finish details

Many finish details and framing decisions were furthered on site this week. The most exciting, in my opinion, were the wood floor stains that we got to look at yesterday afternoon.

We are trying to achieve the dark color of the small board on the upper right side of the photo. After adding some ink to the satin finish of the sample in the foreground we should be just about there.

We also got to see more framed soffits and skim coated walls.

Duct work living in a new soffit can be seen here.

Two framing options for the new stair to the new top floor. The option in the foreground was chosen by the client.

The in-floor radiators are also getting installed.


Windows at the north side of the new top floor have also been installed. The room feels really wonderful with the huge terrace outside.

Our refurbished cornice has also been completely installed.

We actually had to hop out the new top floor windows and onto the framing system that attaches the cornice to the house to get out onto the scaffolding!

new stairs and windows

Earlier this week another shipment of new windows arrived. You can see that they're preparing the rough opening at the parlor floor for installation:


They just finished installing the windows at the master bedroom...

...which look amazing from the outside.

The first run our new stair was also delivered to the house this week. It's the piece from the third floor to the new top floor.

The landings haven't been installed yet but we made our way to the top floor just fine.

It was a really big week for deliveries as we also have both the new wood floor and all of our custom door hardware on site!

exterior work

The townhouse is slowly getting stuccoed from the top down. Here you can see the new top floor and attic that rise above the neighboring houses.


The uneven color is due to the fact that the surfaces are still drying. Once the stucco over the cmu joints has dried the lines will no longer be visible.

What you can't see here is that our front cornice isn't installed- that's because about a third of it is sitting in the parlor floor.


It's hard to believe that this is the same holey, painted coated cornice that was sitting on the house about a year ago.

Here's a quick shot of the new exterior decorative tiles in context. They did such a great job setting them into the chimney as well.


And last but not least here is a depressing shot of what our rear garden looks like at the moment (yes, that's an old refrigerator!).

Soon, however, it will be paved and planted and have a floating ipe deck...

In the next few weeks we are expecting the majority of the remaining windows as well as a few runs of new stair.

garden floor progress

Part of the garden floor slab was poured yesterday! It was so exciting to see a non-dirt floor down there. Soon, after the plumbing inspection, the rest of the slab will be poured as well- probably in the next couple of weeks.

A layer of insulation is laid down before the slab is poured. You can also see the grid of rebar which will give the slab more strength.

The poured slab in all it's glory. Radiant heating and a travertine stone tile floor will eventually be sitting on top of this.

The concrete truck poured concrete right through the front window opening of the garden floor! You can see the new areaway in the background.

There's also a lot of progress being made at the other end of the garden floor: our sump pump pit has been poured and is awaiting installation of the pump and basin.

The blue basin will be set in the poured pit on a bed and surround of sand.

And just because it was such a nice day out I took some shots from the back of the house. You can see the new gutter in the second picture. There will be a fake "extension" gutter to simulate the continuation of the leader.

brick by brick

The freezing temperatures of January have really pushed everyone on site to focus their efforts on closing up the townhouse from the elements. This means completion of the new floor and roof as well as the near-completion of a new rear brick wall. The masons have really done a beautiful job of re-using the old brick from the demolished back wall.

even our contractor is in awe of their work!

The two pictures above show one of the two main rooms on the new top floor of the townhouse. The double-height cathedral ceiling will really make this guest room/gym special.

Here you can see our new attic and roof. Trying to make adequate storage for our clients was crucial as the townhouse doesn't have a basement. Just imagine all the boxes that can be stored up here!

You can also see from the images below that the new front area way entry is also complete and awaiting its coat of brownstone stucco. What a difference from what was once there!!

BEFORE


AFTER

The new stair is wider, friendlier, and much more gracious. This will allow the family easy access from the street to the kitchen/ family room floor.

Next up, pouring the new garden level slab...

friday's site visit

Last Friday's site visit was amazing. Not only did we finalize a design for the rear garden with our client but we also got our first peak at the townhouse with it's rear wall demolished. Next the contractor and his subs will be removing the existing roof to place the steel for the new fifth floor. The whole house will be open to the elements- let's hope there are no downpours in the near future...

standing at the garden floor looking out to the existing garden. look, no rear wall!

a view of the garden as is and some of the existing bricks from the demolished rear wall that we are salvaging for the new rear wall.

the backless townhouse!

looking up at the few remaining floor joists soon to be removed. you can also see where the back wall use to be.

looking towards the front of the house on the new master bedroom floor.

I'm not sure which floor I took this photo from but it illustrates the difference of height from the new joists (on the right) to the old (on the left). That's one of the two existing chimneys in the house. We're abandoning this one, re-using the other one, and also building a new one.