmentally conscious you are by using recycled furniture, even though most of it is faked and cost twice what the original piece cost new.<br />
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But, I stopped working on the piece and just let it be. I figured we would live with it for a while.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FO-ec00wqYM/UIsvgig-WkI/AAAAAAAABjI/VnUyr-8DdCQ/s1600/Finish-Detail-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FO-ec00wqYM/UIsvgig-WkI/AAAAAAAABjI/VnUyr-8DdCQ/s640/Finish-Detail-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BmpxD3DtGBs/UIsvhNcoJEI/AAAAAAAABjQ/lP-5cvx9P_8/s1600/Finish-Detail-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BmpxD3DtGBs/UIsvhNcoJEI/AAAAAAAABjQ/lP-5cvx9P_8/s640/Finish-Detail-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zI0jI-HE_3A/UIsvhnX-pzI/AAAAAAAABjY/7OgpMR0M2AY/s1600/Finish-Detail-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zI0jI-HE_3A/UIsvhnX-pzI/AAAAAAAABjY/7OgpMR0M2AY/s640/Finish-Detail-3.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New molding and handles made all of the difference</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DlXGWHdB5dA/UIsviOrsH1I/AAAAAAAABjg/q2SAFX5HkYc/s1600/Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DlXGWHdB5dA/UIsviOrsH1I/AAAAAAAABjg/q2SAFX5HkYc/s640/Finished.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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For the moment we are done with it. All of the over flow of kitchen items found a home and we certainly have many, many other things to focus on.<br />
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But fear not... I will sneak in someday and paint it proper... Will someone please let me know when Shabby Chic goes out of style!<br />
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<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-82459213285315421582012-10-02T16:51:00.001-07:002012-10-02T16:53:17.334-07:00Deck the houseWe are alive and well in Healdsburg. Fall is upon us and somehow it is October first, I don't know how that happened. Now that the house is bank financed and some of the external pressure is off, we have managed to take a day here and there and actually discover where it is that we live. Boy were we surprised to discover that San Francisco is only an hour away... who would have thought! We have had guests stay with us, and although it is still a bit on the rough side, no one is complaining, well, not too much anyway. Our work on the house has taken us down two paths. The first is a mad attempt to get our belongings out of storage so that we can continue to cut expenses. We have brought many boxes over from the big unit and yet it seems as full as ever. It is time for action! In two weeks we are going to rent a big u-haul, load everything out of the big storage space and bring it here. Sort through it, keep, donate, dispose of, or yard sell everything! We are penciling in four entire days for this task, and hope to accomplish the impossible by the end, an empty and no longer being paid for storage space! So mark your calendars....<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">BIG YARD SALE OCTOBER 13TH AND 14TH, in the front yard</span></div>
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The second focus for us has bee Decking the house, but before I go into that we have...<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">- A Word from our Sponsor -</span></span></i></div>
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It is always fascinating to run across your house in an old photograph, or newspaper, or even old postcards. It has come to our attention that the house is also now in paint. Landscape artist John Farnsworth of Healdsburg, has been spotted lurking behind the trees across the street, with paint brush and easel in hand, paint flying everywhere as he madly captured our home in oils. Our home and other of John's paintings will be available to view during ARTrails in Healdsburg, October 13-14 and 20-21. Visit John's website for more information... <a href="http://farnsworthart.com/">farnsworthart.com</a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lRVh09-d4wM/UGt1BzVNK3I/AAAAAAAABfk/dlWFTuWvB6E/s1600/july4_2796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lRVh09-d4wM/UGt1BzVNK3I/AAAAAAAABfk/dlWFTuWvB6E/s640/july4_2796.jpg" width="502" /></a></div>
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I hope we get a super, super discount on the piece, I mean we didn't call the cops or anything!<br />
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We have been building the deck that wraps around the side of the house and across the back. Part of the super structure was built a year and a half ago so that we would have access to the back door and the electric panel. And now we are continuing down the west side. Eventually it will look something like this...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uTjntIaOaCc/UGt2jXgzQSI/AAAAAAAABfs/4uSHukdi89M/s1600/Elevation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uTjntIaOaCc/UGt2jXgzQSI/AAAAAAAABfs/4uSHukdi89M/s640/Elevation.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The double doors are the doors that go into the Dining room, which currently have a nine foot drop outside of them, but not for long!<br />
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Building deck supports means getting to play with...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">BIG BOY TOYS!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QIxpaoIZ7FE/UGt3KwK-mtI/AAAAAAAABf0/rLWRCEGpt-g/s1600/Truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QIxpaoIZ7FE/UGt3KwK-mtI/AAAAAAAABf0/rLWRCEGpt-g/s640/Truck.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is it about a cement truck that is just so irresistible!</td></tr>
