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KITCHEN REMODEL - DAY SIX

2012-02-28T09:43:00.000-08:00

THE WALL COLOR LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THE DAYLIGHT.

INSTALLED THE OAK FLOOR.

KITCHEN REMODEL - DAY THREE

2012-02-22T18:13:00.001-08:00

ALSO DAY FOUR AND FIVE.

AFTER MULTIPLE LAYERS OF MUD AND MUCH SANDING, THE NEW DOORWAY BLENDS SEAMLESSLY WITH THE EXISTING WALLS.

PAINTED THE CEILING, THE WINDOW TRIM AND THREE OF THE WALLS AN OFF-WHITE COLOR.

LATE NIGHT PAINTING SESSION ON THE FOURTH WALL. THE COLOR IS ESPRESSO BROWN WITH A WEE BIT OF PURPLE.

TORE UP THE FLOOR (SHEETS OF PLYWOOD AND LINOLEUM) AND GOT DOWN TO THE SUB-FLOOR. THIS IS THE OAK FLOORING IN THE REST OF THE HOUSE AND A SAMPLE OF THE NEW KITCHEN FLOOR, WHICH SHOULD BE A CLOSE MATCH.

KITCHEN REMODEL - DAY ONE

2012-02-16T18:01:00.000-08:00

THIS WAS A 1960s KITCHEN. CABINETS WERE FALLING APART. NO DISHWASHER. LINOLEUM FLOOR. POOR LIGHTING.

IT'S TIME TO BRING IT INTO THE 21st CENTURY.

REMOVED CABINETS, SINK AND BACKSPLASH.

STOVE WAS AS BIG AS A TANK WITH ONLY ONE FUNCTIONAL BURNER.

REMOVED OVERHEAD CABINETS, EXHAUST FAN IN CEILING, AND BROUGHT IN A NEW STOVE WITH BURNERS THAT PRODUCE HEAT.

DAY TWO.

REMOVED THE DOOR TO THE BASEMENT, WHICH IS ALREADY REMODELED AND AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE HOUSE.

REMOVED DOOR TRIM AND PUT UP SHEETROCK AND CORNER BEADS.

FIRST COAT OF MUD.

EDITOR SUITE - FINAL PHOTOS

2012-02-12T20:36:00.000-08:00

ALL DONE!

THE WEST WALL, WITH 'BUMP-OUTS' FOR THE DOOR AND A WINDOW.

SOUTH WALL, WITH SUN-CATCHING WINDOWS. THIS BUMP-OUT IS FOR THE DESK AND ONE SET OF BOOKSHELVES.

EAST WALL. THIS BUMP-OUT IS FOR THE OTHER SET OF BOOKSHELVES.

SOUTH WALL. THIS IS FOR THE READING/SLEEPING NOOK.

COMPLETING THE CIRCUIT, TO THE ENTRY ON THE WEST SIDE.

ON THE INTERIOR, A WALL AND LOWERED CEILING MAKE THE FOYER A DISTINCT AREA, SEPARATE FROM THE OFFICE AND READING/SLEEPING NOOK.

THE DESK AND BOOKSHELVES ALONG THE SOUTH WALL.

THE EAST WALL, WITH MORE BOOKSHELVES, AND A HIGH SHELF ABOVE THE READING/SLEEPING NOOK:

THE READING/SLEEPING NOOK FEELS COZY AND PRIVATE.

COMPLETING THE 360 DEGREE PAN OF THE INTERIOR, RETURNING TO THE WALL THAT SEPARATES THE FOYER FROM THE NOOK.

THIS WAS A WONDERFUL PROJECT TO DESIGN AND BUILD. THANKS TO JOY, ROBB, DAVID, PAT, TED, KEN, SHION AND MATT.

EDITOR SUITE - DAY TWENTY-NINE

2012-02-02T22:08:00.000-08:00

PUT UP MORE CEDAR SIDING DURING THE DAY. SWITCHED ON THE OUTDOOR LIGHT AND WORKED INTO THE EVENING, INSTALLING DOOR LOCKS.

EDITOR SUITE - DAY TWENTY-SEVEN

2012-02-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

AND DAY TWENTY-EIGHT.

CONTINUED TO PUT UP SIDING. ON THE NORTH WALL, THE 'BUMP OUTS' ARE STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE.

THE EAST WINDOW:

INSIDE, WE FITTED THE DESK INTO ITS NOOK. (THANKS, MATT.)

EDITOR SUITE - DAY TWENTY-ONE

2012-01-29T18:34:00.000-08:00

ALSO DAYS 22, 23, 24, 25 AND 26.

MIDDLE OF WINTER AND THE PROJECT IS WINDING DOWN. WHEN IT'S RAINING, I'VE BEEN DODGING RAINDROPS AND KEEPING THINGS DRY. WHEN IT'S SUNNY, I'VE BEEN WORKING AS FAST AS I CAN. NEITHER CONDITION IS IDEAL FOR PHOTOS AND BLOGGING.

PUT DOWN A BEAUTIFUL MAPLE FLOOR.

INSTALLED THE BASEBOARDS.

TURNED ON THE POWER AND WE HAD LIGHT. (NICE TO HAVE ON A DARK WINTER DAY.)

TRIMMED OUT THE WINDOWS AND DOOR, AND THE INTERIOR IS ALMOST COMPLETE.

MOVED OUTSIDE, AND STARTED PUTTING UP THE CEDAR SIDING.

EDITOR SUITE - DAY NINETEEN

2012-01-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

AND TWENTY.

STARTED TO PUT ON THE EXTERIOR SIDING, AND CREATED A 'BUMP OUT' FOR THE WEST WINDOW.

ON THE INSIDE, KEN PUT UP THE SHEETROCK AND TAPED THE SEAMS. HERE'S THE FOYER:

THE SLEEPING NOOK:

THE ALCOVE FOR THE DESK:

AND THE SHELVES:

EDITOR SUITE - DAY SEVENTEEN

2012-01-10T18:51:00.000-08:00

AND EIGHTEEN.

INSTALLED THE DOOR, AFTER WRAPPING THE ENTRYWAY IN A MOISTURE BARRIER.

INSIDE, ALL THE WALLS AND THE CEILING ARE INSULATED. IT FEELS WARMER (OF COURSE) BUT IT'S ALSO NOTICEABLY QUIETER.

EDITOR SUITE - DAY FOURTEEN

2012-01-05T23:11:00.000-08:00

AND FIFTEEN. AND SIXTEEN.

THE NEW YEAR STARTED WITH PAT THE ELECTRICIAN 'PULLING WIRE'.

A ROW OF CAN LIGHTS ABOVE THE BUILT-IN SHELVES. THE SHELVES ARE MAPLE PLYWOOD WITH SOLID WOOD EDGES. (THANKS, MATT.)

THE VIEW FROM ABOVE:

PUT IN A HIGH SHELF ABOVE THE BEDROOM NOOK.

ON THE EXTERIOR, I FRAMED THE ALCOVE AROUND THE ENTRANCE.

