(Feature image courtesy of Julie Cairns)

In 4 short weeks there were 3 cottage weekends and 6 days in Naples. Throw in an awesome family visit, 3 days of new hire interviews in Toronto, and sourcing a new space for the studio? This month was in a word: BUSY.

Friday August 4 > Window Bench + Pool Shed Hardware

Before diving into the August long weekend at the Kelly Cottage with 40 or so other Reitzel family cohorts, Dave topped off the guest room window seat. It took him 45 mins to measure, cut, install and drill about 400 screws to secure the 80″ piano hinge. It took 6 weeks for Friko’s Upholstery to produce the cushion.

He also installed the door knobs on the pool shed. (Twice  Don’t ask.)

August 9 > Ensuite Vanity

On that note, even though it was Dave’s birthday, that damn Year of the Rooster / slash / Cock would not cut the guy some slack. The BE-a-u-ti-ful vanity, built by Heinz Custom Cabinetry, was slated to be installed. Unfortunately, we overlooked the detail on the drawings that the cabinet was going to butt up against the closet door frame, leaving no room for the countertop. All the effort Dave put into trimming out the door was for naught. He had to gingerly pry it off, move the frame over 2 inches (inside and out of course) and re-trim at a later date.

Natural Stone City came out that afternoon and measured for the countertop. Afterwards, we went to their shop to select stone for the hearth so both could be installed at the same time. We chose a slab of Black Pearl granite with a leather finish.

Aug 15 > Countertop + Hearth

A week later > Boom!

August 17 > Faucets

Quick job. HUGE impact. Tim White and his sidekick installed the taps. We were G2G for brushing our chops and washing hands. Dave popped in 2 of the sconces and hung our floor mirror to use temporarily while we wait for the 2 pivot mirrors to arrive in October.

August 10 > Master Move

A functioning ensuite meant we could move into the new master bedroom! We had nothing to put the TV on so Dave made a “temporary” console from the leftover concrete forms. Worked out so well, he threw together another one for our 30-year old stereo system.

Also on the 10th, he changed the swing of the door to the basement from into the  main hallway to into the stairwell and trimmed it out. Again, a small change with remarkable impact. Who knew?

Then it was 6 days in Naples, a couple days at the Kuntz cottage, followed by 3 days with family guests Lori, Adam and his Australian better half Alice. Side note: A+A are now back in Australia retrofitting a 19′ cargo van with the help of Alice’s father. Soon they’ll be exploring the Australian continent in their first [mobile] home together. Super cool. http://betterofflost.com/instagram/

August 30 + September 1

Hillbilly Central in the front yard. We’re hoping to get the landscaping done in early October but the 5 foot weeds had to be tamed in the meantime. What a mess.

And last, but not least of this 4-week window at 588, he worked on Phase 1 of the front porch. Removed the original tiles, and built out the pad by 4 inches on the south and west side.

NEXT!