So I spent most of today (12 hours) helping my friends gut their bathroom. They had a problem with a leaky/mouldy spot in their floor, so they had to rip out the floor, and while they were at it, they decided they wanted to remove the wall tiles, and change the drywall, etc.
We got the subfloor done, did a bunch of framing repairs/modifications, as well as a small tweak to an electrical box. Then we got a good start on the drywall.
I might post a few pics if they don't mind.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
New Purchase!
I have a house related post/update coming shortly (from work done this past Friday), and I also have another "Cornwall Homes" post I want to do, but I just haven't got the time at the moment.
Instead, I wanted to share a new purchase. As many of you may (or may not) know, I'm a clockmaker. I have between 75-100 (I have honestly lost count), in several states of disrepair (since I buy bargain clocks that tend to need extensive work), and I love bringing them back to 'life'.
Since I bought the house back in April 2010, I've been saving/spending all my money on the house. I've only bought 2 clocks since then, and one was received as a gift from my aunt.
But this morning I bought one (or "won" one) on eBay.
I just happen to have checked my eBay, thinking that I had already missed the auction, but there were 7 hours left on it (at 6am). I was going to be at work until 6-7 (when I get home), so I decided to place a rather conservative bid on it. I did not expect to win the auction at all.
When I got home, however, I was overjoyed to see that I was the highest bidder (at just a few dollars under my maximum bid).
The photo is a bit small, but it's the only photo that shows the full clock.
It's not a very old clock. It's actually a good quality reproduction (from around 1910-20) of a clock that would have been made during the Renaissance.
Here are two examples of such clocks. The first one is ca. 1600, and the second one is ca. 1670.
The clock I bought is only really "reminiscent of" this type of clock, but the real thing is usually only found in museums, and in private collections where the collector doesn't mind spending 6 or 7 figures on one.
All this to say that I'm thrilled. I plan to make an antique looking wall bracket to display it (once I get it). It won't be here for a while, either, since I bought it from the UK.
Instead, I wanted to share a new purchase. As many of you may (or may not) know, I'm a clockmaker. I have between 75-100 (I have honestly lost count), in several states of disrepair (since I buy bargain clocks that tend to need extensive work), and I love bringing them back to 'life'.
Since I bought the house back in April 2010, I've been saving/spending all my money on the house. I've only bought 2 clocks since then, and one was received as a gift from my aunt.
But this morning I bought one (or "won" one) on eBay.
I just happen to have checked my eBay, thinking that I had already missed the auction, but there were 7 hours left on it (at 6am). I was going to be at work until 6-7 (when I get home), so I decided to place a rather conservative bid on it. I did not expect to win the auction at all.
When I got home, however, I was overjoyed to see that I was the highest bidder (at just a few dollars under my maximum bid).
The photo is a bit small, but it's the only photo that shows the full clock.
It's not a very old clock. It's actually a good quality reproduction (from around 1910-20) of a clock that would have been made during the Renaissance.
Here are two examples of such clocks. The first one is ca. 1600, and the second one is ca. 1670.
The clock I bought is only really "reminiscent of" this type of clock, but the real thing is usually only found in museums, and in private collections where the collector doesn't mind spending 6 or 7 figures on one.
All this to say that I'm thrilled. I plan to make an antique looking wall bracket to display it (once I get it). It won't be here for a while, either, since I bought it from the UK.
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Painted Hallway!
I have a bunch of photos during the painting phase (wet paint and lots of green tape) but those aren't that exciting, and the colour looks much lighter when it's still wet, so I'm only including 3 "during" shots. I still have a few touch-ups to do on the white, but otherwise the room is nearly done.
These were taken less than an hour ago. The colour has a tendency to look more yellow in most of the photos because of the incandescent lighting, but the second and last photos show the actual colour off best.
This shows off the colour the most accurately.
Note: in the following photo, the short flat wall on the right is the same brown.
Depending on the angles/lighting, this makes the blue in the bedroom look much more blue than usual (which I like).
Again, this is much closer to what the real colour looks like. Sort of a "wet sand" colour. Also, I like that it blends fairly well with the light yellow and the slate tile in the bathroom. The wall colour is also nearly the same shade as my shower curtain. Again, the colour is a match to Beauti-Tone's "Uber Luxe".
So what do you guys think? Yay or Nay? And you can be honest. Everyone has different tastes. I really like how it turned out. It's the first colour I've picked so far that has pretty much turned out just like I wanted.
These were taken less than an hour ago. The colour has a tendency to look more yellow in most of the photos because of the incandescent lighting, but the second and last photos show the actual colour off best.
This shows off the colour the most accurately.