FOR A SNACK, MY DAUGHTER DELIVERED SOME HOME-MADE GUACAMOLE AND CHIPS - PERFECT FOR THE UNSEASONABLY WARM WEATHER THIS WEEK.

NEW YEAR

2012-01-04T20:24:00.000-08:00

SAW THIS SIGN ON A SELF-STORAGE PLACE IN MADISON, WISCONSIN, DURING A FAMILY VISIT FOR CHRISTMAS. NEVER SEEN IT PHRASED SO BOLDLY, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A WARNING I HEED.

(I'M BACK ON THE JOB AT THE "EDITOR SUITE" BUT IT'S BEEN DARK OR RAINING WHEN I'VE TRIED TO TAKE PHOTOS. APOLOGIES.)

EDITOR SUITE - DAY TWELVE

2011-12-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

AND THIRTEEN.

NAILED DOWN THE PLYWOOD FOR THE ROOF. THE VIEW FROM BELOW:

TED DID A "TORCH-DOWN" ROOF, WHICH INVOLVES HEATING THE MATERIAL AND ADHERING IT TO THE ROOF.

WRAPPED THE MICRO-STRUCTURE WITH A VAPOR BARRIER, AND PUT IN MOST OF THE WINDOWS.

WITH THE ROOF ON AND THE WINDOWS IN, THE INTERIOR IS STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE. IT'S A GOOD-SIZE ROOM, AND THE HIGH CEILING MAKES IT FEEL OPEN AND AIRY.

EDITOR SUITE - DAY ELEVEN

2011-12-13T18:21:00.000-08:00

CUT RAFTERS FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE ROOF.

PUT IN BLOCKING AND STARTED WORK ON THE FASCIA BOARDS.

IT WAS ABOUT 40 DEGREES TODAY, AND I WAS STARTING TO FEEL IT BY LATE AFTERNOON, SO IT WAS GREAT TO GET A DELIVERY OF WARM NACHOS AND HOT GREEN TEA FROM "BOB'S CAFE." THANKS, SHION!

AND THOUGH IT'S BEEN A LITTLE COLD, AT LEAST IT'S BEEN DRY. IT LOOKS LIKE THAT MIGHT CHANGE.

EDITOR SUITE - DAY TEN

2011-12-12T21:31:00.000-08:00

LUMBER DROP THIS MORNING. THEN I STARTED CUTTING ROOF RAFTERS AND PUTTING THEM UP.

I CUT THE TAILS A COUPLE OF INCHES NARROWER, SO THE SOFFIT WILL BE TUCKED BEHIND THE FASCIA.

EDITOR SUITE - DAY SEVEN

2011-12-08T19:20:00.000-08:00

AND EIGHT. AND NINE.

CUT MANY SHEETS OF PLYWOOD, THE LAST FEW DAYS.

ALL THE EXTERIOR WALLS ARE SHEATHED. THEY'RE GOOD AND PLUMB, TOO. NICE WHEN IT WORKS OUT THAT WAY. THE NORTH AND WEST WALLS:

THE EAST WALL:

THE SOUTH WALL IN THE LATE AFTERNOON SUN:

EDITOR SUITE - DAY FIVE

2011-12-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

AND SIX.

BUILT THE SOUTH WALL ON THE FLOOR...

...AND TRIED TO LIFT IT INTO PLACE. IT'S 10 FEET WIDE AND 10 TALL. I LIFTED IT ONTO SOME SAWHORSES, BUT THAT WAS AS FAR AS I COULD GO.

WHAT I NEEDED WAS AN EXTRA PAIR OF HANDS. (THANKS, DAVID.)

SOUTH WALL IN PLACE, WITH A COUPLE OF BIG WINDOWS TO LET IN THE SUNSHINE. THE WINDOWS ARE PLACED HIGH, FOR A VIEW OF THE SKY RATHER THAN A VIEW OF THE NEIGHBOR'S FENCE.

FRAMED THE WEST WALL.

WITH A DOZEN OF THE FOURTEEN (14!) WALLS FRAMED AND STANDING, I CAN GET A FEELING FOR THE INTERIOR SPACE. IT'S TALL AND OPEN, AND FEELS SPACIOUS, DESPITE ITS SIZE.

EDITOR SUITE - DAY FOUR

2011-12-01T19:35:00.000-08:00

FROST ON THE FLOOR WHEN I ARRIVED THIS MORNING.

LIFTED THE NORTH WALL INTO PLACE AND FRAMED THE EAST WALL.

THE VIEW OF THE NEIGHBOR'S APPLE TREE FROM THE EAST WINDOW.

EDITOR SUITE - DAY TWO

2011-11-30T18:11:00.000-08:00

AND THREE.

SET UP THE RAIN SHELTER, BUT DIDN'T NEED IT. IT'S BEEN SUNNY AND NICE THE LAST TWO DAYS.

FRAMED OUT THE FLOOR JOISTS...

...AND PUT IN THE INSULATION.

LAID DOWN THE SUB-FLOOR AND FRAMED THE FIRST WALL, BUT DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO LIFT IT UP. IT'S BEEN GETTING DARK BEFORE 5:00, SO WORKDAYS ARE SHORT.

EDITOR SUITE - DAY ONE

2011-11-28T23:05:00.000-08:00

STARTED A NEW PROJECT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WHEN WE EXCAVATED AND POURED THE SLAB. THE SLAB HAS BEEN CURING SINCE THEN, AND TODAY WAS THE BEGINNING OF WORK IN EARNEST.

THIS MICRO-STRUCTURE WILL BE AN OFFICE FOR ONE OF THE CLIENTS, WHO'S A COPY EDITOR, AS WELL AS A GUEST SUITE FOR VISITORS. ALL THAT IN ABOUT 150 SQUARE FEET.

THE 'EDITOR SUITE' WILL HAVE BUILT-IN DESK AND SHELVES, A SMALL FOYER AND A BEDROOM NOOK. THE EXTERIOR WALLS WILL FOLLOW THE OUTLINES OF THESE INTERIOR ELEMENTS. WE'VE LABELED THESE FEATURES 'BUMP OUTS,' WHICH DOESN'T SOUND VERY COOL, BUT THEY WILL BE...

A FOURTEEN-SIDED POLYGON OF A CONCRETE SLAB. FOR THE BUMP OUTS.

THE LUMBERYARD DROPPED A TON OF WOOD IN THE DRIVEWAY. SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY CARRYING IT TO THE BACKYARD, GETTING IT STACKED, COVERED AND READY.

ARTIST STUDIO - FINAL PHOTOS

2011-11-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

THE ARTIST STUDIO IS ALL PAINTED, AND THE CLIENT HAS MOVED IN.

ART SUPPLIES ON THE SHELVES. A WORKBENCH WITH A VIEW.

SOME DETAILS OF THE PORCH, WHICH CAN ALSO BE USED AS AN OUTDOOR WORK AREA.

I LIKE HOW THE INTERIOR SPACE IS NESTLED WITHIN THE EXTERIOR 'SHELL'.

