tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65435141671895000862024-03-14T01:41:22.328-07:00Sunset Hill HouseOne family's record of designing and building a custom Single Style house in Seattle in the Sunset Hill part of the Ballard neighborhood.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-86616648414935696662013-05-04T20:02:00.003-07:002014-12-08T17:35:51.238-08:00Sleep, Creep, and Leap--How the Garden Grows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is an adage for gardeners that reminds us to be patient as a new garden gets underway, and it goes like this: The first year they sleep; the second year they creep; and the third year they leap. There are, of course, some plants that grow more quickly and others more slowly, but it is still a good rule of thumb.<br />
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The period of <span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>"sleeping"</b></span> is when plants are settling in and putting most of their energy into developing strong root systems in their new homes. During this time you will see little growth topside, but if we could view them underground we would see a lot of activity.<br />
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The <b><span style="color: #a64d79;">"creeping"</span></b> phase is when the root system continues to develop, but the plant is established enough to divert some of its energy to above-ground growth. You will see some new stems, new leaves, and more fullness (well, barring any catastrophes along the way--freezing conditions, not enough water, etc.).<br />
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The <b><span style="color: #a64d79;">"leaping"</span></b> phase is when the root system is so well-established that almost all the growth occurs above ground--and that's when plants really show their personalities. The ones that are going to take over the whole garden will make their intentions known at this point. Others may be more well-mannered in their growth.<br />
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I usually wait to make any transplanting decisions until the leaping time, because it is hard for me to visualize a what a plant might look like at maturity until that leap phase. Being three years into growth makes for a more difficult transplant, but I have had success so far. More experienced gardeners will no doubt plant well in the first place. But for me, it is always a matter of experimenting--sort of like rearranging furniture to see what looks best next to what, and in which location.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foundation bed just after planting in April 2012<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same garden bed in May 2013--the euphorbia (center) is taking over; the apple tree and box hedge remain about the same; the wooly thyme is spilling over the rockery; and two rose bushes are doing well at the far left</td></tr>
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So here we are into the second year of the front garden, and I'm seeing the "sleep, creep, leap" adage in action. I tend to buy big and over-plant because I don't have the patience to look at compost with spindly twigs in it while plants are gearing up for the "leap" phase. I like instant results! That usually means I end up doing a lot of transplanting as plants grow and crowd each other in the too-tight spacing I initially forced them into.<br />
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Like a proud mama, I'm showing off my bodacious, herbaceous offspring! As you can see, several of them are real overachievers, having gone directly from sleep to leap. The euphorbia, in particular, has really jumped the fence and is completely overshadowing the dainty primroses beneath it. Another attention hog is the wallflower (rather inappropriately named I might add...). It also has the annoying habit of leaning so far toward to sun that one side is exposed clear down to the stems. I don't know why my wallflowers are leaning to the sun since the entire bed has full-on southern exposure.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden bed, April 2012, with newly planted bachelor button, rockrose, rosa rugosa, ornamental grasses, black clover, and wallflower. Neighbor's lilacs at the back.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same bed in July 2012 already showing some good growth.</td></tr>
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The lavender are also doing well without being overbearing. The montbretia are just starting to come up, so pretty soon we'll see if they are creeping or leaping. My violets and johnny-jump-ups have self-sown and are now all over the garden and that's fine with me--I love them! The box hedge is growing quite slowly--as box does--but having planted a
similar hedge at our old house, I know it will shape up nicely within
five years.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lavender just planted in August 2011 before we moved the angel into place.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same area in April 2012</td></tr>
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We are also including a lot of edible plants in our new garden in hopes of becoming self-sufficient for some of our favorite and most frequently eaten produce including berries, parsley, chives, garlic, and lettuces. The strawberries we planted in the front garden last year are thriving and the apple and cherry trees are doing well although not likely to fruit for another year or so. MTH is erecting a small greenhouse in the back yard to grow tomatoes and cucumbers, but I'll cover that in another post.</div>
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For now, I hope you enjoy this year's creepers and leapers!<br />
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<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-55877252181032388212012-11-13T12:58:00.000-08:002017-05-31T21:27:27.422-07:00Bad News/Good NewsUh...hello? Remember me? I'm the person who used to write a blog about building our dream house. <br />
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The bad news is that I haven't written for months even though we have continued to work on the house and have accomplished quite a bit.<br />
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The good news is that the reason I haven't written is because I've been busy having a life! You know, life beyond house construction? Yes, it really does exist! And that's also good news for any of you who may still be in the middle of your own project. Life does get back to normal.<br />
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Catching Up</h3>
We moved into the house September 2011 with Mom's cottage completely finished and our house finished to the point of livability but without any of the lovely trims and moldings that add that final touch of elegance. As you might imagine, once we moved in and started enjoying life again in our own home, the pace of work slowed to a trickle (matching our remaining resources which had also slowed to a trickle!).<br />
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After a few months, MtH and I both caught that ailment that results in "house blindness." That is, we got used to living in an unfinished house and no longer "saw" the small pile of lumber in the library, the tablesaw sitting in the dining room, the blue tape still stuck to the walls denoting painting edges, the...well, you get the idea. The house was a mess and we had lost our ability to see it.<br />
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It wasn't until the holidays when we wanted to invite friends over that we realized how much still needed to be done. So MtH jumped into action (again) and made great progress on the kitchen hearth and range exhaust system, the library built-ins, final sheetrocking of the garage, and numerous other tasks such as installing kitchen knobs that take WAY more time than you think they will.<br />
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For my part, I spent more hours than I want to admit going through the boxes of stuff in the attic. Stuff we had packed in boxes two years ago when this whole project started, and which we had happily lived without since then! As I unpacked, old friends greeted me--my favorite American whiteware vase collection and the Aalto glass vase I bought in Finland as a student--and it was a thrill to bring them into use again. On the other hand I also found a whole lot of junk. After not seeing the items for so long, any sentimentality I once had for them was now long gone enabling me to do a lot of purging. Boy did that feel good! That paved the way for a garage sale, and we carted the rest away to the local Goodwill.<br />
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That brings us up to date through May 2012. In July I quit my job of 20+ years to homeschool Miss K for 6th grade. Not ever having formally taught before, most of my summer was spent preparing a curriculum and getting ready for fall. (That adventure falls outside the scope of this blog, but if you are curious to hear more, just contact me.) Fast forward to November 2012 and here I am back on the blog. To be honest I don't really have the time or interest to write as much as I used to, but I will try to post new photos and short descriptions of projects completed for those friends and family who are still interested.<br />
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Creating the Garden</h3>
With one of the best summers in Seattle history this year, we spent a lot of time developing the garden spaces around the house. MtH found muscles he didn't know he had after hauling and positioning rocks for various garden walls. I indulged my love of plants at the Swanson's Nursery annual sale, picking up blueberry plants, a crabapple tree, a vine maple, and several carts full of perennials. See the results below!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">One of two garden beds flanking the front porch; this one requiring a tapered rock wall to accommodate the slope of the land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The other side--symmetrical but not identical. (Edge of future patio and the raingarden at the right.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I had fun putting these pots of plants together--I love that deep burgundy brown color of the pots!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">This little black-centered clover is an amazing groundcover--it has already filled the whole bed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I have always loved these little black/purple violas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Our angel enjoying her spot in the garden surrounded by lavender and ivy.</span></div>
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-15972225277907231952012-02-05T20:58:00.000-08:002014-12-08T18:04:06.292-08:00How to Re-plumb a Vintage Sink<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">Vintage 1953 ad courtesy of </span><a href="http://retrorenovation.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">retro renovation</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">, my sink except in white!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">They said it couldn’t be done.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All I wanted to do was find new faucets for a vintage sink. Who would have thought it would be so challenging?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me take you back, dear reader, to one day last fall. Ever since we realized that the lovely Kohler Memoirs pedestal sink we ordered would overpower the downstairs powder room, I had been struggling to find a replacement. Not only that, but I was also struggling with the design of the room overall. I had a few ideas, but nothing seemed to really click. So without a design concept to guide me, I really had no clue what I was looking for in a sink. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hvEg3WkMkpI/VIZUJgFRscI/AAAAAAAACTk/_ltFtmlwRp8/s1600/powder%2Broom%2Bmy%2Bblue%2Bsink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hvEg3WkMkpI/VIZUJgFRscI/AAAAAAAACTk/_ltFtmlwRp8/s1600/powder%2Broom%2Bmy%2Bblue%2Bsink.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One day I happened to be wandering around the <a href="http://www.re-store.org/index.php">RE Store</a>, and I spotted this amazing blue vintage bathroom sink. </span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I loved the color and its sleek lines. And it was only $35! (I was trying to hold to a budget of $500.) Eureka!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Frankly, the sink reminded me of my uncle’s old Buick convertible with the fins, which I will always associate with the glamour of Los Angeles, Hollywood, and guys wearing khakis and white t-shirts a la James Dean. (My uncle who lived in L.A. was one of those guys—handsome and funny and so cool with that car!) The sink was big and heavy and clearly could do some damage if dropped. It was made for eternity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love that period of American design from the 50s that is part Art Deco, part Streamline Moderne, and just a minute before the jet-age. Much of the product design from that era we can thank Roymond Loewy for, with his forward-thinking aesthetic. But I digress. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loewy's award-winning design for Lucky Strike</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a rocket! No, it's a pencil sharpener.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not wanting to take a chance that someone else would snatch it up, I bought the sink on the spot and figured it would be a simple matter of finding an 8” spread faucet I liked to go with it. Wrong. Things started to get complicated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once I got the sink home, I searched the internet for information about it and found a few references, but not much in the way of how to retrofit it, let alone any faucet options. With a little effort and a good wrench, I dismantled the existing faucet from the sink and carefully saved each piece, putting all the parts into a box to take to the plumbing store. Imprinted in the porcelain on the back of the sink was the date “May 5, 1953,” indicating when the sink was produced. Wow, older than me! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those faucets had been in use for 50+ years and it showed. The steel was pitted and crusted with calcium deposits. Even if they could be cleaned up, I didn’t really like the design anyway. The spout looked like a snub nose and was so short that I don’t know how one would get one’s hands under it. The handles were pretty basic crosses, but also uninspiring. No, they were not up to the sleek lines of the sink itself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I confidently headed out to a local plumbing store and went up to the counter to explain my quest. As I described the sink and showed a photo of it, the guy at the counter started looking skeptical. When I dumped out the box of grimy faucet parts, he started shaking his head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“These pieces are all pitted.” he said, stating the obvious as if I was blind to the fact. “I don’t know how you’re going to use these.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I don’t WANT to use them.” I said, although I had already said as much in my earlier explanation which he, apparently, hadn’t actually listened to. “I only brought them in to show the dimensions of fittings that fit the sink. Is there something else with the same dimensions?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“There might be a manufacturer who still reproduces this faucet, but I’m not sure…” his voice trailed off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He sounded reluctant to pursue the issue with me, but I pressed on saying that I didn’t want a reproduction faucet; I wanted something new in a contemporary design that would complement the vintage styling—perhaps one of the wall-mounted faucets that are so popular now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I described this idea, I could see that he was wondering why on earth I would want to use an old sink in the first place, and secondly, how was he going to explain to me that this was all too complicated for me to understand and that I should really forget the whole thing. He didn’t SAY those words, but I could read it in his expression. He consulted with another guy and they both came back to face me saying, essentially, goodbye and good luck. Honestly I don’t think they wanted to take the time to figure out a solution. Where was their sense of adventure?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My faith in their plumbing expertise was shattered. I couldn’t believe that nowhere in the plumbing world was there a contemporary faucet that would work for this sink! Not only did it seem ridiculous—we went to the moon, for pete’s sake—but it also seemed so wasteful that this gorgeous sink (and lots more like it) was considered trash at this point because no one is making a faucet to go with it. I’ll admit that I’m a bit of fanatic about reusing old stuff, but it bothers me that there are so many usable goods that are disposed of because it costs too much to fix them or fashion has dictated that they are out of style.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I left the plumbing store, I was wishing my dad was still alive. He could make anything out of nothing; he had a tool for every purpose and then some; and he was clever enough to fix everything. His attitude was that to repair and reuse was the only sensible thing to do, both from a financial and resources point of view. I got my environmental ethic from him long before it was fashionable. These plumbing guys really let me down. They just weren’t made of the same stuff as my dad and others of his generation. Dad would have found a way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then and there I decided that I wasn’t going to let these guys have the last word. If my dad wasn’t around anymore, I needed to buck up and apply the same “can do” attitude myself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went home and did a more exhaustive internet search. I figured that if I just measured the space available behind the shelf-back of the sink, I could research faucets until I found one that would fit within those dimensions. (One thing I love about the internet is that you can quickly pull up product specifications for almost everything.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After going down some virtual blind alleys, I finally found a faucet that I felt 95% sure would work. From the spec sheet, it appeared that its mounting pieces would fit within the area available behind the shelf-back; the spout and handles would fit inside the holes in the sink; and the spout reached out over the sink bowl just a little bit past the middle but still short enough to be functional. (This was the biggest challenge—most of the spouts were far too long.) And it was beautiful to boot! So I ordered the <a href="http://www.moen.com/90-degree/chrome-two-handle-wall-mount-bathroom-faucet/_/R-CONSUMER%3ATS6730">Moen "90 Degree"</a> wall mount faucet and patiently awaited its arrival.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The faucet came quickly by mail and MTH set to work installing it. To complete the homage to my dad I really should have installed the faucet myself, but I deferred to MTH’s expertise. Everything fit just as I had hoped, with the only problem being that since the faucet was designed to fit inside a wall—and not in a sink back—he had to devise a spacer to place the spout and handles at the correct distance and location between the wall and the front of the sink. A small piece of 2” x 4” worked just fine after he had carved it a bit for a custom fit. The whole operation took about an hour.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Our sink installed--the room is still essentially "tabula rasa"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">and I'm still looking for inspiration.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Wonky photo due to how small the</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think the sink is really cool looking and I feel pleased to have something old lending a little quirkiness to our new house. I still haven’t figured out how I’ll decorate the rest of the powder room, but I’ll leave that to another post to discuss. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess the most wonderful thing of all is that I found out that they really do make ‘em like they used to—not the faucets, but talented guys like my husband who has restored my faith in this generation of men! Dad would be proud.</span></div>
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-86929075189192519122012-01-02T03:13:00.000-08:002014-12-08T18:33:31.295-08:00A Room (or Desk) of My Own<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EQ9YMoRopQE/VIZditvXspI/AAAAAAAAC64/FP3ux7Qbp1o/s1600/Virginia%2Bwoolf%2Bpainting%2Bby%2Bchristiaan%2Btonnis%2B2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EQ9YMoRopQE/VIZditvXspI/AAAAAAAAC64/FP3ux7Qbp1o/s1600/Virginia%2Bwoolf%2Bpainting%2Bby%2Bchristiaan%2Btonnis%2B2008.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm paraphrasing Virginia Woolf in this post, referring to her extended essay entitled "A Room of One's Own" first published in October 1929. The essay derived from a series of lectures she delivered at Cambridge University and was ostensibly written from the point of view of a fictional narrator exploring women as writers of, and characters in, fiction. It presents the argument that women need a space of their own--literally and figuratively--to write in order to be able to produce within the structure of society where women did not have a clear right to a role other than as wife and mother.<br />
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Embedded within the idea of a room of one's own is the implicit notion that a woman must also have the financial means to pay for that room (and secure it for life), and that women's relative poverty (contrasted with men in similar stations in life), legal rights (or lack of), and societal roles often prevented them from having that room where they could write, or otherwise create, freely.<br />
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Woolf herself was deprived of a formal education because her father, like many others of that era, did not believe in wasting education on girls. Only the boys were sent to school. Any learning that did occur was usually of the kind thought to be useful in attracting and holding a mate, but nothing along the lines of an actual career or profession.<br />
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So what does this have to do with our house? <br />
<a name='more'></a>In some respects, women have come a long way since 1929. But in others, well, not so much. I'm no writer (and certainly no Virginia Woolf) but that doesn't mean I don't also yearn for a place to think, to write, and to create.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A letter in Woolf's handwriting</span></td></tr>
