Need Help

Here are two scale drawings I've made of the proposed trim for the non-working fireplace.

The mantle is only 3 1/4" tall.

This one uses 2.5" wide boards and allows me to pull them away from the firebox for a more "conventional" look.

However, it looks a bit fussy to me.

This is a drawing using 3.5" boards. That means it is wider than the mantle. Not really a proportion I'm sure works. It also means I can't set the inside piece back from the firebox opening.



I like how substantial it looks and it's closer in feel to the Arts and Crafts look I want. The husband prefers it as well. I could paint the mantle dark to give it more oomph. I did try taking it back to the bare wood, but previous folks didn't prime and it's stained teal. Nonetheless, I don't really want the mantle to stand out--I just don't want it to look funny.

I'm not sure.

What do you think? 2.5" or 3.5"?
Thanks.

Week 5: Progress Report (daily version)

Tuesday
Tuesday is usually errand day, and today was no different. I bought three storage containers for the remaining basement fabrics, etc. Look! They're on wheels!



So all of the fabric fit into the three containers I purchased. $46.00 for the trio. Yikers. (They are the ones with white lids). How do you like my fancy-wancy labels?


So, that project is done, thank goodness.

Then I bought the wood we need to make the little table for the trunk. I've been calling it an "apron" but "little table stand" is probably the technical term. Now we just have to hunt down the legs and the husband can get it together for me and I can paint it.
8' of 1x4 pine: $16.00

Did you know that red shingles are "not common?" I had two people say that to me today. So, I guess we aren't "common" either! That's nice to know. Bought a pack for the dog house: $20.00. That'll be the total cost of the Dog House. Husband says that should be done tomorrow, Colleen!

The husband shaved down the slidey things for the little round table while I was out. I'll get a coat of stain on those after supper.

AND, we just carted the big old ugly Ikea dresser to the curb.
It had been sitting in the backyard, since before the snowfall. Somehow, miraculously, the "broken drawer" is broken no more. It all went to together beautifully.



Do I want it back? Read the sign.


And that, as they say, is that. At each of the three "lumber" or building places I went to today, I was waited on by a woman. That was pretty neat.

But, I spent about six hours in the car, today, all told. It just seems to take too long to do so little!

Week 5: Progress Report (daily version)

Since we'll be leaving sometime Thursday afternoon for the homeschooling conference, I've decided to update daily for you this week.



Monday
Remember these curtains?



In case you don't, I found them in November and the great curtain ring hunt commenced. It didn't take too long to find what I needed, however.

The curtain, though, was one piece of fabric when I bought it. I wanted two panels--and to my joy I discovered they had originally been so: they had a lovely french seam running up the very middle. That meant separating them, re-sewing the one side, and a few inches of the top and bottom on each. I did the first panel fairly quickly. But for some reason, I stalled on the second. For four months.

But, they're done! Both of them. But you'll sort of have to take my word for it.

They were also starched to within an inch of their life, so they were washed and ironed before they were hung this morning.

The kitchen table is also shorter by six inches lengthwise. That was today's big project. Here are the details.

1) Measure and mark. Put down wood board for guiding the saw blade (not recommended).
2) Make cut. Dust sheets over exposed surfaces (like shelving) recommended.

3) Cut the two sides of the apron. (A sturdy support structure is recommended.)
4) Cut new grooves for leg hardware attachments. This the hardware of which we speak:

5) Screw the table top back on. It is recommended you have all screws on hand before you begin so you don't have to wait in this awkward position while your assistant scrounges to replace the one which was stripped.


Sand the unfinished edges, round them slightly. (Sanding with the grain is also recommended) and turn the now unfinished edge towards the wall. Call it done. (Not recommended).

Can you see a difference?

I swept and swept and swept. I took everything off that shelf and wiped it all down. I wanted to put a coat of water based varnish on it, but I couldn't find it.

