Ain’t technology grand?
Today’s post is brought to you by two modern marvels: my dsl, which just popped into sync tonight (so lots of photos tonight); and an incredible tool I didn’t even know existed until the other day. The fabulous Billy brought two of them home last night: a heat gun for stripping all this paint off the woodwork. We’d been using a chemical stripper before and it was s-l-o-w going. With the heat guns we can do in a half hour what had taken us a week before. Seriously. Take a look at what I did in an hour last night. Since I only did half of the side of the stairs, there’s a built in before and after for ya.
Why do people paint perfectly good wood? I don’t get it.
This house continues to surprise us in wonderful ways. Pre stripping, the posts of the banisters looked like this:
Beneath that paint we found, strangely, plaster. We chipped away the plaster and found this on all sides except the back where the banister is attached:
Why was it filled in with plaster and then painted shit brown? I have no idea. Billy and I made this discovery at midnight last night, and we were so curious about what we’d find beneath the plaster that we stayed up until 2:30, each of us chipping away at one side of it.
My family came over today to help us strip paint, etc. I found a great Danish Modern chair in the garbage the other day. I had intended to replace the busted seat, but my brother found it was rather comfortable as is.
I had such an amazing weekend. I hope you did too.
That is so cool! Now your NEW HOUSE is like a bundle of mysteries. The banister is GORGEOUS. And yay, you have DSL again! We get pictures! Yay!
Posted by: Em
What fun what fun! Your house is going to be BEAUTIFUL when you are done with it!
Posted by: Johanna
Wow, it looks like your place is filled with lost treasures. We redid our house…reminds me of yours. There was 5 layers of industrial-strength wallpaper on everything–the first layer having been glued on in the 30’s…even the ceiling. We had blisters all over our hands it took us so long to scrape the crap off. It was all worth it though…good luck!
Posted by: teresa
I am not exaggerating when I say I have dreams like that about furniture and closets and walls, doing something routine only to find a hidden mystery/miracle/leftover from the past. To be re-doing that bannister and find that? UhMazing. Wow. (and I love pics of your bro; this one is fabulously funny.)
Posted by: Rachael
I keep watching for house updates…what a reward today! Hope your cold gets better and you continue to find amazing treaasures!
Posted by: pattie
I keep watching for house updates…what a reward today! Hope your cold gets better and you continue to find amazing treaasures!
Posted by: pattie
cari-what fun suprises your house holds for you! can’t wait to see all the pictures, and can’t wait to see the house in person!
Posted by: Rebecca
Oh that newel post is gorgeous!
We’re just finishing a remodel. Our newel post isn’t as lovely as yours but it did look like a plain box. When we took off the 100 years of paint we found a very pretty design in egg and dart molding.
Why would anyone want to cover that up??
Posted by: Jessica
Yay, I’m so happy that your dsl has come through! And these house photos are fantastic, although I’m head over heels with envy, if that’s even possible. Not only plaster and paint, but shit brown! Why? What a great discovery, though, under it all. May the great discoveries continue! (Including perfectly good items in the garbage!)
Posted by: alison
Wow! What lovely woodwork. No idea WHY anyone EVER thought it was a good idea to cover that up!
Posted by: Kristine
That is so cool! Now your NEW HOUSE is like a bundle of mysteries. The banister is GORGEOUS. And yay, you have DSL again! We get pictures! Yay!
Posted by: Em
What fun what fun! Your house is going to be BEAUTIFUL when you are done with it!
Posted by: Johanna
Wow, it looks like your place is filled with lost treasures. We redid our house…reminds me of yours. There was 5 layers of industrial-strength wallpaper on everything–the first layer having been glued on in the 30’s…even the ceiling. We had blisters all over our hands it took us so long to scrape the crap off. It was all worth it though…good luck!
Posted by: teresa
I am not exaggerating when I say I have dreams like that about furniture and closets and walls, doing something routine only to find a hidden mystery/miracle/leftover from the past. To be re-doing that bannister and find that? UhMazing. Wow. (and I love pics of your bro; this one is fabulously funny.)
Posted by: Rachael
I keep watching for house updates…what a reward today! Hope your cold gets better and you continue to find amazing treaasures!
Posted by: pattie
I keep watching for house updates…what a reward today! Hope your cold gets better and you continue to find amazing treaasures!
Posted by: pattie
cari-what fun suprises your house holds for you! can’t wait to see all the pictures, and can’t wait to see the house in person!
Posted by: Rebecca
Oh that newel post is gorgeous!
We’re just finishing a remodel. Our newel post isn’t as lovely as yours but it did look like a plain box. When we took off the 100 years of paint we found a very pretty design in egg and dart molding.
Why would anyone want to cover that up??
Posted by: Jessica
Yay, I’m so happy that your dsl has come through! And these house photos are fantastic, although I’m head over heels with envy, if that’s even possible. Not only plaster and paint, but shit brown! Why? What a great discovery, though, under it all. May the great discoveries continue! (Including perfectly good items in the garbage!)
Posted by: alison
Wow! What lovely woodwork. No idea WHY anyone EVER thought it was a good idea to cover that up!
Posted by: Kristine