Been talking about this floor ever since I started reading/posting here at Breaktime. Today I finally took some photos.
The scattered leaf inlays on the left conceal screws needed to fasten the floor back down to the sub-subfloor after seasonal humidity changes swelled the endgrain blocks and lifted about a 2 foot bubble a couple years ago.
The more tightly scattered leaves on the right I put in last week when another section did a similar lift.
Now before you get on my case, I tried for all I was worth to get her to let me install these blocks with some cork spacer grout to absorb the inevitable seasonal movement. No dice. She wanted what she wanted, and she wanted it right then. I did my best, crossed my fingers and hoped.
Have to say, though, I do like the way it looks when the inlays are sanded flush, joints are filled and everything is oiled.
Anyway, rez, I promised you this a couple years ago, here you go –
Replies
I like the cabinets Jim did you build those?
Why did they leave the parquet flooring instead of continuing the new oak floor into the kitchen?
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Yeah, those cabinets were quite a challenge for me, Bob. I built and installed them, she finished them.
Actually, the oak floor was there first. We added the block flooring and the tile between the sink and the island, then the oak and the new wood flooring was refinished by a professional floor finisher.
I'll try to post some more photos of those cabinets. Had a tough time a minute ago...
Nice Job Jim................Barbara says we can't afford you...........Your work is too nice...."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
No way, Bob. I do plenty of jobs you'd consider run of the mill normal - most of the work I do is everyday stuff. This just happened to be a customer who had real creative ideas and for some reason thought I could make her visions appear. One of those once in a career type jobs. A dream job, really. But then again, you know how thin that line can be between a dream and a nightmare?
those cabinets were quite a challenge
Was it odd to work without a toe kick?
What sort of hinges are on the doors carrying all that glassware?Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
No, it wasn't all that odd. The work areas of the kitchen have toe spaces, Mac. That side of the island is sort of a walkway from one end of the kitchen to the other where she has one of her work desks. She goes back and forth all day from one work area to another while the maid/cook works between the island and sink. Wouldn't be my first choice but it's really a good layout for the way they live.
Those glass doors are hung on piano hinges. I built big library cabinet for them originally (I think it was a test of my skill) that swung out to reveal a hidden area that needed a caster to swing properly because of all the weight of the books. I was worried that these two doors might need casters too, but after about 5 years they are holding up great.
are hung on piano hinges
Cool. PH and I have a love/hate relationship. Sometimes they are simply the best answer to a tough question. Unless you need to adjust them the least tiny bit . . . <grrr>
Was just out replacing hinges on a similar sort of loaded-up cabinet door. Original builder had only used a pair of cup-style hinges (and the stock screws that came with them).
Yet another lesson in why I should not say "Here, let me take a look at it" . . . <g>
Sharp kitchen.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
I don't like to use cup hinges for heavy doors. Here's a pantry unit from the same kitchen I hung on...oh, maybe 2"...no, must be 2+1/2" butt hinges, good ones though. All they have in this thing are drugs and vitamins, but this entire kitchen has beaded faceframes and flush doors, so if there was any sag it would show, for sure.
let's see if I can do this without melting the frikkin' computer tonight...
Jeez jim, fly tape, a maid, and a CVS on site. Do they need to cook food in that kitchen? That's a load of pills there, guess I might need a primmer on holistic medicine.
You know those pill taners the old folks use? MTWTHFRSSUN?
They use 7 drywall buckets?
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Edited 11/17/2004 8:57 pm ET by calvin
"They use 7 drywall buckets?"
hehehehe.
Actually, I don't know if they're organized enough for a system. Probably just throw a couple fistfuls down the old gullet when they think of it.
What the heck is a "CVS"?
A Big drug chain in this area of the country.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
What the heck is a "CVS"?
Like Walgreens.
jt8
I don't like to use cup hinges for heavy doors.
I sure didn't like trying to repair around them. I wound up setting dutchmen into the endpanels & doors and intslling the heaviest-duty euros I could get for the overlay and opening swing. It was some work.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
On the picture with the door open what is that behind i?
The pole with the strips and what looks like section of tree branch on top?
That striped pole supports LaLa's perch. She is one beautiful Macaw (at least that's what I THINK she is). I have tons of photos of her...let me see if I have one here...nope, but I did find one of the sink showing the end of the perch where she usually rests. I'll look after dinner and see if I can scan a shot of her in, beautiful, but cranky.
Here she is, Bill.
Thanks.I knew that it had to be "something". Just could not figure out what.
Jim,
a maid..........
and fly tape?Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Funny you mention that, Calvin. She said something about taking that down and cleaning the place all up nice and tidy before taking pictures. Just looks natural in there to me.
They have a bunch of these Macaws. Have a few pair in an area right off the kitchen, plus, Lala spends most of her time right there next to the cooktop and they spread newspapers on the floor to catch her waste.
Chickens roaming the property, who knows what you'll cross paths with when you come up the driveway. Nice place, built in the 30's, or maybe 40's by someone with some serious money, round entry follier with maybe 20' high ceiling and big arsed curved stairway to the second floor. But I mean, thay LIVE in this place, definately not a museum.
Reminds me of the hickory kitchen I recently installed, fly tape in the garage. The electrician and I connected with them a few more times than we would have liked. Seems flies like to go where we went. Sticky situation that was.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
"Seems flies like to go where we went."
Did you check your shoes?
Jim, those cabinets are nice......I like the idea of glass doors.....My husband had to explain what "dropped leaves" are.......I was looking for leaves on the floor......See how literal I am......
There are "leaves" there. pi. Here's a shot from the other room. See the scattered small light colored areas? Those are maple leaves inlaid in the fir blocks. The ones to the left, the slightly darker ones, have been sanded flysh and oiled...a couple years ago. The ones to the right, more tightly clustered, and just slightly proud of the floor surface (like maybe 1/100th"). They haven't been sanded flush yet.
Well, learned something new today!! I like it......
What are those big white splotches in the "sink side" pic? And in the "pantry side" pic ... it looks like some of the blocks have been scattered to blur the demarcation line between the two floors ... is that right? I like the look.
Oh and the cabs ... are they ash?
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Those white areas are white tile laid to look like a leaf. They are in a field of dark grey, almost black, tile in front of the sink, then extend out into the block floor, too. Real small tile...maybe 1/2" square. I think I have a better photo of those big tile leaves, Ed. If it's on my hard drive I'll post it - otherwise I might have to scan it in which I'll try to get to after dinner.
Yeah, on the pantry side she wanted it to look as if someone had dropped a bunch of blocks and they scattered. So right at the edge, they are all overlapped and intertwined. As you look farther into the oak field, you'll see they are more scattered. Took her and I the better part of an afternoon to lay that section out. That was a six Tylenol day.
Later, when we had to refasten the floor somehow, it seemed only natural to atick with that same theme. I went outside, found a common leaf, and used it as a template to make a jig to inlay leaves in a "scattered" manner to conceal screws we needed to fasten down that area.
The cabinets are made of Southern Yellow Pine.
The man, the myth, the legend.
Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. [Theodore Roosevelt]
What???
And where the hellve you been?
Seems I'm always running late.Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. [Theodore Roosevelt]