Rejuvenation Projects Blog

When Heather discussed plans for the third floor, she talked about serene retreats and I don’t know what. And I nodded and smiled, but what I was really thinking was, “I’d like something that doesn’t have a lingering waft of elderly-cat byproducts.”

The finished space doesn’t just smell better than the old. It looks great, too. 

This is what you used to see from the top of the stairs.

The view now.

 Do remodels often involve getting rid of closets? In our case, the targeted closet just seemed kinda . . . pointless. I mean, we put things in it, because we had things, and there was a space, but it was never very satisfactory.

The other side of the sitting area.

 I am pretty sure that filing is going to become a favorite activity around here now:

The Kik-Step stool was removed before Heather could start weeping.

 The view from the comfy chair place has also improved. If you are sensitive about really bad light fixtures, you should probably skip ahead.

Close up of that pendant:

Smoked glass is one of those things I just don't understand.

I may have mentioned my love of the Magnolia shade before.

Art glass and more of Dan's carpentry.

I have remained constant in my devotion, and I am not alone. I have looked over at the stairs to the attic and seen what look like headless boys sitting on the steps. Luckily, the reason I can’t see their heads is that the heads’ owners are looking straight up to admire the bottom view of the shade:

The swirl is hypnotizing.

One of my new favorite sources for cool stuff is William J. Rigby, provider of unused antique hardware. We didn’t have enough door plates left over from the old space, but we were able to find something at Wm. Rigby that coordinated with the old stuff, even if it didn’t quite match:

Plate from Cooperstown, knob from Rochester

 The low ceilings in the attic mean that we ended up with recessed lighting most places. (Although there is a Magnolia shade on a Fernhill fixture. I may have mentioned it in passing.) The new sleeping area is still an improvement over the old one.

We used to have a ceiling fixture.

At least, I think it’s better.

No ceiling fixture. I don't miss it.

Aside from the pointless closet, we used to have two closets that shared a wall. Yuri suggested merging them, which made the space a lot more functional. We also got rid of bifold mirrored doors that didn’t close all the way.

Fun house or funhouse?

Now we have a bigger, better closet AND a pocket door.

Napping person can provide moral support to person working at desk.

Oh, and nothing smells like kitties in decline.

P.S.  Heather came over to take photos for her portfolio. She brought accessories, including the designer version of Mr. Pickles:

Mr. Pickles and his brother, Mr. Pickles

 For every pinhole leak or layer of asbestos flooring, remodeling also brings nice surprises.