1916 Portland Bungalow

My Weekend Project

2009-08-02T23:03:00.000-07:00

My daughter's preschool has a log cabin playhouse in the yard that had never been completely finished on the inside. I decided to pull together some parent and teacher volunteers and get the inside finished properly. I thought I'd share some before and after pics here on the blog.

BEFORE:
The walls were all plywood with an old layer of paint.

None of the windows or doors had any trim; they were just roughed-in openings.

AFTER:
We added some inexpensive pine trim around the windows.

We put cedar wainscotting around the entire perimeter and a sheet of vinyl flooring.

Then a fresh coat of paint and called it done! It was really nice to work on a project that went from start to finish in less than two days and made such a big difference. Instant gratification is kinda nice sometimes. ;-)

Exterior Colors Progress

2009-07-28T23:42:00.001-07:00

Here's what the Sherwin Williams sample colors look like on some actual trim and a window sash. The trim is Roycroft Vellum, the window sash is Rookwood Red (NOT the Rookwood Dark Red that was mentioned in the previous post on this subject), and the piece of siding is Grizzle Grey. I wasn't sure at first, but as I continue to look at them at different times of day I think we may be very close to having the right colors.

These are the DOG DAYS! Did I mention it's hot?

Hot in the Shade

2009-07-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

My trusty Honeywell digital thermostat never lies, and as you can see here, it's saying "Damn, it's HOT!"

Out Back

2009-07-22T23:38:00.000-07:00

I dug up some photos of the backyard that I took last summer before I ripped out the deck and before the back stretch of fence was replaced

Here's what it looks like now. Not much of an improvement, but a blank slate at least.

This was taken from the corner of the yard looking back at where the old deck used to be on the back of the addition to the house. The garage is on the right. My short term plan is to level the yard, throw down some topsoil and grass seed, and build some simple steps for the back door. Eventually the addition will be transformed into a 3-season porch with divided-light casement windows all the way around. That project, however, is at the bottom of the list.

The Life of Riley

2009-07-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

I'll have some pics posted soon of my window progress, but I just HAD to share this today. Our living room window has no shades and the morning sun beams directly into the eyes of whoever may be sitting on the loveseat. Riley has found a way of dealing with it.

Looking at Exterior Colors, Part 3

2009-07-14T22:01:00.000-07:00

We managed to get a first cut at a color palette done this evening. We are thinking of going with the following Sherwin Williams colors:

Body: Grizzle Grey (7068)
Trim: Roycroft Vellum (2833)
Accent: Rockwood Dark Red (2801) - This would only be on the window sashes and knee braces
Foundation: Tricorn Black (6258)

Here's a home from the Sherwin Williams color viewer done in this scheme:

I'll run down to the Sherwin Williams store sometime soon and get some swatches and maybe a sample or two. Of course, I'm still interested in feedback, so if anyone has any suggestions keep 'em coming.

Looking at Exterior Colors, Part 2

2009-07-07T20:51:00.000-07:00

Since I'm painting the window sashes I figured it would be a good time to finalize our exterior colors so I can go ahead and paint the sashes while I have them on the workbench. We have a general idea of the palette we want to use on the exterior, but would like some input and suggestions. Stephanie, are you listening? :-)

We are thinking of a medium to dark grey body, with off-white trim and brick-red (or brown or black??) accents, mainly the window sashes. Any color names, manufacturer suggestions, or photos on the web would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!

I saw the Google Street View car

2009-06-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

I walked out my front door the other day just in time to see the Google Street View car drive by. I made sure to wave hello. He was going kinda fast, so I don't know if he was actually taking pictures or not. I'll keep checking Google Maps and see if I show up.

Window Update

2009-06-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

I've only made a little progress on the dining room windows. Most of the trim from the first window is stripped (not shown), and both sashes are free to move up and down. Next step is to finish stripping the upper sash and then install new sash cord and spring bronze weatherstrip.

In other news, I finally got around to replacing the broken pane of glass in the front of the living room that got a mysterious hole in it a while back.

See, I Told You I Would do Some Work

2009-05-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

I got out the tools and started into the dining room windows. I've got four 9-over-1 windows to completely restore and reglaze. For now I'll settle for just getting the bottom sash unstuck from the first window. Yipee!

Baby Steps

2009-05-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

In order to get going again I had to remind myself of my remodeling philosophy: "10 minutes at at time". Last night I took some baby steps to get back into the swing of things. I removed all of the knick-knacks from the two shelving units in the dining room that need to be moved out so I can restore the windows and finish the wainscotting. No pictures today since empty shelves aren't that exciting, but I should have something picture worthy soon.

Just Where Have You Been, Mister?!

2009-05-08T09:08:00.001-07:00

I know it's been a long time since I posted anything, and even longer since I posted anything relevant, but I promise you haven't missed anything. I have not done one single thing to the house this year.

I've been swamped at work learning all about the benefits of RESTful Application Design. It's really cool stuff, if you're into that sort of thing.

