Sunday, July 8, 2018

Tower Support and Fireplaces

This weekend I really wanted to get the tower done as much as possible.  There are a few more things, like roofing and attaching it to the cottage that still need to be done but for the most part it's finished.

I started by plastering the inside of the roof, using the same method that I used on the outer walls.  That took a bit to dry, and while it was drying I sanded down some of the more obvious out of scale plaster inside the tower room and added more on top with the antique white color so it would look more scale appropriate.

I don't know that it's super noticeable but it makes me feel better to have it done.  I didn't take any pictures of either of those things.  But once they were dry I began the process of gluing my roof support beams in place on the roof.



Thankfully the glue dries clean so it isn't as much of an issue as you might think.

And while they were drying I cut, stained and glued the rest of the beams.



I glued them in and then used toothpicks through the walls from the outside in strategic places to hold them in place just in case there was any unplanned shifting of the walls.  You never know. And I really didn't want to be gluing them back in with the roof in place.

Once again I was in the position of waiting for glue to dry.  I took the opportunity to sweep out any dust from my tower floor and then started on the supports for underneath the tower room.

Here's a picture of them with the glue drying on the two pieces stuck together.


The tricky thing was spacing them out, not bumping into the windows or gluing them to the underside of the tower room on the moving wall of the staircase portion of the tower.


Moving the wall out a bit so I remembered that detail helped.

By the time I got all that done the glue on the roof beams was mostly dry.


I used wood putty on the top of the walls to give the illusion of them being made out of something besides cardboard.  And then glued the roof to the top of the tower.


The magazine is heavy enough to keep it in place but it doesn't totally squish the peak of the roof.


Not an angle most people will have a reason to see very often but I like how it looks.

I found some tiny magnets on Amazon for a very reasonable price and used them in the beams to hold the roof together.  And by the time that was done the glue on the supports was dry and the tower was pretty much done.  Except for the slate roof.  Which I'll do when I do the rest of the roof.


Not the best picture but you get the idea.

Then I had to spend a bit of time cleaning up my workspace because I knew I needed to start on the fireplaces.  That's always a good time.  (Not really.)

But I spent some time figuring out how big the fireplace should be and used the furniture for the first floor since I had the sink done.  I think I could do a fireplace about two and a half inches deep and almost ten inches long.  That would take up most of one side of the kitchen.  So I couldn't put the settle where it is now.


I got out the resin Tudor fireplace I got on sale and put that in the bedroom.  Here's a shot through the window.


Obviously I'll paint the fireplace out, most likely I'll plaster part of it, make a mantle and put stone on the inside.  I'm not sure about the Welsh dresser next to it though.  I might want to put a settle there instead.  It makes it look a bit crowded back there.  I want a tapestry over the fireplace though.

Once I'd figured out how big I could make the fireplace for the kitchen I drew it out.


I got most of it cut out.  I was researching old kitchen fireplaces and the top of the fireplace would be pretty wide so you could put braziers and cookpots over them.  So the chimney will be set back a bit from the front edge of the fireplace.  I'm also planning on a more squared off main hearth rather than the angled one I drew.



I've got most of my wood cut for the fireplace, but I need to get my stone done for it and I'm not sure about the look I want.  Most likely something similar to the outer walls.  But I also need to do my floors because generally a fireplace didn't have a raised hearth.  The fire was on the same level as the floor.

I figure I'll get everything cut out, mostly glued together and by that point I'm hoping I'll have figured out the stone.

Speaking of which, since I'm not in my workspace (my dining room table) I'd better resume cutting out my stone.

Hope you're all having a great weekend!




27 comments:

  1. You have done a terrific job with the tower. All that effort has paid off!

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  2. You are making great progress, love the support beams.

    It makes sense to me that the fireplace would be built at the same time as the walls, so it should have the same stone finish.

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    1. Thank you! Yeah, that's the way I'm leaning. I need cut out more stone or I won't have enough.

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  3. The beams on the round ceiling look stunning. You have accomplished a lot and making great progress.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thanks! I'm kind of relieved that they worked out. I think the beams for the second floor of the cottage will be easy in comparison.

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  4. The tower is magnificent! I love the roof - very clever! The beams inside and the supports look wonderful! Pure eye candy! You make a ton of engineering and ingenuity look easy, but it is anything but.
    I'm excited for your next post when the drawings and layouts you've shared begin to come to life!

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  5. Thank you! I am so relieved to have the tower done, that roof was making me crazy.

    I'm really hoping to get a lot more done in regards to the fireplace this weekend. Part of my issue is making sure I have places for my pot hooks to hang.

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    1. I second Jodi, you make the engineering look easy!

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    2. LOL you all have such faith in me. You don't have to hear the cursing that goes on.

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  6. I love the beams! The tower is awesome!

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    1. Thanks! I'm kind of relieved that it's mostly done.

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  7. Hi Sheila, thinks are looking fantastic over here. I really like the shape of the tower supports. They add a lot of character and seem to balance out the two sections. The resin tudor fireplace is gorgeous! Seriously makes me want to make a room just so I can have one of those! I know you’ll transform it into something even better! I really like the idea of a hanging tapestry above too. I’m really looking forward to seeing the oven/log shelves piece attached to the fireplace. Hope the stone cutting went well… that can take some time. :)

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    1. Thank you! I wanted something that would connect the two parts, make them seem like they weren't really separate pieces. I've got a petit point purse I'm turning into a tapestry verrry carefully.

      I need stone for the fireplace before I attach all the pieces or I won't be able to grout inside the oven. The stone cutting is...ongoing. LOL

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  8. Hi Sheila!I Love how the Tower looks! I think you have done an amazing job with a very challenging and tricky-design structure! The beams look perfect in the roof and the supports under the tower room add that extra layer of realism! Good of you to remember not to glue the stair door shut by accident! LOL! I think your plans for the hearths look lovely... I know it is always a bigger job than I think it will be to make the "stone" for the chimney... but you will be glad you did! It will look awesome I am sure! I can't wait to see more!

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    1. Thank you! I really worried I'd glue the tower shut by mistake! I'm cutting stone every night this week so far but it's coming.

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  9. I love all the details you make! Stunning work!
    Fireplace is so great.

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    1. Thanks! I'm going to work on the fireplace more this weekend, I want to make sure I've got plenty of baking and cooking space.

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  10. Wow! I ran into your blog by accident. I have to say this is so interesting how you (and I see many others here) build these miniature homes and such! Beautiful work. My daughter will love this stuff. Good luck to everyone.

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    1. Thank you! If you want to see some experts in action check out the blogs I follow. I've learned so much from them!

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    2. Awesome Sheila, where do I find those blogs (list)? I want to send it to my daughter. Thanks again!

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    3. Right under the list of my posts, there's a section of different blogs I follow.

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  11. Thanks for sharing this amazing blog.great work.i really like the idea of a hanging tapestry above too, nice post.
    anonymous sharing app

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    1. Glad you like it! I'm working on the tapestry.

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  12. I missed some of your posts (new job, incredible hours) and catching up now, I'm amazed at all the progress you are making. Your house is absolutely beautiful! I love the attention to detail, and your architecture is breathtaking. I'm impatient now to see it all together!

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    1. Thank you! I'm excited to be making what feels like significant progress. And congrats on the new job that's awesome!

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