Building Bookcases

One of the problems with living in two places — downstate and up North — is that sometimes something you need here may be down (or up) there.  So it was today.  When I looked for the cable which connects my camera with my laptop, I realized I had left it at the apartment in Grand Haven.  That posed a serious problem, since I need a cable to download photos for this blog.  A quick run to Walmart solved the dilemma.  Apparently a USB-to-5-Pin Mini-B Cable is fairly common.  Make a note.

Actually, I was not sure if I would be able to drive to the house this morning.  Overnight we had about six inches of snow pushed around by a high wind.  At mid-morning the main roads, e.g., US-23 and Grand Lake Rd., had been plowed at least once, but the side roads were untouched.  However, trusting in my new tires, I slogged down Kauffman Blvd. and parked in the entrance to the driveway.  "If I get stuck," I told myself, "better here, close to the road, than up near the house."  I'll be interested to see if Mike, the plow guy, does my driveway this time.  He didn't show during the last heavy snow, but perhaps he was out of town.

Inside, I found that Kyle and Dave have been working like beavers!  The bookcases in the upstairs guest bedroom are all-but-complete, while the others are in various stages of construction.  During my visit Kyle was cutting and sanding wood for the cases, while Dave was putting the cases together.

The dining area bookcase, under construction.
Note the pendant lamp (more on this tomorrow).

Dave nails together the "hat" for one of
the stairwell bookcases.

Two bookcases in the upstairs guest bedroom offer visual
interest to this room, and something for a sleepless guest to read!

These two bookcases in the office match
those in the guest bedroom.

Kyle sands wood needed to build one of the bookcases...

... while Dave tries to build a bookcase which is partially blocked
by the staircase — not an easy chore, to be sure!

Much has been done since I left for Grand Haven on Tuesday.  The guys have finished joining and sanding all the stair treads.  All the book shelves have been joined, and several have been sanded and have had their stiles attached to the leading edge.  Kyle and Dave intend to complete all this work by Monday morning, because the painters are slated to arrive Monday to stain bookcases and shelving, and to finish painting the interior.

The electrician was here Wednesday and Thursday to complete his work.  This included installing all the light fixtures, exterior outlets, interior outlets, dimmers, etc.  They also wired the island counter, which will have a secondary sink, dishwasher, and microwave.  I'm glad to have the cabinet bases for the island in place.  Now the full dimensions of the kitchen are becoming more evident.

An island has floated into the kitchen!

His back to the island, Kyle cuts a piece of bookcase wood.

The island will visually separate the kitchen from the living room.

 Strange things sometimes happen during construction.  On the original plans the switch for the garbage disposer was supposed to be at the end of the island, next to the sink.  Later, the position of the sink and dishwasher were reversed, which didn't leave enough room for the electrical box.  Therefore, the electrician moved the switch to the back of the island (at far left in the last photo above) where, in due course, it will be covered by the extended lip of the countertop.  That just won't work!  I'll have to get an electrician to put the switch inside the cabinet below the sink.

More on electrical tomorrow. •••