Mentor Meeting 4/28

In the meeting on Tuesday we talked about the article we read in class.  We talked about the flow chart, and how I mentioned that I'm always a little anxious.  From there we talked about if my anxiety about school has increased with this project.  I don't think it has much, because I enjoy doing it so much.  We discussed my posts on the kitchen, and the bedroom, along with what I learn.  The plan for this week is to do the living room plan, and on the weekend draw the library and bedroom.  Last we talked about where I see this project ending, and how many rooms I really want to do.  My mentor mentioned just finishing the living room and one bathroom, then starting on planning my presentation.  Planning when to be done I think will come when I know what day I'm expected to present, and how much time I have left.

In Class- Happiness Revisited

1. When do you feel most happy?- It's hard to say when I'm the most happy, because it never really jumps out at me when I am.  I'm content when I come home from work and school and get to be alone for even just a few minutes; but I'm still thinking about the next thing I have to do, or deadlines that have to be met.  I also enjoy spending time with people I like, however only in moderation.  I don't really know exactly when I was last noticeably happy.  I have never been one to get too excited, upset over small things, never really take the time to reflect on how I'm feeling.  I think I would be truly happy in a situation where their was nothing on my mind to get done, but I could just do what I want to do for a day.  In the article it talks about how people push themselves to their limits to achieve "happiness" they hope will come.  I feel similarly too thing, I feel like I have achieved the most or am happy with myself after doing through something hard.
2. The points I enjoyed most from this article were the following- happiness is not in your power nor mine, but the power come from the outside.  This point this in someways true, however I think people feel that this means they don't have to make their own happiness (it does however say we control our actions).   Ideas we have of happiness come from small events.  The best moments in our life are not relaxing, but they occur when we are stretched to the our end.  Challenges meant to test yourself are not great at the time, but become great upon reelection.   And reaching optimal experiences determine the content of life that leads to had lead to happiness.  I agree with the fact that great experiences can be hard, but they are the best moment.
3. I think I'm always on the anxiety side, but close to the flow channel.  I have always been a little high strung, it just keeps me working.  
4. The project has not changed my anxiety much.  I do find happiness in doing my project, however sometimes I become anxious when I think about the amount I have to get done.
5. Flow is optimal experience that goes between being too anxious or too board.  Flow has evolved into something people will go to great lengths to achieve.  People may do things they are passionate about that are hard, but that's how they achieve flow.  Flow is shown through evolution and development of man kind, because it improves the quality of life.

The Kitchen Design

This is the painting of the kitchen from one view, then just to save time I created a digital version of the other side.  The digital version is simple, but gives a general view of what it would look like.

The Master Bedroom Plan

The bedroom has been influenced by social and economic changes.  Until the 19th Century, only the wealthy who could afford house large enough to have bedrooms. Everyone else only had houses with 1 or 2 rooms.  Which they would use for cooking, dining, and sleeping.  The one sleeping room was used for the entire family, and during the day would be their living room.

Industrial Revolution occurred, and this lead to the development of the middle class.  The middle class’ houses had enough space for a living room, a kitchen, and more than one bedroom.  This became more normal, parents started to have their own room, and children had their own.

Although the size of the modern family has decreased  children and their parents now normally have their own room. The bed room has become a place of privacy for the owner.  

Private bedrooms for the man and lady of the house were popular going into the 1910, however that turned into having a sitting room instead.  Greater emphasis on privacy was practiced, which is why their were was not as many documented pictures for 1910 bedrooms, as their were for other rooms.  

Bedroom in American usually have a bed, nightstand, chest, and dresser. Furniture and other items in bedrooms vary in style, but have the same pieces. Master bedroom do usually have larger beds, king or queen-sized.   Also have larger and more closest or dressers. Built-in furniture, like closets are common in North America. As time went on the bedroom became a reflection the owner’s personality, and social class. The attractiveness of the bedroom increased as people spent more time in the room.  The master bedroom should be the same size as two guest bedroom.  

Here a few documented bedrooms from 1910-  There were different materials used in different houses based on wealth.

Modern take on colonial revival master bedrooms-

 These would be more like guest bedrooms-

The master bedroom-

What needs to be done- Ceiling repair, floor repair, wall paper replacement, window replacement 

Ceiling repair-

The ceiling is plaster and has loose areas from the sheets that make the ceiling.  There are also small holes that can be repaired with plaster putty.  To reinforce the repaired areas get plaster washers, which are used to add support to a plaster ceiling.  Screw them into the ceiling around or broken area; the screws should go into wood lath above the plaster (picture below).  Spread a joint compound, a thin mud like compound, over the ceiling, it should cover the repaired area.  While the compound is wet press a insect screen (its like a thin window screen), when it’s smoothed flat with a trowel you can’t even notice it.  Then wait at least 24 hours for the compound to dry.  Sand way areas that have ridges or bumps, or fill in areas with the compound that are indented; this will create a flat surface.  Last use one coat of a paint primer, then who white topcoat paint. 

