Sunday, November 24, 2013

Bath Progress -- Snow Arrives -- Thanks

The work over the last week or so was concentrated on the new bathroom. I spent a day or so painting the walls. This included the necessary preparation to tape off the ceiling. This is definitely not one of my talents. I taped, the best I could and I painted the walls. When the tape was removed it became obvious that this was not a professional job. Bobbie will be here for Thanksgiving .... we'll see if she thinks some kind of repair is needed.

I also installed the light fixture above the sink. And, most noticeably, Glass Images arrived and installed the glass shower enclosure and the vanity mirror. The new bathroom is now fully functional --- only needing trim to be completed.

Bathroom pictures are below.

I covered the cabinets and taped the wall/ceiling joint.
Straight taping is not my strong suit.
Here Glass Images is delivering the two piece
shower enclosure and mirror.
The first piece installed was the "wall" section
between the shower and the toilet.
The tile was drilled to fasten the hinges for the glass door.
The final step was sealing the wall edge with heavy duty silicone.
After the shower was complete the mirror was installed using only hi strength adhesive. I was assured that there was no chance it would fail to hold. And, to remove it you would need to take hunks of drywall with the mirror.  Pictures below are of the completed glass installation.



Over the last couple days I was at 3283 during 2013's first real snow storm. I watched as "lake effect" snow continued to fall most of the day yesterday. It wasn't a major storm in terms of what can occur here in Holland. We got about 3 inches of snow. This is the first time that 3283 has been occupied during winter. I'm sure there will be all kinds of new "issues" identified that we will have to deal with. It will be an eye-opening few months. But I expect that nothing will be identified that can't be handled.

I shoveled snow here today. And, this evening I was out on my cleared front walk as the sun was setting. The pictures below are some of the first November photos taken from and of 3283. At least the first of an occupied 3283.




Everyone [anyone] who is following this blog knows that 2013 has been a very exciting and fulfilling year for us. Most of our plans for the transformation of 3283 from a summer place to a year-round home have gone smoothly. There was additional work that was unexpected. There were costs that even my conservative budget hadn't included. And I can see that the winter will expose new things that need be dealt with in the spring.

But nothing will prevent the Legacy of 3283 from continuing.

For all that has taken place --- and especially for all the support and love given to me by Bobbie, Susan, Mike, Damon, Lindsay, Drew, Leo and JJ -- I am truly thankful.

I wish everyone who is reading this a
Happy Thanksgiving

And, I hope you will always:
Be Happy
and
Have Fun.





Saturday, November 16, 2013

Catch Up

Back in the spring and summer I wrote blog posts almost every day. There was a lot happening at 3283 and it was happening quickly. Things have slowed down. Progress continues but at a much, much slower pace. I even took a week off to go to Livonia [it was time for doctors, the dentist and a haircut]. Its been a couple weeks since I posted, so this morning, before I grab paint brush and roller, I thought I'd do a quick update.

Most of what has been done has centered around the laundry area. The old bedroom which has become the entry to the addition will contain the laundry and a wall of closet/storage units. We worked some to get the laundry portion, along the east wall, functional. And, yes, it has been used.




The short wall between the laundry and the basement door wasn't drywalled. Rather we chose to cover it with beadboard to match much of the rest of the cottage. I worked on that recently: picture below.

Add caption
The last change to the laundry / addition walkway was replacement of the light fixture. An old wicker single-bulb light hung down into the walkway. This week I sent it to the trash and installed a new multi-light modern fixture. It will be able to both light the laundry [although I did install under-cabinet lights above the washer and dryer] and provide light to the [future] closets.

Add caption
Paint. I've said it before. But there is a lot more painting included in this renovation than I had envisioned. I do admit that when complete it does make projects look better. But there sure is a lot of it. Yesterday I put the first coat of paint on the new bathroom walls. The ceiling had been done before tile was installed. The actual painting didn't take too long -- maybe a couple hours. But the taping and protection of the cabinets took all morning to complete -- and I'm still not sure how good my tape line at the ceiling will turn out. It will be what it will be. 

I'm sure between flash photography and digital reproduction you can't get a real feel for the color. Its sort of a putty tone that goes well with both the shower tile and the floor tile. Second coat once I'm done typing. Then I paint the living room wall. Then, next week, the ceiling and all four bedroom walls will get coated. Bobbie did a wonderful job of selecting colors, and buying the paint. Now it's up to me to transform the bare white primed walls into works of art. Pictures of partially painted bath are below.



I hope to see the glass contractor next week. They will install the shower door/wall and the mirror above the sink. My last chore before they come is to put the light fixture above the bathroom sink. Maybe tomorrow or early Monday. It will be a good break to painting.