mustard jamb
Over the last few years, we have replaced all of the windows in our house with metal clad, fir windows (that’s metal on the exterior, wood on the interior). To save on costs, we opted for windows made with mixed grain fir, instead of the super sexy vertical grain (aka “VG”) fir that we’ve used in other parts of the house. For windows, this isn’t typically an issue because the frames are constructed of various smaller pieces of wood so you never really have a piece wide enough to notice. Unfortunately, our kitchen window was an exception.
The photo above shows the mixed grain fir of the window unit next to the VG fir sill that we installed after the window was in place. Truthfully, it wouldn’t have been that big of a deal except it’s the biggest window in the house and the one we look at every day while washing dishes or checking to see if Bailey did his business in the backyard.
So, we painted it!
I’ve been obsessing over mustard yellow for a good year now and we finally had a place to try it out. (The color is BM’s “luminous days”.)
First we cleaned the window and then masked the glass with Frog Tape, running a putty knife along the edge to ensure that the tape was fully adhered.
Next, Kyle used a small foam roller to apply the paint which produced a crisp, clean line at the outside edge.
Then he used a small foam brush to get into any nooks and crannies. For this particular color we were advised to use a tinted primer but we figured since we were starting with darker wood it would be ok to skip that step (we did end up doing 3 coats just to be safe).
The end result is subtle, but I like it. We think the color might be a little too “French’s” and not enough “dijon”, but we’re going to live with it for a while and see what we think. (We started out with a dozen yellow paint chips from three different companies and were surprised how only one or two came close to what we were looking for.)
We also like that the band of color emphasizes the framed view to the backyard. Unfortunately, the backyard is not really worth looking at right now. Hopefully that will change this summer…
northwest shed
Hey all, I’m handing the blogging reins over to Kyle for a special guest post. You have been warned.
Well I know this is Lauren’s blog but she’s been kind enough to let me have a guest appearance and I didn’t even have to bribe her with doing extra chores or anything. Actually we’re kind of at a stopping point with remodel physical labor so I have some extra time on my hands for a change. After wasting a bunch of time playing Tiny Wings on my iPhone something spontaneous occurred…
A couple friends of ours, we’ll call them A&E, invited us over for a BBQ and they got to talking about how they needed a shed for their backyard. They’re super hip Vespa peeps so they need to store the scoot and they’re also outdoorsy and have a couple of those Pacific Northwest pleasure boats called kayaks. I call them divorce boats. I don’t recommend trying a 2-person kayak unless you want to drop some f-bombs on your significant other. (Lauren’s edit: Agreed. Kayaking turned me into a potty mouth. Probably should have avoided getting stuck in the oyster farm and breaking an oar.)
Anyway, they had done some online looking around and came upon a bargain deal at Costco that looked like this wondiferous amalgamation of neo-bunglelowed cute country shit.
They knew they wanted something better and more modern but didn’t quite know what. So I came up with these options:
A&E have a 17ft sea kayak, WTF I said. Do you need that to hunt giant 800 lb tunas or something? They also have a smaller kayak for who knows what, probably for cozying up to dolphins and sea turtles. 17ft really? Besides the rubber ducky, they wanted a swing incorporated into the structure. I don’t know why, they don’t have kids (yet) but I think they thought it was a cute idea so I obliged. I just hope they know they’re first kid is going to look like Austin Powers’ mini-me. Actually A&E are both pretty attractive so I’m guessing they won’t have an ugly baby. Actually I kind of like the swing but it creates some dynamic structural problems that the wood column can’t handle. Maybe a steel column would work, we’ll see.
It’s a 10ft x 12ft shed and it’s 12ft tall at the top. It’s not meant to be insulated or even airtight, it’s just a shed. 10×12 seems to be the most standard dimensions allowed by most city building codes without requiring a building permit. Of course any electrical work would still require a permit. Here’s the second version:
The idea is that A&E are going to bust their arses like we did and build it themselves. We’re also considering a prefab type option where we build most of it in my shop as a flatpak and then assemble it in their backyard. Hell it could even be 100% prefab if more people want one. How much would you pay?
The idea is that everything in the design would be available locally from hardware stores, with the exception of a few specialty items or maybe there’s an option where I create a list for A&M and they just go to the store and buy the stuff without having to scratch their heads too much. Maybe if I’m really nice I’ll do some construction plan drawings for them, kind of like a DIY kit with list of parts and assembly instructions?
The materials are pretty simple, I’m thinking slab on grade concrete or maybe even gravel with a pressure treated or redwood base for framing. The siding options could be painted cement board or corrugated metal. The doors could be 4ft wide sheets of Okoume exterior grade plywood with maybe even a sheet of corten weather steel on top. The framing is minimal 2×4 or 2×3 stud framing with skipped sheathing at the roof structure and a pair of glulam beams to pick up the overhang. The roofing materials could be corrugated metal that aligns with corrugated translucent fiberglass to get some natural light into this sexy lil’ thang.
