649 6th

carcass

We drew out the dimension of the table pedestal today. We're going to have it fabricated out of square tubing, more than likely two inch, but we may go one inch if the fabricator thinks we'll get the rigidity necessary to support the longer of the two wooden table tops.

We still need to sketch out the wall mount bracket, we"ll have them made at the same time. The wall mount holds the table top that's not in use as hanging art. There will be two tops; one day-to-day at 38.5x48, the other "formal" table will be 42x96.

oh oh oh what a ceiling

A picture's worth how many words? Patient work applying dark stain right up against old unfinished boards so as not to bleed all over their golden selves. The beams only got a light sanding, and I'm considering a second sanding just to the undersides; see whether there's something archeological hiding in all that grain.

Question remains whether the molding runs contiguously beneath the beams or sits flush to a common line slightly above the height of the lowest beam. In other words, single trim board with a dental notch for each beam or individual sections of board installed between each beam?

Leaning towards the latter option, but contiguous board keeps calling my name. The out of town wedding guests we're hosting this weekend have DIY expertise. Maybe pick their brains to break the tie.

point of fact

Michael's earlier post did not give a *true* depiction of the dining room ceiling. This is what it looked like when I got done installing the patches.This is what it looked like until today (minus the dirt, grime and nails that were removed from the beams yesterday). I just wanted to take a moment to let the true contrast shine.

Can't wait to see how the beams are going to pop. Oh, did we mention we did that test too?

wood stain

Sorry for the snoozy title, but sometimes the all pith has been taken out of me.

Not a bad match for the stain I used on patch boards in the dining room ceiling. Settled on Minwax Golden Oak after testing several other stains (including Colonial Maple and Cherry, which in my opinion are rather hideous -- too much tint). Better than the zebra stripes that have been up there for, um, years.

Tomorrow, the beams get a dark stain. Drama.

beam me up

Cabinetry order has been submitted. Up to a week before we'll have an estimate. This is where we'll feel the pain of not doing it ourselves. Though I may have just set us on the course for saving $3000 on shelving in the dining room. Save here, spend there.

Tomorrow I start cleaning the ceiling. Hope my back is up for it. Time to bring on my yoga-awareness, move smart, take breaks, and stay fluid. Scheduled as a one day job -- though I'm expecting gritty, wet, hot working condition. Blegh. 

clean palette

We cleaned out the "dining" room today in preparation to get production going. In the process, we uncovered the color tests we did over a year ago. I'm leaning toward the one o the left, thinking any sort of duo-tone finish is going to be too much. But, let me chew on that one a couple o' more days.

Tomorrow we place the order for the cabinetry units, found out the good order taking guy prefers Sunday's, Park Slope, go figure.

once I had a railroad

While we were out yesterday they began the installation of the boardwalk. I don't talk about the boardwalk that often because, for most, it's kinda hard to visualize.

We actually hired an outside person to do this work. In some ways it's the big "space defining show piece" on the first floor.

It was sort of treat to come home and find progress made in our absence.

It's just before 9:00 on Saturday morning. Today is the day we are to knock them back like dominoes. I've already finished cutting in the first floor finish paint and am waiting on my house guest to come around before busting out the sander.

The goal is by the end of the day every room (less the dining) will be totally painted or surfaced in it's final coat....go.

wheat and chaff

I gotta say the details and the materials were starting to get the better of me. It's Tuesday night and that means schedule check-in, but tonight I wanted to give it a kick. We did a cleaning reset on the last unfinished room (dining) and made it less of a materials storage area and the beginnings of another finished space.

On the plan we're doing ok at best. Last week I mentioned that it sometimes takes longer to set-up and strike a job than it takes to do it. This week I am finding the plus side of that equation is that there are limitless jobs to choose from. Nothing really has priority over another at this point; if you're tired of painting trim, miter and nail up some cedar for a while. Not working for you? How bout a bit of electrical fixture installation?

We've got a couple of big jobs queued up for each of the next three weekends (kitchen cabinets and trim, stairs installation, and sliding bathroom barn door respectively), if successful by December 1 you will see a blue sheet of perfection (at least I'm allowed to dream).

cedar cabin

When Toby installed the cedar in bathroom, he found it a rather slow-going project for one person. Fit, mark, cut, install, repeat. So when our friends from San Francisco, Rebecca and Brad, offered to help out on a house project over the weekend, we decided to go production line on the next patch of cedar. Brad brought rigorous quality control to what he rightly observed is a first-impact location, Rebecca swung a mean nail gun, Michael was on chop saw, and Toby prepped the under side of the stair stringers for next phase.

But since we didn't get started until 4:00, we didn't quite finish the whole wall before Toby's grillables lured us off task. How good does it look? Ask the strangers whose eyes it caught from street and rang our door bell to tell us so. No greater compliment.

candy barred

Second round of who-knows-how-many prepping trim boards. Primer both seals the wood and raises the grain, which when sanded results in a smooth, slick surface for the paint. Is that totally obvious to everyone? Takes time, of course, but fortunately the primer soaks in and dries fast. Result looks almost stained.

This time we cut the boards before finishing. Curious to see if it makes any difference to installation. For example, if a board needs to be slightly trimmed then end will need to be repainted. Not a biggy -- on par with cutting away a bit of pre-painted board. Exciting stuff.

All in the wind-up for tomorrow's pitch when remaining third floor base boards are installed. Windows will take a few more days; need to finish the frames before installing trim, but that's pretty much the last reno task on that floor. That IS exciting. From attic to bedroom/studio in how many days?

But for now, hallway looks like a chocoholic's fever dream. I'll pass on the Oompa-Loompas.