A wood stove for the winter

This wood stove idea has been in the works for a while. Now, here we are. Not only did we need a wood stove, but what hearth pad would we use? There are some out there, but these were not what we wanted.

Brainstorming and inquiring about floor grade tiles brought us to salvaged material without hesitation. We found salvaged granite from the Preservation and Conservation Association (PACA) and other remnants elsewhere to design our own.





Even though, it might not seem the easiest, it is a rewarding experience. From the combination of diy, Champaign and Tilton shops, for design, granite sizing and installation respectively, we are looking forward to it.

A New Kitchen Design

This was an interesting project. Being without a kitchen for a few months and doing the dishes in the bathroom sink was a challenge. The existing kitchen had been built with tall and deep cabinets that were not easily accessible. The space was rather dark at any time of the day and was not functional. Also, there was not much counter space.















Our idea to rebuild the kitchen was, not only to introduce more natural light into the space, but also to redesign its functionality. With the help of our cabinet maker, Gary Peters, owner of Color & Grain Inc. in Champaign, IL, we solved many issues regarding the “work triangle” within our limited space. We worked out the design of a peninsula with a honed granite top and a single bowl copper farmhouse sink. Our “kitchen triangle” turned out nicely considering the configuration of the space. Ultimately, we were able to position the stove across from the sink and the fridge in the adjacent space. We sought to maximize the space with as much built-in inlay cabinetry as possible, including some with glass doors.















So, not only the circulation of the space was improved, but also the under-cabinet lighting makes the space much more welcoming. To balance out the large granite area of the peninsula with the wall where most of the cabinetry is, I uncovered and rehabilitated the flue, and sealed it with SealKrete, a waterproofing sealant to protect the bricks and grout. Above all, we are enjoying the new kitchen and so are our friends.

Just a Flue

This small project was to restore a flue that had seen better days. It was partly covered with plaster at first but the idea was to have it exposed within the kitchen. The whole was sealed with SealKrete, a waterproofing sealant to help preserve the bricks and grout.

A Tall Pergola

Over a year ago, I built a pergola adjacent to the back of the house. It is a 12’ x 21’ x 11’ H. The idea was, not only to enhance the backyard but also to add shade over a patio and create a more welcoming area for any gathering. The paver patio offers a nice flat surface.




The vegetation is not yet fully grown with Autumn Clematis, Trumpet Vine, and Passion Flower vine. We planted later than expected but are looking forward to it.

A Good Day for Salvage

On Saturday, I went with some other PACA volunteers to salvage woodwork from a 1892 farm house such as bullseye, trim, baseboard, doors, windows, cabinetry, etc. We met for lunch before getting to the site and our gathering turned out quite well. We salvaged some very nice features from this large house, including a set of doors with one side oak veneer and the other side pine.