225 Congress Ave, Pacific Grove, Ca.
Ca. License # B 349605
Ca. License # B 349605
Fax# 866-503-2250
Cell# 831-402-1347
jeffedmonds@edmondsconstruction.com
Cell# 831-402-1347
jeffedmonds@edmondsconstruction.com
Edmonds Design & Construction
Greener 1904 home renovation
RENOVATION FOR JEFF & CAROLEE EDMONDS
225 Congress Ave. Pacific Grove, Ca.
March 1st, 2008.
We bought this home after moving back to P.G. from upstate NY. This home was built in
1904, and had real character and a wonderful setting. It was in great need of renovation.
The home had been lived in, but not improved upon for many years. Maintenance had been
minimal. Plans had originally been drawn for an attached 2-car garage with a master bedroom
above, and stairway connecting it to the old home. The design, and the cost of construction,
deterred us from using these drawings.
Our thinking about home construction projects has evolved. We were blessed with the birth of
a grandson in January, and we now feel more of a need to focus on the future of our society.
The green and sustainable movements, the apparent plateauing and decline of fossil fuels,
and the very practical considerations of dollar costs led us to our plan for this renovation. We
needed to create a minimal renovation budget, and find a quicker way to move into the
house. Were 3 bedrooms and a 2- car garage really necessary? For us, the current answer
is; not now..
This house was built in 1904 which makes it 104 years old! Most homes evolve throughout
their long lives. Therefore, planning for future evolution and knowing that new owners in the
future will have uses and needs, is, a consideration.
Renovating an old home and trying to be “green” means what? Just the fact that you
are re-cycling an old home is green. All of the construction materials for the original
house had been cut and milled in 1904! Therefore, re-using what is already there is
important. It is just as important to be able to use the house efficiently.. this means,
space heating, hot water heating and distribution, daylighting, electrical system, phone,
cable and internet distribution. Also, can this be done affordably? Can you enjoy living
in this renovated home, work at a job, payoff the mortgage and enjoy life? Does being green
mean that you can live close-in to town, where you can walk to: banks, post offices,
coffeehouses, restaurants, meet and greet your neighbors, etc, without getting in a car?
Honoring the history of a place or home by rejuvenation is also important. It is important to
the owners, people who gather there, and to the following generations, as they accumulate a
sense of place and their own history.
The current renovation will include: all new electrical, all new water, gas, and sewer lines, new
insulation, repair of wood rope and pulley windows, replacement of sash, removal of carpets
and vinyl and refinishing of Douglas Fir floors and stairway, reconstruction of 2 bathrooms, all
new kitchen, new bath and kitchen tile floors, new heating system, repair of all doors and
hardware, all new painting inside and out, new appliances, kitchen cabinets, cable and phone
system.
We wanted to proceed using “green” and affordable methods. Here is how things are
progressing:
Plumbing: We removed all of the old water, gas & sewer lines, composed of; galvanized
iron, black iron, and cast-iron, all the above in various stages of disrepair and leaking.
Installing new plastic and copper water lines, DWV plastic sewer and vent lines, and flexible
plastic coated aluminum gas lines. This work should last for another hundred years or more.
Although, we do not really know how long our more modern plumbing materials will last
effectively! Copper has been proven to be a long life and durable material,, but is it really
known how long plastic will be effective? We hope that the manufacturer’s testing results
prove to have longevity. For fixtures: Water Ridge brand, dual flush toilets, 1.6 gpm and .6
gpm options. Low flow shower heads and faucets, and low water use dishwasher and laundry
machines.
The city of Pacific Grove requires the sewer line from the house to the street to be replaced
and attached to the main city sewer correctly, and this was done as well. The water main line
was upgraded to 1” copper, and a water pressure regulator installed. After discussions with
plumbing contractors, we decided to keep the almost new 40 gallon, tank water heater.
IKEA “farmers” sink.
Wateridge dual flush toilet. New water service
Electrical: We removed the entire knob and tube electrical wiring and all the subsequent
wiring, which had been installed. We installed a new 200 amp electrical service. This size
service may be somewhat oversized, but the equipment was affordable, and more useful for
any future expansion.
We also, plan to install photovoltaic panels on our direct southern facing exposed roof. As
electricity becomes more expensive, and as the cost of solar electrical generation comes
down, (it is hoped), there should be a near future time point where photovoltaics will make
more economic sense. The larger service will provide more options for connecting to the
future solar system. All new wiring is copper and up to current 2008 codes.
