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Post by mich64 on Dec 26, 2011 5:05:19 GMT
Well, I am not sure if this is where to post this topic? If it should be moved, please do so. We have lived in our present home for 14 years and are constantly renovating and redecorating as the house is 40 years old. Not old by most standards, however, it is at an age where styles have definitely changed and we are updating rooms when the funds become available. The latest project is the main floor fireplace. As far as we have been told by our neighbors, it was installed when the house was built. It was a wood burning fireplace and about 3 years ago we had a propane fireplace installed. I began to notice that the stone work seemed to be current to many of the homes built out on the lake around the same time. I determined this because I frequently look on line at houses for sale and it seems my fireplace is in many of the homes that have been for sale out here for the last few years. Therefore, a change is in definitely in need. Here are a few of the photos I took when the demolition began. I will search my archives for photos prior to demolition soon to show you what in looked liked originally. Plans have been drawn for the new design and when I get a copy of them I will photograph and let you all see and continue with updates when products are chosen and the installation begins. First photo of when I thought I should document this.  Getting there....  This is what we have to work with...  |
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Post by imec on Dec 26, 2011 5:27:24 GMT
I'm looking forward to this mich. Great idea for a thread! (have you picked out the stone?)
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Post by mich64 on Dec 26, 2011 5:55:48 GMT
No, this project happened on impulse actually. Two weeks before Christmas, the brother who does the designing and woodwork thought he was going to have a week off soon. So my husband decided to take down what was there to see what was behind it and to see how big a challenge this was going to be. The brother was not given his time off, so we decided to wait until after the holidays to pick out the materials.
Shopping!!
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Post by onlymark on Dec 26, 2011 6:10:18 GMT
Has the fact that it is all off centre ever annoyed you?
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 26, 2011 23:02:47 GMT
What a super, overdue idea for a thread, Mich. I'll be following this avidly.
I believe I had that very same fireplace in a house in Wilmington, NC. I got very weary of it very quickly.
Love your wooden floors and am cringing as you must have done when they were pulling all those rock bits & mortar out.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 26, 2011 23:33:17 GMT
Yes Bixa, we were tired of it quickly as well, but friends and family would protest when we would talk about removing it. We finally decided, for us, it was time to go. My husband and father-in-law laid the hardwood last year so they were very very careful removing and cleaning up.
Mark the reason that it is off center is that in the basement there is another stone fireplace so the placement of that flue determined the placement of this one. Poor planning by the original architect, even if it was 40 years ago. Yes, we do not like that it is off center, but to change it would mean removing the exterior portion of the brick flues, moving the firebox, hiring a stone mason and that is more than we wish to handle.
I think you will all be surprised at the plans and how they are going to compensate for the fact that it is off center.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 26, 2011 23:41:17 GMT
In my pictures of Christmas Dinner around the Globe, you will see the photo where they are playing pool. The gentleman with the santa hat is the brother who will design and build the new fireplace and mantle.
The pool table... he made it.
Cheers!
Mich
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 27, 2011 1:00:44 GMT
He made the pool table?! Impressive!
Re: off center -- I think symmetry is way, way over rated! Furthermore, I've lived in too many houses where the fact that something -- kitchen sink, for instance -- was compulsively centered to know that very often off-center works better.
I'm dying to see the plans for the new fireplace.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 27, 2011 1:23:27 GMT
I viewed the plans on Christmas Eve and was happy with what he drew. Yes, my brother-in-law is quite talented when it comes to woodwork. The next time I am at his house I will photograph some of the pieces he has built. His most recent is an English phone booth with shelves inside to showcase his collection of motorcycle helmets.
So far in this house, he has built our kitchen cabinet doors (there were none when we moved in!), our bar cupboards and wooden wine cooler, both bathroom vanities, a corner wall unit I designed with leaded glass doors, a desk I designed to scale for the space, a coffee table and my laundry room cabinets. Maybe you would like me to take pictures of these.
I hope someone else is doing some renovations or redecorating to show us!
Cheers,
Mich
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2012 21:50:28 GMT
I am still waiting for my redundancy bonus for that!
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Post by bjd on Jan 5, 2012 8:58:37 GMT
When we bought the house we live in now, there was an ugly brick fireplace set in a corner of the room, with a crooked flue. The walls were covered in dirt because in order to have the fireplace draw, the tenant used to open windows !
We replaced the fireplace with something more modern, but were stuck with the location in a corner.
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Post by bjd on Jan 5, 2012 9:05:36 GMT
We too are slowly renovating. We bought an apartment near the coast a year ago, but don't go very often, so work is going slowly and we'll probably settle for doing less than originally planned.
The kitchen is finished now and the bathroom will be done within the next two trips, but I just realized I don't have recent pictures available so will look them up and add them later.
I just realized why this was screwing up and indeed, it's because it's part of a password-needing page.
I'll figure out a different way to upload pics.
