Projects, remodels and tea

[averygoodun42]

This weekend I'm going to try my hand at carpentry. There's a project I've been thinking about for several years, but what with the kitchen remodel, it has suddenly become the ideal time to implement it.

Our stairs going down to the basement have a shallow ledge that's almost even with the top landing. It's been the perfect crap catcher for al the stuff that's supposed to go downstairs, but I'm too lazy/busy to take it down at that moment. At some point I had the idea that shelves would be nice along there, because then I could display the two nice platters I have.

Well, this week I've measured it carefully and drawn up a plan for it. It will mostly be short shelving for cans and jars and the like, but there will also be three large squares for display purposes. And I've even worked out how to build it.

It will be in four parts, mostly free-standing, but secured to the ceiling (stair header), wall and each other. It won't be going anywhere.

The challenging thing about the project is that the space is (more or less) triangular, and the angle measurements are slightly off. Or rather, the slanted ceiling isn't straight. Somewhere in there is goes from 45 degrees to 47, and I have no idea where. But no matter.

I'm either going to buy a compound miter saw or borrow my neighbor's (I'm leaning towards my own, though, because I've wanted one for aaaaaaaages) to speed the process up. The circular saw's cuts tend to be off just a little, and the hand saw would take forever and be off to boot.

So that's what I'm hoping to accomplish this weekend. Walls painted, shelves built, installed and painted. If I do finish it this weekend, then by next weekend, I could start filling the shelves as I start emptying the cabinets. Whee!

*sigh*

Speaking of emptying cabinets, I've gone through and pared down a bit more of the stuff I either don't use, don't need or don't want any more. I was surprised at how little there was to be culled. And then I went and bought myself a tea set. *shakes head* But it was under $4 for a teal, two-cup teapot, sugar bowl and creamer. it's not the perfect shape, but it at least fits in my tea-cozy.

So, jumping back to the kitchen remodel, now I just have to figure out what to do with the stove (attempt to sell it, freecycle it or have it hauled away when the new stove is delivered?)

But at least it's now just down to details like that. Whee!

Labor Day weekend we start the demolition. The third we get the plumbing issue resolved, our cabinets delivered and maybe start the installation process (not likely). The fourth the cabinets start going in. If luck is with us, we will be able to get the floor installed over the weekend, and have a functional kitchen by the 8th.

We'll see. But I'm cautiously optimistic. :-)

Comments

[zalena.livejournal.com]

C has five (I think, it could be more) power saws. The boy is frickin' handy. He just remodeled his own kitchen over a period of two weekends this summer. The remodel is not quite as extensive as yours: he moved cabinets, rather than replacing them, and redid the floors.

[apisa-b.livejournal.com]

That's what Drone's for :-)
I'm just the one lending a hand whenever he needs one.