Completion of the VSR Project.

Now that the Vintage sewing room is competed, it is time to share the numbers. This green project started in April 2010. It took about three months to complete. We had a Budget of 6500.00, most projects calling for a complete room redesign fall in the range of 5,000-10,000. This room called for a new flooring, new closet, some painting designs(one being a mural), a new window covering and not to forget the items needed to make it a sewing room. Of course all had to be Green smart and Healthy for the Home environment.
As you will see the breakdown of cost reflects the things we could do and the thing we had to sub out. Even with the setback cause by my broken arm, we were still able to do the things planed for us to do. It just took a little longer. After each percentage amount will be a note on how the items were done.

Painting was 29% of the budget.
1. We did the room wall painting using a Zero VOC paint.
Repaired and painted all the floor moldings, plus we needed to add shoe molding.
2. a Muralist did a one wall 3D mural as well as some items on a second wall. She used Zero to Low VOC paints. Some paints, due to the color, could not be Zero VOCs.

16% of the budget went toward the flooring.
1.We did all the work on the flooring. From ordering, Picking up the flooring at the warehouse to the install.
To include Tearing out carpet and disposal, sanding, repairing sub-floor and the install of the Striated bamboo flooring and underlayment.
Doing this saved us over 50% on the cost of having it done by a contractor.

The largest percentage 53% went to the closet remake.
1. Hubby and I did the tear out,repairs and painting.
2. Closet America did the install of the Custom designed Closet.
3. We purchased, picked up and installed the Tri- Mirrored sliding Closet doors ourselves.
4. We will also do the framing of the closet door ourselves.

That left about 2% for things like;
A wall photo I purchase from a blogger friend Robin from Israel. Her site is Around the Island.

I decided not to get the new window treatment, due to it was not within the budget. Then Hubby gifted the new blind/shade to me. I was very please with that.

Overall I stayed under budget for this Green project. I am very happy with it and will start working on my quilts and vintage items soon. I have a new Icon(shown above) that will be used for showcasing of items I am working on. Be on the lookout for this icon.
You can also view the project from start to finish. Note that the link(below) will take you to a page that begins with the most recent. Could I suggest you go to the bottom of the page and work up.
Here is your link to the VSR Green Project.

As with all projects there are a few details to finish. We still need to finish the Framing around the closet door and the molding on the closet wall. These will get done in the next few weeks.

Social Parade- Vintage Sewing Room

Ever wanted to promote your blog and have some new visitors and commenter? Well here it is a Blog hop for Fridays. Each Friday just link your Post to "Smart and Trendy Moms". Join in on visiting and commenting on other bloggers. They will visit you and follow your blog commenting when appropriate. I will join this New blog hop. Why not give it a try.

You know I have been working on a New Vintage Sewing Room. Transferring the item from the Dungeon to the Bright vintage Sewing shop, has been a task! Going to my Dad's has put me back a little but I enjoy being with him. Now that my cast is off therapy has started. I am looking forward to using the arm to its' fullest. Although it has not stop my work on the Room/shop.

Here is a look at the room as it is today.

Want to see the progress of this VSR room. Click on the Auntie E's Vintage Sewing Room icon on the side bar.

My Vintage Sewing Room Project.

So now the closet is in and the room is nearing completion. I was really surprised and pleased with the closet install. We chose Closet America for the closet. Our Designer came to the home and we design the closet to meet my needs. Seeing that it is a Sewing room, I needed drawers for Cloth, thread, and other notions. A hanging area for long things and a Pull out Butler Valet bar. Jeff installed the closet in about 3 hours and it went very smooth. He totally cleaned up when finished. We really love the workmanship of the built-in, it is made in America and locally for us. The hardware is of German made, that is the best in our eyes. The closet took about 53% of the budget, however that is the key to a neat sewing room. We need a place for everything.

click on each photo to enlarge.. for a closer view.

as you can see the fronts of the drawers have a running grain match.
I really love that.
click to enlarge, for closer view.

