Finishing up, Vallejo St.

The upstairs study casework primed and prepped for paint.

In order to contain dust we isolated the master bedroom shelves with a canopy of canvas for the sanding process. One guy sanding, one guy vacuuming.

It was a bit claustrophobic in there, but it was over quickly.

We'll have to include a photo of the completed bookcase at a later date, since the lens cover on my camera froze shut. Too much dust, perhaps.

Days 7 & 8...

While Jeff was sanding and priming the fourth floor study, Carl continued installing the built-in bookcase in the master bedroom. This would be the day that tested our abilities to remain flexible and nimble-minded as the client brought up a sudden concern regarding the daunting height of the bookshelf.

Where the new meets the old...

A common problem in older houses, an unfortunate swoop in the ceiling seemed to make it nearly impossible to cleanly join the new crown with the old crown. Hmmm, design (re)considerations and uncooperative moldings seemed to be leading us down a certain path.

The decision?

We would lower the bookcase by one shelf, providing for a less towering cabinet that could have its own crown molding independent of the crown molding around the room. Here we are cutting the cabinet walls with the Fein tool, vacuuming dust as we go.

Removal of the top shelf.

A new top rail was glued in place that will act as backing for the crown molding around the top of the bookcase.

Day 6.

Day 5...

Except for the baseboard, we completed the installation of the 4th floor study this week. Next week we'll finish this, and install a set of bookcases in the third floor master bedroom.

Took time for b.l.t's, chocolate milk, and (sweet potato) chips...

And a little more yoga.

Day 4...

Vallejo St install, day 2.

Vallejo St install, day 1.

Snapshots from the shop...

Late last week we got started on one of the two bookcase jobs that have been in the planning phase for months. This one, for a residence on Vallejo St., will create an office space on the 4th floor, plus a large wall of bookcases in the master bedroom. All built-in, with fixed shelves, and spare detailing to match the existing (Edwardian?) details of the home.

One of the first steps was to prime all the plywood. 30 sheets does not constitute a huge project, but in a small shop things can get out of hand quickly.

We made a bunch of these little spacers, and used them to lean the sheets in a fairly compact vertical configuration, one at a time, as we rolled on the primer.

While Jeff did the priming, Carl figured out a cut list based on his shop drawings.

The first thing to be cut out was the backs of the boxes, as they would serve as a pattern for the rest of the parts. Two of the banks of bookcases on the fourth floor fit within the pitched ceilings of two gable dormers.

Jeff put together a badly needed work table for the shop, with lockable casters. Except for the top and the casters, made from scraps.

After that, we teamed up on the ripping.