Grain

After weeks of applying layer after layer of polyurethane and many sandings, the countertops are ready to be put in. The stain has really brought out the amazing grain of the wood.

Milkweed

The light color green we picked for the kitchen is milkweed. Not very appetizing but the color falls into my fave green range.

New Lamp

I replaced the old fashioned lamp on the back porch with the orange Eames sconce WL recently painted. Matches the chocolate wall well.

Fudge Truffle

I started to paint the back wall of the patio. We are trying to treat it like a separate room and will keep the color scheme apart from the rest of the exterior. A chocolate backdrop and a dark green concrete floor.

Kitchen

I put the doors back on the cabinets last weekend. I also painted the cabinets a bright white.... the walls are to be a color yet to be determined. The counter should be in place this week with the new sink.

Crack Repair

WL is repairing the many cracks in the ceiling. He takes the offending crack to the plaster and places mesh along the line. He'll then spackle and sand. Voila, no more fissure.

Cheap Lumens

I found these lights at the ReUse People for $4 each. I rewired them, took the ceiling unit and painted it a powder blue while WL took the sconce and painted it orange.

We Have A Shower

A few days ago, WL installed the shower panel and his favorite part of the house, a sliding glass door titled "Rain".

Boys With Toys

The laundry drain pipe in the kitchen was the remaining blight needed to be removed. WL got out his saw and chopped it off. Sparks followed.

Weekend Dog

Groovy Mail Slot

I love the groovy mail slot. Very ornate inside box lid. But hell on magazines.....always crumpled. I need to strip it back to it's original brass beauty.

Blue Windows

I prepped the windows recently for WL to paint on the polyurethane. We stripped the majority of the paint off and will encase whatever imperfections remain in a clear protective coat. It'll either be a interesting effect or a testament to my paint stripping shortcomings.

Kitchen

Putting together the kitchen now. Most of the drawers are going back into place well. But there are a few that have needed extra sanding and some center supports in need of a wood chisel and sandpaper.

Give a Fig

All the fruit trees have lots of young buds ready to burst forth. I am particularly keen on the fig tree on the back slope. Although the Mexican limes taste great in a Pepsi.

New Power

The contractor sunk a new 200 amp service into the wall outside. The DWP will be hooking us up to the main line next week. We had the inspector out last week and with a few minor tweaks, we'll be online soon.

We Have A Bathroom

Toilet, $10 sink and lights have been installed today. All working and in good order. When we prime and paint the ceiling, we will install the shower panel and get the full bathroom working.
I can't get over the fact that the old mirror (the one hold over from the original bathroom) looks like an iPhone here.....

Slate Tile

They finished tiling the floor in the bathroom. We started with 12X12 tiles but soon found they were too big for the drainage slant so WL spent a few hours cutting the bigger tiles into 6X6 size. Now the job is all about grouting.
I get back to LA on saturday night and can hardly wait to see the final version in the flesh.....

Counter Tops

While I'm dealing with plaster, spackle and painting, WL has been tackling the counter tops. The guy I hired to make them was not very good. Messy. So WL has stripped down and is building them back up. A new layer of stain and then a dozen or so coats of polyurethane before a final protective coat. The feel is amazing and smooth and the look is lustrous.

Windows

I took steel and paint stripper to finish off the window frames. WL is adding new locks and giving the old windows a coat of polyurethane. I saw something similar in a house in Silverlake and thought it was an interesting look. To let the age of the frames play. The old wavy glass is gorgeous.... even though I know the cool air and heat can easily escape. Replacing the windows is phase 3 or 4, a good 4 or 5 years away.