Hi Everyone,
Yes, the embrasure doors are fully installed! I can’t believe it!
What do you think you’re doing? Stop freaking scrolling! ;]
I decided to give this special entry its own post. It’s a momentous day in this 11-month-old renovation.
First, a quick health update.
Yesterday, I took an Uber to the doctor. This one, another PCP in the same medical group, was kind. He did have a student accompanying him. I’ve never had two doctors listen to my cardiovascular system simultaneously.
By the time I left, I felt better enough to walk home—1.5 miles. I ran into my friend Cheryl (yeah, the one who gets annoyed if I don’t borrow her car., lol), who was out walking her darling little dogs. It was great to have a little human interaction.
I had instructions to get Flonase and a Neil Med saline irrigation system. Oh, I have one of those things or did. It was my second one bought several years ago. I may have dumped it when clearing out the bathroom last May. I know some of you swear by them (like a neti pot), but that irrigation thing totally skeeves me out. Therefore, I got a squeeze bottle of saline nasal spray.
I was relieved to be feeling a tad better.
I even had a temperature reading of 97.7, much closer to my normal 97.4.
But then… like an avalanche, around 8:30 or so, my cough became so bad, no matter what I tried, and my temp went back up to 99.5, which isn’t terrible. Still, if it continues, it means it’s most likely morphed into bronchitis or bacterial pneumonia. This has happened to me before, but I think the last time was before I moved to Bronxville.
Anyway, the guys worked hard on the embrasure doors yesterday and today.
It sounds like a bloody lumbar yard down there! The saw is in my bedroom, and this is funny, however, the sound seems to be more muffled now. And they put the plastic back over the stairwell.
OH! The other nine doors are arriving tomorrow!
For funsies. Let’s review a few old pics.
My rendering is from May 21, 2023. Wow! Nearly a year ago! There have been some changes. And that hall is about a foot too wide here. The cell phone does make things look skinnier than they are. I often shorten the image to compensate, but there is still distortion.
Above, is the most recent floorplan, minus 80% of the bedroom.
Okay, we’re going to go back, back, back in time…
Did you ever have a nightmare where your home became an empty shell, except for the parts you despised the most?
OMG! It wasn’t a dream. What have I done? I just paid tens of thousands of dollars to have my home gutted.
Okay, even though it’s not finished, it’s finished enough to see that it went from “this to this.”
Above and below from September 25th. The renovation was 3.5 months old then. Since I was moving back in just over two months, I was feeling pretty anxious. The kitchen cabinets were still sitting in the living room and would be for two more weeks. Still, I was relieved to finally see some of the structure built.
Today, the yellow light in the bathroom was so bad that I decided to make it into a film noir.
Can I tell you how happy this makes me?
November 13th. The embrasure hall is to the right. Holy Freaking Crap!!! Talk about getting worse before it gets better! I bet some of you thought I was barking mad to be doing this!
12.23.2023
And God said: “Let there be walls.”
And, just like that, there were.
Today, standing at the entrance to the bedroom.
2.15.2024
Two days ago.
Now, it’s really beginning to look like a 19th-century home! Like, wasn’t it always like this?
haha.
We’re putting this fantastic Orac Decor crown moulding in the embrasure door ceiling areas.
That trim will go in that area where the downlight is. It’s a baby version of the crown at the top of the page and in the main nine-foot area of the bathroom. This ceiling height is also higher. All doors and openings are eight feet high!
December 23rd. The calm before the January storm. AKA: The Door Saga.
Let’s look at a few more images after the guys finished the embrasure door installation, and put up many of the door casings, as well.
I was standing on the second step for the shot above. I am so happy to see that orange wood– gone!
Laurel, what are you going to do about that electrical panel?
I think I’m going to do the same mural I originally selected but mount it onto a canvas board, like a real painting. Then, I can hang it over the electrical box. I will look for a lightweight board that can easily be moved in an emergency. Please remember that there is a mother control that can turn off the electricity in my unit, in the front of the building.
It won’t be this large, however.
This is a view from the primary closet from earlier today, May 1, 2024. The bedroom is to the left.
The point where I can see the bedroom walls from the entry.
My view when lying in bed. Now, they can finish the baseboards.
Normally, I would tell you about the casings and plinth blocks. (I will on another day)
But I don’t have the energy. I’m tired of being sick, but I’m doing everything I can to heal myself with warm drinks, healthy food, and lots of rest.
