Finishing Work: The Last 6.2

For anyone who has run a marathon, you might have had running old timers tell you that "the real race is the last 6.2 miles". That's what it feels like when you start finishing a house like this. Mann Construction focuses on custom woodworking and unique design influence by the mountain culture of Creede and southwest Colorado in general. (Testing out a nice promo for RJ's business. :D)

The winter is cold and snowy in the mountains of Colorado, so you better hope you get your structure enclosed before there are negative numbers outside.

With the help of an excellent pellet stove, the Mann Sr. Retirement Residence has been fairly pleasant to work in. Almost all of the drywall is done (which leads me to a discussion of mud. Creede is oh so muddy in the spring, but it's not too bad in the winter because the ground is frozen. Unless, of course, you count the tracking in of drywall mud. Grrrrrrrrrrr.)

I digress. RJ purchased an amazing used wood shaper, which has enabled the crew to make some beautiful trim in a much shorter amount of time. It's looking fabulous, though dusty from so much cedar trim sanding. Check out the progress below. T'ill the next time!

Custom glass design by Allie Quiller and John Stynchula.
Using items Sheri gave them. 

This is the ridiculously cool trim work around the little window featured above.
(Trim work by Jess Biernat).

Trim Trim Terrreeeeeee

Just a little closet. ;)

RJ's custom wainscot. 

More custom trim detailing. 

Blue stained pine on the vaulted, second floor ceiling.
Complete with vintage light fixture. 

I could write my name in that dust. Guest room currently holding more vintage fixtures.

Master bedroom windows. 

Window seat on the way up to the second floor.

We wrap up with an artsy dog photo. 

Painting a Lady

Fall is definitely here in Creede. Humans are enjoying it as well as the pups. Fall in Colorado means extraordinary color--with aspens that look like they're on fire.

 Speaking of color, the daily temperature has been slowly dropping, but the days have mostly been sunny which is a grand ole time to paint the Mann Sr. House. The house is a Painted Lady. Painted Ladies, in addition to referring to the row of houses in San Francisco, actually refers to any Victorian or Edwardian style houses that use three or more colors to show off the designs in the trim and siding. RJ and his mother, Sheri, had several in-depth conversations about color, taking into account the location of the house (on an elevated corner right above town) as well as the natural surroundings of Creede. The high mountains primarily feature greys, browns, greens and white--as well as the vibrant orange, reds and yellows that we see in the fall. They decided on a base color of antique white, followed by a range of natural greens, highlighted by occasional pops of brick red. RJ wanted a house that was reminiscent of green aspens in summertime--bright enough to be visible and stand out in the winter, and highlight but not overpower the area in the summer.

Front door. 

Intricate design all around

Unique gingerbread work

Side trim, plus closer detail

New curved trim around porch

Window detail

So, we've got an abundance of color all around Creede and the Mann Sr. house right now. Next steps include reframing the roof of the shop/garage and moving inside for finishing work, as the leaves continue to fall and temperatures continue to drop. See you in a few weeks!

PS. In another large though slightly less glamorous step, Roger has completed the wiring inside the house. Lights!!!

View from the porch.

   

It's Only Up from Here

June is upon us in Creede. The nights are a tiny bit warmer and the days are feeling hot in the sun.  People are spilling into town and the Creede Repertory Theatre has two shows up and running already. The Mann Sr. house it getting a lot of attention as it turns heads as tourists come into Creede from Highway 149. Progress is slow but steady, and a new phase is about to begin full of electrical work, siding and roofing. Please note the majestic photos below:

View coming up the hill from the south 

Garage in the foreground, house in back.

South side. 

Front view from across the street. Off center front entrance.

View of the beautiful soffit.

North side.

More soffit.

***Most importantly, Sheri and Roger have officially put the Keenesburg, CO property on the market. It's a large, beautiful Victorian-style property with  that has been their beloved home for 30 years. Much love and care has gone into making it what it is today. So, check it out! The house is located on a 10 acre lot about 40 minutes from downtown Denver. If you want to check it out, click here, and/or spread the word! 

A Change In The Landscape

One of the main reasons people live in Creede is because of the views. The mountains are breathtaking in any season, the air is crisp and there is a stability about the landscape. A familiarity when one drives into downtown and the canyon presents itself before you.

The major framing of the Mann Sr. house is complete. Several people have now commented that, as they drive in from 149, the landscape has changed. And that's due to this beautiful structure that has risen on the corner of Capitol Street. Located just above town, this house is now a focal point. As in many small towns, not everyone likes change. There surely have been and will be some griping about the change of scene. But I am happily biased, and I am so excited to how this house continues to transform. 

The old house to the right (now the garage/workshop) and the new on the left. 

Another amazing view.

Attic Framing.

Master Bedroom View. 

Cool window work. 

Looking up. 

North side. 

Contemplation Window

View coming down Bachelor Road. 

Higher and Higher

Folks, we're gettin' high! But not just because we live in Colorado. The Mann Sr. house has its third story, (well, attic space) and if the weather stays sunny and warms a little, RJ and Jess will finish the main part of the roof today and finish up enclosing the structure.

Winter is a difficult season here in Creede. Especially in December and January, when night temps drop to the negative double digits. Nose hairs freeze on reluctant morning walks with the dog. And if you work in construction, it's colder than a...well, you get the idea.

I'll make this short and sweet and just share a couple of shots I took this morning. This continues to be a stunning piece of Victorian-style architecture.

It is a cold, cold mornin'.

View form the angled front. 

Here is a boosted up detail of the beautiful windows to the right of the main door. 

What's Happened This Summer (and why I'm only telling you about it now...)

Apologies for the lack of upkeep on this blog. The summers often have a way of trumping everything else I'm trying to do in my life. That's what living in a town with mostly summer tourism will do to a person.

When I last left you, we had just moved the original structure to the back of the lot and onto a garage foundation. The old house is to become a first floor garage, second floor woodworking shop and top floor art studio, navel contemplation area.

Since then, that part has stayed relatively the same. RJ wants to get everything enclosed by the time snow arrives up here (which could be next week). Because summer is a busy time for everyone, there was a lot of time spent waiting for digging machines and concrete pours. But, the building of the new structure is underway and they are already moving up to the second floor. Also, RJ's co-worker, Jess Biernet, found an incredible tree in the middle of the forest while scouting for elk a few weeks ago. It is covered in burls, and can be worth quite a bit of money because they are so rare. Jess generously let the Mann family have it and it now lives as the centerpiece of the downstairs.

And may I just say that the views from this house continue to astound me. They are breathtaking. If Roger and Sheri aren't careful we might just move them into the Mannsion and steal this house. :D

But let's get to it! Here is the continuing story in pictures:

RJ goes over plans with Roger and Sheri. Things are reworked a bit as to not overwhelm the small lots. 

Entrance to the garage.

Steps leading down down down

Fast forward to: dug down and poured the concrete for the house's basement. The deck appears on top.

More deck. 

Sheeting on the completed deck. 

A shot from a window I took a few days ago (mid-Sept). You can see the color starting way back there. 

And we have walls!

The burl-filled tree in its natural habitat (dead for some time and even, it looks like, hit by lightening)

Roger drags the top half of the tree down a mountain.

And voila! It's in the house. 

Curved staircase, burled tree support, Jess Biernet, and one of the official job dogs--Ms. Cass. 

Sheeting started for the second floor. Plus some cool beams.

Jess working hard. 

View from the top of the stairs. I can't stop staring!

After this weekend they will complete the sheeting on the second floor and start building the walls for the second floor. Until next time...

And one last view from the downstairs windows facing south:

How about them apples