Door minus paint

Door minus paint
Originally uploaded by zostra

Today was one of those days where we did a TON, but the photos don't do it justice. Dad took approximately 1/16 of an inch of paint off the inside of the front door. That might not sound like much, but we figure it was at least half a dozen layers given the colors we found. It took two quarts of paint stripper and a lot of power sanding with the big belt sander and the orbital sander. We also caulked the inside of all of the windows, and put on the third (final!) coat of paint on all of the interior window trim. Daniel did quality control, wandering around with a roll of blue tape looking for places that need to be touched up. The house looks a little polka-dotted, but it's nice to think that we are nearing the stage of touch up instead of massive undertakings. Of course, they still need to finish the outside stucco. And the shower still isn't functional. But we're getting closer.

Adding Window Trim

Adding Window Trim
Originally uploaded by zostra

Now that the waiting is over, we're able to add the interior window trim. By 1:30 this afternoon we had all of the window trim measured, cut, and nailed in place. Thanks to Daniel and Mom all the nail holes got filled almost before they were made, and the windows were taped and ready to go. By the end of the day the windows had been primed and had their first coat of finish paint. Now, if I could just find the right flange for my shower.

Waiting

Garden Window with Paint
Originally uploaded by zostra

We've been waiting. And waiting. And waiting. For approval by the inspector for the windows to go forward. For the weather to clear so that stucco can be applied. For a three day weekend so we can spend all of our spare time working on the house. It might look like nothing has happened to this window but it has.

1) It's been approved & permitted.
2) There's stucco on the outside.
3) Where there was a hole around it, there is now wallboard & mud patching it.
4) Where there was mud & patch there is now primer & two coats of paint.

It's a good thing.

Kitchen Window

Kitchen Window
Originally uploaded by zostra

It's in! I could see the blue sky poking through the clouds through the lovely garden window in the kitchen.

They shrink when you cook them

Mini-Frank
Originally uploaded by zostra

I didn't see the sausage that Daniel went to put on the grill with my tofu dogs. I was envisioning some kind of large, bratwurst-like item. He checked on them a little while later and when he came back in said that they'd shrunk a little. This was what he showed me. I think I laughed for a full 10 minutes. I know I laughed so hard that I cried.

Expect Delays

Expect Delays
Originally uploaded by zostra

When the day starts with a phone call saying that your range/oven and hood won't be delivered until June 3 (almost two weeks later than the already-5-weeks-on-back-order-status) and ends with your contractor telling you about why the adjective-deleted building inspector not only hasn't approved the windows but also had doubled your permit valuation and therefore permitting fee and must reinspect things after a day unnecessary work has been completed, you still somehow land up smiling. How? Home-cooked dinner, glass of wine, and the purchase of a t-shirt (by the model, not the author of this post) that seems particularly apropos.

Stucco on Window

Stucco on Window
Originally uploaded by zostra

If the rain would stop long enough, they could stucco all of the window exteriors where they've been putting the new ones in. So far, there is stucco on two, trim on 7 out of 9, and one yet to go in (kitchen garden window).

Kitchen Non-Window

Kitchen Non-Window
Originally uploaded by zostra

So much for the kitchen faucet with water. It had to come out while they put in the new kitchen window. Oops. Could have predicted that, but I didn't.

Artichoke Gratin

Artichoke Gratin
Originally uploaded by zostra

We went for dinner at my college roommate's house down in Mountain View. Got to meet her husband and 6-month-old daughter for the first time, saw another college dorm-mate and her husband, and sat around chatting and making Vietnamese spring rolls which turned out quite well. Vegan German chocolate cake for dessert. The door prizes? Artichokes from their backyard! The next night Daniel made an Artichoke Gratin from Richard Olney's "Simple French Food." This is all that was left by the time I managed to stop eating and get out my camera to take a picture.

Pedestal Start

Pedestal Start
Originally uploaded by zostra

It turns out installing a pedestal sink is more effort than one might think, and is beyond the abilities of my nuclear family at this point in our skills set, so the contractor will be doing this one.

It Flows!

Kitchen with Water
Originally uploaded by zostra

There is water hooked up to the kitchen sink, but the dishwasher plumbing isn't hooked up yet (no dishwasher yet), so we can't really turn the water on full force. Still, it's exciting.

Fridge

Fridge
Originally uploaded by zostra

I have one. It's hooked up. Except for the fact that we need to put the brakes on it so it doesn't roll out when you try to open it, all is well.

Missed a few spots

Missed a few spots
Originally uploaded by zostra

The problem with trying to paint over a high-gloss white ceiling with regular ceiling white on a gray, rainy day is that when you come back on a sunshine-y day you realize you missed spots. Then, as you run around taping them so that you'll know where to touch up, you realize that maybe you should just paint the whole darn thing one more time.

