Progress

This is the renovation as it stands.  The timbers are installed and finished.  Glass panels were used instead of a traditional spindle, so as not to block the view.  The stone work is nearly done, and is really unique.  Co-owner Pat Craney spent hours picking rocks from various locations in Canada, then dragging them back to The Hat (Medicine Hat) where they found a resting spot on the fireplace.

Great job, Pat.

The view from the new dining room.  The carpet was removed and we put down a nice, porcelain tile.  The new hearth lends considerable weight.

Can't wait to come back and take some pictures when it is all finished.

Thanks Mom,

J+A+S

Closet Magic

As a consequence of removing walls from my mother's living room, we ended up losing some bookshelves.  The solution was to install some built-in shelves inside an existing hall closet.  That hall closet also backed on to a bedroom closet, so we took the opportunity to renovate that as well.

We started by knocking down the wall in between the two closets. then building a new wall to make the bedroom closet bigger.  After all, the bookshelves are only 14" deep, so they don't need very much room.

Of course, when we invade the hall closet, the items that were stored there need a home in the new closet.  We packed in some nice, open shelving on the right of the closet...

And the left of the closet is a well-organized clothing closet, complete with two closet rods, and some open shelving for sweaters and or shoes.

And on the other side we installed the bookshelves.  These were trimmed with more of our antique timbers, so that they are tied in with the rest of the space.

New paint colours to come...

Timbers Up

Now that we have sanded all that antique timber, it is time to install it.

The plan is to frame the new openings in the wall with some big, 12x6 timbers.  The new stair rail will also be constructed of lumber from the same location in Dankin.

(See post "How to Make Antique Timbers")

One of the challenges of installing these newel posts is that there is no wood to fasten it to.  Underneath is only concrete.  So we start by drilling into the concrete with a 1/2" bit.

We repeat this on the bottom of the posts.

We then used a piece of re-bar as a dowel.  Both sides were generously slopped with construction adhesive (that stuff sticks to wood, metal, and concrete very well).  The floor where the base of the post will land is also smeared with glue.  The posts are double-checked for plumb and and the glue is left to cure... 24 hours at least.

This technique worked quite well.  The posts are rock-solid.

And now for your viewing pleasure...

My friend Warren and I are going to pick up a 14'x12"x6" beam and place it across the top of the opening.  The plan, again is to provide a huge frame... like a big picture frame.

Enjoy...