GABLE END #2 AND # 2 1/4 DONE . . .

Almost anyway. Only the finishing touches need to be put on them (calking, sealing & painting) once the painter/accountant/project manager/quality control/gang boss gets more time and the nerve to get back up there.

Also the new flooring has been installed now in the bedroom & dressing area . . .

OLD FLOOR

NEW FLOORING BEING INSTALLED

NEW FLOORING INSTALLED

(Waiting on base boards & new door trim)

DRESSING AREA

(NEW CLOSET IN BACKGROUND)

We'll be finishing up the new master closet floor over the next few days. Bye, bye lumber buffet!!!

GABLE END #1 DONE

Furniture assembled and placed.

What's next?

More Gable Ends to Complete

New Flooring in Master Bedroom

New Flooring in Old Closet

New Flooring in NEW Master Closet

Bay Window Shingles

Custom Closet Racks & Shelving

Installation of Light Fixtures

The countdown clock continues to tick . . .

COLUMNS, CROWN MOLDING AND . . .

The Roof decking for the bay window is almost complete . . .

Tomorrow we hope to get the natural cedar shake shingles installed to the bay window roof. Then all that is left to do on the front porch is a few little trim pieces to install, nail holes filled and final coat of paint on the columns. Next up will be the installation of the shake shingle Hardie Board on the gable ends AND THEN we will move back to the interior of the house. This process will be composed of new flooring in the master bedroom, old master closet & new master closet AND finally the custom racking and shelving in the new master closet.

On a random note here is a picture I took today of our garden plot at the community garden here in Oakland. It is out of control . . .

The largest plant seen in the middle is my heirloom broccoli. We also have carrots, collard greens, swiss chard, peppers, onions, cabbage and cauliflower tucked in there somewhere. This evening we had onions, tomatoes and carrots from the garden in our salads. YUM!!!

Stay tuned for more updates on the house. We have six weeks left to finish these additions. The count down clock is ticking . . .

LIGHTS, CURTAINS . . . ARCHES!!!

The fine details are starting to take place. Columns, final porch trim and gable ends are next.

HAINT PAINT DAY

Pre-Haint Paint

Today Tim and I applied the first coat of haint paint to what tongue & groove ceiling has been installed. We had cut our order short of the ceiling material to keep us from having excess materials left over. I am very pleased with my final decision on the haint paint color. It is a very subtle and calming color. Over the next few days we should be able to finish just the porch ceiling . . . last strips of pine installed, applying the second coat of paint and get the new light fixtures installed.

Starting of Haint Painting

Tomorrow we should receive the remainder of our materials for the ceiling and also most of our trim boards to finish the final work on the front porch. Next we will be working on bulking the columns, decorative column trim and making the arches between each set of columns on the front porch. One nail at a time . . .

First Coat of Haint Paint

MOVING FORWARD

The last three months have been busy. Due to holidays, Airstream trips, work and colds the house projects have sat on hold for two of the last three months. There has been great progress however over the last month. FINALLY the drywall work has been completed. It was a long tedious mess to get through. Installing, taping, sanding, texturing & painting. Now both the drywall and painting in the closets are finished and we have started back on what needs to be done on the front porch. The closets will sit idle for now until we get some work complete on the front porch . . .

We've also spent some time finishing the re-build of the interior of the bay window. The interior bay window had been put on hold from its re-build about three years ago. Knowing we were going to be doing all the drywall work on the new closet additions we wanted to do both these drywall portions at the same time to keep the drywall dust down to a minimum ... one time deal. The base boards still need to be re-done and installed and my drapes can be re-hung soon. It's going to be nice to get this room back.

The last few days have been focused on the front porch. Tim has started installing the ceiling while I have been painting the interior projects, exterior of house & priming all the ceiling pieces to be installed. We decided to go with a 4" tongue and groove pine. And I am going to paint the ceiling with a haint paint. Haint paint is more common in historic southern towns. It's been said it keeps the haints (restless ghosts & bad spirits) from entering your home. The paint represents water and haints don't cross water ya know. But I hear it also can keep the bugs from taking up residence due to thinking the paint color is the sky. Anyone who has spent time in Charleston, Key West, Savannah and New Orleans, to name a few places, you've seen this done on many great historic front porches. If you want more history and beautiful pictures of porches with haint paint check out the following link:

http://mudpiestudio.blogspot.com/2011/08/haint-blue-painted-porch-ceilings.html

The porch ceiling will really add some character to our home. There is plenty still left to do in order to complete these projects. Stay tuned. We are soooo getting closer. One nail at a time . . .

INSULATION INSPECTION . . .

Passed! Last Thursday, November 3rd we were signed off on the insulation inspection of the "shoe" closet. Stay tuned for the installation of the drywall phase of this project.