Stuart Little isn't so little anymore...

In this Big House, there was a very small bedroom fondly called Stuart Little.  This little bedroom was contiguous with what is going to be Eliza and Caleb's shared common room, so in the interest of space and light, most of Stuart Little's interior wall has been removed.  The most amazing thing is what the crew found when they took down part of the ceiling where there had been water damage...a lovely "cathedral" ceiling!  They've also removed a very old skylight, seen where they can add insulation where there wasn't any, and found a few beams that have been compromised by rot.  While looking at the progress the other evening, we saw a mouse scoot right along a wall up there -- Stuart himself is looking for a temporary home while we make improvements to his accommodations.



Looking down the second floor hall toward
Stuart Little (trying to keep the dust down).

Taking down the interior wall of Stuart Little
(the closet is going to stay because it is weight bearing).



Exposing the ceiling



Looking from inside Stuart Little toward the hallway --
now look at the ceiling!



Looking into Stuart Little now that most of
the wall is gone...



Another view of Stuart Little...



Temporary insulation...you can see the framing
for a double window just to the right...

Gutters go up on the family room!

Carl and Ger have been working outside this week putting soffits and gutters on the family room and mudroom.  The weather has been cooperating!



Gutters (in the family room) waiting to go up!



Ger making adjustments!



Steel Support Beams for the Bay

We were away for four days and a lot went on during that time...the kitchen continues to be prepped for the new cabinets and appliances.  Welders spent several days putting in steel support beams which will eventually support a new bay on the front of the house. There's more, too, but that will come a little later...


The old soapstone sink is now fixed in place.  Note the
new plumbing to the right.  Matching cabinet doors
will be made to go below it.



The new kitchen island is now framed in.  It will
be 11' long and will have bookcases on either end.



Welders installing steel support beams in the
kitchen walls...



A steel beam up close...



A steel beam from the inside of the kitchen...it's
the maroon-colored  material on the ceiling
and running like a post in the wall...



This sketch shows the new bay above the kitchen and
may help explain why the structural engineer
required the steel beams.



This is Caleb's room -- the door to the left is a closet, but
the original door to the bathroom has been removed.



Now Caleb's door to the bathroom will be
straight ahead where the radiator was
formerly located.  The former door will
be a wall; and he'll have bookshelves
on the wall by the window.



More good works!

Yesterday the thermometer hit 52 - a lovely day of warm sun and melting.  The mason visited and our crew started work on the "master" bathroom.  The sound of saws, hammers, and heavy footsteps along with the compressed air gizmo (what is the name of that machine?) is music to our ears.

The kitchen stove had been vented through
this area.  The vent is gone and the mason
will reinforce it.

Filling in the hole!

Mortar and trowel...

Like new!

From the other side...

Nice new hardware on a new family room door

There was a closet here in the master
bathroom (next to Grandma's Bedroom). 
It was removed yesterday
to make way for a shower! 

Another view of the master bath with the closet
on the left removed.  The rest of the bathroom
will stay the same except for a new toilet.



Happy Valentine's Day!



Wiring the kitchen!

The family room now has most of its windows and doors, and the electricians are wiring the kitchen and family room areas of the house.  The crew built scaffolding inside the family room yesterday so they can work on the cathedral ceiling.  Lump, bump, thump -- it's been a busy week!

The family room with more windows and doors!  The
upper windows are boarded up but will receive their
custom-built windows in a few weeks.



The family room, looking out from the kitchen...
the temporary wall is down!

The family room...the ktichen opening is off to the right.



The framing you see will be a wall/doorway that leads
into a little vestibule with access to the dining room
on the left, the foyer straight ahead...



Mike working on some framing at
the top of the basement stairs -- there
will just be a wall there...



Carl working on the framing of the transition space between
the foyer and the kitchen... (1/2 bath and coat closets).
The old pocket door has been relocated...



Electricians putting in the wiring for the kitchen.



Building the scaffolding in the family room so
they can work on the cathedral ceiling!



Carefully moving the old soapstone sink into its
new location in the kitchen...

A tool temporarily at rest...Caleb tells me it's a saw.



The mudroom has a door!

Today the mudroom got a door and two new windows!  A little more melting today, lots of wind tonight.  We'll see what tomorrow brings!

Mudroom window openings...



Looking from the kitchen into the mudroom...



Preparing window frames prior to installing new windows...



New windows are in!



New door on the mudroom!



A mostly weatherproof mudroom!

Investigating and taking care of some rot where the old
kitchen sink used to be (behind the built in with the
marble pastry board).  The slightly bright light in the
center of the photo is daylight!