Monday, December 22, 2008

A new floor for Christmas!

We're skipping the presents this year, but decided to give the foyer a new floor. It's amazing what lurks under filthy dusty rose carpeting.

I'm still trying to figure out what exactly this is, but am pretty sure it is either inlaid linoleum or vinyl. (I can promise it is inlaid, at least.) It has little gold sparkles scattered throughout a random terazzo-like pattern. It shows as a pale creamy beige from afar, and the picture you see here is more of a closeup.

Perhaps a detail shot? Why yes, that is a Canadian penny.

The pattern is reminiscent of the flooring found over at Retro Renovation, so I'm hoping it's Inlaid Linoleum. According to some information found there, there's a chance it is Vinyl instead. In either case we're proceeding with caution... After a gentle washing, it will have its holes filled with wood putty or some such thing, and be sealed and polished. There doesn't seem to be a lot of wax buildup so I still have to test for that. I think I'd prefer to seal it under something really tough like polyurethane if possible. Yeah, and all the edges need a quarter round trim and new transition mouldings, so we have our work cut out for us! And if we're doing quarter round I guess we should re-do the horribly beaten-up, existing baseboard as well.... 
Here's a blurry cellcam shot which gives a truer sense of the colour from afar.

Notice the carpeting remains on the stairs, for now. It's also in the upstairs hall. One room at a time, please! We're fortunate to have hardwood under the carpet there. It's just the main level and lower level that have, uh, flooring issues.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Project #2: the invisible stuff (2008)

- Fall and Spring cleanup, plus years worth of debris in general
- new insulation and EPDM membrane on the low-slope roof (after removal of 2 old T&G roofs) installed by Ottawa Valley Roofing
- adjust the grade of soil next to the house (1 CU yard)
- caulking and draftproofing the den
- caulking the North wall of exterior siding 
- weed weed weed (oops! Guess I should have weeded before they set seed.)
- mulch the bed next to the driveway (1 CU yard)
- document property and plant life
- explore under the addition (wow! a post foundation.)
- sifted compost on the small front lawn
- planted a few new plants and shrubs in bed by front steps
- washed windows and doors

Sarah's House, Season 2


I've been following the progress of Sarah's House as she renovates a split-level in Toronto. There are also weekly write-ups in the Globe and Mail. I still have to watch the videos, now that HGTV has posted them, but I'm fairly confident that I wouldn't hire her to decorate my house. I can appreciate that she's trying to bring this mid-century home into the present day, but lots of the rooms look like a bland Toronto loft-condo. I do think she made some interesting layout choices, which I will keep in mind for our own renovation. Now to watch the decision-making on the videos!