THE LAST BIG PROJECT

   Do not misinterpret the title of this post.  There are still MANY details to attend to here on Hawthorne Avenue.  (We have not even begun addressing the exterior landscaping) Perhaps I should have titled this "The last big CARPENTRY project."  No matter.  We began tackling what we are calling our "last big project" this past weekend.

   As the story goes, I have a long-standing aversion to bi-fold doors.  Over the years on Warren Road, I have removed all but 1 set of bi-fold doors to make way for alternative designs.  When the contractor who framed the bathroom addition mentioned he would enclose the laundry area with such doors I cringed.  Wallace and I decided we might build a sliding door to separate the bathroom and laundry areas.

    Although we have kicked all contractors out of the house while the floor guys work their refinishing magic, we have access to the house on weekends.  This past weekend we began building the barn door.

    Remember what I have said on numerous occasions:  ONE MAN'S JUNK...

Several months ago, Wallace found a set of antique iron barn door hardware online.

Since Caravati's wanted our radiators and other antique sundries, we held a bit of 'credit' in our pockets.  One of the things Jimmy over at Caravati's did for us is restore this old hardware so we could use it.

    Before building the door it was necessary to construct the support structure for the door.  Using 1 x 8 poplar we began.

The picture molding is notched out

Slightly widening the space between the baseboard and tile

Cutting the mortise in the vertical board

The mortise

Attaching the barn track with lags

Laying out the bead board atop the 3/4 plywood

The opening the door must cover is 80 inches tall and 69 inches wide.  Each bead board is squared on the ends and cut to 80 inches.  Again we find a job for Titebond III.  We are putting that gallon jug to good use.

Each board is glued and screwed to the plywood backing.

Titebond III

Dozens of screws are put in through the backside along chalked lines

Skill saw does the trick taking off the excess tongue and groove on one side

Refurbished hardware is temporarily attached

Completed door awaits painting

 *Return this weekend to view the door painted and hung

   

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT CARLIE

    What is it about me that is incapable of throwing out what appears to be trash to so many people?

  Through the course of this project here are just a FEW items I have been unable to let go the way of the dumpster.....

This old broken wagon has seen better days  (Perhaps it can be a pop of color in the garden?)

WHY would I save a woodpecker skeleton?  Michael has not had his "Nature Shelf" for  over 10 years

Thoughts on what to do with 4 dozen old liquor bottles?

Dilapidated carriage house windows have already found a new purpose 

Original bead board ceiling gets a second chance at life in my art studio

Even rusty hardware has some value to me

This little charmer is currently undergoing a transformation

Old corbels are making a statement in my new kitchen

The newest junk acquisition will be put to use in a year or 2 

Some misc. and damaged trim becomes a birthday gift  

240 plus cedar nubs need a home and a purpose

Stayed tuned in for photos of re-purposing these and more 'UNDISCARDABLES'  (Yes, I realize that is not a real word but neither is 'FAIRYTOON' .)

ONE MAN'S JUNK

I have long believed that one man's junk is another man's (or this woman's) treasure.   My house and my studio here on Warren Road are a testament to that idea.

                                          

Those who know me or have had to live with me can surely vouch that this is true.  Broken furniture, oddball keys, discarded toys, rusty tools and trinkets somehow find their way into my world.

 Just as I had resigned myself to living with my family and my stash of "treasures" in this charming blue house for always, along came a pretty Saturday, a cheerful car ride, and one man's junk!

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