However, I must give a shout-out to Select Door, who created the embrasure doors and milled everything, perfectly. And, especially, to their fantastic rep in Maine. Little Harbor Window. I worked with Marcia Wadsworth, and she was amazing from start to finish! I can’t recommend them highly enough.
Okay, signing off… Thanks so much for your kind words. They help a lot!
xo,
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42 Responses
Not sure if you have a walk-in medical clinic that will order an x-ray for your chest, but I would not wait before it siphons off your strength. Have a friend drive you or take a cab tomorrow. I may have a great chest (or so it’s rumoured), but my lungs are weak so I’ve learned never to wait from experience. Be safe, cara. P.S. Your reno work is amazing!
Hello Laurel. I am a brand new subscriber.
I was looking up those open ceilings and trying to find reasons to have them.
I am purchasing a new built home down the road. The seller insists I do not want another bedroom upstairs because the space will destroy the open feeling in the living room. Honestly, I live in a McMansion here in Northern Virginia with all of that open stuff and it is not all that.
so I am going to investigate the actual ceiling height. It is probably 10 feet.
Anyway, I hope you get better. You should get some amoxicillin for that cough chest thing. Just call the doc office back and tell them you are developing a chest congestion that is making you run a fever
Looking at this, your new place it looks great. Did you get rid of those winding stairs? Those are not pretty or useful. I nearly broke a leg on those when I was a teenager in Brussels in that stupid house mom and dad were living in for a few years.
Happy Week-end
Wow! I have been following this renovation from the beginning and can’t believe you are so close to the finish line. Your perserverence and attention to the most minute detail is truly amazing. I know you don’t want to resume your resurrect your former interior design career, but I think you should consider an adjunct service to what you are doing know with the blog and that is a historic restoration specialist. You have really taken the time to research 19th century design and track down the sources that provide that kind of product. And, you could do it with only a few trips from your beautiful new home and you are in the perfect area to do it! There must be a lot of people in the Boston area who want to restore their 19th century homes but don’t have the design skills to do it. I can’t wait to see the final pics!!
YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH – IT IS A MIRACLE – YOUR TENACITY WITH THE CONTRACTOR IS ADMIRABLE. THE EMBRASURE DOORS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT HALLWAY. YOU ALSO HAVE QUITE THE CLINICAL TEAM WORKING FOR YOU WITH ALL THOSE GREAT MEDICAL SUGGESTIONS.
HOW MANY MURALS ARE YOU DOING IN THE ENTIRE APT.?
Just curious about the embrasure door installation which looks really good. But, why am I seeing large hinges adjacent to the doors? Will they be covered with door casings?
Hi Larry,
Those are the Harmon Hinges that make it possible for the door to lie flat against the wall inside a pocket, and no, they can’t be covered or they won’t be functional. They are very expensive and weigh a lot, too. The most expensive ones are about 800/each. And you can get some that are more concealed than these. However, these came in white, so I figured it would less obtrusive than a metallic finish. I spent a little over $200 each for the 12 hinges. So, with shipping, the hinges alone were about $2,600.
Laurel, this is so so good! It’s really going to be a piece of art in the end. I am a little in awe of your vision and perseverance.
Wishing you a complete recovery as quickly as possible!
How in the world did the original railing meet code? Or did it?
Hi Dee,
It met code because there was going to be a glass insert. However, I realized about four months ago, that wasn’t for me.
Laurel, sinus issues are the worst for making one feel miserable. Rinses provide amazingly rapid relief. Glad you are recovering. We have a hinged, framed painting over our electrical box. Works like a charm. Your 19th century apartment has made great progress as seen by your excellent photos. You chose well – a lower floor with 8 ft plus ceilings!
Hi Randy,
My sinuses are not too bad. It’s my lungs that are having an issue.
Continued prayers for speedy healing. Thanks for sharing the journey, but we’d all like you to rest and post when you are well again! Allergies this year in Alabama have been quite spectacular. I started going to a new chiropractor, and I was rather skeptical that it would help, but whenever he adjusts my neck & ribs, I breathe better. It’s been a great encouragement, and I’ve almost pain-free and able to breathe – win-win!
Wish I could drop off some homemade chicken soup! 😉
Laurel, it has to feel uplifting to finally see something completed, it almost completed, after so long. I’m hopeful your discussion the other day lit a fire under these guys. I feel it’s abusive the way they dawdle with your job.