We use no recessed lights in the home. Recess lights just do not look authentic in an historic
home. We plan to use all surface mounted or hanging fixtures with fluorescent bulbs in the
kitchen and baths. The GU24 bulbs are very close to being correct color fluorescent lighting
as well as being very efficient. (www.rejuvenation.com/GU24bulbs) . Current Ca. code
requires dimmers at all locations where incandescent bulbs are used in fixtures.
Electrical re-work in old homes is difficult. Access areas called chases need to be found to
run wiring and utilities to all the rooms in the home. Wiring into lath and plaster walls can be
done with very long flexible bits, pull wires and 2 experienced electricians. Here is a; photo of
holes left from wiring runs that need to be patched, and the new service. We are doing lots
of plaster patching.
Heating : The obvious solution is a forced air, gas-fired, furnace. It has been the lowest
cost and most predictable solution for many homes. The downside is: ductworks can leak
air, and often do; the loss of heat through these hot air ducts is significant. Air being
pushed throughout a home can bring in and move lots of dust and pollen. There needs to be
a place to put all the distribution ductwork, as well as an exhaust flue for the furnace.
Therefore, our solution, is A. direct-vent, gas fired, fireplaces, and B. electric resistance floor
heating in the 2 bathrooms and the kitchen. The fireplaces are great to look at, have a
sealed, burner system with a blower and a thermostat, and are very (86%), fuel efficient.
There is no ducting to deal with, and no duct leaks or heat loss. We have installed one
downstairs in the old fireplace, and one upstairs in the master bedroom. (www.fireplacex.com).
The tile floors in the bathrooms and the kitchen are heated with thermostatically controlled,
under tile, electric heat pads called Nuheat. (www.nuheat.com). This heating is electric, but
uses a minimal amount of electricity, (which can later be produced with solar panels). The
heating is uniform, and comfortable from your feet up, it heats a room, and no air needs to be
moved.
Water heating is conventional, gas fired, 40 gallon tank with insulation jacket. Since the water
heater is centrally located under the kitchen and bathrooms, this may be the most efficient
option.. (Upon living in the house we discovered that the centrally located water heater,
directly under the 2 bathrooms was a great idea, no recirculation pump necessary). We also
plan on using solar hot water collectors. Since the tank is right in the middle of the house and
in the basement, directly under all the points of use, we feel that hot water distribution will be
very effective. Also we are using an insulation blanket, and insulating the pipes that leave the
hot water heater. We are using a timer operated, hot water circulation pump, so water does
not go down the drain while waiting for it to become hot. This is a great idea to save water, as
you do not have to wait for hot water when you turn your shower on,, the hot water is already
there and continually circulating. The downside to this system, is that it requires an electrical
pump, which is continually running and circulating the water, even when you don’t need it to
be running. At a recent seminar in San Francisco at the P.G. & E Energy Center (http://www.
pge.com/mybusiness/edusafety/training/pec/.com) we learned that the cost of operating a
continuous electric pump for the recirculation system is excessive and to be avoided.
Metlund company makes a demand only circulating system that operates when you push a
button and is on a timer. An alternative: there has been a good deal of discussion
about demand hot water heaters. They are gas fired, and do not have a tank. They heat the
water only as it is needed.
They cost a good deal more to install but the prices have come down recently. These have
been shown to save energy in the long run, since you are not heating and storing water
continually, but only heat the water when it is demanded. Since Pacific Grove is a relatively
cool but temperate climate, these heating solutions will heat the house, efficiently, and
comfortably. Along with heating, of course, is a good insulation plan.
Insulation: Insulation needed to be added to the home, as none was ever used. To
accomplish the wall insulation, where the walls were not opened, we used blown-in fiberglass
called (Optima). 2” holes are drilled through the lath and plaster at the top and bottom of the
stud bays, insulation is then blown in, and the holes plugged. Ceiling insulation in the attic is
12” thick, Optima, R-30, blown in for consistency. In areas where the 2*4 roof rafters are
exposed, we installed 3” thick, Hi-R foil faced foam insulation. The material needs to be cut to
size, and then glued and screwed into the bays. The entire 1st floor frame will be insulated
with R-21 batt insulation after all utility work is done. The house envelope will then be
insulated to nearly current standards.