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Footing were the name of the game, nine of them. Six smaller for the secondary support near the house, and three large and serious holes ten feet out.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_sZcHtKrACk/UGt3tNXF1UI/AAAAAAAABf8/iPM_i0m44ns/s1600/Footing1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_sZcHtKrACk/UGt3tNXF1UI/AAAAAAAABf8/iPM_i0m44ns/s320/Footing1.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-De4CbLa9Zkg/UGt3uAPf4DI/AAAAAAAABgM/1PVmWx3uy9I/s1600/Footing3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-De4CbLa9Zkg/UGt3uAPf4DI/AAAAAAAABgM/1PVmWx3uy9I/s320/Footing3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fvjjmLdiB9g/UGt3tu0WEhI/AAAAAAAABgE/nouqtucd0PU/s1600/Footing2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fvjjmLdiB9g/UGt3tu0WEhI/AAAAAAAABgE/nouqtucd0PU/s400/Footing2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="300" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuBU3leS5Bg/UGt3vEZVPVI/AAAAAAAABgU/TVurhak8-Tc/s1600/Footing4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuBU3leS5Bg/UGt3vEZVPVI/AAAAAAAABgU/TVurhak8-Tc/s400/Footing4.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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Cement poured, supports removed, cardboard forms stripped away, and then onto beams, timbers, joists, and a gazillion blocks. The blocking is to support the deck boards which will run perpendicular to the house, as opposed to parallel to the house which is most common in deck construction. We are applying the top perpendicular to the house as a nod to a traditional porch, except that this one is so sturdily built that when we finally get that helicopter we will have a place to land it.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ABsP09uugQ/UGt50BKzcBI/AAAAAAAABhE/2BsTlhOMPmI/s1600/Under3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ABsP09uugQ/UGt50BKzcBI/AAAAAAAABhE/2BsTlhOMPmI/s400/Under3.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtLfRBRbyJw/UGt5wqE1N_I/AAAAAAAABgc/xoUi4xEka8M/s1600/Basement-Door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtLfRBRbyJw/UGt5wqE1N_I/AAAAAAAABgc/xoUi4xEka8M/s400/Basement-Door.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-42Ai_x2Kk-c/UGt5xJQ_ZnI/AAAAAAAABgk/5OCuX39xgYQ/s1600/Top-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-42Ai_x2Kk-c/UGt5xJQ_ZnI/AAAAAAAABgk/5OCuX39xgYQ/s640/Top-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XQs8isMS1YM/UGt5yOGEYPI/AAAAAAAABgs/q09jAdL--iY/s1600/Top-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XQs8isMS1YM/UGt5yOGEYPI/AAAAAAAABgs/q09jAdL--iY/s640/Top-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-irA4dLVOreU/UGt5y4WRpnI/AAAAAAAABg0/pwvrWC7eYRE/s1600/Under1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-irA4dLVOreU/UGt5y4WRpnI/AAAAAAAABg0/pwvrWC7eYRE/s640/Under1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RJdp_xJopY/UGt5zi9cdXI/AAAAAAAABg8/Cn22sH67Pwc/s1600/Under2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6RJdp_xJopY/UGt5zi9cdXI/AAAAAAAABg8/Cn22sH67Pwc/s640/Under2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The low cement wall in this shot is the original support for the old porch, the city would not let us use it.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The super structure is now ninety nine percent finished, and next comes the positioning of the base posts for the railing, followed by the prestaining, on the underside, of the clear redwood that will be applied to the top. This redwood top cost an absolute fortune and I now have even more respect for recycled, and reused lumber. <br />
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In the next few weeks, pictures of the stained redwood top... but we don't dare walk on it... no footprints allowed!<br />
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<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span> Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-11704288169932146502012-08-06T16:28:00.000-07:002012-08-07T14:54:39.958-07:00Ding Dong Dumb DumbsAn old door bell, not the type that has a crank handle that you twist to ring a bell, but a somewhat newer style, newer from the 1940's, that has a clock and chime tubes that are actually struck by little hammers, sounded like a fun idea. A few months back, in preparation for the eventual arrival of the door chime, meaning when funds allowed, we had removed the trim around the exterior of the front door, drilled a very long and slender hole to the basement, and wired a doorbell button, which sometime in the future a guest would be able to push "to ring the bell". All good so far.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4-fI-QXyPc/UCA0JrVdNbI/AAAAAAAABdQ/3wu6TEqFLYw/s1600/advert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4-fI-QXyPc/UCA0JrVdNbI/AAAAAAAABdQ/3wu6TEqFLYw/s640/advert.jpg" width="497" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Nu-Tone Jefferson was the bell we had in mind</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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On we have carried and continued to work inside the house. Room after room was insulated and dry-walled, wood work resurfaced and reinstalled, layers of veneer plaster applied to the walls, and woodwork filled, primed and sanded, ready for finish paint. The center hall was the last of the ground floor to be done and it looked beautiful even without its final trim paint and we moved on to the second story. Finally the day came that a Nu-Tone Jefferson door chime was listed for sale that was somewhat affordable, and although in terrible condition we knew we could rebuild and refinish it. Unfortunately I failed to photograph the process but suffice it to say that we both spent hours and hours reworking it to make it pretty and functional.<br />
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We were finally ready to hang the doorbell and await the first visitor who would push the button.<br />
Hooray! <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">News Flash</span></div>
It would appear that upon entering the center hall with the restored door chime ready to hang, the boys of 227 North Street made a horrible discovery... The finished walls of the hall did not have any electric wiring in place for the chime. It has been disclosed that in their haste to plaster and complete the hall, these two fine gentlemen forgot to install the electrics for the bell.<br />
