Mon Garage Appartement

Garage Grows Up

2011-08-16T20:15:00.003-04:00

We are not done yet. It is time to make the garage functional. The plan is to finish the window/door trim, walls and floors.

Before

During

Thought for the Day

2009-10-20T21:47:00.002-04:00

We ought to do our neighbour all the good we can. If you do good, good will be done to you; but if you do evil, the same will be measured back to you again.

- Bidpai, Dabschelim and Pilpay. Chap. i.

Walk on Words

2009-09-01T18:01:00.000-04:00

I can't seem to get the written word floor out of my mind. Maybe I could do a easier variation with a simple, "Welcome Friends". While I don't know calligraphy, that is why we have computers and fonts (or as my friend Paul says, types).

I like the Miama font because it is scripty but clean, but I'm still not convinced on what I should say.

My To Do List

2009-08-30T19:40:00.006-04:00

Summer has almost come and gone, but I still have 2 projects left on my to do list.

1. Finish the Floor in the Entry Way

2. Install a Brick Path

Right now the floor in the entry way is unsealed concrete. Do I stain it or just seal it? More painted concrete floor ideas from Apartment Therapy piqued my interest. I don't like the faux rug and I'm not a lacy person, but the scripted floor has potential...too bad I never learned calligraphy.

I thought that I would have to host the last Book Club meeting (deadlines help), so I was actually making progress on the brick path. The bricks are here and I'm playing around with patterns, but I haven't work on that project in awhile.

The Other Real Estate Bubble

2009-08-25T18:12:00.004-04:00

The Cloister Inn by Addison Mizner, survived the 1926 real estate bubble and the Great Miami Hurricane. Sound familiar? I guess we never learn. Nonetheless, the building survived and is now known as the Boca Raton Resort and Club.

The Poverty Jet Set in Boca

2009-08-23T16:05:00.006-04:00

Poolside

Intercoastal

It is usually one or the other – time or money. You either have lots of time but no money (me) or lots of money but no time (me in a former life). So I’m reverting back to my poverty jet set ways. I never really left it, but now I’ve fully embraced it. Hence my summer vacation all across the state, in New York, Washington DC, Baltimore and now Boca Raton.

How do I do it? I rely on the generosity of others, credit card rebates and frequent flyer miles (in that order).

The resort we stayed at in Boca is great. The water, palm trees and cool weather was relaxing. I did think twice about popping open a bottle of Cakebread, but boy was it worth it. I like being this person!

My Recession Car

2009-08-03T18:59:00.002-04:00

Last week was super busy with free work, the whole car selling/buying ordeal and night classes. How did I get all of this stuff done before when I was working 40+ hours a week?

The Saab sold on ebay around noon on Thursday to the guy who test drove it on Wednesday. I got more than I would have if I traded it in, so I’m pleased with the transaction. I dropped off the Saab at his house in the ‘burbs with the agreement that he would drive me back home. In the end, he drove me to the Honda dealership that provided me with the best quote. We still had a few details to iron out, so he dropped me off at the service department - where I negotiated with the salesman on the phone all the while sitting outside on a bench. I was out the door and on my way to class by 7 PM.

The Honda CRV is perfect for me right now. I can fit my bike inside without taking off any parts and it is r-e-l-i-a-b-l-e. Yes, I miss my exotic European cars and the leather, wood trim and buttons on the steering wheel. But I have to admit that this was the first time in years that I was able to take off on a trip and not have to worry that the car would break down in the middle of nowhere.

Doesn't it Look Pretty

2009-07-29T21:21:00.004-04:00

I’m selling the car on ebay as we type. I sold my Alfa Romeo on ebay and was happy with the final outcome. The auction ends tomorrow and all is going well. My reserve is met. Two people called about the car and one person took it for a spin. I frantically washed and vacuumed it again before the test drive.

Car negotiations are going well. I know I’m a geek, but shouldn’t everyone do this much homework before they spend $20,000? I’m using the techniques from Roger Dawson’s Secrets of Power Negotiation and the information from Fighting Chance. Right now, between the two, proposals are running around $500 under invoice.

When is a clunker a clunker?

2009-07-24T11:17:00.001-04:00

Today is the day. Today is the deadline the government had to list cars on their website. I hoped that the wagon (versus the sedan) would qualify as a clunker, but it does not. According to the website, my car gets 19 MPG and does not meet the 18 MPG eligibility threshold.

This puts a dent in my plan to get a new car. I factored in my math a $3,500 rebate. The KBB value for my car is only $2,000. Bids are coming in from various dealers, so we’ll see who has the best deal. The three numbers I have are all in the $19,500 range, minus taxes, tag, title and dealer fees.

Financing was surprisingly easy. My credit union quoted me 4.75% for 48 months beating my local bank's rate of 5.5%.

Sourcing Bricks

2009-07-19T18:46:00.003-04:00

Time to construct a permanent walkway to the Carriage House. Right now, we have a gravel path. I troll Craigslist (love it!) every other day looking for cheap or free bricks. I see plenty of salvage bricks around town and when I run, but I'm reminded daily by others that it is a felony to pick those bricks up. I finally scored some bricks today. They are not free, but they are cheap and he is going to deliver them for free. Deal done!

Open Letter re: Cash for Clunkers

2009-07-14T17:48:00.003-04:00

Dear Fuel Economy,

Hi. I am trying to find out whether or not my car qualifies for the CARS program. I checked the website and my car is not listed. They have the sedan, but not the station wagon.

I am writing to you because I called the Official Hotline number of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-866-227-7891 and they forwarded me to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at 1-877-337-3463. I was told that the dealer probably did not provide them with a vehicle for testing and was directed to contact you at this e-mail address.

My car is a 1999, Saab, 9-5, V6, Station Wagon. Any information you could provide is appreciated.

Thanks.

Cash for Clunkers

2009-07-13T20:19:00.004-04:00

I have a love hate relationship with my car. After spending a weekend test driving Mini Coopers, Hondas and Nissans, I am still in love with how the Saab drives. I know everyone is tired to hearing me compare cars to the Alfa, but it has great form and function. Unfortunately, my quest for a beautiful car that drives like a dream always catches up with me…as a regular at my mechanic’s shop.

In anticipation of trading it in, I cleaned and detailed the Saab today. I even tried to remove a dent with my hair dryer. Boy does it look good! I had high hopes of utilizing the CARS credit towards a new vehicle, but according to the website my car is 1 MPG over the limit. As a footnote, I should add that they only have the sedan, not the wagon, but how do I dispute something with the government? If my car doesn’t fit the definition of a clunker, I don’t know what does.

On days like this, I dream about selling everything and moving back to NYC.

6 Lessons Learned from my IKEA Kitchen

2009-06-29T15:48:00.009-04:00

During

After

My kitchen is awesome and I can't believe that I made it happen. IKEA has some great products and you can definitely save $$ using their kitchen cabinets. The easy thing to forget, especially when a project is done, is how much labor you put into it. On average, it look me about an hour per box to assemble the cabinets. The simple ones took a little less than that, the more complicated ones took a little longer. If I could do it all over again, this is what I would do.

1. Plan the size of my kitchen based on the cabinets I want. Because of the stairwell, my kitchen is not a standard 10x10 kitchen. It is a little shorter and a little longer, hence the lazy susans in both corners. When I mentioned this to an interiors friend, she said that she always designs the kitchen first.

2. Have more drawer banks. I already knew this from renovating the kitchen in the main house, but because my kitchen is not a standard size (see comment 1) I only have one drawer bank. I do have a pull out by the sink, but that required me to downsize from a double to a single basin.