Finally, all exterior doors will be weatherstripped around the perimeter, and at the sill to stop
air movement. Unfortunately we have found no good way, yet, to weatherstrip the antique
double hung, rope and pulley windows.
1-Hi-R insulation glued between rafters
Windows: We struggled with this decision, but decided to keep the original sash windows,
with their rope and weight operating system. The historical look and feel of the operation of
these windows is unique. Also, where the original glass is intact, there is a waviness and
imperfection to the glass that is beautiful. New, replacement windows would have been
expensive, and not conformed to the historical accuracy recommended by the P.G. historical
review board. New windows would be much more energy efficient, however. We decided for
the sake of cost and historical accuracy, to re-use that which had already been manufactured
and used for 100 years. The re-roping, and repair of the sash turned out to be a big job.
Trims need to be carefully removed, new ropes installed and re-tied to the weights, new
weights found, where some had been lost, all sash repaired, replaced and sanded and
primed. Here are a few photos of stages of that operation.
We refinished and re-installed the original window locks. We installed new sash lift handles to
make the opening and closing of the windows smoother.
If air leaking and energy inefficiency turn out to be a problem with these old windows,
selected sash can be changed out to double glazed wood windows without damaging the
existing frames and trim.100 year old sash & frames,,can usually be repaired and
reglazed…time consuming but authentic and “green” as fewer new materials are used…
Flooring: When we bought the house, we had decided to re-sand and re- finish the 2
bedrooms, stairs, and hallway upstairs, the floors were vertical grain douglas fir. After
looking at lots of flooring, and deciding upon Brazilian Cherry, t & g, solid wood floors, we
ordered enough for the entire downstairs. As the weeks went by, and carpets and vinyl were
removed, we realized that we would like to re-sand, and re-finish the downstairs fir floors as
well. We cancelled the Brazilian cherry order, and had our refinisher re-price the project
including all the fir floors. There is some repair needed, a few small damaged sections, but
we will get, (for much less expense), an all new refinished floor, with all the patina of age. The
color of the stain will not be absolutely perfect or uniform, and the 100 years of use will show
some dings and gouges. It felt good and appropriate to not be using rainforest produced
lumber, that really has no business in a 100 year old home in Pacific Grove!
The kitchen floor and the 2 bathrooms, will be ceramic tile, which is abundant, and is durable,
inexpensive, and easy to clean. It also transfers the heat from the Nuheat electric pads very
efficiently. We are using mostly white tiles for the tub and shower walls, of different sizes and
with white trims, to create patterns and details, but with budget costing. The shower and tub
tiles will be mortar set, which will provide many years of crack free service.
Drywall & Painting: We are using all Kelly-Moore paints, all from their charts. We did
not see the need to use “odor free” paints, as the house is unoccupied and will have plenty of
time to dry out before we move in. We used all high quality latex paints, but we did use oil
based primers. We used drywall to cover all new and renovated walls, and a drywall “float”
texture to cover all the old walls and patches. The new texture is mild but reminiscent of the
original plaster texture.
Doors: We are fortunate to have all the original, 5 panel, doors and original hardware from
1904! Several of the doors were re-used, cut down, and re-hung to fit our new locations. All
these original doors are solid, old growth redwood. They will now be adjusted and re-hung, to
be used another 100 years. These are mortise locks, and ceramic and glass knobs are
original.
Kitchen Cabinets: We wanted to be thrifty with cabinets, and, if we had time, I would have
built them all. This project had to be move-in ready in 4 months, so cabinets were
purchased. We were ready to buy IKEA off the shelf, assemble yourself, cabinets, but we
found a local supplier that could come close to matching the IKEA costs, especially when you
factor in freight, and assembly of the cabinets. We bought Atristokraft cabinets, which have
solid thermofoil doors that don’t warp and are prepainted. We added extra costs to use
dovetail maple drawers, and to have self-closing hardware installed on all the drawers. The
Aristokraft cabinets cost $4900.00, delivered and assembled, as opposed to IKEA which
cost:$2938.00 + freight (estimated $500.00) and + assembly(estimated$850.00). I have used
IKEA quite successfully in recent projects on the Monterey Peninsula. They are well made,
very well engineered, and stylish as well.