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Now back to our regularly scheduled program...</div>
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It's true. We had completely forgotten the door bell wire that lay forlornly in the basement below our feet. Chasing a wire through an insulated wall can sometimes be an impossible task. We were lucky that there was a penetration through the sill plate inside the wall, leading down to the basement fairly close to where the chime would hang. It was just reachable with small hands, by removing an electric plug in the office, on the other side of the wall from the bell, and Phillip wiggled his hand inside the wall. But no amount of wire fishing would get through the insulation. Slowly the hole that the wire would go through,that would end up behind the chime mechanism, grew larger and larger, and insulation was pulled out of the wall through that hole one small wisp at a time. Phillip meanwhile was doing the same thing in the office by pulling the lower wall insulation out through the small plug opening in the baseboard. After struggling for hours the wall cavity was finally clear and the wire slid right down. Phillip was able to reach inside the wall, through the office plug opening and feed the wire down through the penetration in the sill plate into the basement. Moments later we had power and the bell would chime. Now we just need a visitor.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--afFR6fpJQY/UCA8MJIpz4I/AAAAAAAABeI/GupU7qhUlCE/s1600/Hall-open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--afFR6fpJQY/UCA8MJIpz4I/AAAAAAAABeI/GupU7qhUlCE/s640/Hall-open.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insulation all over the place and an ugly black hole in the wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVUrFdlPHZc/UCA7mMqEK1I/AAAAAAAABdw/aK1kPT0wBqA/s1600/Hall-open2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVUrFdlPHZc/UCA7mMqEK1I/AAAAAAAABdw/aK1kPT0wBqA/s640/Hall-open2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">but the magic wire was finally in place</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NY3G7ABDOfo/UCA7mllFNxI/AAAAAAAABd4/rhbhdAiVORo/s1600/Office-open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NY3G7ABDOfo/UCA7mllFNxI/AAAAAAAABd4/rhbhdAiVORo/s640/Office-open.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of that insulation came out of that small hole in the baseboard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDl9oPcClXk/UCA7lbRYY7I/AAAAAAAABdo/V_hAdneRkCM/s1600/Clockbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDl9oPcClXk/UCA7lbRYY7I/AAAAAAAABdo/V_hAdneRkCM/s640/Clockbell.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging proudly. Not everyone's cup of tea but it is fun when it chimes</td></tr>
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In the ongoing effort to empty out at least one of our storage spaces we also continue to work on closets. After completing the master bedroom closet, we turned our attention to the linen closet, or the service closet as I now call it. A place to put sheets and towels, pillows and blankets, brooms and vacuums, and also the new home of those nasty tangles of wires, the modem, the router, music system hard drive and network box. We learned a lot about the closet system we are using while building our first closet in the master bedroom and we have become much more sufficient at using it. The linen/service closet is a much simpler design with a single unit across the end wall. We knew we had to build it inside the closet space itself and that of course proposed a problem. In order to assemble it properly one of us would have to be on the backside of it during construction. In true Edgar Allan Poe style, as in the Cask of Amontillado, Phillip would be walled in behind the new cabinet. But we got smart and built the cabinet eighteen inches shorter than the ceiling so that we could lift it into the air and he could climb out under it.</div>
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All fine and dandy, until it became to heavy to lift...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9p8_5jiL_o/UCBOtTw-E9I/AAAAAAAABeg/_saP-FqNJ_0/s1600/hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9p8_5jiL_o/UCBOtTw-E9I/AAAAAAAABeg/_saP-FqNJ_0/s640/hands.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only when I climbed the step ladder could I see just his hands</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LDx9poCkGE/UCBOzM91hlI/AAAAAAAABeo/xDYDP9T0lwM/s1600/Trapped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2LDx9poCkGE/UCBOzM91hlI/AAAAAAAABeo/xDYDP9T0lwM/s640/Trapped.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a shot taken before we realized we could not lift the cabinet.</td></tr>
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We made a fleeting attempt to pass the step ladder over the cabinet so he could climb out, but it was simply to big and would not even clear the top. I grabbed a couple of two by fours and sawed one at 36 inches and one at 24 inches. I put a screw into each one and onto the screw I tied a long length of string. The two by fours were passed over the top of the cabinet and leaned upright against the wall. Phillip braced himself and used the two by fours as precarious steps so that he could climb up and over the top, pulling the two by fours out behind him by their strings.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lwrVkbSKWB0/UCBQa5qNoMI/AAAAAAAABew/-m9K5DpWMYA/s1600/Climbing-out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lwrVkbSKWB0/UCBQa5qNoMI/AAAAAAAABew/-m9K5DpWMYA/s640/Climbing-out.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over the top and down the front, he was finally free</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aw7mh82Hfg/UCBQ5Cs4_HI/AAAAAAAABe4/sJV5FNm95sw/s1600/Done-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aw7mh82Hfg/UCBQ5Cs4_HI/AAAAAAAABe4/sJV5FNm95sw/s640/Done-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not as glamorous as the Master bedroom but very serviceable </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9aK_MEna8E/UCBQ5pi6JPI/AAAAAAAABfA/rU5I36TPI1I/s1600/done2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D9aK_MEna8E/UCBQ5pi6JPI/AAAAAAAABfA/rU5I36TPI1I/s640/done2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someday when I have lots of free time, maybe I will add some trim to dress it up</td></tr>