I should have washed the floor, but I put the second coat of paint on the trunk instead.

About Comments--

I love comments. I feel extra specially loved when I get comments and I'm grumpy without them. A couple of you have told me you either had trouble or couldn't leave them, so I checked it out.

It appears I had set the blog to accept comments from those with google accounts only. So, that means, if you weren't signed into google when you tried to comment, you couldn't.

I have now clicked the option which says "anyone can comment"--so please, send me some lovin'.

Week 5: Goals

The husband has the week off--and we're leaving Thursday afternoon for a homeschooling conference this weekend (Friday and Saturday). School is cancelled. (That's honestly the best part). Most of the plans involve him--and a usable back yard which the recent snowfall has put out of commission. So, I don't know if we can get all of this done or not, but this is the list:

1) Cut down the pine table in the kitchen (we want to make it about 6-8" shorter lengthwise) and sand. I'd like to put a thin coat of varnish on it, but if I don't, no worries. I think I can go for the "scrubbed pine table" country look. Maybe.



See the corner between the cabinet drawers and the table? It's a tight squeeze.

2) Cut the wood for the faux fireplace facelift. I still need to flatten the wood somewhat. Install and paint. But wouldn't it be nice to get rid of this? Yes, the date on that photo is correct. I started this project in June.



3) Plan and build a new support base for the coffee table trunk like this one, maybe not quite so high, (and with a deeper apron) as the proportions of mine are different.


This is referenced in my files as "Miles Redd." It's obviously a modern up-date to this:




4) The slidey things that hold up the leaves up for the little round table are so tight we haven't been able to move them since they were installed. I also never stained them. So, I want to take them off, shave them down a bit and stain them.

5) Paint trunk (in progress, yay!)

6) Find and purchase smaller speakers. Our stereo system was purchased, at great expense, by the husband, before he met me. The amplifier has little push knobs for inserting speaker wire. I understand everything is done with jacks these days. Oh well. I'm going to ask the folks at Radio Shack, but I'm hoping we can just strip the jacks off the new fangled speaker wire hook up and insert it like technology hasn't marched on in the last decade. That will definitely improve this corner:



(Yikes, I could have dusted, at least! DVD's from library stacked on left, Blockbuster on right).

7) Finish sanding and painting (maybe) the back hallway.

8) Put shingles on the dog's house. Red, of course. This is, exclusively, a father and son project.

9) Purchase containers for fabric and such and shelve.

10) Figure out how to attach the hardware for the curtain wall in the basement. I'll be taking some photos and asking for help with that this week, too.

There, an even 10. Wish us luck!

Weekend Project: The Trunk

My hands are killing me, particularly the right one, so please forgive me any typos!

I started with this nastiness:



I took a simple painters tool and just scraped away at each rivet and the silver bits. Applied lots of pressure with right index finger. I didn't know whether to be grateful or regretful that finger nails make excellent scraping tools.

Multiply by 5. (I know a cube has six sides, but I'm not doing the bottom!)

And a few hours later, we have this:



Notice how the rivets aren't quite evenly spaced? And the bits of rust along the silver trim? It's a pig's ear. I decided to apply some paint remover to the handle. Then I tried some goo gone. I got this far and called it quits.



Then, the usual wash (I used goo gone to get some of the more stubborn spots up. Surprising stuff that goo gone). I applied petroleum jelly with a Q-tip to all the metal rivets and the edges of the metal trim. The idea is that the paint will wipe off once everything is dry. It better.

No, I won't deny you the pay-off, though I thought about waiting until the whole thing is done, but I'll be nice. This is as far as I have got--two sides, first coat.


I'll work on another side or two in about four hours (when it is "dry to the touch") and then put on a second coat.

About an Hour Ago

I was up at 5:00am this morning so I could have the car to run errands. Crikey.

It's falling thicker and faster now. Forecast: more tomorrow.

I'm just glad it wasn't like this eleven years ago today!