Blogging a reno thru the rear-view window
By amorcitosGeez, this is hard. Blogging parts of our renovation in retrospect is quite a challenge. But I wanted to pull out highlights and share them--partly for posterity, partly for my sanity. (Possibly related, as I'm terrible at recording things that affect our future, and then I later regret not having done it.)
Anyway, lots happened in the first week or so after we closed on the house last April. So I uploaded some stuff to flickr (which doesn't seem to agree w/my sequencing efforts) to record those events. There's some DIY stuff here (which I'll do better at recording in real-time going forward), but I'd love input on striking a balance between preserving the integrity of a modern home and updating its look for a nice "grown up" look.
Perhaps someone who's been in our shoes can point us to some of their lessons & ideas. (For example, what would you recommend for this brick-wall fireplace?)
With so much on hold since our Ikea cabinets were discontinued, it's good to look back at our milestones to stay motivated for the work ahead (the kitchen is like that Four Seasons song...so close, slo close and yet so far).
This week: Up for completion--The laundry room (yawn). Floating's done on new walls. Priming and painting remain, and finally the washer/dryer will get booted from the kitchen (yes, the kitchen) to make way for the final demo and all the exciting new stuff.
And to ModHomeEc Teacher's post today, yes, it does feel like we're in The Shining...looking for way out of the wintry labyrinth. The Rockies are finally thawing, so I have hope.
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amorcitos's blog (7 posts)
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My husband and I are new owners of a 55-year-old rancher in the foothills of...
amorcitos
WOW...Thanks, Keter! I really appreciate your ideas--and I'm glad you mentioned the lighting. May come back w/a coupla questions if u don't mind.
On the scale of the fireplace--you're right again. I couldn't put my finger on it, but that is the problem. Short-term, a brushed nickel or maybe even glass will do the screen trick (I'm learning fast that "short term" means as long as it takes to finish anything).
Longer term we're considering ideas like this or like the BoConcept fireplace treatment in one of my posted photos. If we didn't do something like that, I love your idea of just adding modern cushions tot he hearth (glazed red clay tiles...yuk). Between the three living areas in this room (measures 35x15, btw), we're trying to set up as much social seating as possible for entertaining.
If we built out the wall w/a long, horizontal opening, is there a width/height ratio to respect?
Again, thanks for your thoughts!
Keter
Regarding your fireplace: the first question I would ask is "do you want to keep the brick?" The answer to that is required first!
If you don't want to keep the brick, you can panel over it with a variety of materials: faux stone, tile, wood paneling (I've seen flooring used effectively for this!), even drywall.
If you want to keep the brick, I would suggest using white vinegar or, if that's not strong enough, CLR or LimeAway (test this first in a small spot!) to clean off the water stains. Use a brass or nylon brush, not a steel one - that will leave marks.
Once the water stains are off, the next question is "to paint or not to paint?"
If you're not going to paint, you should be done at this point.
If you're going to paint, I would strongly suggest going to a real paint store and getting a masonry sealer/primer, and if possible, have them tint it close to the color you'll use over it.. Use a brush to apply: you want to get it down into all the little nooks and crannies.
Whether or not you cover the brick with another material, paint it, or leave it alone, you still have four more issues to decide:
Keter
2. "What to do with the fireplace?" The fireplace currently looks kind of forlorn - too small for the scale of the wall. Consider using wide trim around it (wood, drywall, tile in a contrasting color) to beef up the appearance of the fireplace. If I'm guessing scale correctly, 8" to 1' wide would not be too much. This is one thing you don't want to underscale, or it will not solve the problem and the fireplace will still look lonely. If budget allows, I would consider replacing the front with something in anything-but-bright-brass. I've seen some nice matte gray finishes that would go with just about everything.
Keter
4. Lastly, lighting. "What are you going to be doing over there?" The answer to that question will tell you what kind of lighting to install, and where to install it. The only option I would advise against is washing the wall with ceiling spots; everybody does that and it's harsh. A light well at the top of the wall could provide mellow ambient light; retro swivel fixtures mounted on the walls (the ones that look like soup cans or better yet, space-age bullet shapes) could provide reading/media selection lighting. Or you might be able to get a little of both with an array of small fixtures meant to mount to the tops of cabinets.
I would suggest studying Frank Lloyd Wright's treatment of fireplaces and bench ledges, particularly in his Usonian homes; the ideas should adapt well, particularly if you leave the brick - it's really textile the way he did it.
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