Author name: hunter@hlwimmer.com

This holiday weekend found me heading to Marin to install an ISS shelving system for Matt and Ki — neighbors of Michael and Iris.

I was greeted by a tidy palette and a few boxes tucked into the garage and in short order, had it unpacked and splayed out. One of the things that didn't greet us was a detailed set of instructions. A low-res PDF was emailed but the photos in the instructions were so poorly shot and so low res (and the instructions so generic) that they really weren't much help. Fortunately, I've a black-belt in cabinet assembly after our kitchen assembly and these things are pretty standard. However, the unlabeled cabinetry parts in the palette coupled with the lack of decent instruction added at least four hours to the install (maybe six) as we had to test fit, twirl around and — in most cases — re-assemble the parts to get the correct configuration. It would have been nice to have had stickers (drawer side, cabinet back, cabinet top, inside/outside) on the dozens of pieces rather than spending 1/2 of a saturday sorting them out.

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ISS Shelving System Install: Day OneRead More »

We've been planning a pool for over a year — a lot longer in many ways (as Casie bought me the book The New American Swimming Pool over 10 years ago)… but we're getting closer.

Since this is an ever evolving project, check other updates on the page or search "pool" in the search field.

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New Pool PlanRead More »

Our friends and neighbors, Chris and Laura, were in dire need of door replacements. Their house was a victim of a shoddy flip and they've done a lot to bring it back to life.

All of the interior doors seemed to be made of pressed cardboard and a slight tap seemed to put a dent in them — they were terrible. The front door was solid, but very inappropriate for the house. This is where we come in… seeing as door replacement has become kind of a "thing" for us.

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Chris and Laura’s Door-a-PaloozaRead More »

Our friends and neighbors Bret and Mary-Peyton just finished a kitchen remodel and we stopped by today to snap a few pictures.

Bret spent most of his winter vacation finishing this off with Mary-Peyton's help. It turned out well, no? In the mix is a massive redwood table made by Bret and some great vintage Poulsen Danish lights. The wrapped countertop looks great in gray Silestone.

First, the before shots

Now, the after shots (click for higher-res views)

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Bret and Mary-Peyton’s New KitchenRead More »