Open Ground

Ok, so here’s a lesson in the obvious.

Earlier today, I switched the power back on to two new outlets I wired up a few weeks ago. One of them being the Leviton Duplex Surge Protection Receptacle. This is for the new plasma I’m installing in the Library. The receptacles were not installed into the junction boxes yet and I tested them with an outlet tester. The tester read, “Open Ground”. After about an hour of running back and forth to the internet and to the main switch downstairs I figured out that once you screw the receptacle into the box, it is grounded.

Mystery solved! I’m such an idiot sometimes.

Make no small plans, they have no magic to stir men’s blood!

About 2 years ago, my lovely wife and I moved into our condo in the East Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Even as an Architect, I never guessed the world of work that awaited us. Needless to say, we are a little less than half-way through our work.

Our building, constructed in 1891 is classic Chicago. We love it. The building is comprised of 7 dwelling units, each roughly 2,200 sf. The planned renovations include:

1. Restore Library and Living Room plaster crown moulding
2. Install new wall base, wood door and window casing through out
3. Install new french doors in Living Room
4. Install Media/Home Technology Closet, wire new audio & video media through out
5. Restore and weatherseal original bent-glass double hung sashes
6. Selectively replace existing windows
7. Repaint through out
8. Re-route corridor ductwork
9. Install new lighting through-out
10. Replace doors through-out
11. Remodel Hall Bath
12. Selective alterations to Kitchen
13. Remodel 2nd Bedroom as Studio/Office

Sizing up the Project

‘Before’ – Not really our style.

Originally uploaded by David Keller

This is my wife video taping the Living Room during our second walk-through before we made the offer. I was right behind her with the measuring tape. Although the decorating was clearly not our style, we fell in love with the space quickly.