Anyway, now that spring has sprung I should be dusting off the tools and getting something done soon. I'll let you know...

My Wife Gave Me the Bird

2008-12-26T12:38:00.000-08:00

Isn't it cute?

It's a bird sculpture made out of wire and sunglasses by Terry Border. I've been following his blog, Bent Objects for a while now and I finally got to purchase a piece from his Etsy shop for a Christmas present. He takes ordinary objects and gives them personality using little more than his slightly warped sense of humor and a little bent wire. I love it!

And now for something completely different.... Here's an advertisement:
Hotel Furniture
Hill Cross specialise in providing high quality hotel furniture.

Craigslist To The Rescue

2008-12-22T18:38:00.000-08:00

If you've been following this blog you already know we got a LOT of snow in Portland this week (over a foot so far). Normally in Portland if you ignore the snow long enough it will just go away. That's what I've been hoping for all week, but to no avail. We got another 5" overnight with more on the way. With time quickly running out to finish the Christmas shopping, I figured I had better give-in and get some chains for the car so I can get out on the roads. Of course by now every auto parts store in the area is out of chains that fit my car. As a last-ditch effort I resorted to craigslist. To my surprise I found a guy fairly close to me who offered to deliver the chains to my door! On top of that he was asking far less than the retail price of the chains. His name is Jose Mesa and he's an auto wholesaler here in Portland. I figured since he helped me out I'd post a link to his website: www.josemesa.com I've never bought a car from him but he seems like a good guy so look him up if you're looking for a car.

Six Degrees of Renovation

2008-12-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

Pardon the geek-speak, but I want to talk about something I call "cascading dependencies". When renovating an old house you are bound to spend countless hours pondering all the things that need to be done, and in what order to do them so you can prevent re-work or avoid painting yourself into a corner (so to speak). It's kinda like playing Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, only a whole lot more expensive. In everyday life you analyze dependencies without thinking about it, but when it comes to remodeling projects it takes on a whole new dimension. For example, if you said to your spouse "I need to put on my socks before my shoes", you might get a strange look for stating the obvious. But if you say something like "We can't remodel the kitchen until we get a new furnace" or "You can't park the car in the garage until we get a new fence and electrical panel" you're bound to find out that what is obvious to you isn't so obvious to everyone else.

Here's a shorthand notation depicting my actual kitchen/furnace and parking/main panel issues:

Remodel Kitchen
> Put in new corner cabinets
>> Remove old utility chimney
>>> Move furnace so it vents out basement wall
>>>> Buy new 95% efficient furnace (can't vent through wall with old 80% units)

Park in Garage
> Install garage door opener
>> Run electricity to garage
>>> Dig up old fence and run conduit underneath
>>>> Replace main panel so it can handle new 50A circuit

Of course cascading dependencies exist in all areas of life, but most people aren't geeky enough to post about it on their blog. For example, you might hear your wife say something like this: "Thanks for the lovely platinum necklace. Of course I can't wear it with my gold earrings; I'll need a new platinum pair to match." Or perhaps "This new HDTV is awesome! Now we need to buy a Blu-Ray player."

Now let's have some fun with this. Post your favorite not-so-obvious chain of dependencies in the comments below.

The Morning After

2008-12-21T09:44:00.000-08:00

Sometime early this morning the blowing snow changed to freezing raing. Now we have about 1/8" of ice on EVERYTHING. Unfortunately I couldn't get the car up the driveway yesterday and now it's parked directly under that big maple tree that is covered with ice and losing branches. I guess I should go move it somewhere, but I'm afraid it won't budge.

Portland's Version of a Blizzard

2008-12-20T18:06:00.000-08:00

I stepped out onto the front porch before the light was gone and shot a quick video of our street. I haven't seen a storm like this since I left Minnesota as a kid. I know that's not saying much since I spent most of those years in places like Texas and Arizona, but still, it's quite miserable out there tonight. We've had snow on the ground continuously for a week now. That hasn't happened in Portland since I've lived here. The schools were closed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but open on Tuesday and Thursday. That made for an "interesting" work week. The worst part is that I've been trying to finish my Christmas shopping (and shipping) all week but the weather is making that very difficult.

The hummingbird feeder has been busy this week. I don't see how those little guys can survive in the cold weather. I've been bringing the feeder in to let it thaw twice a day and they seem to appreciate it!

Riley says "NO THANK YOU!!" I don't blame him. I wouldn't want to run around out there in my bare feet either.

Website Remodel is Done

2008-12-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

I've been working on redesigning this website during my FTO this week (Forced Time Off). I decided that the old look and feel was getting, well, old. I changed the blog template and took advantage of some new features. I hope you enjoy!

Snow Daze

2008-12-17T21:42:00.001-08:00

'Tis the Season, and everybody has been posting pictures of their fabulous holiday decorations. We've even seen pics of Portland's snow this week. Well here's the less glamorous, more realistic vision of the second Snow Day this week (so far), as seen by anyone who is brave enough to enter the 1916 Portland Bungalow.

