Fresh Start Studio

remodel week 5 off to a great start

Our site was very popular Monday. Within a 2-hour time frame I had electricians, painters (for back bedrooms), the architect, and a new sub who came to figure out the best way and timing to cut into the roof to frame up the new porch. Here are some photos from today showing all the new siding prep work that's just been completed. The electricians cleaned up a tangled nest of wiring into neat little rows, and they are notching out the new beams for the grill patio arbor. I also decided to create a nook in the entry from some dead space (thank you Clayton!). I can hardly keep up!

Here, the old dining room window is covered, awaiting a new one in the little office space.

 

New soffits will be part of the roof installation (starting Saturday!).

So glad that fake stucco is gone! They'll put Tyvek house wrap on top of this.

 

This is one of the new beams for an arbor, you can see the two posts for this patio off to the left in the photo above.

This space-creating new nook is along a wall in the entry, the front door is to the right. I plan to place an entry table there, or something more creative! Ideas?

Look how neatly the electricians bundled the crazy mess of wires in the vaulted area above the front door. I love knowing how organized my wiring is now. Good karma!

Check back soon. I will have a giant tarp over the house on Thursday evening, hoping for no storms and a crew large enough to close it all in by Friday evening.

p.s. In case you noticed the "week 3" reference in the previous post, I guess I lost my mind temporarily -- as well as week 4 -- we really are into week 5 now.

Floorplanner.com -- free and fun

I just discovered floorplanner.com -- a point & click, drag & drop, easy way to create floor plans. You can view your plans in 2D and 3D and add materials, surfaces, and furnishings. Its free to create one (good-sized) plan and keep it saved -- and they offer paid accounts as well. The next level plan allows you to save several plans for just $29 a year. I've been trying to work in CAD and I'll continue with that training, but for quickie plans, trying out options,or sharing  with someone with difficulty visualizing 2D plans -- this'll do it! For a 4 minute video tour on YouTube, click here.

Antique? Unique? Try 1stDibs.com

All price points are represented. Search for furniture, lighting, mirrors, wall decoration, jewelry, designer clothing, carpets, folk art -- the list goes on and on!

I first saw this site advertised in Architectural Digest. It was also a recommended resource for the interior design workshop I'm taking. I think it must be a "standard" in the industry, it seems very popular. I find it to be a little addicting, thinking I'll search just one more page to see if I find exactly the right thing!

I found this amazing "Radiating Oak Mirror" (French, 19th century) to specify for a remodel of a high-rise condo foyer in Boca Raton, Florida -- a workshop-assigned project. It costs less than you think!

 

Linteloo's Round Bookcase "Nureyev"

Who says bookcases have to be shoved up against a wall? In the right space, this would be so cool, and you could use it for display too. The manufacturer Linteloo is Dutch so don't plan on being able to read the Web site. I saw this in person at the Zurich International Design Show a few months ago. It is 6"3" tall and about 3'6" in diameter. I think he quoted me about $7,000 USD! Ouch! Surely I could find someone to build it for me for a lot less. I'm surprised IKEA hasn't picked up on this idea yet. I'm guessing "Nureyev" because it spins like a dancer!