Countertops & Backsplash: We decided that honed. Carrera Marble would be a great look for
our kitchen countertops. When we priced up the cost of the work, including: slab, labor to
fabricate and edge, and then installation, it turned out to be costly. Approx. $4000.00. We
eliminated the 1+1/2” edging work, and used the ¾” edge, the same thickness as the slab is
made. This brought the price down to $3000.00. We will cover the plywood edging, which is
seen below the slab, with wood trimwork, which we ordered with the cabinets in the same
finish. Carrera marble is not an easy material to maintain. It can stain, scratch, and is
breakable! We really love the classic look of the material, and purchased the material honed
rather than polished to reduce the shiny glare. We did seal the material carefully with a very
good marble sealer, and will continue to seal it. We really wanted this look, so we will endure
the inconvenience and continue to maintain the slab as we enjoy its’ good looks.
The backsplash is subway tile, with a rope detail. This is a classic material and look, and is
quite affordable.
Light Fixtures: Four of the light fixtures are period fixtures from the Cannery Row Antique
Mall. We bought them at a Memorial Day Sale. We could not find enough original fixtures for
the whole house, so we shopped at Lowe’s and found fixtures that were classic looking
enough to go with our historical detailing. Since the kitchen and bath require fluorescent
lighting, (GU24 standard plug in bulbs), we bought fixtures from Home Depot which complied
with code, and we will change the globes from the round globes supplied, to period style
glass covers from Rejuvenation Light Fixtures. This company has wonderful and high quality
fixtures for any old house. www.rejuvenation.com. The cost is, however, significant.
CONCLUSION: We really love this house. The location is great, ½ block from the main
street of Lighthouse Ave. We are enjoying what we did, especially; the lovely antique stained
floors & stairs, the heated kitchen and bath floors, the remote controlled fireplace/heaters. It
is comforting to have all the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems new and safe, It is
great to be able to open the windows on a nice day, and to feel the ocean breeze. This is
now a home we can live in for a long time.
CREDITS:
Floor Refinishing: Ray Gomes Floors-831-240-1454
Tile: Adam Funkhauser; 831-915-2230
Fireplaces: Coast Insulation; Jake Espinoza 408-690-2226
Tile Supply; Tileco- Salinas- 831-759-8453
Kitchen Cabinets: Mill Direct Cabinets; Eileen Love- 831-375-4433
Stone Countertops: J & M Marble; 831-63300152
Carpentry & Contracting & Coordinating: Jeff Edmonds/Edmonds Design & Construction 831-
402-1347. With the indispensable creative help of Carolee Edmonds. Il mio amore un
allineare.
225 Congress Ave. Pacific Grove, Ca.
March 1st, 2008.
We bought this home after moving back to P.G. from upstate NY. This home was built in
1904, and had real character and a wonderful setting. It was in great need of renovation.
The home had been lived in, but not improved upon for many years. Maintenance had been
minimal. Plans had originally been drawn for an attached 2-car garage with a master bedroom
above, and stairway connecting it to the old home. The design, and the cost of construction,
deterred us from using these drawings.
Our thinking about home construction projects has evolved. We were blessed with the birth of
a grandson in January, and we now feel more of a need to focus on the future of our society.
The green and sustainable movements, the apparent plateauing and decline of fossil fuels,
and the very practical considerations of dollar costs led us to our plan for this renovation. We
needed to create a minimal renovation budget, and find a quicker way to move into the
house. Were 3 bedrooms and a 2- car garage really necessary? For us, the current answer
is; not now..
This house was built in 1904 which makes it 104 years old! Most homes evolve throughout
their long lives. Therefore, planning for future evolution and knowing that new owners in the
future will have uses and needs, is, a consideration.
Renovating an old home and trying to be “green” means what? Just the fact that you
are re-cycling an old home is green. All of the construction materials for the original
house had been cut and milled in 1904! Therefore, re-using what is already there is
important. It is just as important to be able to use the house efficiently.. this means,
space heating, hot water heating and distribution, daylighting, electrical system, phone,
cable and internet distribution. Also, can this be done affordably? Can you enjoy living
in this renovated home, work at a job, payoff the mortgage and enjoy life? Does being green
mean that you can live close-in to town, where you can walk to: banks, post offices,
coffeehouses, restaurants, meet and greet your neighbors, etc, without getting in a car?
Honoring the history of a place or home by rejuvenation is also important. It is important to
the owners, people who gather there, and to the following generations, as they accumulate a
sense of place and their own history.