FRONT/BACK - DAY SIX

2011-10-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

PUT IN THE GLASS FOR THE WINDOWS. THE GUY AT THE GLASS SHOP CALLED THIS 'OBSCURE' GLASS (BECAUSE IT OBSCURES YOUR VIEW). IS THAT A GOOD NAME FOR A BAND? OR A MICRO-BREW? 'OBSCURE GLASS'.

PUT THE TRIMWORK AROUND THE FRONT DOOR AND INSTALLED THE TRANSOM WINDOW.

RE-HUNG THE OLD GATE AND A SECTION OF FENCE. ALL DONE!

THANKS TO JEN, ANDY, TED AND JIMBO FOR ALL THEIR HELP IN MAKING THIS SMALL PROJECT A BIG SUCCESS.

FRONT/BACK - DAY FIVE

2011-10-07T16:54:00.000-07:00

FIRST, STOPPED BY THE HARDWARE STORE FOR A POUND OF NAILS. I LIKE TO BUY NAILS AND SCREWS THIS WAY. IT'S MORE ECONOMICAL, AND THERE'S NO PACKAGING FOR THE LANDFILL.

PUT ON THE DORMER FOR THE BACK SECTION.

AND USED THAT POUND OF NAILS TO PUT UP THE TONGUE-AND-GROOVE KNOTTY PINE. THE OPENINGS ARE FOR SEVEN WINDOWS, TO PROVIDE SOME LIGHT TO THE INTERIOR.

FRONT/BACK - DAY THREE

2011-10-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

AND DAY FOUR.

INSTALLED THE DOORS. IT STARTED TO RAIN, SO I TARPED THE WHOLE STRUCTURE AND COULDN'T GET VERY GOOD PHOTOS.

I ALSO PUT ON THE ROOF OR, AS IT'S KNOWN ON THE INTERIOR, THE 'CEILING'. THIS IS THE FRONT SECTION, WITH THE OPENING FOR THE TRANSOM WINDOW.

FRONT/BACK - DAY TWO

2011-10-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

I NAILED UP THE PLYWOOD FOR THE NORTH WALL.

USED EDGE FLASHING BETWEEN THE SHEETS TO KEEP WATER OFF THE EDGES OF THE PLYWOOD AND TO MAKE THE SEAM TIGHTER.

PUT UP THE INTERIOR WALL, AND NOW WE HAVE A 'FRONT' AND A 'BACK.'

FRONT/BACK - DAY ONE

2011-09-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

THE START OF A NEW PROJECT. THIS IS GOING TO BE A NARROW SHED WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT USES.

FRONT: A BICYCLE SHED FOR A FEW BIKES AND GEAR.

BACK: A GARDEN SHED WITH A POTTING TABLE AND STORAGE FOR TOOLS.

FRAMED THE SIDE WALLS FLAT ON THE GROUND.

LIFTED THEM UP AND SLID THEM INTO PLACE.

GATES - DAY THREE

2011-09-23T21:04:00.000-07:00

INSTALLED THE GATES TODAY. THE SIDE GATE IS NICE AND SIMPLE, PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE RECYCLING AREA, BUT BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE GARBAGE CANS.

THE WOODEN LATCH FOR THE FRONT GATE:

FOR THE FRONT GATES (AND THE SIDE GATE, TOO), I RE-MILLED ALL THE BOARDS, SO THEY'RE NON-CONVENTIONAL WIDTHS. IT'S A SUBTLE DIFFERENCE, BUT I THINK THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT IS NOTICEABLE.

GATES - DAY ONE

2011-09-22T21:01:00.000-07:00

AND DAY TWO.

FOR THE GATEWAY BELOW THE ARBOR, I'M BUILDING A PAIR OF CEDAR GATES, WITH MATT'S HELP, OF COURSE.

FIRST, WE MILLED ALL THE WOOD AND MADE A PILE OF SAWDUST.

CUT GROOVES.

CUT OFF THE ENDS.

GLUED TOGETHER THE SMALL PIECES.

GLUED TOGETHER THE BIG PIECES.

WAITED FOR THE GLUE TO DRY.

ARBOR

2011-09-15T21:35:00.000-07:00

TO CONNECT THIS GATEWAY TO THE FASCIA, AN OVERHEAD TRELLIS WILL CREATE AN ARBOR FOR THE ENTRYWAY TO THE HOUSE.

FIRST, FIGURED OUT THE ANGLES THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, WITH STRING AND ADJUSTABLE SQUARE.

USED 1/4" PLYWOOD TO MAKE A TEMPLATE AND CHECK THE MEASUREMENTS.

CUT THE CEDAR PLANKS AND LIFTED THEM UP. VOILA!

WOODSHED

2011-09-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

THIS PROJECT WAS AN OUTRIGHT SPRINT, COMPLETED IN TWO DAYS, SO I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DOCUMENT THE PROGRESS. HERE IT IS, 'EX NIHILO'.

THE WOODSHED FEATURES CLEAR CEDAR SIDING ON THE INTERIOR, CEDAR SHAKES ON THE EXTERIOR, A DECK FLOOR FOR VENTILATION, AND A NICHE FOR A FOLK-ART BIRDHOUSE. IT'S BUILT TO HOLD A TON OF WOOD, AND LOOK GOOD DOING SO.

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY TWENTY ONE

2011-09-14T14:08:00.000-07:00

AND TWENTY TWO.

I FINISHED THE CEDAR SIDING, AND PAT COMPLETED THE ELECTRICAL WORK, INCLUDING A SLEEK OUTDOOR LIGHT.

MATT CAME OVER TO INSTALL THE DESK.

I INSTALLED THE FLOOR AND DID THE TRIM AROUND THE WINDOWS AND DOORS.

ALL DONE. THE PAINTER DOES HIS WORK THIS WEEK, THEN I'LL POST SOME FINAL PHOTOS.

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY EIGHTEEN

2011-09-07T21:42:00.000-07:00

AND NINETEEN AND TWENTY.

THE CEDAR SIDING IS ALMOST DONE.

FRAMED THE WINDOW OPENING.

FINISHED THE EAST AND NORTH WALLS.

FRAMED AND BUILT THE DECK. BEAUTIFUL CLEAR CEDAR.

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY SEVENTEEN

2011-08-31T22:33:00.000-07:00

STARTED PUTTING UP THE TONGUE-AND-GROOVE CEDAR SIDING. BEAUTIFUL MATERIAL. CLEAR, NO KNOTS.

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY ELEVEN

2011-08-29T22:11:00.000-07:00

LAST WEEK, I STEPPED ASIDE AND LET THE SPECIALISTS DO THEIR WORK.

DAY ELEVEN AND TWELVE, PAT WIRED THE PLACE AND PUT IN SWITCHES, OUTLETS AND CAN LIGHTS.

DAY THIRTEEN, THE INSULATORS MADE THE PLACE COZY.

DAY FOURTEEN AND FIFTEEN, KEN AND JOHNNY ROCKED, MUDDED AND SANDED.

DAY SIXTEEN, I GOT BACK TO WORK AND PUT UP THE PORCH CEILING.

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY TEN

2011-08-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

INSTALLED THE WINDOWS AND DOORS.

