This month, we have special treat: 

Everett and Jeff invited us over for a

HOUSE TOUR!

 

The house sits on a slope, and had quite a bit of water damage due to drainage issues.   They still have a lot to do before the house is finished.  However, I was really impressed with their problem-solving and creativity so far! 

I began my tour in their backyard, where they used a flat door (bought at Community Forklift for a couple bucks) to build a sturdy potting table.  Sunflowers and several varieties of tomatoes are starting to poke up.

As I approached the back entrance, I saw a weathered door affixed to the side of the house.  Everett told me that it came from CF, and he used it to solve two problems.  Because their kitchen is small, they chose a full-glass entrance to bring a lot of light in.  However, the next house is quite close, so privacy is an issue.  The old door makes a charming visual screen, so they are able to enjoy the sunlight without staring at the neighbors.

Entering the kitchen, I saw a little window set high in the wall that faced the neighbors.  I got a kick out of the fact that it was actually a sample - a window company used it at trade shows before donating it to CF!  It was perfect for their use, because it lets in light, but provides privacy.  In addition, the mini window is small enough that they still have plenty of room to mount shelves on that wall for much-needed storage.  Ingenious!

Below the sample window is a large microwave waiting to be mounted under a shelf, and to the left is a big, beautiful, stainless steel fridge with an icemaker.  They purchased the microwave for $30 at CF, and the fridge and entire kitchen cabinet set for about $1,000.  Everett said, "If we hadn't come to Community Forklift, we would have had to pay more than that for just the fridge!"  The deep sink and butcher block counters came from Ikea, and the faucet and other appliances came from CF and other reclaimed sources.

I admired the pretty black granite breakfast bar separating the kitchen from the living room.  They told me that originally, the first floor was chopped into tiny, dark rooms.  They took that wall down so that the space would be more open and bright.  The breakfast bar was a great solution, and they were psyched to find just the right scrap of granite at CF.  I think the color really ties together their white cabinets with the black & stainless appliances.  Everything fits in cleverly; for example, they were able to back the gas stove against the bar, giving them room for a dishwasher next to the sink.

 Upstairs, Jeff showed off his beautiful tile work in the main bathroom.  Although the slate tiles were purchased new, just about everything else came from CF, including the window, the tub, the shower mixer, the low-profile toilet, the sink faucet, the sink, and the vanity.  The nifty green mirror, which inspired the color scheme, is also a reclaimed item.

I also peeked into their basement, where the hill is pushing in a section of the basement wall a bit.  They used beams and a basement jack from CF to shore up the house temporarily, until they can afford to carve out the dirt and rebuild a stronger wall with rebar reinforcement and modern techniques.

On my way out, I wanted to snap a shot of Everett, so he posed by the shed door.  Once a back door on another home in Washington, it ended up in Community Forklift's free section because the panels were a bit loose (Speaking of which, our free items are back again!  Read the story in this newsletter).    He spotted it, and saved it from the landfill with the use of some braces he had on hand.  He plans to spruce it up a bit more in the future, when he puts siding on the shed.

Thanks so much to Jeff and Everett for inviting us over.