Renovation

If You Can’t Take the Heat …

Cooking & Baking, Home and Renovation

Put down the power tools.

Ahhhhh … finally! Dodging and stalled by illness, gigantic operations, side effects, and general ennui, Phase One is happening in April and May — reno of the “cooking side” of the kitchen. (The “washing side” will come later.)

A corner of the living room is already piling up with big boxes full of ovens, induction burners, storage, new pans, wall-mount stuff, an exhaust fan, and yes, restaurant-style stainless steel prep tables and shelves.

This weekend, the gross cabinets and broken hood are coming off the back wall, and the old range is going to the boneyard. There will be some plastering to do as well. While we are on vacation in May, our next-door-neighbor contractor is pulling down the plaster and lath ceiling. This will leave us with big giant 1840s rough beams, plus a foot-and-a-half more ceiling height!

I’m following an interesting trend — no conventional range. I’ve noticed it in a few new-build apartments and tiny houses several times. Have you noticed a lot of our appliances are turning into countertop units — air fryers, instant pots, et al?

So we’re going with all-countertop. The oven will be a convection unit, but it can handle a moderate turkey. It’s also an air fryer, steam oven, programmable several ways, blah blah. For the stove, we’re going with induction burners.

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I could’ve gotten a unit with four, but it’s rare we use more than one burner at a time, and extremely rare that we use more than two. (We most often use the oven.) I figured why waste space. The gas line for the range will be turned off, capped, and left in place in case the next folks want to do something differently.

Here’s a picture of what it looks like now (I know… It’s disgusting and mid-construction besides), and a pic of what it will look like after this first phase is done. (Although the restaurant prep table I bought is wider, and I decided to go without wheels.) I call it “Industrial Cottage Chic,” but really, it’s just my style.

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I’ll take the first two, but you can keep the ugly one.

Fiascos, Health, Mobility, Personal

I am at eight weeks post-surgery, and I’m now permitted to do a little bit more.

1. I played my first church service last Sunday (and had a great time catching up with friends), and 2. I taught an hour’s worth of piano lessons yesterday. A nice, slow start.

3. I got very lucky this morning.

I’m groggy in the mornings, even without major painkillers. So, I’m very careful. I wear slippers with some tread into the bathroom, I make sure I always have a hand on a pole or a niche while I’m in the shower. I step in and out very carefully, holding on. But today?

Today, a blowing fan got me.

Fall is close, and temperatures have been dropping into the 50s at night. It’s been cold in the morning. I got out of the shower today and realized the blowing fan was pointed directly at me. Freezing, I took a few steps away — off the rug, and onto the hex tile some of you probably remember I layed a few years ago.

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Of course, I ended up on the tile floor. I was flat on my back, which happens to house my recently-operated-on tailbone. I don’t know how I managed to land completely flat, but whatever Deity arranged it, thank you. If I had landed on my butt, this would have been a very, very different story. I’m fine, albeit a few steps backwards in the pain department.

I’m sure you expect our loving dogs ran in to see what the commotion was all about. Eli barks if he hears a footstep; nevermind 180 lbs. of adult human hitting the floor. Nope. Not a creature was stirring. Thanks, dogs.

Higgins and Eli

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Historically, when I’ve slipped and landed flat on my back (winter ice, usually), I’ve started to laugh. I mean really laugh. For some reason, I’ve always done it. I laughed today, staring up at the exhaust fan. Which is filthy.

However, I now have a strong health reason to order a re-do of the bathroom with vinyl plank. (Wink.) See how that works?

Resting is as Resting Does

Health, Home and Renovation, Musician

Not much different going on around here. As I’ve said, I’m a half inch better every day. At this point, I’d say I have 3 feet to go. Considerably better though.

I notice it in the little things. I realized my tailbone was healing because I can now lean back in a chair, rather than sitting stock straight upright like a schoolmarm on alert. I’ve been making my own food. Meds have been lessened. I can sit on the bed pretty much however I like (because it’s squishy).

Speaking of, Jonathan had the thought and is leading the charge redoing the master bedroom. Big changes actually — we are taking out a large section of the built-in closet/king bed/shelves. It’s a big room, so we’re going with the old-fashioned “bed in the middle of the room” thing. Of all styles, we arrived at Scandinavian. Simple and cozy.

The new bed, lamps, and rug (on my blue wood plank floor =)

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I’m excited to be going back to work in a few weeks — to both the church and teaching. I’ve pulled out some fancy organ music. You all know very well I wouldn’t play my first Sunday back without some pomp and circumstance! Although, not the actual song that title. That would be weird.

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Hope everyone is well, and as always, thanks for your comments and kind notes. They’re very much appreciated!

The Old Curiosity Shop

Arts and Crafts, Fiascos, Home and Renovation, New York

It’s been one day, and I am already, “Are they out of my house yet?,”

Tomorrow is what I call “Mezzo Buildio” — taping, spackling, finishing up some drywall issues, wiring the lamps.

As you know, I kind of exist in a “I never really feel well” state, so I have been managing myself pretty well. =) Haven’t tried to help, haven’t carried anything, continuing to rest up and recover from the few days of prep. Needless to say, the dogs are a challenge where construction is concerned.

There’s an organ in the kitchen. A LazyBoy by the pantry. A bedroom’s worth of furniture scattered all over the house. Our living room looks as if Little Nell might crawl out from underneath the piano at any particular point.

The Living Room

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Have a great day!

London, The Shire, Jaipur

Arts and Crafts, Home and Renovation, Shopping

“When putting on accessories, take off the last thing you’ve put on.”

—Coco Chanel

Eh. Coco lied. Pile it on.

There’s an iron bedstead and a mattress in my living room. There’s four boxes of vinyl tile in my kitchen. There’s two boxes of accessories and knickknacks sitting uncomfortably next to the front door. The grandfather clock has been moved because the circuit breaker panel was behind it. There’s a large braided rug rolled up and leaning against my piano. There are cardboard boxes … everywhere.

Our contractor is now hammering and painting and sawing and wiring this weekend.

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One of my favorite things I’ve found shopping is my crazy curtains. They’re made by a shop owned by ladies in India. They make them from surplus and seconded sari material.

Part of the fun has been taking a month or so to choose very particular items, discover clever new things. (I know a bit about rough gemstones now — I bought a 1500 carat Lapis Lazuli Buddha sculpture. LOL) It’s fun to hunt up better prices, take the time to look for exactly what I want.

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I found a good price on a quilt! The pattern works with the room too!. Handmade, queen size, and very well sewn. This one’s from eBay.

Needless to say, I have a lot of work to do before Sunday, a little more prep — pulling nails and screws and filling in the holes, going to buy the paint, getting all the materials together for the guys. In the time in between, I have fun unpacking things and and telling Eli how much I like them any why.

Eli

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Let’s be honest. It’s a tapestry on a fluffy pillow with a unicorn, a lion, bunny-cat-dogs, and a lady playing a tiny pipe organ. This was going to get bought no matter what. The young lady helping her is pumping the bellows. =)

One thing that’s kept coming to mind during this process — there are too many retail things! I absolutely do not need twelve pages of crown molding to choose from. Or forty pages of curtain rods.

You gotta have a little grandma-style in the mix!

Have a great weekend!