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The opportunity I have in building this house with my wonderful husband is to exercise my own right to carve out a space for myself. And I'm doing just that. In fact, I'm carving out two spaces: a desk in the living room and a crafts and sewing room in the attic. (Though I'll admit I sometimes still struggle with whether I'm creative enough to deserve such spaces. Isn't it ridiculous? I'm undercutting myself by feeling I have to prove worthy of a "room of my own" but how do I know whether I have the stuff to create something of value if I don't give myself the space and time to try?)<br />
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There has been progress of course. Like many women of my generation, I have had an education and I've lived alone before marriage--having an entire house of my own in fact. And yet, once married it is difficult to claim personal time and space within the confines of family life. Why is it that the wife and mother is always deemed interruptable? Why don't family members seem to understand or honor the projects and activities we work on?<br />
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Children often tend to view their mothers as existing solely for their--the child's--own needs. I'm guilty of this as well. It never occurred to me as a young girl that my mother might have her own interests and ambitions that didn't involve me! And I see it is the same with Miss K.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Woolf's room at Monk's House</span></td></tr>
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To me, a room of my own is also literal and figurative. It means a place where my things are untouched by others and I don't have to share supplies or put away projects when home or work duties call. Most of the time I am happy to share space and things with Miss K. We have great fun together and as she gets older I am beginning to see what a wonderful, funny, and amazing person she is becoming. But sometimes the sharing and the answering of questions and the stepping back from my own ideas to give hers room to bloom is too much and then I long for something that is JUST FOR ME.<br />
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A room of my own also means having a little bit of time to myself just to think. An opportunity to let inspiration bubble up. I try to quickly write down these "bubbles" of ideas so that I can go back and flesh them out, someday, when I have more time. A snippet of writing; a quick sketch for a dress I might sew for myself; a new idea for the garden. <br />
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So I have my little desk in the corner of the living room, with its lovely stationery, my treasured Mont Blanc pen, two bottles of ink--one black and the other blue-black, my address book, and several blank journals. Much of this is symbolic for I really do most of my writing at the computer. But at the computer table I am competing with everyone else for a scrap of space, and I dare not leave anything unattended or will find that it has disappeared.<br />
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The attic, on the other hand, is a work in progress. Not yet usable (it is still stacked with boxes to unpack), it will eventually be the place where I can sew, draw, and paint, and store all of the supplies to fuel my creativity. <br />
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I feel very fortunate to have these spaces and the potential they hold is liberating and inspiring, but also humbling. I'll try to use them productively in honor of Ms. Woolf and all the others before me. How could I do less? Wish me luck.<br />
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-22626865599104496642012-01-02T01:02:00.000-08:002014-12-08T18:38:17.016-08:00First Party!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few nights ago we officially christened the house with a dinner party, and put our new kitchen to the test in the process. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you design a kitchen, you try to plan for all the activities it will need to accommodate day to day as well as the occasional big event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can several cooks work in the kitchen at the same time without tripping over each other? Is the range up to the task of cooking multiple items at once? Is there room enough in the fridge to chill all the beverages and store the prepared items until serving time? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And the dining area; is there room to add all the leaves to the table plus a couple of card tables? Can you fit, in this case, 17 chairs around the tables without resorting to climbing over one another to get in and out?</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All afternoon and evening the kitchen was a dream to work in and that enormous island (that we thought was too big) was a lifesaver. We used it as a staging area when serving the soup course and plating the salad course. Miss K and two of her friends were wonderful “waitresses” taking the food to each guest and later removing dishes when each person was finished. Add in a couple of lifelong women friends who contributed helping hands by making the salad and a dessert, a gracious husband who kept everyone’s wine glasses full, several other charming husbands and their lovely wives deep in conversation and…well, a good time was had by all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the design phase, one of the things I was worried about with a big, open, combined kitchen and dining room was how I would be able to separate a messy kitchen from a nicely set table in the dining area. Once the food is cooked, I want to be able to focus on relaxing at the table with the pots and pans out of sight. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The solution we came up with was to use lighting to distinguish the spaces so that when we are in the dining area, we can turn off the kitchen lights and let the lack of light "hide" the mess. I wasn't actually sure if this would work, but the combination of having no lights on in the kitchen and candles and a chandelier lit over the dining table made the single big space feel like two separate spaces--just what I had hoped for. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Lesson learned: Light (or the absence of it) is just as space-defining as actual walls.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our lighting plan for the kitchen/dining room includes four wall sconces and a chandelier on dimmer switches in the dining half of the room; one pendent over the kitchen sink and another matching one over the breakfast nook table; eight recessed ceilings lights on three different switches (lit in two "triples" and one pair) in the main kitchen area; a ceiling light in the pantry; and a light in the range hood (still to be installed).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just as important as being a good party space, the kitchen also functions wonderfully with only us in the house. The reality is that most of the time we are in our houses alone, with a spouse and/or children. Most of us host big parties only once in a while.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having a big, well-appointed kitchen for parties is fun, but one that is cozy on a day to day basis is more important. I’m happy to say that I am loving this entire house more and more each day and that it fits me like a glove—the me I already am as well as the me I’m still in the process of becoming. I couldn’t ask for more! </span></div>
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-50745445431655419822011-12-21T09:46:00.000-08:002014-12-08T18:47:20.179-08:00Some Holiday Cheer!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's a quick jump from Halloween to Christmas--on the blog AND in real life! How did December fly by so fast? I've managed to do a bit of holiday decorating and baking, and thought I would share it with you. (I'll be back to "real" blogging in January.) <br />
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For now, Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Gladelig Jul, Feliz Navidad, and many more greetings to you and yours for a wonderful holiday, whatever you celebrate!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Feather tree close up--I'm so happy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">with the wall color in the entry because everything looks good against it! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The living room--focal point for all things "holiday-ish"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">And to all a good night!</span></td></tr>
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-18829258556891548582011-12-05T13:16:00.000-08:002014-12-08T18:56:06.229-08:00Meanwhile back at the blog…<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFIAeFJieRQ/VIZjj8SwWeI/AAAAAAAAC9g/ZBwzlDvjenQ/s1600/090312_2086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">…nothing has been happening!</span></strong></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the action the last two month has been in REAL life as we moved ourselves and my mom into the new, almost finished, house.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFIAeFJieRQ/VIZjj8SwWeI/AAAAAAAAC9g/ZBwzlDvjenQ/s1600/090312_2086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFIAeFJieRQ/VIZjj8SwWeI/AAAAAAAAC9g/ZBwzlDvjenQ/s1600/090312_2086.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mom’s cottage is completely done, but the main house still requires a lot of work, largely in the area of moldings, built-ins, a few remaining light fixtures, etc.<o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without really intending to, you can see that I took a long blog vacation. But I’m back and I intend to try and catch up on the story of designing and building our house starting with a few images from Halloween and Thanksgiving, inside and outside the house in the Sunset Hill neighborhood.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">...and more--BOO!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been SO much fun to have a house to decorate again. I’ve already started “decking our halls” for Christmas…but for now here’s a last bit of fall to enjoy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uESqlFLoW08/Tt0t0ZxxjWI/AAAAAAAAAsI/i65pP-MjbHY/s1600/window+full+of+pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uESqlFLoW08/Tt0t0ZxxjWI/AAAAAAAAAsI/i65pP-MjbHY/s400/window+full+of+pumpkins.jpg" height="121" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Love this window full of pumpkins!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Sunlight through cherry leaves</span></td></tr>
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-24079353022362765472011-09-29T23:39:00.000-07:002014-12-08T19:31:03.908-08:00Master Bath: Vision and Reality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Besides the kitchen, what other room carries as much weight design-wise as the master bath? In this busy world, it seems we all dream of a luxurious bath as the place to pamper oneself and recover from the stresses of life. It needs to offer privacy, serenity, and beauty. And, in the case of the master bath, it also needs to be practical and spacious enough to accommodate two people at once. There is a lot of pressure in designing a bath to meet all these expectations!<br />
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Although I don't have any statistics to back me up, I suspect many a house is sold based on buyers falling in love with either the master bath or the kitchen.<br />
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If you like to see the process by which a design becomes reality, I hope you'll enjoy this post where I share how our master bath evolved from just a few vague ideas into the final product. (Well, <em>almost</em> final product--nothing in the house is completely finished yet...) <br />
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I started the design for the master bath with a desire to create a space that my husband would love. Bathrooms in our previous houses featured designs that were all too "girly" in color and style, and he never complained once. This time I thought I would create something more to his taste; something more masculine. Right away that set the tone for different colors and materials than I have used in the past.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Early design inspiration</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jexV-NU7Nqs/VIZb-ao2nPI/AAAAAAAACrc/ef-0I_Vw9LY/s1600/master%2Bbath%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jexV-NU7Nqs/VIZb-ao2nPI/AAAAAAAACrc/ef-0I_Vw9LY/s1600/master%2Bbath%2B10.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">This photo helped inspire our bath configuration--2 sinks, axial view to bedroom</span></td></tr>
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Although not my favorite colors at all, I decided to build the design around the beiges and browns that he loves. I struggled at first, not feeling inspired. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Michaelangelo marble from Pakistan</span></td></tr>
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Then one day I found a marble called Michaelengelo that includes shades of black, brown, caramel, and cream. That was it: I loved it and knew it would be the lynchpin of the whole design. Everything else from that moment on would have to revolve around the Michaelangelo marble. Sometimes it just takes finding that one thing that you love to launch into a design concept.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Schuler cabinet "Tiffany" in burnished chestnut--the 2nd</span><br />
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Next I found a ceramic tile with a travertine look that I thought would be a nice complement to the dark marble, especially combined with a mid-tone wood cabinet. The tile would also be great at conducting heat from the radiant floor heating system.<br />
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But once I got the tiles home and spread a few out on the subfloor, they seemed awfully boring. What to do?? I started looking for other inspiration and finally found it in the online Walker Zanger catalog. Page 73 (uncopyable--otherwise I would post it here) shows a sliver of a stone floor laid on the diagonal with rows of small square glass tiles inbetween. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My glamorous foot for scale!</span></td></tr>
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Eureka! It was just the thing to give the tile some "pop" while still keeping things clean and classic. We used 1/2" squares of Emperador Brown marble for the dividing "lines" of brown instead of glass, since this created a connection with the marble countertop material. <br />
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The staff at Seattle Tile Company came up with a suggestion for a similar diagonal motif in the shower and the design really started coming together.<br />
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With these colors, textures, and materials in hand, I tackled paint color. Forgoing my usual palette of vibrant colors, I settled on "Patience" for the walls in the bath and "Brevity Brown" for the walls in the separate WC; both colors by Sherwin Williams.<br />
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We had already chosen our plumbing fixtures--Kohler Memoirs sinks and toilet; Advanta "Reverie" soaking tub; and Kohler Pinstripe nickel faucets with a Grohe shower bar and spray wand. <br />
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At this point all the major elements were in place and I started looking for accents to give detail and elegance to the room.</div>
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Choosing lighting was more difficult than I had anticipated, but I finally selected a George Kovacs sconce, Hinkley Lanza sconces, and a Lite Source ceiling light, all from Lampsplus. I worried for a moment about mixing my metals--nickel faucets and bronze finish lighting--but went ahead anyway, ultimately feeling that the two metals each contribute something to the design and mix well with each other and the rest of the materials in the room.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Hinkley "Lanza" sconce</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Pinstripe" faucets in nickel</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">All feature angular lines that echo the diagonal floor lines, the square shape of the Memoirs sinks, and even the grooves in the Pinstripe faucets.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">LampsPlus mirrors above each sink</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Parisien Matelasse Towel Set at </span><a href="http://www.touchofclass.com/product/l554-001.do?code=CMC10" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Touch of Class</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My signature scent from the '80s--even this </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Soaps from Portugal--such an indulgence!</span></td></tr>
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And this brings us up to the present. I'm still gathering the accent pieces, but we're using--and loving--the bath even in its incomplete state. <br />
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Now I'm looking ahead to artwork and thinking that clusters of black and white prints might be a nice touch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I love these prints by English printmaker Eric Ravilious</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dNlSG2DOaOY/VIZcKDa6YwI/AAAAAAAACuM/hmJyxlVn_SY/s1600/master%2Bbath%2Bsink%2Bcloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dNlSG2DOaOY/VIZcKDa6YwI/AAAAAAAACuM/hmJyxlVn_SY/s1600/master%2Bbath%2Bsink%2Bcloseup.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-47922015374571809312011-09-18T23:34:00.000-07:002014-12-08T19:36:38.098-08:00Goodnight Moon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-porAt-5GARE/VIZbelle6OI/AAAAAAAACkM/C-zU3F0U7C8/s1600/cropped%2Bmoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-porAt-5GARE/VIZbelle6OI/AAAAAAAACkM/C-zU3F0U7C8/s1600/cropped%2Bmoon.jpg" height="175" width="200" /></a></div>
There is something wonderfully satisfying about walking in the neighborhood at night under a bright moon, seeing lights glowing inside houses.<br />
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Although it is a bit voyeuristic, I love seeing into peoples' homes through their lit windows as I walk along the sidewalk.* Seeing house after house, each one occupied by a family with their own story to tell, makes me feel part of something bigger than myself. I like to think of the simple joys that each family is experiencing in their own homes, cosy and warm. <br />
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The domestic rituals are so mundane and yet curiously meaningful because they embody what it is that makes a home--not necessarily the big things, but the little things in life. People cooking dinner, sitting around a table talking, reading a book at the window, playing the piano, washing up after dinner, putting on the teakettle... All these and a thousand other things that say "home" to each of us.<br />
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We have moved into the house and while it still isn't truly finished, we're beginning to enjoy our own domestic rituals again. It feels so good. Although I haven't yet unpacked all the kitchenware, there are a handful of mugs in the cupboard and we have our teapot and favorite Russian tea at hand. You see, it is our evening ritual to end each day with a cup of tea and maybe a small sweet.<br />
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Maggy the Wonder Pup is at this moment asleep in her bed in the entryway, the kitties have each found a favorite soft spot, and we have the porch light on.<br />
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Goodnight house. Goodnight Sunset Hill. Goodnight moon. It's good to be home.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*MTH tells me that growing up in Russia no one ever left their curtains open at night--there was much more concern for privacy. He finds it very interesting that here in Seattle so many people feel no need to close the curtains. Is this an American habit? Or just a Seattle one?</span>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-66079234378160456282011-08-30T02:45:00.000-07:002017-05-31T22:13:38.941-07:00Lessons Learned…A Baker’s Dozen of Things NOT to Do!It wouldn’t be a construction project if something didn’t go as planned, right? Sure enough, as we reach the finish line there are some things that haven’t turned out quite as we had hoped. Read and heed!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Not enough space between outlet</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. <strong>Poorly aligned light switches</strong>.</span> Because we didn’t have the interior trim figured out at the time the electrical wiring was being installed in several places the light switch is located such that we won’t have room for more than a skinny trim piece. And since there will be consistent size and style for the rest of the trimwork, these locations will stand out as ones that don't fit in. </div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: Figure out your trim ahead of time and make sure every doorway and window has enough wall next to it free and clear to install the trim fully clear of light switches—or sconces, electrical outlets, artwork you want to hang, etc. Treat each wall as a composition EARLY in the design phase. Arrange all the wall elements to make sure there is room for each, and then ensure that the result is a pleasing composition. Function first, then aesthetics.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Drawer will not open once</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. <strong>Incorrect cabinet calculations</strong>.</span> Similar to #1 above, in a couple of places we designed a cabinet to sit against a wall forgetting about window trim. In one example, the drawer of a bathroom cabinet will not open all the way if we install window trim. Of course, we ARE going to install window trim so that means we’ll have to move the cabinet slightly and then fit a trim piece the cover the gap. <br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: Same as # 1 but go beyond the look of each wall to analyzing how the cabinets and furniture are supposed to function in the space. Is there clearance to open all the doors and pull out the drawers? Does the oven door open up leaving no room to stand? (Well at least we didn’t make THAT mistake.)</span></em><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottom drawer had to be cut off.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">3. <strong>Forgetting about soffits</strong>.</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> Soffits are really important in my opinion. They add interest to what is otherwise a boring one-level ceiling. Varied ceiling heights create interest and, in the case of soffits (a perimeter area lower than the rest of the ceiling), they create a sense of enclosure and intimacy. We designed a soffit over our master tub to create an alcove of sorts, but forgot to factor that in when we ordered an 8’ tall storage cabinet. Oops. The cabinet is too tall and one of the drawers has to sawn off to squeeze it into the space available! (Or else order a new cabinet, but we’re running out of cash to order things twice…)</span></div>