Unmasking

Unmasking
Originally uploaded by zostra

Bathroom is painted, and has been unmasked. The light paint (Adobe White, sort of a hint of the tile color) makes a massive difference. Now we just need to get the shower working, and install the sink.

Kitchen-like

Sink and Faucet
Originally uploaded by zostra

It's starting to look like a kitchen. The sink is in and has cured, the faucet is partially on (still needs some parts installed), the plumbing is mostly done. Yippee!

Night off with Pizza

Night off with Pizza
Originally uploaded by zostra

Stopped working early yesterday, and took the night off. Daniel made pizza with caramelized onions and goat cheese, but we forgot to check the date on the yeast so the first batch of dough had...some issues. Luckily the local Italian restaurant has a wonderful owner who felt our pain and gave us (wouldn't take any money) not one, but two pizzas worth of dough. If you need a very friendly Italian place with yummy pizza dough (I hear the rest of their food's pretty good too) check out Villa Romano on Irving & 9th.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mom Masking
Originally uploaded by zostra

OK, I did bring her flowers and a card, and promised to make her brunch once my kitchen is functional, but today Mom masked the bathroom so we could prime it and paint the ceiling. The rain made the humidity too high to get any more paint on the walls in the bathroom, but we did also prime the living room and paint the living room ceiling. Quote of the day, heard while painting the ceiling: "Go about 90 degrees over, or 180 degrees, one of those." I'm not saying who said it to whom, but I think that despite the low-VOC paints they had inhaled too many fumes. Another statement overheard was "No, XXXX, that's NOT ceiling paint on your roller!" Response was not suitable for publishing, but the paint was quickly removed with a wet rag.

Caulking

Baseboards Caulked
Originally uploaded by zostra

All of the baseboards, door, and window trim need to be caulked after they go in. This involves not only spackling the nail holes, but also running painters' caulk along all of the seams. In this case, the corners, between the baseboard and the wall, and between the baseboard and the baseshoe (that bottom ridge part). Then we'll go back with touch up paint and go over any spackle or caulk that needs to be covered. Then we'll be done. Some time in the next decade or so. At least that's how it feels after you do one baseboard. Thanks, Seth, for coming over and spackling with me.

Colors!

Colors!
Originally uploaded by zostra

I love the series of colors as you look from one bedroom (orange), through the hall (yellow/cream), into the other bedroom (blue). And I love that there is door trim up in the bedroom so it's starting to look finished.

Windows & Baseboards

Windows & Baseboards
Originally uploaded by zostra

The windows arrived a day early, and they have started putting them in. In the beginning they are just "roughed" in, but as they go they will put them in properly and then start sealing things up and fixing the stucco outside, adding trim, etc. It's very exciting, as this is the last big part of the project that has to be done by the contractor. The baseboards and door trim are being put in by loving hands at home, as Dad likes to say. Those have started as well.

Plastic Kitchen

Plastic Kitchen
Originally uploaded by zostra

Second coat of yellow in the kitchen & dining area went on today. The hall is now eggnog (creamy, slightly yellow, lighter tint of kitchen & living room) instead of grey-blue-green. Did I mention that my parents are amazing? They've done a huge portion of all of this. I'm just the night shift.

Painting Closets

Painting Closets
Originally uploaded by zostra

Hall closets with shelves that can not be removed (OK, they could if we REALLY wanted to, but that would create more problems than we already have) are difficult to paint. As I demonstrate in this lovely photo, taken while I paint the inside of the top part of the closet.

Blue Bedroom

Blue Bedroom
Originally uploaded by zostra

It's blue! Second coat of orange on the other bedroom. Tile is sealed (we did that yesterday, after the move). There are patches. There is primer. The washer & dryer are in. There's a big chip in the kitchen sink, so it's being returned/exchanged. I, literally, have the kitchen sink in my car.

Welcome Home

Faux Mailbox
Originally uploaded by zostra

Much like the temporary mailbox we put up to keep the mail off the floors while they were being refinished, I am in a state of flux. My stuff is in the garage, in piles in a few rooms, and I am living out of a suitcase at Daniel's (thank you, Daniel). It was decided that cats and an active remodel don't mix. Not to mention the shower isn't working yet. Nor is there hot water. Picky, picky, picky. That's me.

Primer & Paint & Grout

Orange Bedroom
Originally uploaded by zostra

There's orange in the bedroom. Ceilings in both bedrooms are done. Other bedroom is primed. Kitchen counter is grouted. Moving stuff into the garage tomorrow.