final carpentry steps

as the carpentry phase converges upon completion, even this small renovation has acquired the look and feel of a software development project.  just substitute coding and testing cycles for all the measuring, cutting and fitting and I'd feel right at home. 

it seems to me that the trim carpenter takes what he does for granted.  perhaps it's the prerogative of anybody with advanced skills, but however normal it may feel to him to be doing it, what he has produced has just been magic. 

here's a bit of detail that illustrates the point.  under the top trim piece of the pediment we selected some beading that he's been applying.  at the ends he has mitred the pieces to 45° and placed small sections to wrap the profile around the corner.  it's another one of those small details that one might never take the time to take a careful look at, but which nonetheless makes a difference.  the cumulative effect shows throughout the job. 

pediment trim detail

the pediment side panels were drilled to match the decorative trim on the window frame that will eventually be built and installed on the upper front.  above it there's a paint shadow of a trim piece that was removed years ago to make way for the first layers of shingles.  its design was used as a model for the pediment centre panel trim. 

paint shadow

I have come to the realization that just as jewelry and textiles are wearable art, a house is liveable art. 

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so here's how it all comes together: 

front exterior

the pediment center panel trim piece isn't really there.  what's visible in the image is a sort of a placeholder, but it should suffice to convey the general impression.