3. Always, always get a flat surface stove. One exception to this rule is if you can get a gas stove. I've found that in smaller kitchens with limited counter space, the extra flat surface is extremely valuable. When my friend Nan replaced her stove, she went with a flat surface stove and says it was a great idea. I love it when people take my advice and tell me that I am right!

4. Use a drill to attach the doors to the cabinets. The little cartoon instructions IKEA provides does not place an emphasis on using a high powered drill. You need to use a good drill. Why? Because if you just try to screw in the hinges by hand, or use an electric screw driver (which is what I initially did), the doors will fall off after a few uses.

5. Use a square when you are making the first box of your cabinet. Again, the little cartoon people don't reference using a square, but this is muy importante if you are going to: 1. line up the cabinets against a wall. 2. line up cabinets against each other. 3. just want things to line up.

6. Be patient with IKEA. When you are in the planning/ordering phase go on a weekday. Also, more often than not, they will not have all of the pieces available for your project. You will either have to wait until after hours, "because it is in the storage area and we are not allowed to move things back there until after hours" or it will take multiple trips. I had to pick up my supplies at a future date at their warehouse by the airport. One shining light is their customer service. When I lost a few of the leg pieces, all it took was a quick trip with my receipt to get some FREE replacements.

OMG Cupcakes Galore

2009-06-21T18:02:00.004-04:00

Back in the day, when we would mix high strength concrete in the lab, my friend and PhD candidate Sandy would say that mixing concrete was just like baking - but with bigger ingredients and equipment. My college roommate also introduced me to the Cake Bible where the author refers to herself as a kitchen chemist. Maybe that is why I prefer baking to other forms of cooking. My sweet tooth probably contributes too.

So where am I going with this? I am a cupcake fan. I read a cupcake blog, visit cupcakes stores in every city I visit and eat more than my fair share of cupcakes. First wife is having a baby shower in August and I really, really want to make some cute cupcakes for the shower. I wasn't sure what I wanted to make until I saw the kupcake kababs.

The End of TV

2009-06-15T18:03:00.003-04:00

My television died on Friday. Thanks to a new converter box (only $5 thanks to the government coupon) it is on life support.

Here’s what all the infomercials don’t tell you:
● Your bunny ears will not pick up all the network channels.
● The connection is sporadic. One day I can watch ABC in all of it’s digital splendor, the next day it is gone. Today, only NBC works. Goodbye Oprah, hello Martha Stewart.

Here’s the good news:
● When it works, it works great.
● I now have a remote control.
● I really don’t miss it that much.

Over the past few months I’ve wondered, “Do I buy a new tv? Do I buy a computer monitor/tv? Do I just get a digital projector?” Thanks to my parents, ex-boyfriends and friends, I have never spent a dime on a television. Then again, you get what you pay for.

This week will be a test for me. So far I’ve found that I can watch many of my favorite shows on the internet. I'm now addicted to google video. Coverage of live sports is the hardest to find. Right now I’m leaning towards relegating the box to the garage. In the garage, I can get on my bike trainer and watch DVD’s.

High Line - Open!

2009-06-09T15:04:00.006-04:00

Talk about thinking outside of the box - from freight to public open space. You have to give it to NYC. They find opportunities in places no one would think to look. The High Line is a former freight line on the west side of Manhattan in the Meatpacking District. Ten years after the Friends of the High Line was formed to advocate for the High Line's preservation and reuse as public open space, it is now open and I'm going to check it out.

This morning on NPR, they compared it to an open air museum. I picture it as a trail high up in the air and I love trails. I run on trails. I ride my bike on trails. I plan lots and lots of trails and sometimes I even design a trail or two. I know it sounds geeky but I really want to see the guard rails. Where we live, multi-use trails that accommodate bicycles have to use 4'-6" picket railing where there is significant grade change.

Outdoor Inspiration: Claire and Nick’s Arbor

2009-06-03T21:25:00.002-04:00

Have I mentioned that we’ve had more than our fair share of May showers? Now that the constant gray sky is gone, I’m back at work on my outdoor rooms and can’t this jasmine arbor out of my mind. It frames in the space, but lets the sun shine through and welcomes you to the back yard of their house. Sound familiar?

My Green Workout

2009-06-01T08:42:00.002-04:00

It is official. The gym membership is gone. Like everyone else, I’m cutting back on some expenses. I’ve also found that my little home improvement projects are a great workout! Last weekend I worked on my pile of bricks and was sore for days. The search for more salvage bricks continues. After over 15 years in the neighborhood, my good neighbor across the street is moving to Virginia…and I’m getting ready to pick up some stray bricks.

Rain, Bricks and Budget

2009-05-25T19:57:00.001-04:00

It is something like day 10 of continuous torrential rain and thunderstorms. Prior to this, the past few months were very dry so working on my landscape was not a priority. This weekend I decided that I might as well use the rain to my advantage and started work on my landscape plan (courtesy of the very talented Cornelia). Another motivation is our next book club meeting, which will be at my house.

During demolition and construction, the guys would start digging and hit a brick. There bricks were everywhere. I asked them to put them off to the side with the hopes that I could use them as pavers. Well after several hours of digging, carrying and stacking bricks, I can tell you that I have 50 full bricks and that much and more in partial bricks. What to do.

Budget ties all my weekend’s tasks together, as everything is free. With all of the rain, I decided to take the chance and try to propagate some of my existing ground cover and creeping vines. A friend’s circular patio was made entirely from salvaged bricks. Val would just ask for them when she saw a pile on a construction site. I’m going to troll craigslist and keep my eye out for some more free bricks.

Lets hope my body can take this. My hands are used to typing, not laying brick. The last time I did this – the back patio on the main house, I said, “Never again.”

Stop Me. I think I want a new car.

2009-05-20T19:52:00.004-04:00

Don't get me wrong. I love my car. I love the way it drives. I love the cargo capacity. What I don't love is having to spend lots of money to fix it. I spent $2,000 in January and $1,700 this month to keep the car running. My only saving grace is that the car is paid off. The rule of thumb I've used over the years is that once the maintenance cost exceeds a car payment, it is time to get a new car. I hit that threshold and it is only May.

So, what did I start to do? Research, research, research.

I've always admired the Mini Cooper. It was on my short list the last time I was shopping, but alas they did not have a model with an automatic transmission. Not only do they have an automatic, but an automatic clubman!! I love the exterior, but have always felt like the interior was a little too overdone. The fine Italian lines of the Alfa spoiled me.

This 08 Mini Clubman is asking $24,000 with 13,000 miles. The local dealership also has one in racing green.

Pros: Cuteness, Full Bike Storage
Cons: Price, Stiffness, Future Maintenance Cost

I went to the Honda dealership to test drive a Honda Fit. I know several people that own a Fit and they love the car. The Fit also has some cool folding seats that would let me fit my entire bike inside. I didn't like the way it drove. Again, the Alfa and the Saab spoiled me. I took the CRV for a spin and liked it. My mechanic keeps telling me to buy a Honda, Honda, Honda.

This 07 Honda CRV is asking $16,000 with 30,000 miles.

Pros: Reliability, Full Bike Storage, Future Maintenance Cost
Cons: Limited Cuteness

The Volvo wagon was also on my last short list. The Saab won out due to price. I know I like this car, but would I just be delaying the inevitable and find myself in the same place in a few years?

This 06 Volvo X90 is asking $20,000 with 41,000 miles.