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: See #1 and 2 above but substitute “soffits” for “trim” when analyzing your spaces. Go through the floor plan and elevations for each room and ask yourself “What is the ceiling height here? Is the same throughout or will we have a soffit? How might a soffit affect lighting, cabinets, furniture placement, crown moldings, etc.?” Do the same thing again once framing is complete, and give yourself the opportunity to add character to some of the spaces through raised or lowered ceilings that accentuate certain features.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. <strong>Awkward window placement</strong>.</span> We did pretty well with this except for a couple of places. I had wanted to install built-in cabinets and a window seat in Miss K’s room, but the window placement that looked best on the exterior made this impossible to do on the interior. This is perhaps more of an issue with architecture that features symmetry in the design (like ours). But still, getting what you want on the inside and the outside with window placement—and doors too—can be challenging. I’m not so devoted to architecture that I’ll sacrifice all the interior usefulness just so the exterior façade looks good. But I’m also not willing to have a hodge-podge façade because everything is designed from the inside out. This is why architecture is an ART!! It takes real skill to design this object in space that must be coherent inside and out and in 3 dimensions!<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: Hire an architect. (We did hire an architect, and he did a good job; it’s just that sometimes something has to give—and in this case it was Miss K’s built-ins. Not the end of the world, just a minor annoyance.)</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. <strong>Uncomfortable and poorly sized window seats</strong>.</span> We have a window seat in the kitchen that did not get built according to plan, mostly because a series of slight variations in foundation and framing reduced the space available for it. (Remember that having a set of drawings does not guarantee that the house will turn out exactly as drawn. Frankly, I always think it is a miracle that things turn out as well as they do, given the imprecision that accrues with a ¼ of an inch lost here and there that multiplies with each subcontractor’s work!) The seat that we ended up with doesn’t have enough room to get one’s tush fully onto the surface when sitting sideways, so we’ll be hanging off the edge in a most uncomfortable way! <br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: You can’t always eliminate the changes that occur to the design during construction, but in this case I wish I would have built up the sides of the window seat a little to give more room, and thus stability, to the sitter. We may still be able to do that.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. <strong>Poor choice of tile</strong>.</span> This is a big “oops” that cost us money and time. The shower tile in Miss K’s bath has been an complete disaster. The tile with an interesting texture that I thought would nicely complement the tub tile turned out to be a horrible dead grey color in reality. And even worse, we ran out of it—see #7 below—and the second order was a whole different color. It's a patchwork of mismatched grey colors. Thankfully Seattle Tile Company stands by their products and is refunding us the cost of tile at their expense. Even though we have to eat the cost of installation, this helps a lot. If you don’t have a LOT of experience it can be tough to imagine from a small piece of tile how it will look on an entire wall.<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: Take samples home or to the building site and look at them with as many other design elements as possible to check color matches or harmony, how light bounces off the tile, and views from across the room as well as up close before ordering. Then, before the tile is installed, lay it out on the floor and make sure it looks good! If we had done this, the tile could have been returned and we wouldn’t be paying for two installations. Sigh.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. <strong>Didn’t order enough material</strong>.</span> You know what they say; always order more than you’ll need? Well, do that, and then order a little bit more! I underestimated the amount of tile needed for three of the four bathrooms (how’s that for a poor track record?) and this ultimately caused about a three week delay. Because the tile wasn’t finished, we couldn’t move forward with the cabinets, and that caused a delay in the carpet installation, yada yada and so forth.<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: Measure and measure again. Then ask someone else to check your figures. Better yet, just have the tiler order the amount s/he knows s/he’ll need. A good tilesetter will factor in the waste from all the little cuts that you didn’t know about and therefore didn’t account for. And if there still isn’t enough tile, at least you aren’t to blame!</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The pair of windows to the left were supposed</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. <strong>Ordered the wrong size windows</strong>.</span> Similar to #7, I made the mistake of not going over the window order one last time before ordering. Somehow I overlooked a change that occurred with the size of the sunroom side windows. They are not as tall as the ones in the front of the sunroom and they should have been the same. I will always regret not double-checking the order, and even after the windows arrived, not swallowing my pride and just reordering the right size. From inside the sunroom, the side windows are just too small, period.<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: Check and recheck orders until your eyes are bloodshot. Then don’t be afraid to “waste” money on a reorder if the item doesn’t match what you wanted, even if it is due to your own mistake. Reordering those windows probably would have cost us another $1200 which is not exactly lunch money, but still is not a fortune either, especially in the context of a house we expect to live in for the rest of our lives.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">9. <strong>Lost track of internet “receipts.”</strong></span> This may be my own particular brand of disorganization, but I somehow lost track of some of the lighting and plumbing orders I placed online which made it difficult to return a few items. If you are opening boxes and installing items right away, it usually isn’t an issue not to have a receipt—the stores often have a record even if you don’t. But if you are ordering items way in advance, like I did with light fixtures (and this actually was a smart thing to do), you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to forget what you ordered, what room it is supposed to go in, who you ordered it from, and what it cost. <br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: Keep electronic AND hard copies; save the e-mails receipts in electronic and paper folders. Make notes about which credit card you paid with, whether it was on sale, etc. Bonus: Keeping these records also makes it easier to transfer all these items to a household inventory database later on for insurance purposes. Open all boxes as soon as they are delivered and check for damages. No exceptions. </span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">This 3' topography change at the west</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">10. <strong>Underestimating the site drainage and topography as key drivers of the design</strong>.</span> Our site is not considered steeply sloped by any means, but even the 12’ drop in elevation from north to south over 135’ made for some challenges in setting floor grades, figuring out site drainage, and planning entries. I had some ideas in advance about the garden, but didn't fully work through the impacts topography would have on the overall design. If you don’t think about the exterior spaces at the same time as the interior spaces, you are also likely to end up with outdoor space that doesn’t function well with the house.<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: Just as you have dreams about the function and aesthetic of each room, think similarly about your outdoor “rooms” and figure out how your topography can either help or hinder those ideas. Pay particular attention to the connection and grade change between the kitchen and the outdoor entertaining area.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">11. <strong>Not trusting our instincts when it came to subcontractors</strong>.</span> We had a situation with one of the subcontractors that almost ended up in court. Within the first week of working with this individual, we felt something wasn’t quite right but we didn’t follow our instincts and ask for clarification on the contract scope or fee. At the time, the value of the work in question was less than $200 so we thought we’d let it pass. BIG MISTAKE. When something starts out shaky, it only gets worse over time. And it did.<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: Spend the money to have an attorney review your contracts—at least for the really big ticket items like foundation, framing, roofing, electrical, and plumbing. If something is unclear, ask questions (we didn’t ask enough). Keep notes of all your conversations and never sign a change order or write a check under pressure. A good contractor should not have any problem with allowing you a day or so to review invoices and compare them with estimates.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">12. <strong>Not having a coordination and communication plan as a couple</strong>.</span> Apart from setting up computer and paper files to keep track of contracts, invoices, and materials, we did not set up any kind of plan for how, when, or where we would coordinate and communicate between ourselves and with the subcontractors. We inadvertently frustrated some of the subcontractors by giving conflicting information and leaving them unsure who was in charge. We also had no plan for our own conversations which meant that “the project” intruded anytime and anywhere one of us wanted it to—during a meal, right before bed, early in the morning… Usually one of us had something to talk about but the other person was too tired to address it on the spur of the moment. The miscommunication and arguments that ensued really wore us out and frayed the relationship.<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: If you and your partner/spouse are managing the whole project yourselves, figure out your approach in advance. What time of day will you both be sharpest and ready to discuss the project? Consider your work schedules (your real job whatever it is), any designated family time, and private time as a couple and work around those commitments. Do not let the project creep into your every interaction with one another. Next, divide up the tasks according to each other’s strengths and stick to it; don’t undermine your partner’s decisions if you made a commitment to abide by them.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">13. <strong>Not coordinating subcontractors effectively</strong>.</span> In the early phases of construction, there was usually just one contractor working on site for an extended period of time. Later in the project, we started to have several contractors at a time on the jobsite whose work had to be carefully choreographed. This is where our lack of experience began to hurt the project schedule. We had too many days lost between subs and we weren’t as effective in motivating subs to keep working steadily as we should have been.<br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: I now see this choreography as the real art of the general contractor/project manager. The person who knows how much time each sub ought to be spending on a given task; how to schedule the next worker at just the right moment; and how and when to push and when to back off is worth his/her weight in gold. It takes in-depth knowledge of each trade, a firm but collegial communication style, and meticulous attention to detail. It is also important to have the respect of the subs—treat them well, honor their work and expertise, and have a win/win attitude. We didn't have enough experience to excel at this. Unfortunately it probably takes a ½ dozen houses before one acquires even a portion of the skill of an experienced general contractor, which is why hiring a general contractor is usually the best approach for the average homeowner. We stumbled through the process without too much damage, but I can see a lot of room for improvement too.</span></em><br />
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-41352439031896815222011-08-16T12:54:00.000-07:002017-05-31T22:54:38.027-07:00Along the Garden Wall<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLDUVRWkEYo/WS-lk8GfysI/AAAAAAAAD-0/6_vB5t-CWhwX2m8ZeOGfwlIKCKl1-kZNgCLcB/s1600/garden%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="1600" height="220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLDUVRWkEYo/WS-lk8GfysI/AAAAAAAAD-0/6_vB5t-CWhwX2m8ZeOGfwlIKCKl1-kZNgCLcB/s320/garden%2B8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swedish rock wall</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">I love a garden wall!</span><br />
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Officially this house project is the third garden I will be creating from scratch. Even though neither of the other properties involved house construction, they were still "blank canvases" consisting of nothing but grass and a few tired rhododendrons around the edges. <br />
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With each design, I find myself drawn toward a more formal aesthetic and the use of geometry--straight lines and circles essentially--to provide structure to the garden. One of my favorite ways to express that geometry and to delineate spaces within a garden is with the use of hedges and rock walls.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rock wall we built at our previous house; here during construction...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and after five years!</td></tr>
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Besides serving as edges and shapers of the land, rock walls and stone patios are also great for soaking up whatever amount of sun we get and radiating that warmth back out in the late afternoon and evening after a sunny morning--a feature dearly appreciated by plants and humans here in the damp and chilly Northwest!<br />
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So naturally I have some rock walls in mind for this garden. And without the carpentry skills to help move the interior finishing along, gardening is also providing a productive outlet for some of my pent-up energy and impatience about getting the house completed. I decided to start the garden with the east property edge.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East property edge during demolition</td></tr>
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Our property is separated from the neighbor to the east by a 4 to 5 foot tall concrete rubble wall; their property being at the higher elevation. <br />
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Although the legal setback is just 5 feet, we left about 10 feet of space between our house and the actual east property line in order to preserve some existing arborvitae trees. <br />
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The wall, the trees, and the shade cast by the house itself make this space fairly dark--and therefore perfect for a shade garden! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East edge during foundation phase</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East edge after house construction.</td></tr>
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Because this space is so visible from the kitchen and dining room, it is important to me that it be attractive and lushly planted. This will be a challenge. Even though there are many plants that can survive--and even thrive--in the shade, our space is also bone dry as the arborvitae trees tend to suck up all the available moisture in the ground around them.<br />
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So far we have put down landscape cloth to inhibit weed growth and topped it with sand. We also placed a "threshold" stone at the start of the path by the future patio. Soon we'll add a layer--1-2 inches--of crushed rock and then roll the whole path to create a level and somewhat hard surface.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Landscape paper is laid and the wall started--I used the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">long board to keep a straight edge to the wall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Cobblestones against the foundation help make a neat edge and prevent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">rainsplash and mud from getting on the siding.</span></div>
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To ensure the plants will survive, I'm planning on irrigating them for at least a year or until they are well established. Then I'll see about weaning them from the soaker hose and going cold turkey with just rainwater. <br />
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To define the garden edge, I've created a low cobblestone wall. Even though the height difference is just 12 inches at the highest point and eventually tapers to nothing, the wall provides definition to the space and also creates that long visual line that I'm striving for.<br />
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I want to capitalize on the shape and size of the space--a full 135' from street to alley--with features that emphasize its linear quality. Plant-wise I'm interested in keeping to a palette of green and white, primarily focusing on leaves and a few small flowers. <br />
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I'm starting with green and white hostas, lily of the valley, some black widow geranium, and various groundcovers including epimedium, Corsican mint, baby's tears, and creeping Jenny. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corsican Mint</td></tr>
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Although not all of these are shade lovers, the space does get enough sun mid morning to meet the needs of the others. <br />
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The Corsican mint has already doubled in size and the hostas seem very happy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H4ZSV1l8U5A/TkrIeNtadUI/AAAAAAAAAi4/seu4-Lx8LmY/s1600/garden+lily+of+the+valley+clump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" naa="true" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H4ZSV1l8U5A/TkrIeNtadUI/AAAAAAAAAi4/seu4-Lx8LmY/s200/garden+lily+of+the+valley+clump.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A clump of Lily of the Valley</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5_eY3jK7GY/TkrI8vZhubI/AAAAAAAAAi8/Ayn5n8FyxRQ/s1600/garden+lily+of+the+valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" naa="true" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5_eY3jK7GY/TkrI8vZhubI/AAAAAAAAAi8/Ayn5n8FyxRQ/s200/garden+lily+of+the+valley.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Lily of the Valley close-up--isn't it exquisite?</span></td></tr>
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Unfortunately there isn't space to plant trees on both sides to create an allee. I'll have to be content with a lop-sided design with trees on only one side.<br />
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The end of the path closest to the street dissolves into what will eventually be a small patio off the dining room. For this area--which actually gets a lot of sun--I am expanding the plant palette in the garden bed to shades of blue and purple as well, and choosing plants that have a fragrance we can enjoy while sitting outside. So far I've included lavender, delphinium, foxglove, veronica, common mint, and little violets.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s9hLmJM22QQ/TkzDSGQVRHI/AAAAAAAAAjM/Oc814OlaEWY/s1600/garden+delphineum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qaa="true" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s9hLmJM22QQ/TkzDSGQVRHI/AAAAAAAAAjM/Oc814OlaEWY/s200/garden+delphineum.jpg" width="200" /></a>I really like the way these colors complement the paint color we chose for the exterior of the house too.</div>
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This bed adjacent to the patio is also the perfect location to place our angel statue where she can stand out against the backdrop of the ivy-covered wall.<br />
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In addition to providing a view from the dining room and from the patio, the path also needs to serve as a walkway for my mom to come to the front of the house to pick up her mail. (Mail carriers will not deliver off the alley for an accessory dwelling unit.) <br />
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Midway along the length of the path, we are planning to build a small raised deck that she can access from her bedroom. Beyond the deck, the path will continue to the rear of the property.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JyZZdNEABXk/WS-rNhLurcI/AAAAAAAAEAc/JktU52gKFykGN5QawgLnNfweeexkysFJQCLcB/s1600/garden%2Bcoffee%2Band%2Bpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="149" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JyZZdNEABXk/WS-rNhLurcI/AAAAAAAAEAc/JktU52gKFykGN5QawgLnNfweeexkysFJQCLcB/s200/garden%2Bcoffee%2Band%2Bpaper.jpg" width="200" /></a>Since this area is beyond the arborvitae and receives at least 2-3 hours of morning sun, the deck will be a nice place for her to read the morning paper and have coffee in the warmer months. I'm envisioning a chair or chaise lounge and small table as furnishings.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">More space than Mom will have,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">but isn't it lovely? From </span><a href="http://www.frontgate.com/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.frontgate.com</span></a></div>