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY NINE

2011-08-18T21:52:00.000-07:00

NAILED DOWN THE ROOF DECKING. THE OVERHANG IS ABOUT SIX FEET AND, THANKS TO THOSE TRIPLE ROOF JOISTS, IT'S REALLY SOLID UP THERE.

THE VIEW FROM BELOW:

THE VIEW FROM INSIDE:

THE VIEW FROM ATOP:

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY EIGHT

2011-08-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

WRAPPED THE BACK WALLS WITH A VAPOR BARRIER.

PUT UP SOME REALLY NICE PLYWOOD FOR THE WALLS. NO KNOTS OR "FOOTBALLS."

THE FLIP SIDE:

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY SIX

2011-08-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

AND DAY SEVEN.

I FRAMED OUT THE OPENINGS FOR THE BUILT-IN SHELVES. LINED THEM UP WITH THE WINDOWS, WHICH SHOULD LOOK COOL.

THE ROOF JOISTS ARE SIXTEEN-FOOT-LONG 2X8s, WHICH ARE KINDA BIG AND HEAVY. IT TOOK ME AN HOUR OR MORE JUST TO MOVE THEM AROUND AND CUT THEM TO LENGTH.

THE ROOF OVER THE PORCH:

YES, THAT'S A TRIPLE JOIST, FOR STRENGTH.

IN PROFILE:

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY FIVE

2011-08-08T21:06:00.000-07:00

STARTED PUTTING UP THE PLYWOOD.

FRAMED THE 'INSIDE' WALL FOR THE PORCH. THIS WALL IS DOUBLED, TO MAKE IT THICKER.

THE VIEW FROM 'OUTSIDE':

DAY SIX. MORE CUTTING AND NAILING OF PLYWOOD. THE SOUTH WALL AND PORCH:

THE CORNER WINDOWS ARE STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE.

LOOKING OUT:

LOOKING GOOD.

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY FOUR

2011-08-05T23:36:00.000-07:00

I FRAMED OUT THE OPEN SPACE IN THE PORCH WALL.

THEN THE SOUTH WALL, WITH ROUGH OPENINGS FOR THE DOOR AND A WINDOW.

THE WEST WALL HAS A CORRESPONDING WINDOW, WHICH JOINS THE OTHER AT THE CORNER.

ALL FOUR WALLS FRAMED, READY FOR PLYWOOD.

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY THREE

2011-08-04T20:56:00.000-07:00

A BEAUTIFUL DAY. FRAMED THE BACK WALL...

...AND MADE SOME GOOD PROGRESS ON THE EAST WALL, WHICH EXTENDS BEYOND THE STUDIO SPACE AND BECOMES A SIDE WALL FOR THE PORCH.

ARTIST STUDIO - DAY ONE

2011-08-03T22:42:00.000-07:00

AS AN ARTIST MYSELF, THIS PROJECT IS DEAR TO MY HEART. THE STUDIO WILL HAVE A BUILT-IN WORKBENCH, A READING AREA, STORAGE FOR ART SUPPLIES AND A FRONT PORCH FOR OUTSIDE WORK.

IT'S GOING TO BE TUCKED INTO THIS CORNER OF THE YARD, WITH A VIEW TO THE SOUTH AND WEST.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, DAVID AND MARK FROM FIDDLEHEAD EXCAVATED THE SITE AND BUILT A NICE STONE PATIO TO CONNECT THE MAIN HOUSE TO THE MICRO-STRUCTURE.

THEN WE POURED THE CONCRETE SLAB.

DAY TWO, I FRAMED THE FLOOR, INSULATED IT...

...AND DECKED IT WITH PLYWOOD. I LOVE THE UNUSUAL SHAPE OF THE FLOOR. IT BODES WELL FOR THE UNUSUAL ARCHITECTURE OF THIS PROJECT.

"OREGONIAN" ARTICLE

2011-08-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

THE OREGONIAN FEATURED A SHORT ARTICLE ABOUT MICRO-STRUCTURES IN LAST WEEK'S 'HOMES & GARDENS' SECTION.

I'M NOW ON RECORD AS BEING 'ANTI-McMANSIONS,' IN CASE THERE WAS EVER ANY DOUBT ABOUT MY POSITION ON THAT ISSUE...

DAD'S OFFICE - FINAL PHOTOS

2011-07-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

ALL DONE.

THE INTERIOR:

EAST SIDE:

NORTH:

WEST:

SOUTH:

THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT PROJECT, AND I'VE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED WORKING ON IT. THANKS TO PAT, KEN, TED, MATT, KIMMY AND RANDY FOR ALL YOUR HELP.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY SEVENTEEN

2011-07-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

MATT McCALMONT BROUGHT OVER THE DESK, IN PIECES, AND WE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND INSTALLED IT.

MATT HAD EXPERIMENTED WITH DIFFERENT FINISHES, UNTIL HE FOUND SOMETHING THAT MATCHED THE BAMBOO FLOOR.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY SIXTEEN

2011-07-20T09:15:00.000-07:00

PAT FINISHED THE ELECTRICAL WORK AND INSTALLED THE OUTDOOR LIGHT.

I PUT IN THE BAMBOO FLOOR...

...AND TRIMMED OUT THE WINDOWS.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY FIFTEEN

2011-07-18T22:13:00.000-07:00

I FINISHED THE EXTERIOR DETAILS. LITTLE THINGS, LIKE THE TRIM UNDER THE WINDOWS AND DOORS, AND CUSTOM CUTTING THE TOP ROW OF SHINGLES.

ON THE INSIDE, PAT DID THE ELECTRICAL WORK.

LIGHTS IN THE VAULTED CEILING.

OUTLETS WHERE THE DESK WILL BE INSTALLED.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY THIRTEEN

2011-07-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

AND FOURTEEN.

AFTER THE TREE HOUSE, I RETURNED TO DAD'S OFFICE AND GOT SOME WORK DONE.

BOXED THE SOFFITS AND PUT IN VENTING SO THE STRUCTURE CAN BREATHE.

KEN ROMERO DID A GRAND JOB WITH THE DRYWALL, AND KIMMY BRIGHTENED IT UP WITH A COAT OF PAINT. THE HIGH CEILING MAKES THIS LITTLE OFFICE FEEL A LOT BIGGER.

I PUT ON THE CEDAR SIDING BETWEEN RAINSTORMS.

THE OFFICE IS REALLY STARTING TO BECOME PART OF THE BACKYARD AND A COMPLEMENT TO THE MAIN HOUSE.

TREE HOUSE - DAY SEVEN

2011-07-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

I BUILT THE HANDRAILS FOR THE STAIRS AND INSTALLED THE SLIDE.

PUT IN THE WINDOWS AND SWEPT THE FLOOR.

ALL DONE, READY FOR FUN.

TREE HOUSE - DAY SIX

2011-07-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

I USED TONGUE-AND-GROOVE KNOTTY PINE BOARDS FOR THE WALLS.

BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE BACK OF THE BOARDS ON THE INTERIOR, IT FEELS LIKE A LOG CABIN ON THE INSIDE.

