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So there is still some touch up work to do and more art to hang … but … here she blows.
the location of the bathroom was a bedroom, i blew threw the wall to my bedroom and created walkin closet and bathroom. the downstairs bathroom is now the kitchen and 3/4 bathroom (well soon to be).
downstairs bathroom before it got demo’d
guest room before it became a bathroom
this post is a work in progress … but was dying to get some pictures up. more details to follow ….
Quadra light fixture from Y Lighting
Integrity Casement windows by Marvin
Biasi radiator with radiant heat design by Rob at Northeast Radiant Technology
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.
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.
Not only did Moira give me the best birthday present (a whole day of her work crew to come on over to my house) she also joined team sand sheet rock for an afternoon. I am so close to finishing the upstairs I can taste it….
I dashed home from work to meet Levi the plumber and we installed the toilet and tub upstairs. This is very exciting because a) it means I can finish demo downstairs; b) it means I have a clean bathroom; c) it means my tub actually works and kicks ass (just got done with a long soak). More detailed posts to come but had show off the wonder of a real bathroom….well almost real, sink & faucet still on order. Because I agonized over purchases, for those of you in the market, the toilet is a Toto Aquia dual flush from FW Webb in South Portland and tub is from Wilbur’s antiques in Greene, a pain to paint but worth the cunningness.
however, sheetrock is a sign of progress…..I totally surprised the delivery guy from Hammond, buy helping him unload the first 35 pieces (2 at a time!). Little did he know I was numb enough to lug the sheetrock upstairs and hang it by myself. Thankfully I stopped that nonsense and did my best to be patient until help arrived.
It was a tuff day getting things to look normal in a room/house that has absolutely nothing level or square, but I think Chicky and I did a pretty good job in the master bathroom even if we only cut 1 in 10 sheets right the first time. And the first coat of mud is on! Thanks to Seamus at Rosemont Market for pairing lovely bottles of wine with sheetrock install.
Now that everything is ruffed in and the plumbing inspector FINALLY approved the stink pipe, the fellas from Ace Insulation came and blew in the cellulose upstairs. Gerard (the delightful owner) sealed up the cracks with a foam spray, then they put up plastic (that kinda looks like that heavy duty packaging tape) and made a super duper air tight seal – so tight the plastic was like a drum when you touched it, then they blew in the cellulose. It’s a recycled product from wood pulp (newspaper?) and is totally non toxic, too. They also used denim to seal up the tricky spots.
I decided to rip out all the plaster and lathe and sketchy sketchy rock wool insulation that was previously blown in (see demo pictures) so I could get the tightest seal possible. All that demo is not necessary, they can blow from the outside, but it since I was ripping everything apart to re-wire and re-plumb, it seemed like the more effective thing to do.
And it is one of the few “green” products that doesn’t make you fall off your chair with cost. It was only a little over $3, 000 for the entire house (about 1000 sq ft).
I found Maine Coast Lumber in my research on sustainable plywoods. I ordered 6 sheets of 1/4″ aromatic cedar to line the master bedroom closet – sight unseen (not how i usually like to do things). Another fantastic design moment when I unwrapped it at home and found it to be more beautiful than I ever imagined. It should be for $65 a sheet. And when I went to pick it up, my little heart skipped a beat, as I have never seen a lumber yard so organized in my life.
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 started off with no stink pipe and plumbing upstairs, so progress is being made. I wish Mark, the plumbing inspector felt the same way!
So I realize documenting the house isn’t exactly art, but…I have been making pictures. To start off, we have 3 key members of this project, Chicky Stoltz: team leader; Hal Barter, City of Auburn-the man who actually secured the financing and also project manager galore; Levi Robinson, plumber extraordinaire. Then we have Chicky disconnecting the heating pipe with a sawsall down celler. And couldn’t help myself with my 2×6″ cutting station outside (love the Makita chopsaw) and the ladder ready to install windows. If they ever come….
it would of been great if they delivered the other dumpsters with the door facing open.