I don’t like doing sinus washes either, but they are miraculous. So I do them while in the shower, which helps a lot. My sinuses open up in the moist heat, and the messiness of the wash is minimized. The saline spray does nothing but add moisture to dry sinus tissue.
Progress is amazing. When finished you should charge admission for tours! So nice to see a Bostonian restore a Grande Dame instead of ripping her down. If you follow “Lost Boston” (in your spare time – haha) you will see all the old beauties that are now gone. But, I wish you could enjoy your beauty in better health. Allergy season is high, pneumonia was prevalent this winter, and you’re living in a dust bowl. Maybe an air purification system ‘til the dust settles?
Hi Candy,
I have an air purifier. And, I keep my door shut, so the dust is not bad in my room.
These doors work so well in your space and are beautiful. What a boost to see them installed! So sorry about your spring cold and hoping you feel much much better very soon. And if your posts pause or are just a paragraph or two while you are recovering, this reader (for one) will patiently wait for you to resume your normal schedule.
My ENT told me you brush your teeth everyday so why wouldn’t you clean your sinuses daily? It is part of personal hygiene once you use the saline rinse whatever your symptoms are. Great product. Hope you find relief. Staves off allergy attacks too. I believe you have mentioned that also in the past. Remember to change the filters in your HVAC system with all that sawing and dust.
Hallway looking beautiful. Awaiting more pics.
Hi Hazel,
When I begin taking nourishment through my nose, I’ll be sure to give it a good scrubbing every night.;] I have no filters to change. But, hopefully, soon, I will.
With regard to the mural you want to hang over the electrical box, we had a similar dilemma when we built out our dental office in 2012. The secondary electrical box (we had to have two of them) had to be located in a hallway near the rear exit/employee entrance to our office (and was unsightly). We purchased an inexpensive framed mirror (from Home Depot), my wife painted the mirror frame to match the trim in the office, we attached the framed mirror to a Masonite board (to add strength and rigidity), and mounted a piano hinge along one side of the mirror, and then attached it to a strip of wood that was attached to the wall. On the opposite side, an identical strip of wood (both strips painted with the wall color) was also mounted (to maintain equal spacing on both sides of the mirror), with a magnetic closure to keep the hinged mirror closed. This hid the electrical box, and the cover was easy to open instead of having to lift a cover off of the wall. (What might need to be considered is what your electrical inspector might say, so it could be something to be done after all the final inspections are completed). Anyhow, my wife has been happy with this solution, and we have only had to access the electrical panel two or three times in the last 12 years, so I suppose simply hanging a covering object would also work!
Laurel, I have been following you for a while now, during your new home remodel, and it looks wonderful! Just want you to know that it’s very common, as you are feeling better, to get worse at night. Be patient, and keep resting and drinking fluids. You are getting well, just slowly. Anne Rogoff
Thank you, Anne.
The lower level looks amazing. It’s incredibly elegant. I can’t wait to see it painted and furnished.
I hope you heal soon and that this virus hasn’t morphed into bronchitis or pneumonia. I’ve been there and didn’t enjoy it. The NeilMed rinses are effective but I have a hard time getting the squeeze bottle pressure correct. I now use a device from Amazon that controls the rinse pressure. It works well and is less unpleasant. If you’re interested, it’s the Health Solutions SinuPulse elite.
Laurel, it gets better and better – the installed doors look great. It is very easy now to see how it will look when finished. It may be hard to leave your home when all is is completed because it will be insanely beautiful. So, I read all the other posts and know you are getting heartfelt advice – therefore apologies for adding mine. I had a similar cold with cough in March – thought I was coughing my lungs up – this would happen at night, and I could not sleep. My husband, who has asthma, was hospitalized for Covid in 2020 and is always a candidate for bronchitis, has all kinds of prescription meds. He thought I was on the road to bronchitis – offered me a dose of his codeine-based cough syrup with the promise I would call my PCP. I would have promised anything. It was a miracle drug! One dose – no coughing and I slept. My PCP prescribed a “little” bottle for me with only a few doses. I could sleep at night and my cold got better. Anyway – my little offering. Best wishes for your health.
I am sorry you are fighting this nasty cold Laurel but elated that your embrasure doors are installed. I have googled embrasure doors I don’t know how many times to try to understand exactly what they look like and used for. I THINK I finally got it! Thanks for the photos – they are gorgeous. I know your home it has undergone many changes over the years but I am curious if there were ever embrasure doors in the original structure of your home. Happy May! May brings spring flowers and nearing the end of your project. : )
Hi Lisa,
I’m quite positive that there were no embrasure doors in the original building. However, there are two sets of massive pocket doors. That area in the back of the house was the kitchen and storage areas.