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In the winter and/or rainy weather, it should also be attractive to look out onto even if she isn't actually sitting outdoors. It will also be very important to somehow manage the slope so that Mom can easily and safely walk there. This means no (or at least few) steps and a stable walking surface. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Sensibly this path has edges to keep the gravel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">from traveling, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">and also steppingstones for surer footing.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">No formal edging on this path, but the wild edge of plants </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">may be enough to keep the gravel in its place. </span></td></tr>
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At the back of the property, the space opens up into what will eventually be Mom's "front yard" off the alley. The long view from front to back suggests the opportunity for some kind of terminus--maybe a bench or a small garden sculpture? I'm not sure quite what I'll do there yet... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic focal point at Sissinghurst</td></tr>
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Anyway, it is fun getting my hands back into the soil. I remember a former neighbor who used to quote Voltaire when he saw me out digging in the dirt, saying "We must cultivate our own garden."<br />
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Some may translate that as "We must tend to our own garden" or, in other words, we must mind our own business! But I prefer to think of it as a metaphor for cultivating our own happiness in this world. <br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">What have you cultivated lately?</span>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-89090197059010364672011-08-09T22:27:00.000-07:002017-06-01T19:20:29.212-07:001 + 1 = 2 Cute 4 Words!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79;">New math, old math—however you calculate, it all adds up to one sweet space for Miss K.</span> <br />
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Not to gloat too much, but I do think her bedroom is turning out well. <br />
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I’ve been aiming for something lighthearted, but a little bit sophisticated at the same time. Something that fits the preteen she is now and that can grow with her as she becomes a teenager. Here are the pieces, starting with the basics:<br />
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Paint color is Rosebay by Sherwin Williams. Don’t let the name fool you; it doesn’t look “rose” at all—more of a pinky-violet and it feels so good to be surrounded by all that glowing color! The ceiling is Dove White by Valspar, providing a clean, fresh counterpoint to the walls.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Rosebay" by Sherwin Williams</td></tr>
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Next came the carpeting—a fun little pattern called <a href="http://www.robertex.com/quality.asp?item=8700-00">“Frisky Nibble”</a> by Robertex from the Instincts collection. It is 100% wool and very lush. <br />
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We were lucky enough to have Sandra at <a href="http://www.carpettogo.com/contentpage.aspx?Id=21556">Carpets to Go</a> in Shoreline find us a remnant that cost us less than half the price it would have been otherwise.</div>
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IKEA came to the rescue, as always, with some inexpensive but nicely designed furniture including the Hemnes daybed (with a trundle for sleepover guests), </div>
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two Billy bookcases, </div>
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the Micke desk, Jules desk chair, </div>
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and last but not least the Strind coffee table on wheels that will serve as play space, end table, and snack spot as required. </div>
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Add in a beanbag chair from Pottery Barn/PBTeen:</div>
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a couple of fun lamps—ceiling light from IKEA and glass bubble table lamp from Lamps Plus; </div>
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and sheer flower-pattern curtains from IKEA (not yet hemmed) that I will supplement with an outer set of curtains in the Pearl fabric in pink by <a href="http://www.annieselke.com/fabric">Annie Selke</a> (sewing those myself from fabric purchased online):</div>
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A few knick-knacks and throw pillows, including pages of Andy Warhol cats from an old calendar that I put into white frames:<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J7F7zQWkWZk/WTDH_IH1CcI/AAAAAAAAEBg/CAdss1_BlYcBcel3shSbMVI65Ez2fJ_VQCLcB/s1600/K%2Bikea%2Bpillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J7F7zQWkWZk/WTDH_IH1CcI/AAAAAAAAEBg/CAdss1_BlYcBcel3shSbMVI65Ez2fJ_VQCLcB/s200/K%2Bikea%2Bpillow.jpg" width="200" /></a>Some nice bedding:</div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;">And here it is (mostly) put together!</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I love how Miss K is already using</span></div>
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Still to come are those outer curtains, a few shelves for holding stuffed animals and other decor, a bulletin board, some hooks on the wall for a backpack and other stuff, a kitty clock, more artwork, and a crown molding and baseboard.* <br />
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Coming soon also are photos of the coordinating walk-in closet and bath.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">*The trim obviously should have been installed before the carpet and furniture, but we wanted to create a space where Miss K could hang out right away before we officially move in. This is helping with the “bonding” process; e.g. getting her used to the new house and liking it, and keeping her busy while we are on-site working.</span> <br />
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-38972009136874687152011-07-23T13:40:00.000-07:002017-06-01T19:53:10.903-07:00The Sideboard that Ate Sunset Hill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes folks, it’s a double-feature now playing here in Ballard!<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><em>The Sideboard that Ate Sunset Hill</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><em>Attack of the Giant Kitchen Island</em> </span></div>
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We knew house construction could be scary, but I never thought it would veer into science fiction! Here’s the scoop. </div>
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A couple of days ago, I stopped by the house after work knowing that the kitchen cabinets were being unboxed and brought up from the garage that day. (They had been sitting in the garage for the last 3 months while we got ready for installation.) I was anxious to finally see them in place, if not actually installed yet.</div>
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My talented husband (MTH) was already at the house when I arrived, and the look on his face when he met me at the door alerted me that something was awry.</div>
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“What’s the matter? Are the cabinets okay?” I asked.<br />
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“Yes. Well…mostly.” he said. “They’re kind of big.” </div>
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Without another word I walked straight to our kitchen and dining area and saw a mass of cardboard boxes and kitchen cabinets where before there had only been empty space. A lot of empty space, mind you—the kitchen and dining area is actually quite large. But if I had ever doubted that the space could be filled, that doubt now vanished with the sight before me. <br />
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Taking a moment to get my bearings, my eyes then spotted the thing that would be our kitchen island. My first thought was holy <span style="color: black;">cow</span>; it’s large enough to do surgery on!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A room full of cabinets.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Good people of Sunset Hill running for their lives from the MONSTER CABINETS</span><br />
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I then turned around to face the back wall of the dining area and saw the sideboard. What a beast! It stared back at me defiantly. It is probably an indication of my state of mind at this point in our project that I couldn’t do anything except laugh out loud.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not yet fully assembled sideboard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">End view of sideboard after assembly.</td></tr>
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These behemoth cabinets were nothing like the images I had in my mind when we ordered them. What were we thinking? Had we made a huge mistake? Or did the pieces just <em>seem</em> large because we were used to seeing the room empty? Were they just a <em>little bit</em> oversized? Or were they so out of scale that I would grimace each and every time a saw them for the rest of my life?<br />
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(<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">These are a little closer to what I had in mind!)</span> </div>
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MTH and I looked at them from every angle; from the left, from the right, from the living room and the entry, and even from the floor. A bunch of “I should have’s” came forth…</div>
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<li>"I should have reduced the depth of the sideboard base to 18” (instead of 24”--let's face it, not many real furniture sideboards are that deep)."</li>
<li>"I should have reduced the depth of the upper sideboard cabinets to 14” and then stepped back to 12” for the middle cabinets."</li>
<li>"I should have trimmed the island to 3’ x 5’ or at least 3 ½’ x 6’ (instead of 4’ x 6’)."</li>
<li>"I should have ordered furniture-style feet for the sideboard to make it look more like furniture and less like a kitchen counter."</li>
<li>"I should have taped off the size of the pieces on the subfloor before ordering the cabinets."</li>
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Neither of us had to say anything else, but we were both thinking the same thing: How much money could we have saved by scaling these big boys down? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sideboard in Harbor Mist color; New Haven door style by Schuler</td></tr>
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Well, on the positive side of things, I do like the color and style—heirloom finish in Harbor Mist on the New Haven style door (all cabinets by <a href="http://www.schulercabinetry.com/">Schuler</a>). And given that many homeowners wish they had added more storage during construction, we certainly won’t have that regret. There is enough storage in the sideboard and island to outfit a kitchenwares shop! Hey, with an mirror above the island and some extra seating, I can giving cooking lessons! The Sunset Hill Culinary Academy…it has a ring to it, don’t you think?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Cooking Class - Mitchell Home and School, Lick Mt, North Carolina, 1907</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> (although I'd be aiming for something a little less, uh, grim...)</span></div>
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Let’s see whether the pieces continue to dominate after the countertops are in and the furniture placed. In the meantime, those of you about to order kitchen cabinets—TAKE YOUR TIME.<br />
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Block out the space beforehand, with empty cardboard boxes if need be, to make sure the size and circulation are functional and in scale with the room and its other features. May the force be with you. Good luck!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Postscript May 2017--We've grown to love these cabinets and the island is just perfect; not too big, not too small, but just right! I'll update with more photos soon, but here's one view taken about a year ago. (Ignore the boxes in the right corner...)</span><br />
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<img height="94" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NfPbJsJzb0I/TistsfGkeJI/AAAAAAAAAes/QZxdHuFAqLk/s1600/antique+sideboard+6.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 565px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 979px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-70753899291926500712011-07-22T19:12:00.000-07:002014-12-08T19:43:50.499-08:00Can This Marriage Be Saved?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of my readers who has been through the construction process herself, gently urged me to tell the good, bad, AND the ugly about house-building. She said it might be helpful for others to understand the stress involved and how to handle it, in addition to sharing all the fun stuff. <br />
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So I dedicate this post, which is another installment on the subject of construction-related stress, to Cheryl in British Columbia. (Hi Cheryl—I hope you’re still reading!) In my <a href="http://lifeonsunsethill.blogspot.com/2011/02/gaining-house-losing-life.html">February "Gaining House, Losing a Life" post</a>, I wrote about how stressful construction can be on an individual; in this post I talk about how stressful it is on a marriage.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9pKZHBeZRVw/TiNexm3YuUI/AAAAAAAAAdw/eopiwKRGrZc/s1600/house+falling+down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9pKZHBeZRVw/TiNexm3YuUI/AAAAAAAAAdw/eopiwKRGrZc/s200/house+falling+down.jpg" height="132" m="" true="" width="200" /></a>It’s ironic, really, that at the same time we are physically building a structure that is supposed to embody all the hopes and aspirations of our lives together as a couple and a family, we are simultaneously tearing away at the “structure” of our marriage through the stress of the experience itself! And doing so while wielding large power tools. Scary!! <br />
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I think—no, I KNOW—we are not alone in this experience. But if you can’t imagine it’s that bad—or if you’re just curious to hear about it, read on. <br />
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As a little background to the post title, when I was a preteen my mom used to subscribe to the Ladies Home Journal magazine, and in picking up an issue one time I stumbled onto the feature called “<a href="http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/canthismarriagebesaved/43003/">Can This Marriage Be Saved?”. </a><br />
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Written in a He Said, She Said format, the article described the problems that a real couple (names changed) were having in their marriage, and concluded with advice offered by professional marriage therapists. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EqunqocO8V0/TiopRQzMqdI/AAAAAAAAAd8/MWZB-U33i-M/s1600/ladies+home+journal+2011" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EqunqocO8V0/TiopRQzMqdI/AAAAAAAAAd8/MWZB-U33i-M/s200/ladies+home+journal+2011" height="200" t="" true="" width="152" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">August 2011 edition</span></td></tr>
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Knowing and understanding next to nothing about male/female dynamics at that point—I was about 11 years old—I eagerly read the article hoping for clues about the mysterious world of grown-ups. No doubt also looking for some titillating bits as well, I mostly found out that communication between men and women, and within a marriage in particular, was a lot more complicated and confusing that I had ever imagined. Nonetheless, I was hooked. Vicarious thrills for my preteen self!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rbLFfcC6trU/TiomOCy85-I/AAAAAAAAAd0/vbxLD1OAVm4/s1600/can+this+marriage+be+saved+image" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rbLFfcC6trU/TiomOCy85-I/AAAAAAAAAd0/vbxLD1OAVm4/s200/can+this+marriage+be+saved+image" height="200" t="" true="" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">From one of the "<a href="http://www.lhj.com/relationships/can-this-marriage-be-saved/unsolvable-conflicts/our-home-renovation-is-wrecking-our-marriage/">Can...Saved</a>" features in 2007--about remodeling!</span></td></tr>
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Thereafter each month I looked forward to a new issue with another window into the lives of a couple and their problems. I guess I wasn’t the only one enamored, because “Can This Marriage Be Saved?” quickly became one of the most popular columns in the history of the magazine—and is still going strong today (with expansion to television and the web in addition to the original print format). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bk7uDa2sQPo/TiopPbhzosI/AAAAAAAAAd4/P3shVcFDiHA/s1600/ladies+home+journal+1953" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bk7uDa2sQPo/TiopPbhzosI/AAAAAAAAAd4/P3shVcFDiHA/s320/ladies+home+journal+1953" height="320" t="" true="" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">One of the 1953 editions</span></td></tr>
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The "Can This Marriage Be Saved?" feature was launched in 1953 and clearly tapped into the zeitgeist of the era as America got in touch with its feelings; as the Civil Rights and women’s movements inspired a generation to question the status quo; and as the world changed in all kinds of ways that were astounding at the time and are now taken for granted by many.</div>
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Whether I absorbed any useful information about marriage from my reading is hard to say, but those old articles came to mind as I starting writing this post. Especially as we are in the thick of the mother-of-all-stress-factors on a marriage; e.g. the triple-whammy on the stress scale of house construction + money issues + living with in-laws!</div>
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So here’s your vicarious peek into our very own episode of “Can This Marriage Be Saved?” focusing on just one of many hot points in our marital drama during the construction of this house!!</div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stress Factor #1: Decision-making</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who does it, and how and when it’s done</span></em></strong></div>
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<em><span style="color: magenta;"><strong>SHE said:</strong> We end up really stressed out over deicision-making. I like to make decisions after carefully considering all the options, and even then I like to keep those options open until the last minute—I never know if a better choice might be available later!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>HE said</strong>: I like to make decisions, period. Some research is okay, but then I want to move on. I get frustrated because I think we have agreement on something, only to find out later that you weren’t committed yet.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: magenta;"><strong>SHE said:</strong> You only THOUGHT I had agreed with you, but actually I just said “Hmm, that could work.” not imagining that you would see our 5-minute conversation just minutes before falling asleep as a final decision point. By the end of the day I’m too tired to start a long discussion about the house, and I don’t like making decisions when I’m tired.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>HE said:</strong> We don’t have time to talk about every decision at length—there are thousands of decisions to be made in building this house. You have to be willing to decide on the spot or delegate some of them.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: magenta;"><strong><span style="color: magenta;">SHE said:</span></strong> I can delegate some things, but I get frustrated when you try to make decisions without considering the big picture. I don’t want to choose locations for light fixtures before I even know which fixture I’m buying or what purpose it is supposed to serve. I think haste makes waste in that instance.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;"><strong>HE said:</strong> Okay, but that means you need to do your homework way in advance because electrical wiring goes in long before we’ll actually install the light fixture and think about furniture. The electrician can’t wait until you pick out pillows before he installs the wiring!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: magenta;"><strong>SHE said:</strong> You’re exaggerating. I’m not talking about choosing pillows; just having an idea of the whole room before choosing the individual parts. And why is it MY homework? I thought we were doing this together?</span></em><br />
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<em><strong>(Imaginary) THERAPIST said:</strong> You both have different decision-making styles, and both have merits. But you can help lessen the stress over decision-making, and the arguments that arise, by agreeing in advance which decisions are so important that they must be made by both of you, and which decisions can be delegated to one or the other of you. It would also help to establish set times to try and conduct the majority of your house discussions so that “the house” doesn’t take over your every waking moment. Some decisions will need to be made quickly, but the majority can be scheduled for a time when you are both ready to share viewpoints and then act. It would also be helpful if you wrote down and signed particularly important decisions that you both agree to so there are no misunderstandings. </em><br />
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Maybe like childbirth, all this pain and suffering will be forgotten after the fact when we are sitting and enjoying our lovely new home. Let’s hope so!</div>
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Coming attractions in the posts about the stress of construction: </div>
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<ul>
<li>Dealing with Money, LOTS of Money; </li>
<li>Living with In-laws; </li>
<li>Communication with Contractors (or Who’s in Charge?); and </li>
<li>We Never Have Fun Anymore!</li>
</ul>
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-85666261385950221742011-06-14T18:25:00.000-07:002011-08-09T23:05:28.645-07:00Readers Around the World <br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SI7HOWMRoXI/TfgHcTYWLUI/AAAAAAAAAcM/YNjDJt1oYRc/s1600/blue+marble+earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SI7HOWMRoXI/TfgHcTYWLUI/AAAAAAAAAcM/YNjDJt1oYRc/s200/blue+marble+earth.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The big, blue marble</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Readers,</span></span><br />
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Thank you for visiting once—or even twice or more!—to read about our house building adventure. When I started writing this blog, my intent was to keep family and friends informed of our progress. Thanks to the wonders of Sitemeter that tracks and counts the visitors to my blog, I have evidence of readers far beyond that circle of family and friends. <br />
