The Renovation Countdown Is On! + A New Idea

Hi Everyone,

It is 9:15 on Tuesday night. And, I just can’t focus on the blog post I’m supposed to be putting together for y’all.

I guess the headline gives it away. Yes, the renovation countdown is on!

If you missed the last couple of posts, here’s what’s going on.

It’s been such a slow process until last week, and somebody, and it was like rewinding an old voicemail tape. Remember those?

After a setback a month ago, I have found a wonderful contractor who can begin in early June. His name is Robert.

If you read Sunday’s post, you discovered I found a little shoebox to move into. What I didn’t say is that this was before anything has been signed with the contractor.

However, reasonably priced (a relative term) rentals in Boston go lightning fast. Or, so I’ve been told. This one is furnished and available from June through November. It was as if it was tailor-made for my needs. So, I grabbed it, and two days after I first spotted it on Zillow, the lease was signed.

Now, you can exhale because the contractor, Robert, came over today.

He is working up the final contract to be signed soon. He will first file a short-form building permit and then a long form because of the structural changes.

Did you know that contractors, when they say they are coming at 11:00, will ring your doorbell at 10:58? Yes, every time. It is always two minutes early.

This morning we went over everything.

This guy is very knowledgeable, and I’m getting lots of green light vibes.

So, I am moving into the new place on June 4th. My neighbor upstairs has a HUGE SUV parked out back, and he said he’d be happy to help me take some things over. I think I said it was 1.4 miles away. Yes, driving it is. Walking is only 1.1 miles, but half of it is up the hill and then a short way down the hill.  The other third is on level ground.

Therefore, I can carry some things if necessary. Of course, I’ll be making many trips back and forth this summer! I’m going to be quite fit by September.

The apartment, itself, is very cute. At only 262 square feet, I’ve dubbed it “The Closet.”

But, even though it’s that tiny, the kitchen is completely separate from the main room.

Is it an unkitchen? Well, it’s about 7′ x 10′. Any kitchen that small is, by default, an unkitchen. haha But, the cabinets are white. There’s a nice, sleek 24″ counter-depth fridge and an 18″ dishwasher. So, I’ll get a test run using the same size appliances I’m getting.

Oh, I just have to show you something.

It’s the apartment from the outside. Hang on while I grab that pic.

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Yes! Gimme the free report!

This is the building, and my new apartment is still on the Parlor level with the bay window. The entrance is on the left. What looks like another door is also mine. Except, THAT is not a working door; those are the windows in the kitchen!  The entire place only goes back about 15 feet. But the ceilings are at least nine feet.

It just goes to show you how preoccupied Bostonians are with appearances.

In Beantown, I must get approval to put a quiet (as a Back-Bay-alley-rat) condenser inside a walled-in garden. However, as long as one follows the strict AF building code, folks can do whatever they wish to the inside.

So be it.

I am so relieved to get that one off my plate.

In other news, I will have an architect draw up the final designs for the lower level.

While I can design a space, I’m not a licensed architect or builder and don’t know all the terminology. I think it will make for a much smoother experience if the builder has a clear blueprint to work off of.

Ahhh… but would you believe that Laurel is still designing it?

That’s not exactly a stretch, is it?

Of course, I am!

And, I have a new obsession, bee in my invisible bonnet, infatuation. Oh, heck, delirium works.

You will never guess in a million years what it is, except that it is something in one of Furlow Gatewood’s homes.

Photo: Rod Collins

It’s the extra wide and paneled door jams creating a mini enfilade.

Remember this post about enfilades?

You can see them above in the Cuthbert House. They separate one of the parlors from the formal dining room. Because I’m so in love with these double doors with their inset panel moulding lining the sides, as I was messing around with my virtual drawing, I saw a way to do them.

Mine will be more like this image I found on Pinterest.

However, first, let’s look at another plainer iteration.

This is the barebones version with only one walk-in closet and another closet for the washer/dryer.

Of course, there could be closets in the bedroom. But, those empty areas could have small wardrobes, as well. Those little white lines in the walls are me messing around with wall moulding or wainscoting panel ideas.

The entire downstairs, as it is right now, doesn’t have any old-home charm.

It feels like a renovation where too much was stripped away. Although, in defense of that, most of it was the kitchen 143 years ago.

More commonly, you will find these deep doorways with an arched top. But, not always. Sometimes they are much wider.

Photo: Rod Collins

Above is a closer look at Cuthbert House’s exquisite architecture and magnificent doorways. I imagine there’s a term for this type of doorway. If there is, and anyone knows what they’re called, please let us know in the comments.

Above is the plan, “Furlowed.” Those black things sticking out are the door jams and door casings.  I have removed most of the doors because they look busy, and most of them are closed most of the time. However, there will be doors.

One thing that’s a little awkward is the French doors are now located where many of you have wanted them all along. I can’t have them dangling into the bedroom, and I don’t want to fold them back in front of the panel moulding. The doorway is wide enough that one door could remain closed.

The bedroom closets are shallow, so they are good for books, folding items, and shoes.

Plus, closets are great for resale.

Note: after publishing.

I learned in design school in 1989 that clothes closets need to be a minimum of 24″ deep. However, there are hangers that hang parallel on a rod that is perpendicular. That’s a brilliant solution if one has shallow closets, or only has room for a shallow closet. As for me, I require minimal hanging space, but do need more shallow storage.)

But, But, Butttttt… Christina, below, in the comments, mentioned a friend who had hidden doors in her panels.

Oh, man! This solves numerous problems. Plus, I really need pocket doors for the big closet. Those doors, as is are totally in my way, no matter which way they swing. However, if pockets aren’t feasible, swinging out is better.

In order to have the possibility of doors that close, the panels needed to be widened, and I followed the line and now the closets are deeper. BTW, if interested, there’s a post that has many earlier iterations of the garden level.

There are some later iterations than that one, as well.

However, below, is an updated version with doors hidden in the panels. I don’t know if that will work or not, but I love the idea.

Added a few minutes later. Valerie, included a cool video, but I’ll put it here. The embrasure door part begins after about 2:00

This is another video I found for embrasure doors. You will see the Harmon hinges, they are called.

I also found this video that is exactly what I want except solid instead of glass.

That box in the walk-in closet is a built-in cabinet accessible from the bathroom side, for towels, lines, etc. The bedroom is now 14′ x 15.5′. That’s fine. My Bronxville bedroom was 13 x 14. I prefer smaller bedrooms.

Anyway, I love this little architectural feature that is the core of the downstairs. It’ll make this a grand passage on the way to the loo. :]

Hopefully, this will be finished by March when I have my next routine colonoscopy.

I could see myself hanging out in that beautiful hall. I think so often, we forget our halls and passageways. But, I think that’s a mistake as here is an excellent chance to create something special.

Oh, please check out this post about long hallways and ideas for making them special.

Aside from all this fun, I need to start preparing this place for operation renovation! I will be able to put everything either in the storage closet in the common area adjacent to my place. Or, it can go in the den. During the demo phase, Robert will have a dump truck, so anything that’s not normal garbage can be dumped there.

So, that’s the news, for now!

xo,

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