Ceiling diagram

Floor repair-

On the left of the room their are four panels of wood that have been put down, as an alternative to properly fixing the floor.  The floor boards have "Butt" joints connecting them; this is just laying them one after another, instead of interlocking them with groves.  Luckily this is the easiest the repair, because it does not damage neighboring boards.  Get wood planks most similar to the oak floors in color and size, then fit and nail the planks to the joists under the wood.  Joist are the wood frames under the floor.  Use a 2 x 4 nailer support to the end of the board.  This will be nailed to the joist and plank under the end of done plank before it connects to the next planks, it's not scene.

The fire in the 1980s was in the ceiling, however there is soot damage on the floors. Use a vacuum the floor to cleanup any left over soot.  Use a chemical sponge soot residue. Don’t put too much pressure on the sponge, it could damage the wood. With wood cleaner and rags clean the wood.  Then finish the floors as I described in the dining room plan.

Wall paper-

Remove the wall paper as described in the dining room plan.  A lot of it should just peel off, it pretty much already is. I don't like wall paper, at all, but 1910 house owners loved it.  I found an alternative to wall paper, that I thought was classier, but also gave the detailed look master bedrooms had.  First I would paint the master bedroom a light gray.  I would use a technique created by the owner of "The Painted House",  a stamp like roller.  It's six inches, with a stamp part on one end and next to it a regular paint roller.

You use it like a normal paint roller, just in straight lines.  On the website they have 18 different designs, and I really want one.  This is the one I would use for the master bedroom, with white paint.

Flower patterns were most common

Windows-
Only one window would need to be fixed, and I talked about how to do that with the exterior post.

Sources-
Books-
Period Design and Furnished
The Old House Journal
The Complete Home Restoration Manual
Websites-
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,1630910,00.html
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,216994,00.html

http://www.starplanbedrooms.com/blog/2014/08/the-history-of-bedrooms/

http://porch.com/advice/history-bedroom/

http://www.jondon.com/how-to/technical-tips/restoration-disaster-recovery/fire-and-smoke-damage/cleaning-soot-damaged-contents/wood-surfaces.html

Mentor Meeting 4/22

We started with me sharing the possibility of using a software program instead of do the physical art.   Ms. Lord had originally proposed this idea.  I tried this by creating a 3D kitchen with the software "Home By Me".  Although this works, it takes away the detail and originality of the design that made  the art part of the project in the first place.  This digit technique would cut back time, but takes away the personal aspect.  My mentor agreed with this, so we decided I might have to look at ways to scale back the art work.  I could either do fewer paintings,  or try copic markers which won't take as long, and I can carry around with me.  My mentor thinks I should take less time on wise for the next few weeks with WISE to study for the AP exams.  We then talked about the kitchen design and went over the appliance, we then talk about our class meeting and finished.

The Library Plan

Privet libraries in the USA were made popular by wealthy revolutionaries.  For example George Washington had a large privet library.  However, Thomas Jefferson had him beat in library size.  He Jefferson was a man who cared about intellect, and believed having a large collection of books would increase his knowledge.  Jefferson has a well know collection of books and was known to be a heavy reader.  

During the 1800s acquisition of knowledge was incredibly important.  Obviously only wealthy individuals had the time, resources, and sometimes ability too read; this only wide the sense of importance high class citizen had.  I can assume, because of the Beckett’s wealthy status, they would have had the means to have a library.  Dr. Beckett was also part of many medical associations, so knowledge would have been of value to him. 

Usually a privet library was it is a relatively large room accessible to everyone in the house.  It was a quite area used for study not for socialization.  This lead the the space only being used by one or a few people at a time.  

Here are some pictures of libraries from the the 1800s, and early 1900s

Charles Dickens'

Mark Twain's

Here are some modern privet libraries I will use as inspiration

Into the plan-

What needs to be done, floors, fix wall, cover windows, fix ceiling, paint walls and molding

What the house looks like now-

Walls-
If I was to really restore the house I would get professional help to repair the missing wall because that needs to be done extremely well.  Many home restoration books have doing plaster wall repair yourself as one of the worst mistakes a historic home owner could make.  But here is the basic layering of plaster wall (picture below).  You would just have to target the main problem areas and go from their.

