Grout Everywhere!

Wow!  Isn't this great?  Tom says this effect is all the rage!  Ahh... no.  Grout is a bit of a messy animal.  Fortunately, for people who know how to work with it, it sure cleans up nice.  What's the adage?  Something about breaking some eggs to make an omelet?

It is amazing just how much of a difference some well-placed goo makes when the right color is selected and applied by someone with skill.

The best way to see the impact of the grout in any of these photos is to click on a picture and see a zoomed version.  The detail is impressive.  You should see it in person.  For those of you who can, you have an open invitation.  

  
From a distance (these photos), not a lot seems to change on a daily basis.  I have to admit, I've been challenged trying to select photos that show some progress.  Progress is taking place each day - a significant amount - but without being up close, it's hard to see the details (click to zoom.)

Here's one that comes with an apology.  Sorry, Tom.  I couldn't resist capturing a shot of the guy who's making this transformation take place.  Thanks, Captain Grout!

Fun With Before and After

It's not clear if Dick and Jane would have fun with this, but I think this is fascinating.  No, not the fact that I figured out how to use the MACRO setting on my camera, but that the grout makes such a dramatic difference in the project.

In the before state, the tiles are aligned, affixed and admired:

In the after, they are surfaced, smoothed and sensational!

Next is a more completed look at the furnace vent.  In Turning the Corner with Tile, I stressed the importance of tile placement planning to ensure all the right edges were in all the right places.  In that post, it was a picture of a roughed-in opening for the vent template without even a tile set in place.  Here, you can see the tile carefully cut to accommodate the template.

But wait, there's more!  Notice the individual pieces cut to fit across the vent.  Again, plenty of art on Tom's part to go with the science.

And here is the final piece, grouted and looking as if it was easy.  The mark of a craftsman.

With the grout down, the remaining work is to pull all the remaining puzzle pieces together.  We are beginning to accelerate to the finish.  Even Dick and Jane would have fun.

Sanks for zee Sinks

This was one of the many defining moments for this project.  Going from a cutout to having the sinks and faucets installed, all in one day, was a thrill.  We were a bit nervous anticipating how our "square sink" selection was going to work, but I'm thinking we make a good choice.

No, the Bosch Power Box is not part of our design, but I now want one.  Once connected to power, it provides a good sounding radio and CD, extra outlets, and probably a lot more gadgets than what I've been able to discover from snooping.   

Ah, the square sink.  Since it is a bit larger than we anticipated, there is not much clearance between the back of the sink and the backsplash.  Fortunately, it fit just fine - just closer than we envisioned.

And a final look at how it seats to the granite.

This confirms the end of the project is indeed in sight.  More to go, but grateful for where we are today.

The Devil is in the Details

Details.

The visible part of any project, as opposed to the underlying structure, is what gives it the excitement.  Of course in a construction project, the strength and quality of the unseen structure (the bacon) is equally as important, but it is what you see (the sizzle) that seems to matter.  The sizzle has indeed begun.

The tub has been getting considerable attention due to it's own special needs.  A new access door, a lot of trim work, and a completely new valve set.  (Hence the need for an access door.)  Notice again the screwy handles, one of which is installed backward.  The tub has it's own set of details that is making it sizzle.  Below, you see more of the artistic work to feather the sheetrock mud out to meet the tile.  Yes, another wall that wasn't... well... perfect... when it was built.

But perfection is in sight.

 
Next, is a nice "during and after" shot.  In "But Wait, Don't Take the Counter for Granite," (I just love that pun), I showed the "before" shot showing a gap from a straight piece of granite to a not-so-straight piece of wall.  Here, the sheetrock mud has been built up to meet the granite and feathered widely to that any sort of slope is imperceptible.

Next, you can see how it looks with the wall textured, painted, and caulked.  Sizzle that supports the bacon.

At this stage of the project, there is a lot happening - quickly.  There may be more opportunities to show a progression of photos.  The before, during and after perspectives should be a lot of fun and will be a great way to see how it is all coming together.

989 - Last in a Series

With 989 days to go, it is still somewhat premature to begin looking at the last day of work, or the last annual review, or any sort of final events.  However, it has occurred to me that I am today experiencing a "last" before a certain retirement - from the school board.

As a school board member for 8 years (currently in the last year of my second, four-year elected term and have chosen not to run again), I have participated in many professional development opportunities related to public education.  This week-end is the Oregon School Boards Association annual convention.  School boards and education service districts from around the state get together annually to learn about trends in education, hear about best practices in a variety of areas and forge colleagial bonds with fellow board members from across Oregon.

And this is my last one.

This is somewhat sobering in that it is an example of many "lasts" I'll be experiencing as I get closer to retirement.  Some lasts will be a relief, but most will be a need for a reluctant good bye.  This week-end has put me on notice that it is time to celebrate areas of life as if they will be the last time to enjoy them.  Not meaning to sound morbid, but isn't that how we should enjoy life anyway?