The ceiling seen here is in the living/dining/kitchen area. It is drywall with 1x2's and 1x6's covering all the seams to form a pattern. I hate spackling drywall joints so I found a way to do it different. The tongue and grooved boards on the wall seen in the background is lumber bought from a friend he purchased at a sale for nearly nothing. He made a few bucks and I got a good deal as well. We had to plane them and make them usable but they did turn out well. If you were to look close at them you would see some small square holes which indicate they were secured previously with cut nails. Just an interesting note, we think since cut nails have not been used for quite some time. It indicates the age of the lumber is somewhat old but looks like new except for the nail holes. Oh yes and by the way concerning the kerosene light hanging up in the corner...we do use it.
Here you see a window located high up the wall used for ventilation which is to the northwest corner of the living room. The roses painted on the walls is just a touch to add some color and trying our hand at stenciling. Eh..it didn't turn out too bad but could probably be better with some experience.
This picture is a closer look at the lumber we purchased from a friend and installed after planing along with a few knick knacks hanging around. Good lumber cheap!
Here you see the woodstove we use for heating our home. We burn two but never more than three cords of wood in a winter. The stove works well and is very efficient. A better shot will be seen in another picture. The wood rack is directly behind the stove which removes the final dampness from the wood before it is burned.
Here you see a fair shot of the woodstove, the wood rack, and the brick wall that protects the wall behind it from excess heat as well as provide a storage for heat to radiate into the room when the stove cools. Also seen is the exit of the stove pipe through the wall which is double wall insulated stainless steel pipe through masonry which fire proofs the wall. Seen as well is the mantel which is a hand hewn log removed from an 1800's barn that was torn down. On the floor is an insulating plate that provides protection from hot ashes falling onto the floor. After we installed everything we called the fire department and asked for them to do an inspection and provide a report which they did. We also called our fire insurance company to do the same which they did. On all counts they were very assuring and satisfied with the installation saying all was safe. That still does not mean that we can do anything we want and all will be ok. There is a great deal to learn and know about burning wood to heat safely. Research should be done and information gathered before doing so. We have done just that and heat comfortably, efficiently and very inexpensively. There is a tremendous amount of satisfaction that comes from wood heat since it requires a good deal of work. A piece of wood will heat you at least four times before you burn it and five times when you burn it. First when you cut it, when you split it, when you stack it, when you carry it to the house and when you burn it. Each time you handle the wood in this manner, it will heat your body...Enjoy it!
Noted here is a window seat that is built into the wall in the living room. It provides additional seating room as well as a great place to lie down next to the wood stove when one comes in after a hard days work or just a great place to settle down and enjoy a good book with the spotlight flooding over your shoulder.
The living room floor noted in this picture is approximately 12' x 20'. It was made from particle board which is extremely hard and durable for a cost of approximately $120. The 4' x 8' sheets were ripped to 4' x 4' pieces, then ripped to 2' x 4' pieces, then 2' x 2', then 1' x 2', then 1' x 1' and finally squared to 11 ½". The next process was to drill countersunk holes 1 ½" in from each corner to make a pattern so the squares could be secured to the sub floor. Next the table saw was used to rip a slight edge off on all four sides to form a pattern. The squares were then screwed to the sub floor making a finished floor which was covered with several coats of polyurethane creating what you see. It took a little work but was well worth the effort for the cost.
You probably have already guessed the thrust of this picture is the kerosene lamp. We do use it. We enjoy some of the old ways even though we do have electric. Note the upside down pie plate secured to the board above the kerosene light. It keeps the board from getting warm as a lot of heat is given off from the lamp. I figure you cannot overdo safety.
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