Plaster layering

Strange interior windows-
The two windows that look into the living room and dining room need to go.  I don't really understand why they are there.  I have found no record of any trend on interior windows, so they must have been put in as an alternative to taking down walls for more visibility through out the house.  Like I said before you can't easily fill in walls without damaging the original wall.  I will instead just put book cases in the hole, and plaster over it on the other side.  Attach the book cases by their sides, like the way the cabinets in the kitchen were installed.

Floors-
Remove the plastic tiled portion of the library, to revival the original wood underneath.  I'm sure this is under the fitted tiles because half of the room in the original wood, which turns into tile. This plastic tile was used as a cheap alternative to going through the process of installing real tile.  The wood should just be fixed up like in the dining room to go back to normal.

Ceiling-
The ceiling would be made out of plaster, and is sagging a little.  To fix this we will use an anchor, which helps the plaster get pressed back into position.  Start by drilling a hole through the ceiling, then use an anchor, and screw it into place.  Last it is canceled with spackle, the anchor will give the ceiling extra support.  You can then use a thin coat of paint over the ceiling to make it look newer.

Book shelves-
We will be putting while ceiling to floor book shelves on all the walls in the first room, not the hall way leading out.  Draw where you want your book case to meet the wall.  Locate studs on the wall, and line the book case up to in.  Place L brakes on the spots that meet the studs, drill a hole and secure the L brakes.  Then drill holes to secure the L into the shelf.


Sources-

Jackson, Albert, and David Day. The Complete Home Restoration Manual: An Authoritative, Do-it-yourself Guide to Restoring and Maintaining the Older House. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. Print.
Labine, Clem, and Carolyn Flaherty. The Old-house Journal Compendium. Woodstock, NY: Overlook, 1980. Print.


http://motherhood.modernmom.com/attach-bookshelves-walls-7078.html

http://www.bobvila.com/nation/post/5-worst-mistakes-of-historic-homeowners-part-4-plaster

Disrupting The Comfort Zone

Today in class we listened to a podcast from NPR.  The session featured Brian Grazer, reading his essay called, "For this I believe".  He is a successful film maker, who wrote about how he succeeded getting out of his comfort zone.  He talks about purposefully work difficult for himself, but putting himself in situations that might scare him.  Although this might not also end with a new friend, but rather an uncomfortable conversation, he still puts himself out their.  Doing this, he believes lets him learn something from every experience.  This he says lets him grow from his failures.  Getting out of his comfort zone is perhaps what lead to his success, or maybe it was just that mixed with talent.

In my project I have done more contact with other people than I would have every liked to do.  Interviewing someone at the beginning of my project was difficult for me to do, mostly because I don't like going into situations I can't predict.  Meeting the Argo's Inn owner was even harder for me to do because there was no set questions or time limit.  During the entire meeting which lasted about 2 hours I was ready for something to go wrong.  Sharing my project with people who ask has also been difficult.  I might be interested in getting further out if the situation was to present itself.

Update on the second set of photos

My post called "A New View", on the photos I found on a shady sight I have more information on.  My initial email to the company "Plan-It location", and asking when the photos were taken, how they got them, and for any additions information they had on the house; was left unanswered.  A week later I emailed the company again, saying the same thing, but explaining my project and why I wanted the information.  Another week went by with out an answer.  Now I was questioning the companies integrity. So I sent one more email, which was short and to the point.  I finally got an answer.
The email said- we have never had a record of this property...we have not done work on this property, or have any contact with the owners.  Then the man's name, and a really weird banner from the web site in Disney fount.
This company pretty much denied ever knowing about this property, which they still have on their website.  I will be keeping the original photos I had, except for the stairs photos because the original photos did not document this well. It was interesting to see how the company, which I didn't really trust from the beginning avoided responding to me as long as possible.  I am happy they finally did.  I expect these people are "urban explorers". I have found that term from researching old houses.  They are people, or companies I guess, who sneak into abandoned houses and take pictures on the interior.  They then blog or claim to own the house for their own profits.

The Kitchen Plan

Kitchens during 1910 were a relieving private room, so money was not spent decorating it excessively.  Unlike today where kitchens act as a place to socialize, and are open to the entire house, kitchens were hidden.  Kitchens were small for that reason, they were meant to be functional for the house staff, or the women in the house.  In neoclassical homes the kitchen would be behind the stairs, close enough to the dining room to serve food, but at least a private room away.  They would have a pantry connected, and a servants stair case.  The kitchen was all about functionalism, I'm going to make the house the same way.  I will incorporate some modern kitchen concepts, using lighting, pluming, and appliance standards.