Pros: Smooth Drive, Full Bike Storage
Cons: Price, Future Maintenance Cost, Soccer Mom Image

How to Find a Good Architect

2009-05-16T19:18:00.008-04:00

My little project has come a long way and having a good architect and contractor made the world of a difference. I’ve heard so many horror stories that sometimes I consider myself extremely lucky, but it wasn’t just luck. I didn’t just call someone out of the phone book or google “good architect.” I’m in the industry so I know the value of good references and leaned on the resources of others.

My Architect – A neighbor down the street built a garage apartment while I was in the “thinking about it” phase. These guys are serial remodelers, have great taste and demand quality work. I asked for a tour and quizzed them about what they liked and didn’t like:

Did they like their contractor? No.
Did they like their architect? Yes, loved her.
What would they do differently? More storage and closet space.

I like to think that I made it as easy as I could on my architect. I told her what I wanted through some performance criteria and bubble diagrams. I also brought along kitchen plans from a house I put an offer on a few years ago. When we opened it up, I realized that she was the architect of that house. That sealed the deal.

So what were the signs that she would be a good fit for my project?

She had prior experience with garage apartments. One project was in my neighborhood so I knew that she was familiar with the local zoning and permitting requirements.

She had great references. Picky people (who did not recommend their contractor) raved about her.

She designed spaces that I already knew I liked.

If you can find someone that meets all of the above criteria, you are more likely to have a good experience. It’s not just luck.

No Excuses for No Cooking

2009-05-05T12:40:00.004-04:00

New wood brackets/corbels and trim underneath the granite bar top.

More subway tile for the kitchen backsplash.

Trim, tile and more. I can't believe that we are almost done! Once I do the final touch up painting, the living area will be finished. The kitchen was originally value engineered out of my budget, so it was completed in phases over the past seven months. The first wood corbel that caught my eye costs $70/each, so what you see is the wood bracket budget version at 1/10 of the price. I'll add a final update on lessons learned soon.

Pink Slip Party

2009-04-21T14:51:00.003-04:00

Plating Food

Uncork the Wine

Great food, friends, and wine on a beautiful day. What more do you need? How about a bunch of themed tables along the block by the park. This was the first year we hosted a table at Dinner on the Avenue with our friends at Infusion Tea. No gloom and doom here. Our pink slip party included lots of pink tulle, pink cupcakes and rose wine. Next door, our friends at Studio Cara were gold diggers manning the Bailout table. We helped them hand out stimulus money.

All is Forgiven

2009-04-09T14:49:00.009-04:00

1,200 lb Delivery

AM Kitchen

PM Kitchen

Today is a beautiful day! We went to the west coast for a mini-vacation and got back into town around 10 AM. I almost jumped out of my seat when I saw that my garage was open. You have no idea how many times I circle the block (at least three times a week) just to make sure that the door is closed. Then it hit me, my granite guy is here.

All is forgiven. The granite looks fabulous. My choice in colors was limited to his inventory, so I told him that I wanted black. I didn't know if it would be uba tuba, verde peacock, absolute black, etc. Those that know me realize what a leap of faith it is for me to purchase something sight unseen. For the record, I wanted a black black and that is exactly what I got. It matches the cooktop too.

I'm going to enjoy this moment and report back on the minor details some other day.

On Again, Off Again Relationships

2009-04-07T21:31:00.003-04:00

Contractor relationships, sometimes it is like getting back together with an old boyfriend. Should you go down that road again? It is really worth it? I'll find out tomorrow. One week turned into two weeks and today's text indicated that the countertops are done.

Four Months Later - Now What?

2009-03-25T21:30:00.003-04:00

I finally made a decision and ordered the Beluga laminate countertop yesterday. This after spending at least a week in analysis paralysis. The actual Beluga sample had a lot more green than blue color in it then I thought (or that images on the computer screen show), but against my paint color it worked. They didn't have the laminate in stock, so it would take at least an extra week to get it to the shop. That put the install date around the first week of April.

Lo and behold today I get a text from my kitchen contractor, "you should have countertops by next week." Huh? I called him and explained that I had already ordered countertops because of the delay. He proceeds to tell me that he would have installed the granite at the same cost of laminate. Huh? So what's a gal to do? The guys (we were carpooling from a meeting) convinced me that a year from now I would wish I had the granite. True. I called the laminate people and cancelled the order at no charge. I felt crappy doing it, but I did it. I called my granite guy again and said we are back on. He said that he just cancelled my order. Now what? I decided to sleep on it, get my thoughts together when I'm a little more settled and then try again.

Have I mentioned that I haven't had an operable kitchen sink since Feb 27?

Beluga, Bamboo or Soapstone

2009-03-15T20:49:00.011-04:00

Way back when, the original plan was to have my kitchen contractor install granite countertops. When he disappeared so did the granite. I spent last week getting quotes from other companies. They all came in the $1800 to $1900 price range, and my target number was $1200. After debating it for over a week, I just can't justify spending that kind of cash right now.

The quote for bamboo laminate countertop is $529.23. This price doesn't include the bar top as I'm holding out for a granite remnant. So now the question is which pattern do I choose? I saw Beluga in another friends kitchen, Bamboo is what I used in the main house and Soapstone has the all black look I was aiming for with granite.

Almost There

2009-03-01T16:18:00.002-05:00

They say your environment is a reflection of yourself. My kitchen was in a state of construction for over four months, and I guess you could say the same thing about me. Last week was a turning point. I got a new gig and my kitchen is almost there!

Now We're Cooking

2009-02-27T16:06:00.001-05:00

A Brown Bag Lunch. That what Paula, former co-worker and recent remodeler, and I had planned to do on Friday...until my building contractor came to work on my kitchen. My house became a construction site again. I wasn't going to do anything to slow them down, so I skedaddled out of there.

The IKEA end panel is $60. Instead, we're using a $6 door I found in IKEA's as-is department.

That's my microwave on top of the stool.

Back on Track

2009-02-26T17:51:00.010-05:00

Good customer service goes a long way. I went to IKEA bright and early and was the first person in line at Returns. Receipt in hand, I asked for my missing Akurum leg pieces. My new best friend, Lola, had it waiting for the next shift / me with a note attached.

With that very important task accomplished, I headed upstairs to kitchens. After comparing prices (and finding out that I got a gig yesterday), I decided to go ahead and get some upper cabinets for the wall with the range hood. A pair of 36" wide cabinets with glass front doors and a 15" tall box on the bottom will flank the range hood. The 15" box is my compromise. It fits my toaster oven and allows me to have quick access to open storage. The orange stool on the left will let me reach the other shelving.

Since I "have creative avoidance of work that is to my disliking," I promptly spent my afternoon banging together boxes. The source of that quote is the boss of my college co-op job. How true, how true. I only hit my finger with the soft mallet once.

My building contractor is coming tomorrow morning. Gotta go attach the knobs to the doors. The kitchen is back on the fast track.

Time for a New Contractor

2009-02-25T20:59:00.003-05:00

Over 3 months, that is how long it has been since my kitchen contractor "started" my job. I checked the date on my previous post. The tipping point for me was going to a party and seeing a friend's new kitchen. It was beautiful! It is so funny hearing interior designers' critique work, "that's too matchy, matchy." The engineer in me didn't think that circles and lines match, but what do I know? Maybe I'll invite myself over again and take a picture.

My building contractor (not to be confused with my kitchen contractor) stopped by today to drop off the roof affidavit for my main house. I asked him to take a look at my kitchen to see if he could finish it. Part of the deal with my kitchen contractor was that he could give me a good price on granite. I'm more than happy to just have a finished kitchen even if it means that my countertops are laminate.

