October 28,2017 Finish date

I lost interest in posting any more progress. Everything started to happen so fast and we were being called upon to make so many decisions that I just couldn't keep up.  Hopefully will revisit one day in the future.

Exterior colors start to pop

The lines of cottage blue run around the house with a boldness that is both cheerful and sophisticated.

We went from one-dimensional pillars to two, with the addition of a second color. They may be calling out for a third dimension, but, for now our focus is elsewhere. Gradually building the color scheme seems to be the best way to approach the Queen Anne. The porch ceiling and soffit have come alive with layers of color helping the stark porch gain some depth and coziness.

Kitchen details

Stove hood and cabinets are set in place.

We wanted to balance the horizontal lines of the window and cabinets with the horizontal break provided by the hood and back splash that will be white subway tile. The high ceilings provide such a broad canvas we decided to place the hood 30 inches from the stove to give a feeling of connectedness.

The top cabinets will be visually connected to the ceiling with a crown molding that will run the full perimeter of the kitchen. I am concerned about abandoning the picture rail, but at this point, we think it will be too busy for the kitchen. We will pick it up in the dining room and master bedroom.  The "cap" created by taking the ceiling color down to the picture rail brings the ceiling down to a more "human level". Which, theoretically makes a room more comfortable.  Picture rails are also very handy for hanging pictures. No more nails in the walls. In our case, we have lots and lots of electrical and plumbing running vertically through our walls, so every nail represents a risk of puncturing a critical artery.

Lights and fans

During the year between breaking ground and getting permission to build, we had lots of time to consider what kind of lighting we wanted. Our desert climate drove us to consider ceiling fans as a priority over hanging ceiling lighting.

You will note that we did use a period hanging light over the prep sink and will put Art Deco Pan Lights in the bay windows (not yet hung) to match the original Pan Light hanging in the dining room. We minimized the clutter over the dining table and the island areas by using a 1890 fan design, called the "propeller fan" appropriately named for the two-blade design.  Turns out the two blade design is the most efficient way to move air. So we got an old look with a contemporary focus on function/efficiency.

Triple vision.... Three identical ceiling fans will keep us cool, save energy and create a sense of continuity throughout the open space.

Weighted work light over the prep sink will give some "weight" to this open space.

We chose oil-rubbed bronze for the window hardware and lighting while using antique brass for the doors latches and knobs. Both metal tones seem to blend and stand out against the white background. The wall will be a gray-green with a tone similar to the living room.

Plynths, rosettes and moldings

As a wise painter once said, "just like a woman doesn't really need lipstick, a house doesn't really need trimmings, but they sure can enhance the image when you add a little dressing-up".

5-inch trim for the dining room to hall passage. Unpainted, you can see the different elements. Once it is painted it will dissolve into one frame.

Plinth, base molding and side side trim all have to be mitered to form the corner.

The 5-inch rosettes form a mirror image in the upper corner. The great craftsmanship that has gone into making these corners perfect will live with the house forever.

Original rosettes are returned to the house in the most conspicuous spots. These two sets of original plinths and rosettes will welcome visitors coming in the front door. You see more original wood in the background on the side entrance.  Our goal was to keep everything consistently old from the front entrance. The white painted pieces are old, the gray primed pieces are new wood milled by a local carpenter who specializes in matching original moldings.

Switches and outlets

No photos since nothing really looks different. Switches and outlets are all about function and what a difference it makes when you can dump the extension cords and flip a switch!

Two days of tedious connecting has brought us into the light.

Access to the house

Side entry has been partially demolished leaving 3 1/2 steps and a temporary board.

A painters scaffold is providing temporary access to the back porch. We all use the two entrances with care.