Hubby and I fell in love with Self closing drawers some time ago. So, we had to have them in this closet. It is standard with Closet America, so no added expense there.

hear the quietness of the close.

.

VSR-Mirrors

We have been busy completing the Vintage Sewing Room. Finally installed the Mirror Doors, they were easier then we believed. I think Hubby and I were more concern with them breaking and the tracks being in-lined. We went with a Triple Mirrored closet door, mostly because of the design of closet drawers and hanger sections. Looking for Affordable ones was hard. The first one I found was in the thousands. All the others online were in the same ballpark. I started to rethink the Mirrored doors. Started looked at the regular closet doors in Triple at the home improvements centers. While there I just kept walking back to the Mirrored Closet Doors. Then I thought why not get a price for a Triple here, if they sale them that way. It would be a special order, and I know how that goes on Price. After checking on them, they were only a Fraction of the online cost. So for only 555 dollars we were able to order the Doors I so wanted. Was still able to stay within my budget!

As for the easiness in installing them, our thoughts were unfounded. Once we picked up the doors the thought was what did we get ourselves into. Our fear of breaking the mirror was calmed. Putting up the head and bottom rails were easy. The Doors were light and very simple to click into the track. There are many companies out there, we order from King Star.

The one negative about the install was the instructions. They were not user friendly, very hard to figure out. Most of the instruction referred to figure photos, which were not clearly marked or detailed. We were missing some hardware, therefore had to work with what we had. It wasn't hard once we figured out the process of the install. I feel the company could do a better job on their instructions. They must think no one reads them. Only the men don't read instruction, us women tend to look over them before the project. Maybe women need to write the instruction. I think I might suggest that to the company.

Some other factors to keep in mind were the track. We needed to have a triple track. In order for the doors to work for our closet layout we needed the opening flexibility. Measured to make sure we had enough head space to install the header. For the floor track install we pre-drilled the screw holes, as our bamboo flooring is very hard wood. The doors weight is on the floor track.However the weight is so light that it is fine for the floating bamboo floor. Top rack it just a guide for the doors.
We are very pleased with the Mirror doors. We did not have any full length mirrors in the home so this will be a great addition.

VSR-Mural Completed

Monica from Monica's Painterly Designs has completed the Mural.We meet at a Home-show fair , was impressed with her work. The thought came to me to have her do something in my Vintage Sewing Room project. Thinking through the idea I came up with a store front. My Granny (my Fathers Mother) worked as a Seamstress out of her home. They had a room added on the house for her business. She did alterations mostly, however she love to make things for us kids. I have a lot of her tools, material and items. throughout my life when we would visit I remember watching her work. Received a little sewing machine from her as a child, I remember sewing doll clothes on it. Years later while in High School, one of my classes was Sewing. Made a Plaid Cape as one of my class project, the teacher thought I was a little odd. She stated that plaid was the most difficult fabric to work with. Little did she know I love to sew and had the skill in my Genes! The Coat came out perfect and I received an A.
For my whole life I have dreamed of a Sewing Room. Now it is finally happening. This Store Front Mural is what I think my Granny would of loved to have.

Granny's home was Brick built in the 1950's. She would sit at the window sewing on her machine . Always seeing who was coming up to the home. Grandpa loved his garden, he would be out tending the plants. What is more fitting then to have a market with all the things he loved to grow. Tommy was so funny. My Mom loved parks, she would take my brother and I to one near by. Mom also visited Granny a lot, Granny would do some alterations for her. Granny lived on Springfield Ave and Mom was born in Berkley, Virginia. All these elements are in the Mural. Although the house is gone and Moms birth town is but a speck, each time I will go into the Sewing room, my memories of great life and times will be there. I might even be inspired from my Granny's spirit to try some new things.

In progress collage.
(you can click on the photos to enlarge)

The finished Green Mural project.
all the paints used were No or Low VOCs

We just picked up the Mirror Closet doors..Our next step to install them.
Interested in a mural for your room? Call Monica's Painterly Designs for an appointment.

