I’m currently restoring/renovating an 1830s greek revival house in Western New York state. One of my recent renovation projects was a new upstairs bathroom. Previously the only bathroom (installed in the 1940s … only an outhouse before that) was on the first floor at the far end of the kitchen wing.
Many thanks goes to all the pros here who answered my shower pan and plumbing questions (I previously posted as “Allen.”)
The new bathroom took the place of fairly large original closet. The shower took half of a small nursery off the master bedroom. The other half of the nursery I converted to a closet with hand-built cabinetry.
The bathroom, though small, opens to both the master bedroom and the hallway.
-Allen
Here are a few before and after photos. I can post higher-resolution photos if anyone is interested:
Edited 12/10/2005 2:43 am ET by WNYguy
Replies
Absolutely beautiful work.
Lot of thought goes into something like that.
Makes me jealous of the normal stuff I do.
Real nice job.
Ditto on the first comment. Wow, really nice looking work and I really like the theme. Well, off to the 3 BR ranch to install a formica counter.....sigh. DanT
guy
Very nice!
That bathroom is cool.
Got any pictures of the house?
Keep em comming
Doug
Doug, thanks for the comments. When I get back to the office on Monday I'll post some other projects.There's an exterior photo and photos of my reproduction antique windows on on an earlier thread (I was posting as "GreekRevivalGuy"):http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=53734.48http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=53734.56-Allen
Allan
Thanks for the links.
I've been meaning to replace the windows on a 1890's German style house that I have in Iowa.
I made my knifes as well, worked with a guy that showed me how, wasnt that difficult. Just need to get busy!
Thanks
Doug
Doug:Have you posted photos of your house? I'm not sure what "German-style" is. I'm picturing maybe Eastlake or Stick-Style detailing?Good luck with the window-building. I've built five sash ... seventeen to go. I've shaped enough length of muntins for all of them, and cut all the blanks for the rails and stiles. And I've collected enough early cylinder glass.The joinery takes time, though. Especially for me, it seems.Have fun!Allen
Allan
Pictured here is a typical Amana Colonies building, not mine, I don't have a pic of mine so I took one off the net.
Almost all the building are of this style, some small variations though.
there is an inner post and beam which means that you don't have to have any supporting walls inside. I think I've read that in Germany they still build this way. Allows you to change interior walls if you so desire. I wish I had a pic of the attic, you would easily see how the ceilings were held "up".
The Amanas were communal living when they set up in the 1850's and because of that everything has a similarity to it, consequently all windows are the same size, no matter which one of the villages you go to, made it kinda nice if you were looking for replacements. Problem is they have been getting more scarce as time passes so I've decided to just make new.
On another note, did you build/mould the check rail into the meeting rail or do your windows just meet in the center like two board side by side?
Some of the earlier windows that I have just had a piece added on but I see some of the old replacements have the check rail molded right into the meeting rails.
Doug
Doug:Thanks for those photos. The houses look almost Federal in overall massing and scale of cornices. And very similar to some mid-19th century Shaker buildings I've seen. You've constructed a replica? Timberframed?My house is stacked-plank construction. One-inch thick, four-inch wide planks laid flat and nailed one atop the next. Clapboard is nailed to exterior, and plaster is applied directly to the interior. RE: Windows. The nine-over-six sash I replicated simply meet side-by-side at the meeting rail. No overlap. No bevel. Only an inch-and-a-quarter thick. The meeting rails are not "shaped" at all. These were in the kitchen wing of the house.The meeting rails of the six-over-six sash in the main part of the house have projections across their width that over-lap (in cross-section, imagine an L and an inverted L that interlock). Again, very simple construction.Allen
The meeting rails of the six-over-six sash in the main part of the house have projections across their width that over-lap (in cross-section, imagine an L and an inverted L that interlock). Again, very simple construction.
That's kind of a variation of a check rail. The check(that I know of) rail is angled, cant remember the angle but its minor and gives a fairly nice tight fit.
Yea, the houses have a bit of a federal look, some more so then others as they did a symmetrical front.
Funny you mention the shakers, this community started out as a religious community in Ebenezer, New York. As Buffalo grew and engulfed them they decided to head west and sent out a party to purchase land where they could practice there faith without outside influence.
http://www.amanacolonies.com/educat/index.html
Heres a link to the Amana colonies site that explains more if you want a better description of who/what they are/were.
I just happened to be doing work on a place in one of the villages at a time when the economy wasn't all that strong and property wasn't moving very well, especially in the colonies. I was able to buy the place that I have for $30G's, Without having done a whole hell of a lot to it I'm sure I could damn near add another zero to the end of it and sell, but that's probably my retirement home so selling isn't in the plans.
When I bought my place my next door neighbor was George Forstner, he started Amana Refrigeration. He lived in the same house for his entire life. Didn't change a damn thing in it either, well, some minor stuff like plumbing!
Doug
Beautiful.
Just curious, what is the toilet sitting on?
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Swimming through the ashes of another life, no real reason to accept the way things have changed. Wrapped in guilt, sealed up tight.
dustinf: Thanks for the feedback. The toilet sits on a "cultured marble" slab made for that purpose. In theory, it protects the wood floor from condensation and moisture from the toilet.
It's great to see this project- I'm just starting to remodel my own bathroom, in a 1924 craftsman house. I've seen the marble slab under the toilet in other places, and I'm making a slab out of a piece of scrap granite from the local countertop fabricator's scrap bin.
Closer to your previous posts, I'm making a new window (double casement over a fixed window) for the bathroom. I didn't grind my own knives, I decided that the stock moulding head knives were close enough to original. Maybe i'll post some pics once i get a little farther along.Keep the pics coming, they're an inspiration!
zak
Zak:Picking up scrap stone is a good idea. Renovator's Supply (now Rensup.com ) used to sell a real marble slab that would have looked better in my bathroom, but I couldn't find it when I was ready to order. The thing I bought, though, has a raised lip around the edge that might do a better job of keeping moisture off the wood floor.Good luck with your bathroom project. My fourth house was a 1920 Craftsman-style Bungalow in Orchard Park, New York. One of my favorite styles ... though I'm currently more passionate about the "hand-made" homes of the Federal and Greek Revival periods.Allen
I like the hairdry storage. Very nice. I dislike my wifes mess of cords under our vanity in the bath.
Were there or are there any code issues with putting outlets inside a wall or draw as you did? Did you do it on the sly, ie no inspection?
And do you have any trouble with the cord while openning or closing teh draw?
Shaken: I had a permit for the bathroom, and the inspector looked things over after all the plumbing and electic work was complete. He didn't object to the outlet placement. But this is a small, rural community and the building ispector is only parttime, if that might make a difference.I've since seen something very similar featured in a magazine ... or maybe on TV: an outlet inside either a kitchen or bathroom drawer.The cord tucks quickly and easily beside the hairdryer. The nozzle of the hairdryer fits into a carefully-sized opening that keeps it from flopping around. When this particular dryer needs replacing, however, I'll likely have to modify the "holster" to fit a new one.Now ... if I had only thought about my wife's hair-flattening iron when I was designing things ...-Allen
If this is a hobby, what's your real job?
The details look fantastic, I especially like the recessed toilet paper holder, and the slide out cabinet next to the sink.
The shower and closet also look stunning
CAGIV:I appreciate your comments. I'm a graphic designer by profession ... but have been working on old houses since my first in 1984, very slowly learning as I go. I'm in awe of folks who can make a living at it; it requires an amazing combination of skill, speed and business sense. Each seems a weak point for me, but especially those last two!Allen