a shed, a sculpture, some color and clay

Casa adobe projecto was selected to be on the New Mexico Green Built Tour! The tour is May 16th and 17th, 2009.
Tickets can be purchased from the US Green Building Council (NM) at: http://www.greenbuilttour.net/ or visit http://www.usgbcnm.org/


Working on the Reclaimed Materials Shed (only the hardware is new/virgin material). The wood came from demolition phases of the casa while standing seam metal roof and corrugated sides and door are from salvage yards. Shelving and interior is also from reused products and scraps.





































Here is the endcap to the ponywall of my bar between kitchen/dining: scrap steel plate that Mariessa's dad, iron-worker Leonard, custom cut for me from his salvage yard:

















Set in place and looking good!



































Cutting the steel.


Applying American Clay (Loma, Napa Olive)....My technique is improving!






















































Kitchen recycled glass tile mosaic grouted and sealed.

















I learned my lesson with doing a custom mosaic and setting each tile one by one...



















I stumbled across these dope retro light bulbs at the ReStore and decided to create a sculptural dining chandelier ...

















carfully, magically setting and securing each bulb...


















form is taking shape....


































light sculpture chandelier by day...


















light sculpture by night... I won't go into what went wrong... the appearance is alright for a first attempt, eh?

backsplash and trees

Here's a hot of my kitchen backsplash. I am using Echo Recycled Glass Tile by Crossville in 2"x2" tiles. I designed the mosaic pattern and am setting each tile in one time at a time.


















Close up of the tiles. Tile pattern design is 30% each of Onyx, For Keeps(light almost clear) and Aggie (antique amber green) with 10% of Blue Galaxy.


















Progressing around the U-shape kitchen layout.


















This weekend I planted three trees on my empty lot. The local business Osuna Nursery has an annual Adopt A Tree Sale, where I scored a Honey Locust, Sugar Maple and Burr Oak, all great street shading trees.


















Two trees went in the "Parkway" (strip between sidewalk and street) while the Maple went in the front yard where it can capitalize on my planned rooftop rainwater harvesting system.

spring is in the air

Salt Cedar lattillas. Salt Cedar is an invasive species in the bosque areas of NM, but when harvested, the variety of red bark colors can be a nice touch to a gate.

Salt Cedar Lattillas gate done.

American Clay-ing Begins

On eight of the (interior sides) of exterior adobe walls I chose to apply American Clay, an all natural interior finishing clay plaster.  Because the walls had 90+ years of lath and plaster and paint finishes with cracks and very uneven surfaces, this wonderful product was the best choice. 

I  started with the east living room wall with a red-rocks color called Bryce Canyon.  Fun times slathering on mud!

Before I started...

Mixing the integral, all natural pigment into the clay.

Working my way up the wall with first coat.

First coat, still wet.  The color lightens up a bit as it dries.

First coat drying...

recycled mosiac glass tiles

Mirror is hung, tiling completed.

Bathroom backsplash done, just needs to be grouted and sealed. 

Installing the bathroom backsplash: mosiac glass tiles with recycled glass content.
















Suprisingly easy installation with the mesh mosiac backing.


















Close up of it - it's actually slightly iridescent, but you can't quite tell in this pic.















Just sitting in the Mart Stam.

now for finishes, colors and site work

Lumber Loaner door is off and I hung my front door and set hardware.


















Close up of beautiful door.




































Kitchen close to done; solid Quartzite floor tiles are sealed.
Backsplash (recycled glass tile) and American Clay are next.




































Wine rack! (top right portion of custom cabinet)




































Ender and Apples in kitchen.

No Longer Substandard / Condemned

I passed the final-final-final inspection today, removing the casa from the Condemned and Substandard List!

Final Final'd, esa!

Happy New Year!
After a failed first attempt, I received my passing Final-Final Inspection from the City on New Years Eve Day, yay! This means substantial completion is reached and it is safe and sturdy. Now I just need to pass the Police Department's inspection to get removed from the Condemned and Substandard Building list, making it officially live-able. :D

Thanks, Rachel, for the following photos from back in September... I'll post them to show some perspective on how far it's come...


















Day two of homeownership. Wow, I sure looked pumped to get going.














Ah yes, I was excited. And I had very clean pants and gloves.
















BEFORE shot. (Courtesy of "street view" on GoogleMaps.)


















BEFORE shot. (Courtesy of "street view" on GoogleMaps.)
































The core and shell skeleton interior.


















Wait a second... what the hell did I get myself into...?!?!

concrete counters sealed and waxed

The Ticor under-mount sink with concrete counter illuminated by sunlight.


















Concrete Counters are sealed, waxed and ready for a dinner party.


















The integral charcoal color looks wicked nice. Now need some real, bold COLORS, with backsplash, American Clay finishes and more.


















Close up of the aggregate.


















View along sink counter.


















Corner shot of aggregate exposed.