TREE HOUSE - DAY FIVE

2011-07-07T20:05:00.000-07:00

I RETURNED TO THE TREE HOUSE. BUILT THE STAIRS...

...AND STARTED THE FRAMING FOR THE HOUSE.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY TWELVE

2011-07-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

INSTALLED THE PAIR OF SOUTH-FACING WINDOWS...

...AND THE DOOR HANDLES.

LOOKS GOOD LOOKING OUT...

...AND THE EXTERIOR IS LOOKING BETTER.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY ELEVEN

2011-07-05T22:39:00.000-07:00

WINDOWS AND DOORS ARRIVED FIRST THING THIS MORNING.

I SEALED THE WINDOW AND DOOR OPENINGS WITH SILL WRAP.

THEN WRAPPED THE WHOLE BUILDING WITH...WAIT FOR IT...HOUSE WRAP.

LUNCH: A SLICE DOWN THE STREET AT ATOMIC PIZZA.

PUT IN THE PATIO DOORS. THEY WERE A BEAR, BUT MATT GAVE ME A HAND AND IT ALL WENT SMOOTHLY.

I INSTALLED THE WINDOW ABOVE THE DESK, FOR DAD TO GAZE OUT WHILE WORKING IN HIS OFFICE.

TREE HOUSE - DAY FOUR

2011-07-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

I BUILT THE FLOOR OF THE TREE HOUSE AND FIGURED OUT THE DESIGN FOR THE STAIRS.

STACKED UP ALL THE LUMBER IN A NEAT LITTLE PILE AND STASHED AWAY THE SLIDE. I'LL BE BACK IN A WEEK, AFTER DOING SOME WORK ON "DAD'S OFFICE."

THIS LONG WEEKEND, I'LL BE REBUILDING THE BACK STEPS AT THE HOUSE. LOTS OF DESTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION. DROP BY AND TAKE A LOOK.

TREE HOUSE - DAY TWO

2011-06-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

AND DAY THREE. IT WAS RAINING OFF-AND-ON FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS, SO I SET UP CAMP UNDER THE TREE.

UNBOXED AND ASSEMBLED THE SLIDE, SO I COULD CHECK THE DIMENSIONS AND SEE HOW IT WAS GOING TO FIT INTO THE TREE HOUSE.

IT TOOK A LOT OF THE MORNING TO FIGURE OUT HOW ALL THE COMPONENTS WERE GOING TO FIT AROUND THE TREE, BUT BY THE AFTERNOON I HAD THE DECK FRAMING COMPLETE.

THE NEXT DAY, I PUT DOWN THE CEDAR DECKING...

...AND FRAMED THE TREE TRUNK.

TREE HOUSE - DAY ONE

2011-06-28T17:35:00.000-07:00

HERE'S THE BEAUTIFUL MAPLE THAT WILL HOST THE TREE HOUSE. I'LL BE BUILDING THE STRUCTURE NEXT TO THIS TREE, RATHER THAN "IN" IT, BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO FEEL LIKE A TREE FORT.

I SPENT THE DAY GATHERING MATERIALS, STARTING WITH WINDOWS FROM THE REBUILDING CENTER, A LOCAL SALVAGE YARD. I LIKE THE SIZE OF THESE WINDOW PANES, WHICH WILL LOOK PROPORTIONAL IN A CHILD-SIZE STRUCTURE.

LOADED UP A LOT OF LUMBER AND LISTED LEFT.

(OK, IT LEANED TO THE RIGHT, BUT THAT'S NOT ALLITERATIVE, IS IT?)

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY TEN

2011-06-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

THE ROOF IS ALL BUTTONED UP, JUST IN TIME FOR TONIGHT'S RAINSTORM, AND THE ELECTRICIAN BEGAN RUNNING WIRE.

WHILE DAD'S OFFICE IS BEING WIRED AND INSULATED, I'LL BE ACROSS TOWN BUILDING A TREE HOUSE. MORE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY NINE

2011-06-23T18:48:00.000-07:00

PUT UP THE FASCIA AND THE ROOF DECKING. THE ROOFER COMES TOMORROW TO PUT ON THE ASPHALT SHINGLES AND MAKE IT RAIN-PROOF.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY SEVEN

2011-06-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

...AND EIGHT. I CUT THE COMMON RAFTERS, AND THEN I DID THE HIP RAFTERS, WHICH RUN FROM THE RIDGE TO THE FOUR CORNERS.

AND THEN ONWARDS TO THE JACK RAFTERS, WHICH RUN FROM THE HIP RAFTER TO THE TOPS OF THE WALLS.

ALL DONE. THANKS, PYTHAGORAS. COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY SIX

2011-06-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

I SPENT MOST OF THE MORNING RE-LEARNING THE ARCANE ARTS OF RAFTER-LENGTH CALCULATION.

LAID-OUT THE RAFTER SPACING ON THE TOP PLATE.

CUT THE RAFTERS TO LENGTH AND CUT THE "BIRD'S MOUTH," WHERE THE RAFTERS WILL MEET THE WALLS. (THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT TERM THAT'S BOTH QUAINT AND CREEPY.)

"OREGONIAN" INTERVIEW

2011-06-18T19:13:00.001-07:00

HERE'S A RECENT INTERVIEW ON THE "OREGONIAN" WEBSITE, WHERE I TRY TO EXPLAIN THE CHARM AND ALLURE OF MICRO-STRUCTURES.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY FIVE

2011-06-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

I CONTINUED NAILING UP THE PLYWOOD. FOR THE WINDOW OPENINGS, I CLAMPED A PIECE OF PLYWOOD IN PLACE AND MARKED IT.

THEN I TOOK IT DOWN AND CUT ALONG THE LINES.

NAILED IT UP AND LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW.

WITHOUT THE ROOF, IT LOOKS LIKE A PERFECT CUBE.

THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT I'M CALLING THE 'COURTYARD EFFECT.' THE MICRO-STRUCTURE HELPS TO DEFINE THE SPACE BETWEEN ITSELF AND THE MAIN HOUSE, CREATING AN OUTDOOR 'ROOM.'

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY FOUR

2011-06-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

FRAMED THE EAST WALL, WHICH WILL HAVE OUT-SWINGING PATIO DOORS FOR THE ENTRANCE.

BIRD'S EYE VIEW:

WENT AROUND BACK AND STARTED PUTTING UP THE PLYWOOD.

IT'S STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY THREE

2011-06-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

I RAN THE SUB-FLOORING PAST THE EDGES OF THE RIM JOISTS, AND THEN CUT IT TO SIZE.

AFTER I HAD A COUPLE OF WALLS IN PLACE, I LAID OUT A WINDOW OPENING AND A 'DESK'. THE CLIENTS AND I FIGURED OUT THE BEST HEIGHT FOR THE WINDOW WHEN DAD IS IN HIS OFFICE.

PUT UP THE SOUTH WALL AND CALLED IT A DAY.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY TWO

2011-06-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

I PUT DOWN THE FLOOR JOISTS AND MEASURED CORNER-TO-CORNER. WHEN THE DIAGONAL MEASUREMENTS ARE THE SAME, I KNOW THE WHOLE THING IS SQUARE.