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<div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am truly thrilled to see the range of countries and cities from which my readers come. <span style="color: red; font-size: large;">I only wish I knew more about you and what brings you to read our story.</span> Do drop me a note and tell me about yourself! I would love to know what interests you and whether you, too, are in the midst of building or remodeling a house—or even just dreaming about it!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">So, thank you*…</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ5zuQK0cPU/TfgLht0DhMI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/HUEhILlOYVc/s1600/flag+of+australia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ5zuQK0cPU/TfgLht0DhMI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/HUEhILlOYVc/s200/flag+of+australia.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Australia!</strong></span> <br />
(Melbourne, Victoria, Sydney, and New South Wales <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8tAvyw7A3qg/TfgPUrZR-sI/AAAAAAAAAc8/9ncRoyW-si8/s1600/flag+of+brazil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8tAvyw7A3qg/TfgPUrZR-sI/AAAAAAAAAc8/9ncRoyW-si8/s200/flag+of+brazil.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Brazil!</strong></span> </div><div style="text-align: right;">(Campinas, Sao Paulo) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUlgf-m8K_8/TfgPRcJRODI/AAAAAAAAAc4/l0bEk-sdDTg/s1600/flag+of+canada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUlgf-m8K_8/TfgPRcJRODI/AAAAAAAAAc4/l0bEk-sdDTg/s200/flag+of+canada.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Canada!</span> <br />
(Halifax, Hamilton, Peterborough, Winnipeg)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VM0LOxxlmVw/TfgL6pOh3tI/AAAAAAAAAcU/jlKd97RfMI0/s1600/flag_of_Denmark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="height: 57px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 80px;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VM0LOxxlmVw/TfgL6pOh3tI/AAAAAAAAAcU/jlKd97RfMI0/s1600/flag_of_Denmark.jpg" t8="true" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Denmark!</strong></span> (Dianalund, Viby)</div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vmsgCGJtnK4/TfgOoLNWJNI/AAAAAAAAAc0/VD1Fm8fQv6M/s1600/flag_of_Netherlands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vmsgCGJtnK4/TfgOoLNWJNI/AAAAAAAAAc0/VD1Fm8fQv6M/s1600/flag_of_Netherlands.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Netherlands!</strong></span> </div><div style="text-align: right;">(Best, Noord-Brabant)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx6ChLWbzN8/TfgOcn6zOXI/AAAAAAAAAcw/xHIYpC9iIEM/s1600/flag_of_New-Zealand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fx6ChLWbzN8/TfgOcn6zOXI/AAAAAAAAAcw/xHIYpC9iIEM/s1600/flag_of_New-Zealand.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">New Zealand!</span></span> <br />
(Auckland)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AoCEL2WaT2U/TfgQ7NFQGTI/AAAAAAAAAdI/mRmo9vyeaR0/s1600/flag+of+poland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AoCEL2WaT2U/TfgQ7NFQGTI/AAAAAAAAAdI/mRmo9vyeaR0/s200/flag+of+poland.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Poland!</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: right;">(Belchatow, Piotrkow, Sobtka, Wroclaw, and Dolnoslaskie) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Romania!</span> (Bucharest)<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CklqW-fGeWw/TfgOR7eLplI/AAAAAAAAAcs/j5irQCq249g/s1600/flag_of_Romania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CklqW-fGeWw/TfgOR7eLplI/AAAAAAAAAcs/j5irQCq249g/s1600/flag_of_Romania.jpg" style="cursor: move;" t8="true" unselectable="on" /></a></div> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AsXLaF_9clM/TfgOLTxULuI/AAAAAAAAAco/IFB8zlg21gs/s1600/flag_of_Russia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AsXLaF_9clM/TfgOLTxULuI/AAAAAAAAAco/IFB8zlg21gs/s1600/flag_of_Russia.jpg" t8="true" /></a><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Russian Federation!</span> <br />
(Moscow)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5YvF8qVe5os/TfgN-PjJVkI/AAAAAAAAAck/ANsrQBUx4qU/s1600/flag_of_Spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5YvF8qVe5os/TfgN-PjJVkI/AAAAAAAAAck/ANsrQBUx4qU/s200/flag_of_Spain.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><strong>Spain!</strong></span> (Adeje, Canarias, Salamanca, Castilla y Leon)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-whIPobnaZIM/TfgMBAdeR5I/AAAAAAAAAcg/1m0p9OxpZVc/s1600/flag_of_Taiwan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-whIPobnaZIM/TfgMBAdeR5I/AAAAAAAAAcg/1m0p9OxpZVc/s1600/flag_of_Taiwan.jpg" t8="true" /></a><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Taiwan!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GQkxy7wIGh0/TfgL_Gz9jcI/AAAAAAAAAcc/Vo1IcnOZvno/s1600/flag_of_United-Kingdom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GQkxy7wIGh0/TfgL_Gz9jcI/AAAAAAAAAcc/Vo1IcnOZvno/s200/flag_of_United-Kingdom.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">United Kingdom!</span> </div><div style="text-align: right;">(Stamford, Lincolnshire) </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JDrA-sYerJA/TfgL8tkVkuI/AAAAAAAAAcY/SxxKis93QF0/s1600/flag_of_United-States.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JDrA-sYerJA/TfgL8tkVkuI/AAAAAAAAAcY/SxxKis93QF0/s1600/flag_of_United-States.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">United States!</span> <br />
20 out of 50 states including…<br />
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<ul><li>Springdale, Arkansas; </li>
<li>Mountain View, Northridge, Oakland, Rohnert Park, Salinas, and San Francisco, California; </li>
<li>Fairfield, Connecticut; </li>
<li>Middleton, Delaware; </li>
<li>Bethlehem, Marietta, and Savannah, Georgia; </li>
<li>Evanston, Mokena, and Oak Park, Illinois; </li>
<li>Monticello, Indiana; </li>
<li>London, Kentucky; </li>
<li>Baltimore, Maryland; </li>
<li>Perryville, Missouri; </li>
<li>Lochmere, New Hampshire; </li>
<li>Chatham, New Jersey; </li>
<li>Brooklyn, Massapequa, Mechanicville, and White Plains, New York; </li>
<li>Warren and West Chester, Ohio; </li>
<li>Portland, Oregon; </li>
<li>Austin, Texas; </li>
<li>Salt Lake City, Utah; </li>
<li>Ashburn, Virginia; </li>
<li>Auburn and Seattle, Washington; </li>
<li>Janesville, Wisconsin; </li>
</ul>*This list only includes visitors between June 6th and 14th—many more of you have visited since last June when I started the blog, but I didn’t have access to visitor’s data then. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-size: x-large;">Thank you one and all!</span></div><br />
<div></div><img height="64" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CklqW-fGeWw/TfgOR7eLplI/AAAAAAAAAcs/j5irQCq249g/s1600/flag_of_Romania.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 321px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1324px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.comUnited States47.6062095 -122.332070821.224959499999997 176.4083167 73.9874595 -61.072458299999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-59513033629805557682011-06-12T01:12:00.000-07:002013-05-04T20:04:27.850-07:00Ode to a Tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hPKmGjzeV4/TfRm4irylqI/AAAAAAAAAbU/Bh4x-wKV810/s1600/walnut+live+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0hPKmGjzeV4/TfRm4irylqI/AAAAAAAAAbU/Bh4x-wKV810/s200/walnut+live+tree.jpg" t8="true" width="150" /></a></div>Our wood flooring is arriving in 3 days—yahoo! Not only am I excited to see it, but getting the flooring installed is critical to moving forward with cabinets, and then countertops, and then light fixtures, and then… Well, you get the idea. <br />
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Sequencing the work of building a house is one of the toughest parts of being your own general contractor, in my opinion. It reminds me of that old song “<a href="http://www.events-in-music.com/the-leg-bone-connected-to-the-knee-bone.html">Dry Bones</a>” (or Skeleton Bones). “The toe bone is connected to the foot bone, and the foot bone connected to the ankle bone…” Everything in its proper order and timing!<br />
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As mentioned in an <a href="http://www.lifeonsunsethill.blogspot.com/2011/02/choosing-floor-materials.html">earlier post</a>, we chose 6” wide plank solid walnut for the main floor of our house, and 5” plank solid cherry for our 2nd floor hallway, sunroom, and Mom’s cottage. We are purchasing our flooring from <a href="http://www.wideplankhardwood.com/">Wide Plank Hardwood</a> in Chilliwack, British Columbia. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nM2g9tsSJmI/TfRnXUAh2CI/AAAAAAAAAbw/YM8AAvA496o/s1600/walnut+wide+plank+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nM2g9tsSJmI/TfRnXUAh2CI/AAAAAAAAAbw/YM8AAvA496o/s400/walnut+wide+plank+photo.jpg" t8="true" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Walnut flooring from Wide Plank Hardwoods</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Although there were other companies with similar products, we found Wide Plank Hardwood to have the right combination of quality, price, and service. Given the proximity of Chilliwack to Seattle, freight costs were substantially lower too. (Most of the other suppliers would have trucked the flooring from the eastern United States.) The staff at Wide Plank were kind enough to send us a photo of our lumber as it arrived at the mill for final processing. They will cut the lumber to eliminate the worst of the knots and then do a first pass of sanding and smoothing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4n5F_RKU-qA/TfRoK4TESJI/AAAAAAAAAb0/FWqG3nuVbBY/s1600/walnut+flooring+%25231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4n5F_RKU-qA/TfRoK4TESJI/AAAAAAAAAb0/FWqG3nuVbBY/s320/walnut+flooring+%25231.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Our walnut--and maybe the cherry too (light stuff on top).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Walnut close up as "raw" lumber.</span></td></tr>
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The flooring is being shipped unfinished for nail down installation on-site and we’re planning to finish the floors with oil (which kind is still to be decided). <br />
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With all the pre-finished floors on the market, you might wonder why we didn’t choose one of those. To be honest, even though the aluminum oxide finishes are touted to be hard as nails and very hardwearing, we just didn’t like the look. They seem a little plastic looking and a bit too perfect! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rs6FzoHICMo/TfRp4yxXOrI/AAAAAAAAAb8/yIpJJHgk4ac/s1600/walnut+lumber+liquidators.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rs6FzoHICMo/TfRp4yxXOrI/AAAAAAAAAb8/yIpJJHgk4ac/s400/walnut+lumber+liquidators.jpg" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Pre-finished walnut--shorter lengths, splotchy color, and too shiny of a finish for our taste.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>So we’re going to go with an imperfect, hand-applied oil finish instead. And given the oil finish, it also made sense to go with solid wood vs. pre-engineered. We figure if refinishing is more likely with an on-site applied finish, we had better have enough wood to withstand a couple of sandings over the life of the floors.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EI8xb4CX8Fk/TfRnJhngkPI/AAAAAAAAAbg/FgXuiVZ_M14/s1600/walnut+oval+office+floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EI8xb4CX8Fk/TfRnJhngkPI/AAAAAAAAAbg/FgXuiVZ_M14/s320/walnut+oval+office+floor.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Walnut and oak floor in the Oval Office of the White House.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong>Why Choose Walnut?</strong> <br />
Okay, so why walnut? Simple. I love the dark brown color. It’s got enough depth and grain to give it character and a go-with-everthing color that doesn’t go all red or yellow in time. It also seems to fit the traditional style of our house. <br />
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The cherry we’re using for the 2nd floor and the cottage is more casual and suits those spaces as well—and the price point is a little lower than walnut, helping us to save a bit of money. Cherry WILL deepen into a stronger red over time, but this won’t be as much of an issue on our 2nd floor where it will be used more sparingly. In the cottage it will cover the living room and kitchen/dining area, but since they don’t get direct sun, I’m hoping the darkening will not be as pronounced.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZKRcqN_i0A/TfR0f48qoXI/AAAAAAAAAcI/7XxIfcX4-ws/s1600/walnut+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZKRcqN_i0A/TfR0f48qoXI/AAAAAAAAAcI/7XxIfcX4-ws/s1600/walnut+close+up.jpg" t8="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Close up of grain and color</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong>History and Use</strong><br />
I did some internet surfing to learn more about the tree and found that the wood of the walnut tree has been coveted for centuries for its beauty and durability. The American Black Walnut has been used for flooring, household objects, furniture, ships, musical instruments, and gunstocks. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YUH8nCa7h8/TfRnSkla7AI/AAAAAAAAAbs/ysK9_AOb31A/s1600/walnut+utensil+tray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YUH8nCa7h8/TfRnSkla7AI/AAAAAAAAAbs/ysK9_AOb31A/s320/walnut+utensil+tray.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A beautiful walnut utensil tray.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>While looking for flooring, I came across the <a href="http://www.gobywalnut.com/">Goby Walnut and Western Hardwoods</a> company from Portland, Oregon. They sell individual pieces of walnut to woodworkers, furniture makers, and hobbyists—each piece of wood has its own character and beauty. A whole world of specialization that I never knew existed!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dsR_mT_nspE/TfRmu0zkNuI/AAAAAAAAAbI/aYfMsR35Gj8/s1600/walnut+goby+big+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dsR_mT_nspE/TfRmu0zkNuI/AAAAAAAAAbI/aYfMsR35Gj8/s400/walnut+goby+big+tree.jpg" t8="true" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Can you believe the size of this walnut trunk?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TETbmi17Vuc/TfRm0wm9v7I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/RNhDRoftXbQ/s1600/walnut+goby+speciman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TETbmi17Vuc/TfRm0wm9v7I/AAAAAAAAAbQ/RNhDRoftXbQ/s400/walnut+goby+speciman.jpg" t8="true" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A "bookended" speciman marked</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">to show its special features.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-faNmWZ_zYqM/TfRmnanZ8oI/AAAAAAAAAa8/LWXP86dJSMw/s1600/walnut+blocks+for+bowls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-faNmWZ_zYqM/TfRmnanZ8oI/AAAAAAAAAa8/LWXP86dJSMw/s320/walnut+blocks+for+bowls.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Walnut rounds for making wooden bowls.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Native Americans and pioneers made a brown dye from the husk of the nut. There is still a market for ground up black walnut shells which are used for metal cleaning and polishing, oil well drilling, and as an ingredient in paint and explosives. The nutmeat is tasty and nutritious but very difficult—and therefore expensive—to extract from its shell, so most commercial walnut producers use the Persian (or English) walnut instead. </div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N4-98oEGKR8/TfRnHP20GoI/AAAAAAAAAbc/HXYR1zUT4NE/s1600/walnut+nuts+in+husk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N4-98oEGKR8/TfRnHP20GoI/AAAAAAAAAbc/HXYR1zUT4NE/s200/walnut+nuts+in+husk.jpg" t8="true" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Green walnuts still in the husk</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>European peasants paid their debts with the nuts and were also expected to tithe walnuts to the church. 13th century merchants considered walnut oil to be as precious as gold. There is evidence that walnut trees have been around for 17,000 years and that the nuts were part of the diet of Cro-Magnon man. There were even walnut groves in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Growth Habit</strong><br />
The Eastern Black Walnut (juglans nigra) used to be a common old-growth forest tree, but is now relatively scarce due to overharvesting. It does best in an open sunny location with moist soil near stream banks. The tree has a unique self-preservation mechanism—it produces a substance called juglone that is actually toxic to other nearby plants, thereby ensuring they won’t compete with the tree for light and water.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MkZZW3g8WNw/TfRmqdW-YnI/AAAAAAAAAbA/eW0O637-ImY/s1600/walnut+botanical+print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MkZZW3g8WNw/TfRmqdW-YnI/AAAAAAAAAbA/eW0O637-ImY/s320/walnut+botanical+print.jpg" t8="true" width="187" /></a></div>The tree can reach 100 to 150 feet in the woods with a spread of 60-80 feet when grown in the open. It is found primarily in the Appalachians and the Midwestern United States, but may be seen as far north as Ontario and as far south as Florida and Georgia. The tree typically matures in about 150 years and can live as long as 250 years.<br />
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<strong>Walnut Folklore</strong><br />
It is said that for centuries there were great gatherings of witches at the base of an ancient walnut tree in the Italian town of Benevento. In 662 A.D. a saint had the tree cut down to stop the gatherings, but it mysteriously grew again. Legend also has it that you can determine if someone is a witch by dropping a walnut in her lap as she sits; if she is unable to rise while the nut remains in her lap, she is a witch. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Witch of the Walnut Tree</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(frankly not that scary looking...)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>This association with witches gave the walnut a reputation as the “tree of evil” and yet it is also associated with fertility and nuts were often thrown at the bride and groom at weddings (ouch!). Sometimes the bride and groom would dance around a walnut tree. <br />
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French country folk had a tradition of hanging walnuts from the ceiling beam in the kitchen to represent abundance and longevity. In American folklore, walnuts are said to cure sore throats and to thicken one’s hair! <br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><strong>Long live the walnut (and our flooring)!</strong></span><br />
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<img height="72" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-faNmWZ_zYqM/TfRmnanZ8oI/AAAAAAAAAa8/LWXP86dJSMw/s320/walnut+blocks+for+bowls.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 250px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 3180px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-50240828986222666322011-06-11T13:08:00.000-07:002014-12-08T20:25:49.209-08:00Pantries Past, Present, and Future<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Swedish dish pantry</span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: large;">I am not a good cook.</span></strong> Sure, I can follow a recipe and even improvise a little; I can plan a dinner party and have everything ready to serve at the same time; and I’m told the dishes I serve are quite tasty. <br />
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But what I can’t do—or rather what I haven’t yet learned to do—is plan meals ahead of time, creatively use all the food I purchase, and whip up meals based on whatever is in the cupboard. Those skills, in my opinion, are the hallmarks of a good cook! <span style="color: #76a5af;"><strong>And I feel quite sure that one of the keys to becoming a good cook is a well-stocked pantry.</strong></span></div>
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Prior to this house, I have designed three other kitchens but none of them had a pantry. The closest I have come to a pantry so far in my life are two floor-to-ceiling shallow cabinets in our house on Whidbey Island. For this new house I decided I wanted to have an honest-to-goodness pantry; by this I mean a walk-in space with shelves on three sides and a door you can close. </div>
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If you’ve been reading this blog regularly, you’ve probably noticed by now that I tend to obsessively research everything. I admit it; I’m kind of a geek about houses. I love to know the history of rooms and objects, and the pantry is no exception.</div>
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Fortunately I’m not the only one who is enamored with pantries, and so I was able to find quite a bit of information on them—as well as some lovely inspirational photos! My favorite source is the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pantry-Its-History-Modern-Uses/dp/1423600045/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307813481&sr=8-1#_">The Pantry</a> by <a href="http://www.inthepantry.blogspot.com/">Catherine Seiberling Pond</a>. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eB__4kI6tv4/VIZz3Xl9B8I/AAAAAAAADgU/Q3FiRNNeECU/s1600/the%2Bpantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eB__4kI6tv4/VIZz3Xl9B8I/AAAAAAAADgU/Q3FiRNNeECU/s1600/the%2Bpantry.jpg" /></a></div>
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Not only are the photos wonderful, her writing is a joy to read. She takes the reader through the history of pantries from the early American pantry to the modern day where pantries are experiencing a renaissance.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">18th Century walnut and fruitwood panetiere</span></td></tr>
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The word pantry comes from the Old French “paneterie” that itself derives from “pain” the French word for bread, and the person who manages the pantry used to be called the pantler. (By the way, a panetiere is a French cabinet for bread--although by the example below it looks more like a jail cell for wayward loaves! And how does the bread stay fresh?) <br />
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Not surprisingly, the history and evolution of pantries in the United States parallels the history and evolution of the American kitchen and family life. There are several types of pantries, each with a distinct purpose and belonging to a specific era. The early American pantries evolved from the buttery (or butt’ry) which housed casks (butts) of ale and wine and were located in the coolest portion of the house. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Old style U-shaped pantry</span></td></tr>
