tile-high club

Several years ago while confronted with the ugly cement balcony that overlooked the ocean, I investigated options. I discovered an interlocking tile product that looked beautiful.
In the end, I determined it was only sold in Japan but would eventually be sold in the states. Instead I went with an interlocking wood tile. Same idea but [...]

ta da (almost)

I hesitate to jump the gun (yet again).
But I had a final walk-through for punch list items with the GC (who by some optimism that befuddles me believes he’ll be doing the inside of this house). That was Tuesday. It’s small, niggling stuff  (and he did not argue any of the points though had a [...]

pool update

As you may recall, I’ve had some work to do on the pool. The surrounding pool deck has been stablized with rebar and injectable grout several feet deep into the ground. A small leak or two in the pool shell were repaired.
Next step is to tear out and replace the first layer of tile (the [...]

solid guidance on ideal patio woods

Laurie, of www.kitchendesignnotes.com, offers insight on the sustainability and the human rights issues/atroscities involved with specific wood choices. If you’re in the market for a new patio ensemble, check out her posting and her response to a specific question about teak. http://www.kitchendesignnotes.com/2008/06/how-to-choose-patio-furniture-aka.html
Resin-covered aluminum, polywood and recycled options are also worth considering.

a work of art for the kitchen

How lovely is this? From the French company La Cornfu comes the CornuFe oven, available here through Williams-Sonoma. It comes in many splendid colors including copper. However, now get this, it comes to you for the amazing price of $8,600 (for a stove) plus almost $2,000 for white-glove delivery and installation. Wow.
Speaking of wow, I’m [...]

where there’s smoke …

What to do with the original fireplace? It’s a big brick monstrosity that takes up nearly every inch of wall space that isn’t glass and effectively blocks about a third of the lake view from the family room. The family room and fireplace were add-ons (enclosing a courtyard) in the 1970s. I find fireplaces pleasing. [...]

welcome

I found this lovely outdoor rug, made by Duracord, which is supposed to wear like iron even in humidity and sun. It is made from recycled materials and is also supposed to be as soft as cotton. The first one I found (4×6 to be used as a doormat) was $299. But after much searching, [...]

mortgage mayhem

 Are you looking to finance a mortgage? Things have changed dramatically according to this useful article in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/realestate/01cov.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all
I’m not sure what this will mean for me when I sell the first house and look for a bridge loan to do some renovation on the newer house … Stay tuned.

tabula rasa

At long last, here’s the slate atop the walk and porch. I alternated 16s on the porch. On the walk, I alternated 16s with 4-8s.
What do you think?
 
 

small victories

My new washer/dryer are installed at the new house (the LG steamwashers). With all the construction most everything I moved over there to stage the old house has a fine layer of dust (even the stuff in boxes looks pretty pitiful), so I look forward to breaking in these two little lovelies with a whole [...]