LUMBER DROP! MIKE, THE DRIVER FROM MR. PLYWOOD, CAN DROP A TON OF LUMBER PRECISELY ON TARGET. A FEAT TO WATCH.

A VERY EARLY DINNER WITH MORGAN AT RADIO ROOM. AHI TACOS, FRIED CALAMARI AND ICED TEA.

DAD'S OFFICE - DAY ONE

2011-06-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

THE MICRO-STRUCTURE IS GOING IN THIS CORNER OF THE YARD, SO THIS IS THE 'BEFORE' PHOTO.

A LITTLE EXCAVATION, AND THEN THE CEMENT TRUCK ARRIVED.

THE FIRST WHEELBARROW LOAD AND THE FIRST POUR.

LEVEL, SMOOTH AND SQUARE.

DAD'S OFFICE

2011-06-08T18:45:00.000-07:00

I BEGIN WORK TOMORROW ON "DAD'S OFFICE". MY CLIENTS HAVE AN EXUBERANT TODDLER, AND DAD WORKS AT HOME, SO HE NEEDS A PLACE OF HIS OWN. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE BUILDING:

IT WILL HAVE CEDAR SIDING, BAMBOO FLOORS, A BUILT-IN DESK AND A WHOLE LOTTA LIGHT. IT HAS A CLASSIC LOOK TO IT, WHICH I REALLY LIKE.

"L SHED" IS A STAR

2011-06-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

THERE'S A SHORT ARTICLE ABOUT THE "L SHED" IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE OF OREGON HOME.

I COMPLETED THE COURTYARD PROJECT, AND DID A QUICK FENCE-RENOVATION DURING THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

IN A FEW DAYS, I'LL BEGIN A NEW MICRO-STRUCTURE AND RE-START THE BLOG. PLEASE STAY TUNED.

COURTYARD - DAY NINE

2011-05-09T21:54:00.000-07:00

AND DAY TEN. FINISHED SIDING THE INTERIOR AND STARTED TYING EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

INSIDE CORNER:

OUTSIDE CORNER:

AFTER I PUT THE SIDING ON THE FRONT, EVERYTHING REALLY CAME TOGETHER.

THE GARAGE, THE HOUSE AND THE WALL ARE NOW INTEGRATED AS ONE UNIT, RATHER THAN DISPARATE ELEMENTS.

COURTYARD - DAY EIGHT

2011-05-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

I COMPLETED THE EXTERIOR OF ONE WALL, AND EVERYTHING RAN NICE AND TRUE.

THE SIDING FOR THE WALL MATCHES THE OLD SIDING ON THE GARAGE.

A VIEW OF THE COURTYARD INTERIOR. UNFINISHED, OF COURSE. THIS SIDE OF THE WALL GETS THE SAME SIDING AS THE EXTERIOR.

COURTYARD - DAY SEVEN

2011-05-04T22:31:00.000-07:00

LUMBER DROP. THE DRIVER TOOK THE CEDAR SIDING FROM THE TRUCK WITH A MULTI-DIRECTIONAL FORKLIFT. CRAB-STYLE DOWN THE STREET:

AND A PIVOT INTO THE DRIVEWAY FOR THE DROP. VERY SMOOTH.

I GOT A FEW COURSES OF THE SIDING ON THE WALL BEFORE QUITTING TIME.

COURTYARD - DAY SIX

2011-05-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

THIS WAS A SHORT DAY. NAILED DOWN THE STRAPPING TO SECURE THE OVERHEAD SECTION OF THE GATE.

THEN I SHEATHED THE FRONT IN PLYWOOD TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN IT AND TIE EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

COURTYARD - DAY FIVE

2011-05-01T21:15:00.000-07:00

A BEAUTIFUL DAY, PERFECT WEATHER FOR 'FENCING.'

THE GRAND ENTRANCE TO THE COURTYARD:

COURTYARD - DAY FOUR

2011-04-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

TODAY WAS 'TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER TO WORK DAY.' SO I DID, AND WE HAD A BLAST.

THE MORNING TRIP TO THE LUMBERYARD NETTED A BAG OF POPCORN. (NOTE THE MICRO-STRUCTURE IN THE BACKGROUND.)

AT THE JOBSITE, WE CHECKED ON THE FOOTINGS, NOW ALL CLEANED UP AND FLUSH WITH THE DRIVEWAY.

SHION TOOK PHOTOS OF HER DAD AS HE UNLOADED AND STACKED THE LUMBER.

LUNCH AT NOHO'S HAWAIIAN CAFE. RIBS AND TERIYAKI CHICKEN. DELICIOUS.

BACK TO THE JOBSITE TO UNLOAD TOOLS AND GET EVERYTHING READY.

THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED AND IT STARTED TO RAIN AND I'VE BEEN FIGHTING A COLD FOR A FEW DAYS AND I HAVE A SORE THROAT AND I DON'T WANT TO BREATHE SAWDUST AND I'M KINDA TIRED AND CAN'T WE JUST GO HOME AND DRINK TEA AND WATCH CARTOONS? SHION SAID YES, SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

COURTYARD - DAY THREE

2011-04-27T18:33:00.000-07:00

TODAY WAS FILLED WITH CHORES, ERRANDS AND THINGS-TO-DO. I GOT A CHANCE TO MARK THE POST HEIGHTS, USING A 'SELF-LEVELING LASER LEVEL.' (SAY THAT TEN TIMES FAST.)

LUNCH WITH MATT - CARNITAS TACOS.

COURTYARD - DAY TWO

2011-04-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

MIXED CONCRETE THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY, WITH A HOE AND A WHEELBARROW.

POURED THE FOOTINGS AND SET THE POSTS PLUMB IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE.

COURTYARD - DAY ONE

2011-04-25T22:04:00.000-07:00

I'M BUILDING A WALL TO CONNECT THE CLIENT'S GARAGE TO THE HOUSE, CREATING A COURTYARD AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY.

FIRST, JOHN DiBONA CUT THRU THE CONCRETE.

THEN I WENT AT IT, DIGGING POST-HOLES A COUPLE OF FEET DEEP.

BATHTUB ART MUSEUM

2011-04-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

THE BATHTUB ART MUSEUM WAS RECENTLY MOVED (BY BIKE!) TO IT'S NEW LOCATION IN NORTHEAST PORTLAND. THIS IS ONE OF CARYE BYE'S MANY QUIRKY PROJECTS, AND IT WAS FUN TO RE-ASSEMBLE THE MUSEUM WITH HER AND MATTHEW.

THE MUSEUM IN PIECES:

MATTHEW WORKED ON THE FOOTINGS AND GOT IT ALL LEVEL.

"THE BATHTUB LADY"

READY FOR THE GRAND RE-OPENING.

READING ROOM - FINAL PHOTOS

2011-04-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

INSTALLED THE LOCKS, TURNED ON THE LIGHTS, AND SWEPT THE FLOOR. ALL DONE!