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The butler’s pantry was originally a feature found only in the homes of the wealthy who could afford to have servants. Its purpose was to store all the dishes and silver, and provide a place where the butler—or other staff—could plate food and bring it into the dining room; thus explaining why butler’s pantries are usually situated between the kitchen and dining room.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Butler's pantry focuses on dish storage and room to "plate" food prior to serving.</span></td></tr>
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I found these images of the White House pantry and can't help including them. Even with renovations, the basic layout seems to have stayed the same. I guess if it works, why change it? I love the photo through the porthole window showing the pantry as a beehive of activity. President Obama hanging out in the pantry while waiting to enter a meeting is also a good one!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">White House pantry, 1947</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">White House pantry, 1952</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">White House pantry, 2009</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">White House pantry, 2010</span></td></tr>
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Early kitchens had very little storage and were primarily used for the actual cooking itself—washing up occurred in a scullery, food storage in a pantry, and eating in the dining room. Advances in refrigeration, changes in household size and composition (fewer/no servants), and the availability of pre-prepared foods led to the kitchen becoming larger in order to house all the functions of those multiple rooms from the past.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PmSouI54P2g/VIZzbcLEEMI/AAAAAAAADkc/aoQc-Sx9BF8/s1600/pantry%2Bcalvin%2Bcoolidge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PmSouI54P2g/VIZzbcLEEMI/AAAAAAAADkc/aoQc-Sx9BF8/s1600/pantry%2Bcalvin%2Bcoolidge.jpg" height="267" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Pantry/Prep area from the Calvin Coolidge house museum</span></td></tr>
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Fast forward to today and the nostalgia for pantries, along with a desire for more light in kitchens, has led to a trend of fewer upper cabinets in favor of a pantry within the kitchen. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Walk-in style--but still visible through the screen door!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">This one houses a little bit of everything</span></td></tr>
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<strong>Pantry Design</strong></div>
If you are building a new house or kitchen, you have more latitude in the design of your pantry. Fitting a pantry into an existing floor plan can be difficult, but do-able, especially if there is a hall closet or a less-used entryway that you can appropriate for pantry use. <br />
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The website <a href="http://www.dream-kitchen-pantry.com/">Everything Pantry </a>provides a overview of pantry design, citing three basic styles--the closet pantry, walk-in pantry, and corner pantry--and shows some vintage floor plans as inspiration. These photos from <a href="http://theinspiredroom.net/2008/10/07/perfect-pantries-frugal-and-stylish-ideas/">The Inspired Room</a> show several variations on the basic pantry design.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvftzyfm-7w/VIZzbhQeBYI/AAAAAAAADaY/fLBr9gfFXXo/s1600/pantry%2Bclean%2Bwhite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvftzyfm-7w/VIZzbhQeBYI/AAAAAAAADaY/fLBr9gfFXXo/s1600/pantry%2Bclean%2Bwhite.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The "one can deep" closet style. Note the chalkboard door panels.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w6ZVctATHd0/VIZze3_owMI/AAAAAAAADa8/oMbGnr1Uy58/s1600/pantry%2Bwith%2Ba%2Bcounter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w6ZVctATHd0/VIZze3_owMI/AAAAAAAADa8/oMbGnr1Uy58/s1600/pantry%2Bwith%2Ba%2Bcounter.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Deep enough for the microwave and toaster--a mini food prep area.</span></td></tr>
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This <a href="http://www.oldhouseonline.com/tips-on-designing-a-pantry/">article</a> by Jennifer Sperry from Old House Journal online also offers great design ideas and inspiring photos.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cyMQ1BhmXI4/VIZzcIpQDJI/AAAAAAAADao/AcKAREb45TA/s1600/pantry%2Bcrown%2Bpoint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cyMQ1BhmXI4/VIZzcIpQDJI/AAAAAAAADao/AcKAREb45TA/s1600/pantry%2Bcrown%2Bpoint.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Nice cabinets, but maybe too narrow for more than one person to work in?</span></td></tr>
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<strong>Stocking and Managing Your Pantry</strong></div>
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A good pantry is one that works well for you. It should be a “living” thing—used daily, regularly restocked, and easy to find things in. There are several good books on how to stock and use a pantry, as well as online resources for pantry checklists and shopping lists. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BvAM-cOZCA/VIZzbJCPrdI/AAAAAAAADkc/V40KAoAoFZQ/s1600/pantry%2Bbooks%2Burban%2Bpantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BvAM-cOZCA/VIZzbJCPrdI/AAAAAAAADkc/V40KAoAoFZQ/s1600/pantry%2Bbooks%2Burban%2Bpantry.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Natural light is a nice touch.</span></td></tr>
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Check out this <a href="http://www.keepandshare.com/htm/lists/grocery_list/C03_World's-Best-Grocery-List.php">Keep and Share</a> site for a downloadable grocery list--there are lots of others online too. Any of these seem like a good template to start with and then customize to suit your own family's food preferences. Keep it low-tech by hanging a paper grocery list on the inside of the pantry door. Or keep your list electronically in your computer--or your smartphone! There has to be an app for that, right?</div>
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Some things to keep in mind:</div>
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<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Label items with their purchase date and store them with the oldest toward the front to be used first.</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Try not to store more than 1 can or box deep; you want to have all the items visible so you remember to use them. </li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Keep the heaviest items on the lower shelves for safety’s sake. </li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If your pantry is cool enough, store your onions and potatoes there too. </li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Consider keeping canned beans, pickled and spiced vegetables, and cured meats on hand to create an instant hors d’oeuvres platter should you have unexpected guests. </li>
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<strong>My Pantry in the Making</strong></div>
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With all this information at my disposal, here’s what I ended up designing for our new kitchen: </div>
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<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A little room, 3 ½ feet wide by 4 feet deep, with a 28” door;</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">located to the right of the refrigerator; near enough to the range and island to be convenient, but out of the line of traffic so as to be accessible to others without bothering the main cook;</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">painted a pumpkin/squash burnt orange with mustard yellow shelves (just for fun!);</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">6 levels of shelves on three sides—6” deep on the left, 9” deep on the right; and 12” deep at the back in order to keep goods visible and no more than 1 can/jar/box deep on the sides and room for bulkier items on the back shelves (even in such a small space, this adds to an astonishing 69 linear feet of storage!); and</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">lit well from above with a pendent lamp.</li>
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Some of the other features I’m thinking of adding include a chalkboard or magnetic board on the inside of the door; smaller spice racks mounted on the inside of the door; possibly a small rolling cart (IKEA has some nice ones) to set inside and hold my KitchenAid mixer and larger containers of flour and sugar. The idea of the cart is that I could roll it out from the pantry when I’m baking or otherwise need the mixer. In my other kitchens the mixer has always been on the countertop, but I’m leaning toward keeping sleeker, less cluttered surfaces in this kitchen. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">IKEA "Flytta" cart</span></td></tr>
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One feature I wanted to add, but wasn’t able to, is a vent to the outside as a way of keeping the pantry cooler than the kitchen itself. MTH said it was a building code issue because we would be interrupting the insulation in the outside wall. (I’m not actually sure if that is true. It may actually be an “installation” issue; as in “Honey I don’t want to tear open the wall we just finished!!” That’s okay too.)<br />
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Because we also have a mudroom—just outside the kitchen door—the pantry doesn’t have to handle cleaning supplies or pet food or products bought in bulk; those will be in the mudroom along with the cats’ litter pan, pet food bowls, vases and shears for cutting and arranging flowers brought in from the garden, and other miscellaneous items I’ve yet to figure out!</div>
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So my little pantry is just waiting to be filled with all kinds of delicious things.<span style="color: #76a5af;"><strong> I hope it will also be the start of turning me into that GOOD COOK of my dreams!</strong></span>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-52945303806833920952011-05-21T19:30:00.000-07:002016-04-01T13:40:59.660-07:00Extreme Makeover! (Choosing Exterior Paint Colors) <br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rCRefza7oiU/Vv7WMFf_pyI/AAAAAAAADsk/DyqE7FanNug70hXbl7Rl0KyPAI5MbHMfA/s1600/paint%2Bcolors%2B009.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rCRefza7oiU/Vv7WMFf_pyI/AAAAAAAADsk/DyqE7FanNug70hXbl7Rl0KyPAI5MbHMfA/s320/paint%2Bcolors%2B009.JPG" width="320" /></a> We’ve been so busy the last year with the basics of building the house, I hadn’t even given a thought yet to what the exterior paint scheme might be. Lots of rainy weather this spring had also put the exterior painting on the back burner—that is until two nights ago. A sunny and warm (or at least above 60 degrees) weather forecast prompted MTH into finalizing a contract with a painter to start painting the exterior RIGHT AWAY. <br />
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That evening, almost as an aside, MTH said to me “Oh, the painter wants to start tomorrow. Tell me what colors you’ve picked out so I can tell him what to buy.” Huh?? You’re kidding, right??<br />
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No, he wasn’t. He really did need the color selection the next day. At this point, words unprintable gushed from my mouth. Just two weeks ago I finalized the interior colors I had been mulling over for the better part of a year. And now I was supposed to come up with perhaps the most critical paint color choices of the entire project OVERNIGHT? A paint job that we’ll have to live with for 15 to 20 years?<br />
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Resistance was futile! There was nothing to do but round up all the paint chips I happened to have on hand and start visualizing them on the outside of our house. <br />
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This being more difficult than I thought, I decided to go online and look for more choices. All the painters we talked to said they prefer to use Sherwin Williams paint, so with this in mind I went to their website. Lovely colors and nice advertising; still tough to choose.</div>
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I decided to try their <a href="http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/index.jsp">Color Visualizer</a>. Following their directions, I uploaded a photo of the front façade of our house and applied “masks” to the siding and the main trim elements.<br />
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The Color Visualizer tool allows you to create a mask for just about any house part you want to, but I decided just to focus on the walls and the door and window trims, and not fuss with simulating the window mullions or exterior doors. <br />
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The masking is pretty easy to do but does require a steady hand to achieve precision. In the interest of time I decided to use the “broad brush” approach (my terminology!) and roughly mask out the walls and trim—just enough to get an idea of how certain colors would look on the house. <br />
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Although the site offers a number of preselected paint schemes and houses to view them on, I created my own instead. I chose to test just a handful of schemes: a warm grey, a cool grey, a light and a dark brown, something blue, something green, and a kind of greenish gold.<br />
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Because the images on the screen are so small, I downloaded each paint scheme simulation to a Word document and then compared them all side by side at various sizes—and here they are!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w6VEsmCWbBA/Vv7aJS2xL8I/AAAAAAAADuI/JUbMns6pOjU0hil8NNWZQAE_3m1M06kTw/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w6VEsmCWbBA/Vv7aJS2xL8I/AAAAAAAADuI/JUbMns6pOjU0hil8NNWZQAE_3m1M06kTw/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GQjwXUQ7Pg/Vv7au4Lo6AI/AAAAAAAADuQ/gb4d7LctZokxl4sVRxLe7AahKsxCxc1Ig/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GQjwXUQ7Pg/Vv7au4Lo6AI/AAAAAAAADuQ/gb4d7LctZokxl4sVRxLe7AahKsxCxc1Ig/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ISHYuos_tY/Vv7axRhhUiI/AAAAAAAADuY/cXvJMTR-8o4rQlhLU7XNQ9REUTakveNWA/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0ISHYuos_tY/Vv7axRhhUiI/AAAAAAAADuY/cXvJMTR-8o4rQlhLU7XNQ9REUTakveNWA/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6eotbDOFacg/Vv7bHK8sNVI/AAAAAAAADuk/EcZ3WzEy-6ck2Wi_BDys3332A-9WvF-ZQ/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6eotbDOFacg/Vv7bHK8sNVI/AAAAAAAADuk/EcZ3WzEy-6ck2Wi_BDys3332A-9WvF-ZQ/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B5.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KPOggzOhMFI/Vv7bJlxNUMI/AAAAAAAADus/4vGcXzK4FooXQqreQ8bu8vMZOPYvweSaA/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KPOggzOhMFI/Vv7bJlxNUMI/AAAAAAAADus/4vGcXzK4FooXQqreQ8bu8vMZOPYvweSaA/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B6.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X4YXw2mQrdU/Vv7bL066jFI/AAAAAAAADu0/uh-61t9kT1gqc6_WLJIUF0tb-TQkIyCOg/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X4YXw2mQrdU/Vv7bL066jFI/AAAAAAAADu0/uh-61t9kT1gqc6_WLJIUF0tb-TQkIyCOg/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B7.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4dytbWicdA/Vv7bOHUchkI/AAAAAAAADu8/XC5jmNRh4wcM9qiIZZKfauUbwS4hE9S9Q/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4dytbWicdA/Vv7bOHUchkI/AAAAAAAADu8/XC5jmNRh4wcM9qiIZZKfauUbwS4hE9S9Q/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B9.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-bFAQLehE0/Vv7bQyFOmbI/AAAAAAAADvE/OnyDODht70IOx8wKvJhDE0pdHLk43VRwQ/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-bFAQLehE0/Vv7bQyFOmbI/AAAAAAAADvE/OnyDODht70IOx8wKvJhDE0pdHLk43VRwQ/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B10.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RorBc5P2A6A/Vv7bUW4oSiI/AAAAAAAADvM/ArUpip3t94EBQJgiAI6eCgECrEahiiKOw/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B12.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RorBc5P2A6A/Vv7bUW4oSiI/AAAAAAAADvM/ArUpip3t94EBQJgiAI6eCgECrEahiiKOw/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B12.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3HXoCJ0xa4/Vv7bWa15m7I/AAAAAAAADvY/BhtMgJx9jak9Bsqxwoxp8RjMJN7f6QLaQ/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B13.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f3HXoCJ0xa4/Vv7bWa15m7I/AAAAAAAADvY/BhtMgJx9jak9Bsqxwoxp8RjMJN7f6QLaQ/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B13.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BgeB0QMG28U/Vv7bYgJrsAI/AAAAAAAADvg/J_To3eQU6I4eo7z5D5atKfo5geh0o1jOQ/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B14.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BgeB0QMG28U/Vv7bYgJrsAI/AAAAAAAADvg/J_To3eQU6I4eo7z5D5atKfo5geh0o1jOQ/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B14.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c1J_XAmvsSM/Vv7ba-BSJSI/AAAAAAAADvo/fJsYaMiE5PI0yEJwzQfkELljo4-jTjYFw/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B15.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c1J_XAmvsSM/Vv7ba-BSJSI/AAAAAAAADvo/fJsYaMiE5PI0yEJwzQfkELljo4-jTjYFw/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B15.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfnHOIXgVp4/Vv7bheonIoI/AAAAAAAADvw/QDS-nLBJjhc5moJvhkqfTW8SF_FU0YpvQ/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B16.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfnHOIXgVp4/Vv7bheonIoI/AAAAAAAADvw/QDS-nLBJjhc5moJvhkqfTW8SF_FU0YpvQ/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse%2B16.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tBgMXC1xXv8/Vv7bmKJVsxI/AAAAAAAADv4/6QBUWqekVv0a8eRmuOx5BkXRiOqCVzK1g/s1600/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tBgMXC1xXv8/Vv7bmKJVsxI/AAAAAAAADv4/6QBUWqekVv0a8eRmuOx5BkXRiOqCVzK1g/s320/sunset%2Bhill%2Bhouse.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(Some of the colors used for walls include Gray Area, Burlap, Renwick Olive, Sage, and Dutch Tile Blue--I forgot to write them all down or match them with the photos; sorry! Most of the trim is shown in Dover White.)</span><br />
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Helpful as the simulations are, it isn’t quite the same as seeing the colors in real life. First thing in the morning—remember, there were painters waiting for me—I went to our nearest Sherwin Williams store and pulled the paint chips that matched the schemes I had developed. <br />
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Sure enough, some of the colors didn’t look at all like they did online, so I made some substitutions and then ordered sample quarts of 5 different colors (I eventually added two more--NEVER be cheap in buying quarts of paint to test. The price of knowing that a color doesn't work is, well, priceless.) Off I went to our house site where the painters gallantly brushed on each color for me to assess.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PlNeJ3inYok/Vv7YWFfx1NI/AAAAAAAADtk/exMJOmp3tl4zx0dPAu0poa9Wv9dsnEsnw/s1600/paint%2Bcolors%2B001.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PlNeJ3inYok/Vv7YWFfx1NI/AAAAAAAADtk/exMJOmp3tl4zx0dPAu0poa9Wv9dsnEsnw/s320/paint%2Bcolors%2B001.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dmsgl62JLBc/Vv7X4TNaoOI/AAAAAAAADtQ/vqB6GEoUoTc3Kzk-gX0mJjQVUo1s0vGgA/s1600/paint%2Bcolors%2B002.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dmsgl62JLBc/Vv7X4TNaoOI/AAAAAAAADtQ/vqB6GEoUoTc3Kzk-gX0mJjQVUo1s0vGgA/s320/paint%2Bcolors%2B002.JPG" width="180" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ksa918ck8-U/Vv7X-BAplII/AAAAAAAADtY/Ln1Wk_HUTGUFodjWU5DztdhoHBhS4XyHg/s1600/paint%2Bcolors%2B003.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ksa918ck8-U/Vv7X-BAplII/AAAAAAAADtY/Ln1Wk_HUTGUFodjWU5DztdhoHBhS4XyHg/s320/paint%2Bcolors%2B003.JPG" width="180" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> Left to right; top to bottom: Garden Sage, Wheatgrass, Peristyle Brass, Dapper Tan </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">and more Wheatgrass and Garden Sage</span></div>
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At that point, panic set it. I didn’t like any of them. Well that isn’t exactly true; it wasn’t that I definitively DISLIKED them—I didn’t really know WHAT I liked or what I wanted. I had been in such a hurry to choose colors that I hadn’t allowed myself the time to just think about what quality I wanted the house to convey and what color(s) would do it best. <br />
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Reaching optimum freak-out status, I quickly called MTH and implored him to immediately come help me choose the color scheme. If I was going to make a mistake, I wanted to make it with his company and complicity! Sensing my impending meltdown, he wisely complied.<br />
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It turns out the colors I chose were, except for one, consistently too light. I had been so afraid of going too dark that I went to the other extreme. MTH and I pored over the fan deck the painters loaned us and pretty quickly came up with 3 more colors to test—all darker than the first 5. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b7UoRoUDXeA/Vv7W8yo-SgI/AAAAAAAADsw/ikWMuM4z2S8I_L-cQzG9mkMu7ldSzZSEw/s1600/paint%2Bcolors%2B007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b7UoRoUDXeA/Vv7W8yo-SgI/AAAAAAAADsw/ikWMuM4z2S8I_L-cQzG9mkMu7ldSzZSEw/s320/paint%2Bcolors%2B007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Eureka! Colors #1 and #3 immediately appealed to us and we realized that darker was better. We tried one more color that better matched the pre-colored aluminum window mullions (The seaglass blue that I chose ages ago when we ordered the windows). Yikes. Waaay too intense. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn2PKjCxlUA/Vv7XFUcp6tI/AAAAAAAADs4/29GaCWQRhXgwcBVGC7ZU-c2S53P50GveA/s1600/paint%2Bcolors%2B008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn2PKjCxlUA/Vv7XFUcp6tI/AAAAAAAADs4/29GaCWQRhXgwcBVGC7ZU-c2S53P50GveA/s320/paint%2Bcolors%2B008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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With fingers crossed we backtracked and picked “Retreat” for the walls and “Dover White” for the trim. (Yeah, not that adventurous--but hey, it's better than tan.)<br />
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I’d like to tell you that I slept soundly that night, happy in the knowledge we had chosen well. But no; I tossed and turned the whole night, doubted our decision, and generally worried myself sick. I couldn’t wait for morning to come, and yet I also dreaded it for I knew the painters would start spraying early and the result—good, fair, or HORRIBLE—would be right in front of me.<br />