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So our work weekend came to a close with a number of blunders and unforeseen obstacles. The closet proposed some issues and and if we ever take on a house like this again we would definitely spend some time designing closets from the very beginning so that we would have a very clear vision of where cables and wiring are to be. </div>
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Of course if you simply forget to install them all is for naught.</div>
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<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span>
</div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-62956866863125017052012-07-23T14:02:00.002-07:002012-07-23T14:51:03.844-07:00back in the closetHi everyone! We made it. We managed to finish enough of the work around here that an appraiser was able to come in, and not have to report back that we were under construction. It is amazing what you can do with smoke and mirrors, and a number of judiciously placed large pieces of art. We appraised high enough for our refinance to sail through and we are no longer under the time constraints we have had over the last three years. We are now plowing forward, and making an attempt to finish (I am using that word rathah loosely) the first two floors before the holidays. Still five million details to go, but we are making headway.<br />
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The down side to our new mortgage is our payments are much higher than they used to be. Our payments for the first three years were incredibly low so that we could put all of our earnings into the house, the big rips in the butt of both of my work jeans will attest to that (I hope I remembered to wear underwear this morning). Higher payments means we need to cut down on some expenses, and one of our ongoing high ticket items is storage. Two large units holding the contents of our Los Angeles home for almost four years. Crazy! Especially when you consider that we have lived without it all for so long... do we really need any of it? The key to the largest of the storage spaces is all of the clothing and contents of the master bedroom closet. Wardrobe box after wardrobe box packed full of clothes and assorted sundries. In order to move them here and meld some of it into what we already have, we need a closet installation.<br />
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We began by looking at companies like California Closets, and Easyclosets. I am sure they are great companies, we even used one of them in our last home, but when you layout the furniture you want in the closet and hit the estimate cost button it is a bit, well... shocking! And that initial price is for particle board structure covered in a plastic coating that is printed to look like wood. That much money for plastic printed to look like wood? Someone please explain this to me. Real wood veneers are available from some companies but that falls into one of the two most despicable words/phrases in renovating... UPGRADE, the other being CHANGE ORDER! Both of these make the hair on the back of my neck stand right up! <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So step up to the DIY plate boys and make it work. </span></div>
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We came across a product line called <a href="http://www.statesind.com/shortcutz.php" target="_blank">Shortcutz</a>. Shortcutz is a small line of prefinished (including one edge), 3/4 inch thick plywood sheets, with three different wood veneer choices as the finished surface. It basically come 12", 16", or 24" wide, by 8' tall. Available in no holes, holes one side, or holes both sides. They also have 1/4" thick, and 3/4" thick prefinished, 4' by 8' sheets of veneered plywood, and components to make drawer boxes. That's pretty much it. Everything else you might need for trimming out is pretty standard lumberyard goods, and hardware we ordered from one of the many companies that sell <a href="http://www.hafele.com/us/products/closet-hardware.asp" target="_blank">Hafele</a> products.</div>
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We designed the closet around a very large dresser that we already owned, and tried to make it look as much like a furniture installation as we could. We added baseboards, a flat crown, and did some face framing. We did the later two in maple to match the shortcutz pieces, and in hindsight I think we have done ourselves more proud to have done them in quartersawn oak to match the dresser, but it looks damn good for our first closet, built from better products, and probably cost a third of the order and have installed companies.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ5n5lEqOV0/UA2zZeRQUZI/AAAAAAAABbQ/Us_SfhI33mc/s1600/Boards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ5n5lEqOV0/UA2zZeRQUZI/AAAAAAAABbQ/Us_SfhI33mc/s640/Boards.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shortcutz 24' wide sheets</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LMfnKhGo_TQ/UA2zaAVAzXI/AAAAAAAABbY/eakdltRCA7k/s1600/backerboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LMfnKhGo_TQ/UA2zaAVAzXI/AAAAAAAABbY/eakdltRCA7k/s640/backerboard.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1/4" thick, prefinished backer board</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oCqefnypCbc/UA2zab2zZ_I/AAAAAAAABbg/FhUIlljmfsg/s1600/thecut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oCqefnypCbc/UA2zab2zZ_I/AAAAAAAABbg/FhUIlljmfsg/s640/thecut.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I do not own a sliding compound miter saw, we had to use a guide and our skill saw to make the cuts. The masking tape is to prevent chipping of the finished veneer layers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QZnBB1kYfU/UA20pHaGQEI/AAAAAAAABb4/XdZ826ZFWP0/s1600/leftbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QZnBB1kYfU/UA20pHaGQEI/AAAAAAAABb4/XdZ826ZFWP0/s640/leftbefore.