Progress Report:: Interior Stonework

Wood and stone: this will be standing centuries to come!

We spent a small fortune on the stonework in our house but are pleased with this decision to splurge. Warren constructed the chimney chase, and Raivo Masonry did the stonework. They did the exterior stonework last summer and came back to do the inside work after we were ready for that stage of the project. We really liked working with them.

Don't mind the distortion: I couldn't fit the whole thing in one frame so this is a panorama.

Warren always envisioned a great room that featured a fireplace framed by a wall of stone that reached straight up to the top of the vaulted ceiling. I must confess that I tried to talk him out of it on several occasions arguing that the cost was too high for something that was purely aesthetic. However, he was steadfast in his stonewall dreams so we made it happen. I am delighted to admit that I was wrong and it was well worth the price-tag!

From basement floor to chimney cap there is over forty vertical feet of stone!

Before the stone could be installed, Warren had to complete the framing of the chimney chase. Unfortunately (and fortunately if you think about it!) during this process he noticed that the inside of the chimney box had extensive water intrusion.

Water was pouring through every nail hole from outside where water was getting between the wood and the stone.

Upon further inspection, Warren determined that both the wood stove contractors and the stone contractors made installation errors. The responses from each respective contractor was telling regarding the integrity of the companies; the stove company (Innovations for Quality Living in Bellingham) tried to subvert any responsibility, while Jody our stone contractor did everything he could to correct the situation. In the end, Warren convinced the stove guys to fix the problematic chimney cap (though they required us to rent a man-lift for them at our expense). Raivo Masonry set up scaffolding so Warren could diagnose the other leaking issue, and together they remedied the problem spot.

The shoddy chimney cap the stove guys initially made and installed allowed water to pool between the wood chase and the stone. This photo was taken right after the faulty cap was removed. You can see how wet the wood was underneath.

Had Warren not realized this issue, the chase would have been closed in and left to rot until the wood eventually failed and the whole chimney crumbled. Crisis averted!

Water intrusion along the fascia where the problem spot in the stone was located.

I milled and planed the 4"x12" live-edge cherry mantle-piece in the great room. It is of a cherry tree that had fallen in my friend's yard in Ferndale during a windstorm several years back. I helped buck up and clear out the debris and in return got to take several large logs home with me. After the wood was nicely sanded and oiled, Warren drilled several long screws along the width of the mantle in the hopes of preventing further cracking. He then hung it with floating shelf brackets. It was deceptively heavy, but Warren somehow managed to install it mostly by himself with his ridiculous superhuman strength. The one-man circus is a year-round affair around these parts!

The cherry mantle features a nutty brown sapwood and a gingery peachy heartwood.

The cherry mantle nestled into the stones.

The mantle in the basement is from the same tree. We're going to have one helluva den and game room down in this basement! The great room zero clearance fireplace and basement free-standing wood stove are both from Lopi. We bought them new because they both comply with the EPA 2020 emission guidelines and are the most efficient wood heaters available to us.

This woodstove will surely help make the basement a cozy hangout space.

We used the same concrete stone veneer as the exterior. Can you believe that the pieces are actually man-made stone replicas composed of concrete? I think it is very believable and a fraction of the cost of real stone. The style we used is called Verona Hillstone. I love how you can see through the window that the chimney chase is one solid unit.

The stone is a gorgeous complement to the timbers.

The rock is a lovely complement to the timber frame. The stone masons really crafted it so that it feels like a cohesive part of the home. I especially like how the beam appears to be sitting on the slate shelf.

The stone masons made it look like the beam was resting on the stone.

Though it initially seemed like a frivolous expense, I now can see how much warmth the stonework adds to our home. That corner of the house feels so cozy and complete. As soon as I walk in the front door, I am drawn to this part of the house.

A view from the top of the staircase.

Warren is currently chugging away on the plumbing when he is not at work. I am pondering the lighting plan so that when Warren moves on to electrical he has a starting point for wiring lights and outlets. I am also enjoying 9-month baby time and planning out my garden.