More History

For more information about the house our cabinetry was salvaged from.

http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1287422&more=0

The Making of a Craftsman Home

When Kurt and I purchased this home in 2007, it was because of it's potential to once again be an amazing craftsman home. Our craftsman home, like so many others, had been stripped of it's artifacts, it's old growth woodwork painted, and it was in need of someone who could see it's potential and bring it back to life again. Hence, why we named this blog 'the Making of a Craftsman Home.'

For sometime, we've known that we needed an outstanding craftmsman artifact to restore our homes charm. Home, I'd like to introduce this hutch, and hutch, I'd like to welcome you to this home.

About a week ago while surfing Craigslist, I discovered the hutch you see pictured here. I couldn't believe my eyes. This was EXACTLY what we'd been looking for. We knew that our dining room needed something grand to be "Craftsman", and this Craftsman hutch, constructed of Fir, is grand in every sense of the word. It wasn't too big, and it wasn't too small, this hutch was just right.

The hutch was saved from this 1916 Craftsman home located in the Hilltop area of Tacoma. Unfortunately, the home is being dozed to make way for a parking lot. How on earth the Tacoma zoning allows for that to happen, we'll, don't get me started. As much as I hate to see this house fall victim to progress, I guess its destruction is what's allowing us to add this masterpeice to our home. I'm just happy that we were able to save this handmade furniture, and bring it back to life in our home.

I couldn't be more happy to have found this. Our plan is to change the wall this hutch is on to make it appear 'built-in'. We're still working up the plan on exactly how that's going to work. We've also decided what color the rest of the woodwork is going to be in the house once we get all the paint stripped! We're going to do our damndest to match the color of the hutch.

Oh, and one last thing. We also salvaged two matching room dividers, which just happen to have leaded glass doors that match the hutch! These two units were not actual room dividers, but rather shelves that were up against a wall. That means the sides and backs aren't finished, which means we'll have some work to do matching the stain and the wood grain. Once installed, they'll sit as room dividers exactly as pictured in the image. Tapered pillars will run up to the ceiling, and will intersect with the box beams, which we plan on installing in the living room.

We've got our work cut out to make all of this work, but I'm pretty sure we're up for the challenge. I plan on preserving the history of these artifacts by printing out photgraphs of the house they were removed from, noting it's address, and putting all of it together in an envelope that can be attached to the hutch. I feel it is important to preserve their history. My grandfather was a carpenter, and I have a deep love of hand crafted beauties that runs deep in the bloodline of my family. Seeing is believing, but the story behind them is what brings them to life.

The bones of the bridge are in

It's beginning to look like a bridge. Let's hope this doesn't turn
into an I-35 disaster scene. The approach on the left side of the
bridge is a little steeper than I was hoping for. That can always be
fixed later. Now, I need to install the right side approach. Maybe
next week.

Everything looks better after a rain storm

It rained cats and bunnies yesterday. Everything looks so bright,
glossy and beautiful.

Still more dirt to move as you can see. I don't know if this
landscape job will ever get done.

The crushed brick has arrived

The crushed brick has arrived! After months of product searching and price checking, I finally decided on a recycled crushed brick product to use for path hardscaping. After shoveling some of this stuff, I've noticed trace amounts of other stuff in it, like tile. I'm quite pleased with the product!

Here is a picture after applying some of the crushed brick. It will contrast nicely with the basalt rock and the concrete chunk walls.

I don't HATE the concrete

Me and the concrete have gone in circles. Yes, I want most of the 160
foot long driveway gone, but no I don't want to pay to have it hauled
off. On top of that, I'm trying to get use to the idea of using what
I have available to me, instead of wanting something I don't have.
I've got a ---lot--- of concrete. I started building the 'Central
Park' retaining walls, and honestly, I think there is enough other
stuff going on in the landscape that you don't notice the concrete
chunk wall. What ideas do you have for recycling concrete? I'd love
to receive suggestions...

The dirt has arrived...

What does 15 cubic yards of top soil look like?


We're going to move this the old fashioned way: a shovel and lots of energy bars.