Weeks 40-42: Framing it Up

All the cribbing and shoring has finally been removed, so it is finally possible to walk through the house once again—how nice to see it all open!  At this point, there are two main things being worked on: framing (new walls in the basement and office/Melinda's room, replacing existing framing where needed, and minor tweaks here and there) and more demolition in the patio area due to an unforeseen complication (hello and welcome to remodeling) in regards to the plumbing connected to the pool bathroom (accessible from the patio).  Upon exploration, it seems that the old waste pipes have disintegrated, making for some incredibly fertilized soil underneath the patio.  Oh joy.

This is about as open as this entry area will ever be - at some point the
curved staircase will once again reign as the showstopper.

This view, standing in the living room and looking up into the kitchen,
will actually remain fairly similar in the final design thanks to a glass
railing replacing the previous partial wall.  It really ties the two rooms together.

This next photo shows the area that used to be the "maid's quarters" accessed from the laundry room.  The floor is now level with the other bedrooms and opens to the bedroom hallway.  It will have an open beam ceiling at a much greater height than the other rooms, allowing for loft space above the adjoining bathroom.

Excited about this change!

Basement framing - the future bar and wine cellar.

More basement framing - the future theater.

Jeff, our architect, and Brett, half of our construction team,
evaluate structural plates at the corners of the gable windows.

The master bathroom will be so much more open than before!  With a
huge full-height window, sliding door, and gable windows added, you can
be sure we won't miss those dropped ceilings.

New patio beam takes the place of the older, smaller
beams (discarded on the patio behind).

Some birdies seem to have made a home in the corner of Audrey's room.

For reference: existing gutters and lattice  construction
at the master courtyard area.