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Laughing Sun Renovations
Author Archives: Kara O'Brien Renovations
The Cowboy Code: Using Heart of Pine to Disprove Father Time
How is it that houses built 100 or even 200 years ago are still standing? Every day, I see things that amaze me. Instead of today’s framing codes that dictate 16″ on center for roof rafters, I see framing that is sometimes … Continue reading
Posted in salvaged house parts
Tagged codes, craftsman, heart of pine, inspectors, old houses, old wood, rafters, renovation, restoration, roofs, salvaged wood, victorians
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Finding Art in the Imperfect
It’s typical that over the course of a century your bungalow or Victorian’s vintage heart pine floors have taken a world of abuse. Atlanta’s inner city neighborhoods went through a host of hard times: old houses were portioned off into rooming … Continue reading
Posted in salvaged house parts
Tagged antique, atlanta, Atlanta Historic Renovation Restoration Custom Woodwork, bungalow, hardwood floors, heart of pine floors, historic, historic renovation tips, home, improvement, old floors, pine floors, restoring old floors, victorian, vintage floors, wood floors
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When Demo Discovery Can Drive Design
Demolition is almost always interesting. Unfortunately, for clients with old houses, it isn’t always interesting in a good way. In old bungalows and Victorians here in the South, if we tear out a plaster and lath wall, we risk discovering framing … Continue reading
Unexpectedly Salvaging
I relish putting antique materials back where they belong. Re-hanging mantels back onto raw brick openings in old houses; installing hundred year old medicine cabinets into the wall cavity of a bathroom, complete with imperfect beveled mirrors, the silvering flawed … Continue reading
An Ornate Mantel Can Be Literally Moving
When we started restoring our house, which is a Victorian/Craftsman bungalow hybrid, the sky was the limit as far as aesthetics go. The house had been mostly robbed of its architectural treasure and converted into a triplex. Several original mantels … Continue reading
Infuse Spaces with Warmth Using Salvaged House Parts
Several of my most enjoyable renovation projects were houses that were totally violated: everything worth anything ripped clean out of them. In fact, I live in one of those houses now so I’ll talk about this one. We bought this … Continue reading
Posted in salvaged house parts
Tagged antique, antique mantel, architectural antiques, atlanta, Atlanta Historic Renovation Restoration Custom Woodwork, construction, design, historic, historic renovation tips, home, house, improvement, reclaimed house parts, renovation, restoration, salvage, wood work
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Old House Interior Door Styles
Interior doors can provide a good bit of insight to the history and style of a home. Here in the Deep South, specifically Atlanta, we typically have six-panel heart of pine doors in our Craftsman bungalows and American Foursquares: homes … Continue reading
Lettuce Grow Produce
So, aside from my tropical plants and myriad of perennials, we’re also growing edibles: strawberries, peaches, blueberries, Italian grapes, Simpson and butter crunch lettuce, arugula, three kinds of peppers, carrots, spring onions, cukes, basil, cilantro, lemon balm, eggplant, stevia (that’s … Continue reading
Posted in gardening
Tagged butterfly, front yard gardens, gardening, grow your own produce, historic, lettuce, old house, organic garden, urban gardens, vegetables, veggies
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A Geyser In the Yard Presents Challenges
When we were at the lake house two weekends ago and the water pressure was less than stellar, I thought that something was afoot. Then, I ventured down into the basement to discover that at weekend’s end, my newly filled … Continue reading
Not Just for Salads: Vinegar Does Wonders for Wood Floors
If you mix pets, children, entertaining and simple day-to-day life with your beautiful wood floors, you know that what you get is floors that are less than pristine. I am speaking from experience as my 100 year old pine floors bear … Continue reading
