I finished this project after it had been “hanging fire” as my dad used to say for a couple of years. I was hesitant about starting it due to the importance of the piece to the living room as a major focal point and the fact that for me it’s close to “fine woodworking.” It’s a lot easier to cover up mistakes in drywall I can tell you!
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Thats absolutly beautiful. And tastefully done.
Is that an applique on the bottom of the hearth front or carved? The pict. is little grainy.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
Thank you, Sphere. That's just a standard applique that I picked up at the big box store. That's a thumbnail by the way, I usually say when it's a thumbnail since it's not always obvious, but must've missed it this time.
Oh, I enlarged it but the pic was pixelated funny on my monitor...damm Sony LCD is acting goofy.
Very nice work.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
I don't even know what brand of monitor I have. It is an LCD monitor and it says up in the corner SyncMaster 920t. The husband figure approved of it so I guess it's a good one! I've got my resolution set at 1280x1024. I do usually optimize my photos a bit so that they won't be a long download for those poor folks that have to deal with dial-up. A direct link might help you better:http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/sidhe_who/House/mostly_finished.jpg
Sometimes I think Photobucket messes with them.
Hey..watch it about us POOR folks on DU...LOL
Here in the hills of Central KY we are BLESSED that we have DU for now. There is a rumour about that we will have HighSpeed in 2 months. I ain't holding my breath, but I remain ever hopeful.
I'll be getting all new computerizer type stuff when and if it happens...I hooked up to my TV ( plasma 42") and that looks a lot better, pretty certain the monitor is going bad now. Oh well.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
Oh, and as an aside. If I may add a little , itty bitty nit pickitty observation?
When working with flatsawn ring porous woods like Red Oak, pay attn. to the cathedral grain patterns. Visually the stile on the left is what you aim for I.E. the "points" pointing up..
^
.the right stile seems to have a small area on the lower with the Vee shaped grain pointing down, I might have flipped that stile the otherway.
As far as the plinths on either side, your call whether ya want the <--------> look or the >---------< , but visually, one would not want <--------< or >----------->.
Of course this is all dealing with defects and what lumber is available, and not a critique to be miffed at.
Geeze, I'm sorry, but I am too anal about FWW'ing at times, and just wanted to maybe enhance your already proven skills.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
Hey, no prob! But I sure as heck ain't doin' it over! But I will certainly take that into account with my next project. It's all a learning experience ;-). To tell you the truth I didn't even notice, I wasn't expecting the grain to "pop" that much with the stain. It didn't do that on the samples I did (of course!) Lots of learning experiences with this. First time I used my plate joiner on a "real" project, ditto my pocket jig, and my brand new table saw! I know it's not contractor grade, top of the line or anything like that (Ridgid 10" cast iron tablesaw,) but y'all just don't know (or maybe you do, heh,) what a sheer luxury it is to be able to just slide a fence over to where it says 4" on an actual indicator and have it actually be 4" and SQUARE! without 30 minutes of tinkering with it. The 40+ year old Craftsman went to the thrift store. It should have gone to the dump in my humble opinion!
Arrrghhh. I'd not ever say do it over..LOL
But for future reference...blah da blah ta blah.
I have the same saw. while it can be a monumental achievement to have a project just get off the paper and onto wood, it just adds a bit of frivolity to play with grain orientation.
I knew a stone mason that "HID" a buffalo nickle rendition in the stones above the hearth..ya kinda had to stand back and squint cuz the scale was so large as to what you would expect...but he never told the endusers what he had done..
Think of it like a intentional flaw in a masterpiece painting. YOU know it is there.....just wait and see whom it draws out that speak it? Thems the seers that unknowingly pay you well, they don't always know what they are buying, but by gawd, they want it.
Subliminal is the key, open your mind to thier minds and you will be hounded incessantly to reproduce what they saw and want for them selves, and they don't even know what it is..
You have a gift...flaunt it.