Here are some examples of 1910 kitchens-

The Bungalow kitchen style is the closest style that would be used during this period. The period the style was popular was from 1845 to 1940. In this period had original kitchens purpose, it was made for servants.  Apparently if the kitchen connected directly to the dining room that was a sign of lower class, because it was meant for house wives.  This house does not have an immediate connection. The bungalow style was most often seen with Arts & Crafts houses, and Colonial Revival houses. Timeless design really encompasses this style. Regular proportions should be used and cabinet details, a with simple palette (white), and materials likes stone and wood.

Here is some inspiration for my removed/slightly modernized bungalow kitchen-

Now into the plan- 

Here is what I'm going from

Tile- 

The floor tile comes out and is going to be replaced with quarry tiles; I wanted to use stone but it's unrealistic if there is not a stone base.  Quarries are made of thick, heard wearing clay, and will last for over 80 years.  They can be put it patterns and in different earth tones, but I'm just going to use grey.   It's easy to exactly fit these tiles, the square will be 3/4 inches thick, and 6x6 inches.  Lay out the tiles with a marker, by drawing a bisecting line equally from the rooms boarder.  Tiles should be on a concrete base, with cement bedding mortar above the cement.  Create temporary wood planks to separate sections, then level mortar and lay down tiles. 

Grey quarry tiles

Walls-

The walls are just something else, what every was done was not done well, luckily that would mean it would be easy to deal with the walls.   Using a wide-blade putty knife try the knock the tiles loose. Then pry them off with a putty knife. If this does not work you would need to break them gently and scrape off the mortar.  While removing the tiles remove the shelves and ledges.  I also want to take out the window next to the oven.  It would be hard to make a new part of the wall, so it will become a window (maybe serving area) to the breakfast room.  Take out the counters and smoke vet metal things over the stove.  

This is all relatively easy, just be destructive, but not to the point of hurting the walls.  Remove the paint on the walls and wood the same way as described in the dining room plan.   Painting the wood in the same way as in the dining room. For the back splash I want to use white rectangular ceramic wall tiles, that like quarry, were popular during this time because of how long they last.  Create for the middle lines in the area you will be tiling, using a level.  Use a batten (wood plank) to keep your rows straight.  Spread mortar to the wall you want to cover and lay down the tiles.  I think the plaster will be strong under the stress of the restoration, its made to be rock hard.  Paint the walls without tile White like the dining room, but before fill any nail holes with wall filler.

Ceramic wall tiles

Cabinates-

Mark cabinet lines onto the wall based on where the cabinet would fit.  The cabinet will be white birch and the wood, birch finishes well and look expensive wood. When stained, but I’m going to keep it white. Locate wall studs, (if there are any, if not do it yourself), using hammer and finishing nail to nail in the holes.  Mark nail locations on the back of the cabinet.  Then drill four holes in the back of the cabinet.  Use a cabinet jack hold cabinet level before its nailed in.  Fasten to wall studs with plaster wall screws.  Fasten the two cabinets together with screws.  If the top is not level use a shim to aline the cabinets further.  Fasten the base of the cabinets together with a pan-head screw.  This can be done for the upper and lower cabinets.

The cabinets and fixtures

Counter tops-

For the stone counter tops, measure and order the piece you need first.  Then install ¾-inch plywood to the tops of the bottom cabinets. This is used to support stone, as a weight between the cabinets and stone.  After making sure the plywood is level attach it with screws. Drill the holes first, then the actual screw.  Then set the granite in place.  After making sure it will be level, apply a silicone sealer (glue) around the edges of the plywood.  Mix polyester resin with color similar to the granite, put it into any open spaces of seems. Press it in with a putty knife. Work fast because it sets quickly.

Stone counter top

Major Appliances-

Appliances were kept simple, and were made to be functional, or blend into its surroundings.

This oven will be liquid propane, and has elements of a 1910 kitchen.  Similarities include oven storage, multiple doors, and divided stove tops.

Their refrigerators were small, but white.  They also had the exterior look like the surrounding cabinets, to camouflage the appliance.

White kitchen sinks were popular because of the convince of having a deep wide base.  They looked very similar to the large sinks what are becoming stylish again, but they focused more on confidence. 

Pendent lights were characteristic of neoclassical private rooms

Bread boxes were one of the things used to keep food good.

The original already had a vent, this will just replace it.  This higher tech version of the vent is also safer in a wood home.

Jackson, Albert, and David Day. The Complete Home Restoration Manual: An Authoritative, Do-it-yourself Guide to Restoring and Maintaining the Older House. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. Print.

http://www.homedepot.com/c/how_to_install_cabinets_HT_PG_KI

http://www.wikihow.com/Install-Granite-Countertops

http://www.oldhouseonline.com/timeless-tips-for-remodeling-a-kitchen/Subject