So, this evening, I headed over to IKEA to see if I could buy/get the clips that attach the toe kick to the plastic feet on the bottom of the cabinets. My kitchen contractor has the ones I purchased and I don't want to wait another day! Love them, or hate them, IKEA certainly has its moments. Case in point - as long as I bring in my receipt, they will give me the missing pieces.

Final thoughts: my building contractor finished this house in a little over three months, so why should it take my kitchen that long?

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

2009-02-17T19:50:00.005-05:00

Four and a half months. That is how long I went without a mirror in the bathroom. You sort of get used to it. After I installed the mirror this weekend, I have to admit that I sort of felt uncomfortable when I saw someone staring back at me while I brushed my teeth.

I picked up the mirror at the EXPO Design Center's going out of business sale. I debated waiting a little longer to reap a bigger discount, until I found out that they only had one mirror left. Decision made.

All I want for Valentine's Day is a Kitchen Sink

2009-02-12T18:54:00.003-05:00

It wasn't too long ago that I said, "All I want for Christmas is a Finished Kitchen." Now I'm updating that statement to reflect my desire for a kitchen sink. I can make do without the fancy countertops, but not having a sink in my kitchen is definitely cramping my style. I don't mind filling my Brita water filter in my bathroom sink. Where I cross the line is scrubbing my pots and pans in a tub, within my bathtub, and then having to toss the gray water over the balcony.

Now for some positive thoughts. My dishwasher is full operational and I sold my temporary kitchen sink on craigslist this week. Cash is king!

Childproofing My House

2009-02-01T10:04:00.001-05:00

Guess who came to visit last weekend? Say hello to Ryan. I don't particularly believe in childproofing my house, but what kid doesn't like stairs? I've learned that the best way to contain them in the living area is to just scoot the couch over and against the wall. Voila, instant gate blocked by mom and dad.

Additional Assembly & Shopping Required

2009-01-31T13:37:00.002-05:00

Happy Lunar New Year! Welcome to the Year of the Cow. Bit by bit, I'm making progress on my kitchen. There are still no new countertops. I'm washing dishes in my bathroom sink and tub. That is getting old fast.

The good news is that my building contractor came and successfully installed my Arietta range hood. They had quite a time doing it too.

So here's my new pet peeve. If they sell it at the Big Box store, they should have the other pieces you need to make it work. After all their motto is, "You can do it. We can help.TM" I bought the range hood at their store and knew enough to get an elbow and side wall vent. I should add that I asked an employee for the pieces that fit (pointed to) that range hood. Well, lo and behold the elbow and vent pieces they sell don't fit the range hood they also sell. It turns out that the range hood requires pieces that are not readily available at the Big Box stores. My contractor had to go to a mechanical supplier and make some of the components. Not planned, not scoped, not cool.

Homework for the Week

2009-01-21T19:05:00.005-05:00

My homework for the week was to pick out a color for the balcony carpet and hang my Capiz shell light. Both are now done! For the most part, my bedroom is complete. I think next week's homework will be to finally hang a mirror in the bathroom and list the extra furniture sitting in my garage on craigslist.

Rumor has it that my countertop will be measured this week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Balcony Love

2009-01-18T15:39:00.005-05:00

Living in a small space (less than 700 SF) means maximizing the outdoor space as well as the indoor space. Well, here it is. My balcony is finished and ready for someone to sit outside and enjoy the nice cool weather. The carpet team installed the chestnut carpet on Saturday. I talked my shopping friend into helping me move my bubble couch from the garage to the balcony, "It's really light, I promise."

While I would have preferred two individual bubble chairs, that is not what was available and on sale at the model home warehouse. If you aren't paying retail, you don't always get exactly what you want. Regardless, I'm happy with the final outcome. Time to sit outside and read the Sunday paper!

Copper Tan or Chestnut?

2009-01-15T16:50:00.006-05:00

Always have two options. Sometimes colors are discontinued or not in stock. If you want to save some time, always have two options. If both colors are available, we'll go with the least expensive color.

The balcony is currently covered with shingles like a roof. While this is a great topping to minimize leaks, it makes it difficult to walk outside without shoes - and I have a no shoe house. We decided to go with a fake grass like covering. Since leaves and acorns from the adjacent trees land all over the balcony, I decided to pick a color that matches the leaf piles. This way if I don't sweep it off quickly or it stains, it *should* blend in nicely.

The official price quote is forthcoming, but initial estimates are $400-$500 installed.

UPDATE: My contractor is awesome. Chestnut is available and less expensive. The total cost is $387 and he will be here on Saturday to install it.

Finally - Kitchen Progress

2009-01-13T22:04:00.004-05:00

I was going to give it another week before I went ahead and installed the cabinets myself. I busted my butt putting together the kitchen cabinets, only to have them sit for two months! Lo and behold, this is what I came home to yesterday. They even made a few extra fixes - leveling my refrigerator and tightening up the drawer face. I'm so happy that all my pantry items finally have a home. No more searching through boxes for a bottle of vanilla.

My homework this week is to decide on a backsplash for the range and color for the balcony carpet.

Height Matters

2009-01-13T21:35:00.006-05:00

Who knew that choosing and installing the right curtains would take so long? And, once they were complete, I had second thoughts. All is well now.

My makeup studio has some wonderful curtains in the window facing the street. They are shear and a plaid of yellow, green and blue. I thought that I would have to look for the fabric during one of my trips to Atlanta, but I found something similar locally. The colors are a little different, but it works. A local seamstress hemmed and finished them for only $20. What a deal! I could have done it myself, but then I would see every little imperfection. To all the engineers out there, yes I know that the patterns don't line up and I'm okay with it.

As soon as they were complete, I hung them on a curtain rod and hated it. I second guessed the fabric and location. Maybe I could put them over the frosted windows? After I raised the curtain rod, I realized that it was a height issue. I didn't hate the curtains, I just didn't like the height. They also serve as a headboard for my minimalist platform bed. Don't you just love dual purpose items?

The next little project in this room is to hang my capiz shell light fixture. It will go above my butterfly chair on the left.

Inspiration Kitchen

2009-01-06T08:53:00.000-05:00

Maybe it is because the kitchen in the main house is so narrow, but I've fallen in love with kitchens without upper cabinets. Everyone tells me that you can never have too much storage and I'm crazy, but who cares. It is my kitchen and my money. The inspiration kitchen above is Drew Barrymore's office kitchen, as shown in last April's Domino magazine.

The minimalist side of me doesn't even want shelves. Here's where I'll compromise. Now, the question is do I get the stainless steel IKEA Mossby shelves or wooden shelves that I can paint?

New Year, New Kitchen

2009-01-05T22:08:00.002-05:00

I've decided that every day will be a good day. Really, it's that simple. Today's good news is that my kitchen contractor came by this morning. He left lots of tools, measured stuff, ran the dishwasher and will be back tomorrow.

All I Want for Christmas is a Finished Kitchen

2008-12-24T13:09:00.001-05:00

Of course, I also want world peace and to win the lottery, but right now I would be happy as pie to have a finished kitchen. My kitchen contractor stopped by last week and we discussed the details: staggered subway tile, black granite, lower cabinet locations, upper shelves. The plan was to be fully operational by Christmas. Yet, here we are on Christmas eve, with everything in boxes.