Note: in the following photo, the short flat wall on the right is the same brown.
Depending on the angles/lighting, this makes the blue in the bedroom look much more blue than usual (which I like).
Again, this is much closer to what the real colour looks like. Sort of a "wet sand" colour. Also, I like that it blends fairly well with the light yellow and the slate tile in the bathroom. The wall colour is also nearly the same shade as my shower curtain. Again, the colour is a match to Beauti-Tone's "Uber Luxe".
So what do you guys think? Yay or Nay? And you can be honest. Everyone has different tastes. I really like how it turned out. It's the first colour I've picked so far that has pretty much turned out just like I wanted.
Friday, March 02, 2012
Hallway Teaser
This (along with the title) is pretty self explanatory. I'm lovin' the colour.
The second (last) coat of paint should be going on around 10pm this evening, and I'll be peeling the tape and doing touch-ups tomorrow. Photos will follow.
The second (last) coat of paint should be going on around 10pm this evening, and I'll be peeling the tape and doing touch-ups tomorrow. Photos will follow.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Trim Photos
I'm pretty much ready for wall paint, so hopefully that will go on in the next few days.
Here's how the hallway looks with the new and repaired trim painted, and a fresh coat of paint on the ceiling. You'll notice the difference in the white around the door edges and near the ceiling (since I just overlap all the corners and edges by a few inches).
The interior of the built-in did not get stained and varnished yet. I'm waiting until I fit the shelves for it, so I can do everything in one shot. The door and drawer faces will also be made later, and will go white with antique style hardware.
Here's how the hallway looks with the new and repaired trim painted, and a fresh coat of paint on the ceiling. You'll notice the difference in the white around the door edges and near the ceiling (since I just overlap all the corners and edges by a few inches).
The interior of the built-in did not get stained and varnished yet. I'm waiting until I fit the shelves for it, so I can do everything in one shot. The door and drawer faces will also be made later, and will go white with antique style hardware.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Painting~ (I see a theme developping)
Alright, another unexciting post, but this evening I painted the last coat of white on the casings in the upstairs hallway. This means as soon as it's fully dry (I may wait 2 days) I can tape it all, and finally paint the walls.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Cornwall Homes - Rankin Apartments
This is another old building that I walk by on a regular basis. The building dons a cement plaque identifying it as the Rankin Apartments 1938. The building seems to be currently unoccupied, and several windows have been boarded up. Up until a few months ago, it was occupied. I see a padlock on the front door. Plywood over windows is usually not a good sign, so I fear the worst. It's looked this way for a while (partially boarded up) but I've seen nothing being done to it. I don't know if there was a fire (doesn't look like it), or if they're renovating.
The building still has all the original windows, front door & side lights, and there's probably a very good chance that a bunch of the original features on the interior are still present.
I'm thinking that maybe I should leave a letter at the door asking what's up, but seeing that the past 2-3 houses I've left letters to never called back, I don't know if I should even bother.
The building still has all the original windows, front door & side lights, and there's probably a very good chance that a bunch of the original features on the interior are still present.
I'm thinking that maybe I should leave a letter at the door asking what's up, but seeing that the past 2-3 houses I've left letters to never called back, I don't know if I should even bother.
Painting~
Again, I did some more painting. Nothing too exciting, and no pics. I just painted the ceiling in the upstairs hallway. I might roll-on another quick coat, but otherwise the ceiling is done. This means I have one more coat of white on the casings, then I can finally paint the walls (which I'm looking forward to - since it's COLOUR!)
So yeah... more soon.
So yeah... more soon.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Painting~
I finally did the first coat of paint on the casings upstairs (the ones that got primed about a month ago). Yay!
Bathroom Indecision
BATHROOM:
The bathroom is STILL not done after living here for nearly 2 years (coming up April 30th). Most of the work was done by about the year-and-a-half mark. All that's left in the bathroom is cabinetry, a door, , fan cover, and plumbing (sink/faucet though the faucet is already bought).
I've been tossing around lots of different ideas for the bathroom for *months*. I want something nice, something vintage looking, and something that doesn't look too "perfectly built-in". I really liked the idea of using an old piece of furniture as the vanity, and putting a marble or granite top on it, but I don't like the idea of having a dead space along the wall next to the door (which will just trap dirt/dust/hair). However, I had set up the sconces and plumbing with that idea in mind (the lights would be perfectly centred over the sink, and everything would line up. So should I compromise my original idea for the vanity, and go with something asymmetrical, and built-in up to the wall, or stick with the nicer looking, but slightly more impractical idea? I say impractical, because having the vanity top continue up to the wall would give me more counter space (about 4") and I could put something like glass canisters/candles in the corner.
