finishing the inside job

Took some time off for the holidays then had some back to back out of the country work travel, but am refreshed and back at it! Feeling a new excitement for the old task of replacing the floorboards and finishing some odds and ends inside. I like this part because I don't have to wait for or rely on anyone else. Feels good to have that feeling back of working at my pace and knowing what it going on.

(Don't get me wrong I'm super grateful and happy for the professional help, it's just that things feel different when you are working on your own)

finished replacing the burnt floor sections...it's actually better now that it was before!

time to get the window ready for it's replacement

peeling it out was kinda fun...mostly due to the beautiful weather and blue skies!

just about ready for the new one!

did a thorough cleaning and finished trimming out the floor.

feels good, spring cleaning.

everything worked out great.

almost ready to move back in!

i've been framed!

laying the rest of the floor

Baby steps right now....so many other spring cleaning and preparing things to do not much time left to build!

Today I just wanted to install the rest of the floor...mission accomplished!

a pano view of my finished floor in my tiny room!

I also spent lots of time ordering and planning for next week...new lock reachout to really secure the place...ordered primer and elastomeric paint that should be arriving next week in time for the stellar good warm weather we are having.

Also researching more into finishing off the roof....looking into rooftop decking options to see if I can waterproof with that (there are some vinal systems that might be dual purpose for me)....If anyone out there has any suggestions I'm all ears!

Now, off to Vermont to do some spring skiing and officially close out the ski season....I've had quite a few ski adventures this season....but nothing like next season will be since I won't be knee deep into building a tiny floating home!

Some privacy, trimming and flooring

My last major work before my latest out of the country trip was working on the floor installation. I wanted to get back into it, but I also wanted to finish up the major interior carpentry to avoid sawdust getting all over the new floor (and in the cracks in those hard to reach places...if you know what I mean! ;-) )

So, I first worked to finish off the row of flooring that was unfinished when I last worked. I really have the system down now and it was easy, enjoyable and seamless....which is the ultimate goal more than even the look of the pieces together because we don't want our bare feet to feel those cracks!

I was very happy with my work and also decided to use a test piece of material on the table saw...I was using the scroll saw because I was worried the blade on the table saw would damage the material...thank goodness I did the test because it worked great and now I have nicer cuts and having it look more polished!


I didn't start the next row of flooring until I finished trimming out my kitchen octagon window. I had all the boards cut already and just needed to install them....hoping my cuts came out correct! At first I thought I really screwed up, however, after some quiet observation and realizing that a few of the boards were a few millimeters off I was able to fix them and love the result! (Thank goodness I learned from my previous efforts and used the big old outdoor screws instead of finish nails...made it easier to undo and fix my mistakes as well as update the trim in the future with a more creative design I have in mind)

before trim

after trim!

The most fun I had today was making curtain rods! I had a set of old used curtains that I had planned on using that had rods and mounting hardware but I couldn't find the rods/hardware anywhere! I looked for a few days baffled at where they could have gone....not like they were small and easy to hide! 

But, like all things in life it seems....it was fortuitous that I couldn't find them! Instead, I followed my inspiration and my heart and decided to find branches to continue to bring the outdoors in and truly make this home my dream!

I spent the morning searching the woods behind my house for the perfect branch. I was hoping for one to span the entire length...but knew it would be tricky to find one that long that would have the diameter that I needed for the holes in the curtains. I found a few candidates and while I pulled them out got the brilliant (and I'll admit Pinterest idea)  of also using the forking branches to hold up each "rod". As I cleaned off the bark it revealed secrets that nature had kept hidden to the unobservant eye!

Beautiful patterns created by the micro inhabitants of the forest were seen and added a depth of beauty and awe to my chosen materials! I was so excited with each inch of bark I excitedly removed...feeling as if I were Charlie looking for the Golden ticket to enter Willy Wonka's chocolate factory!

The sun was shining and warm, the birds were singing, I was so present in that moment, so happy to be right there doing what I was doing, I felt connected to the whole process and grateful to be so hugely involved in my own life. I was learning skills, learning about myself, about nature, how to work with nature as well as myself. It was a beautiful moment!

It didn't end there either! Bringing the materials and supplies to the site and taking my time to feel out how I wanted to install everything was so fun and even more satisfying when I stepped back to see the final result! Ahhhhhh happy again at the progress I am making!

the path of the curtains is similar to the path of my life!

love that i can drape them over the branches
to say hello to the world!

So thrilled with how it came out!