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking into the left side</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-28ZBDlfaoys/UA20oRiwnBI/AAAAAAAABbw/cylw8YKS9SI/s1600/Upinsidebefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-28ZBDlfaoys/UA20oRiwnBI/AAAAAAAABbw/cylw8YKS9SI/s640/Upinsidebefore.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at the right side</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erksYkkLFuU/UA20ppw9DgI/AAAAAAAABcA/REey4oe3-Hc/s1600/leftinsidebefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erksYkkLFuU/UA20ppw9DgI/AAAAAAAABcA/REey4oe3-Hc/s640/leftinsidebefore.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking from right to left across the center unit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KltdPXLrutM/UA20qSy6q5I/AAAAAAAABcI/5ohA3gvqzp0/s1600/rightbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KltdPXLrutM/UA20qSy6q5I/AAAAAAAABcI/5ohA3gvqzp0/s640/rightbefore.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from outside with the doors partially closed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6L3ONO8n4s/UA20q1CJgmI/AAAAAAAABcQ/yujNuzPLa7E/s1600/rightindie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6L3ONO8n4s/UA20q1CJgmI/AAAAAAAABcQ/yujNuzPLa7E/s640/rightindie.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The right side</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">NEWS FLASH!</span></div>
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Rumors are flying again that the boys who own 227 North Street are not staying true to the time period of their home and have gone so far as to add something that could only have been thought of as science fiction (if thought of at all) in 1870... Air conditioning! One week ago the two items in question were installed outside of the home, and although they are extreme high efficiency, somewhat subtle in their existence, and extremely quite in comparison, this reporter feels they should sweat it out like all of those who have lived in the house before them.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKuGf1voG-I/UA221QNUeBI/AAAAAAAABcY/Z0u8LcqGL7A/s1600/ac1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKuGf1voG-I/UA221QNUeBI/AAAAAAAABcY/Z0u8LcqGL7A/s640/ac1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A10NjCGbk6Y/UA222Ag6nFI/AAAAAAAABcg/lxj8lNJ6D5U/s1600/ac2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A10NjCGbk6Y/UA222Ag6nFI/AAAAAAAABcg/lxj8lNJ6D5U/s640/ac2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now we wait for the redwood skirting (the lower wide trimboard for the house)</td></tr>
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and now back to our regularly scheduled program...</div>
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We are getting very close to finishing the closet. The dresser is in, lighting all installed, plugs in place above the dresser surface (apparently people like to plug in their cell phones in such a spot), base boards are in in but still need painting, and a couple of hardware pieces have not arrived yet... </div>
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but so close.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8DeNXz7_jI/UA24n5J8BiI/AAAAAAAABco/zFpztMTGYtw/s1600/centerafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8DeNXz7_jI/UA24n5J8BiI/AAAAAAAABco/zFpztMTGYtw/s640/centerafter.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8E51qEijKQ8/UA24ofMG6MI/AAAAAAAABcw/X_yeg0f9K7o/s1600/leftafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8E51qEijKQ8/UA24ofMG6MI/AAAAAAAABcw/X_yeg0f9K7o/s640/leftafter.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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So far we have brought over 10 wardrobe boxes, and although we have set aside more than half of the contents to be donated, we have managed to meld the rest into what we currently have had at the house. The center unit is still under advisement as to what its use will be, hanging, or shelving, but when the jury comes back in I will let you know.</div>
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Oh, by the way, as I am sure all of you girls are saying "but what about the shoes!!!!" What you cannot see in the pictures above are the two show towers we built from 12" wide shortcutz sheets, each one will hold twelve or more movable shelves. So fear not the shoes are safe and sound in their individual little cubbies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-aNsyycyeM/UA3DFELF31I/AAAAAAAABc8/g_JlwTaFESc/s1600/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-aNsyycyeM/UA3DFELF31I/AAAAAAAABc8/g_JlwTaFESc/s640/shoes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More shelves yet to be cut</td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span></div>
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<br /></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-91851683877897759892012-06-07T17:13:00.002-07:002020-12-12T23:56:23.543-08:00Ooooh... it stinks, it stinks!<br />
Spring is moving rapidly toward the warm days of summer, and it is so beautiful here in the wine country. The valleys are green with grapes that promise an amazing harvest in the fall. <br />
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As much as we would love to go and play in the sun with rest of our comrades, we are keeping our noses to the grindstone and staying indoors. Overlooking the five million unfinished details, it is floor time. We laid the hardwood two years ago and covered them in layers of paper and ramboard for protection, and promptly forgot about them. But the time has come. Layers and layers of protective paper has been peeled up from the living room, the gallery, the breakfast room, and the kitchen. <br />