The current renovation will include: all new electrical, all new water, gas, and sewer lines, new
insulation, repair of wood rope and pulley windows, replacement of sash, removal of carpets
and vinyl and refinishing of Douglas Fir floors and stairway, reconstruction of 2 bathrooms, all
new kitchen, new bath and kitchen tile floors, new heating system, repair of all doors and
hardware, all new painting inside and out, new appliances, kitchen cabinets, cable and phone
system.
We wanted to proceed using “green” and affordable methods. Here is how things are
progressing:
Plumbing: We removed all of the old water, gas & sewer lines, composed of; galvanized
iron, black iron, and cast-iron, all the above in various stages of disrepair and leaking.
Installing new plastic and copper water lines, DWV plastic sewer and vent lines, and flexible
plastic coated aluminum gas lines. This work should last for another hundred years or more.
Although, we do not really know how long our more modern plumbing materials will last
effectively! Copper has been proven to be a long life and durable material,, but is it really
known how long plastic will be effective? We hope that the manufacturer’s testing results
prove to have longevity. For fixtures: Water Ridge brand, dual flush toilets, 1.6 gpm and .6
gpm options. Low flow shower heads and faucets, and low water use dishwasher and laundry
machines.
The city of Pacific Grove requires the sewer line from the house to the street to be replaced
and attached to the main city sewer correctly, and this was done as well. The water main line
was upgraded to 1” copper, and a water pressure regulator installed. After discussions with
plumbing contractors, we decided to keep the almost new 40 gallon, tank water heater.
IKEA “farmers” sink.
Wateridge dual flush toilet. New water service
Electrical: We removed the entire knob and tube electrical wiring and all the subsequent
wiring, which had been installed. We installed a new 200 amp electrical service. This size
service may be somewhat oversized, but the equipment was affordable, and more useful for
any future expansion.
We also, plan to install photovoltaic panels on our direct southern facing exposed roof. As
electricity becomes more expensive, and as the cost of solar electrical generation comes
down, (it is hoped), there should be a near future time point where photovoltaics will make
more economic sense. The larger service will provide more options for connecting to the
future solar system. All new wiring is copper and up to current 2008 codes.
We use no recessed lights in the home. Recess lights just do not look authentic in an historic
home. We plan to use all surface mounted or hanging fixtures with fluorescent bulbs in the
kitchen and baths. The GU24 bulbs are very close to being correct color fluorescent lighting
as well as being very efficient. (www.rejuvenation.com/GU24bulbs) . Current Ca. code
requires dimmers at all locations where incandescent bulbs are used in fixtures.
Electrical re-work in old homes is difficult. Access areas called chases need to be found to
run wiring and utilities to all the rooms in the home. Wiring into lath and plaster walls can be
done with very long flexible bits, pull wires and 2 experienced electricians. Here is a; photo of
holes left from wiring runs that need to be patched, and the new service. We are doing lots
of plaster patching.
Heating : The obvious solution is a forced air, gas-fired, furnace. It has been the lowest
cost and most predictable solution for many homes. The downside is: ductworks can leak
air, and often do; the loss of heat through these hot air ducts is significant. Air being
pushed throughout a home can bring in and move lots of dust and pollen. There needs to be
a place to put all the distribution ductwork, as well as an exhaust flue for the furnace.
Therefore, our solution, is A. direct-vent, gas fired, fireplaces, and B. electric resistance floor
heating in the 2 bathrooms and the kitchen. The fireplaces are great to look at, have a
sealed, burner system with a blower and a thermostat, and are very (86%), fuel efficient.
There is no ducting to deal with, and no duct leaks or heat loss. We have installed one
downstairs in the old fireplace, and one upstairs in the master bedroom. (www.fireplacex.com).
The tile floors in the bathrooms and the kitchen are heated with thermostatically controlled,
under tile, electric heat pads called Nuheat. (www.nuheat.com). This heating is electric, but
uses a minimal amount of electricity, (which can later be produced with solar panels). The
heating is uniform, and comfortable from your feet up, it heats a room, and no air needs to be
moved.