These are some of the ideas I had for the vanity. If I go with a centred cabinet, I would make it symmetrical (2 doors and maybe a false drawer at the top), whereas if I go flush to the wall, I would want 3 drawers near the wall, and a door on the left (otherwise the doors would be off centre from the sink and that would drive me nuts).
I quite like the look of this one:
I also haven’t decided what I want to use for the vanity. I want wood. Either birch, Maple, Oak, Ash, Cherry, or Mahogany (though the last two would be pricey). But I want dark brown or a reddish orange (like old cabinetry).
As for the vanity mirror, I had originally wanted this:
But it will need to stick out of the wall at least 4", and I'm not convinced that it will look good between the sconces. So now I'm thinking about using a flat mirror on the wall (see farther down).
If I have no medicine cabinet, I'd need another storage option, so I was thinking about making a wall cabinet (non matching) to go over the toilet, between the window and corner stack. The only possible issue there, is the possibility of dropping something into the toilet if I’m clumsy :S But as far as room (space for having a cabinet sticking out of the wall), and placement (free space around it/looks) it would work fine.
Here’s how the room looks (as a refresher).
From the hallway looking in:
Where the vanity will go:
I have this really nice antique bevelled glass mirror that I’ve been thinking of using. I even think I would leave it with it’s “shabby chic” distressed mint-green paint.
It fits the space nicely, and it would look like this (isn’t it fun to have a tripod!?)
This is the spot where I would put the wall cabinet. I would only make it 4" or 5" deep.
And here are some ideas for a wall cabinet. I could make it in any wood/veneer, and in just about any style. I would not use clear glass (if I go with a glass door). I’d use frosted glass, or a wood door instead.
I have more images of wall cabinets in this album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/100215997649394579880/HouseInspiration?authuser=0&feat=directlink
I need input.
The bathroom is STILL not done after living here for nearly 2 years (coming up April 30th). Most of the work was done by about the year-and-a-half mark. All that's left in the bathroom is cabinetry, a door, , fan cover, and plumbing (sink/faucet though the faucet is already bought).
I've been tossing around lots of different ideas for the bathroom for *months*. I want something nice, something vintage looking, and something that doesn't look too "perfectly built-in". I really liked the idea of using an old piece of furniture as the vanity, and putting a marble or granite top on it, but I don't like the idea of having a dead space along the wall next to the door (which will just trap dirt/dust/hair). However, I had set up the sconces and plumbing with that idea in mind (the lights would be perfectly centred over the sink, and everything would line up. So should I compromise my original idea for the vanity, and go with something asymmetrical, and built-in up to the wall, or stick with the nicer looking, but slightly more impractical idea? I say impractical, because having the vanity top continue up to the wall would give me more counter space (about 4") and I could put something like glass canisters/candles in the corner.
These are some of the ideas I had for the vanity. If I go with a centred cabinet, I would make it symmetrical (2 doors and maybe a false drawer at the top), whereas if I go flush to the wall, I would want 3 drawers near the wall, and a door on the left (otherwise the doors would be off centre from the sink and that would drive me nuts).
I quite like the look of this one:
I also haven’t decided what I want to use for the vanity. I want wood. Either birch, Maple, Oak, Ash, Cherry, or Mahogany (though the last two would be pricey). But I want dark brown or a reddish orange (like old cabinetry).
As for the vanity mirror, I had originally wanted this:
But it will need to stick out of the wall at least 4", and I'm not convinced that it will look good between the sconces. So now I'm thinking about using a flat mirror on the wall (see farther down).
If I have no medicine cabinet, I'd need another storage option, so I was thinking about making a wall cabinet (non matching) to go over the toilet, between the window and corner stack. The only possible issue there, is the possibility of dropping something into the toilet if I’m clumsy :S But as far as room (space for having a cabinet sticking out of the wall), and placement (free space around it/looks) it would work fine.
Here’s how the room looks (as a refresher).
From the hallway looking in:
Where the vanity will go:
I have this really nice antique bevelled glass mirror that I’ve been thinking of using. I even think I would leave it with it’s “shabby chic” distressed mint-green paint.
It fits the space nicely, and it would look like this (isn’t it fun to have a tripod!?)
This is the spot where I would put the wall cabinet. I would only make it 4" or 5" deep.
And here are some ideas for a wall cabinet. I could make it in any wood/veneer, and in just about any style. I would not use clear glass (if I go with a glass door). I’d use frosted glass, or a wood door instead.
I have more images of wall cabinets in this album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/100215997649394579880/HouseInspiration?authuser=0&feat=directlink
I need input.
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