Inside/Out

So the exhibition opening went very well.  There were a lot of people there and some fairly interesting conversations about the state of architecture in Maine.  Probably 2/3 of the people were architects but that still left a fair number of non-architects who were eager to see all the projects.  So a virtual round of applause to Carol Wilson, Gavin Engler, and Mary Owen Bibikian for putting this all together.  This has been a dream of Carol's and I say job well done.  I hope some of you (if any of you are still out there) can check it out.  Our model is right in the front window.  Also, look for a spread on the show (and our model) in next month's issue of Maine Home + Design.  According to Rebecca, the Managing Editor, they gave us ample space. 

So some of you have asked for pictures of the interior.  Well, it's not quite finished yet but I am posting a few recent photos.  Please forgive the quality.

 First, here is the proof that Ramona can indeed climb ladders.

The hood is from eBay as is the Miele cooktop.  The rear wall hanging apparatus and spice jars are from IKEA.  Still missing the countertops but the plan is to put those in this fall.

 Skylights.  Yes, they need 2 more coats of paint.

The medicine cabinet I built with leftover plywood from the floor and scraps of mahogany from Attila's shop.

The footrest on the futon is not a sculptural statement.  That is our feeble attempt to keep Shanks off the futon.  It doesn't always work.  And besides, there's always the bed.

The inside of the opening is complete.  Still working on the area around the deck but still expect to have that finished up this year.

Exhibition

As promised, a preview of our exhibition boards are below. They include more recent photos that show the completion of the siding. I will get a few more photos up soon on the inside of the opening as well. The only exterior portion remaining is around the bedroom deck.

Only 3 of the 4 boards will be on display. They will be 20" x 20" in size.

I'll post model photos once I get those from Carol. The exhibition opens Friday and will run the entire month of October. Hope some of you are able to get down there.

Maine Modern

Well we have been woefully behind in making updates. Some work has been happening around the deck area and we will post photos of that shortly. In the meantime, we would like to direct you to the storefront for architecture maine's website. The ? is spearheaded by Falmouth architect Carol Wilson, FAIA and promises to be a great forum for architecture in Maine. Their first exhibition is entitled: Maine Modern: 50 Years of Maine Modern Architecture. Amazingly, our house was chosen as one of 28 projects around the state to take part in this exhibition. We stand humbly in great company, with many great projects. We will try not to disappoint. If you click on the link above you will see photos of three of the projects in the exhibition, including our house!

So we invite all of you that will be in the Portland area to attend the opening on Friday October 1st, which corresponds with First Friday in Portland. The show will run through the month of October and hours for the exhibition space are on sfa's website. Each project will be represented by 3 boards and a model, which is perhaps the most fascinating part of the exhibition. It will interesting to see all of these projects in 3 dimensional representation. Our model was built at a painstaking 1/4" scale and resulted in only minor loss of blood. Anne helped with the construction of the site as well. Look for photos in the upcoming issue of Maine Home + Design. I will post our boards shortly, as soon as I finish them.

So please, stop by and see the show if you are in the neighborhood. My firm, Elliott + Elliott will be represented, as will my former firm Peter Forbes, FAIA Architects.

1500 screws to go!

Well things have been a little hectic and I've not been lax in updating the blog. But some progress has occurred. The boards are all up on the north side (save 1200-1500 screws that still need to go in). I just need to trim out the horizontal surface of the overhang which is currently wrapped in rubber membrane. As for the east side; I was hoping to have that complete, too, but apparently I cannot add. Well actually it was more of an omission, but nonetheless the result was the same, a shortage of siding. So, the siding will not be all up before Paul and Eliza get here, but it's pretty damn close.

Additionally some work has been done on the bedroom deck, getting it ready for finishing. See photos below. The closet walls have been built, exterior walls sheathed and everything wrapped in Vaproshield. I started putting furring up but still have some more to do.

