Saturday, June 14, 2025

Recycling A Trellis

We have brought home three trellises removed from the roof at Old Farm in order to replace it. Two were trimmed to 5' x 7.5' closed rectangles to mount on the side of Leif's house - now most obvious with 40 large trees taken down. The large trellis has been cut to 3 pieces to blanket the garden shed.

Originally, I called a Nantucket builder for info to build high quality trellis parts; 1 1/4" ripped #1 grade cedar boards we squared and secured with 1 3/4" stainless nails at every overlap from behind. After power washing, we will paint them a French cream like color in Benjamin Moore Woodluxe solid stain. Nantucket Sconset house & trellises below:





The old big roof trellis...

Saturday, May 24, 2025

A Princeton University 50th Reunion

As retired PU Class of '75 Reunion Chairs, we attend this Class 50th Reunion with deep appreciation for the unique traditions and labor involved while helping when possible. The updated banner I created for the 25th, now hangs on Blair Arch facing our Reunions site. A first.















Soon our Class returns wearing the Class fabric I designed for the 25th, although this year, all receive vests for future years of hot weather. 

Vest & shorts I made for our grandson to wear to the "Prade" (black tiger heads up for men).

New silk scarves & pocket squares were made featuring some 25th Reunion artwork as well.

The theme "Roaring Back To Reunions" comes true with over 400 attendees arriving on campus starting 5/22.

Our Class dinner will be held in front of the new art museum where Bill's garden stones will be sold in the store soon!



419 members of the Class attended!
Alex Donner; Best contemporary dance band and name, Class member playing without break!
We couldn't stop dancing, and the Crew joined in.

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Toshiko Takaezu At James Cohan Gallery

The Toshiko Takaezu exhibit at James Cohan Gallery, 48 & 52 Walker St., NYC May 16 - July 21 2025, includes many spectacular bronze pieces recently refurbished and currently for sale. Their most beautiful exhibit in a most beautiful gallery. We attended the opening and ensuing dinner including all artists exhibiting on the upper floor gallery. Super.

Click on images to enlarge.










TT was Bill's Princeton University ceramic professor and lifelong mentor from then on.

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Hiring A Tiler

I have found that "craigslist" is good for hiring a tiler. It's a localized, competitive field while easy to get quotes with texts. We hired Marcio Services (862 754 7615) to install the subway and floor tiles here in two days with all products and materials supplied by us. (We tiled three bathrooms ourselves before this.)





























I taped & numbered floor tiles for best placement of the marble veining, prior.
It took one day to superbly install all the tiles and another to grout them for $1200.
The floor & walls were perfectly seamed to preclude baseboard trim.


Grouted & done.


Thursday, May 8, 2025

Two Tall Sculptures

Two more tall sculptures, wonderful!

A new garden seat and bowls below.
































Sunday, April 27, 2025

A Second Bathroom I

This modern house has two similar bathrooms with wooden ceilings and double paned metal windows. Both will have the same floating high gloss white vanities and large white floor tiles, but this one will have an electric heated floor.


Leif and Bill have just laid the Ditra Floor Heating matt to be wired soon. White subway tile will be installed in the tub surround.


First a new drain pipe was installed in the cement slab here which can connect to the laundry room with a pipe run behind the tub. Access to the exit pipe was through the adjacent storage area. Lovely to have nice new pipes and sheet rocked & insulated walls before tiling!












Wired!

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Visiting Dienst & Dotter

Last week I had a chance to visit "Dienst & Dotter" the unparalleled Scandinavian antique store in NOHO showcasing gems from the owner's vast collection, on the floor. 
Click on images to enlarge.












Each piece unique & spectacular.