Preface: I don't know how to get text between pictures properly. I know it's probably really easy. Anyone have pointers? Cuz it's frustrating. Just put the pictures where they belong in your head as you read, would you? Thanks. All better now ~ GTP
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Welcome to another round of Saturday Morning Home Repair Blogging, where experts and amateurs gather to share advice, war stories, and encouragement. Every so often, there's a little mockery, but only of homeowners long past as we fix up their stupid messes.
Finally, let's commence.
We'll start with the finished part that left us (surprise!) with more to do.This wall is finally what we've wanted it to be since we moved in. For 10 years we've thrown around how to make this wall next to the front door into a truly functional space. There have, at times, been a china cabinet, a book shelf and a hall table with a lamp taking up this wall, but really, that's all they were - place holders.
Originally, of course, we wanted a big, ol' truly-built-in, mirrored, oak and antique hardware ohmygawdthat'smassive. But as we looked at plans and measured and priced wood and hardware, we realized that the fix above A) could be had at about 1/3 of the price and B) could be thrown together with 1/1000th of the work and C) actually provided more storage than the plans we were considering. So who were we to not take the cheap and easy path? Bench, shelf, hardware and baskets, the whole thing came in at around $275, including shipping. Which isn't bad for that much functionality, but you have to keep in mind that I'm both cheap and a helluva shopper, so everything there except the hooks was at least 50% off with free shipping.
But, that's not why we're really here today. We're really here to talk about the space where those coats were hanging. That place will get the built-in.
Here is the entry into the kitchen.
You can see where the two wooden boards were attached to the wall. A few coat hooks screwed into those boards, et voila! A place for coats. But on a main floor that has absolutely no storage other than kitchen cabinets, a few coat hooks has been a complete under-utilization of this particular piece of real estate. So finally, there will be built in shelves.
And, of course, every built in starts here, on paper Squint and measure, measure and squint. Discuss. Repeat. Here is MrCJB putting together the list of materials last weekend.
At first I wanted natural wood, but quickly realized that that look would not be authentic, at all. So, we're going for painted wood. Which, once again, means that this project just got much cheaper. In keeping with the sort of farmhouse feel of this old kit house, we are going to back the open-cabinet shelves with beadboard. MrCJB decided that, rather than take out the original baseboard, he will build a frame to set the unit on. It will rest on the baseboard in back. We'll reproduce the baseboard in front of the unit and take the cove base across to match the rest of the kitchen. The first shelf will then be about 8 inches from the floor. Intervals for the rest are yet to be decided. Several other details yet to figure.
The fun part of the project is that in the support box under the shelves, we're going to put a time capsule. I have a cell phone, a watch, some current magazines, a Sacajawea dollar coin and a Hamilton Dollar coin, some other coins and a few representative bills. What else? A recent grocery receipt, a news paper. Receipt for gasoline. We will put in a few utility bills. Pictures of the house and property as it is. Pictures of the neighbors' houses. Some political buttons. Anyone have any fun ideas for additions?
Anyway, that's where we end this installment. A bare wall with a crappy plaster job, a tentative plan on paper, and the hope that the finished piece will be as useful and attractive when it's built as it is right now in our thoughts.
What's going on at your place?