Water heating is conventional, gas fired, 40 gallon tank with insulation jacket. Since the water
heater is centrally located under the kitchen and bathrooms, this may be the most efficient
option.. (Upon living in the house we discovered that the centrally located water heater,
directly under the 2 bathrooms was a great idea, no recirculation pump necessary). We also
plan on using solar hot water collectors. Since the tank is right in the middle of the house and
in the basement, directly under all the points of use, we feel that hot water distribution will be
very effective. Also we are using an insulation blanket, and insulating the pipes that leave the
hot water heater. We are using a timer operated, hot water circulation pump, so water does
not go down the drain while waiting for it to become hot. This is a great idea to save water, as
you do not have to wait for hot water when you turn your shower on,, the hot water is already
there and continually circulating. The downside to this system, is that it requires an electrical
pump, which is continually running and circulating the water, even when you don’t need it to
be running. At a recent seminar in San Francisco at the P.G. & E Energy Center (http://www.
pge.com/mybusiness/edusafety/training/pec/.com) we learned that the cost of operating a
continuous electric pump for the recirculation system is excessive and to be avoided.
Metlund company makes a demand only circulating system that operates when you push a
button and is on a timer. An alternative: there has been a good deal of discussion
about demand hot water heaters. They are gas fired, and do not have a tank. They heat the
water only as it is needed.
They cost a good deal more to install but the prices have come down recently. These have
been shown to save energy in the long run, since you are not heating and storing water
continually, but only heat the water when it is demanded. Since Pacific Grove is a relatively
cool but temperate climate, these heating solutions will heat the house, efficiently, and
comfortably. Along with heating, of course, is a good insulation plan.
Insulation: Insulation needed to be added to the home, as none was ever used. To
accomplish the wall insulation, where the walls were not opened, we used blown-in fiberglass
called (Optima). 2” holes are drilled through the lath and plaster at the top and bottom of the
stud bays, insulation is then blown in, and the holes plugged. Ceiling insulation in the attic is
12” thick, Optima, R-30, blown in for consistency. In areas where the 2*4 roof rafters are
exposed, we installed 3” thick, Hi-R foil faced foam insulation. The material needs to be cut to
size, and then glued and screwed into the bays. The entire 1st floor frame will be insulated
with R-21 batt insulation after all utility work is done. The house envelope will then be
insulated to nearly current standards.
Finally, all exterior doors will be weatherstripped around the perimeter, and at the sill to stop
air movement. Unfortunately we have found no good way, yet, to weatherstrip the antique
double hung, rope and pulley windows.
1-Hi-R insulation glued between rafters
Windows: We struggled with this decision, but decided to keep the original sash windows,
with their rope and weight operating system. The historical look and feel of the operation of
these windows is unique. Also, where the original glass is intact, there is a waviness and
imperfection to the glass that is beautiful. New, replacement windows would have been
expensive, and not conformed to the historical accuracy recommended by the P.G. historical
review board. New windows would be much more energy efficient, however. We decided for
the sake of cost and historical accuracy, to re-use that which had already been manufactured
and used for 100 years. The re-roping, and repair of the sash turned out to be a big job.
Trims need to be carefully removed, new ropes installed and re-tied to the weights, new
weights found, where some had been lost, all sash repaired, replaced and sanded and
primed. Here are a few photos of stages of that operation.
We refinished and re-installed the original window locks. We installed new sash lift handles to
make the opening and closing of the windows smoother.
If air leaking and energy inefficiency turn out to be a problem with these old windows,
selected sash can be changed out to double glazed wood windows without damaging the
existing frames and trim.100 year old sash & frames,,can usually be repaired and
reglazed…time consuming but authentic and “green” as fewer new materials are used…
Flooring: When we bought the house, we had decided to re-sand and re- finish the 2
bedrooms, stairs, and hallway upstairs, the floors were vertical grain douglas fir. After
looking at lots of flooring, and deciding upon Brazilian Cherry, t & g, solid wood floors, we
ordered enough for the entire downstairs. As the weeks went by, and carpets and vinyl were
removed, we realized that we would like to re-sand, and re-finish the downstairs fir floors as
well. We cancelled the Brazilian cherry order, and had our refinisher re-price the project
including all the fir floors. There is some repair needed, a few small damaged sections, but
we will get, (for much less expense), an all new refinished floor, with all the patina of age. The
color of the stain will not be absolutely perfect or uniform, and the 100 years of use will show
some dings and gouges. It felt good and appropriate to not be using rainforest produced
lumber, that really has no business in a 100 year old home in Pacific Grove!
The kitchen floor and the 2 bathrooms, will be ceramic tile, which is abundant, and is durable,
inexpensive, and easy to clean. It also transfers the heat from the Nuheat electric pads very
efficiently. We are using mostly white tiles for the tub and shower walls, of different sizes and
with white trims, to create patterns and details, but with budget costing. The shower and tub
tiles will be mortar set, which will provide many years of crack free service.
