Thursday, February 4, 2010



The naked truth is that it is very likely a project will start up before the previous project is completely done. In my world, that is written into my schedule. I start my projects with people who prepare, demo, clean and get the initial project started. That leaves me with the final details and punch list on my other "in progress and nearing completion" projects. If I could run completely linearly, I would, but then, I would need more than one of me. My goal is to make all my clients 110% happy and I couldn't sleep if it weren't so.

Today I started a new project -- actually it began long before Thanksgiving -- but today the walls came down. It is exciting and scary at the same time. But, that is how we make progress. So now I have two big projects -- one that is getting the final coat of wonderful and the other that is getting a good sledge hammer, dust, drop clothes, and a vacuum. Did I really think there were going to be that many wires and a main sewer drain (yes to the sewer drain).

My double ballroom renovation, as I like to call it, is underway. My task is to take an intact, beautiful space from the 1880s and retain its character and feel while putting in a great new kitchen. The space is designed. Now watch it as it unfolds.....

Thursday, January 28, 2010


Here is the finished grout and "Jet Mist" counter tops...... I think that makes a great drag name.

Well, the rainy streets have turned to ice as an angry winter wind chased out the somewhat balmy weather. I left "hammering work" in a near white out with rainy wet streets and came home (after dinner at
Anchovies, which is akin to home) to an icey sidewalk rink. Though it is a fortnight after Christmas, and as Mary would say, I must get my wreaths down, I thought this an appropriate photo for the day. And, from a work standpoint, here is the grouted tile on the Pembroke kitchen. Isn't work fun!!!

It has been snowing this great, big, fluffy, Currier & Ives snow all afternoon, but unfortunately it looks like it has just been raining. The sun is coming out just in time to duck behind the buildings and disappear into the gloaming. I'm sitting at my desk doing tasks that don't require a hammer but must get done in order to keep everything on a forward track. I promise myself that I am going to go out and do a little more hammer work on the Pembroke kitchen. I finished the tiling yesterday and here is a picture of it before I grouted.... This morning I cut a new toe kick in for the end cabinet. Even though we planned for a recessed toe kick and ordered it that way, it didn't come recessed and was still installed. Sometimes you do take a step backwards when making things right -- but this backward, in time only, step is going to be part of a great finished product.