prouve meets reality

I was hoping to salvage my grandparents' old 1950s wood dining table. It's nothing fancy, in fact, it's rather rickety... However, it's a wonderful size, with 3 table inserts, and it would definitely serve us well until we could build or afford something we really love, like the Prouve EM table...
(I love Prouve!) Back to reality... besides the budget factor, it's my grandparents table... The problem is that the table endured quite a bit of water damage while in storage. In addition, the table base is quite ornate (2 curved legs with lots and lots of stiles), so in order to refinish it well, the cost would be more than what the table is worth... sigh.

Ikea has 2 tables that really aren't that bad looking, plus they are both a really nice size... the Forsby and the Norden... they aren't dirt cheap, but both priced under $300, they aren't out of reach either...

... Prouve EM will have to wait a few years. or more.

how narrow can you go...

Our house is one of many narrow historic rowhouses, dating back to the 1890s. I'm not sure why, but our block's lot sizes are not those of typical Chicago city lots. They are much narrower and a bit shorter. As a result, our house interior is approx. 15' wide x 65' long (the total lot length is approx. 105').

Don't get me wrong, we are very lucky to have as much space as we do... I just wish our house was 3' wider. 3' extra width would make a WORLD of difference in layout for spatial flow... especially downstairs. It would allow for clearly defined 'zones': entry/stairwell; corridor/travel flow; and living.

While trying to figure out the perfect solution, I'm gathering ideas/inspiration for narrow living rooms/dining rooms off the glorious world wide web. Images above are courtesy of Living Etc. and sfgirlbybay (both excellent resources!). Any additional suggestions are more than welcome...

Finn Juhl

The Finn Juhl Home in Denmark: via The Mid-Century Modernist

kitchen millwork complete

This past weekend we finished installing the rest of the kitchen millwork (a couple of shelves, a few door panels, trim pieces for base cabinets and the garbage/recycling bins). We also installed the base cabinet door and drawer pulls. The pulls are made by Linnea (stainless steel - item no. 221/F) purchased back in October 2008 at Clark & Barlow (I lovelovelove! that store). The pulls took awhile to install since they are recessed into the millwork panel about 1/4" (as a result, the pulls are flush with the panel edge).

A few things still to do before the kitchen is 'complete':
- install trim for all recessed can lights
- install window hardware
- install some type of window treatment on back door and large back window
- apply finish coat to window/door trim
- install undercabinet lighting
- finishing touches/organize

more books

So, given our 'temporary bookshelves' allow for approximately 80 SF of vertical storage, I thought FOR SURE they would fit all our non-reference books, with a little extra room for 'growth' - text books, reference books and periodicals would be stored elsewhere (upstairs). Well, turns out, not only there is ZERO room for growth (more books), but we still have a lot of NON-reference books without a home:

... I think we'll need more bookshelves... somewhere.

a REVISED normal

Referring back to a note posted a couple weeks ago, we decided to revise our temporary layout for the living room (see above). I don't know if this will help us get to normal, but let's hope we manage to achieve some level of comfort.

On a side note, ignoring the crumbling plaster walls and crudely constructed surface mounted electrical conduits... the existing flooring in the living room is this tightly woven beige berber carpet. It would be tolerable except for the fact that it is SHREDDED in several areas, and when I say shredded, I mean huge patches of pulled fibers exposing the floor underneath. We're not going to discuss in detail how we got those patches. Let's just say that instead of chewing on furniture, Charlevoix shredded carpet, books and dvds as a puppy. ANYWAY, our pathetic temporary solution for THAT problem was to cover the patches with cheap area rugs strategically placed in two zones. Problem is, the layout above doesn't cooperate with our 'zones'.

What to do?

The floors underneath are in grotesque shape. They look like rotten teeth and probably function like them as well - we're afraid that the carpet is holiding the flooring together, so we don't want to pull it up quite yet. Recarpeting the living room is not an option either - too expensive (unless we go with $0.50/sf Astro-Turf from the Home Depot... yeah, NO).

Suggestions...? I'm thinking we just get a couple of LARGER area rugs for the time being...

the start of a dining room/library

The past week has been somewhat busy at the office (even with this economy, believe it!) so we haven't had a chance to tackle too much at the house. We did manage to set up the dining room table and chairs and unpack a few boxes of books.