Good, Cheap and Fast - Pick Two

2008-12-01T11:22:00.002-05:00

Traveling and house hunting (not for me) has put a kink in my new kitchen's construction schedule. The plan was to have my kitchen in before the holidays, but my kitchen contractor is backed up with another job. So I had to make do with a temporary IKEA table top on top of the cabinet boxes and make multiple trips to the garage to find miscellaneous mixer parts, during a prime holiday baking weekend. This is where my new motto, "Good, Cheap and Fast - Pick Two" reminds me that I'm waiting for the good contractor and saving lots of bucks. Fast will just have to wait.

I did go ahead and install one of the corner cabinets and lazy susans so that I could unpack the boxes. Living in the midst of boxes is never fun and the exact opposite of calming.

Nesting Phase

2008-11-19T18:08:00.002-05:00

I can't seem to avoid it. At last week's designer meeting, I was stuffing hay in tins for Elena's bird nest necklaces. The main character of my favorite show, 30 Rock, had a monologue on a necklace that attracted birds. Just the other morning, I watched a squirrel jump from branch to branch. Yesterday, while standing outside, I saw it. Right outside my bedroom window, is this lovely nest.

Kitchen - My work here is done.

2008-11-18T07:04:00.001-05:00

The boxes are assembled and where possible, sitting in their rightful place. I'm leaving the leveling and screwing of cabinets to the wall to the kitchen guy. That way I'm not at fault if the countertop is not level.

I'd say that I spent probably 12 man-hours assembling the boxes. That averages out to about 2 hours a cabinet. Some took longer, especially those with drawers. Again, you save money with IKEA cabinets, but you definitely need to budget and plan for the time it takes to put them together.

Let the Door Speak

2008-11-17T07:35:00.001-05:00

I love my entrance doors, but after living in the house for a few days I felt uncomfortable with their transparency at night. I picked up some Gila Window Film because I knew it would let in light, while providing me with some additional privacy.

After a successful installation on the first door, I decided to experiment with the next one. The door to the garage also includes the house number! I briefly considered using the words, "house" and "garage" but didn't want to have to work too many curved lines with my xacto knife. The final product is pretty darn good.

On my way to work, I walk by a few windows with cutouts in their frosting. The quality of my DIY version is just as good, if not better.

Rack up the Garage

2008-11-16T13:30:00.002-05:00

I have two friends who are house hunting, so during the weekends I often tag along as they go house hunting. Last weekend, we stopped by a townhouse that must be going into foreclosure. The guy was selling everything, from light fixtures to appliances.

A shelving system is one of the things on my list, so when I spied some shelves in his garage I was ecstatic. Its commercial grade, not those flimsy plastic things. Fifty dollars later, we were loading them up in my wagon. After a quick trip to the hardware store for a masonry drill bit, I drilled the racks into the wall.

What an improvement! I still need to get rid of more stuff, but it is so nice to have a semi-organized garage.

Building a Kitchen on a Budget - Part 1

2008-11-10T07:58:00.002-05:00

My wagon continues to earn its stripes. I got the call Friday evening that my IKEA shipment had arrived. By picking up my cabinets from the airport, I saved the $80 delivery fee. I did have to call in the troops to help me get a few boxes upstairs. Anything less than 42 lbs, I can carry by myself. The lazy susans were in the 80 lb range. Thanks again, Gordon!

Assembling the boxes with football games playing in the background is fun. Putting together the first box took me a little over a quarter of a game. By the time we got to the 3:30 PM game, I could assemble two boxes in one quarter. I made a few rookie mistakes, but nothing worth sweating over. I nailed the interior white panel facing the outside and switched out two of the pull outs. If I hadn't told you, no one would have known.

Lesson Learned: Assemble the simplest cabinet first.

One Project a Day

2008-11-04T15:21:00.003-05:00

The long list of things to do on the house continues to grow. It can be sort of overwhelming, so I've decided to adopt the one project a day mentality. The project can be big, it can be little. Yesterday, I switched out the bathroom light fixture.

The bathroom light fixture is a perfect example of why I shouldn't settle for something just because it is a deal. The former light fixture had a matching finish and at $20 was a good deal. The fixtures at the big box stores were in the $80-$120 range and just okay. I settled for the $20 fixture. As soon as I started living with it, I knew that I hated it - to the point where I wouldn't turn on the light unless absolutely necessary. Fast forward one month, I broke down and bough the Cade Sconce. I flipped the switch this morning and smiled.

Lesson Learned: Don't buy something just because it is cheap. You'll end up buying what you really want in the end and paying twice for it.

Chunk of Furniture Love

2008-11-03T16:01:00.007-05:00

My wagon is definitely earning its stripes this weekend. I swung by the model home warehouse furniture sale and scored Kartell's bubble club sofa for $100 (regular price approx. $1000). I've been eyeing the chunky bubble chairs for a while now. It fit my new furniture criteria: modern, affordable and liftable. After this last move, I decided that I need to be able to lift any new furniture.

My latest accessory is my Taylor cup trophy. Third week in a row, baby! The silver trophy looks great in my house.

Kitchen Quotes

2008-10-30T13:52:00.003-04:00

The kitchen quotes are still rolling in. The last one was for $13,000. I now know the difference between an inset and an overlay cabinet door. Insets are more expensive. While I realize that the designer kitchens are out of my price range, some of the appliance suggestions are turning my head.

Check out the baby retro fridgerator by SMEG. The pink example above is from Poppytalk. Without seeing one in person, I'm worried that it will be plasticy. I'm still waiting on the final specs and price. If the economy holds up, this may be my Christmas splurge.

Love It, Hate It

2008-10-28T09:09:00.004-04:00

Sometimes with IKEA, it is a love/hate relationship. I finally settled on the Lidingo cabinets and figured out which cabinets would work. Lazy susans are going in the corners and I'll have a bank of drawers by the refrigerator. I'm going down to a 30" sink base so that I can squeeze in another cabinet at the end. I did my homework so it should fit.

After work, I picked up a friend and we went to order my cabinets. Note I said order cabinets, not look at cabinets, not ask questions about them, but to order, pay and pick them up. The kitchen designer said that I was the easiest order of the day. The bad news was that the actual boxes were not in stock. I would have to wait 10-14 days and pick them up at their warehouse by the airport. That totally messed up my need for instant gratification.

So as to end on a good note, when I changed my address, the Post Office mailed me a little package that included a $25 IKEA coupon. I used that and the final bill for the cabinets (and two boxes of cookies) came out to $1,113.34.

The Carriage House Needs a Kitchen

2008-10-27T14:34:00.000-04:00

The code compliant kitchen that I have now is totally livable, but it is time for my kitchen to grow up. Pantry items and dishes are just not meant to live in moving boxes. After I finished my last kitchen renovation, the amount of cooking I did at home doubled!

Quotes from local kitchen design studios ranged anywhere from $9,000 to $10,000. No appliances included. Both studios spec’ed out granite and engineered stone countertops at the consistent price of $65/SF - comparable to the big box store prices.

The economy and my industry are slowing down, so I hesitate to spend too much money on this kitchen…that will eventually be for a future tenant. That led me to the path of IKEA cabinets. I’ll only install lower cabinets (another cost savings) and put it together myself. My ex-boyfriend’s ex-neighbor will move the plumbing and install granite countertops. I was leaning towards the engineered stone, but at $24/SF, I’ll take granite.

My overall project budget for this kitchen is $2,500 and right now the numbers work.