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When we installed the walnut floors, we made one of those "what were we things" decisions, and added hand driven cut nails to the surface. Two rectangular nails every sixteen inches, on each board. Eleven thousand nails in total, each one requiring a pilot hole to be drilled before the nail was driven in with a hammer. As the boards were also glued to the subfloor, we chose to wait until the glue was cured before we did the counter sinking of the nails. After two unintentional years of curing, who would have thought it would take two years to get to the floors, we are now faced with countersinking nail after nail after nail.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2YhPCswR2X0/X9XJAsVJIVI/AAAAAAAACVU/Th03lXHSAsMq54SzzVsIxWLzih6wU2d9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Floor%2BSander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="266" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2YhPCswR2X0/X9XJAsVJIVI/AAAAAAAACVU/Th03lXHSAsMq54SzzVsIxWLzih6wU2d9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Floor%2BSander.jpg" /></a></div><br />Sanding was next. Two passes with a monstrous and heavy oscillating floor sander. 80 grit paper to begin with, to knock down any rough edges or scratches, followed by a screening with 120 grit. A fast and furious vacuuming and we were ready. Phillip filled in the edges and tough to reach spots as I mopped in the field with a lambs wool floor applicator. The first coat of tongue oil went down rapidly and the walnut immediately turned chocolate brown. So beautiful and very glossy, fortunately the gloss becomes a satin glow as the finish dries. <a href="http://www.waterlox.com/" target="_blank">Waterlox</a> floor finish is so easy to work with and I have definitely learned the ins and outs of applying it, but, in case no one ever told you... <span style="font-size: large;">it smells to high heaven!</span><br />
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Three days of lightheadedness (wow, who would have thought that would be one word!) On the second day I did a light screening with the 120 grit screen, vacuumed well, and then went right into coat number two. Day three was the final coat and then came the torturous wait for the finish to dry and the smell to dissipate. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O---4o3eAXY/T9E_MVo0DtI/AAAAAAAABZw/fooPruodc-0/s1600/Floor2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O---4o3eAXY/T9E_MVo0DtI/AAAAAAAABZw/fooPruodc-0/s640/Floor2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wet and glossy, like a large pool of water in the kitchen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VxIfoSZhwGo/T9E_Oan5RlI/AAAAAAAABaA/VtdLB9UU2cg/s1600/floor1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VxIfoSZhwGo/T9E_Oan5RlI/AAAAAAAABaA/VtdLB9UU2cg/s640/floor1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HcMBbEugXDc/T9E_QdMlxbI/AAAAAAAABaI/CSi7tHKb5g0/s1600/floor4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HcMBbEugXDc/T9E_QdMlxbI/AAAAAAAABaI/CSi7tHKb5g0/s640/floor4.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gallery about to get its final coat of finish</td></tr>
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Of course this was not our first foray into floor finish in the house as we had done the Master bedroom and the Dining room just a few short weeks ago. But those rooms were so much smaller and less time consuming. It was also very fortunate that we had done the Dining room as it gave us a place to put our mobile kitchen island, and the stove.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sad to see such a mess in the dining room</td></tr>
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The floors on the East side of the first floor are finally finished, and we are so happy to have it done. Now its onto base shoe, and trim paint, and doors finishes, window stop, and roping and weighting.<br />
And those things are just items on the first floor.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">JUNE 5th, 2012</span></span><br />
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Phillips Birthday, and my timing worked really well. On Saturday the second of June, I had convinced him that we should go to our storage spaces and get our sofa and a chair or two to put in the living room. Now that the floors were done it would be nice to have a place to at least sit in there.<br />
After a few stops here and there to stall for time, we arrived at the storage space, and to Phillips surprise he found waiting for us a piano moving company. Phillips baby grand piano, which came to him through his great Grandmother, and has been in storage for more than three years, finally came home to 227 North Street.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBfYh8xS3jw/T9FDD4RIMyI/AAAAAAAABas/wZZvFPga3RM/s1600/Piano1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBfYh8xS3jw/T9FDD4RIMyI/AAAAAAAABas/wZZvFPga3RM/s640/Piano1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The piano boys bringing her into the living room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the legs go on</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7jrPxZTV1Q/T9FDFgvqzXI/AAAAAAAABa8/NkpNTnne6zs/s1600/Piano3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7jrPxZTV1Q/T9FDFgvqzXI/AAAAAAAABa8/NkpNTnne6zs/s640/Piano3.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0MN5s9-e9Dk/T9FDGWmvURI/AAAAAAAABbE/oAvrx1nVFkY/s1600/Piano4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0MN5s9-e9Dk/T9FDGWmvURI/AAAAAAAABbE/oAvrx1nVFkY/s640/Piano4.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phillip couldn't wait to play again.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span></div>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-58545628878698366492012-05-10T11:23:00.001-07:002012-05-10T11:44:24.482-07:00Our big adventureThe Weather has definitely changed to spring, the roses are blooming, town is bustling with visitors and the tasting rooms and vineyards are mad with the sounds of sipping. The farmers market is open again, and folks are buzzing about river races, the upcoming FFA parade and fair, and music in the square...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pSw8ydLF9p8/T6wMaUc9GfI/AAAAAAAABZg/QCvRQX-kQ8Y/s1600/Roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pSw8ydLF9p8/T6wMaUc9GfI/AAAAAAAABZg/QCvRQX-kQ8Y/s640/Roses.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roses amongst the ruins</td></tr>