The barn door hardware is the same stuff we used in our house. There are other cheaper options but they don’t look as good so A&E are going to buy this one. When the barn doors are in the closed position a pad lock hasp would keep either door from moving, magic really. The windows are polycarbonate translucent panels held in place with wood stops.
I’m thinking the interior could all be peg board or maybe even just plywood. Add in some shelves, a couple kayak hoists and a workbench and bammo, you have a modernized shed. A&E, when do you want it?
loft reveal
With our efforts focused on finishing the main floor, the attic loft has been “almost finished” for several months now. But with summer looming (and summer in Seattle = lots of visitors), it was time to put our work pants back on and just get it done.
First though, let’s go back in time:
This photo was taken in 2006 during the inspection, a fairly typical attic by 1910 standards (minus the structurally questionable chimney).
In the summer of 2007 we tore off our roof. I love this shot from inside the attic, but man…talk about a nerve-racking couple of days when we literally didn’t have a roof. During this project we also sistered on new 2×4’s to each existing 2×4 rafter and took out the knee braces and chimney.
This photo was taken a year ago, right before demo. Kyle and our friend Dustin painstakingly shoveled insulation to one side of the attic so we could demo the ceilings over the kitchen/living/dining area (at the time, the loft was not part of the plans).
But after demo, we couldn’t not make use of that space and so here we are today – yes, it’s still an empty room, but it’s done.
I painted the space in January so it was really just flooring and finish electrical work left to do (since we’ve also thought about using the area for a little home office, Kyle installed CAT 5 and ethernet too). For flooring, we ended up going with the “Love Ewe” wool carpet tiles (in “Dorset Brown”), which were generously provided by Flor. The tiles are made in the USA of dye-free wool and they are super soft to walk on!
Before ordering the tile, we took measurements of the space and did a quick layout in AutoCad to figure out how many tiles we would need and what would be the most efficient configuration.
After the boxes of tile were lugged up to the loft, we decided to start with a single row down the center, snapping two chalk lines on the plywood to serve as a guide.
At the edges and ladder opening, Kyle trimmed each tile using a utility knife and metal straight edge.
For anyone who hasn’t worked with Flor tiles before, they are very easy to install. It’s a “floating” system, which means the tiles don’t actually stick to the floor. Rather, a round plastic sticker at each corner holds the adjacent tiles to each other and since the tiles are bound by walls on all four sides, they don’t move at all. By starting in the center and working our way outwards, we were able to ensure that everything was straight and that all of the cutting would be saved for last. (Note: we installed the baseboard trim earlier in the process, holding it slightly off the subfloor so the tiles could easily slip underneath.)
In less than 2 hours, we were done! We really like the texture and color of the tiles (I know…brown, we’re so predictable) and we look forward to this being a dog hair free zone.
At the opening for the ladder, Kyle made a custom shaped trim piece out of fir, with a slight lip so the floor tiles could tuck underneath. The sconce above is from Resolute and the switch is located low and to the right of the ladder, so it’s easy to flip the light on as you’re coming up the ladder (or vice versa). The other paddle switch is wired to an outlet on the opposite side of the room, with the thought that we’ll eventually have a small lamp there to provide more even light for the space.
It’s a little hard to tell in this photo, but we also installed a roller shade for the roof window. It provides some privacy and a nice, diffuse light for the space. Tucked inside the frame is an exterior black-out roller shade that can be used on hot days (though judging by the spring we’ve been having, the next hot day could be months away). For those that are new here, the roof window pivots at the mid-point, creating an opening large enough to crawl out of in case of an emergency.
Unlike traditional lofts that are completely open on one side to the space below, we decided to instead create a light shaft over the basement stair to provide visual connection to below. (The alternative was to do a single-slope vault over the kitchen and dining with the loft completely open to that space, but we were concerned that the proportions would feel weird and the ceiling shape might be too ’70s for our taste.) Anyway, we wanted to maximize the opening but also needed to provide a guardrail to prevent any accidental toppling into the basement. In what I think is a pretty elegant solution, Kyle designed the loft ladder handrail to extend up and become this guardrail. Not only does it look hot, but it’s a good place to grab onto when going up or down the ladder. With a steel skeleton, it’s rigid enough to take the force of people pushing against it.
Sorry Bailey, you lose on this one.
From below, the angle is oblique enough that the space still feels secluded. The vaulted area also provides a means to exhaust warm air out of the house during the summer.
Kyle and I took a moment to bust out our Modulor Man poses. I think Corbu would approve.
Finally, here’s a little tutorial on how to enter and exit the loft. Understandably, some people get a little nervous with ladders so we tried to make the journey as easy and natural as possible.