VSR-Flooring Completed

Over the weekend we put the floor in. We used a recycled-green friendly underlayment From Precision Components. It had its own seam tape included in the product, was easy to install. Since we were putting in a wood floor in an upstairs place, I felt we need a sound deadening underlayment. This one use both sound proof and moisture barrier , great for the Bamboo floor.
The Floor is a Stranded Bamboo with a striated pattern from Teragren. The flooring is harder than Oak and Maple. It was very easy to install. We used a carbide tip to cut, and when we used the sliding compound miter the board were cut upsided down to prevent the edges for chipping. when we used the Bench saw, also with a carbide tip blade, it was cut face up. We had very smooth edges. A scribe saw was used for the vent cut out. Still we had smooth edges.
The flooring part of the Project took us 16 hours. That included the Planning and discussion on each row lay out. Since we wanted as little waste as possible and still stay within the company's guide line on placement. The room size is 10 x 11 foot. We had one closet, one vent and a door way to maneuver.
The cost.....We went to a flooring store to get an estimate on the same flooring to be installed by them. Their cost was 2900.00. We purchased the flooring from the manufacture- Teragren- distributor. The flooring cost was 886.00. We picked it up 6 boxes, 6 panels in each box, at the Distributors Warehouse in Baltimore. The underlayment cost 90.00 at our Home Improvement store. So our savings installing it ourselves was 1924.00.
I have installed, Pergo and Shaw flooring, all click and drop floors. This Stranded Bamboo click and drop floating floor was the easiest yet to install. With the other ones once you click in the floor you can not un-click them or move them easily. With the Teragren Synergy click and drop flooring , the install was very easy and you could adjust easily. However once the floor was in it is very strong. You can not even see the length wise seems of the boards. I am very impressed with this product.
You can click on the photos to enlarge.
this is the view from the doorway looking toward the window and vent.








This is looking toward the mural and into the closet.

Another sneak peek at the mural

Monday's News-Honor Given

First I want to thank all the Soldiers who have served and are still serving in the Armed forces for the Untied States.. Thank you for your time away from your families to keep us a Free Country. To all the families of the Fallen Soldiers my thoughts and prayers are with you. It was a great sacrifice for your love one to have to take for our Country. May the Lord God Almighty comfort you today and always. For this day was set apart to Honor the lost ones in our Armed Forces from the Civil War to our current ones.

We have several projects going on today. There is the Vintage Sewing Room, Hubby's shed, a Cookout twice, and I'm sure as everyone has..a friend visiting for the Memorial Day.
Hubby and I are finishing laying the Bamboo floor today, should be done early. We started yesterday. Then we will start the foundation for the Shed. We will have to cookouts. One for lunch time and the one for dinner. The weather is nice today.
Hope you have a nice day and the weather allows you to visit the grave sites of the Fallen Soldiers. Take a moment to thank them for their sacrifice, their deaths are not in vane for we still enjoy the freedoms of their actions today in our land.

My Vintage Sewing Room Project. update

We are coming along fine. Our mirror doors will be in today and ready for pickup. Closet of America called and they are ready to install. The Bamboo flooring is in the room and ready to be laid. Walls and closets are painted, trim is done. I will be putting up the Shade today. Monica the Muralist is still working on the wall.

Here's another peek.

We are working on finding a No-VOC varnish. Tring to keep the room as green as possible is a challenge. Some things have Low VOC's while others have No VOC's. Also staying with in Budget is a must. I am still under budget at this time.
I order a Print from Robin over at Around the Island. She has entered a Artist contest why not go over there and vote for her. Here is the link for voting, Artist Wanted.
The print I order is Beautiful Bolts of Fabric from her Etsy Shop. It will go nicely in the Sewing room.
Well that's it for now, I will continue to update as the project evolves.

Green Painting

Painting the window sill and door frame as well as the door in the Green Project room. We have been using Benjamin Moore Natura paint for the walls. Now it is time to paint the trims. Only needed a small amount for that part,
so we found this paint,

From a local home improvement store.
Learn more about this paint Here.
(photo courtesy of GoGreen-Olympic paint site).
Will be painting the trim white therefore the Olympic paint will do.
So many Paint companies are getting on board the green train now, that is is getting easier to find No-VOC products. I was told that the Home Improvement company is working on the Colorant additives being no VOC. At the present time they only have a few to chose from now.
the Muralist is working on the wall.. Here's a sneak peek....