In this picture you see my camera shy 7-year old, all the crap that comes from being cooped-up for 2 days, and proof that I still haven't finished the dining room wainscotting. If we get any more snow days this week somebody better send me a dump truck. And a straight-jacket.

Pepto Dismal

2008-11-30T16:31:00.000-08:00

I started demolishing the "Joe vs. the Volcano" room over the Thanksgiving weekend. The whole room was covered in a 1/8" layer of drywall that thinly veiled what can only be described as a Pepto Bismol Chamber of Horrors!!!

All four walls were painted this awful (but not quite hellish) hue of pink. The ceiling was obviously insulated, but not drywalled in its previous incarnation.

The flourescent pink, orange, and yellow paint (and the ceiling mounted mirror!!!) must have been pretty f'ing trippy while getting bombed and listening to Iron Butterfly sometime in the 70's.

Here's a shot showing the wall that I'm removing to make two rooms into one big room. This new big room will the the family room/movie theater/homework room.

I'm Published (sort of)

2008-11-02T20:05:00.000-08:00

If you have a copy of the December 2008 issue of Old House Journal, and a keen eye, you might notice a couple pictures from this site made it into print. The first one is in the article about "The Inherited Garden", albeit with a photoshopped sky. The other one is in the article about weatherstripping (the window on the right page).

The Seedy Underbelly

2008-10-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

My winter project is going to be to get the basement completely gutted. As you can see from the pictures below I've got quite a bit of work to do. I need to go through 7 years worth of kid's stuff and see what needs to be saved, what needs to be sold at a yard sale, and what needs to be trashed. Only then can I continue tearing apart the old finished areas. My goal is to have a completely empty basement to serve as a blank slate.

The door at the top of the stairs will eventually be removed. I'm going to put in a couple winder stairs coming down from the main level so I can move the stairs back a foot or so for better head clearance at the bottom.

This used to be a guest room. It was probably the most "finished" room in the basement, although for some reason it reminds me of the office from "Joe Vs. the Volcano".

Another view of the old guest room. The closet is against the east wall of the basement. The wall on the left will be removed to open up this space so we can use it as the family room. Current plans call for an "Old Hollywood" theme and a large flat panel TV on the wall.

This is the tiny, decrepit old bathroom circa 1980. Everything will be removed, the footprint will be slightly enlarged, and the new bathroom will be consistent with the work we have done on the main floor.

This is our current laundry room. It will remain a laundry room, but it will be properly finished with some built-in cabinets and ironing board. (How many code violations can you count!?)

The boxy room on the right is the bathroom. The room on the left will become the new guest room. I'll have to put in an egress window and a closet, but it will end up being a good sized guest room (about 10'x12')

Finally, our tour takes us to what will the the other half of the family room. The wall to the right is the one that separates this space from the "Joe vs. the Volcano" office. You can just see the edge of the bathroom on the left.

The plan is to first gut the entire basement, then put in new PEX plumbing and run CAT6 cable everywhere while everything is accessible. I'll figure out the rest at that point.

New Hardware for Sideboard

2008-10-12T23:39:00.001-07:00

My mom got me a gift certificate to Rejuvenation for my birthday. (Thanks Mom!) Today I finally figured out what to spend it on. I got some new knobs for the sideboard to replace the Queen Anne teardrops that were on it. I went with the Mission Pyramid knob in oil-rubbed bronze. The shape echoes the knobs in the kitchen without being to "matchy-matchy". I like the way the black is offset against the white. I still need to replace the hinges with some original style ball tip hinges, but that will be quite a bit of work so I'll save it until I refinish the whole sideboard

Quick Tip: Skewer Your Caulk

2008-10-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

Ummmm, yeah....

I like to use a bamboo skewer from the kitchen to puncture the inner foil seal on new tubes of caulking. Then when I'm done, I use it to seal the tube. I find it works better than the little cap that sometimes comes with the caulk.

Giving Props to the Garage

2008-10-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

If you read my last post you might have asked yourself "Where did all that crap come from?". Well, about 1/3 of it came from the garage. The other 2/3 came from the basement demo that I started 2 years ago. Here's a shot of the garage interior. Notice the different colored ceiling joists? If you look closely you can see the white ones are sistered with the other ones, but none of them run the full width of the garage. It was always a mystery to me until one day I was looking down at the floor, which was only visible because most of the crap was now in the dumpster! It turns out my garage has had 2 additions. I always knew it was expanded in depth, but I finally put 2 & 2 together and figured out it was also widened at one point. They didn't bother to put in new full-width joists, instead opting to cut the original joists in half, spreading them apart and using a few nails to sister the white boards to the old ones. Needless to day, after time they started to sag.

Solution: Jack up the sagging joists, drill holes all the way through, and bolt them together. It's not as elegant as actually having full-width boards, but it will have to do.