New entry on the Renovation News post. The older entries (there’s only one so far, are underneath)
August 30, 2023
Hi Everyone,
The big news is that I heard last Friday afternoon from Furlow Gatewood’s master builder and close friend, Jimmy Fuller. He was incredibly apologetic that he hadn’t gotten back to me sooner. I’m beginning to understand what folks mean by a “Southern gentleman.”
We had a wonderful conversation that centered around my French doors. Of course, we also talked about Furlow and Jimmy’s contribution. He was phenomenally humble. And, he was surprised I knew about Furlow’s legendary cheese straws.
The upshot is that Jimmy’s mostly retired; however, his sons have taken over the business, and he said he’d be happy to pass on the information to them.
All I needed to do was send some drawings.
So, I did that last night.
I’m also working on finalizing the design for the fireplace mantel. However, that’s for my contractor. You know, this is very much like a door casing with a shelf on top.
As for the renovation, it’s slow going for the time being. Right now, we can blame it on the end of summer.
Okay, for today, I finally created a tag cloud for everything related to my renovation. I’m not quite finished with it. You can find it at the bottom of the blog sidebar on a desktop or tablet. If you’re looking on your mobile device, and I know that 55% of you are, you’ll see the tag cloud if you go to any blog post or page and scroll down to the very bottom.
The font size is controlled by how many times I applied that tag to a post.
The categories are still fairly broad, but at least you won’t have to wade through hundreds of posts to find what you’re looking for.
I have to say, I came across this post, which had Max Richter’s beautiful music on it. (Please click the link if you’d like to listen along with me.) And while listening to it with fresh ears and looking back at so much of what I did and how far I’ve come in the last 35 months, I became quite emotional.
It’s also the fourth anniversary of my beautiful mom’s passing.
I spoke with my big sister, Holly, who saw the photo with all the cabinetry sitting in my living room and called me “brave.”
It made me laugh a little. I’m not brave. My idea of heaven on earth is a torn-up living room full of exquisitely fabricated kitchen cabinets.
There’s more big news!
Later today, architect, interior designer, mentor, business coach, young mom, and more, Jo Chrobrak, will interview me in my edge-of-Beacon Hill closet. At my suggestion, we did a test run earlier today. I wanted to make sure everything was in order, tech-wise, as it will be live.
The time is 2:00 PM ET TODAY, August 30th. If you can’t make it, it will be recorded and appear on YouTube soon after. I’ll let y’all know.
Actually, I feel like I should be interviewing HER!
What a dynamo Jo is, and incredibly kind and supportive. And, I love her little one-minute skits on Instagram. In the last one, she played three characters! Hilarious! Listening to her on her Instagram page when she’s being herself, I can see that we have a similar philosophy regarding life.
Some of you out there need to hear this.
You are not too old. It is not too late. It is only too late when your heart stops beating. Look at fashion icon and trendsetter 102-year-old Iris Apfel.
So, if you have that fire in your belly, I say go for it!
Jo didn’t say anything about this, but I looked at her website yesterday and saw she’s starting a new six-month interior design course this Saturday, September 2nd.
Here’s the link for more information. What I love is that it’s not a DIY course. It’s a weekly module with assignments, support, and feedback.
This is so good because motivating oneself is much more difficult without support and accountability. At least, it is for me.
Jo Chrobrak is an Aussie living in London. However, this course is appropriate if you’re in the US, Canada, or anywhere in the world.
WE APOLOGIZE FOR BREAKING THIS IMPORTANT NEWS UPDATE WITH ANOTHER BREAKING NEWS UPDATE!
We now turn to Affiliate Correspondent, who’s standing by in Boston. Come in, Aff.
Thank you, Wally.
Sources say, although not confirmed, that the Boston Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards has granted Laurel Bern’s contractor permission to rip out her incredibly grotesque spiral staircase. And, the green light has also been given for the as-planned new staircase design–a straight-run staircase consisting of 15 ten-inch treads (including the nosing) and sixteen 7.75″h risers.
We have been told that Laurel’s contractor received an email late on Tuesday, giving the okay. He is going over tomorrow to speak with the inspector in charge, and we presume to pick up the long-form building permit. Please stay tuned to this station for further updates.
Back to you, Wally.
Thanks for the great reporting, Aff. Now, back to Laurel.
Laurel???
Are you there???
Oh, sorry, I was just trying to decide what dress to wear for my interview with Jo Chrobrak. However, it appears that I only brought one with me to “the closet” because nothing else would fit. Ummm, in this tiny place, that is. ;]
You know, it is quite possible I was born in the wrong century. ;] And yes, I’m milking this image because it takes hours to get it to look fairly believable.
Yes, yes, yes, I’m very excited. Thank you all for your lovely words. They mean a lot to me!