The last thing I needed to accomplish was the floor. Honestly, since I've gone in stages it's taken a bit longer, but it's been more enjoyable to break it up. And with getting the hang of it the next row went even smoother. Again, stoked to see the end result! I have one tiny section left and have just barely enough material to finish it! Yeah...there is some waste due to how I will have to cut them, but I will be using up the leftover material from the other floor color so that balanced it out. 

I also am using some of the leftover wood in my place to build a tiny wooden box that will fit the 6.5 inches sized wood I need for my stove. I will be using the experimental trim cuts I was playing with, which might actually make it a bit more artistic and whimsical than it would have been otherwise. 

But I'll need to save all those cuts and installation for tomorrow before I head up to Vermont for the weekend. (One last weekend of spring skiing to terminate the season! Hey, still gotta make time for physical pursuits/fun/exploration otherwise this whole thing would bog me down too much)

Now that I have a semi-locking door and privacy...I just need to finish the floor and then I will truly have a place to relax and recharge while I am still finishing up the work. I can't wait to move the futon mattress on to the futon couch/sleeper and add the throw pillows for a nice place to sit and have tea with my friends. I already have an enclosed incense box I brought back from Chile with me that I love to light when I am in there working and I've ordered a nice portable Bluetooth speaker to charge with my new mini solar panel array so the rest of my time will be filled with beautiful sounds to keep me company while I work and enjoy my little floating dream!

A place to sit

I felt really strongly today to put together my futon sleeper couch so I could have a place to sit and be. I knew I needed to put in the floor before I did this but had resisted putting in the same floor that I used earlier in the bathroom closet area. I wasn't thrilled with the feel of the laminate or entirely happy with the over all look. It's not bad.... It's just my vision was natural wood or bamboo or even cork. However, sometimes we have to look at our dreams and reassess them in order to realize them. Sometimes holding on to exacting minute details can stop or progress or even stop an intuitive flow. Often it's really about the big picture, the end feeling the project gives versus the exacting execution of the ideas. I've maintained my overall vision for this entire process and am thirties with the outcome to up to now. And I have realized that many of the decisions I have made that seem like a sort of compromise, really turned out to be the best way to learn what I needed to learn at that phase of the project.

These floors are the perfect example... This material really is the most practical material for the location. I feel strongly in the long run, this material will withstand the humid conditions, the any accidents with too much water coming in from swimming in the river (also a clear vision I have for the goal of this floating home), or even to protect against possible water infiltration when the whole structure is moved down the boat ramp into the water for the first time! Also with the amount of possible movement of this structure and the possibility of an undulating floor due to the surface of the water or the transition from the jack stands to the water. Not to mention the absolute rear of installation!

Suddenly I began to love all that this material would offer and support. It may seem man made and less "green" of a material, however, all material originated from the earth. This still has the life force of that original material it was within it... It is "green" pulsing with life... If I only choose to sit and feel it.

But I need a place to sit!

Back to the original desire. So I quickly and spontaneously decided to continue on with the same material, happy and invigorated with this choice once again, and took the creative freedom to simply change the color and the style to better suit the room. I chose a darker color too compliment the darker wood as well as not detract from all the lightness and color I plan to flood the room with layer.  I'm an designing this place with much light dark contrast to have a continual reminder around me of the light we need to have accompanied by the shadow... Both are a natural post of life and necessary to live and feel fully.

I got boards this time that week all the same width as the variable width was more labor intensive. I also decided to orient then in the other direction so the would extend along the long wall. It was great knowing either side would match up at the threshold of the first floor. It was a bit tricky to get the first row started, but because I've worked with this before I was determined to n name sure it was installed tight. It took a few tries of doing and undoing, but I finally got it where I wanted it and started the second row. As soon as I made it past my half wall I stopped work on the floor and started work on the futon. It cloud bite me in the ass later.... But I felt I could have it as getting this first piece of furniture in today was a goal I knew I could accomplish and very much needed.

I had most of  the boards laid out and strained ready to assemble so it went pretty quickly. I had taken pictures earlier when i planned the whole thing, so I just made sure I followed along before screwing it all together. It was hugely satisfying watching this thing come together and using the trees as legs. I love how it all came out and am so excited that I will have a nice place to sit and relax!

Starting off the new floor

The frame all out together!

Platform is on...Ready for the mattress!
 It's looking more livable now!

I really love how things are turning out and am excited to continue plugging away. I still have a ton to do before it is even close to being water ready, but I'm no longer anxious or pressure by it. I'm thoroughly enjoying this crazy ride and feel it's opened even more does than I imagined when u began this process. Not to mention the incredible amount of exclusive and skills I have accumulated during the process... Hugely contributing to my self reliance and confidence!

Action is everything!