Taylor Cup

2008-10-24T13:28:00.004-04:00

Do you know how hard it is to catch up on football games from the west coast? The girls got a good laugh as I scrambled to check scores on Saturday. My picks are not necessarily based on how well the team is playing football. I picked Georgia Tech to win out of loyalty and TCU to win because bootcamp boy (and now Susan C.) went to school there. My only loss was Pittsburgh v. Navy. End result? I went 11-1 and am the highest ranked member for the week.

The Next Carriage House

2008-10-23T17:52:00.001-04:00

Cottage/Garage Interior - Living Space

Floor Plan

My new fixation is trying to conceptualize my next project. Ideally, it would be an intown, lakefront home with room to grow. Rather than start with the most expensive part of an estate, I'd start with the garage. There are just so many things you can do with a garage, but most people fill it with their cars and laundry room. Additional living space for visitors? A home office?

Inspiration from the west coast is evident in my recent trollings to Socked Site where they highlighted a Cole Valley home. It may not seem spacious in plan, but look at all of the light shown in the picture above. What I like about this example is that it maximizes space and function while not dominating the site.

New Home, New Name

2008-10-22T13:40:00.001-04:00

Perplexed looks. That's usually what I get when I explain to friends and others that I live in a garage apartment. So, the garage apartment will now be referred to as the Carriage House. It sounds better already, doesn't it? My front house is now the Main House and together we live on the Estate. I know it's a stretch, but as soon as I get to work on the landscape design, the Estate will have formal grounds and gardens.

Lessons Learned

2008-10-14T12:37:00.002-04:00

I'm still unpacking, but the good news is that my car fits in the garage. Traveling is definitely taking its toll on me and my productivity. Regardless, here are some of my lessons learned after living in the space for a few days:

The architects in the office explained that they typically put the light switch where a door swings open. As a righty, I'd prefer them on the right side in my closet.
Forget the pretty lights outside. I should have put in motion detecting lights. It doesn't bother me because I drive straight into the garage, but visitors have had to use their cell phone to light the walk.
Plan ahead for a future bathroom in the garage. The windows are on the north wall. The sanitary line is on the south wall. I'm still scratching my head to try and figure something out.

Moving Day

2008-09-30T16:17:00.004-04:00

The day of stuff. Compared to most people, I don't have much stuff and prefer it that way. Think again. When you move, you realize that you have lots of stuff. With the help of Gary and Don, we (and I really mean they) moved all the heavy stuff last night. My vintage steelcase desk is now in the new office / garage. That desk is a tank and not meant to go up stairs.

I now have four hours to empty the kitchen and finish cleaning the main house for the new tenant. Everyone beware of cranky girl.

Tenant Move In

2008-09-25T18:04:00.003-04:00

Uh-oh. The good news is that I found a tenant for the main house. The bad news is that he wants to move in this weekend and I'm off to Vegas.

Close-out

2008-09-24T15:40:00.005-04:00

Progress on the garage apartment was clicking away at a pretty good pace, while my contractor was on board. Now that it is up to me to schedule and finish things up, we are moving at a snail's pace.

So, what's new...after three appointments, I broke down and gave up on cable iternet. I've been without internet for 3 weeks now. Yes, I've missed it. But, the world kept moving on.

In my quest for air conditioning, I've learned how to turn on the meter, disconnect, and open the panel on the condenser. As it turns out, the mechanical contractor didn't turn it on. It wasn't me!

The confidence meter is definitely up a notch from where we were before I started this project. After work, I go home and dremel away bad caulk. I also replaced my shower fixtures by myself and picked up everything I need from the Big Box in one trip! The last time we did this, Don helped me and brought the other supplies that he knew I would forget to buy.

The Lights Are On

2008-09-18T11:10:00.002-04:00

The power company pulled through in the end. They got me hooked up and running on Wednesday. It is a new line that connects the pole to the house underground. This is a wonderful thing. If you've ever lived through the aftermath of a hurricane, you understand how valuable it is to have underground power. Now, the line to the transformer is still overhead, but I'll take whatever I can get.

Powering On

2008-09-16T14:07:00.004-04:00

I'm still here. Almost 2 weeks after I got my C.O., I'm still trying to get power. No power (and air conditioning) is a deal breaker for me. On Monday, I finally got to the right person because when I went home to wait for the Cable/Internet folks, an inspector for the power company was there and told me that I had been fast tracked. Today at lunch, I noticed that the cable was dropped off. The boys are work tell me that I still need to wait for the line crew and then the meter crew. One more day at best...

It's Not Over Yet

2008-09-07T17:55:00.004-04:00

I let out a huge sigh of relief last Wednesday, but it doesn't end once you get your Certificate of Occupancy. Now it is time to get the power, cable and internet hooked up. I hesitate to move anything into the apartment without air conditioning. So, right now I'm limited to hanging some drapes and pictures. Those hurricane straps are coming back to haunt me. They keep setting off my stud finder. I probably had to putty and paint a half dozen holes already.

Whistle Clean Windows

2008-09-04T14:27:00.004-04:00

I have some super cool windows that hinge in and out. Between that feature and the balcony, I can reach and clean most of the windows on the second story. The rear yard skylights are above the stairwell, so those windows are trickier. I called in the professionals at A Perfect Services, Inc. to clean those. It really is all about having the right equipment. They were in and out in under 30 minutes and it looks great! I can't believe that I actually thought about leaving them as is.

Finally

2008-09-03T20:03:00.004-04:00

After some buzzing of the fire alarms - there are a total of four, the inspector signed off on the final building permit. For comparison purposes, my main house is 1,000 SF and only has one fire alarm. What a difference the 2004 building code makes.

One more quick trip to City Hall yielded the much coveted Certificate of Occupancy. I'm thinking of framing it.

Final CO Scheduled, Fingers Crossed

2008-09-02T14:20:00.003-04:00

What a day! I decided to take the day off work to sit at home and wait for the engineering inspector. We passed with flying colors and she liked the idea of using a rain barrel to catch the water from the gutters.

The final building permit inspection is scheduled for tomorrow morning. If all goes well, I can get power hooked up and work on a whole host of housekeeping things.

Address Permit

2008-08-31T17:51:00.005-04:00

Did you know that you have to call for an inspection of your address number? Nope? Neither did I. When the City issued the building permit, it came with a new address. So, silly me thought that it was something they just *give* you. Well, you actually have to get a separate permit for the address, pay a $50 fee, call in and pass your inspection, and then call again for a final engineering inspection to confirm and close out the permit.

This not-so-little extra step put a kink in the schedule. That's okay because I wasn't ready to move yet. I'm still doing little things like switching out the draperies and shower curtain in the main house...now, if I could only get the doorbell to work.

While I try to find something I want within my budget, I painted this little thing. Jessi was kind of enought to help me with the swirls. My left brain was too focused on making sure the numbers looked even.

Punch Out

2008-08-27T11:19:00.004-04:00

We're definitely moving on up. My painting work passed muster with the contractor, so yesterday they installed the stairs. This morning, I pedaled over to the lumber store with my wood sample to get some matching wood putty. The last little bit of gravel rock was spread today. There's no long punch list because we've been punching as we go.

Weekend Project

2008-08-25T16:35:00.006-04:00

So, I've been carfree for almost a week and a half. That's made me very focused and productive on the weekends. This weekend I worked on my little project - prepping, staining, varnishing and painting the wood for the stairs. Boy what a difference it makes to have the right tools and materials!

The last time I did something like this, I used scraps of sandpaper and products off the shelf from the Big Box. This time I had some good direction from my contractor, a real hand sander and the good stuff from Sherwin Williams (thanks again to Kyle). I dare say it was almost fun. Having a garage made a world of a difference as the afternoon rains returned.

