Detail Oriented

Recently I was talking to a friend about the details in our home, so I'm posting pictures of a few details.

This picture is the cabinet next to the sink. We took the awesome laminate door off the cabinet when we moved in. This cabinet puzzles us. No idea what the original cabinet fronts and doors looked like, so no clues there. The slots go completely through the shelf. What do you think it is? Oh- the blue is painter's tape, which I used to hold the shelf liner still, until we can replace the cabinets. I'm tempted to keep this one, though, or find a way to reuse those shelves.

Here is one of a doorknob. We have most of the knobs on the doors, but two have been replaced with a less attractive knob. If you see these knobs for sale anywhere, please let me know!!

Finally, here is the floor. The portion of the house that is above the basement is oak, and the portion that is above the crawlspace (bedrooms and bathroom) is fir. I love the fir. Have a look:

Wallpaper removal continues...

This weekend, we had some help removing wall paper. Even though she spent some time working solo (THANK YOU!) she stuck to it, and ended up removing the outer layers of paper that remained in the dining room, and getting down to plaster, too. Sunday night, we homeowners even got in on the activity.

East wall

South wall

West wall

North wall

How one homeowner likes to kick back, after working hard on wallpaper removal

Wallpaper removal has begun!

About a year and a half into homeownership, the wallpaper has finally met its fate. It is the end of an era... 5 layers of floral, splatter paint, and southwestern printed era.

The many layers of paint and wallpaper practically fell from the wall, except for the very first layer of paper. In about 10% of the total area, we got down to plaster, by just scraping the paper off (gently) while dry. With a a solution of 1/2 water and 1/2 fabric softener, the last of the paper scrapes up with a bit of elbow grease. The plaster, in general, looks very good.

We also discovered that behind the wallpaper was the last of the moisture from our insulation installation. Fortunately, there is no indication of mold (by smell or by my allergy-powered detector system), and the wallpaper comes off even more easily on these walls. In these areas, the dry-scraping-straight-to-plaster accounts for about 35% of the area.

The following pictures don't include the last shots of where we left off, tonight. We have a patch of plaster exposed that is about 2.5'x4." I will do the math for the total work hours per square foot of wallpaper removal, soon.

East Wall

South Wall

Some paper samples:

2010 Forecast

I was inspired by Our Portland Foursquare, to post a 2010 DIY to-do list. We have several projects on the chopping block, and maybe if I post them on the blog, we'll be extra motivated to get down to business!

The upcoming projects include:

• stripping woodwork (in progress)
• removing old wallpaper (in progress, going great!)
• paint walls and woodwork (I know, I know)
• level yard
• retaining wall along front sidewalk
• french drains
• fix gutters
• repair driveway
• new back patio pavers
• Restore the 5 sash windows

Lots of work in the yard, this spring and summer, but plenty indoors, for now, too. The wallpaper is coming down beautifully, and so far, the plaster looks pretty great, beneath. 2011, hopefully, will see a kitchen remodel and/or a bath remodel, possible new bath in basement and other basement improvements.

Drapes, not sheets

Another step away from house and toward home. Yes. the drapes still need to be steamed. No, I haven't patched the walls, since the insulation installation. Yes, there is stuff everywhere, in the pictures, and that's ok. I am very excited about the drapery hardward. Haven't mounted the tie-backs, yet. I'll wait until we finish the walls and woodwork for that. But in the mean time, I'm thrilled with the improvement. Oh, and the wrinkles have fell out, by now, and we have cleaned up after hanging the drapes.

Dining room window, before

Love those bed sheets (on a bed, that is)

Dining room window, after

Living room window, after