Bare old bones

[darkemeralds]

A couple of very focused, very knowledgeable drywall and plaster experts started in on my bedroom this morning at 8:30. It's been a noisy, chaotic, somewhat nerve-wracking day.





On tearing out the first chunk of ceiling, the guys discovered that it wasn't plaster OR drywall, but some kind of weird cardboardy stuff about 50mm thick, mounted to an insufficient lumber framework. Above this false ceiling was a gap of 30 cm (14 inches) or so, and above that, the original plaster ceiling. Apparently someone in the 70s wanted to lower heating costs. Or something.


The cardboard ceiling, its inadequate superstructure, the wide gap, and the original ceiling.

So I guess my new bedroom is going to have a relatively soaring 9-plus-foot (275 cm) ceiling. I did not see that coming. The difference this will make in the room's proportions is startling:





The guys sealed the bedroom door with plastic to protect the rest of the house from dust, and they came and went and carted lumber and debris out all day long entirely through the west window:


Not the usual ingress and egress point.

They'll be back in the morning to finish the demolition and clean up the mess. Electrical work is on Friday. Sheetrock goes up on Saturday. Taping and mudding next Monday. Then I can paint.

After that, it's flooring. Then furniture delivery, assembly and installation. Then I move select items back into the room and have a yard sale to get rid of the rest.

Then done. Done done done.

Comments

[cookiemom6067]

That is going to be wonderful when you're done! What a happy surprise to have a fabulous high ceiling!

[darkemeralds]

I'm especially pleased because my fancy glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars arrived today, too, and I love the idea of having the Cosmos a little higher up above my head at night.

Strangely enough, this whole grand project began because I wanted blackout curtains, and I wanted blackout curtains so I could have a starry ceiling.

[lycomingst]

There are always surprises when you do renovations. I learned this from tv diy shows. I'm glad the ceiling is a happy surprise. 8 ]

[darkemeralds]

So very true, and I've run into some doozies. This one really is a pleasant surprise, especially since demolishing the false ceiling to reveal the high one didn't add a huge amount to the cost.

[ranunculus]

I always fancy that a house breathes a sigh of relief when those incomprehensable alterations are removed.

[darkemeralds]

That's a lovely image!

[pinesandmaples]

It's like the gift of ceiling! Huzzah!

[darkemeralds]

I've started to have mad thoughts about how to use the extra space. I'm thinking seriously of a stenciled frieze. Maybe a poem. Or Elvish. Something like that. :D

[pinesandmaples]

The Lord's Prayer in Arabic, perhaps?

[darkemeralds]

Perfect! LOL.

Actually, my favorite poem is one by Rumi, but it doesn't seem quite right for a bedroom. Its first two lines are:

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you
Don't go back to sleep.

IDK. I like to go back to sleep! And I'm retired now, so I can!

[azurelunatic]

Hooray! It's amazing watching the progress here.

[darkemeralds]

Posting pictures and kind of distilling the process for my journal is helping me cope with the all-day chaos, so I'm glad you're enjoying it.

[tehomet]

That's great, that you're getting a surprise high ceiling. Brilliant.

Exciting times!

[darkemeralds]

The ceiling seems like not that big a deal, but its new height has a surprising effect on all my design decisions, especially with regard to lighting. I've had low ceilings everywhere I've ever lived, and now the whole world of pendant lights and chandeliers, large ceiling fans, hidden LED strip lights, and what color to paint the ceiling has opened up to me. It's been a whole new research project.

My brain hurts, frankly! But I'll get over it. :D