Here are my product raves and reviews. I highly recommend the Harmony paint by Sherwin Williams and Sanding Sealer by WoodClassics. The Harmony (also low VOC) paint did not have the coverage problem that I experienced with EcoChoice. EcoChoice is a thumbs down. For us gals, Sanding Sealer is sort of like Frizz Ease for wood. You apply before finishing to smooth out the frizzies.

Final Inspection Count: 3 Down, 1 To Go

2008-08-23T10:54:00.005-04:00

I was home when the electrical inspector came by yesterday and we passed! Way to go electrician. The final termite treatment is scheduled for Tuesday. I also called the building inspector to give him a heads up on my "sparse" kitchen. He said that it should be fine. He'll just add a note to my records. All of my paperwork is with the bank and they will have the appraiser call me so that I can schedule it after I get my C.O. Last but not least, I put together the permit for my internal privacy fence. The end is near.

Here's a picture of power tools I do not have, nor know how to operate. The guys at work think it is funny that I post pictures like this and of material deliveries. Late last night, Dave and Charlie finished up the floors. They glued and nailed down the floor. Have I mentioned that it looks fabulous! I have some extra boxes and we decided not to go with the stair shoes, so I'm going to return those today. My quarter round was on back order, so I'll pick that up too.

Also on the to do list this weekend is:

A trip to the Big Box Store
Painting the Wood for the Stair Risers
Staining the Stair Treads
Fixing the Doorbell in the Main House

Status - More Driveway Gravey (aka I-4/408)

2008-08-22T08:47:00.005-04:00

Here's the latest progress. Thank goodness we are primarily working on the interior. We have had rain non-stop the past few days courtesy of Faye. Walking to work in puddles reminded me why things were so stinky in NYC. You were bound to get wet walking to and from the subway station. I don't know when he did it, but the electrician installed the last few fixtures and wired up the box yesterday.

On a side note, I'm starting to think that the scale of my chandelier is off - given all the open space.

Design Concepts

2008-08-21T20:39:00.003-04:00

Final Inspection Count: 2 Down, 2 To Go

2008-08-21T17:28:00.004-04:00

At loong last, the final mechanical inspection passed today. The final electrical inspection is scheduled for tomorrow. I'll take some pictures as soon as there is a gap in the rain...it may be a few days. Final CO = FF&E Funds.

My goal is to start moving in Labor Day weekend.

Installing My Grass Floor

2008-08-18T20:06:00.003-04:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Technically, bamboo is not wood, but a grass. The installation progress has begun. There is no way in holy heck that I could have done this myself. We hit a few roadblocks before we started. First and foremost, there were NO manufacturer installation instructions in the box. I called Lumber Liquidators to try to get a copy and all they did was refer me to their website. Really. Even IKEA has little cartoon, non-verbal instructions. After lots of sanding (be sure to tell your drywall guys not to splatter mud all over the floor) and vacuuming, the glue went down. A last minute phone call to Dave confirmed that he purchased VOC compliant glue.

If Hurricane Faye doesn't get in the way, we should make more progress tomorrow.

My Code Compliant Kitchen

2008-08-17T21:59:00.000-04:00

I thought that as long as I had a sink, we would be good. Now I've come to find out that we need to have a range hood installed too? On Friday, I scrambled over to U-Save...again. Earlier this week I spotted a ductless exhaust hood there for less than $20. Don kindly donated a wall cabinet so that the hood could connect to something. I spent the weekend painting cabinets with Home Depot's low VOC paint, Fresh Aire. They tried to warn me that it would take more coats than their traditional Behr paint. Well, lesson learned after FIVE coats! I hate spending time and money on something temporary, but what can you do?

The good news is that plumbing passed its final inspection. One down, three to go.

Tina Conquers the Mountain

2008-08-16T20:26:00.001-04:00

Today's activities include baby sitting. She's no longer a baby, so we call it Tina-sitting. It worked out well as the parents were attending a party down the street. I was carless, so we walked across the street for a good dinner at Logan's Bistro. Gotta love my neighborhood.

We ran up and down, and up and down, the mountains of gravel in my driveway. As soon as I figure out how to transfer a picture from my new phone, you'll see it here.

Dining Chandelier

2008-08-14T22:08:00.007-04:00

This purchase was made via some internet shopping. I know it is not your traditional chandelier, but I like it and it costs less than $50.

Flooring Choices

2008-08-14T17:59:00.001-04:00

...and the winner is vertical natural bamboo by Morning Star at Lumber Liquidators. Not that I have a tendency to over analyze things, but this purchase was based on aesthetics, compatibility with the floors in the main house, cost and availability. I loaded up the minivan yesterday and Tim, Nan and Tina came over to help unload the goods. It is recommended that you allow the flooring to acclimate in the installation area for 3-7 days. Well, we made it into the garage.

Yippe!

2008-08-12T21:21:00.003-04:00

Bathroom - Done!

Bedroom - Fan Installed

Today was crazy. There were four trucks in my driveway as the plumber, electrician and contractor were on-site. I was trying to get ready for a meeting tomorrow at work, when the sink fiasco occurred. Again, thank goodness I have a good contractor and my resources at work. When I checked in after work, so much was done!

The bathroom is practically finished. You can see part of the fan blades in the bedroom photo. I cannot express in words how good everything looks.

Kitchen Update

2008-08-12T17:06:00.003-04:00

Money is tight, so like many cities, I had to do a budget transfer to complete my project. The kitchen cabinets got cut so that I could do the re-roof. Now, that puts me in a pickle because I need a kitchen sink to get my Certificate of Occupancy. The good news is that the plumber is providing the garbage disposal, sink and fixtures. All I had to do was provide a sink base. Easier said than done.

I hate spending money on something only to replace it in the near future. So I went to IKEA - thank gosh we have an IKEA in town, and waited one hour only to find out that the 36" sink bases were up in the air. This meant that they couldn't get them down until the store closed. I would have to come back at 9 PM or the following morning. Why it took them an hour to tell me that, I don't know. Yoga classes while you wait would do wonders with their customer service. I returned my order and purchased a 30" sink base so that I could be on my way.

Another stop to the Big Orange Box and I landed a cut piece of 2x5 for use as a countertop. My direction to the very helpful employees was to cut the remaining portions of the 4x8 to any size, so long as it would fit in my wagon.

Last night was spent watching the Olympics, assembling the sink base and sanding, treating, staining and sealing the wood. This morning, I found out that the plumber brought a double sink. Oh, my! That's a 33" bowl. He's only going to be here one day. Another day equals another trip charge. Chalk another one up on the list of things I've learned on this project...

A co-worker was kind enough to take me over to U-Save where we purchased a 36" sink base and trucked it home.

More on the flooring and pictures tonight. I promise.

Hello Appliances

2008-08-09T21:18:00.000-04:00

Oops. I forgot to add that the appliances arrived Friday. I missed the delivery, but here they are all boxed up and on the 2nd floor. From left to right, refrigerator, range and dishwasher. We'll save the boxes for the kiddos.

Decisions, Decisions

2008-08-08T21:03:00.006-04:00

Front Door to Entry

Staircase - Painted Walls and Stained Handrail

Balcony - Installed Light Fixtures

Status - Painted, Lights and Fence

There was a flurry of work on Friday. The painting crew arrived and painted the balcony railing and stucco. The electrician installed some more light fixtures and my contractor built the privacy fence. We moved the fence back so that the yard is a little bigger. I really wanted to move the AC unit during design, but setback requirements prohibited me from putting it in the rear and other side yard. Code requires a 24" gap around the AC unit for service, so that is what you see.

