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Post by mich64 on Jan 25, 2012 19:38:14 GMT
Thank you Bixa! The wood is going to be stained the same as the wood on the ceiling and there will be porcelain tile around the firebox. The one post has a trap door on the side for all the electrical for the TV and the cables for the Satellite. This was my idea, I did not want any cords to be seen but they still have to be accessible for application use and for building code rules.
I got the idea from a project Dan did in his house. He built in a bookcase that is also a secret door that will be the entrance to his wine storage room. Oh I must get over there soon to take some pictures of his work. Cheers, Mich
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 25, 2012 20:10:02 GMT
But first .......... Dan's address, please! heh heh heh heh heh
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Post by onlymark on Jan 25, 2012 20:57:16 GMT
mich, I have some questions. Bear with me and answer what you can at your leisure. There is a reason for me asking all these.
Is it the same fire that came out? It's a propane fire, yes? Do you have an external tank somewhere then? What capacity is the tank and do you run central heating from it? If it is a tank, how long does it last? I see in your very first photo small heaters either side of the fireplace. Are these electric? Are they any good?
Do you use LPG for cooking as well? Have you any idea of the size of the room your fire is in and how powerful is the fire (usually measured in kW or Btu)? No problem if you don't as I know it is an old fire. Is the fire sufficient to heat the room?
In general I'm asking about what you run from the propane, your heating system and also as regards your method heating hot water - and if you could or wanted to, what systems would you use for heating, water and cooking? Gas, electric, solid fuel, wood, or a combination? What would your ideal system be?
I'm sure that's enough questions for now. Turn your paper over and you can commence. The exam is two hours, no copying or cheating and you cannot leave until the time is up. Please switch off all mobile phones and at the end your papers will be collected. Pleas include all papers used for notes and workings out.
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Post by mich64 on Jan 25, 2012 23:29:39 GMT
Hi Mark, I will do my best in answering for you.
Just the surround being replaced. Inside where the propane fire place sits is an original metal fire box for the original wood burning fire place.
The external propane tank is about a 200 gallon tank and about 100 feet from the house up the hill near the road for access for refilling.
We use the propane only for the heating unit. The house was built with all electric heating systems, you could modify and add a gas stove in the kitchen.
The tank usually will last us about 3 months.
They are electric baseboards you see. They are new, but old technology. My husband says that convection electric heaters are now better as they have fans built in a blow out heat.
Size of the room is about 600 square feet and this also heats the upstairs which is about another 300 feet.
The electric base boards rarely come on only when it gets down to -20C or lower.
Our water is heated by electric.
We have 3 fireplaces. Bottom floor, wood burning, main floor propane and upper floor an electric fireplace. We like to have alternate sources of heat.
For cost, we would prefer gas/propane but with electric there is no maintenance. We would never go back to wood only heat, we did do that the first year and it is just to messy and my husband was always concerned for me when he went to work on night shift.
Did I do alright? Hope I did not miss anything. My husband will look for the manual for the stove to see what the BTU output is and I will let you know about that.
Cheers! Mich
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Post by onlymark on Jan 26, 2012 5:07:56 GMT
You did fine mich, many thanks. It does answer the thoughts I have as regards what I might need for the house in Spain concerning heating and generally making the house comfortable to live in over a winter. Not so important about the BTU thing, curious but not imperative. Thanks again.
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Post by mich64 on Jan 30, 2012 21:37:07 GMT
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Post by mich64 on Jan 30, 2012 21:43:45 GMT
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Post by mickthecactus on Feb 1, 2012 10:25:24 GMT
It's too cold for gardening. I think the decorating bag may be coming out this weekend.
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Post by mich64 on Feb 1, 2012 16:03:02 GMT
What are you going to do Mick? Cheers, Mich
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Post by mickthecactus on Feb 1, 2012 17:04:27 GMT
What are you going to do Mick? Cheers, Mich Paint the porch I think Mich. Later in the month come the bigger jobs of lounge and dining room and then boys bedroom. As usual, they will clash with spring garden work. They would have been done pre Christmas but Mrs C had 2 bouts of flu so not possible.
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Post by mich64 on Feb 1, 2012 17:48:12 GMT
Well those all sound like good projects Mick! I hope you post some before and after pictures, I enjoy decorating projects. Will you be choosing new colors? We are off to Sudbury tomorrow ( a larger city that is just about an hour away) for some shopping at some decorating stores that we do not have here. I am excited!!!
Sorry to read that your wife had two bouts of the flu. I guess that is how you got it. Hoping you have both fully recovered!
Cheers, Mich
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Post by mickthecactus on Feb 2, 2012 9:49:50 GMT
Thanks Mich - will do.
Sudbury? That's not far from my office.........
Mrs C has recovered although still has the cough from time to time. I'm struggling to shift it but I'm told it's a 3 week job so another week to go yet.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 2, 2012 17:11:05 GMT
That is SO handsome, Mich, even without being finished! It's going to tie the rest of the room in with the beams just beautifully. Is that loop of wire for a lighting fixture?
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Post by mich64 on Feb 2, 2012 23:12:02 GMT
Sorry to read how long you and your wife have been ill Mick. That is an awful virus you two have gotten.
Well Bixa, this is where I may lose half of those who were interested in the renovation. That cord is a wire that will enable the cord for the flat screen TV to be hidden behind the wall and down the side of the post to the floor. The post has a trap door that can be popped open so the cords can be accessed and fed down to the floor to a power outlet.