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In the morning I drove to the site, gingerly turned the corner, and to my complete relief saw that the color we chose was…not bad at all!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMmJGIcrrUA/Vv7XlcYy4CI/AAAAAAAADtE/af55vpiiuy8vvDLps7WJmWCrrrUaEiTSg/s1600/painted%2Bhouse%2B001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMmJGIcrrUA/Vv7XlcYy4CI/AAAAAAAADtE/af55vpiiuy8vvDLps7WJmWCrrrUaEiTSg/s400/painted%2Bhouse%2B001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The REAL house painted in Retreat and Dover White by Sherwin Williams</span></td></tr>
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<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-73743029686747365962011-05-21T13:07:00.000-07:002011-06-11T22:19:01.834-07:00Life Imitates Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2HTkQRRlQ9A/TdgUrvVLNSI/AAAAAAAAAX4/PB-i6MiT5Do/s1600/Rothko+pink+on+red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2HTkQRRlQ9A/TdgUrvVLNSI/AAAAAAAAAX4/PB-i6MiT5Do/s200/Rothko+pink+on+red.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XSaTVnEyGSU/TdgVf4UflgI/AAAAAAAAAYA/G5nYmaCj0Y4/s1600/pink+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XSaTVnEyGSU/TdgVf4UflgI/AAAAAAAAAYA/G5nYmaCj0Y4/s200/pink+wall.jpg" width="130" /></a> Here is a pop quiz for you art lovers! Which of these two is a Mark Rothko painting, and which is a test patch of color for Miss K’s bedroom?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Okay, that was a little facetious. In Rothko’s painting the interest is in the interplay between the colors and the emotions they evoke in the viewer—not just on a single patch of color itself. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The color block paintings are from his late period—1949 onward. I’m guessing he must have been aware of the work of Josef Albers who experimented extensively with the effects of colors upon each other, but I don’t know. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhrQAgs1X6U/TdgZHXKyLxI/AAAAAAAAAYc/yR-h59-ZUDo/s1600/viewing+a+Rothko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhrQAgs1X6U/TdgZHXKyLxI/AAAAAAAAAYc/yR-h59-ZUDo/s200/viewing+a+Rothko.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Regardless, Rothko saw these blocks of color as having their own “life force” and as an instrument through which to convey human emotion. He felt that the best way to view them was to get very close—even just 18” away—in order to be enveloped within the painting and experience a sense of intimacy or even transcendence. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m4678WMVASg/TdgZf-nuW5I/AAAAAAAAAYg/aWLdVtMh2iY/s1600/Rothko+orange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m4678WMVASg/TdgZf-nuW5I/AAAAAAAAAYg/aWLdVtMh2iY/s400/Rothko+orange.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Having now painted Miss K’s room a vibrating violet color, I can attest to the fact that being surrounded by the color is quite an experience! I wonder if Rothko ever considered creating a painting large enough to wrap around the viewer? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgtrEff7JeM/TdgVjX83ElI/AAAAAAAAAYE/0PoryXfzyRM/s1600/Rothko+black+stripe..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgtrEff7JeM/TdgVjX83ElI/AAAAAAAAAYE/0PoryXfzyRM/s400/Rothko+black+stripe..jpg" width="322" /></a></div><br />
I'm generally more a fan of figurative painting and landscapes, but these Rothkos are breathtaking to me. Anyway, I know I’m not the only one who has looked to art for color inspiration—and his paintings do not disappoint. Aren't these beautiful? I would never have thought to put the brown-red together with the pink, below. And the white sits above just like a pillow or a cloud.<br />
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Mark Rothko died in 1970. In 2007 his painting “White Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose), shown below, sold for $72.8 million at Sotheby’s New York, setting a new record for the sale of a post-war painting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izx0zngfdeQ/TdgVmPKnpiI/AAAAAAAAAYI/fkpRHPnx9EE/s1600/Rothko+orange+black+pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izx0zngfdeQ/TdgVmPKnpiI/AAAAAAAAAYI/fkpRHPnx9EE/s400/Rothko+orange+black+pink.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-35844260992964027292011-05-15T21:08:00.000-07:002013-05-04T14:46:37.603-07:00Nordic By Northwest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yx-mAA5hok4/TdB6i_RlVqI/AAAAAAAAAWc/DTMYJIwHoJc/s1600/north+by+northwest+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yx-mAA5hok4/TdB6i_RlVqI/AAAAAAAAAWc/DTMYJIwHoJc/s200/north+by+northwest+poster.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
This <span style="font-family: inherit;">post</span> is ostensibly a continuation of the discussion from "<a href="http://lifeonsunsethill.blogspot.com/2011/04/living-room-blues.html">Living Room Blues</a>" about the Nordic-inspired living room I’m trying to create and how it fits here in the Northwest. But really it’s just an excuse to sneak in a reference to one of my favorite films—the Alfred Hitchcock 1959 thriller North by Northwest, starring Cary Grant!* <br />
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Beyond the fact that the film features a couple of beautiful houses, there is really no relationship to our house project. But isn’t it nice to just look at a picture of Cary Grant anyway? Sigh. They don’t make ‘em like they used to. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iR9F2EMbBwc/TdCgv-F1ahI/AAAAAAAAAWw/N-Gt_6p4FIs/s1600/cary+grant+and+eva+marie+saint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="154" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iR9F2EMbBwc/TdCgv-F1ahI/AAAAAAAAAWw/N-Gt_6p4FIs/s200/cary+grant+and+eva+marie+saint.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint</span></td></tr>
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Back to the subject at hand. So what is this Nordic element I’m trying to infuse into the living room? <br />
<a name='more'></a>Unlike our house on Whidbey Island, I’m not making any overt references to folk architecture or folk art or historical styles. Instead I’m playing with a quality of light that I associate both with Scandinavia (especially in winter) and also the Northwest, and trying to capture it in my paint choices and accents.<br />
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But I’m finding the Nordic grey-blue is a tricky one to replicate! Too grey and it compounds the depressing, oppressive grey we already see outside here in Seattle a good portion of the year. Too blue and it goes all baby-ish and cloyingly sweet. Too dark—as in marine or navy—and it becomes a cliché of seaside, nautical décor. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jgy2jwI_dO8/TdB_qOQV9XI/AAAAAAAAAWo/3EhK1__r0zM/s1600/grey+cloudy+Seattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jgy2jwI_dO8/TdB_qOQV9XI/AAAAAAAAAWo/3EhK1__r0zM/s1600/grey+cloudy+Seattle.jpg" /></a></div>
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No, what I am after is a luminous silvery grey that leans to the blue side with some hints of sea-green in it too—like the color of the water in the photo below taken a couple of summers ago in Denmark.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHpOSIpdYCU/TdCA9MI7KnI/AAAAAAAAAWs/cI4-PAG_ddA/s1600/IMG_6576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHpOSIpdYCU/TdCA9MI7KnI/AAAAAAAAAWs/cI4-PAG_ddA/s400/IMG_6576.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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After examining scads of color chips and narrowing down to a dozen or so, I finally chose two to test on the wall, as shown below (along with some "props" for context).<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nc3c7-i6gB8/TdB7G-q-hjI/AAAAAAAAAWg/C8flCxkD6tM/s1600/may+2011+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nc3c7-i6gB8/TdB7G-q-hjI/AAAAAAAAAWg/C8flCxkD6tM/s400/may+2011+004.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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Although both colors looked just plain "concrete grey" at first, the next day when I came to see them after they had thoroughly dried, I found myself drawn to the lighter of the two. And so it was that Sherwin Williams’ color “<a href="http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/ideas/color/SW7657_tinsmith/">Tinsmith</a>” became the final choice, shown below with some of the runner-up paint chips and several trim candidates). It looks quite grey, right?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ovj7kuX1Hbw/TdB7cF6M9TI/AAAAAAAAAWk/OWI0M8MbY3Y/s1600/may+2011+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ovj7kuX1Hbw/TdB7cF6M9TI/AAAAAAAAAWk/OWI0M8MbY3Y/s320/may+2011+002.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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What I had forgotten was that as soon as a whole room is painted with a particular color, some aspect of it often becomes amplified; in this case the blue. The first time I saw the final result, I was SO disappointed. All my efforts to avoid that “baby blue” pastel look in favor of something more sophisticated and complex seemed for naught. It screamed out pale blue to me. Can you believe this is the same color shown above?<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_pCEnPSRS8/TdCh-u_1vlI/AAAAAAAAAW0/CDy8Xhz4Z_U/s1600/all+painted+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_pCEnPSRS8/TdCh-u_1vlI/AAAAAAAAAW0/CDy8Xhz4Z_U/s400/all+painted+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now this has happened to me before—that a color starts playing tricks on me—but I have learned that it really doesn’t make sense to judge until the room is finished. The difference that trim colors and flooring and upholstery and accent pieces make is amazing. So I’m counting on past experience that the color will moderate back to that silvery grey-blue once everything is done. I’ll post another photo once the room is done and let you be the judge. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!<br />
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<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">5/21/12 Postscript: Talk about Nordic light--I just discovered this lovely blog from a young woman living in the far north of Sweden: </span></i><a href="http://jonnajinton.se/?page_id=2061"><i><span style="color: #a64d79;">Jonna Jinton</span></i></a><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"> So beautiful!</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">5/4/13 Postscript: Here's a corner of our mostly finished living room (still missing window/door trims and drapes...). It still looks a little baby-blue here, but actually reads soft blue-grey in person. </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">*If you want some fun trivia on the film North by Northwest, check out these links:</span></i><br />
<ul>
<li><i><a href="http://hookedonhouses.net/2010/03/15/north-by-northwest-hitchcocks-house-on-mt-rushmore/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Hooked on Houses</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"> shows all the houses from the film and some interiors too.</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">2006 article by </span><a href="http://neveryetmelted.com/2008/01/04/cary-grants-north-by-northwest-suit/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Todd McEwan</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> who quips "<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">North By Northwest</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> isn’t a film about what happens to Cary Grant, it’s about what happens to his suit.” and then proceeds to discuss all the fine points about that fabulous suit.</span></span></span></i></li>
<li><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><i><a href="http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+from+north+by+northwest+film&view=detail&id=66CC8940892A380B889BF0E06399F84E9F4EB4F9&first=241&qpvt=images+from+north+by+northwest+film&FORM=IDFRIR"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">The Sartorialist</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"> also featured a piece on the Mr. Grant's suit from the movie. </span></i></span></li>
</ul>
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-26067070517480575302011-04-16T23:01:00.000-07:002011-06-11T22:19:43.999-07:00Virtual House Tour!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hw57S6lRK2Y/TaqDKnFz8yI/AAAAAAAAAWY/tI8DxSgNRgA/s1600/open+house+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hw57S6lRK2Y/TaqDKnFz8yI/AAAAAAAAAWY/tI8DxSgNRgA/s200/open+house+sign.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">3FJYDXYQPY7K</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Readers</span>,</span> </strong><br />
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I am tickled <span style="color: magenta;">pink</span> to finally be able to show you the inside of our house with the completion of drywall! No more seeing through walls and looking at joists and studs and pipes. Short of actually moving in, this is the best approximation of what this house of ours actually looks and feels like.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><strong>So come on in!</strong></span> Don't lean on the walls or you'll get plaster dust on you, and watch your step around buckets of mudding compound. I'll start you at the front door of the main house (ours) and go from there. If you happen to get lost, look at the floor plan in the Photos section of the blog.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> *******</div>Standing at the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">threshold of the front door</span></strong>, you see the stairs to the 2nd floor, the entry hall straight ahead with the library beyond it, and the doorway to the powder room, coat closet, and small TV/computer room.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FH3cy_Rl-ew/TapzInZoWcI/AAAAAAAAAUY/erWbFLSgIzc/s1600/interior+after+drywall+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FH3cy_Rl-ew/TapzInZoWcI/AAAAAAAAAUY/erWbFLSgIzc/s320/interior+after+drywall+027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Now we have walked further into the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">entry hall</span></strong> and are able to see a bit into the kitchen and dining room before we turn left to enter the living room.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c1tptIyoIEE/TapzThYvwiI/AAAAAAAAAUc/4I8-wVDMy-0/s1600/interior+after+drywall+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c1tptIyoIEE/TapzThYvwiI/AAAAAAAAAUc/4I8-wVDMy-0/s320/interior+after+drywall+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This is the view of the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">living room</span></strong> from the doorway closest to the front door. The French doors lead out into a courtyard.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H2clZVzvrYg/TapzZ4qoiDI/AAAAAAAAAUg/xf144Wn7cLI/s1600/interior+after+drywall+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H2clZVzvrYg/TapzZ4qoiDI/AAAAAAAAAUg/xf144Wn7cLI/s320/interior+after+drywall+025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Walking to the other end of the<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>living room</strong></span></span>, this is the view looking back. Beyond the triple window is the street. The fireplace is gas and will have a tile and wood surround and mantel.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MWh1otGW9Ic/Tapze05svSI/AAAAAAAAAUk/dizfn8qOdMU/s1600/interior+after+drywall+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MWh1otGW9Ic/Tapze05svSI/AAAAAAAAAUk/dizfn8qOdMU/s320/interior+after+drywall+030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Turning around we go through to the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">library</span></strong> with a view straight ahead to the dining area. The opening on the left side of the dining area leads to the kitchen.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q7vfMaHmgFA/TapzqnoK4nI/AAAAAAAAAUo/DMdWxsPzXfE/s1600/interior+after+drywall+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q7vfMaHmgFA/TapzqnoK4nI/AAAAAAAAAUo/DMdWxsPzXfE/s320/interior+after+drywall+032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Another view of the<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>dining area</strong></span></span>. The door on the right wall of the dining area leads to small patio that will get morning sun.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUv4eWKPtBs/TapzyUpfVPI/AAAAAAAAAUs/nPR8n4CJ7C8/s1600/interior+after+drywall+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tUv4eWKPtBs/TapzyUpfVPI/AAAAAAAAAUs/nPR8n4CJ7C8/s320/interior+after+drywall+034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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This view is of the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">kitchen</span></strong> with, from left to right, a door to the mudroom, a space for the range, niche for the refrigerator, a pantry, and a bay window with built-in seating.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJP8GrMkfvY/Tapz4RK-XzI/AAAAAAAAAUw/CKXaKywNuZQ/s1600/interior+after+drywall+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJP8GrMkfvY/Tapz4RK-XzI/AAAAAAAAAUw/CKXaKywNuZQ/s320/interior+after+drywall+035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Backtracing out to the entry hall again, this is a view into the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">coat closet and powder room.</span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K6xiEYW_ePM/Tap0R7BGkEI/AAAAAAAAAU4/jz9ztZA4oYY/s1600/interior+after+drywall+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K6xiEYW_ePM/Tap0R7BGkEI/AAAAAAAAAU4/jz9ztZA4oYY/s320/interior+after+drywall+028.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
Just opposite the coat closet is a small <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>TV/computer room</strong>.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KL-8HFSkc_g/Tap0ZQjXDAI/AAAAAAAAAU8/jsMP3ncycj8/s1600/interior+after+drywall+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KL-8HFSkc_g/Tap0ZQjXDAI/AAAAAAAAAU8/jsMP3ncycj8/s320/interior+after+drywall+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Okay, now we have ascended the main stairway, walked down a short hallway, and are peeking into the<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>master bedroom</strong></span></span>. The sliver of window on the left looks out over the street.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8kk2l2xsBn8/Tap0o2UNWtI/AAAAAAAAAVA/LQo78GpzpwE/s1600/interior+after+drywall+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8kk2l2xsBn8/Tap0o2UNWtI/AAAAAAAAAVA/LQo78GpzpwE/s320/interior+after+drywall+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This is the view looking from the bedroom through to the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">master bathroom</span></strong>. The two opposing doors, left and right, are to a WC and a walk-in closet. A free-standing tub will be located just under the double windows straight ahead.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pe_Z1_bo6SY/Tap0vdujfwI/AAAAAAAAAVE/gID9Bb92w74/s1600/interior+after+drywall+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pe_Z1_bo6SY/Tap0vdujfwI/AAAAAAAAAVE/gID9Bb92w74/s320/interior+after+drywall+009.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
This is a view looking directly into the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">shower</span></strong>, with the tub area on the left and sinks (one for me and one for MTH) on the right.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WjRm5lColxw/Tap00upqVAI/AAAAAAAAAVI/DrLfhFM29B0/s1600/interior+after+drywall+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WjRm5lColxw/Tap00upqVAI/AAAAAAAAAVI/DrLfhFM29B0/s320/interior+after+drywall+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After leaving the master bath and bedroom, this is a view down the<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <strong>2nd floor hallway</strong></span></span> with a large closet to the left for laundry--the washer and dryer will be here along with a big folding table and other laundry-related items.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wc7Z6eh5Amw/Tap1BQMLV8I/AAAAAAAAAVM/E0NVfoTMLkM/s1600/interior+after+drywall+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wc7Z6eh5Amw/Tap1BQMLV8I/AAAAAAAAAVM/E0NVfoTMLkM/s320/interior+after+drywall+015.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
This is a view into <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Miss K's bedroom</span></strong>, with lovely light coming in through two sets of double windows.<br />
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This is the<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>2nd bathroom</strong></span></span> on this floor, to be used mostly by Miss K, but also by guests. There is a corner deep-soaking tub and behind it a free-standing shower.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1g6k4kWfjuQ/Tap1iI8G03I/AAAAAAAAAVU/Mp0JD_yIs1c/s1600/interior+after+drywall+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1g6k4kWfjuQ/Tap1iI8G03I/AAAAAAAAAVU/Mp0JD_yIs1c/s320/interior+after+drywall+019.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
Standing inside the shower of the<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>2nd bathroom</strong></span></span>, we're looking at a portion of the wall (to the right) that will house the sink and cabinets and the toilet.<br />
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This is<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>Miss K's closet</strong></span></span>. No, she doesn't have this many clothes! The space will also be used to store toys with the idea that she can bring the items she is playing with into her bedroom, one group at a time, and not have ALL of them in her bedroom at the same time, which usually equals major mess and chaos. (We'll see how this works...)<br />
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Now we have climbed the attic stairs and are looking at one end of the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">attic space</span></strong>. I hope to eventually turn this into my craft room for sewing, painting, and other creative pursuits.<br />
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This is that funny little space where the round window is in the front gable. The headroom is minimal and it really is too small to be a functional room, but I couldn't bear to waste this charming little<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>hobbit space</strong></span></span>! I'm going to put a single bed up there and fill it with pillows so Miss K and her friends can hide out and talk, read, and listen to music in their own secret cubby hole.<br />
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This is the view back down the attic stairs to the<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>2nd floor landing</strong></span></span>.<br />
