May 2009
10 posts
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Cleaning House
We’ve made a few changes to the design of the inner couryard since we last posted some images. We have been going round deleting walls, moving furniture and generally “cleaning house”.
Below are before and after shots of what was, and now is the view looking south toward the kitchen and informal dining area (view plans). We have deleted the card table, knocked down the wall,...
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Reinventing an Old Room
Historic colonial homes in Mérida were often built in stages. Initially, a one- or two-room building was constructed hard up against the street. Each room would have high 14 to 18 foot ceilings and attractive wood or iron beams for support. Over the years, new rooms were tacked on the back of the houses with progressively lower ceilings and less ornate support (i.e. no fancy beams). With the...
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Plans, Plans, Plans (and a Section)
Finally, we have a plan! We posted some 3-D images a couple weeks back and have been promising a plan ever since. Things, however, were a little disshevled and delays ensued. Today, you find us tucked in and ready to go. Interestingly enough, the latest plan is not that different to the previous one. Sometimes design feels like a roundabout in that you expend tremendous amounts of energy only...
We have rats. Crawling on the rafters above us. Many rats. Our pioneer spirit fades…
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Looking Up
Here are two additional images showing the second level as seen from below.
These views are much more accurate than the image we posted a few weeks back. The previous image was taken as if you were viewing the house from the neighbor’s yard (impossible to do in reality but useful when designing to see the whole thing at once). These new images show the house in the way you will actually...
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Living Area Redefined
After we last posted an image of our evolving design process, we had a chance to sit back and evaluate it. We decided that the basic layout was mostly good, but the overall look of the building was pretty ugly. As our focus at that time was on function, not form, we weren’t overly stressed.
What disturbed us most was how poorly the outdoor living room was shaping up. We essentially had a...
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Hooks, Hammock and Otherwise
We continue our exploration of the little things in our house. Today we document the various hooks embedded within our walls. These hooks are a common sight in old colonial homes as Yucatecans traditionally sleep in hammocks suspended between them. Given how hot it can get, it’s an ideal solution for a cool and comfortable sleep.
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Exterior Door Construction
We have decided to document the little things that make our run-down house so special. Respecting these tiny details will make or break our renovation. We start today by documenting the exterior doors.
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