The Wall, and closing the gap.

Taking away and filling in.

I have had a running project for sometime now to transform the entrance into the transition of the house, while keeping a clean and flowing ceiling line too.

Some much needed time was finally had over the 2011 snow blizzard of a shy week or two ago.

Finishing touches are now being done and I am still contemplating the type of wainscoting to put up halfway down the hall.
 Joni, from Cote de Texas was kind enough to send me the pics of a home that I saw a year or so ago. The type of wainscoting was the right feel, just needs to be simplified for my hallway.

I suppose that is about where we would be now.

Here are some pic of the process that was begun when my better half went hunting and came home to a huge hole in the wall.

Here we are almost done but just to let you see where we finished.
A long road as I had to go little by little making up my mind and just having the time to complete my own projects.The transition really functions better now and the move from in and out is a better flow than the previous bowling alley long hall layout.

So last year I checked the wall, it was OK to go ahead and remove and add to the wall.
I called in some extra muscle, which my son loved to be able to help out with. Guys and their ability to do the demo is so enthusiastic and I never got an " I am busy right now"!
One large hammer, metal topped ball hammer and a nice crow bar and we were on our way!

The wall pre studs and support beams being gone.
 The opening was just what this room needed to open and flow into the other parts of the home.
The back wall also shows the rmnants of a shabby chic coat rack that has also run its course.

There were some wires and electrical that needed to be moved away from the opening.
Also, the opening to the right was closed up and added more stability to the wall.
The sunshine really came in after this, and my once dreary hallway was really brightened up.

The opening to the right was closed off and the more ornate molding was removed and replaced with a simpler version.
 Now, this summah we have to talk about these floors!



A little blurry, this is the before of the closing the wall and the opening of the new entry.
The beam across the top was also removed and stabilized with more vertical supports.
Gone also was the remanant of my previous toile kitchen cream and red.

This was a heck of a challenge, but proved to be not so bad the further along we got.

A rearrangement of the door bell, which we have not decided upon as of yet!

This is what I have been left with, a pretty big gap to fill and also a little bit of uneven ceiling that has got to be feathered out before painting.The way it opens the hall is great, and feels much cleaner with the rounded edges on the new walls and finishes.

Almost finished, and Yes! The kitchen is next.

After topping and reinforcing the joints I used a new product to smooth the final layers of compound.I usually use a more denser joint compound. This is a lighter weight and goes on more smooth and is Pepto pink and dries white. A little variation but helps to know when things are dry to the eye.

We decided to keep the top of the wall as a doorway to give the room its own feel. Looking beyond the room you can see how we lost and filled the gap in the ceiling leading down the hall and into the kitchen.
The floor was also filled and secured down where there were a couple of board neeing to fill the gap where the old wall had been.
 Huumm, I am thinking we will have new flooring and a different shade of hardwoods soon!

 Now, what color and finish?

Always a project and deliberation!

For now, the wall is up, paint is on the walls and it's back to the drawing board for wainscoting and ceiling finish. I am thinking either a few beams or joists along the hallway, low clearance but to give that long alley some interest and dimension. I also think the wainscoting will help and did I mention there is one light bulb for that entire hallway?
 Ooh gads, how have we lived with it like this for so long?
I am thinking a dimmer switch and some halogen lights are critical and must been done stat!



Have a happy weekend, if you too find yourself doing some unfinished projects.




LGR Designs LLC