Another hobby

I've been making furniture as a hobby for a few years now.  Usually, I make pieces inspired by mid-century modernism.  I've sold a few, but haven't pursued it for that purpose.  Here's the latest dresser.  Made it for the wife. It's the first dresser I've done and it wasn't easy.  Even now I think, "that should only take a day to build"  Wrong.  Took most of my afternoons for the better part of a week.  Anyway, it's influenced by one of my favorite furniture designers Paul McCobb.

Paint and router details make for interesting contrast.

I made this coffee table about a year ago.  Brazilian cherry and a center strip of walnut. Sprayed it with clear lacquer.  Over the years the color will turn a warm deep red/orange.  Notice the legs.  I used them as a template for the dresser.  They are a pain to make, but I love the way they flow.  

In the background of this pic (just past the dog bed) you can see a little side table.  That's made with slats and is very George Nelson.  Made that in about 20 min.

Should you become and investor?

So I was listening to NPR's "Marketplace" segment and they were talking about who should and should not invest.  Sadly, for the life of me I can't seem to find the name of the interviewee, but suffice to say I give credit for the wit of this to NPR.

It's a simple coin toss game.  Heads you win, tails you lose.
Would you bet $1 to win $6?  Most would and everyone should.  I would empty my bank account and sell my left nut for those odds.
Would you bet $2 to win $6?
Would you bet $3 to win $6?  At  this point certain people will stop to think twice.
Would you bet $4 to win $6? Many would say no.  Many would be very happy to play these odds.
......
and finaly....

would you bet $5 to win $6?  So, would you?
If you said no, then you should not invest...in anything.  Sound harsh?  Well statisticly this is a good bet.  Over 1000 coin tosses and you will be up.  You will lose some, but you will eventually be up.

The idea here ( as I understood the interview) is you need to be able, willing and ready to take a loss in order to gain in the end.  Also, you need to know and understand the risks of your investment before you put your hard earned cash out there.  Stocks go up and down daily.  Real estate cycles every few years.  Along those ups and downs are losses and gains.  Knowing which odds to bet at is the key to eventually winning.

 As a parting note.  I urge everyone to understand what it is you invest your money in.  Did you have an advisor pick out your last car.  Of course not.  He would have bought you the boring all white sedan because resale value is higher or some nerdy accounting thing, and buying a car is a big investment right!?.  Ok, well then why do you let an advisor put your money in areas you don't know about?  Kinda like going to the casino blindfolded.  DON'T DO IT.  Educate yourself and be an active investor!


Image via

Break-in!

Land Locked properties had a break in yesterday.  Of course the thieves broke into the finished house and not the "in progress" house.  So, hopefully this post will help new comers and old timers alike.

Secure your investment:

 DO NOT START ANY WORK UNTIL YOU COMPLETE STEPS 1-3
1. Get insurance.  This will more than likely be a commercial policy.  Make sure it covers theft specifically.  Also, be very sure you check on any waiting period for full bonding.

2. Fence the property.  Yes, fence the whole property.  Doesn't matter if it's Beverly-iffing-hills, thieves are like raccoons.  If it's shiny, they'll find away to get there paws on it.  You can call a rent-a fence company.  They are fairly inexpensive and can fence a large job site in a few hours.  Our you may want to put in a permanent fence.  Either way don't skip this step.  Heck, put up razor wire while you're at it :)

3. Get a security system and set up monitoring.  There are excellent options from simple DIY kits, to sky's the limit badmother gorrila thumping systems.  I recommend a simple system that you can set up cellular service and take with you to the next job. Recommend these security systems for inexpensive and very diy.  Place security signs around the property to discourage theft.  Set off the alarm on purpose a few times a week.  This lets the "watchers" know the system works.  Now be aware, you may still get a break in.  However, the cops will be there in 20 minutes or so.  Thieves might get your tools, but they won't have time to get the copper, furnace, water heater or cabinets.


This is the same kitchen as the one featured a few posts back.  Damn thieves.  Oh well, thats the cost of doing business.  Almost look as bad as when I bought the place, hahaha.

Highly recommend caging your ac units.  This is the outside of one of my houses.  The ac sits 12' up in the air and is caged with rebar.  I did the cage with the help of a friend.  It's crude, but we got it done in an hour and it will serve it's purpose.  Several companies make excellent cage options.  The next cage we do will hinge and lock.

The day job

Currently in the ending stage of a million dollar renovation.  The existing home is around 90+ years old and holds a certain level of historical value to the local community.  We have gutted the interior and added a master bedroom addition, office and two story addition.  Both addition are highly contemporary and form a love it or hate it marriage between the old federal/victorian home and it's new counter part.  Click pics to make large.

The front.

 View from the back.  Master bedroom addition top left, office bottom left, and 2 story addition on right.

 Looking into the master bedroom and the Mahogany deck.  The structure is almost all glass.  In California you would have to use steel to build this structure.  Not in the good old Kentucky though.  Notice the corner window.

 Side view of the cantilevered soffit.  It's amazing in person.  Notice the zero tolerance between the window and the soffit.  Makes me nervous of what will happen when the house moves, but it looks phenomenal.  The designers gave us a "wish list drawing."  I'll take credit for building it into reality with the help of my crew.

 

 View of soffit from below.  Not complete, but close.

This is thrown in just because these old mantels fascinate me.  You just don't see this where I'm from.  This house has 4 of them in it.

Sneak Peak

Kitchen in all it's glorious decay.  Grafitti everywhere. Cabinets in the foreground have been ripped from the wall and smashed into pieces.  The plumbing drain pipe and water lines were also ripped from the wall.  Hood vent was crushed.  Flooring destroyed.  Basically I had to gut the entire kitchen and start from scratch.

  I'd like to point out that the faintly visible tagging on the left wall was done using...poop.  Yup, that's taking the whole "green revolution" one step to far. ;)

Slightly improved.  Still needs a few items and a little touch up.

Securing new rental property

Bought two new rental properties in KY.  They've been vacant for several years.  Zillow (take it with a grain of salt) values each property at $79K.  In the morning I'll go over secure them and get ready to start rehab on both.  Hopefully nobody has decided to have a crack party and sleep over.  I'll post back with my weekly DIY tip and real estate thoughts.  If you don't hear back soon then either I'm DEAD or crack really IS that good.

Tomato Tamato, errr Tobaggan

It's been averaging 30 degrees here in Ky since October.  The mornings are around 5- 10 degrees.   I layer up with enough clothes to snowboard... in a blizzard...in Alaska.  Catch is, I'm not snowboarding... in a blizzard... in Alaska.  Instead I'm going to work.  Remind me why I'm here....


So I wear a beenie to keep my brain from freezing.  People here like to call it a tobaggan.  A google search for tobaggan resulted in a simplistic sled device and a strange sexual position...

Tobaggan: wrong

Beenie = Correct