A long, long time ago [I can still remember when], we were about to move to Chicago. We had the floor plan for our apartment, and I was making plans. I really wanted some pistachio velvet channel back chairs. I didn't find them, but I found some great wingbacks instead. When we moved to Dot, we sold the wingbacks because I wanted something with a lower profile.
Somewhere a long the way, getting close to, if not more than, a year ago, I walked into my father-in-law's shop, Vaughn's Cabinets, and I saw some of the most beautiful chairs I'd ever seen, even with the bottoms falling out. They weren't channel backs, but they were pistachio velvet. My heart went pitter-patter, but they were sold. A few weeks ago, my brother-in-law posted a few pictures of the new store at the cabinet shop, and there the chairs were, with fixed bottoms. The buyer never came to pick them up. My heart started palpitating again, and when we were in-town over Labor Day weekend, I asked if they did layaway because we're still really poor until October. Lucky for me that was pretty much a deal, and they were ours.
I've been patiently waiting for the end of the month so we could cut a check, but Parker (the BIL) brought them up this afternoon on his way to the airport. They are lovely, and I'm so glad they're finally home.
I love old chairs with squishy, bouncy springs. Won't a little table with a mason jar of fresh flowers on top be sweet between them?
And I super love the shiny lacquered honey colored arms and legs.
On to more serious news, Dot is making me nervous...
Exhibit A
There were no cracks in the walls when we bought her. We did have an earthquake last year, and Dot is built on a crawl space. I don't know if it would take that long for cracks to show up, but for real...We want to remodel our bathroom this fall, but I guess it's par for the course: We moved in and replaced the hot water heater, and not long after, part of our sewer line. The fun parts have taken a backseat.
Exhibit B
Exhibit C
Exhibit D
Exhibit E
Yes, that's five all together. From what I can tell, the cracks are all on what's left of the plaster walls, which are much more prone to just cracking on their own, without scary things like foundation issues. Most of the ceilings, except for in the dining room are sheetrock, as are about half of the walls. Hmm. To call a structural engineer or not....
Plaster walls crack. That's just what they do. And old houses settle. That's what they do too. We lived in a neighborhood of old houses back east that were full of plaster walls and ceilings. The usual fix for most denizens of the vicinity who didn't want to spend their lives repairing walls was wallpaper, paintable if they wished to keep it looking plain.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if you wish to repair plaster cracks while they are still young, here are some good instructions: http://homerenovations.about.com/od/wallsandtrim/a/artplaster.htm
On the other hand, ceilings take more work that I could master. We generally ended up calling in a good local carpenter who knew plaster ceilings and knew how to reinforce/reattach the falling parts to the superstructure above and then replaster.
Old houses keep one on one's toes.