Happy One-Year Renovation Anniversary + Lots of News!

Hi Everyone,

This is a newsy post on the one year renovation anniversary. And it’s also a continuation of the post about jib doors.

I woke up today to the sound of intense construction. Then, I looked out the window and saw two vans parked in the tandem spot behind my building. That is very rare.

However, yesterday (Monday) was not a good day.

I developed an eye infection over the weekend and had to sleep. Yes, I know. While I’m trying not to be stressed out, it isn’t easy. My resistance is low. I saw my doctor today and got some antibiotic drops, which are already helping a lot.

Before I fell back asleep, I briefly saw the AC technician but didn’t say anything to him. Yes, the new condenser was installed.

When I got up a couple of hours later, the guy was gone.

I gingerly went downstairs, and it was like walking in slow motion to get to the garden. The Universe was sending lots of neggy vibes. Yes, the condenser is considerably smaller. That much is good. But it was still 19″ up off the ground!!!

Some of you in Boston may have felt a slight tremor around noon on June 3rd. If so, please understand it wasn’t an earthquake. No. It was me stomping my feet in abject frustration.

Do you know how often I’ve told Robert I want the new condenser installed as low to the ground as possible? I found it at least three times in text messages and repeated it last week.

So, I wrote him a text with images. This was around 1:30 PM.

I didn’t get a response for the rest of the day, which didn’t help my mood one iota. All sorts of thoughts were running through my mind, none of them very encouraging.

However, when I woke up today, I got a kind message from my GC, Robert.

He was sympathetic about the condenser and assured me the AC guy had been told it would be installed low to the ground.

Then, we went into a back and forth-about the bathroom floor.

He said it’s only 7/8th of an inch off.

Only?

There was more, and he was all set to fix it and even change it to tile. So, I went down to speak to the guys who were both there today. Brendan was gone for three weeks.

In addition to the two carpenters, Bryan, the painter, and his assistant were busy sanding away. They had covered the steps.

Things looked nicer, with everything covered in sand and smoothed out.

We discussed what would be involved in changing the floor and it would be a major step backward.

I just can’t.

I know. I’ve said more than once I can’t live with it the way it is. Well, I can. I can tell myself it’s part of the charm of an old house.

In the end, I think it’s best to finish the job, and if it’s really awful after I’ve recovered, we can see about fixing the floor then. The bathroom is built except for a little moulding still to go on. Then it’s painting, floors, plumbing, electrical fixtures, and switches.  I think it’s realistic to say it will be complete by the end of the month.

However, not if we start mucking with the floor.

The guys have also finished building the doors and panels under the stairs. However, the hardware isn’t on yet.

Now that we have the downstairs squared away let’s return to the entry jib doors.

The new Rixon 370 pivot hinges arrived today and Robert says the guys will begin working on the doors tomorrow.

I’m concerned because I keep reading and occasionally see images of a radius edge on the jamb side of the door, on the jamb, or both.

The jambs are all on the right, and the long rectangle is the door from a bird’ s-eye view.

Curving the jamb helps conceal the gap. However, I have never seen a concave door jamb.

Thomas May closed the jib door – wainscoting – center hung pivot hinge.

This one is very close to my door and entry wall. Let’s look at it as it opens.

This is done with a center-hung pivot hinge. There is a clue.

Some of you made some suggestions that seem reasonable on the surface; however, I’d like to set the record straight.

Jib and hidden doors are not all that common.

The only one I’ve ever seen in all of the houses I’ve been in and hundreds of real estate listings I’ve looked at is this one at the historic Prescott House at the edge of Beacon Hill. I took this image during a tour in January 2023.

Many of you may perceive them as everywhere because of your keen interest in interior design.

If you read design blogs, you will see them. However, they are still used by a tiny percentage of the population.

As for finding qualified artisans, I think my guys are about as good as it gets. Trying to find someone better would be another exercise in futile wheel spinning as we had with the regular doors! And we had it even worse with the embrasure doors. Select Door/Little Harbor Window in Maine came to the rescue.

The last piece of renovation anniversary news is that it looks like the stair railing will finally be installed this Thursday.

The railing was finished about five weeks ago and has been sitting at the painters all this time despite Jerry making numerous calls.

My new Emtek doorknobs are arriving tomorrow. I will also receive a strike-off sample to approve, as I decided to tweak the background color for my new bedroom mural. I adore The Mural Source. They are a class act through and through!

This is me (with sick left eye) this evening at the Garden Club of the Back Bay’s Spring Twilight Garden Party. Isn’t that dress beautiful!

I had NOTHING to wear. I’m not exaggerating. However, on my way home from the doctor, I stopped at a lovely boutique on Charles Street and found this lovely.

Wow! We have had the most glorious weather recently. No matter where in the Northeast, we appreciate these mild, dry days.

They are incredibly rare.

xo,

***Please check out the recently updated HOT SALES!  

And, the All-New Father’s Day Gift Guide!

There is now an Amazon link on my home page and below. Thank you for the suggestion!

Please note that I have decided not to create a membership site. However, this website is 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!

I very much appreciate your help and support!