I have lots of shopping to do this weekend. On the to do list: more light fixtures, light bulbs, fan extenders in chrome, bath fixtures with an 8" spread, a doorbell, sink base and countertop.

It's Not Easy Being Green

2008-08-06T22:16:00.004-04:00

It is and it isn't. A few people have asked, so here's what we are doing.

My construction project clearly utilizes conventional construction materials and methods; however, I've tried to incorporate a few "green" elements. First and foremost, this is an in-town and infill project - utilizes less infrastructure because no new roads, etc. are required. From a material perspective, I chose Hardie siding, low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint and bamboo flooring. Hardie board is fiber cement siding that looks like wood, especially when painted. VOC's are sometimes recognized as that paint smell. It is stronger when first applied, but continues to emit VOC's and affect indoor air quality. Oh yeah, it also costs at least twice as much as regular paint. Last but not least, I'm loving the rock in my driveway. It is crushed concrete from the I-4/408 interchange.

Still working on the bamboo and formaldehyde free kitchen cabinets. I need a sink base by Tuesday because the plumber is coming.

Power It Up Baby

2008-08-05T22:12:00.003-04:00

Kitchen

Living Area

Status - See Compressor by Door

The air handler and compressor have arrived! The electrician must have also made an appearance because wires and switches are installed. Last but not least, the trim paint is done and the stain on the handrail is drying. Pictures to follow once this proposal is out of my hands.

Stucco Monday

2008-08-04T18:06:00.002-04:00

New Stucco Drying

Status - Stucco Application

The crew arrived a little before 8 AM. By the time I walked home for lunch, they were packing up. I can't wait for the painters to come back and finish this up. Then it will be time to hang the light fixtures and my super duper garage door key pad.

Weekend Assembly

2008-08-03T18:04:00.000-04:00

I thought about laying the tile. I thought about installing the wood floors. I woke up and turned it over to the professionals. However, I did assemble the bath vanity this weekend. Here it is!

Delivery on Ferris

2008-08-01T18:10:00.002-04:00

Delivery for me! Some 4x4's and caulking. See some of the new gravel rock that will soon line the driveway. UPDATE: The new-to-me rock is crushed concrete from the I-4/408 interchange. How cool is that.

Time to Paint

2008-08-01T17:26:00.001-04:00

Sherwin Williams Harmony Paint - Zero VOC

The great guys at Sherwin Williams (thanks Kyle!) color matched the paint for me. We went with the Harmony paint because it is low VOC. The labeling says zero VOC, but once they add pigment, it adds VOC. The painter pointed out the color variation between the flat test quart and satin, but it doesn't matter to me. I also asked them to stain the wood handrail, rather than paint it. This had them scratching their heads because it was paint grade wood.

Landscape Design From Afar

2008-07-31T19:51:00.007-04:00

Side Yard - facing south.

Side Yard - along fence, facing south.

Rear Yard - 15 feet wide, facing north.

Rear Yard - 15 feet wide, facing south.

I found a super nice and talented landscape designer/architect to work on my landscape design. We are having some technical difficulties with e-mail, so here my attempt to show her the "before" status of my yard. I don't necessarily have a green thumb or irrigation, so we are going the xeriscape route.

Marble Tile Flooring

2008-07-31T19:38:00.004-04:00

Day 1 - Fiberock and Tile Arrangement.

Day 2 - Set, Grouted and Done.

Stacked Subway Tile

2008-07-31T19:34:00.001-04:00

Day 1 - Set the Tile

Day 2 - Grouted and Beautiful!

Tales from the Tub

2008-07-30T09:49:00.005-04:00

Here's a stock image of my bath vanity. I chose a different sink. Mine is white and modern. I like the combination of a stark white modern sink and the traditional, yet clean lines of the vanity.

Each day, I find myself learning more and more. The guys at the office laugh because I have added so many new words to my vocabulary. Some new things I've learned include:

Vinyl grout doesn't have to be sealed. Sanded grout does.
For a natural stone floor (marble), at a minimum you want your floor joists 16" O.C. and 3/4" plywood backing. Don't forget the backer board.
If you can't get all of your tile from the same lot, lay it out first.
Staggering is good.
Shop during the week and be patient. Activity at the stores are slower, so it is easier to find a manager. While waiting at the Expo Design Center, I read O at Home, Dwell and Domino. I didn't have to buy the magazines (saving $15) and got a 10% discount on my bath vanity.

Update

2008-07-28T21:21:00.006-04:00

One of my work projects is dying a slow painful death. If you asked me two weeks ago, I would have told you that it was dead. It gained some legs and a new spin last week. When I completed my thesis defense, I remember being glad that I would never have to do that again. Yet today's meeting was eerily reminiscent of that day, with one exception - two more people on the jury. But I digress, ....

The paint is on order and the tile is going up as we speak. It looks fabulous. I'm sure there is more stuff going on, but I was already emotionally spent for the day and didn't look for more. Pictures to follow.

My Walk-in Closet

2008-07-27T18:52:00.003-04:00

It doesn't compare to the closets in suburban homes (and the one I had as a teenager), but relative to the closets built in the 1920's...this one is huge! The rods and shelves are in. I'm keeping it simple, no fancy California Closets just yet.

Paint Update

2008-07-26T16:55:00.000-04:00

Inspiration Picture

Yes, this is my life. After many test quarts and some free professional advice, I decided on some wonderful colors from Farrow & Ball.

Borrowed Light for the Walls
Pointing for the Ceilings
Strong White for the Trim and Doors

Doors^3

2008-07-24T21:35:00.004-04:00

Living Area

Status - New Garage Doors!

More deliveries, more visits to my neighbor to make sure that we stay in his good graces. So far, so good.

The bedroom and closet doors are hung and the baseboard is partially up. The biggest change is the installation of the garage doors. It is sort of dark without the row of windows on the top, but I have to remember that the power is not on and that windows cost an extra $250.

Dana took a look at my paint samples and likes Farrow & Ball's Borrowed Light. She thought Cake Stand Blue was too light and the other color was too dark. Her other recommendation was to paint the ceiling in the alcove the same color as the walls.

Just Say No to Popcorn

2008-07-22T19:45:00.003-04:00

Wall texture. Decisions, decisions. There are those that believe that orange peel is dated, but when a smooth texture costs $250 more per room, you get over it. They sprayed the walls and ceiling this morning. The walls are a light orange peel and the ceiling is knock down. They were going to do the concrete block too, but I decided that I like them just the way they are.

They also finished, more or less, the balcony.

My New Old House

2008-07-19T19:18:00.001-04:00

From the Wall Street Journal, The New Old House. This is stuff white people like.

Le Tour de Grandes Box

2008-07-19T18:58:00.009-04:00

I picked out the tile for the bathroom shower and agonized over the grout color. I decided to use 3x6 white subway tile, stacked in columns, and 1/16 inch grout lines with light-grey acid resistant non-sanded grout. Yes, I had help figuring that out.

Choosing the flooring was a little different. I went to the Orange Big Box to check out light fixtures and found some marble tile on clearance for $2.99/SF. Considering that the only other floor tile I like is $9.89/SF, I was ecstatic. Now the bad part - since it is on clearance, I had to go to FOUR Big Box stores to try to find enough. I'll measure in the morning and confirm.

The good news is that I picked out most of the light fixtures and kept within my budget! The Blue Big Box has nice light fixtures at a great price. This galvanized outdoor light fixture will go outside the french doors and is less than $20.