Drywall & Painting: We are using all Kelly-Moore paints, all from their charts. We did
not see the need to use “odor free” paints, as the house is unoccupied and will have plenty of
time to dry out before we move in. We used all high quality latex paints, but we did use oil
based primers. We used drywall to cover all new and renovated walls, and a drywall “float”
texture to cover all the old walls and patches. The new texture is mild but reminiscent of the
original plaster texture.
Doors: We are fortunate to have all the original, 5 panel, doors and original hardware from
1904! Several of the doors were re-used, cut down, and re-hung to fit our new locations. All
these original doors are solid, old growth redwood. They will now be adjusted and re-hung, to
be used another 100 years. These are mortise locks, and ceramic and glass knobs are
original.
Kitchen Cabinets: We wanted to be thrifty with cabinets, and, if we had time, I would have
built them all. This project had to be move-in ready in 4 months, so cabinets were
purchased. We were ready to buy IKEA off the shelf, assemble yourself, cabinets, but we
found a local supplier that could come close to matching the IKEA costs, especially when you
factor in freight, and assembly of the cabinets. We bought Atristokraft cabinets, which have
solid thermofoil doors that don’t warp and are prepainted. We added extra costs to use
dovetail maple drawers, and to have self-closing hardware installed on all the drawers. The
Aristokraft cabinets cost $4900.00, delivered and assembled, as opposed to IKEA which
cost:$2938.00 + freight (estimated $500.00) and + assembly(estimated$850.00). I have used
IKEA quite successfully in recent projects on the Monterey Peninsula. They are well made,
very well engineered, and stylish as well.
Countertops & Backsplash: We decided that honed. Carrera Marble would be a great look for
our kitchen countertops. When we priced up the cost of the work, including: slab, labor to
fabricate and edge, and then installation, it turned out to be costly. Approx. $4000.00. We
eliminated the 1+1/2” edging work, and used the ¾” edge, the same thickness as the slab is
made. This brought the price down to $3000.00. We will cover the plywood edging, which is
seen below the slab, with wood trimwork, which we ordered with the cabinets in the same
finish. Carrera marble is not an easy material to maintain. It can stain, scratch, and is
breakable! We really love the classic look of the material, and purchased the material honed
rather than polished to reduce the shiny glare. We did seal the material carefully with a very
good marble sealer, and will continue to seal it. We really wanted this look, so we will endure
the inconvenience and continue to maintain the slab as we enjoy its’ good looks.
The backsplash is subway tile, with a rope detail. This is a classic material and look, and is
quite affordable.
Light Fixtures: Four of the light fixtures are period fixtures from the Cannery Row Antique
Mall. We bought them at a Memorial Day Sale. We could not find enough original fixtures for
the whole house, so we shopped at Lowe’s and found fixtures that were classic looking
enough to go with our historical detailing. Since the kitchen and bath require fluorescent
lighting, (GU24 standard plug in bulbs), we bought fixtures from Home Depot which complied
with code, and we will change the globes from the round globes supplied, to period style
glass covers from Rejuvenation Light Fixtures. This company has wonderful and high quality
fixtures for any old house. www.rejuvenation.com. The cost is, however, significant.
CONCLUSION: We really love this house. The location is great, ½ block from the main
street of Lighthouse Ave. We are enjoying what we did, especially; the lovely antique stained
floors & stairs, the heated kitchen and bath floors, the remote controlled fireplace/heaters. It
is comforting to have all the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems new and safe, It is
great to be able to open the windows on a nice day, and to feel the ocean breeze. This is
now a home we can live in for a long time.
CREDITS:
Floor Refinishing: Ray Gomes Floors-831-240-1454
Tile: Adam Funkhauser; 831-915-2230
Fireplaces: Coast Insulation; Jake Espinoza 408-690-2226
Tile Supply; Tileco- Salinas- 831-759-8453
Kitchen Cabinets: Mill Direct Cabinets; Eileen Love- 831-375-4433
Stone Countertops: J & M Marble; 831-63300152
Carpentry & Contracting & Coordinating: Jeff Edmonds/Edmonds Design & Construction 831-
402-1347. With the indispensable creative help of Carolee Edmonds. Il mio amore un
allineare.
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