One more small chapter in a larger story.

In order to tell every small detail of the stories for our projects we design and build all kinds of things. As part of the London roof top above the pub fireplace we created a small opening in the dormer. From a protruding beam we attached a couple of antique wooden pully blocks. A mailla rope will wrap around an old wooden barrel addressed to the Fox & Hounds Pub and then thread through the pullies and hang from the beam.

We finished the sculpt of the barrel today. Paint with aging glazes will follow with a stencilled name of the pub added as a last step. Then we'll string up the barrel.

It is all about the details.

-grampa dan

Playing musical chairs

The pub project is at a most challenging stage. So much is happening at once it seems. We are forced to constantly jump from area to area in order to stay out of other's way. As the carpenters put up trim we go behind them adding final texture to the wall panels, then painting and glazing. Below us the carpet layers are doing the floor. Above us the electrician is removing old lighting fixtures and fans and putting in pot lights. Around us the customers are enjoying all the action, business as usual.

The Pub's new entry is now open. Tables are temporarily set up here. No final glazes on the brickwork are being done here quite yet. 

In the pub fireplace area we are busy with the final finishes, until the carpet layers force us to move on. The pressure is on to finish things before the built in seating arrives later this week. There is still a little woodwork to come as well forcing us to wait a little while longer before the final glazes go on. In the main pub ceiling the electrician still needs to remove old lighting fixtures and fans and also install some new pot lights before we can do final painting there. 

In the stage area the brickwork is now finished and painted. As fast as the woodwork is done we follow behind with texturing, paint and glazing. Things are almost done here.

The brickwork and concrete beam are also painted and glazed near the patio windows.  The last of the woodwork was done there today. I was close behind with the texturing of the plaster. The painting will start in this area tomorrow. 

Big Ben is now in his final place. The wall behind got the texture treatment today as well. This section of wall is now ready for paint.

Progress is rapid now although it isn't in any one area. Because we have to jump around so much it is a little here, a little there all over the work site. But each day a bit more gets crossed off the to do list.

-dan

Crazy day

I just knew as we drove in to the Fox and Hounds Pub today that it wouldn't be a day I could plan for. Whatever happened would happen and we would simply make the best of it. The carpet was going in and that meant nothing would be ordinary.

My crew had worked hard in my absence, doing the things I had asked as best they could. While I would have preferred the carpet be delayed at least another week, the fact is it desperately needs to be installed so the pub would be a little more welcoming to the patrons who have been loyal through all the construction these past months. It is time to begin building the business back to what it used to be before the renovation began. We'll simply have to be careful as we do the last of the painting.

The dining room was stacked full of furniture and it was all but impossible to get through the room. There would be no work done in here. 

In the pub area there was no furniture. The carpet layers were busy, doing the tough job of matching the carpet pattern and fitting the heavy carpet around all the posts. Then they stretched it out and cut it carefully around the many (non-straight) objects we had built around the room. It will be anoher day yet at least before they are done. We did our best to paint in areas they had not yet reached. I spent the bulk of my day applying the texture plaster to areas that had been modified in the renovation.

We had a busy and productive day.  After supper I headed out to the shop once more to do some work on the signs in progress. I finished the horse's head sign and started the sculpt of the sleeping hounds on the big sign.

Tomorrow we'll do it all over again...

-grampa dan