You can enlarge to see a glimpse of the drawing.

thought you would like to see the drawing..
Here It is...

disclaimer: everything in this post is my opinion.. I have received no incentives from the companies mentioned.

My Vintage Sewing Room Project.

The Room is Painted now. Finished the walls last night, Hubby helped.. me in the cast makes it hard to work on the room.

If you are just stopping by, We have started a totally green project. It is a Sewing room. My current room is in a small windowless place in the Basement. My Grandmother was a seamstress and I remember being at her home where the shop was. It was in the 1950's... I like that time the most. So in lies the Vintage Sewing Room.

The color is called Filtered Sunlight
Paint is Natura by Benjamin Moore (a No V.O.C. paint)

The carpet and baseboards are totally out...
Awaiting the Bamboo flooring.

And the Closet was stripped out , patched and painted.

I am going to pick up the shade we ordered as well as some Natura White trim paint. The Home Improvement place called and the shade is in.

Today the Muralist Monica starts the wall. I will post as she make process you can see. I am looking forward to this part of the Project. It will be a store front looking out of the store in the fifty era.

I am still under budget, so I am pleased with the project so far.

A Green Project.Tearing Out and Painting

The room is coming along. The flooring is stripped out , the closet is also stripped out. I have been Painting the walls and closet.
The other day we went to the local Home store and found a Levolor shade in chili pepper. It is a easy glide(no cords)and double cell. We ordered it through them.
The closet will be redesigned by Closet of America. One of the concerns was the doors. There will be three sections, two with drawers and shelves and a hanging section. At present time there are two 35 inch doors. that makes it a little rough to have a Butlers valet pull out rack. Checking on line I learn I could get triple Mirror slider doors. Only thing they were very costly, around 1,600. dollars. Not within my budget! I check at the home center to see if I could special order triple sliding mirror doors and Yes I could. At a fraction of the online cost. I was able to stay with the budget. So we ordered them as well.

My Green Project Update

I love to quilt, on the left is one of my quilt tops. The Vintage Sewing Room will be great for displaying them.

Now an update on the room. We purchase the flooring. It was great that the warehouse is close to us. We will not have to pay shipping. Went with the Synergy Floating Strand Bamboo as shown here....

you can click on to enlarge

The maker is Teragren. It is consider a green product and is a Premiere brand. Synergy is also FloorScore®-certified, one of the most rigorous air quality standards in the world. FloorScore® ensures the quality of indoor air for high performance schools and offices and meets stringent standards for 78 volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Now it ensures the same high quality of air for you.
We called the Teragren Company to make sure we bought from an authorized dealer, so not to void the warranty. Since we are installing it our selves, we need to make sure the warranty would still be in good standing. The company stated that the warranty only applies if purchased from an Authorized dealer. So, be careful when ordering on line. Make sure they are aurthorize to sell the product. You can get it cheap but sometimes that is not a wise decision.
Hubby will be picking it up tomorrow. It will need to acclimate to the room for 48 hours. We will be installing it ourselves. It is a floating floor and I have installed plenty of them. This is a glueless self locking system flooring. Very easy to install. There is even an installation guide on line at the Teragren site. The bamboo flooring we chose is hard not soft bamboo. You can read more about this kind of bamboo Flooring in the link below.

The paint has been purchased. We went with " Filtered Sunlight" by Benjamin Moore. Chose the Natura line because it is a no VOC paint.

Our closet has been ripped out and tomorrow the project manager for Closet of America comes. We will go through our plan and set a date for the install.

We are moving along just great. Staying within my budget is so hard but I am determined to do it. I will post the budget and cost at the end of the project. For now I will tell you I am at the half way point for the budget. One more big ticket item is in the works. Then I will have a better feeling for what else I can do in the room.


Teragren Strand bamboo flooring