Today in Sudbury I found a vase that will go on the hearth where the panel is beside the fireplace. It is lovely! Mauve and grey colored and I will fill it with lots of greenery and one long stemmed large flower. I also bought a beautiful mirror that will go above the credenza that is beside the fireplace as the TV will be moved to the front of the fireplace. I know, I know, not very decorative, but it is a necessary placement due to the shape of the room, unfortunately. But I promise, I am going to make it look not so focal and more elegant.
I was also looking at some Van Gogh and Monet prints today that will go on either side of the fireplace.
Also ordered today were some mauve drapes for the patio door. Very excited to receive them in a few weeks!
Cheers, Mich
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Post by mich64 on Feb 11, 2012 2:53:53 GMT
Well all of the wood and stone done! My brother-in-law just left after finally completing his work, now all that is to be done is the staining and final decorating! i1094.photobucket.com/albums/i444/mich647/DSC00380.jpg [/img] I am so pleased with the result, true craftsman style and I feel it suits the space in style and dimensions. Yeah Dan! Next will be staining next week, my husband starts dayshift tomorrow!
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 11, 2012 7:12:18 GMT
Exquisite! Can't wait to see the finishing touches.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 11, 2012 7:24:19 GMT
The first photo isn't there mich.
Looks good. Looks professional and a good change for sure.
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Post by bjd on Feb 11, 2012 9:03:09 GMT
That certainly is nice -- your brother-in-law is a good workman.
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Post by mich64 on Feb 11, 2012 15:35:38 GMT
Thank you everyone! I am so very pleased. He is very precise. I hope to get over to his home soon to take some pictures there of his work.
Mark what do you think of the fireplace being off center now? I think he did the best job he could to take it away as the focus and assimilate it into scale.
Now I am searching for some art prints to put on the wall for each side of the fireplace and perhaps a collection of small different size prints to be placed on the other side of the light nearest the stairs. Also searching for some tall candelabras for the mantle and some antique dessert serving trays to be placed on top of the credenza. Also a brilliant green leaved plant to place in the vase. I need to get down to Toronto soon!
Cheers! Mich
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Post by tod2 on Feb 11, 2012 17:00:51 GMT
What a neat lovely job they have done Mich! It is certainly going to be the feature in the room and a beautiful one at that
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Post by onlymark on Feb 11, 2012 17:35:28 GMT
He's certainly done a good a job as he can as regards the central issue. I'd have no problems with it and I didn't before. I was just wondering initially if you had as I know my wife would sit staring at it and eventually get up, point to me and say, "What are you going to do about it?" I'd say, "Do about what?" She'd say, "Don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about." Me, "Give me a clue then." Her, "Can't you see it?" Me, "See what?" Her, "Don't play dumb. If you can't see it what's the point in asking you?" Me, "Asking me what?" "Asking you what you're going to do about it." "Do about what?" "Are you blind or something?..................jeez, men." Storms off to other room. Me thinking, "That was close. I think I got away with it. More time to relax for a while until she notices it again."
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Post by mich64 on Feb 11, 2012 19:00:32 GMT
Many people have issues with the fireplace being off center and some, like us, really did not understand why it is an issue, but I guess now I can understand that you mean it could visually bother someone thinking it needs to be fixed.
We are so happy with the result and I can not wait to see what it looks like with the stain and how I can bring more color into the room with paintings, pillows and some dishes maybe.
Thank you Tod for the compliment!
Cheers! Mich
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Post by onlymark on Feb 11, 2012 20:25:00 GMT
I like the tiles you've used. Is the wall behind the same colour as before? It looks blue before and now green? Will the wood stain be matching the floor and ceiling? Will it all be stained or the panels painted?
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Post by mich64 on Feb 11, 2012 22:46:14 GMT
Thank you Mark, the tiles are grey, the wall is a shade of grey as well, but in some light the blue comes out and in some light I noticed the tile being green. There is so much different light in the room I should be getting all kinds of shades at different times of the day. All the wood will be stained the same color which is going to be hopefully the same as the ceiling.
Mich
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2012 14:40:54 GMT
Lovely job Mich. What a transformation! I know the centering issue would make my husband cuckoo but,it doesn't really bother me.
The tiles are nice.
One of the things we did while renovating our downstairs living space many years ago you may want to consider , it would be interesting to see how the same effect would work in your home as well.. we reversed the placement of the wall sconces so that the light is directed up instead of down. (how many people really rely on wall sconces for reading light...c'mon...) It really is dramatic and makes for some interesting shadow effects etc. It also makes the room look bigger somehow. It would play nicely with all those exposed beams that you have.
Thanks for taking the time to share this with us Mich.
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Post by mich64 on Feb 12, 2012 16:28:22 GMT
Thank you Casi! I think it is a great idea to turn the sconces upwards, especially since I will be placing some art work next to them, the lighting would be better in this case. Hopefully I can find the prints I want (and for the price I will pay) soon.
The drapes should be in this week!
Cheers, Mich
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Post by mich64 on Mar 4, 2012 18:40:18 GMT
Well everyone, here it is! Just some final decorating things to be done and another renovation is complete.
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Post by onlymark on Mar 4, 2012 18:59:21 GMT
Superb.
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Post by mich64 on Mar 4, 2012 19:16:00 GMT
Awww, thank you Mark. A very nice compliment. Cheers! Mich
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 7, 2012 5:51:11 GMT
Oh, Mich -- jaw droppingly beautiful!! The proportions and color of the new piece not only blend in, but fit perfectly & give such a wonderful feel to the room. I love the colors in the two pictures you chose -- they lighten the room and simultaneously tie that wall in with the rug area. Somehow the design & stain of the new hearth make all the woods in the room warmer & richer. Yes, Mark definitely found the right word.
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