Wednesday, August 20, 2014
One of my absolute favorite aspects of our old home (and many old homes in general) is our house's period and restored architectural hardware.
Since moving into our home we've gone to great lengths to discover and restore period vintage hardware for our home. Whether that means scouring eBay or digging through the extras pile at a salvage yard, we've attempted to leave no knob unturned in our search.
Over the years on the blog we've covered our rim locks at length, including their restoration.
We've mentioned our sash lifts, stripping their paint, and how we've been tirelessly searching for just a few more matching lifts to complete the set.
Continue Reading Full Post
Thursday, August 14, 2014
We've got ourselves a functional turlet!
Yes, that's right, an official and flushable lavatory! This is big news. No, no, actually, this is really big news.
Up until last night we've been without a second seat in our home for several years. We've endured visits from friends and family with sadly a single sanitarios. We've entertained small groups while lacking more than a lone loo. We've hosted dozens at our Halloween party with simply a stag stool. Yet somehow we made it work.
There have even been days where Wendy and I both have to use the lavvy so badly on the way home that we actually bargain for first rights or race each other up the stairs to lay claim to the throne.
And I'd be lying if I said the thought of "oh man, what happens if we both happen to he worshiping the porcelain god at the same time due to some sort of stomach virus?" hadn't crossed my mind...on a regular basis.
Continue Reading Full Post
Trim and finish work of all kinds are major elements in every room we've undertaken in our home.
Whether we're talking about stripping original moulding...
...having reproduction moulding profiles created to match original elements...
...making major statements with custom and complex wainscoting elements...
Continue Reading Full Post
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
There are few things I hate more in life than a scammer, liar, and a cheat.
Long ago, as a very young kid, I remember going to the video arcade at the mall with a $5 bill in hand. As I walked up to the exchange machine to get some tokens, an "old person" (he was probably in his 20s) approached me and said, "I have a whole bunch of tokens I can't use but I need to leave. There's probably close to $20 worth in here," as he shook a small paper bag full of jingling tokens, "and if you want to just give me that $5, we'll call it even. I mean, you're really doing me a favor here."
My eyes must have lit up. I had planned on playing just $5 worth of games, but now I had possibly $20 or more of game play coming my way! And I was doing this guy a favor?!? What a deal! I excitedly answered, "Sure, thanks! Here's my $5!"
I distinctly remember having a fleeting moment of panic that I would hand him my bill before he handed over the tokens, and then run from the arcade. But this fear was waylaid when he unfurled his clenched fist holding the bag and dropped it into my eager hands before I even handed over my precious dough.
He thanked me for the help and headed out the arcade door as I practically skipped to the nearby driving game I'd now be spending four times longer enjoying.
However, my joy turned to dread as I reached into the bag only to realize it was full of pennies and circular metal blanks from the hardware store. To say I was crushed is an understatement. I was broken, completely unaware of how someone could be so cruel. For what? $4 and change?
Continue Reading Full Post
It was 1982, and little did I know it but my world was about to be turned upside down. The days of being an only child (not the mention the only grandchild on my Dad's side) were numbered. I still distinctly remember the day when my parents sat down with me to let me know I was going to have a little brother or sister, and I was elated.
As the time for my new sibling's debut approached a lot of changes started to happen. Not only did we pack up and move to a larger house, but the room next to mine in the new house started to undergo a radical transformation. Out went the hideous 1960s shag carpet and in came the makings of a nursery.
The theme my parents chose for the room was Beatrix Potter, and my mom ran with it with gusto. My parents installed a stained chair rail and above it hung a themed wall paper adorned with the covers of many children's tales. And while they may have deviated a bit from the Peter Rabbit theme, my Mom added many personal touches like this cross stitched piece for the room.
My Aunt Susan got in on the action and sewed a beautiful Peter Rabbit quilt, which would later be known as "Gankie" and would secure its place as my brother's prized possession for many years.
While adorable and charming, there was no way to argue that this was anything but a baby's room. The colors, accessories, wall paper, and even the Humpty Dumpty lamp all played into a room fit for a youngster. It served its purpose for many years, but as my brother turned into a toddler and eventually a "big boy," I remember his exclamation many times that the room was fit for a baby, and he wasn't a baby any longer.
Continue Reading Full Post