I LIKE HOW THE WINDOWS AND THE ENTRANCE OF THE READING ROOM CORRESPOND WITH THE CORNER WINDOWS OF THE MAIN HOUSE.

THE INTERIOR:

THE VIEW FROM THE STREET:

THANKS TO MATT, JOHN, TED, KEN, ETSUKO, PAT, JESSICA, KEVIN AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROJECT.

READING ROOM - DAY THIRTY ONE

2011-04-10T20:04:00.000-07:00

I TRIMMED OUT ALL THE WINDOWS.

MATT CAME OVER FOR LUNCH AND PUT A FINAL COAT OF VARNISH ON THE DESK.

I FINISHED THE TONGUE-AND-GROOVE CEDAR AROUND THE DOOR. THE CEDAR REALLY GOES WELL WITH THE PAINT COLORS. LOOKS MODERN BUT 'NATURAL'.

ALMOST DONE. ALMOST.

READING ROOM - DAY THIRTY

2011-04-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

AFTER SANDING OUT THE LAST OF THE SPLINTERS AND ROUGH SPOTS, I SEALED THE FLOOR WITH A COUPLE OF COATS OF POLYURETHANE.

BUILT A FRONT STEP. THEN SAT ON IT AND HAD A CUP OF TEA IN THE AFTERNOON SUN.

I STARTED PUTTING UP THE CEDAR SIDING. I LOVE THE CONTRAST OF THE TWO SIDING MATERIALS.

READING ROOM - DAY TWENTY NINE

2011-04-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

I FINISHED NAILING DOWN THE FLOOR WITH THIS SPECIALIZED NAILER. IT LOOKS REALLY AWKWARD, BUT IT FIRES NAILS INTO THE SIDE OF THE BOARD AT A PERFECT ANGLE. (THANKS, MORGAN.)

AND THEN IT WAS TIME TO SAND IT SMOOTH. THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE FLOOR AFTER THE FIRST PASS. AFTER A FEW MORE, IT ALL EVENED-OUT PRETTY NICELY.

READING ROOM - DAY TWENTY EIGHT

2011-04-05T22:37:00.000-07:00

I GOT A LARGE BATCH OF OLD FLOOR BOARDS FROM THE SALVAGE YARD, AND SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS CLEANING THEM.

USED A SPECIAL FLOOR NAILER AND PUT THEM DOWN. I KNOW THEY DON'T LOOK PARTICULARLY 'CLEAN,' BUT THEY'LL LOOK GREAT AFTER I SAND THEM.

READING ROOM - DAY TWENTY SEVEN

2011-04-04T20:21:00.000-07:00

PAINTED THE INTERIOR DETAILS TODAY...

...AFTER PAINTING MOST OF THE INTERIOR ON DAY TWENTY SIX (WITH A LOT OF HELP FROM ETSUKO)...

...AND ALL OF THE EXTERIOR ON DAY TWENTY FIVE, WHEN IT WAS SUNNY. (IT'S NO LONGER SUNNY.)

READING ROOM - DAY TWENTY FOUR

2011-03-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

PAINTED THE FASCIA AND SOFFITS A RICH BROWN COLOR.

I USED A TRICK MY GRANDFATHER TAUGHT ME: USE A NAIL TO PUNCH HOLES IN THE TOP OF THE CAN, SO THAT PAINT DRAINS BACK INSIDE RATHER THAN STAYING IN THAT GROOVE. MAKES A MESSY JOB A LITTLE CLEANER.

READING ROOM - DAY TWENTY THREE

2011-03-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

I FINISHED NAILING ON THE BATTENS ON THE EAST WALL...

...AND THE NORTH WALL. I LIKE HOW THEY CONTINUE 'AROUND THE CORNER'.

THIS STAGE OF THE PROJECT INVOLVES A LOT OF LITTLE DETAILS, LIKE THIS TRIM DETAIL AROUND A CONDUIT. NOT VERY DRAMATIC, BUT NECESSARY.

WENT TO A BIG BOX STORE FOR SOME PAINT, AND FOUND THESE LITTLE BOXES IN THE PARKING LOT.

READING ROOM - DAY TWENTY TWO

2011-03-29T21:14:00.000-07:00

KEN FINISHED DRYWALLING AND MUDDING THE BUILT-IN BOOKSHELVES.

HE MASKED OFF THE WOOD SHELVES TO PROTECT THEM. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE RECLAIMED WOOD AND THE PAINTED WALLS.

I STARTED ON THE EXTERIOR TRIM. I CHOSE CEDAR BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD QUALITY WOOD, RESISTS ROT AND IS GROWN LOCALLY.

I'LL BE PAINTING IT LATER THIS WEEK, BUT IT EVEN LOOKS GOOD 'NATURAL'.

THE HORIZONTAL BOARDS COVER THE GAPS BETWEEN PLYWOOD SHEETS. THEY'LL ALSO BE A GOOD COMPLEMENT TO THE CEDAR SIDING THAT I'LL BE PUTTING AROUND THE DOOR.

READING ROOM - DAY TWENTY ONE

2011-03-25T20:47:00.000-07:00

I SIDED THE SOUTH WALL AND PUT IN THE LAST WINDOW.

A VIEW OF THE INTERIOR:

AND THE LONG VIEW:

READING ROOM - DAY TWENTY

2011-03-24T23:15:00.000-07:00

MATT DID A FASTER-THAN-LIGHT SANDING JOB ON THE NEW DESK.

LUNCH AT THE FOOD CARTS NEAR MATT'S STUDIO ON KILLINGSWORTH AND GREELEY. I HAD SOME DELICIOUS CHICKEN FROM PDX SIX SEVEN ONE, A CART THAT SPECIALIZES IN GUAM CUISINE.

BACK AT THE READING ROOM, WE PRECISELY CUT THE DESK AND FITTED IT INTO THE ALCOVE.

PUT IN THE PATIO DOORS AND CALLED IT A DAY.

READING ROOM - DAY NINETEEN

2011-03-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

WINDOW DELIVERY THIS MORNING.

I PUT IN THE TALL NARROW ONE FIRST. I WAS EXCITED TO SEE HOW IT WOULD LOOK IN THAT SMALL SPACE. I LIKE IT.

FROM THERE, I WENT ON TO INSTALL ALL THE SHELVES. THESE ARE THE RE-MILLED BOARDS FROM THE ORIGINAL CARPORT.

THEY'RE WESTERN RED CEDAR, AND THE RUSTING NAILS REACTED WITH THE TANNINS IN THE WOOD, CREATING THESE BLACK MARKS. A WHOLE LOTTA CHARACTER IN THESE BOARDS...

I CREATED A NICE BIG MESS IN THIS SMALL SPACE. CLEANUP TOOK A WHILE THIS EVENING.

READING ROOM - DAY EIGHTEEN

2011-03-21T21:05:00.000-07:00

STARTED OFF THE DAY WITH A VISIT TO THE ReBUILDNG CENTER FOR SOME LUMBER TO BUILD THE DESK. THIS IS A GREAT SALVAGE YARD WITH A COVERED LUMBERYARD AND A GOOD SELECTION OF BOARDS PULLED FROM OLD HOUSES AROUND PORTLAND.