Your plan is gorgeous! I know it is so hard to have the vision in your head, and then have to be patient for it to become a reality. But it is sooo worth it! Look how beautiful everything is looking!
About the Neil Med – I have chronic nasal allergies, and I have to use it every day. The saline spray won’t do the same thing that the Neil Med does – the Neil Med actually flushes out your sinuses – the saline spray does not. Should you decide to use the Neil Med after all, be sure to use bottled distilled water with it – NOT tap water. Room temperature water is more pleasant than water that is too hot or too cold. Remember, if you decide to use it, you only have to use it until you recover – not every day like some of us!
Laurel, this is all so beautiful. It’s going to be so elegant, warm and inviting. Living through construction is for months on end is the worst. No wonder you’re sick! Take care of yourself.
I also want to thank you for sharing your recipe for bran muffins. I’ve made them several times, and they really are the best!!
I love what you are doing to your home. It is unbelievable how you have come up with design to transform this area. I feel sure you will be better after all the smells and dust are gone. Get well soon.
It’s looking fantastic. Did you explain why you chose to use metal studs? Get well soon.
Hi Faxon, I didn’t choose the metal studs. I believe it’s stipulated in the building code.
It’s looking freaking beautiful!!! You really have a nasty bout and your body is doing amazingly well. Time to rest and thank it for everything it’s doing so you can finish this work and we can all see the finished product. I want a video post please of all finished reveals to properly grasp that beauty!! Not asking for much … haha. xoxo
Laurel, it’s looking fabulous. Hope you feel better soon. 🙂
Wishing you impeccable health Laurel. Thank you for including us as your quest in creating a beautiful apartment becomes reality.
I’m so happy for you!
I also wanted to let you know you are not alone with this awful cold. My husband and I have had it for about 9 days now (a gift from our teenage son). It is the slowest cold ever, and yes low fever that comes and goes for a few days, tiredness, aches, all are part of it. We are at the point where only the cough remains and it’s tickly. Improvement comes, but slowly. Hang in there. The Sudafed that you have to sign your life away for to get from behind the counter at the pharmacy has been an amazing relief, though symptoms return when it wears off. And no, it’s not Covid (or flu, or strep). We’ve all been to the doctor and have all tested several times. We’re also in Massachusetts.
Your home will be the envy of all your Bostonian Lady friends … But I feel for you
Your contractors are SLOOOW !! I once lived with plastic over the stairs when lightening hit the top of a home in which I was living …. One never beleives the dust will be gone.
I am wondering if most of your illness isn’t from dust. You are a trooper Laurel.
Feel better soon.
Laurel it is absolutely stunning. So worth all the late nights, early mornings, what a vision. Good for you. Get better, you need to be up for the fun stuff. Furnishing this baby, it is of course the best part. And then, of course you get to just live. Wow.
I am living for each and every blog post. So looking forward to seeing more progress on your home and how it will look when completed with you living your best life in such a lovely place. Heal well.
The progress is so exciting and beautiful!
This is really old school advice,but I’m currently using this advice because nothing else is providing any relief.
I’m using Mentholatum Ointment on my chest and neck. It has helped so much.
If your local pharmacy does not have it,you can purchase it on Amazon. I hope you feel better soon.
Dear Laurel, your downstairs is looking amazing! I’m glad you are tutoring us about so many things, like embrasure doors, which I never heard of before reading your blog. I, and many others, appreciate your sharing your knowledge, wit, and a bit of your life with us :] Sending prayers for your healing!
Laurel, it’s been a while since I checked in. I just wanted to say how sorry I am you’re sick. I’m sure this 11 month journey has worn you down. Please take good care and get well soon. Everything looks spectacular.
Hi Laurel,
I was surprised to see your email. You are a trooper to be posting when you’re so sick.
I loved being reminded of how far you’ve come with your renovation. Thanks for sharing the pictures. I think when we’re in the midst of it we’re constantly looking ahead at what needs to be done next. Looking back makes you appreciate the struggle it took you to get where you are now.
Congratulations on your doors. They truly add a level of sophistication.
NOW GET SOME REST! 😘
My heart beat faster, just looking at how gorgeous it is! The progress is astounding! So glad you had a good doctor this time! Rest up and get well.