Improvements, all the time

Watch the Inauguration here!

2009-01-20T07:44:00.000-05:00

crawl space door

2009-01-08T12:46:00.001-05:00

crawl space door, originally uploaded by Jrome.

I made two crawl space hatches over the weekend. They were made from scraps and only took a couple three hours to complete. They look, um, unique.

holiday play

2009-01-05T11:04:00.000-05:00

Not Christmas without Bing (and a little Bowie)

2008-12-23T11:46:00.001-05:00

Doodle Style on the crate skate Radio Flyer

2008-12-08T12:51:00.001-05:00

Doodle Style on the crate skate Radio Flyer, originally uploaded by Jrome.

Many months ago Nikki painted the living room. I think it shines nicely in this action shot of Jasper showcasing his love of extreme sports and fashion sense across the living room floor.

This was taken before he took his first steps!

V-O-T-E (so we can all keep our homes)

2008-10-30T21:48:00.001-04:00

attic shelves

2008-10-25T20:09:00.001-04:00

attic shelves, originally uploaded by Jrome.

A few weeks ago I added three shelves to the attic. These are built-ins and affixed securely to the floor, each other and the wall, making double duty as a solid, contemporary, balustrade. The two pictured here hold much of our home record collection. The one around the corner holds Nicole's work library and binders she uses.

The tops I'm not decided on yet. If all goes according to plan, they'll be concrete. If not according to plan, they'll be maple block.

The floor will always be sub-flooring with rugs. We're going cheap chic for this work/storage area. It will be nice, but never "OMG I love the floors!" kind of space.

3 years and nearly complete

2008-10-13T07:39:00.001-04:00

Mads, originally uploaded by Jrome.

For the past 3 years we've been living with a kitchen that's not really finished. It hasn't imposed restrictions on us, per se. It hasn't given us the full effect of the renovation however.

We're still no done, but we're closer. This weekend I mounted the panels on the refrigerator and cut the trim (not yet mounted) for it. Each panel and the trim needs to be velvit oiled, but we're close. The look is nearly done. The function always was!

Weekend Work

2008-09-27T23:24:00.002-04:00

Weekend Work, originally uploaded by Jrome.

I mostly finished the TV cabinet today, adding a platform with casters. The locking casters can be set by reaching in the mouseholes. It works fairly well. Could be my best project to date, although I'm a harsh critic of my finish work, or lack thereof.

Mouse Holes

hovercraft

How I spent my Weekend

2008-07-15T01:29:00.001-04:00

July 2008, originally uploaded by Jrome.

I broke down and in a fit of tight money strings, bought pine treads to close in the stairs. I rented a Paslode finish nailer too, which was fun and a little bit stinky.

Nikki undertook the job of carrying the 2x4s to the basement for proper disposal. And yes, I still need to finish the bottom step's riser. I ran out of pine boards...

Merlin Mann on Dwell on Twitter

2008-06-30T23:34:00.001-04:00

merlin.jpg, originally uploaded by Jrome.

He's got it right. When I hit it big and finally sell my big ideas, I'm buying orange wind turbines for my roof, Merlin. How about you?

This Weekend's Work

2008-06-30T22:41:00.001-04:00

IMG_1301.JPG, originally uploaded by Jrome.

I took down the old tv cabinet (see the archives, Nov 2005, I think) and remade the cabinet. The old one was huge, and had a lot of shelves, but it induced cluttering.

The new one is downsized, but fits the flat panel tv Gramma got us for Xmas this year. I'm putting flipper doors on it and it should be pretty nice. This is a work in progress. At some point, if I need to, I can take it all down again. Maybe in another 3 years when Jasper is bigger.

railing

2008-06-21T08:47:00.001-04:00

DSCN3214.JPG, originally uploaded by Gramma Kit.

My mother had new railings added to her porch. I've always liked the three railing look. It matches the house well - an old farm house with a classic red barn and lots of green around it.