I'll shut up now..C'est Bon
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
Cindy.....looks absolutely fantastic! Do you have a larger version of the pic? Love to see it more "up close".
I know exactly what you mean about holding off on a project.
My fireplace has gone unfinished for over two years now. It too is the centerpiece of the room. All trim styles in the room will carry off of the mantel and surround.
When designing the area, I convinced my wife to accpet stained glass (of which she is not a fan) in the windows that are to either side of fireplace. Since completing the addition, she denies ever agreeing to stained glass. I told her that once she agrees to honor our original agreement, and help me choose the stained glass, I will be more than happy to finish off the mantel and surround.
Until then, I refuse to do a half-azzed job just to "get 'er done".
"But JD is dead right...."
Stephen Hazlett
Click on the embedded picture itrself for the full sized version.That is absolutely luscious, isn't it?The angles in the face shield compliment the angles in the tile above the thing.Only question for her, does it make heat and does it warm up the romantic inclinations.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Don't know Piffin. Haven't "tested" it yet. So to speak. This is Alabama, we don't have too many fires in a season. Hopefully this next weekend!That glass door/screen cover was a lucky find at HD I believe it was. After we moved into the house I told my husband I was NOT having a fire in the fireplace without some sort of a screen over it. We'd already had a sweep inspect the chimney but the fireplace opening was so big we couldn't find a cover that would fit. We used a freestanding one for a while, but I don't much care for those really. The one that is on there barely fits, I think there might be an inch if that, on the masonry to each side and a half an inch at the top.
To test it, sit him down on the sofa with his favorite drink, strike a match to a romantic novel in the fireplace ( burning your bridges so to speak) and then let nature take her course ( this is a fambly site after all) and hope the brass is still there in the morning.BTW, that shutterbug link is great viewing. There is a light glare, but it amplifies the features I think are best in your whole unit there
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Personally JD I love stained glass and hope to incorporate some into my kitchen when I get around to that project (ahahaha.) I bet that looks killer!
Very nice, Cindy. Ain't mantels fun? - lol
It looks like you even managed to maintain the required distance between the wood and the edge of the fireplace opening. I've done several and it's always a problem explaining to customers that there's a requirement to keep combustible material at least 12" away from the opening. I've even lost a couple of jobs 'cause the folks just wouldn't believe that. - lol
Know what you mean. The top part is the requisite 12" away, the sides are supposed to be so many inches away for so many inches of projection if it's within so many inches of the firebox opening of the mantel if I remember correctly (boy, that's a mouthful!) I should've researched it again to be absolutely sure as this is a slightly different incarnation sizewise than what I'd originally thought I was going with. It's actually a variation on a design in FH #161 I believe. I left a couple of pieces of the trim that were in the article off as I had to reduce the size down a bit and with the molding I had I think it would have looked too cluttered.I actually made a crude cardboard mock-up of the original dimensions cited and stuck it up to look at and was glad I did! It was way too big for the space. Would've been fine if I had 12' ceilings ;-).
It looks really sharp. I like the tile design.
TTF
Nicely done. I would like to see a few more photos, maybe a close up of the hearth front?
Very nice work.
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Some days it's just not worth gnawing through the leather straps.
Beautiful, Cindy. I like the wall color too. Very warm and complements the oak very well. Excellent taste!
"War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." Ambrose Bierce
Thanks, Crash. That's fairly true on the wall color as I did adjust the white balance on my camera (which I'm usually too lazy to mess with.) Might be a tad dark. The colors in this house have come together well, I'm very pleased. Every room is a different color (a reaction to growing up in a house with off-white walls and "ceiling white" ceilings I expect,) but it seems to all work!
Very nice! Is that copper? My husband has been working on a door that has copper inlays.....
Love the warmth...
Carole, it's just "brass." More than likely brass color really although it seems to be holding up well. This room was terribly dark, a 20x20 foot cave on the north side of the house. Even the large window expanse doesn't do much to brighten it up so I've done what I could.