649 6th

...it's coming from inside the house!

This is the first post broadcasting from inside the house. The cable guy just left and we are now attached to the collective.

rubble

As promised here is a shot of the basement repairs mid-rubble. I'm still a little unclear of the "steps" involved in completing this job but, I'm fairly certain it won't be done before we move in. No biggy, the metal grate is still around and it will only be short term.

Most of the packing got done today.

capital P

Michael and I have been tossing this idea around for a few days now.  It may sound a bit high falute'n but-- two related observations:

1) there is no one coherent architectural "style" in the SOPex (yes you heard it hear first, South of the Prospect Expressway) neighborhood.
2) Many stylistic architectural details are quoted (read: aped)

Given this, wouldn't it be easier to embrace Postmodernism (note the capital P) , than it would be to continue to wrestle with the concept of right and wrong for integrating with the neighborhood?

I had a concern about putting a mansard roof on the house as small as ours especially if we finished it in a traditional way (copper or slate). The next thing I struggled with was including the the Juliet Balcony (man I wish that detail had another name). Yes, I have seen the balcony on a house with a Mansard but never actually in a Mansard.

I'm not advocating getting out of control by any means but, to truely integrate into the neighborhood maybe a slight nod to the ubiquitous 80's quotation explosion might be just the ticket. As long we maintain the mantra that "simple is best". And, as long as the scale and finish don't leap out from down the block, we can "quote" (heh, quotes on quote) a few traditional elements without getting mired in the rest of the aesthetic baggage that goes with them.

For example, a galvanized zinc roof might tone down the hoitiness [sic] of using copper while nodding to the tradition from which it was drawn

Wow, I love the 80's!

t minus 12 days

We have the movers scheduled for 8:00 am Saturday the 30th. The Basement is um.... coming along? Well let's put it this way he IS started. I still haven't taken any pictures of the large rubblely holes in the wall but I'm hoping to before they get filled up with concrete.

This morning the Survey guys came. Michael met them aorund 8:00 am. I think they kept referring to him as "buddy" or "pal", but as he was half asleep I'm sure it didn't bother him. Allegedly by getting the new survey that list both the kitchen extension and the attic (which, like it's any suprise to anyone, were not on the existing survey from 1910) it will be easier to appove the new third floor extension plans.

We took al load of stuff to the house on Saturday so I guess you could say that the move is already underway.

Topic for all. Biscuit joiners: I have decided they are THE thing for all my joining purposes, any contrary opinions?

plodding

The mason finally got started on the basement yesterday. He has assured us he will be done by 10/30 when we show up ready to move are belongings into the basement. I'm not holding me breath.

The survey guy claims he "lost" my number and that's why he didn't get back to me to get the new survey completed this week. I finally have an appointment for 8:00 Monday.

All of the closets have had one pass of cleaning at the apartment. Things are making their way into bins and boxes.

Michael is still doodling with the doors that devide the rooms on the second floor.

I spoke with the contractor we had talked to originally to explain that things were moving slower than we had hoped. He giggled like a school girl. If you knew Wayne Drinkwine (yes that is his real name) you would kow how scary of a thought that is. I think in the end the only people that think it is taking longer to move through process than expected will probably be me an Michael, and that may not be the case very long either.

faux railing

More refinement on the previous idea, by continuing the line of the cornice through a balcony-- Maybe even position railing slats so that when you look up directly from the street they act as louvered blinds.

"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?"

Development of sketches on house front, based largely in the constructive comments of Dan, our consulting architect, who enthused over the bay window and suggested the possibility of extending it into the 3rd floor as a Juliet balcony. "Juliet bacony?" I thought to myself... "But isn't that a lot to change?" Toby asked, dubiously. "No, it could be built as a series of window boxes that appear to be a single bay from the outside." Now I'm thinking maybe gabled dormers, but maybe that'd be too much. It already looks a little overdone on top. On the other hand, this is exactly the right time to sketch and design. Look for more evolutions soon.