Design Revisions

 We've had wild and wacky adventures here in Texas and things are finally back to normal (temperature wise anyway).  

Since we knew it was coming we took precautions. Brought work home so if we couldn't get to the office we could still be productive.  Of course the Building Inspector had to check out my stuff.

It wasn't so much the snow as it was the sub freezing temperatures.  And the rolling power outages.  We only got four inches of snow at our house (at the most).  Nothing melted so no one could really drive (not if you valued your life anyway).

And of course Tali had opinions about the snow. She climbed up on top of the Victorian Book Store to get the best view. I was panicking because the roof is not made from wood, it's foam core board and I was sincerely concerned it wouldn't hold up to her weight.

Looking at me like 'What? I'm not in the dollhouse.'

The painters tape was my addition in the hopes that she wouldn't knock the front of the house to the floor when she inevitably leapt off of it.

We had busted pipes in our house, five of them, water all over the bathroom and bedroom (and under the wall to the kitchen - lots of fun). And then had no water from Wednesday night until Sunday afternoon.  When I finally got to shower (after cleaning up the mess from the plumbers) I seriously felt like it was the best shower ever.

You know things have gotten crazy when you're thrilled to death to have water and power at the same time!

The plumbers spent about five and a half hours fixing all the pipes (mostly) on Sunday and while they were working on that I revised the kitchen and bedroom layout for the Container House.

Before I show you that, you remember the previous layout right? 

The first version had a half bath on the ground floor. 

And the bedroom had the closet on the front wall.

Based on that plan I ordered some sinks, faucets and handles from Shapeways.  I also had a coupon from Miniatures.com and ordered some things, among them a farmhouse sink that I loved and was determined I could use in some build, if not this one, just because it was so cute!  I had a vague idea of an old kitchen roombox with a 1920s stove, big sink and icebox (as my grandmother called it).

The drawer pulls, handles, bridge faucet, shower fixtures and round sink are from Kristine's Shapeways shop.  The low wide vessel sink is another Shapeways find.  And I splurged and ordered the spiral stairs that I've been in love with forever from Marion's shop.

My excuse was that if I couldn't make the stairs I got with the kit work that I could use these.  Aren't they pretty?

And then while the plumbers were here I started to rethink the kitchen and bedroom.  I love the island idea but in practice it just left me with so little counterspace. And a half bath on the ground floor felt unnecessary. I mean, it's a one bedroom house!  People can use the main bath upstairs.  

So I revised.  And while I was at it I messed with the bedroom too.  If I move the closet the bedroom feels more spacious (on paper at least) and it's a good place to hide the electrical stuff. 

Plus this way you don't immediately see into the bedroom from the stairs. 

But without the half bath and island, I have the space to add a peninsula with four bar stools.  And I can do pendant lights over the island, counters and sink in front of the windows.

My farmhouse sink came from Miniatures.com.  It got broken (during shipping most likely, thank you post office)  but I think I can still use it. Maybe even take the back part off entirely and just do a tile backsplash. That gives me room for my faucet and I don't have to order or make another sink. I can find another one for the old timey kitchen roombox (still a very vague plan anyway).

 I think with some sanding and paint it could work right?

But speaking of the tile backsplash... I've been bead shopping.

I want to do shades of grey in shiny and matte with white and blue bits in there.  Yes, you heard me right, I can't get away from blue. I love it so much. Though for the siding I'm debating maybe a bright yellow or green? Or blue. LOL

I need to draw up my kitchen and get a better sense of my cabinet doors, fridge and stove sizes. Here's hoping I can maybe make the stove/oven and fridge with the Cricut.

We're all back at work this week and trying to get caught up. 

I hope all my fellow Texans have gotten water and power back.  Stay safe and healthy. Hope you're having a good week.

Honorable Mentions!

 Hello all!

I've been taking a little time off minis apart from plotting and planning out how I'll do things for the Container House.

But I wanted to say congratulations to Brae and Keli for their Honorable Mentions in the 2020 Creatin' Contest!

Brae's Whinnie's Terrace: 

And Keli's Burke Boatworks:

Congratulations to you both!

On a different note, Texas has been hit with record low temperatures and in order to conserve electricity we're having rolling blackouts.  We've been getting a half an hour of power and then forty minutes to an hour of no power.  It makes life interesting.  

I hope you are all staying safe and warm and healthy.

Seriously, it's like 2021 is telling 2020, 'Hold my beer'.