re:master

A couple weeks ago we tiled the master bath with some Vermont black slate that we ordered through Dal-Tile.

First we dry-fit and laid a mortar bed for the cement backerboard.


And then screwed it down with cement screws -


Then we used a wet saw to cut and dry-fit the tile using tile spacers -



Then mixed some more mortar and laid the tile...
(This is Anthony putting mesh tape over the joints in the backerboard.)


Next up was grouting the joints, after the tile had set up for a couple of days...


And sponging off the excess grout -


I'll post a final picture later - we still need to add another application of grout to the joints, since the slate isn't as smooth and flat as other tile.

And then a hand-me-down light fixture turned into a bigger project...

Some friends gave us a pretty capiz shell chandelier, which we thought would be perfect for our living room, which has had an empty junction box since we moved in. But before we could hang the fixture, we had to paint the ceiling in the living room, so we moved all the furniture out of the room and into the dining room...


But then, since we had all the furniture out of the room, we decided we might as well finish the rest of the room, so we finished caulking all the baseboards and then painted all the windows, trim and fireplace...






So now we've decided to take one room at a time, and finish everything in the room. It's less daunting to have smaller milestones...

re:cession

merry christmas!

so, i suppose my lack of posts over the last 2+ months indicates that we haven't done much on the house front. it's a recession, ya'll! we're supposed to be saving up for the next big thing - namely the stair & loft railing or the master bathroom, but between weddings, the holidays and the occasional $200 used-furniture purchase, we're getting nowhere.

so, to satiate your need for pics, i'll post our holiday decorations and furniture finds!

this is a simple holiday wreath i made with our christmas tree clippings and a few glass ball ornaments -



we have some modern christmas decorations in our modern living room -





and our traditional christmas tree is in the den -


we put up some of anthony's sketches from italy in the dining room, along with a few other frames with just placeholders so far -


table found at an antique shop ($190) being used as a kitchen 'island' -


dresser found thru craigslist ($40) and chair found at an antique shop ($70) in one of the guest rooms -


bedside table found thru craigslist ($15), currently being used as a side table in our den -


i hope in the spring we can make some progress on our other major house projects. in the meantime, we should be painting the window sashes on the interior and continuing with baseboards and door/window casings....

re:fuge

we spent an exhausting weekend repainting the den & office and the master bedroom, as well as finishing the stair installation. yay!

we filled the gaps in the mdf with a resin compound, let it harden overnight and then sanded it smooth...



and then we painted everything and installed the treads with construction adhesive and a few finish nails. we still have to caulk and touch up a few spots with paint.



as far as paint goes, i haven't been digging the 'fenland' we put in the master bedroom - it would be more well-suited to a den or office rather than a bedroom. so with this inspiration pic in mind -

[sorry i don't have source info]
...we repainted the master bedroom 'site white' with 'refuge' on the bed wall (all paint colors are sherwin williams). i love it! it will look even better after we get the trim & baseboards installed.





i also wasn't happy with the 'tony taupe' in the den - the whole room was looking rather drab because that taupe was absorbing all the light, so we repainted it a lighter color - 'alpaca' by sherwin williams. it reminds me of the color of my favorite starbucks drink - the chai latte. yum!


we also painted the office 'refuge' as well - so now you get these cool glimpes of the blue from the den and then a modern color combo with the 'wheatgrass' in the powder room...


(the office still needs a 2nd coat of paint)





and here are some more pics of the living room now that it's been properly cleaned -





up next will be the stair and loft railing. no plan for that yet...

re:tread

lookie here!


anthony (and i, kinda) worked really hard on putting the stair together this weekend! our friend david the woodworker suggested using mdf for the risers and trim, so we cut out the stringer/skirt boards and the risers. we still have to fill any gaps with some compound that dave will mix up, sand it and then paint it all white.

before, with temporary treads and railing -


in process...




the treads are just sitting on top now - not fastened yet. they need to be trimmed to length and then we'll glue them down after all the mdf is painted.

i'm so excited about how it looks! it makes the house feel more normal and less like a construction zone!

we also got our furniture delivery this weekend!


we both loooove the new sofa and chair. (please excuse the mess on the table - we were busy!). our old furniture went into the family room with the new tv. i'm leaning towards repainting the family room now...

re:frame

gooood stuff! hooray for our framing crew! (click to view larger)

from the front door -


in the living room -


the new family room with future french doors -


the loft (standing on the new stair landing) -


and the master bedroom!


here are the outside views...




we're hitting a few snags, but framing should be complete by the middle of next week!