The table is a hand-me-down from my grandparents (dad's side). It's very very old (1950's) and in desperate need of refinishing and some major repair, which we plan to try and do once the weather improves. Depending on our repair effort results, we'll see if eventually we'll need to invest in another dining room table. For the time being though, this will do just fine.

nothing is original

via Uniform Studio

the beech BILLY

Today's project was to assemble the full wall of bookcases in the dining room. As mentioned in a previous post, unfortunately our budget, at this time, doesn't allow for custom bookshelves PLUS we still have yet to rehab the living and who knows what we'll end up doing once we tackle that area.
SO, as a (temporary) solution, we decided to buy four BILLY bookcases (31 1/2" wide each) from IKEA, plus the extension unit for each, placing them at approx. 8'-0" tall (our ceilings are close to 10' so we try and maximize vertical space wherever possible, PLUS most of the doors and the tops of the window openings are at 8'-0" so a standard height looks good).
The four of them fit perfectly against our north dining room wall, so that they almost appear to be built-in. We ended up going with the beech veneer option since it looks similar to cherry. As a result, our dining room and kitchen now have this continuous visual flow. Now we finally get to unpack all of our books!!!

normal

Even though the living room still needs a complete overhaul, it's not going to be happening anytime too soon, given the following:
1. We're trying to be conservative with spending given each morning we awake, wondering if there will be layoffs at the office, due to the crappy economy.
2. Our own personal finances have been drained after the last gut-rehab phase (kitchen/dining/powder room/basement stairwell).
3. We're tired.
So, in an effort to live somewhat normally, we figured out a temporary, yet comfortable, layout for the living room. The best part... take a look at the plan above... compare to our October 2006 floor plan ... notice any difference? NO STORAGE BOXES! NO STORAGE SHELVES! NO LUMBER! NO BEDROOM FURNITURE NEXT TO THE LUMBER! NO BATHTUBS NEXT TO THE TV! This is a major improvement folks...

the sebastian

During the latest Ikea expedition, I picked up two Sebastian barstools for the kitchen. I think during the next Ikea expedition, I'll pick up at least one more. They are comfortable, the perfect height, and look quite good in our kitchen... plus at $49. each, not a bad buy at all (sorry Bertoia, $800. for one barstool is just not in the budget).

95% of a new kitchen

... the plumbing has been plumbed, gas connection hooked up, all the appliances have been installed, dishes unpacked and refrigerator and pantry kind-of filled. The only things missing are a few additional shelves for the cabinets, hardware which still needs to be installed, plus the trash bins which also have to be installed. Then we just need to live in the kitchen, figure out a place and space for everything and slowly get it a little more organized.
We wouldn't be architects if we didn't have a few criticisms:
1. The cabinets could be hung about 8"-12" lower for me. Bryan likes the height functionally, and I like the height aesthetically, since at their current height they almost touch the ceiling. But functionally, they are a little too high for me. Oh well, the price we pay for good design!
2. The cooktop is a little crude. I would have been okay with electric, but Bryan really wanted gas, and we could not afford a sleeker/flatter looking gas cooktop.
3. I really wish we had an extra 6 sf of space for a pantry. Maybe we'll be able to come up with something...?
... however, in general, we love the new kitchen!

the ever-changing construction schedule

... appliance installation December 23rd? ha. What were we thinking???

soapstone countertop installation

... the photos don't do the material justice... the counters are beautiful, especially after applying a coat of mineral oil. The mineral oil makes the stone darker and brings out the 'veining' more - it almost looks like a blackish greenish marble.

If we want the counters to be lighter, we should not treat the soapstone with mineral oil - the counters will then be a similar color/tone as in the installation photos above. However, if we want the counters to remain dark, we should apply mineral oil once or twice a week for the first month, once a week or every other week for the second month, then, starting the third month, as needed.

I prefer the darker stone, although both options look nice... it will be interesting to see how the material 'patinas'.

Dover White

The first (and only) paint coat went on today... Sherwin Williams Dover White. We're holding off on the second coat until after we tackle the living room renovation...

first appliance in...

... the oven/microwave unit.
Bryan tested out the microwave yesterday with some leftover Pad Thai... Result: Success!

brr.

Beautiful and serene photos by Michael Kenna, which help make this winter a little more tolerable...

white or birch?

Given the shape and spatial constraints of the house, our goal has been to redesign rooms in that they are equipped with ample storage and also so that they are able to serve double duty, i.e. guest room/study, dining room/library, etc.

Our original plan in the dining room was to have cherry shelves built into the north wall, floor to ceiling, so that there would be continuity/flow into the kitchen (the kitchen cabinets are cherry). Well... unfortunately, cherry shelves are not in the budget, for now. However, the Ikea BILLY bookcase falls well within budget. PLUS, as luck would have it, 4 of the 31" BILLY bookcases fit perfectly, wall to wall, so that, almost, the bookcases could look built-in (minus the soffit detail). Question is.... do we go with white or birch?

I collaged a quick mock-up, in Photoshop, for both options:
Since the walls and ceiling will be painted white (Sherwin-Williams Dover White), I think I am leaning more towards the white option. I'm just afraid between the cherry kitchen cabinets and the white oak floor, adding another wood to the mix will just evoke visual chaos.

Call out for suggestions...

Happy Kitchen-less Anniversary!

4 months... We celebrated by not eating.

dog days of winter...

... at least somebody truly appreciates today's blizzard.