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Post by onlymark on Jan 5, 2012 11:01:19 GMT
bjd, I think there was the same problem some time ago with your photos, a pop up keeps asking for a password.
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Post by bjd on Jan 5, 2012 12:34:53 GMT
Strange, they appear on my screen with no problem. On the other hand, the Linux system on my computer was just updated and things are rather different -- I have to log in now and log out to turn it off. I noticed too that I could no longer right click for "properties" but have to copy the link.
Did you manage to see the 2 bridge photos I posted, Mark? They were done with the same new system.
If others have the same problem, I'll just delete the pics. They're not that interesting anyway.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 5, 2012 13:20:37 GMT
I'm having it too bjd.
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Post by onlymark on Jan 5, 2012 16:16:24 GMT
Got the bridges ones, no problem.
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Post by onlymark on Jan 5, 2012 16:40:21 GMT
I see the the heading is 'Decorating.......' but I have something a bit more major. So I think the best bet is to make a separate thread on this board. Mods can move it if required.
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Post by mich64 on Jan 5, 2012 20:46:51 GMT
We picked out the tile for around the stove box and the base. It got taken back to the store before I could take a picture of the sample... sorry everyone. It is a porcelain tile, that is grey/taupe and is textured.
We are waiting for the gas fitter to come tomorrow to see how far the unit can be moved back so measurements can be made. Still deciding how to attach the tile, not sure yet if mortar will do or if a cement board will be necessary. This will be determined once we find out how far the fire unit can be moved back into the firebox.
This fireplace was originally a wood burning fireplace and a propane unit was installed a couple of years ago.
We are so lucky to have the addition of Mark's thread, I have seen so many TV shows on the subject, but to learn from someone we know how the process works is will give us valuable lessons in renovating.
Cheers!
Mich
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Post by mich64 on Jan 6, 2012 15:46:23 GMT
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Post by mich64 on Jan 6, 2012 15:57:48 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Jan 6, 2012 16:03:05 GMT
When you say 'designed', exactly how did you do it?
Just draw a rough sketch or...................
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Post by mich64 on Jan 6, 2012 16:44:36 GMT
yes, I had sketches and then gave him dimensions to fit the space.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 6, 2012 16:53:28 GMT
I see the the heading is 'Decorating.......' but I have something a bit more major. So I think the best bet is to make a separate thread on this board. I think Mark's decision was really good and probably a good one for other people showing a project, even if it's not as monumental as Mark's undertaking. Mich, you have some beautiful pieces. Do you have "befores" of the bathroom or other spaces that were significantly changed? |
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Post by onlymark on Jan 6, 2012 17:12:57 GMT
mich, have I ever mentioned Google Sketchup to you?
You like working on a computer and you have a logical mind?
Like creating things?
Rather than go off topic on here I'll add something to my renovation thread. I needed to mention it anyway.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 6, 2012 17:18:44 GMT
mich, have I ever mentioned Google Sketchup to you? You like working on a computer and you have a logical mind? Like creating things? Rather than go off topic on here I'll add something to my renovation thread. I needed to mention it anyway. Can you have it with chips? |
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Post by onlymark on Jan 6, 2012 19:27:56 GMT
Everything is good with chips.
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Post by mich64 on Jan 6, 2012 23:11:19 GMT
Good question Bixa, I will check my photo archives to see what pictures I can find. I would hope I have some, this house was in quite a need of redecorating indeed. I know that I have some from when we first moved in and perhaps I can scan them.
Mark, the Googlesketch you displayed looks really interesting and definetly something my husband and I will attempt to utilize!
Bixa, if you notice, the last photo I added of the fireplace before demolition, shows the old floors. They were so dry and old when we went to lift them they just came apart in foot squares, they seemed to be only held together by each other and the trim against the walls.
Cheers!
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Post by mich64 on Jan 7, 2012 19:45:52 GMT
My brother-in-law called this morning to let us know that he has completed the mantle! He has also ordered the maple wood for the panels above the mantle to the ceiling.
My husband is currently reapplying the vapor barrier over the wood studs and insulation. He was out early this morning to his favorite home improvement stores and bought some cement board that will be used around the propane unit that the porcelain tile will be adhered to.
It is a slow process, the two men both have full-time jobs so the work is done when they have off time. They also do not have the same working hours so when the brother-in-law gets all his parts to the plan completed, they will have to find a weekend where they are both off to finish the project.
More pictures soon!
Cheers!
Mich
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Post by mich64 on Jan 25, 2012 17:10:27 GMT
Work is progressing on the fireplace surround. Wire had to be attached to the brick for new mortar to adher to.  The hearth being installed.  The concrete backer board was needed to level the area.  They held up the posts and mantle to give me an idea of what was happening next.  Mr. Mich is back to work tomorrow on day shift, so work will stop for 4 days. Cheers, Mich |
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 25, 2012 17:29:07 GMT
This is fascinating, Mich, not least because they make so little mess! Will there be some kind of apron of brick or stone in front of the wooden piece. Or should I just wait & see?  |
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