Railing Modification

Our 1969 split entry has some of the best and the worst of the period. Perhaps my least favorite is the scroll pattern on the iron work.

We found some replacement styles that we just loved. We quickly determined that such an undertaking would be a budget buster. About then, a friend made an offer we couldn't refuse. He'd come over with his saws-all and metal grinder, and I'd make dinner for him and his wife. DEAL!!

E cut through the weld spots with little difficulty, and grinded them down to ensure no rough spots. I touched them up with a little paint. As a bonus, he also removed all the scroll work on our deck. You have just got to love the helping hand of a friend.

Front Door - Before & After

Before:

After:

Front Door, Revisited

Back in October, I posted about the prospect of getting a new front door and transom. We loved the idea of getting the door replaced prior to the cold winter months, but it was, shall we say, cost prohibited.

Somewhere along the way, we spoke to a friend of ours who happens to be a handy sort of fella. Well, this fella (Greg) has a small business doing construction and the like. He had some ideas of how to make the project reasonable.

Basic fiber glass doors were ordered from the Home Depot. Greg found a local glass guy who was able to make the re-lights and the transom. I went shopping for super cool hardware at the oh so lovely Chown Hardware.


We waited a few weeks for the doors to arrive, and then work began. Currently, the doors are in the garage, stain drying, and awaiting modification. Greg will cut the doors to install the relights in the same fashion as the Langston.

Installation is estimated for this weekend.

Bisque Cooking Hood

With the new cooktop in place, the range hood was next up. Besides being inaffective, the range hood was very low. I had to lean around it to see what was cooking on the back burners.

Back to Sears Outlet for the matching bisque micro/range hood. (The trim above the hood has been finished since this picture was taken)

In prerpation of our first turn hosting Thanksgiving, we did some work in the dining room and kitchen.

The first picture is of the orginial dining room fixture. Not only did the style no fit our personalities, it was missing some "crystals." The new fixture, which we found on Lumens.com, really helps bring the room in line with our style.

In the kitchen, we put in a new cooktop. The 4-burner, gas cooktop was fine, but 1 of the burners didn't work. We scored a 5-burner at the Sears Outlet for $300. While a full kitchen renovation is in our future, this will do the trick for the time being. And, while bisque isn't exaclty cutting edge, I think the color actually works with the counters.

Front Door

I met with the door guy today (Kevin from Classic Sash & Door). I worked with him on the window project at the old house, and called him to start talking front door & trasom.

Our current doors are a mess! Hallow core. Mis-matched hardware. A peep hole a foot shorter than I am tall. And, oh yeah, a one-inch gap between the floor and door which invites the East wind into our house.

This is sure to be a long process. We are looking at about 10 weeks. I had no idea! But, at this point we are hoping to go with a door style produced by Crestview Doors in Austin. The Langston is our style of choice. The windows will be made of "narrow reed" glass, as will the transom.

More to come as the project unfolds.

Entry Tile

One of the things that I love about our house is the entry. As my boss put it, "Wow. You have the potential to spend a lot of money making this cool." Indeed! It is a big open space all its own. And, every single aspect of it needs to be updated.

We have made the first step. The floor. Now, I don't know how we did it. Or, if it was a full moon. But, C and I agreed on the tile selection immediately. Folks, this is unheard of! We don't agree on these things. Typically, one of us is stuborn until the other gives in, and then we decide that we are happy with the results after the fact. We do not agree at the beginning. Period.

The product that brought us together was a 12 by 12 slate in "California Gold." We found it at United Tile for about $5.60sf. Then, we went to Tile Outlet where it was $3.60sf. However, we bought from Tile for Less for $2.99sf. Plus, they have a bunny. Who doesn't love a bunny!

With the tile selected, we set out to demo the original tile. As it turns out, the tile was set directly into the concrete slab, and wasn't going anywhere.

Plan B - Set the slate on top of the old tile, and trim the doors.

The results. Ben Liebman, 503-314-8785, did the work. He did the bathroom/utility room tile at the old house, and is really great to work with!