Remodel, day 54

[gwyn]

Today, I had a lovely time with a lot of folks at kormantic's place, in honor of katallison's moving to Seattle. We had a brunch and lots of funny conversation, good food, and mimosas, and life doesn't get any better than that. It was nice to get away, too, from dust and noise and dust. Did I mention there is a lot of dust? It was dusty already, but this week they gave me wallboard and joint compound/tape, and that means lots of gypsum sanding and cutting, and the dust is everywhere. I'm fairly certain that I won't be able to really get it out and off of everything once this is all finished. It's very... well, sticky isn't the word, really, but it doesn't just vacuum up like regular dust, you have to wipe it away and constantly turn over the damp cloth, and it's in every crevice in every room. I just hate the texture, the way it feels and smells... ick.

This morning I had to go check out some samples of the floor tiles. You don't really buy samples, you just sort of check them out like a library, and I'm nervous about breaking them even though everyone tells me porcelain tile is super strong. They look fantastic, but HEAvy. The floor is going to be a showpiece, I think -- and the builders already told me that they'll be sending a professional photographer over after it's done because they think it's going to make a great sales kitchen. Everyone's been ooo-ing and aah-ing over my choices, but I don't know -- I hear people disparage blues and greys and such in kitchens all the time, so I think my very personal tastes won't necessarily represent to the general public.


So, I got me some wallboard! And lo and behold, it kinda looks like a real room now.


But now it kinda looks like it snowed in here or something.


And they finished putting the joint compound on this morning (man, is there anything as great as getting woken up on a Sat. morning really early by a gang of Spanish-speaking guys coming into your house?), so hopefully everything will be dry enough by Monday that they can start painting.


I wish I could do this -- get this constant dust off me. OTOH, it worries me that Olive likes exploring so much, but she's licking that gypsum dust off her fur and paws all the time. It's kind of a "which is better" thing -- it helps her be less nervous and afraid when she can go in the space and look around, and go outside in her back yard and just sit and look at things. But is that worth exposing her to chemicals? I don't know. I've noticed she's getting increasingly tense, so right now, I really want to do things that ease her fears.


And now Brent is finished with the outside. He still has the landing to build, but the siding's all on, and the eaves in place, which is really great. A few more things to cover the insulation underneath, and it'll be done. I can't paint, however, till the spring.

Comments

[black-bird-777.livejournal.com]

Wow, wow. It looks fantastic! It really is a new room! Hey, I love the tiles in your car. Holy cow. The floor is going to be amazing.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they really are incredible. Even Brent said this morning, "These are gorgeous," and he's a pretty manly man not given to words like that, so I figure it must be good! The nicest thing is that they have a ltitle texture to them, so they're not slippery, even though they look like they'd be. I hope I'll be able to lure you down here -- you still haven't met Olive!

[mlyn.livejournal.com]

Rock on!

[dine.livejournal.com]

progress! that's fantastic - and must feel even better to know you're nearing the end and will soon have a wonderful new space

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it does seem like it's getting closer. This is the only time I've been whiney about it -- Brent wants me to take my A/V system apart before they start painting today, and I refuse to. He just doesn't know what it's like to be a fan! But I figure, I've gotten this far and I haven't complained, so... I get one chance before it's finished!

[keiko-kirin.livejournal.com]

Wow-whee! It is looking so *real* now! I can't wait to see the tiles and the floor. Olive is such a pretty missy, even covered in gypsum (argh, cats and their get-covered-with-stuff attitude).

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Olive has been such a sport through all of this, and I can't believe she hasn't turned into a raving maniac (though I've noticed she's getting more stressed out and shyer around people, which she wasn't before, so I do think it's taking a toll on her). I hope that the camera will be able to capture the floor tiles -- I have a bad feeling with my limited talents, it won't. But hey... you could come up!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Actually, durr, here's some pics on the tile company's web site -- it's the nero, the darker one on top. I'm using the 20" by 20 tiles on the floor, and those thin narrow sticks on the backsplash.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

and URLs are always helpful
http://www.statementstile.com/Product.aspx?pid=8