Renovation
Den to Dining Room Make-over (part three, details and finishes)
10/02/12 15:39
Part One (Planning)
Part Two (Tear out and re-build)
At this point the millwork was delivered, stained and finished, and we began installing it. There’s a lot of trim for a room this size and it’s a big element of the overall design. The ceiling molding creates a transition from vertical to horizontal and the panel molding breaks the walls up into vertical rectangles, as shown below. This photo also shows the case that hangs from the ceiling. A small pendant light shines through a translucent section of the cabinet back.
Other lighting elements include track lights along the ceiling on one side and mounted to the bottom of the hanging case, primarily for illuminating artwork...
...and a central fixture, a “Firefly Pendant” from CB2:
Earlier I mentioned that we were using carpet squares from FLOR. We went through several designs using their FLORbuilder app.
The first I’ll call “Weave”. This was a little dull, and when we saw samples of the rope like texture we didn’t like it:
The second one I call “Hammers” because the shapes look like mallets to me. This was made up of several versions of synthetic sisal. I like the design, but there are too many browns, in combination with the walls and trim:
In an attempt to get some color in the room, I came up with this:
Maybe a little too bold. The final design I call “Coltrane” because I actually pulled some of the colors off the type on the cover of this book that was on my desk:
I guess what I should be saying is that the pattern and colors remind me of the musical structure of “A Love Supreme”, but let’s be honest.
This is actually a great way to pick colors and textures, working from something that is visually appealing to you like a painting, an advertisement, anything that appeals to your eye.
With a printout of the finished design, we started to lay out the floor:
Once the back corner of the room was done, we moved the piano on top of the new floor:
This is an image of the finished floor. We held the baseboard up off the old floor enough to allow us to tuck the carpet squares under it:
Next: Part Four (The End)
Part Two (Tear out and re-build)
At this point the millwork was delivered, stained and finished, and we began installing it. There’s a lot of trim for a room this size and it’s a big element of the overall design. The ceiling molding creates a transition from vertical to horizontal and the panel molding breaks the walls up into vertical rectangles, as shown below. This photo also shows the case that hangs from the ceiling. A small pendant light shines through a translucent section of the cabinet back.
Other lighting elements include track lights along the ceiling on one side and mounted to the bottom of the hanging case, primarily for illuminating artwork...
...and a central fixture, a “Firefly Pendant” from CB2:
Earlier I mentioned that we were using carpet squares from FLOR. We went through several designs using their FLORbuilder app.
The first I’ll call “Weave”. This was a little dull, and when we saw samples of the rope like texture we didn’t like it:
The second one I call “Hammers” because the shapes look like mallets to me. This was made up of several versions of synthetic sisal. I like the design, but there are too many browns, in combination with the walls and trim:
In an attempt to get some color in the room, I came up with this:
Maybe a little too bold. The final design I call “Coltrane” because I actually pulled some of the colors off the type on the cover of this book that was on my desk:
I guess what I should be saying is that the pattern and colors remind me of the musical structure of “A Love Supreme”, but let’s be honest.
This is actually a great way to pick colors and textures, working from something that is visually appealing to you like a painting, an advertisement, anything that appeals to your eye.
With a printout of the finished design, we started to lay out the floor:
Once the back corner of the room was done, we moved the piano on top of the new floor:
This is an image of the finished floor. We held the baseboard up off the old floor enough to allow us to tuck the carpet squares under it:
Next: Part Four (The End)
Den to Dining Room Make-over (part two-Tear out and re-build)
05/02/12 16:45
Look here for part one of this story
There is no way around it, you have to tear it down before you can build anything new. After the paneling was removed it was evident that the original space was smaller than the 12’ x 20’ footprint that we were working with now. It was, in fact, some kind of porch . You can see in the framing in the right wall that there was a window in the whole original 12’ long wall. To the far left in this photo was the original entrance to the house (into the kitchen), and you can see the solid wood sheathing that shows that it was an exterior wall. This wall was also insulated, and since this isn’t very desirable between two interior spaces, that had to come out. We also removed all the old insulation in the other walls because it was only about an inch and a half thick, and replaced it with new, which immediately made a difference in how warm the room was. The white areas in the ceiling were where the old hanging painted cases were.