And Ramona learned a new trick this weekend: how to climb an extension ladder. I wish I had the camera at the time, but Ramona climbed up the ladder, with me on it, walked right by and proceeded to get on the roof. She wandered around on the roof for a while and then climbed back down the ladder. She did it one more time that I know of on Sunday as well. But I couldn't convince her to jump.









The color of the siding is starting to blend in with the ground, just like I was hoping.

This was Saturday, before I got some siding up on the east end.

Sunday.



Here's a picture circa 2008. Up until a few weeks ago, this area did not look too much different. But it's been sheathed, closet walls framed, and partially furred. Almost ready for siding.

Closer

The penultimate (hopefully) batch of siding went up this weekend. One more shipment should do it. Everything is getting a little harder to reach. But I'm almost there. Still a few hundred screws to put in though...when are you getting here Paul?

We also put in a much needed culvert two weekends ago. While there is still some landscaping to accompany it, it is keeping the water from running over the top of our driveway.

Start of culvert.





Window detail. Board spacing had to be adjusted to make it work but it looks like it will fit.

Chloe surveying the scene.



Fat cat perch in use.

Wood shortage!

Well I got a little behind where I would like to be at this point. It seems that most South American wood has been diverted to help earthquake victims and cambara is one of those woods. I called around to many places unable to locate 1x6 cambara. In the end I bought 5/4 x 6 and planed it down. I may need to do this for the next couple of months; it is unclear. I now need approximately 550 LF to finish and Attila's planer may get a workout. I am hoping to get the back side done before Paul and Eliza's wedding in July...

Here's where I was at the start of the weekend.







And here's where I ended up. I took some more photos available for view here: http://picasaweb.google.com/cpapadopoli/20100529.

On to the North Side

A few hundred screws later, one re-cut board and the south side is complete. I used up the rest of the siding on the north side and am ordering some more. Additionally, the handrail for the ramp went in this weekend and the ends of the horizontal members on the ramp were trimmed. I figure I need about 900 lineal feet of decking to complete the south side, or 1 1/2 times the amount it took to finish the west and south sides. Most of it won't be too bad once I get the courses all set up for the windows. Onward...



Lights didn't quite get centered but they are close.

Handrail is made of Spanish Cedar, provided courtesy of Attila.

Close-up of handrail and bracket.

Still have a long way to go...

South side complete! (well, mostly complete)

Just a quick post: the south side boards are all in place. Essentially. Almost. With the exception of a few hundred screws and a couple of small boards beneath the deck that you can't see, it is essentially done. I will say, of all the boards I've put up so far, these ones at the end of the cantilever were the biggest pain in the ass. Especially using an extension ladder that has to be moved every 10 minutes. And being afraid of heights doesn't help. Some of the boards need to be straightened a little bit which I'll do as I add the missing screws. Next: on to the back side.

More siding

Got a little further before the rain stopped me. South side is nearly complete. Just have the end over the deck (photos taken before the last few boards went up). It will be slow as I will need to use an extension ladder and move it around as I hang the boards. With a little luck the south side should be complete by the weekend. Then it's on to the north side...

Ignore the guards with chicken wire; they were necessary to get our certificate of occupancy and will be replaced.

Siding and ramps

Well, work and other things have been keeping us busy but I am finally back working on the house. Some siding arrived last week and went up this weekend. One side of the house is now completely finished! The south side should be following shortly. The rail is up on the ramp though the horizontal pieces need to be trimmed. Neil made some handrail brackets for us and those have been installed, sans handrails. So I'll be plugging away at the siding for hopefully the near future trying to get it complete by the end of the summer. Ignore all the junk on the ground; that's not part of the design.

The west side is now complete. The siding should gray out quickly and assimilate with the rest of the siding within a year, I would guess. The siding has been put up in four installments with as much as 6 months between and has grayed out nicely.

More on the south side, too. We're up to the top of the doors and ready to run the first course over the doors.

The railing is up on the ramp. The horizontal members just need to be trimmed.

Front view of handrail bracket.

The handrail will get mortised onto the brackets and sit flush with the underside of the top horizontal plate.