Of course, we still have plans to actually furnish the space but since it’s mainly going to be a spot for guests and Sunday afternoon reading (which is what Kyle is doing as I type this – oh wait…sounds like he’s playing Tiny Wings now), we’re in no big rush. We do have some ideas for different layouts that we’ll share later, but in the meantime we’re going the inflatable route. That’s right, we have a pretty deluxe Aerobed that we got from a friend and with an old quilt and some fluffy pillows I’m sure we can make the space look bohemian chic.
the doors
After what feels like forever, the sliding doors are finally done!
After a failed attempt at welding our own frames, we opted for paint-grade solid-core doors. We explored color options in this post and ultimately decided that 2 colors in similar hues would work best. We chose “thunderbird” and “lakeside cabin”, both Benjamin Moore Natura in a semi-gloss finish.
When we want to use the flex room as a bedroom, we’ll simply slide the doors shut.
But otherwise we’ll keep them open. We designed the size of the opening so the doors would be composed against the wall in their open position. (Disregard our frumpy couch in the background. We have a love/hate relationship with “brown bear” because he’s permanently disheveled, but SO comfortable!)
Same idea with the bedroom and bathroom doors (read here for more detailed info on the first door).
The east flex room door slides between the loft ladder and wall. This was tricky because we needed to provide a wide enough gap while staying under the 4″ wide threshold required by code (since our ladder effectively acts like a guardrail).
Tectonic!
The doors and track bracket are centered on the exposed joist above…aww yeah!
And the intermediate track bracket is centered on the joist bay and cable lights above. Those 1910 joists never felt so fancy!
The main reason we chose to do sliding doors was because it gave us the flexibility to change the function and privacy of our spaces without pesky door swings getting in the way. The punch of color is an added bonus.
To install the large flex room doors (each are 3′-6″ wide) we had to heave them up from the basement stairs and through the open end of the track. That was not fun.
Like the other two doors, we cut out a recessed notch on the underside and then inserted an aluminum channel. The recessed channel in the door slides over a guide mounted to the floor, keeping the door from flapping around.
To create a better seal where the two flex room doors meet, Kyle routed out a small notch in the inside vertical face of each door, just enough to install a length of rubber weather-stripping. The two strips are slightly offset from each other, so when the doors meet they fit together snugly.
Because the doors have to clear the base trim at the floor, there’s a small gap between the door and the drywall. We’re going to experiment with a few ways to seal that gap, stay tuned.
Our poor art wall needs some art…soon!
Ok, truth be told, we still leave the bedroom and bathroom doors open most of the time. Remodel habits die hard.
I know we have a pretty distinctive color palette throughout our house, but we like it! Besides, we made a conscious effort to use color in areas that could be easily changed, just in case we’re all about fuscia and tangerine next year.
This is what the flex room looks like with the doors closed. It really does feel cozy and like a real bedroom, even with the large doors.
So I guess we’re done with the main floor? Kinda? Except for the media cabinet, some artwork and accessories, some new furniture… I mean, can’t you just picture two Eames LCW chairs opposite the coffee table? Unfortunately, they’re not in the budget anytime soon, but a girl can dream about a thrifting miracle, right?
one year ago today
Anniversaries…blogiversaries…what about a demoversary? It’s hard to believe, but one year ago today we (along with some brave friends) tore apart our house. We were excited, motivated and most-importantly, optimistic. In our post-demo post I wrote,
“The ultimate completion date is mid-September.”
Well, obviously we didn’t meet that deadline. But the more I think about it, I think we needed to be overly optimistic. At the beginning of any project, motivation starts high and dwindles over time and we needed to sustain enough momentum to take us from bare studs to drywall. And we did. By mid-September, the space was livable but definitely not finished (hey, we still had a party!). During the last six months we installed the flooring, cabinets, doors and all the finishing touches that take forever but have a huge impact. And tonight, on this one-year demoversary, we installed the last sliding barn door.
[fist bumps all around]
Now I know everyone likes a good before and after, so here you go – from demo to (almost) done:
Our old back porch and kitchen became our new kitchen. The ceiling framing came out to make way for a new vaulted ceiling.
Our old dining room and kitchen became our living and dining room. The loft was not part of the original plan, but by the end of demo day we knew that little sliver of attic space was worth using.
The wall between the old dining room and kitchen came out to open up the space.
The old basement stair enclosure was demolished to make room for a friendlier, open stair and access to the loft.
The basement stair needed to be reconfigured and widened, which meant cutting out a portion of the floor. The basement space below served as our temporary living quarters.
Our old living room became a “flex” room – a space that could easily serve as a bedroom, office or extension of the main living space depending on our needs.
The bedroom and bathroom (already completed) were sealed off and soon became our havens from plaster dust and debris. Little did we know it would be nearly 12 months before we’d have real doors again.
We still have some things to finish, but this project is substantially complete and it feels really good to say that. We’re grateful to everyone who cheered us on during this last year. It wasn’t easy to work weeknights or eat in our makeshift basement kitchen, but your words of encouragement often gave us the boost we needed to get through a tough week or tedious task and for that we say thank you!
