Trying out the night settings on my camera phone

A friend of mine was bugging me the other day wanting to see photos of my home at night with the sign that Abby made all lit up. So -- enjoy.

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Concrete Raised Bar Top

Here is the second of my two concrete bar tops. Thanks to an old friend Brant Jahnke for helping me custom fabricate the bent steel plate that supports this +/- 150lb countertop.

I went to him with an idea I had of an industrial-looking support that could make the counter top seem like it had a really clean cantilever to it. I loved the idea of having exposed fasteners and the clear-coated steel color went right along with my beloved gray theme.

Also, check out the over-bar light fixtures! If you haven't been to my parents new loft (their build project was happening at the same time as mine was) they have almost identical ones - I wasn't aware of this when I purchased mine - so it makes for interesting back and forth harassment.

Enjoy.

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More Teasing.

To all of my family and friends who keep harping on me to share final photos of my renovation project: I am sorry, but if you want to see the final product, you must come see it in person.

Since I love you all so very much, I want to see all of your pretty faces! Come down and check out the house whenever you can - I'm glad to share the whole story to anyone who is willing to listen. It has been a fun and exciting project to work on, and I have learned many things along the way. There are still many little things left outstanding to be completed but I have been living in the home since early October. It's a really great feeling to have something of my own, something I and many of you have helped me with. Thank you all who helped and gave support along the way, I needed and appreciate it. 

However, I do have a few things to share today, so I hope this makes you all happy!

After we got all of the drums, amps, speakers, monitors set up in the studio, my intuitions of it being a terrible acoustic space were realized - so I had to act!

I did some research on how to make acoustic sound panels, and immediately went out and got the material

A little bit of dense fiberglass insulation set into a wood frame

5 pieces of insulation came in a bag, so that's the number of panels I went with (for now). Building these was pretty quick and painless. 

Now, for a fabric color. Since I have never done any upholstery work, I wanted a color and a pattern that wouldn't show if I had put it on crooked or not, but I also didn't want a big solid color either - so this is what I went with. It was pretty cheap, thanks to Hobby Lobby and their amazing coupons. 

The first one all put together 

All 5 are ready to hang! I put some simple picture frame brackets on the back and hung them all over the studio (but of course no final photos of this, you must come visit!)

Got a super killer deal on this stainless gas stove - finally I can cook a proper meal!

Abby enjoying some fine home cook'n

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Backsplash

I haven't ever done this before, so naturally I am struggling - again. However, we are making progress.

I'm definitely NOT a plumber

Since I am an idiot - I totally messed up my toilet soil pipe system when I thought I had to raise it up to get the drain to sit on top of my new tile in my bathroom. Well, rookie mistake. I totally screwed up the existing drain system, and had to cut it out and completely replace it. However, I'd say the patch job was pretty good considering I really had no idea what I was doing. 

Mad props to Phil who was able to explain this whole process over the phone to me, again, I could not have done it without him. Thanks!

Drumset, Engage

If your imagination can remove all the clutter in the room, this drumset really makes the room sparkle. It is loud as hell in this room, just how I like it. 

Concrete Top

Before.

After.

This is the first of two concrete tops that will be installed, they look incredible - I could not be more happy with them!