Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Mid-Century Moto Mecca Makeover

[sakurama]

Well, Judiaann took off the week to clean and move and then spent the first three days of it sick in bed. We cleaned Thursday and Friday we tried to move. Portland rarely ever gets snow. Like once every couple of years maybe but Thursday it snowed. And Friday it snowed. And today it's snowing. Judiaann's nephew Justin helped us.

My tires are so bad (another expense that's been waylaid to pay for the house) and the snow so slick that even in four wheel drive we couldn't back up the driveway. I'd put the truck in park about 10' further up and with wheels locked it would just slide to the bottom of the drive. Yup, great day to move.

Friday was also the start of the 1 Motorcycle Show in Portland and I had to load up my boxer and take it down. Weather was so bad I almost considered not going. Just for a moment.

I think my bike was the only one with snow on it.

Despite the wretched weather hundreds, nay, thousands showed up. It's an incredible show - by far the best in the country. If you're close you should really check it out. The highlight for me was meeting Ola Stenegärd who is the design director at BMW in Germany and him saying that he's had a photo of my bike in his inspirations file for the last 12 years and that he thought it was one of the most important BMW's around. High praise from the designer of the HP2 Sport (my personal favorite) and the S1000RR. My bike was placed next to Roland Sands R90 concept. Cool.

Today I'm going to swing back by the show to have my photo taken for the book and then it's back to moving - in the snow. Again. I'm hoping that we get far enough today that we can stay there tonight.

Such a long time coming.

Gregor

 

[Audicon]

I think my bike was the only one with snow on it.

Gregor

If it s the kind of show I think is, It may be the only has hit pavement on its own power within the last decade

 

[onething]

Gregory - you should add the third chain.
Greatness.

 

[Rue1781]

Glad that your moving or moved in!! So it snows there too. I have to admit that after learning about Portland...I am surprised to see it, snow that is. I just envisioned you guys were in the NO SNOW part...I guess I was wrong.

 

[Dr.AK]

You sir, are pretty much living my dream. Awesome house, awesome garage, awesome vehicle building skills, awesome photography skills (I am a photographer myself, although I am nowhere near your level and also just starting out to do it on the side)... you're doing it right!

After Ben left (I didn't get enough prefinished because I sort of forgot that I needed a bottom on my cabinets... Doh!) I decided to swap the door direction on the refrigerator. It's not an American refrigerator for sure - it took about two hours to swap all the various parts across. It didn't help that my very last screw cross threaded and I had to drill it out and then clean the threads up.

I have to bring this up, as this is a familiar topic to me. I live in Germany and I currently deliver and install all kinds of appliances for a living, amongst these also Liebherr fridges - actually, congratulations on buying one of the best fridges out there, haha. Two hours is a looooong time for this. When I first started I used to take just less than an hour, now I can do it in about half an hour. A good tip if you ever have to do it again: tilting the fridge on it's back (ideally placing something like a sturdy cardboard box so it supports the upper 1/3 of the fridge) but so that it is NOT lying down completely (so that you do not damage the compressor unit and such) makes the swap a whole lot easier and faster. Doing it with the fridge in standing position is a huge pain in the behind.

 

[sakurama]

You sir, are pretty much living my dream.

I have to bring this up... Two hours is a looooong time for this. When I first started I used to take just less than an hour, now I can do it in about half an hour.

Thanks! And...

That's about right then. I thought fixing up the house would take about three months and I'm just over a year now....

Gregor

 

[YoungMedic]

Gregor

So much win in this picture!

 

[sshoretdi]

nice to follow your tread !!!!!!

Wonder is that a bmw r75/5 with a swing arm from a later build bmw ?, sorry but not a specialist of those bikes, but this is tempting me

 

[Dan from Denmark]

http://www.teamincomplete.com/Boxer/boxerhome.html

Be careful it's easy to catch the boxer bug

 

[sakurama]

The boxer deserves some updates once the garage is done but the Guzzi and Triumph are first in line. And maybe some sort of bike shed since I seem to have no room for my bikes right now...

Gregor

 

[Cseger1]

I just swung in to comment that I've seen your boxer in some moto blogs covering the One Show. And I agree, that's one of the most important BMWs ever.

 

[sakurama]

So we're still not living there but I guess we're getting closer. It seems that between the two of us we have different ideas of what's acceptable. I would sleep in a pile of sawdust at this point. But we're closer.

One thing I'm trying to do is swap out the various outlets for the newer style Decora plugs - both Ben and my brother gave me that "well obviously you're going to swap out right?" Umm, hadn't thought about it but yeah - might as well since there's so many that need replacing for one reason or another. It's also that last chance to catch things like this:

Yeah, that's a foam gasket painted white (several colors actually) and then held in with a screw. I swear I am still being surprised by the things I'm finding.

