Tractor Funnels?

Had a real challenge to find the perfect pendant lights to hang over the kitchen island.  They had to drop 10 feet from the ceiling and fit in with the decor and not break the budget.  Meeting all the criteria proved difficult.  Terry (cabinets) came through with the cleverest idea.  He made three fixtures using galvanized tractor funnels.  They are painted copper and rubbed to looked aged to tie in with the vent hood.  Low voltage cfl bulbs provide a great ambience in the kitchen.  I love how this project has given so many an outlet for their creative problem-solving skills.

Cookin' on Gas

One step closer towards completion!  The delivery of our all-gas DeLonghi range gets the kitchen in order.  The tile did not get installed prior to the range installation as planned.  A cream-glazed subway tile by Cobsa will go behind the range.  The hardware is now on the cabinetry and looks wonderful. I'm looking forward to cooking on the stove and eating in the cabin.

Dining View

I can barely wait for us to gather in the kitchen/dining area with food, family, friends, laughter, music...and cool breezes slipping across the screened porch into the cabin through the wide open window-wall.  As it is presently 100 degrees and super-humid, the dream will have to continue for a few months longer.  At least the view is glorious and the imagining is truly half the fun. 

Dog's Life

Montana is nearly 13 years old.  He's such a good dog - the kind that is content to lay around and wait for a pat or mealtime.  He is taking it easy in the doorway of the Hamilton Cabin's writer's room.  Who knows, maybe there is the seed for a novel about a cabin, the woods, and a dog.  Marley, Sounder, Lassie, Where the Red Fern Grows... Montana may be the next doggie best seller.

Pull the Chain

Isn't this a great commode?  We have not gotten to pull the chain yet, so the hope is it functions in addition to providing aesthetic value.  It is a reproduction with all the environmental water-savings design of present day toilets.  Remy's stone work is nicely visible behind the plumbing lines.  The different wall textures are very pleasing to the eye.  The plaster, stone, and beams all combine to sing nature's harmony!

Solutions

There have been many opportunities for on-site solutions.  This is the master bathroom door.  Mike framed the opening according to framing measurements in the plans.  Terry made the door in Mississippi based upon the door schedule.  The delivered door was 7' in height, the opening 8'.  Oops...we have twelve empty inches, the plaster completed, no other use for this 7' door...we do have a bit of a problem.  I asked Terry if he thought he could make a transom to take up the remaining space.  Oh, yes, he could...but he could even do better than that.  His wife, Cindy works with stained glass as a hobby.  Now we're talking about a whole new direction and I like it!  Cindy asked Terry if she shouldn't get my approval for the design.  Terry confidently said, "No, she'll love it - let's surprise her!"  This installed transom was my first view of it and he was right.  It is really beautiful.  It makes my heart sing!