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At the base of the landing is the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">sunroom</span></strong>. This is the space that sits above the front porch and below the little "hobbit" room in the attic. We may use it as a sitting room for the master bedroom or a guest room when needed (with interior curtains to pull across for privacy). The light and views are great here--I might do my knitting here.<br />
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Here we are going down the main stairs and reaching the<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>front door</strong></span></span> again. From here we will walk outside around the house to view Mom's cottage. (There is no access to her cottage from the interior of our house.)<br />
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This is the view from the front door of the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">cottage</span></strong>, with dining area and a coat closet dead ahead, the living room to the right, and kitchen to the left out of sight.<br />
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Looking into the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">living room</span></strong> to the covered porch through a wall of sliding doors.<br />
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From the living room we turn around and look back toward the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">kitchen</span></strong>. Those windows are positioned over the kitchen sink.<br />
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Another view of the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">kitchen</span></strong>--which is U-shaped--and a peek into a small TV room on the left.<br />
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Looking down a very short flight of stairs (about 3 steps) into the<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>bed/bath wing</strong></span></span>, with the bedroom straight ahead, the bath to the left, and a laundry closet to the right.<br />
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A view directly into the <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">bathroom</span></strong>. The toilet will be behind the tub on the right, and the whole left wall devoted to a linen cupboard and long vanity and sink.<br />
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View out of the bathroom into the<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>laundry closet</strong></span></span> (straight ahead).<br />
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The <strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">bedroom</span></strong> with a sliding door out to a small deck. The funny dark rectangle is just some extra space we had over our fridge that can serve as extra storage inside this bedroom closet. The bedroom backs up against our kitchen.<br />
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<div align="center">*******</div><br />
Well, that's about it. I would show the garden spaces but there really isn't anything to see it--the ground is still torn up and muddy from construction. Next photos I'll share will be these same rooms all painted.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-58737409758747662682011-04-16T00:45:00.000-07:002011-06-11T22:20:06.221-07:00Living Room Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4hKtVVibqX0/TalFDY2Q88I/AAAAAAAAAUI/0MTjU_-zj8k/s1600/color+palette+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4hKtVVibqX0/TalFDY2Q88I/AAAAAAAAAUI/0MTjU_-zj8k/s320/color+palette+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The drywall is up and mudding is well underway. We should be ready to paint within a week or two, so I'm busy finalizing color palettes for all the rooms. Since I have been looking at color chips and deliberating over palettes for more than a year, one would think the decisions would all have been made already! But not so. You know the axiom about the task expanding to fit the time available for it? That's exactly what has happened.<br />
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So here I am down to the wire and still going back and forth on colors, with the living room in particular posing a real challenge. I'm aiming for something that evokes the feeling of the sea, but not too clear and bright--something a little bit muddy instead, like waves during a storm. A greyish blue leaning toward aqua for the walls, and a chalky white with hints of grey-tan like a bleached seashell for trim and ceiling. Or maybe a slightly more putty color for the ceiling...? I also plan to use some darker blues for the French doors. And that's just the paint colors; furniture, fabric, and accessories will add their own color and style.<br />
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Here are all the top contending color chips along with some seashells I gathered on our latest trip to Georgia and South Carolina. Using the shells as a point of reference for the whites is helping me a lot. I've already weeded out the whites that are too cold, too bright, too yellow, too blue, or too violet--leaving just some lovely greyish and creamy whites.<br />
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</div>For the blues, I'm drawing inspiration from the paintings of an artist from the Faroe Islands named Sámal Joensen-Mikines. I love his work. It seems to capture the sea in it's infinite variety and complexity of moods. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sbwlv7fHzDo/TalE4YsCAzI/AAAAAAAAAUA/TmiVULEfSWk/s1600/color+palette+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sbwlv7fHzDo/TalE4YsCAzI/AAAAAAAAAUA/TmiVULEfSWk/s320/color+palette+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lightness and darkness, high contrast, intensity, odd pairings of colors... And look at the accent colors! I love this Benjamin Moore "Evening Sky" #833 color with the painting below it. It's a little more purple than I would have ordinarily chosen to go with the palette above, but it might just add the right touch of warmth. Hmmm. Something to think about.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_HpKBKpdxfU/TalEuKcSqVI/AAAAAAAAAT4/4zAc5GaUT7k/s1600/BM+Evening+Sky+833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_HpKBKpdxfU/TalEuKcSqVI/AAAAAAAAAT4/4zAc5GaUT7k/s320/BM+Evening+Sky+833.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O41qqDlLH18/TalE8mBJRgI/AAAAAAAAAUE/2BiOIxNur-I/s1600/color+palette+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O41qqDlLH18/TalE8mBJRgI/AAAAAAAAAUE/2BiOIxNur-I/s320/color+palette+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Artists are such great inspiration because they don't allow themselves to be constrained by "good taste" or "correct" color combinations. <br />
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I've tried to be inventive in color use before in quilting and house decor and it is a lot harder than it looks. Maybe it is just me, but I find it especially hard to pull off something that looks effortless and natural. Too matchy-matchy and the whole room looks forced. Too discordant and the effect is just plain ugly!<br />
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In about two weeks the choices will have been made and the paint will be on the walls--for better or for worse. I'll post photos and let you be the judge as to whether the final result matches my aspirations. Wish me luck.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-73745498613521798292011-04-15T21:07:00.000-07:002011-06-11T22:20:24.447-07:00Savannah State of Mind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZUfpG5FbuA/TakKX7nhrlI/AAAAAAAAASs/GOCpZUgGNv0/s1600/spring+break+vacation+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZUfpG5FbuA/TakKX7nhrlI/AAAAAAAAASs/GOCpZUgGNv0/s400/spring+break+vacation+014.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>Sorry for the lack of activity lately. Things have been busy on all fronts and leaving me no time to write. But I’m back and anxious to fill you in with recent events.<br />
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Having just returned from a short but inspiring trip to Savannah, I’m on a mission to incorporate some of that Southern charm and graciousness into our house décor. Though I’ve been to Savannah just twice—the other time over 15 years ago—on each visit I’ve found something new to appreciate.<br />
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The most recent trip was with Miss K on her spring break and so our activities were more centered on things that a 10-year old enjoys. But bless her heart (I’m lapsing into a Southern drawl now), Miss K was a fabulous travel companion and surprised me by being enthusiastic about some good ‘ol antiquing with her mama.<br />
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In fact, she made some well-considered purchases including an amethyst glass cat figurine and a jewel-encrusted dog collar for Maggy. My own antiquing purchases included a small oil painting of oak trees draped with Spanish moss—abstract in style, two tin wall sconces shaped like crowns for holding candles, a matte celery green pottery pitcher, and a gold-rimmed butter plate and cover. I almost came home with a tiara—impractical yes, but Savannah just does something to a girl that makes her feel like royalty! Maybe next time…<br />
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We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to several antique stores in Savannah along Abercorn Street, most notably <span id="goog_1802453226"></span><a href="http://www.37aad.com/category/about-us/">37th @ Abercorn Antiques and Design<span id="goog_1802453227"></span></a>. Here are some images from their shop that capture some of that Savannah magic. We hope you enjoy them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FqOnO8yruLg/TakTDsuQimI/AAAAAAAAATo/EdQEWYvp6Zs/s1600/spring+break+vacation+118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FqOnO8yruLg/TakTDsuQimI/AAAAAAAAATo/EdQEWYvp6Zs/s400/spring+break+vacation+118.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-59ueSqw4vs8/TakTl12DBqI/AAAAAAAAATs/v4X6nx5dOO4/s1600/spring+break+vacation+109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-59ueSqw4vs8/TakTl12DBqI/AAAAAAAAATs/v4X6nx5dOO4/s400/spring+break+vacation+109.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iJWNxyauJg/TakT132ga4I/AAAAAAAAATw/m1cae3BwRF4/s1600/spring+break+vacation+117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--iJWNxyauJg/TakT132ga4I/AAAAAAAAATw/m1cae3BwRF4/s400/spring+break+vacation+117.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3N6uKIUk9gU/TakUB4ne3cI/AAAAAAAAAT0/XU1Vl4sVYno/s1600/spring+break+vacation+108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3N6uKIUk9gU/TakUB4ne3cI/AAAAAAAAAT0/XU1Vl4sVYno/s400/spring+break+vacation+108.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-28443532275254600162011-03-15T22:47:00.000-07:002011-05-21T19:24:24.010-07:00A Tribute and Prayer for Our Neighbor Japan <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">From Seattle's Japanese Teahouse Garden in the Arboretum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Although across the Pacific Ocean from us, Japan has always felt like a close neighbor. Seattle (and the Pacific NW) and Japan have a long history--both cultural and economic--and the tragedy of the recent earthquake is affecting many people here in our area.<br />
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Reading about the recovery efforts and seeing the photographs is heartbreaking, especially considering the loss of life. Seattle is earthquake country too and it is sobering to see just how much devastation a quake can create. <br />
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Oddly enough, I find myself reflecting upon my own personal connections with Japan--or rather, Japanese culture here in Seattle. <br />
<a name='more'></a>My best friend in 5th grade was Japanese American, as was a very close friend of mine in high school. I grew up learning about Japanese food and culture from their families long before multiculturalism became a formal part of teaching. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hSS1GJubjxU/TYBHD42D00I/AAAAAAAAARw/h3AFrkw86yQ/s1600/uwajimaya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hSS1GJubjxU/TYBHD42D00I/AAAAAAAAARw/h3AFrkw86yQ/s200/uwajimaya.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Uwajimaya Store</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>As a kid I used to go to the International District to buy rice candy, eat dim sum, and look at the weird fish in the <a href="http://www.uwajimaya.com/">Uwajimaya</a> grocery store. <br />
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6UfqyGqHxAs/TYBPV6TajxI/AAAAAAAAASE/C_4cOC7mTso/s1600/uwajimaya+fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6UfqyGqHxAs/TYBPV6TajxI/AAAAAAAAASE/C_4cOC7mTso/s200/uwajimaya+fish.jpg" width="166" /></a><br />
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When I was in college I bought a beautiful blue and white cotton yukata (summer cotton kimono) at Higo Variety store after falling in love with the ones I saw at the annual Bon Odori festival. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HNmAhgDrgiQ/TYBHPkg8OMI/AAAAAAAAAR0/h-KETtBHCGg/s1600/higo+store.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HNmAhgDrgiQ/TYBHPkg8OMI/AAAAAAAAAR0/h-KETtBHCGg/s200/higo+store.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9094">Higo Variety Store</a> from 1950</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xJiSqnoT3Pc/TYBG7PjZubI/AAAAAAAAARs/bFn-cdMltFE/s1600/seattle+times+bon+odori+2+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xJiSqnoT3Pc/TYBG7PjZubI/AAAAAAAAARs/bFn-cdMltFE/s200/seattle+times+bon+odori+2+girls.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bon Odori Festival participants</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>In my first professional job, I researched historic buildings and sites, many of which were associated with garden nurseries, strawberry farms, and so-called "truck farms" owned by Japanese Americans before the internment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_gFsyiwalhM/TYBTw4QZ63I/AAAAAAAAASI/K72KBDPARU0/s1600/strawberry+picker+1920+MOHAI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_gFsyiwalhM/TYBTw4QZ63I/AAAAAAAAASI/K72KBDPARU0/s320/strawberry+picker+1920+MOHAI.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Strawberry picker, 1920</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> The first really important piece of art that I purchased was a Japanese woodcut.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xdU4PTW-fRA/TYBGozJf6wI/AAAAAAAAARk/JtY7VYp51x8/s1600/cherry_blossom_painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xdU4PTW-fRA/TYBGozJf6wI/AAAAAAAAARk/JtY7VYp51x8/s320/cherry_blossom_painting.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
In more recent years I have attended some of the annual "From Hiroshima to Hope" lantern-lighting ceremonies at Seattle's Green Lake. The effect of all the lanterns, each sailing at its own speed and direction, is achingly beautiful and very moving.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PC6re9aj8Fo/TYBVKnxCV8I/AAAAAAAAASM/r0MSfhwOOUs/s1600/ANNUAL-PEACE-EVENT-IN-SEATLE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PC6re9aj8Fo/TYBVKnxCV8I/AAAAAAAAASM/r0MSfhwOOUs/s320/ANNUAL-PEACE-EVENT-IN-SEATLE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Japan is part of the fabric of Seattle--and a part of my own history. Knowing how challenging it is to build a house even under normal circumstances, I can’t begin to imagine the struggle that individuals, as well as Japan as a nation, face in rebuilding their homes, neighborhoods, and country. How does one begin to clean up from such devastation? Where to start? How to find the heart and the courage after such loss? More to the point, how to rebuild a life when you have lost everything--including the ones you love?<br />
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Blogging about building a house seems rather superflous right now. I think I will direct my energy elsewhere for the time being and take a short blog break. <br />
<img height="90" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xJiSqnoT3Pc/TYBG7PjZubI/AAAAAAAAARs/bFn-cdMltFE/s200/seattle+times+bon+odori+2+girls.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 445px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 734px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6543514167189500086.post-25151989917356885452011-03-10T20:04:00.000-08:002011-06-11T22:20:47.268-07:00I Contain Multitudes…of Houses! (Part 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wEppbP1o874/TXmd5Zo5R1I/AAAAAAAAARU/kmU5nf_qfIA/s1600/stepping-stones1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 188px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 129px;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wEppbP1o874/TXmd5Zo5R1I/AAAAAAAAARU/kmU5nf_qfIA/s200/stepping-stones1.jpeg" width="137" /></a></div>With apologies to Walt Whitman and the grammar police, what I really mean to say is that, house design-wise, I feel that I am the sum total of all the experiences I have had in my lifetime with houses, gardens, and architecture in general. But you can see what an awkward title that would be!<br />
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I started thinking the other day about influential spaces and moments in my life that have informed my attitudes and values about what makes a house a home. I’m organizing my ideas around a concept borrowed from a favorite book of mine, “At a Journal Workshop” by Ira Progoff. <br />
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<strong>My "Architectural Steppingstones"</strong><br />
In the Intensive Journal workshops, one of the exercises is to construct your life “steppingstones.” These are akin to milestones except that they are very personal and not necessarily the usual ones like “I went to XYZ college, I got married, I had my first child, etc.” I think Progoff calls them steppingstones because they create a path to who we are at any given moment in time. Even more interesting, one’s steppingstones from today may not be the same as those from a year ago. Our worldview is constantly changing and thereby shifting what we believe to have been the critical moments in our lives.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0-kUDlAqgz0/TXmZgEkXuhI/AAAAAAAAARI/bpKKSIgkgSQ/s1600/carl+vilhelm+holsoe+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0-kUDlAqgz0/TXmZgEkXuhI/AAAAAAAAARI/bpKKSIgkgSQ/s400/carl+vilhelm+holsoe+painting.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Carl Vilhelm Holsoe painting--no french doors, but similar feeling to my grandmother's apartment.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Views from one room to the other.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong>Steppingstone #1: French Doors, Copenhagen</strong><br />
The earliest “architectural steppingstone” I can remember is my Danish grandmother’s apartment in Copenhagen. I could write pages about it, but for your sake I’ll just share one particular memory. <br />
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There was a pair of French doors that led from her dining room to the living room. When open, the two multi-paned glass doors created a large gathering space and, when closed, they allowed different activities to take place in each space but still within sight of one another. <br />
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Why was this significant to me? First, I thought the doors were beautiful. I had never seen a French door before and I loved the way the individual panes framed views into the two spaces. <br />
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Second, I liked the formality of moving through the doors—somehow they added elegance and drama to the simple act of moving from one room to another. Third, the idea of separate but still visually connected spaces was very appealing to me. I was enchanted. I was seven years old. (Never doubt that children NOTICE things.) <br />
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<em><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong>Relevance to the new house?</strong></span></em> In our new house, there are two pairs of French doors leading into the living room, and another pair leading from the living room to the garden. The result is interesting views through the doors, several opportunities to “make an entrance,” and the option of being separate in one room but still connected to the rest of the house. This idea of “separate yet connected” also plays out in my general dislike of the Great Room concept. I really prefer distinct spaces to vast amorphous ones, and it shows in the layout of the new house.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Cn3kPt67JIA/TXmCgHLSuuI/AAAAAAAAAQg/jPSJT97jeDk/s1600/Palladian+window+and+stairway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Cn3kPt67JIA/TXmCgHLSuuI/AAAAAAAAAQg/jPSJT97jeDk/s320/Palladian+window+and+stairway.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><strong>Steppingstone #2: Palladian Window, Seattle</strong><br />
My old elementary school was a two-story classic red brick colonial. When I matriculated to 4th grade, I moved from the ground floor to the 2nd floor where the upper classes were. At the head of the stairway on the west end of the building was a large Palladian window with a view to a Yoshino cherry tree just outside. <br />
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Again, the appeal of a multi-paned window framing a view, but in this case it was also the idea of seeing an especially beautiful part of the landscape from inside the building that captured my attention. That, and the way the view changed with the seasons. <br />
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Every day as our class marched down the stairs to go outside for recess, I saw that cherry tree framed against the window—leaves turning gold and orange in the fall; limbs outlined dark and shiny with rain in the winter; branches occasionally draped in snow; and best of all, clouds of white cherry blossoms in the spring followed by bright lime-green leaves.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Wrup8n5Dlj4/TXmLXKA_pKI/AAAAAAAAARA/XVuJuvhqa4w/s1600/cherry+blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Wrup8n5Dlj4/TXmLXKA_pKI/AAAAAAAAARA/XVuJuvhqa4w/s200/cherry+blossom.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><em><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong>Relevance to the new house?</strong></span></em> We’ve paid very careful attention to views from inside the house to the garden outside. Axial arrangements of windows will allow direct views from across the living room through the library and dining room to the east side yard which I intend to plant as a shade garden. Another view, through multi-paned windows, will exist from the living room out to fruit trees in the front yard—hopefully developing sculptural limbs and branches over time just like that old cherry tree! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>More to come in Part 2—stay tuned.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496541785071447554noreply@blogger.com