Another view of the kitchen wall. At this point new wiring was run for a hanging fixture for over the table in the center of the room, for two new tracks and some pendants, and for some wall speakers. We insulated and started hanging drywall:
A “California” patch in the ceiling:
At this point, the drywall is hung and most of the finish work on the walls and ceiling is done. The biggest headache on this project is working around the piano, dining table, and bookcase. There is just no place for them to go, so they were protected with moving blankets and plastic. A lot of patching and cleanup work had to be done to the ceiling. Once the drywall was finished the ceiling was primed with acrylic primer. After this was done it became obvious that it wasn’t going to fly as is. The newly patched areas were smooth but the texture of the old lousy blue paint job stood out. These areas had to be skimmed over and re-primed. Nothing else for it. The walls were primed with special wallpaper primer which makes it possible to strip the wall covering at a later date if needed. In the upper left corner of this photo you can see a cavity for a wall speaker.
The grasscloth wall covering was installed at this point:
While all this was going on the walnut trim was being milled, final decisions on the floor were made and the material ordered, and production moved to the shop where case goods were fabricated and finished:
In Part Three, we’ll see the detail work come together. including trim, cabinetry, lighting, carpet and more...
There is no way around it, you have to tear it down before you can build anything new. After the paneling was removed it was evident that the original space was smaller than the 12’ x 20’ footprint that we were working with now. It was, in fact, some kind of porch . You can see in the framing in the right wall that there was a window in the whole original 12’ long wall. To the far left in this photo was the original entrance to the house (into the kitchen), and you can see the solid wood sheathing that shows that it was an exterior wall. This wall was also insulated, and since this isn’t very desirable between two interior spaces, that had to come out. We also removed all the old insulation in the other walls because it was only about an inch and a half thick, and replaced it with new, which immediately made a difference in how warm the room was. The white areas in the ceiling were where the old hanging painted cases were.
Another view of the kitchen wall. At this point new wiring was run for a hanging fixture for over the table in the center of the room, for two new tracks and some pendants, and for some wall speakers. We insulated and started hanging drywall:
A “California” patch in the ceiling:
At this point, the drywall is hung and most of the finish work on the walls and ceiling is done. The biggest headache on this project is working around the piano, dining table, and bookcase. There is just no place for them to go, so they were protected with moving blankets and plastic. A lot of patching and cleanup work had to be done to the ceiling. Once the drywall was finished the ceiling was primed with acrylic primer. After this was done it became obvious that it wasn’t going to fly as is. The newly patched areas were smooth but the texture of the old lousy blue paint job stood out. These areas had to be skimmed over and re-primed. Nothing else for it. The walls were primed with special wallpaper primer which makes it possible to strip the wall covering at a later date if needed. In the upper left corner of this photo you can see a cavity for a wall speaker.
The grasscloth wall covering was installed at this point:
While all this was going on the walnut trim was being milled, final decisions on the floor were made and the material ordered, and production moved to the shop where case goods were fabricated and finished:
In Part Three, we’ll see the detail work come together. including trim, cabinetry, lighting, carpet and more...
Den to Dining Room Make-over (Part One- Planning)
15/01/12 19:51
A long overdue renovation of a 12’x20’ room that has been used over the years as a den/family room in a 1953 home (mine). This space was originally a smaller porch area that served as the entrance to the house and the back yard and pool. This room was expanded in the 60’s when a second floor was added. The entrance door was closed off and moved around to the living room side of the house. The original room had Hickory paneling and black enameled ceiling mounted cabinets around the perimeter of the room and several built-in bookcases in the same finish. The paneling had suffered water damage over the years, the cabinetry was kind of cool but poorly built and falling apart and the room was cold and drafty.
There were some logistical problems-a piano and 9’ dining room table that had no place else to go during the renovation. The plan was to save the drywall ceiling and work around the furniture. This meant finding a way to run wiring for the new lighting plan, which included a hanging fixture over the dining table, 2 tracks, several pendants, and wall speakers above or around the ceiling and thick insulation that was (luckily) above it. The walls were removed along with the old, thin insulation that wasn’t doing much to keep the cold out.