Yes, I'm intentionally trying not to line up the screws.

Then we finally put some of my furniture in place.

The stuff isn't pristine but then we have kids so there's no point in having things that can't be used.

And then, because if I have to keep working alone in the house, I put the hifi in. It's old but good and the room is perhaps one of the best sounding rooms I've heard because of the sloping ceiling.

It's beginning to feel like a home.

Gregor

 

[Baroquenstrings]

Those look like really comfortable couches. I'm painting my house interior right now, removing and cleaning old paint off the outlet covers and I've lost 3 of those screws. However, I lined all the others up!
I didn't brave the snow to go to The One and I'm UBER bummed! I go every year and had no idea your bike was going to be there. I really wish I'd gone.

 

[Evan K.]

Like the teak and the Vornado. The Naim Audio is nice too

 

[sakurama]

I didn't brave the snow to go to The One and I'm UBER bummed! I go every year and had no idea your bike was going to be there. I really wish I'd gone.

I almost didn't go! Amazingly, it was over capacity Fri and Sat so I can't imagine the turnout if the weather had been good. The quality was much better too - not to rub it in. I was blown away to see people in 'stiches with helmets in hand... They rode in a blizzard?!?

Like the teak and the Vornado. The Naim Audio is nice too

You, my friend, have a good eye and obscure tastes.

Gregor

 

[jbmccandless]

"Yes, I'm intentionally trying not to line up the screws. "

That's because you have them set to the same torque setting, right?

Congrats on the One show! I was going to fly up from CA but it didn't work out...it's definitely on my list for next year,

 

[Dr Klaun]

Not sure the final finish of your hardware, but is that a brass hinge?

I know, your not done yet and I'm nit-picking....

 

[Brian R]

Well, Judiaann took off the week to clean and move and then spent the first three days of it sick in bed. We cleaned Thursday and Friday we tried to move. Portland rarely ever gets snow. Like once every couple of years maybe but Thursday it snowed. And Friday it snowed. And today it's snowing. Judiaann's nephew Justin helped us.

My tires are so bad (another expense that's been waylaid to pay for the house) and the snow so slick that even in four wheel drive we couldn't back up the driveway. I'd put the truck in park about 10' further up and with wheels locked it would just slide to the bottom of the drive. Yup, great day to move.

Ok - I feel better. I mean your house / bikes / photography are out of this world. Glad to see you move things just as us mere mortals do. Thanks for documenting and sharing not only your work but also your process.

Good luck,
Brian

 

[ebarker9]

Really enjoying this thread. If I'm 1/10th as successful in my home and garage renovations and 1/1000th in my photographic pursuits I'll be thrilled.

Also love the furniture...don't tell me that's homemade as well?

 

[Max Power]

Those screws are seriously bugging me. I remove plates and screws from high use switches / outlets for cleaning from time to time. Makes slight misalignment less noticeable.

 

[bdking]

Those screws are seriously bugging me.

I've intentionally not pointed these out to Gregor. http://www.trufig.com

I figure he's too far along to mess with expensive outlets now, so it's safe to mention them.

 

[sakurama]

I've intentionally not pointed these out to Gregor. http://www.trufig.com

I figure he's too far along to mess with expensive outlets now, so it's safe to mention them.

Wow, you are a true friend. Thank you so much for withholding that information until today when I've finished covering and converting all the downstairs plugs (and went back and set the screws to horizontal and 7 in/lbs) because that link is a certain (and beautiful) path to bankruptcy.

My 20 year old Naim gear is like our similarly old Toz free pistols - a good place to draw a line in sand and 95-97% as good as the current offerings at a fraction of the cost. Those last percentages of perfection are always expensive!

Gregor

 

[sakurama]

Ok - I feel better. I mean your house / bikes / photography are out of this world. Glad to see you move things just as us mere mortals do.

Just to clarify: I move things in a beat up F150 but I put my pants on two legs at a time like no one else!

Gregor

 

[bdking]

(and went back and set the screws to horizontal and 7 in/lbs

Yikes! Horizontal collects dust & doesn't harmonize with the vertical outlet prongs. You better rotate those 90 degrees before y'all have anyone over.

 

[Zippercat]

Are you using the tamper-resistant outlets? They are a royal PIA to use, but with small kids they are worth it.