I WAS SEARCHING FOR SOME OLD-GROWTH STUFF, FROM BACK WHEN A 2X4 WAS REALLY TWO INCHES BY FOUR.

BEFORE THINGS GOT DUSTY, MATT McCALMONT AND I WENT FOR LUNCH.

AFTERWARDS, MATT USED A METAL DETECTOR TO FIND THE NAILS EMBEDDED IN THE WOOD.

AND I REMOVED THEM.

THEN MATT GEARED UP AND TRIMMED THE EDGES.

WE GLUED THEM TOGETHER AND LEFT THEM OVERNIGHT.

READING ROOM - DAY SEVENTEEN

2011-03-20T20:35:00.000-07:00

KEN PUT UP ALL THE SHEETROCK, AND ON DAYS EIGHTEEN, NINETEEN AND TWENTY, I CONSTRUCTED THE 'SKELETON' FOR THE BUILT-IN BOOKSHELVES.

THESE SHELVES ATE 50 2X4s. FIFTY! I CALCULATED IT BEFORE I STARTED, BUT COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WOULD TAKE THAT MUCH MATERIAL...

THE SHELVES ARE ABOUT 8 FEET LONG, WITHOUT A MID-SPAN SUPPORT, SO THEY HAD TO BE A LITTLE OVER-BUILT.

ALONG THE BACK WALL, THE TWO SHELVES CREATE AN ALCOVE FOR THE BUILT-IN DESK.

READING ROOM - DAY FIFTEEN

2011-03-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

AND DAY SIXTEEN. THE CEILING AND WALLS WERE INSULATED...

...AND THEN WE WERE READY TO ROCK!

KEN ROMERO MOVED SO FAST THAT HE WAS A BLUR. HE'S QUICK AND SKILLED, SMOOTHING OUT ALL THE WALLS AND CEILING WITH A THIN COAT OF PLASTER. IT'S GOING TO LOOK GREAT.

READING ROOM - DAY FOURTEEN

2011-03-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

FINISHED ALL THE SOFFITS AND PUT THE EXTERIOR SIDING ON THE BACK WALL.

THIS WAS A SHORT DAY. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, THERE WERE SOME BIG OLD BLUEBERRY BUSHES WAITING.

THEY'RE ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD, AND WILL PRODUCE FRUIT THIS SUMMER. I MULCHED THEM WITH PINE NEEDLES, PINE CONES AND SMALL BRANCHES. THAT'S WHAT THEY LIKE, APPARENTLY.

READING ROOM - DAY THIRTEEN

2011-03-09T23:00:00.000-08:00

I CONTINUED TO 'WATERPROOF' THE STRUCTURE, WRAPPING IT WITH A MOISTURE BARRIER.

KEPT TRYING TO THINK OF SOME PUN THAT INVOLVED THE WORD 'HOUSE' AND 'WRAP' BUT COULDN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING GOOD...

I NAILED UP THE SOFFITS, USING SOME OLD CARPENTER'S TRICKS TO HOLD THE SHEETS OF PLYWOOD OVERHEAD WHILE I NAILED THEM OFF. (ONE SECTION IS PRE-PRIMED. THE REST ARE PLAIN WOOD.)

WITH THE SOFFITS BOXED IN, IT'S STARTING TO HAVE SOME VISUAL 'WEIGHT'.

READING ROOM - DAY TWELVE

2011-03-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

THE FORECAST CALLED FOR RAIN, BUT IT WAS A SUNNY SPRING DAY, SO TED LEACH WAS ABLE TO ROLL OUT THE 'TORCH-DOWN' ROOF.

IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A BACKYARD LIBRARY...

READING ROOM - DAY ELEVEN

2011-03-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

...AND DAYS SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE AND TEN. (SORRY, IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET A NEW CAMERA.) OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, I FINISHED THE SOUTH WALL.

AND THE WEST WALL. AND THE LITTLE CONNECTOR WALL WITH ITS NARROW WINDOW.

I PUT UP THE ROOF JOISTS.

AND TODAY I NAILED DOWN THE ROOFING PLY. NOW ALL SIX SIDES OF THE CUBE ARE COMPLETE!

SUPER FUNKY MICRO HOUSES

2011-02-26T11:03:00.000-08:00

I DROPPED MY CAMERA AND NEED TO REPAIR IT, SO NO PHOTOS OF THE READING ROOM. INSTEAD, SOMETHING FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES (THANKS, MOM)

MICRO HOUSES

READING ROOM - DAY SIX

2011-02-23T22:10:00.000-08:00

ODD WEATHER TODAY. SUN AND RAIN AND PREDICTIONS OF SNOW. FINISHED FRAMING THE EAST WALL.

SNOW! (KIND OF, MORE LIKE THICK RAIN...)

I WAS PREPARED WITH MY 'CHILLY GRIP' GLOVES. LOVE THE NAME, AND THEY'RE WARM AND TOUGH.

FRAMED OUT THE SOUTH WINDOW AND HEADED FOR HOME.

READING ROOM - DAY FIVE

2011-02-22T20:35:00.000-08:00

TODAY WE WENT VERTICAL. I SET OUT THE STUDS FOR THE BACK WALL...

...NAILED THEM TOGETHER AND RAISED IT. I PUT ON THE PLYWOOD AFTER IT WAS UPRIGHT, WHICH WAS A CHANGE FROM MY USUAL METHOD, BUT I THINK IT WORKED OUT BETTER (AND IT WAS EASIER TO LIFT.)

THE NEXT WALL HAD AN ANGLED TOP, SO FIGURING OUT THE MEASUREMENTS FOR THE STUDS CAN BE TIME-CONSUMING. AGAIN, I BROKE FROM MY USUAL METHOD. I DESIGNED IT ON THE DESKTOP AND USED THOSE MEASUREMENTS ON THE JOBSITE.

THE TWO WALLS CAME TOGETHER PERFECTLY. THE BACK WALL WILL HAVE A BIG DESK, AND THE SIDE WALL IS FOR THE BUILT-IN SHELVES.

READING ROOM - DAY FOUR

2011-02-21T20:35:00.000-08:00

THE CONCRETE SLAB WAS CURED AND READY TO GO. TIME TO BUILD!

THE TRUCK DELIVERED MOST OF THE LUMBER FOR THE JOB, AND I SPENT SOME TIME PUTTING IT IN MANAGEABLE PILES IN THIS SMALL SPACE.

I PUT TOGETHER THE FLOOR JOISTS AND SQUARED UP THE WHOLE THING.

I WANT THE FLOOR TO BE WARM, SO I ADDED INSULATION. WHILE I WAS DOING THIS, I KEPT THINKING ABOUT MAKING A GIGANTIC BED.

NAILED OFF THE PLYWOOD SUB-FLOOR AND CALLED IT A DAY.

A VIEW BACK TOWARDS THE TRUCK AND THE CUTTING-STATION TENT. SNOW IS IN THE FORECAST, SO THIS MIGHT GET INTERESTING...