Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Making Fire Pretty

Well, I've got good news and I've got bad news about this @#$* remodel. The good news is the plumbers finally showed up on Tuesday! YEAH!!! The bad news is they forgot to mention that the work would have to be inspected before we drywall. Why is that bad news? Well, we can't make the template for the granite until the cabinets are installed. And we can't install the cabinets until the drywall is up. AND, we can't drywall until the plumbing is inspected. So, we had to push out our timeline yet again.

Now for more good news! I finished the fireplace. Now all that awaits is a gas insert. Ahhh, fire at the flick of a switch. Is there anything better? Now I know how the cavemen felt when they discovered fire. Well, sort of... Anyway, check out the progress over the long weekend:

Before: Painted exposed brick fireplace

(apparently the painting cost a pretty penny back in the day)

Step 1: Dry wall above the mantel &
scratch coat/grind the brick to level below the mantel

Step 2: Lay the tile
(might I add that there is not 1 single full tile in this whole project,
every stupid tile had to be cut)


Step 3: Grout & admire


11 comments:

Anonymous September 6, 2007 at 9:31 AM  

darn - that's an amazing picture of that fireplace - I am very impressed with your ability to tile....!
Garren

The Tucson Gang September 6, 2007 at 11:36 AM  

WOW...that's awesome!!! I can't believe the difference! You are quite an artisan. Beautiful, beautiful girlfriend! Glad to hear the plumbers showed up as scheduled...yea!

Anonymous September 6, 2007 at 11:51 AM  

That looks wonderful! You better have me over when the remodel is done :) I would love to see it up close!! Sorry about the delays! Unfortunately those things happen. Beth

Jennifer September 6, 2007 at 12:24 PM  

Wow, Lori. You are so gifted at so many things! Would you be available for a couple of jobs over at our house when you're done? :-)

We love our gas insert...it keeps our downstairs so cozy in the winter.

celestemc September 6, 2007 at 1:44 PM  

Love the fireplace! Seeing it done by a friend is even better than watching it done on HGTV! You did great! Looks awesome!

Anonymous September 6, 2007 at 2:33 PM  

Lori, that before and after looks amazing!!! Way to go! do you hire yourself out? we could use some help with our home....Keep up the good work!!Abra

Anonymous September 7, 2007 at 8:38 AM  

WOW! You do beautiful work! How about cruising by John's cube and inspire him to finish the tiling in our master bath?:-) Lindsay (The Ruhnk's wife)

Cheryl September 7, 2007 at 9:08 AM  

Wow! I'm so impressed. Your fireplace is beautiful!! Okay, so how did you even know how to do all that stuff?? May I contact you in the future of DIY home improvement advice?

Great job!!
CT

Lori September 7, 2007 at 9:21 AM  

Surprisingly, we kind figure all this out as we go. I tiled our other fireplace surround when we moved in (1st tiling project). Then our other 2 bathroom floors. So after 4 projects, I've got this tiling thing figured out.

Aside from trial and error, a lot of time spent watching HGTV and DIY network helps. Hey, I guess watching tv is not a waste of time!

Anonymous September 9, 2007 at 11:00 PM  

the fireplace looks great! I agree with everyone else, you guys are amazing at all these remodel projects. Way to go team Harris!
Krissy

Jennifer September 10, 2007 at 9:05 AM  

Um...I wasn't kidding about you being available to help us out. We've got the UGLIEST fireplace ever (well, I guess if you loved everything about 1968, you'd think it was the coolest fireplace ever).

Okay...maybe I was joking a little. Gotta go...I'm heading over to Home Depot to get me some fireplace beautify-in tools!!!

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