WISHING FOR A FIREPLACE
In preparing for this day, I’d spent over three weeks looking for just the right water fountain to be our focal point. I’d originally wanted a fireplace. I’d envisioned that to be the first view when you walk through the front door — an attractive fireplace covering the boring tan block wall we currently look at. I wanted the patio to be an extension of the living room to the eye.
But Nick our contractor said it would cost several thousand, and it would have to be at least 30 inches deep to be functional. With only a seven foot width to play with (7×34), it just didn’t seem like a good idea to build something sticking out that far. It’s pretty hard to visualize what the space will feel like when built out. It’s long and skinny, and I want it to feel spacious and functional. I went to a couple upscale garden centers — they had premade fireplaces, but they were massive and too expensive for this condo redo.
WISHING FOR A FOUNTAIN
Then I had the brilliant idea of inviting the contractors to build a waterfall from tile or prestacked stones. Yes, it would be thin enough for our space constraints. We could pick out the colors. Since the building is a yellow Italian style, and our living room furniture is yellow with blonde floors, I went to every tile store in the area looking for just the right colors. But just before I bought non-refundable tiles, it occurred to me it would save a lot all the way around if I could find an existing Italian fountain. After three weeks of constant shopping and contemplating, I did! While we’d seen a lot of lions, cupids, and Buddhas, we found one that looks weathered and charming. And it sounds good, too. Yes, we had listened to them all. I loved the fountain pictured here, but alas, it didn’t tinkle loud enough to mask the urban noises created when people live cheek to jowl.
Loved the fountain, but not Italian style
So we’d planned, measured, shopped, changed our minds a bunch of times, bought a pile of supplies…. and then last night I found a yellow slate fireplace in the aisle of Costco! Of all places. Twelve hours before we were to start the project, there IT was behind the tofu display. Only 18 inches wide — the same size the planters are to be. I stopped dead, circled around and around, then moved on. The fountain had just been delivered on Friday. But I ended up circling back to the fireplace, then mentioned it casually to my husband. Bill thought it was a good price for what it was. But I felt it would blow the budget majorly. We checked out, without the fireplace.
A FIREPLACE AND A FOUNTAIN, OH MY! END OF BUDGET
When Nick Herrera said his crew would arrive at 7 AM on Monday morning, he meant it. The first thing I greeted him with was that I’d found a fireplace! Fortunately, the project hadn’t even begun, so we made adjustments to our plans. And then we went off to fetch the humongously heavy thing. I going to have to dip into more savings (George Bush would approve of such spending during a deep recession!! smart??). I’d unwittingly added another day of labor costs to our project. The men had to dig deep trenches for the gas line, plus run pipe from the front of the house.
My fantasy of getting the project done in a week evaporated. Although the hard-working crew only took a break for lunch, it was a long day of digging and breaking up the existing concrete. We were left at the end with mounds of debris. But I was ever so grateful not to have done the digging!
Changing plans to include fireplace
Digging gas trenches patio fireplace