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<br />
"Sigh", such a wonderful place to live and where are we? covered head to toe in plaster, sawdust, primer, paint and filth, never seeing the outside light of day. Six weeks and counting to refinance and somehow we will make it.<br />
<br />
We are currently plastering our way up and through the center hall, all three stories. And simultaneously, installing more woodwork, stripping more doors, and getting prepared to to finish more floors. The big adventure came with the rental of a Gradall. What a fun toy!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx8nsBOGZOg/T6wBe0v0WsI/AAAAAAAABXg/mPCAmPD-wPg/s1600/Gradall%27s_544D10-55_Telehandler_Large_View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx8nsBOGZOg/T6wBe0v0WsI/AAAAAAAABXg/mPCAmPD-wPg/s640/Gradall%27s_544D10-55_Telehandler_Large_View.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Step one: Drive 5 minutes to the rental company<br />
Step two: Spend 30 minutes driving the Gradall back to the house (it does not go very fast)<br />
Step three: Spend 10 minutes strapping a cast iron tub to the Gradall, and lift it to the second story<br />
Step four: Spend 30 minutes driving the Gradall back to the rental company.<br />
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Lots of time driving it around town, and just a few minutes to do the job, but, it saved any possible damage to the tile floor in the center hall, or the staircase. And I have to say it was fun! Crazy to drive as it has rear wheel steering and bounces along the road like crazy, but you know...<br />
"boys and their big boy toys!"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hbi4ZVMspEw/T6wDnqoC_NI/AAAAAAAABY4/lGpPbYJ8Trc/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hbi4ZVMspEw/T6wDnqoC_NI/AAAAAAAABY4/lGpPbYJ8Trc/s640/11.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrival on the second floor, and in through the second floor hall door</td></tr>
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And now, as much as I would love to write more and stupefy you with my humor and wit, I am afraid that I must get to work. On the agenda this morning, more woodwork. I am on the verge of finishing the installation of the three door jambs at the top of the third floor staircase, two original and one recreated. I need to get them in and trimmed out so we can plaster and once the doors are hung it should help to keep the lower floors cooler over the summer.<br />
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A couple of parting shots for the day...<br />
Third floor staircase nearing completion!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eaiSVnnYgcg/T6wGg47TxLI/AAAAAAAABZM/lP6izafVG0k/s1600/Stair2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eaiSVnnYgcg/T6wGg47TxLI/AAAAAAAABZM/lP6izafVG0k/s640/Stair2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So that's how that works</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_qYea0MKA8A/T6wGlz8eCAI/AAAAAAAABZU/TvKxH4qO4WQ/s1600/Stair3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_qYea0MKA8A/T6wGlz8eCAI/AAAAAAAABZU/TvKxH4qO4WQ/s640/Stair3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Now to work and more adventures! <br />
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<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span>Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1096549572698747220.post-44616333738860975342012-04-24T14:35:00.000-07:002012-04-24T14:48:32.403-07:00Suck up and bust!<div style="text-align: center;">
HUH?, what the hell is "suck up and bust"? </div>
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I have a dear old friend from Tennessee, who speaks with a rathah difficult to understand Southern drawl. "Suck up and bust" was always one of her favorite sayings. A translation would be... buck up and get over it, move on, and work harder. <br />
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We are at eight weeks and counting before our note term runs out and we must be refinanced. We have a list a mile long of walls to be plastered, floors to be finished, doors to be hung, bathroom fixtures to locate and install, door hardware, a temporary railing for the deck, priming and painting of trim, baseboards and doorjambs for the third floor hall.... the list goes on and on, so...<br />
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<div style="color: red; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Suck up and bust!</span></div>
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We are living and working in a huge mess as we continue to plaster ceilings and walls, at times it is more than we can stand but we manage. That is until my meltdown last Thursday when our house keeper called to say he was sick and would not be here on Friday, I grabbed the sides of my head and shouted, "noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo"<br />
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I consequently took Friday off and spent the day putting the house in some sort of order, but when you are faced with the mess in pictures below it is hard to know where to begin.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nituHFXmtJg/T5cQR3inv2I/AAAAAAAABVc/RqjPJ7JmefA/s1600/Mess1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nituHFXmtJg/T5cQR3inv2I/AAAAAAAABVc/RqjPJ7JmefA/s640/Mess1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaster work in the Master Bathroom, very inviting don't you think?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LaJCkd1dLw0/T5cQWTe9HgI/AAAAAAAABVk/xcM-ctkcObQ/s1600/Mess2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LaJCkd1dLw0/T5cQWTe9HgI/AAAAAAAABVk/xcM-ctkcObQ/s640/Mess2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaster staging in guest bedroom 2, lovely!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We have plastered the Master Bathroom, and the ceiling in guest bathroom number two.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hEUaewycuBE/T5cQ6M-494I/AAAAAAAABVs/JCsW-fpMum8/s1600/Bath1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hEUaewycuBE/T5cQ6M-494I/AAAAAAAABVs/JCsW-fpMum8/s640/Bath1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basecoat being applied to the Master Bathroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyl3uvfiuWQ/T5cRHQhSDMI/AAAAAAAABV0/k2u_TQWjOVA/s1600/Bath2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyl3uvfiuWQ/T5cRHQhSDMI/AAAAAAAABV0/k2u_TQWjOVA/s640/Bath2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guest Bath 2 wood all primed and sanded ready for paint, and the ceiling complete</td></tr>
