Kitchen Counter Tops

We selected “soap stone” for the kitchen counter tops. Let's put on our geology thinking caps (the cloth ones).....soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock) is a metamorphic rock, a talc-schist. It is largely composed of the mineral talc and is rich in magnesium. It is produced by dynamothermal metamorphism and metasomatism, which occurs at the areas where tectonic plates are subducted, changing rocks by heat and pressure, with influx of fluids, but without melting. It has been a medium for carving for thousands of years. True Soapstone is inert. Alkalis and acids won't affect it as they will a granite, marble, or slate. For over one hundred years, soapstone sinks and tiles have been used in science class rooms and labs along with work tables and counter tops. Its longevity to long term - high traffic use is amazing!

Trim Work

We’re re-using all the original doors in the house. These doors need to be stripped, hung then re-painted. Several new doors (to match the original doors) were ordered and installed for the kitchen broom closet + coat closet as well as the 2 coat closets in the living room. You’ll see in the photos that some of the doors have been stripped prior to hanging. Also, we’re using the original design for wood trim around the windows and doors.

Tiling the 1st Floor Bathroom

Here is Tom tiling the full bathroom on the 1st floor. Good thing his Uncles were tile masons!

Tiling the Kitchen Floor

We first "dry laid" the kitchen tiles to figure out the pattern, then we put down a layer of Schluter-DITRA; this orange “waffle-like” layer allows “…uncoupling, waterproofing, and vapor pressure equalization”. Get it? If not, check out their web site: www.schluter.com/index.aspx. Next, the tiles were laid down over "mud" then finally grouted.