and you wonder why i tap restore twice a week

is it wrong to love a kitchen sink and cabinet this much?

I realize I’ve been quiet lately in blogland and need to post a ton more pictures, but had to get these up out of sheer excitement.  This is a joyous time — the first floor is almost done and the fellas came to install the sink and cabinet yesterday.   It is so so beautiful I could cry.   The sink I designed and had made at Stonecraft they also made the counters (but I scored them used at ReStore) and had them cut and fit to match the sink.  The frame and drawers and secret back well, I designed with Nate Deyesso.  The frame is steel and the drawers and backsplash are Kirei board from Maine Green Building Supply.  Faucet is a Moen from FW Webb.

Sheetrock farm, pt 2: andrew shows tom the ropes and i make pictures

In our excitement at the sheetrock farm last week, Andrew and I loaded up 10′ sheets instead of 8′.  (Well we watched the front loader, load.)  So I got to tag along again to pick up a ton (literally, we figured out 40 sheets ways about a ton) of 8′ pieces.   I also got to photograph with my real camera and real film – I am so thankful to the Restore for the great loot and for getting me excited about making pictures again.

Fieldtrip with Restore: holy sheetrock farm

I was in ReStore not too long ago and Andrew tipped me off to a sheetrock windfall–something like 5, 000 sheets he would be getting soon from a place in Auburn that was donating it to Restore before they recycled it. So he invited me along to photograph, or maybe I invited myself along to photograph, and of course to get the first pick of the lot.

It was definitely one of the most insane places I have ever been…a pretty close second to the salt mine factory in Isreal. I can’t wait to go back with the real camera and some real film. I was a little over excited both to be on such a cool adventure and to enjoy making pictures again. Couldn’t help myself with a few movies too!

Get your self down to Restore and stock up.

andrew saves the day (again) — 2×12’s at restore!

Restore got a slew of lumber this week, so I stocked up on 2×12x8′, x10, and x14 + x16 (which Andrew will deliver!) for $4-$7 a piece. I can’t tell you how great I feel buying lumber used, even if we have to do a little ripping here and there. It kills me to place those lumber orders, although thankfully Hammond uses FSC certificated lumber, has their own mill, and supports the Maine economy.

Anyway, Elizabeth was kind enough to lend me her truck (again) but I forgot the straps (!!) so Andrew hooked me up with some rope and tied them down real good. Also, thanks Tom for picking out the good ones, and Tammy and crew for loading me up. And to Chicky who helped me unload. If I only I had all of you in residence…….

PS. Apparently a giant lot of sheetrock is coming into Restore next week. Yahooooooooo!

i love a square…the first new (old) window is in

So, my very first window is in (thanks Chicky and Paul) and I am elated. I spent an ungodly amount of hours on window design – and up until today, doubting myself through the whole process. I struggled with creating a passive solar design and something that opened up the dark spaces. I went with a 40×40″ window (that I got for $80 at Restore!) for the north facing wall – much to the chagrin of my radiant heat experts at Northeast Radiant Technology (sorry Rob) in jacob’s room and it is amazing. Not only because it makes the room look so much bigger, and lighter, but also the views are fantastic.

I really want to thank Michel Gaison (the architect I consulted with when I first drew up plans) for encouraging me to trust my photographic instincts on light and space. And also for just being super cool and sitting down with me and making me design, redesign, and design again. And for making me do cardboard markups. And for making me rethink how I use space and objects. And for giving me a roll of trace paper. And for not charging me a ridiculous amount of money.

So here are before and after shots – it’s been raining for days so not the best picture, but you get the idea anyway.

might as well take them all

My sister Amanda hit the Portland ReStore with me on Saturday, and after a week of eyeing the 4×4″ tumbled marble tiles, I decided to get the whole lot. Initially I thought I would pick out enough to make a back splash for the stove, but after it became to difficult to choose which ones, I decided to just take them all. And I’m glad I did because every time I walk by them I get excited all over again.

Eames: baby @ Restore

Okay, maybe not Eames but I found these little guys in the free pile at Restore….even the little ones need to take a load off .

is it possible to love restore more than i already do?

I scored this fantastic concrete counter that i was about to have custom made. I just need to cut in pieces to go on either side of the sink and stove. Anyone know how to cut concrete?

Thanks to Elizabeth for her brute strength and listening skills. At least we celebrated a hard days work with a swim in Range Pond, Hodgman’s Frozen Custard, and Margaritas by the fire pit.

weekend loot

I’ve decided after much research and some heartache about budget that the only way to really go green is to buy used. So I hit the restore in Portland and the one in Bath this week and got some great stuff! Thanks to Elizabeth for her truck and Sarah for her sweat labor!

i heart restore

ReStore is Habitat for Humanity’s retail outlet where contractors and people doing renovations donate all their extras and ReStore sells it for super cheap. My first purchase were these awesome ceiling fixtures ($7 each)…I’m thinking for the bathrooms:

and then I got a new front door ($75):

and yesterday this bitchin piece of marble ($5):

And as a bonus the dude that works there is wicked nice.