Monday, March 9, 2015

Hearth and Home

Operation Raise the Woodstove is a wrap. 

The crew was here all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 
measuring and sawing and lifting and fitting.
And to think at one point I contemplated maybe possibly 
doing this project myself...NFW.


We used flagstone for the surface of the new platform and for the mantel. 
It was beyond heavy.



We used something called "Easy Fit Savannah Ledgestone" on the walls.
There was nothing easy about it. Many of the pieces had to be mitered 
to match the angles of the platform and the walls.



I couldn't be happier with the result.



Remember how it used to look? How sad.
I can't believe I didn't think of doing this years ago.



Now that's a hearth, and it feels like home.




43 comments:

  1. Night and day difference. It's what a hearth should be. But what did the guys do with the two electrical outlets and the light switches that were there?

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    1. They raised the switch panel, moved one of the outlets to the kitchen side of the wall, and covered up the other outlet, which I never used.

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  2. wow. that is a lovely result.

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  3. It's beautiful! After picture looks so much better than Before picture. I bet all those angles were tough, and there's another one at the ceiling! I like the mantle.

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  4. Wow, that looks great! :)

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  5. And you got a mantle, too. Well planned, beautiful result.

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  6. The mantle really brings it all together. Beautiful!

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  7. Beautiful!

    Laurie

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  8. Looks so nice. Great idea on your part. I bet you're glad to have your house back again sans workmen. Lovely job.

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  9. That's a proper hearth, and the stove no longer looks like it had been sent to the Naughty Corner. A fabulous result, and well worth the effort, I'd say!

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  10. It looks great! marsha@tubbslanefarm.com

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  11. Sooooooooooo cozy! Looks fantastic!

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  12. Very nice indeed! Nothing warmer than a wood burning hearth in the wintertime.

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  13. Looks awesome! Love that stone. And yeah, I'd be NFW too! LOL

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  14. Wow, it's terrific! Good idea.
    LaurieB

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  15. Wow, Linda, that looks just perfect. Is the ledge around the top flagstone as well? I wish I could find those guys in Indiana. Seems like they did that whole project within a weeks time. NO one works that way here. Maybe I need to send them plane tickets.

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    1. The mantel and support things are in the same flagstone as the surface.

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  16. Beautiful. Fabulous. Almost Perfect! The only things missing are: a) pillow on the right side of the hearth with kittie patootie on it, and b) doggie bed on the floor on the left side with Smooch on it. and c) your favorite chair and you! Well done.

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    1. I agree! We've still got some decorating to do. That comes next, after I dust the house from top to bottom. What a mess.

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  17. Wow! Looks great!!

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  18. Gorgeous! Is the flagstone sealed? Might want to think about that if not. The soot from ashes will permanently stain it otherwise. OR you could put down a tarp when cleaning it up this spring.

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    1. I've put down two coats of sealer so far.

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  19. I meant to say this: All that additional thermal mass is what caught my eye! Beauty not withstanding, that is a REALLY functional space! You will heat up all that additional stone and it will gradually release long into the night!

    GREAT JOB!

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  20. Michelle from Vancouver3/9/15, 8:38 AM

    Wow, amazing difference. I wonder if you will notice better heat flow in the house now that it's raised up?

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    1. I don't so much care about the heat flow as my back and knees from cleaning it out! I'm sure I'll notice an improvement there.

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  21. Linda, beautiful. You have inspired me to think about my renovation for my stove! Some how or another I missed the final pictures of the addition of the cover over the outside doors that show in the first photo of this posting. Where are the finished photos of this project?

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    1. I've yet to post those. Boss Larry needs to come back to finish one more thing out there, then I'll post the "after" shots.

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  22. What a huge difference it makes! It is stunning. I liked it before, but this...is incredible. Happy Monday!

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  23. That is awesomely gorgeous. Great design and love that stone. Perfect! Also smart to hire it done.

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  24. Lovely focal point to the room. i can see a couple of socked feet resting on the hearth.

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  25. That looks fantastic! Well done.

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  26. Love it, Carson ! Thumbs up to Larry and his crew. And to you for letting them do the work. Enjoy !

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  27. Lookin' good! Did you hide the light switches behind your horse print? Good work! Now maybe I should get hold of that crew to save my sunroom roof ... which is currently spouting water from the big melt today! Ten inches on snow on the roof - one inch of water in my bucket. Oh boy ...

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  28. An American in Tokyo3/9/15, 6:13 PM

    Woo hoo!! I love it!!
    It really looks a lot cozier.
    And now you have a couple more shelves, too! =)

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  29. Stunning!! Really lovely.

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  30. Completely gorgeous and a tremendously nice change!

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  31. Oh, that's BEAUTIFUL! I wish we had a wood burning stove. I would so love to have on

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  32. Wow! Amazing! I love it! Now I'm eyeing off our lonely potbelly, but ours is in the middle of the room so maybe not. :)

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  33. Amazing, stunning, beautiful. Talk about value added! You described the "Before" as sad, and after seeing the "After" I have to agree. That "sad" little wood burning stove looks positively happy and proud now!

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