Lisa: Work has begun! The walls have been taken down, old fixtures such as the tub, toilet and sink have been removed. Despite the mess during the day, the crew cleans up meticulously at the end of each day. This has been so important to Katie.
Here’s a video showing a some of the work.
These guys are fast. The walls have already been framed!
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Lisa: It’s been a busy week for Katie, re-organizing her household, moving closets, etc., preparing for the upcoming demo and construction work that starts on Monday. Almost everything has been purchased: the tub, toilet, vanity and various faucets and valves. Katie used Habitat ReStore in West Roxbury and Monique’s Bath Showroom in Watertown. All she has left to do is decide on flooring….decisions, decisions. Here are the choices: Ceramic tile at $6 s.f. or marble at $19 s.f. Both are traditional patterns and good quality flooring. Both have similar qualities and either one could fit easily into the needs for his home (single user, non kids, not a lot of traffic) so it boils down to the cost and aesthetics.
Katie: Yipes. Busy week getting ready for demolition and construction. It’s a big effort and commitment. Steve Lyle, my contractor, was good enough to postpone starting when my daughter became ill. Phew. So, we start next week. My first concern is that the construction area is as “sealed off” from the rest of the house as possible. I will want to supervise that on the first day just to minimize the construction dust and clean up when all is done. Meanwhile which tile should I choose:? The one I love? or the one that’s in the budget?
Readers – We’d love to hear from you so tell us what you think and cast your votes!!
Ceramic Tile
Marble
Lisa: It’s a new year and the kick-off starts on Katie’s “forever home” project. The building permits have been submitted to the City of Boston and the work will begin on the bathroom next week! Stay tuned for photos and film of the demolition as we tear through the walls. It will be stressful for the next few weeks for Katie and her family as they put up with the noise and mess, but it will all be worth it for a bigger closet and a beautiful bathroom.
In the meantime, it’s time for Katie to nail down her products. We are installing a Bain Ultra soaking tub and tiling the bath alcove with white subway tiles.The overall look is set to match the 1920s Craftsman house, so faucets and shower/tub valves are period-style from California Faucets. Of course the toilet is comfort height, water efficient and one of the smallest in length that Toto manufactures the Eco Promenade – so that it can fit in the same space without the expense of relocating plumbing.
We are still working out the floor. Should it be marble or ceramic tile? Readers we would love to hear from you. Submit your ideas on floor materials!
Katie: At last! We are about to begin! I have to prepare to ‘seal off’ my bedroom and move all of my clothes – from tiny closet and drawers and hooks – somewhere else to protect them from demolition and construction dust and debris. I’ll share a bedroom with my (very kind) adult daughter for a month. We will also share her tiny closet. Sorting out what to pack away in plastic bags/boxes, and what to keep out to wear for a month is a challenge. (One little black dress event; a couple of ‘suits’ for meetings for work; black pants/jeans and tops for everyday; gym clothes and swim suit; and associated shoes and boots.) Then there is figuring out where to shower for a month. Fortunately, my daughter and I get along very well, and shower rooms at office, school, friends’ houses, and health club are readily available. Living out of a gym bag will be ‘such fun!’ It does all take time and forethought, and a clear conviction that it will all be worth it in the end. I am thoroughly convinced that the results will truly be worth it.
These are just three examples of the new Decorative Collection by Schlage Lock Company. The hardware styles range from traditional to contemporary. They also come in a variety of finishes such as antique brass, aged bronze and satin nickle.This new residential line is appealing, combining accessibility and a designer-look along with affordability; prices averaging $60. Write in a review if anyone installed these.
The holidays are upon us and it is a time for reflection and celebration. On behalf of The Independent Home, we want to wish you a joyous holiday. My the new year be filled with peace, joy and prosperity. We will be taking break next week but look forward to the coming year to continue to post about our accessibility work and new residential projects. We look forward to hearing from you and working together.
Katie: I’m really pleased with the little porch design. Having the railings will be especially helpful for me (forever returning home with the briefcase and gym bag and groceries) and for my (91 year old) Dad when he visits. Right now Dad can’t visit as he needs a railing when using the stairs. Plus, I (me, myself) look forward to having that landing at the front door – a place to put down my bags while I fumble about looking for my keys. The roof overhead will not only keep me dry in the rain, but will also limit the snow that piles up there in the winter. The detail is lovely, too. I’ve always admired those front porches with the arched detail; and now I will have one of my very own. I have just gotten the plot plan from the surveyor. The new front porch is within the 20′-0″ setback but the stairs extend further out. I’m hoping that this will not be a problem. Lisa is confirming with Boston Inspectional Services.
Lisa: These are the final plans for the entry, with railings, improved lighting for safety, two benches for resting or putting down packages and a roof overhead to protect Katie and her guests from bad weather. We are looking into using a new sustainable deck material from Plyboo made of bamboo (which we featured last month). The really nice thing about this material is that each plank has grooves embedded in it that prevent slipping. The benches will have lift-up seats so that Katie can store gardening supplies. We have also included some addtional storage underneath the porch. We made sure that the porch design includes some period details – a reflection of the house’s interior, Craftsman details.
The plot plan from Boston Survey, Inc. came back last week. Hopefully, the stairs will be allowed in the setback since they are the primary means of egress. I am trying to get Boston Inspectional Services to give an opinion on whether we need to apply for a variance which could delay the construction. Let’s hope we can proceed as is.