This is a Sketchup drawing of the finished room. We are trying to keep a mid-century feel to the space in keeping with the era of the house. The bookcase on the right will replace one of the original built-in’s. What isn’t shown here is the table and some other furniture that will go in at the end.
These hanging cabinets kind of mirror the original hanging built-in’s. They will be installed away from the wall slightly with frosted glass backs in some compartments so that the pendant lights can show through. Low voltage tracks will illuminate artwork on the walls.
What I’m showing here is a bio-fuel fireplace that I’ve designed. This is the a total experiment. The enclosure is being made of sheared and bent 3/16” steel. The “shelf” will be cast concrete and will house a commercially made ethanol burner. No fumes, no vent necessary, and you can light it and shut it down instantly. The fuel is made from corn and other plants. This will give off 14,000 BTU’s at the highest setting (it has a simple sliding damper to regulate the heat output). This is almost 3 times the amount of heat given off by the average electric space heater.
The wall finish will be a woven grasscloth. Walnut trim will include flat stock at the wall/ceiling corner to define the perimeter of the room, and vertical panel molding at 4 foot intervals, all fabricated by Attica Millwork.
The piano will be pushed into the back corner. It’s a little tight, but there has to be enough room for the dining table.
This credenza will go against one wall and serve as a bar/serving area. It was designed in the 1940’s by Paul Lazlo, who was a kind of architect to the Hollywood stars. I spent about 8 hours restoring it. Lastly, the flooring will likely be carpet squares from Flor. They have really well designed products and an inspiring website and catalog. Their “FLORbuilder” application is a fine example of the tools available to designers and homeowners to help visualize their final design. The rug below was put together with two of their products, “Just Plain Folks” and “Lanyard”
In Part 2 we will tear it apart and start to re-build.
There were some logistical problems-a piano and 9’ dining room table that had no place else to go during the renovation. The plan was to save the drywall ceiling and work around the furniture. This meant finding a way to run wiring for the new lighting plan, which included a hanging fixture over the dining table, 2 tracks, several pendants, and wall speakers above or around the ceiling and thick insulation that was (luckily) above it. The walls were removed along with the old, thin insulation that wasn’t doing much to keep the cold out.
This is a Sketchup drawing of the finished room. We are trying to keep a mid-century feel to the space in keeping with the era of the house. The bookcase on the right will replace one of the original built-in’s. What isn’t shown here is the table and some other furniture that will go in at the end.
These hanging cabinets kind of mirror the original hanging built-in’s. They will be installed away from the wall slightly with frosted glass backs in some compartments so that the pendant lights can show through. Low voltage tracks will illuminate artwork on the walls.
What I’m showing here is a bio-fuel fireplace that I’ve designed. This is the a total experiment. The enclosure is being made of sheared and bent 3/16” steel. The “shelf” will be cast concrete and will house a commercially made ethanol burner. No fumes, no vent necessary, and you can light it and shut it down instantly. The fuel is made from corn and other plants. This will give off 14,000 BTU’s at the highest setting (it has a simple sliding damper to regulate the heat output). This is almost 3 times the amount of heat given off by the average electric space heater.
The wall finish will be a woven grasscloth. Walnut trim will include flat stock at the wall/ceiling corner to define the perimeter of the room, and vertical panel molding at 4 foot intervals, all fabricated by Attica Millwork.
The piano will be pushed into the back corner. It’s a little tight, but there has to be enough room for the dining table.
This credenza will go against one wall and serve as a bar/serving area. It was designed in the 1940’s by Paul Lazlo, who was a kind of architect to the Hollywood stars. I spent about 8 hours restoring it. Lastly, the flooring will likely be carpet squares from Flor. They have really well designed products and an inspiring website and catalog. Their “FLORbuilder” application is a fine example of the tools available to designers and homeowners to help visualize their final design. The rug below was put together with two of their products, “Just Plain Folks” and “Lanyard”
In Part 2 we will tear it apart and start to re-build.