Before I go, geez. Yes, Labor Day, the 12-day loooooong weekend, is upon us. Thank God Melissa’s back to give me a much-needed hand. The HOT SALES pages are all beautifully edited and updated. Serena and Lily has a sale with many things at 40% off or more! Visual Comfort has EVERYTHING off at 20% and free shipping through September 5th, and that’s just for starters. If interested, please click the above link to see our favorite sales and items.
xoxo,
There is now an Amazon link on my home page and below. Thank you for the suggestion!
Please note that this website is a free service. However, it’s very expensive to run. To provide this content, I rely on you, the kind readers of my blog, to use my affiliate links whenever possible for items you need and want. There is no extra charge to you. The vendor you’re purchasing from pays me a small commission.
To facilitate this, some readers have asked me to put
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Thank you so much!
**********
August 24, 2023
Hi Everyone,
I have two types of pages on my blog. Blog posts and pages for everything else.
I debated this for a minute and made it a blog post dealing with the latest renovation news and details. However, instead of adding it to another post, I might sometimes put renovation news at the top of this one. If it makes sense, I will do that.
This is because today’s entry concerns the staircase guardrail and handrail situation.
There are already three parts to that post, so if you missed it or any parts, please check it out here.
However, here’s where we left off a week ago.
This is my favorite plan for the staircase railing.
However, remember the architect’s elevation showing overlapping guard rail and handrail X panels colliding?
The largest diagonal is the handrail. I plan on doing one that’s more traditional, flatter on the sides, and broad across the top. That will help a lot.
Or, I could also do an acrylic handrail attached to the guardrail until it breaks the floor and goes out of sight. However, that might look funny.
Above is where the section is super helpful. While I didn’t draw it in, the idea I have, commonly done, is to take the wall up where it says closet to the floor. That way, we won’t see any of the X rail design without losing it altogether.
Please bear in mind that we still do not have final approval for this staircase, as it requires a separate permit, which takes a while to get approved.
However, assuming we can do this design, I think only two X panels will be good. If we change it back to three upstairs, we can do three here, too. The full-height staircase was going to be four panels.
LAUREL WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
Hey, please don’t shout. Okay, okay. I made a quick graphic with three x panels because I couldn’t make two work with Scott Yetman’s staircase railing.
Please remember that these are conceptual images, not necessarily what will be built.
Above, the area where it says 3′-11 3/4″ is the inside of the understairs closet we looked at the other day.
On the top floor, I grayed out the area where the new railing will go.
I know some of you are just tuning in and wondering why the staircase isn’t centered. It’ll be too close to the den door, and we’ll need to break through the bedroom ceiling.
Okay, and one more graphic, which I wanted to show you for a different perspective of this renovation detail.
It does look a bit odd with the acrylic handrail. However, it will be clear, not blue. Also, the acrylic railing is attached to the paneled wall and upstairs guard rail. As shown, the staircase steel rail is on top of the wall if we do a close stringer.
Below is another option with the steel handrail going all the way up.
I’m not sure about this. However, when we get the go-ahead for the staircase, I’ll work this out with the contractor.
Again, this view doesn’t exist. I’d have to be downstairs, standing in the common space perched on a ladder, to see this view. And we’d have to knock the load-bearing wall down.
Imagine that! However, it gives a good idea of the configuration in perspective.
Edit: Aug. 25th
I also love this handrail I saw in the Senate Chamber at the Mass Extermination State House.
Okay, that’s all the renovation news for now!
Wait! What am I saying??? The kitchen cabinets are arriving tomorrow morning! Of course, I will be there, as will my contractor and two of his guys.
***Also, please check out Jo Chrobak’s Instagram. She’s a long-time reader living in England, a darling interior designer, and a supportive, helpful business coach. She will interview me on Instagram and YouTube on August 30th, 2023 2:00 PM ET.
This is the first hilarious post where she plays herself AND a dragon of an interior design boss. There are three more after this one. I’ve watched each one at least a dozen times! That’s just how good they are.
xo,
Please check out the recently updated HOT SALES!
There is now an Amazon link on my home page and below. Thank you for the suggestion!
Please note that this website is a free service. However, it’s very expensive to run. To provide this content, I rely on you, the kind readers of my blog, to use my affiliate links whenever possible for items you need and want. There is no extra charge to you. The vendor you’re purchasing from pays me a small commission.
To facilitate this, some readers have asked me to put
A link to Amazon.com is on my home page.
Please click the link before items go into your shopping cart. Some people save their purchases in their “save for later folder.” Then, if you remember, please come back and click my Amazon link, and then you’re free to place your orders. While most vendor links have a cookie that lasts a while, Amazon’s cookies only last up to 24 hours.
Thank you so much!
Your support of my work and website means the world to me!