 

[Andrew S]

Gregor-
If you have not seen these two decora options before, might I suggest them:






We installed the USB in the kitchen where my wife's iPad lives while charging, and the night light in the bathroom.
USB may be useful on your kitchen peninsula, as you mentioned your kids spending time there, I imagine with gizmos of some sorts.

These two get used more than any other outlets in our house.

Andrew

 

[sakurama]

Are you using the tamper-resistant outlets? They are a royal PIA to use, but with small kids they are worth it.

Yes, required by code I believe.

Gregor-
If you have not seen these [USB] decora options before...

We installed the USB in the kitchen where my wife's iPad lives while charging, and the night light in the bathroom.
USB may be useful on your kitchen peninsula.

Yes, I plan to add them but I want to see where they'll be used most first. The one outlet I bought on a whim was an occupancy sensor switch for the pantry but I already love it so much I'm going to add one for the garage and downstairs bath. I hated the location of the switch but there weren't other options - now it doesn't matter. Very cool.

Gregor

 

[YoungMedic]

Yeah I put an Occ sensor in our master bath for the shower light and its the best thing I have ever done to any house. Walking in half asleep in the middle of the night, no fumbling for the switch. Now I feel weird when I walk into a room and the light doesn't come on

Living room is looking awesome with all that great furniture, what kind of speakers do you have running off the Naim's ?

 

[sakurama]

Not sure the final finish of your hardware, but is that a brass hinge?

Yeah, there's lots of compromises right now to get in. Down the line, way down the line, I'll call in favors from my old friends at Nanz and actually put in better doors worthy of their hardware. The front door and garage door are first on my list though.

Now I feel weird when I walk into a room and the light doesn't come on

Living room is looking awesome with all that great furniture, what kind of speakers do you have running off the Naim's ?

Yeah, it's like standing in front of a non-automatic door waiting for it to open.

They're Naim speakers. Like Festool I find its easiest to decide on one koolaid flavor and not mix it. Keeps neurosis at bay.

Gregor

 

[Evan K.]

You, my friend, have a good eye and obscure tastes.

Gregor

Thanks. Takes one to know one!

 

[Cobra4B]

Gregor... you've got to go line those screws up in the switch covers!

 

[Cseger1]

I knew about soap but completely forgot. Good tips. I'll put them in action today.

Gregor

On projetcts that require lots of screwing (decks) i usually spray the whole bin of screws with wd40. Makes your battery last about 3times longer.

 

[BSAschields]

This thread is awesome. You are doing a fantastic job. I think we are living a parallel life. Im building a shop. I need to cut a wall in the kitchen to install a long bank of windows. I want to build kitchen cabinets and I already have the cables to install a railing on our deck. Two letter difference though. Your BMW I'm BSA.
Thanks for posting up you projects . I have learned a lot already . Once I start I may have some questions... If you have time to answer them....

 

[OSULemon]

Eagerly awaiting the toolbox/workbench build.

 

[sakurama]

Gregor... you've got to go line those screws up in the switch covers!

I'm doing it. Horizontal to bother Ben.

On projetcts that require lots of screwing (decks) i usually spray the whole bin of screws with wd40. Makes your battery last about 3times longer.

Love that idea. When I do the deck next year I'll try to remember it.

This thread is awesome. Two letter difference though. Your BMW I'm BSA.
Thanks for posting up you projects . I have learned a lot already . Once I start I may have some questions... If you have time to answer them....

Thanks! I have a Triumph too so I have imperial wrenches as well. Luckily I haven't needed whitworth.

Eagerly awaiting the toolbox/workbench build.

You and me both.

....

Funny story I thought of when I wrote "wrenches". When it was snowing last week Judiaann commented how all the guys with 4wd and "wenches" love snow so they can use their wenches to pull people out. I said, "You mean winches but I like wenches better!" Now I just imagine a redneck and his tarted up ***** pushing people out of snowbanks...

Gregor

 

[YoungMedic]

nice wordplay

 

[Sham]

I only discovered your thread today and read through all 32 pages of it.
That's an amazing place you have, I absolutely love the details (the black quarter round line between wall and ceiling is just perfect).

Kudos for the great work. I obviously subbed, will be back for more... Good luck with the rest of your build!

Cheers from France,
-Jim-

 

[ruffryder]

While looking at homes I saw this and thought of your thread. Looks interesting with some similar qualities.

http://www.redfin.com/WA/Issaquah/26630-SE-158th-St-98027/home/425172

 

[Tyberius]

Love this thread

That festool stuff is sharp.

Makes me rethink laminate for kitchens.

Will have to move my garage cabinets up on the list of things to do.

Love the scoots too.

 

[Flash68]

Best thread on this forum! Thanks for sharing everything.