getting the green up to the roof...

Front Walkway Instalation

What I did on my summer vacation...

I discovered that we had an extra three feet of ceiling space in the back room...
... I also saw a lot of brick in desperate need of some tuckpointing loving care...
... I discovered a service stair that should lead upstairs to the second floor...
... and last, but not least, I witnessed the scariest tangle of electrical conduit known to man.

The end.

4th of July Demo Party

This past weekend, we decided to take advantage of the extra day-off and get a jump start on first floor construction/gut-rehab efforts, starting with demolition of the back room. Our current plan of action is to start with the back room, so that we can install a back door, which will actually be double french doors (that will eventually open onto a nice little porch/patio/back garden). Once we have a 'back door', we can go to town with the rest of the first floor demolition, since we then won't have to haul all the debris thru the basement.We rented a 10yd. dumpster, which was delivered last Thursday. The driver 'tried' to maneuver it into our back yard, however given how narrow our alley is (and given the driver's truck was larger than the other trucks that have delivered previous dumpsters, or so he claimed), the dumpster wouldn't fit, so we just placed it on a side street, right off the alley. We figured we could just haul the debris down the alley, in a wheelbarrow.

We spent Thursday night clearing out the back room and basement, since we had some junk down there that needed to get thrown away. Friday morning, bright and early, we started the demo.

Before:

During:

Bryan did all of the 'demo'. I helped clear debris. We still have the ceiling and 2 walls to demo, but majority of that can get done once the 'back' doors are installed.

After:

front garden landscaping - round one

Master Bath Shower Enclosure

The shower enclosure is by Euroview, purchased thru the Hydrology showroom, here in Chicago. Frameless, or at least should be once the duct tape comes off (it's on while the sealant is curing).

closet systems continued...

In order to start construction on the first floor this month, we need to get all of the boxes and STUFF cleared out first. Alas, we installed two more closet systems upstairs - in the back bedroom and corridor closets - during the past couple of weeks. Due to closet shape and in order to maximize storage space, we opted for the Elfa system from The Container Store. I'm not a big fan of the exposed tracks and brackets, but I have to say I like it... it was so easy to install and so flexible to change around or add components if need be... plus we didn't break the bank. Nice.

electrical outlets can be beautiful...

22 by Bocci.
I think I need to practice mudding and taping drywall... this is so worth it.

Green Roof Project underway...

We finally got our act together and placed the order for the Green Roof modules. They should arrive in early July.

We decided to go with a Do-It-Yourself 4" Extensive 2' x 2' Module System by Green Grid. 66 modules, approximately 265 sf of green roof. One very busy weekend of gardening...

Once installed, the roof area should look something like this:

... the Grand Southside Tundra. Now we just need some caribou grazing up there...

Master Bathroom Update

the vertical library

Now that the upstairs is habitable once again, we are trying to get somewhat more organized. So many things have been packed away in boxes... for example, books. We have two large Ikea Expedit bookcases downstairs, plus a Crate & Barrel curving bookcase system upstairs (I bought it about 10 years ago). However, they are only a temporary solution since about half of our books are still in boxes. When we rehab the downstairs, the plan is to create copious shelves to house our books, but in the meantime, we opted to invest in three Tall Sapien Bookcases from Design Within Reach (we got them on sale, so it actually was within reach). Personally, I prefer storing books in a horizontal format, but I have to admit that for what we need right now, the bookcases are a great solution. Easy to assemble (I did it by myself) and easy to move, plus the bookcases do store a lot of books (although they look better when not completely filled).

tea time

I have been the recipient of several wonderful tea-related gifts lately, and I've been putting them all to good use... Chicago has been bitterly cold and damp.
My aunt and uncle gave me a gorgeous Alessi tea kettle for Christmas. Then, my cousin and her family sent a collection of tea leaves (with accompanying book) by Le Palais Des Thes, which can be prepared in the tea mug Bryan's mom brought back from China. Preparing tea has never been such fun!

closet systems...

During the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend (yes, I'm over one month late with this post... apologies to all... it has been a busy month), we installed closet systems in the front (master) bedroom. After much searching and cost comparing, we opted to go with Ikea's PAX Wardrobe System (minus the doors). The major selling points were: all solid surface; design-your-own system with numerous shelving and drawer options; independent floor-supported modules (no need to wall mount); and MOST important... reasonable cost.
I assembled the systems and Bryan lifted and moved the modules into place...

... Charlevoix came and supervised. What a champ...

My mom even contributed to the cause and outfitted us with wooden hangers from Nordstrom Rack, Linens & Things and Ikea... you can get a case of 12 for something like $3.00.

I have never had such magnificently organized closets. Ever. Wow.

... and we couldn't have done it without Ikea's brilliant instructions:

hee hee hee.

winter wonderland

About 2 weeks ago, we got hit with about 8" of snow... it was beautiful!
Charlevoix was in heaven... I think she inhaled a pound of snow, pretending to search for avalanche victims.

Merry Christmas!

... Bryan calls it the 'Charlie Brown' Christmas Tree. It works though!

a whole new level of green cleaning...

The Slipper Genie via today's New York Times, Home & Garden Personal Shopper. These things are hilarious! We've got wood floors and St. Bernard... at $9.99, I'm thinking maybe I should consider buying a pair!

Staircase Drawers

... turn your stairs into drawers. Brilliant!

ew, mold.

I recently read about CertainTeed DryRight Fiberglass Insulation while researching materials for a project. It is faced with 'MemBrain' (that is definitely SOME witty wordplay going on... membrane/MemBrain... hahaha, those wacky manufacturers, what a hoot!), which is a breathable film, allowing enough airflow yet controling moisture content, thereby, reducing mold/mildew growth. Genius.

Also good to know... latex and silicon caulks should have Microban or Bio-Seal.