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At the same time we tackled the Master Bedroom. Of course that meant moving out of the room and into guest bedroom number one. We now know what it is like to spend the night with us. Not bad actually, I was afraid it would be noisy as the guest rooms are on the front of the house, of course I would never have told that to anyone visiting us. It took a couple of hours to move the furniture out of the master bedroom, and an entire day of sorting, dusting, and purging to empty the master closet. Who would have thought that so much crap could be shoved into one closet in just a single year. <br />
With the space empty, and the floors covered the fun began.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7L7EUWVo0UQ/T5cS7A1nAhI/AAAAAAAABV8/hc4CdbvJqhM/s1600/Bed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7L7EUWVo0UQ/T5cS7A1nAhI/AAAAAAAABV8/hc4CdbvJqhM/s640/Bed1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seams taped and the ceiling basecoat applied</td></tr>
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We finished the ceilings in a white color coat and then moved onto the walls, basecoat and then color. As with all color integrated plaster we grabbed the dice and rolled, when they landed we had...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">SMURF BLUE!</span></span></div>
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Well not exactly, as it has calmed down quite a bit to the soft blue grey we had hoped for, but at first it was alarming to say the least.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkGvW2711nA/T5cWxeRggHI/AAAAAAAABWc/uQPYy6fRVeM/s1600/Blue-begin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkGvW2711nA/T5cWxeRggHI/AAAAAAAABWc/uQPYy6fRVeM/s640/Blue-begin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working along the walls with the color coat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XusPdSDVnJc/T5cWyZ9ljRI/AAAAAAAABWk/98Fkcx95Dco/s1600/Blue-begin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XusPdSDVnJc/T5cWyZ9ljRI/AAAAAAAABWk/98Fkcx95Dco/s640/Blue-begin2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phillip working over the door </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dBIzF2mjaUA/T5cXFArEWNI/AAAAAAAABWs/-FmDstf42iI/s1600/Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dBIzF2mjaUA/T5cXFArEWNI/AAAAAAAABWs/-FmDstf42iI/s640/Blue.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue walls and bare wood floor</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K3LAdtRZCSM/T5cXGCyJqRI/AAAAAAAABW0/a_E01Ny2RS0/s1600/Blue1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K3LAdtRZCSM/T5cXGCyJqRI/AAAAAAAABW0/a_E01Ny2RS0/s640/Blue1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ready for trim paint</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSTA2xw1kac/T5cXG-dX23I/AAAAAAAABW8/VESNeJoMC60/s1600/Blue2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSTA2xw1kac/T5cXG-dX23I/AAAAAAAABW8/VESNeJoMC60/s640/Blue2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trust me, the color is much more ALIVE in real life</td></tr>
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We spent two weeks in the front bedroom while we worked our way through the Master bedroom. We made the decision to go ahead and finish the floors while we were moved out of it, along with the dining room. Although I have yet to take pictures of the Master Bedroom floor, I did grab a couple of shots of the Dining Room. Three days of fuming hell and we have exactly what we were hoping for. Black walnut with the soft glow of tongue oil. Best part of this finish is the upkeep, if we get a wear spot or traffic pattern we can simply wipe more finish on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P0wKR8mq_Lc/T5cYWM5fS9I/AAAAAAAABXE/Y7tMnGYuAbk/s1600/Floor1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P0wKR8mq_Lc/T5cYWM5fS9I/AAAAAAAABXE/Y7tMnGYuAbk/s640/Floor1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The light patch is the sun shining in the window behind me</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PEX2GnRpyh0/T5cYWrYfXbI/AAAAAAAABXM/fdSKvJCuiAk/s1600/Floor2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PEX2GnRpyh0/T5cYWrYfXbI/AAAAAAAABXM/fdSKvJCuiAk/s640/Floor2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, the table legs are vintage radiators</td></tr>
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I have to get myself upstairs and get to work. But a parting shot today is a new arrival. We purchased it out of a house up the street because it was in really fine shape, came with all of the hardware, and is only five feet long, which is exactly what we needed. Of course a four hundred plus pound bathtub is not very fun to move. Next Saturday we are renting an articulating fork lift to raise it up to the door above the front porch, as I put my foot down on the concept of carrying it up the front staircase, all that work could be ruined in the blink of an eye.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MqY-mj3i8Bs/T5cZgi7VlHI/AAAAAAAABXU/4ra9UeRShyo/s1600/tub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MqY-mj3i8Bs/T5cZgi7VlHI/AAAAAAAABXU/4ra9UeRShyo/s640/tub.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute little thing, it of course has claw feet and a shower surround</td></tr>
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So I promise to get some pictures of our second flying bathtub this coming weekend.<br />
:)<br />
<span style="color: white;">#bobvila</span><br />
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01366367907162865688noreply@blogger.com4