My father always regretted the cement porch. It has lasted 35 years, probably more than a wood one would have, but it has needed moderate upkeep. I loved it as a kid on a big wheel. It's a big long straightaway with a 90 degree left hand turn at the end, perfect for Dukes style driving! I wore out the wheels in two big wheels over the course of a summer.

original DIY

2008-06-18T13:59:00.001-04:00

R002-012.JPG, originally uploaded by Gramma Kit.

My father standing behind the house I grew up in. I think he's putting up the siding.

Early Home Improvements

2008-06-14T14:35:00.001-04:00

Taking out the Glass, originally uploaded by Gramma Kit.

In 1975, when I was 2, my Dad was working on our house. It was a fixer-upper, obviously. An old farmhouse on the top of an impressively steep old country road, miles from the city, it had charm and was rustic to say the least. No running water, no electricity. And, in the case of this picture, no entryway wide enough to bring in the large kitchen island my Dad made for the huge kitchen.

My Mom recalls that Dad removed the plate glass window, which was very thick and heavy, then they together lifted the island through the hole. Amazing. I like to think I can remember this day.

2008-05-23T13:51:00.001-04:00

DSC01485, originally uploaded by Gleason.

My good friend Chris and his wife Michelle had their first child earlier this month. I owe Chris most of the credit for teaching me (over the phone no less!) everything I needed to know to build our kitchen from scratch.

Thanks Chris! Love the fiddle.

Jrome

Just a Reminder

2008-05-05T22:29:00.001-04:00

Columbus Day Excursion to Look Park, originally uploaded by Jrome.

That now that the weather is getting nicer (at least around here in New England) we should all have no excuses for getting on a bicycle.

Or a tricycle.

Ride to the store, ride for fun, ride for a reason other than getting in shape. (Please!) Ride to feel the wind and the sun on your face.

The Machine

2008-03-23T22:24:00.001-04:00

The Machine, originally uploaded by Jrome.

We made pasta tonight for dinner with our neighbors. The kitchen was a hoppin' with four burners going (that's all of them) and it all turned out nicely.

This picture shows the color our counters are turning. I love that they get stained and show signs of age. Gracefully we go into our second year with them. The goal with the color was to look natural without looking new. They look like 2" thick pieces of tanned leather, the kind they make the best club chairs out of for fat men who smoke cigars and rule the stock market. Or something less pretentious.

bookshelves as stairs

2008-03-18T14:41:00.003-04:00

This is probably old news, but I can't get over how cool these stairs are...I mean the shelves. Er, I mean the stairs. Er... Anyway, the whole story here

These aren't the stairs in my house, Mr. Inspector! (And this isn't my picture either...it's from here.

Backsplash

2008-03-08T21:42:00.001-05:00

IMG_5078.JPG, originally uploaded by Jrome.

We still need to caulk around the edges, but for the most part, the backsplash is done. (no project is ever really done around here.)

Kizhe

2008-03-08T16:14:00.001-05:00

Kizhe, originally uploaded by Jrome.

We had to say good bye to our house cat this morning. She was a great cat. She loved her home and all the improvements we made to it. Best of all, she blended in, the natural colors and wood trim throughout the house I guess.

She was born on March 9, 1993. One of the very best I've ever known (and I've known many!)

Sledding

2008-03-04T23:06:00.001-05:00

IMG_4933.JPG, originally uploaded by Jrome.

Break from DIY. Sledding through sculpture garden.

Jaspy

2008-03-01T13:14:00.001-05:00

Jaspy, originally uploaded by Jrome.

We've taken a break from working on the house for now. Funtimes.

snow men

2008-02-24T19:56:00.001-05:00

IMG_4864.JPG, originally uploaded by Jrome.

We got the creative juices flowing this afternoon. Was a beautiful day!

03-23-06

2008-02-09T22:31:00.001-05:00

03-23-06_0822.jpg, originally uploaded by Jrome.

We started off with an idea...