Peter Follansbee once joked that I’ll buy any book that is titled “The Furniture of (Blah Blah Blah)” – in which “blah” could be a person, place or time.
He’s not entirely incorrect.
Of course I love books, reading them, writing them and designing them. And so I am constantly adding to our library, culling the losers and trying to figure out how to organize the damn books. (Right now it’s organized roughly by period, plus sections on tools, wood, philosophy, fiction and chairs.)
In addition to our library, the back room is where we design and edit our books. It’s where I keep most of my records and my stereo. (For the audio-shamers out there, my turntable is a Thorens and my pre-amp and amp are from Schiit. The speakers are Klipsch.)
All the shelving is made from yellow pine 2x12s that are screwed together and are then bolted to the masonry walls.
The Klaus Skrudland Memorial Bathroom is such an elevated way to go. Our former bathrooms were from the building’s years as a bar. They barely worked. When we tore out the old bathrooms, we found some stuff that still haunts me.
The new kitchenette is my favorite place in the morning. I make coffee there while Bean tries to lure me through the back door to the biergarten – which we will visit during our next and final installment.
— Christopher Schwarz
For some reasoni thought the library was in the cellar.
Thanks for the tours.
The bathroom looks amazing, especially considering how it looked before. Where’s the oak tree identification poster?
Right now it’s in my bedroom. I haven’t decided where to put it yet.
I am impressed by your fancy scanner.
“… we found some stuff that still haunts me.” Are you talking cultural/anthropological or jackleg construction/plumbing?
Let’s just say that former bar customers were using our urinal in an unapproved fashion.
We’ve all been there. Don’t judge.
Do you have a link for the metal drawer shelving holding all the hardware?
Equipto still exists. https://www.equipto.com/
But we buy all our stuff used at secondhand stores, ebay etc.
Merci pour les visites !
I’m really liking seeing this series. I tried describing to my wife that you took a barroom building and converted it into a woodshop/publishing space/library/home for empty nesters and how well it does all those things while looking good at the same time and she seemed confused.
You can’t link Schiit without also linking the excellent tale of their founding! Beware: it’s a great yarn and it goes on a bit. You could be reading for days.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up.701900/
Also, I’m impressed that their forum software hasn’t exploded under the weight of an 82,227 post thread.
That story sold me on Schiit for all time. The headphone amp and pre-amp at my workstation are Schiit.
You have created a beautiful space. Thanks for sharing! Coffee, books, woodworking, friends, and memories. You’ve made it.
Seeing Wendell Berry’s The Country of Marriage on your bookshelf started my day on an unexpectedly high note.
Thanks for the tour!
That brick archway is gorgeous!
Nice space (and communal shower room). Did I spot a few copies of Roubo on Marquetry (Deluxe edition) on that shelf? I’d mame a small cat for a copy of one of those (not Bean of course).
Stuff o’ dreams! Glad y’all are able to make it work! Hopefully more people will realize that there are more options in life than a house in the burbs and a 9 to 5. now I want a turntable again!
Having your own work place and doing it your way is amazing. 40 years ago I told my corporate boss where to put the job, leased space and got to work. Always about the work and keeping ahead we’ve had CNC machines for almost 25 years. Too busy to fix the place up as you have but I like it. It’s my happy place. 2 employees one 34 years, the other 10 years and it’s their happy place too. Our clients love us and think we can build or fix anything, even their marriages. As the end gets near I built a new shop at home, the comfy one, now where to put the leather couch.
It’s a very nice place you have there. Looking forward to the next video as I didn’t see the machine shop during the open house.
Thank you for sharing these – I’m really enjoying them. I’m sure I’m not the only one while watching woodworking videos I’m 1/2 watching the work and 1/2 looking around the woodworker at their shop!
If you want to combine woodworking and audio, have a look at this delightful rabbit hole: https://www.linkwitzlab.com.
If you want to improve nearly any stereo system, start by moving the speakers out of the corners and away from the walls. That comes with decorating and room use challenges, but the additional delay in reflected sounds likely improves the sound quality by more than any equipment “upgrades”.
It is as I feared… his Lordship is not content with the current arrangement. The irritable flicking of the tail, the pricked ears, the menacing, but subdued flexing of claws… and most telling of all; the leaden silence. His Tripawed Furryness is obviously not a happy camper. I’m quite certain he wishes to renegotiate his royalty arrangements. Is the freshness of his sushi an issue ? I understand Covington is not located by the sea. These things matter if you wish to retain the affections of a star performer. Perhaps moving to a more maritime location would ameliorate the situation ? I hear one can make perfectly serviceable stuff from driftwood 🙂
Beautiful space! I like how you positioned the couch facing the window and the sound system. Beautiful job on the bathroom and kitchenette. Like the bench room, everything is tidy and well organized, love it. Bean is a cool cat. Thank you for the tour!
Thanks for that, Chris. I am curious to know which Thorens you have? As it happens, I have recently posted an article on my website about rebuilding a TD150 (Mk 2), which I have had for 40 years. Die Hard stuff for woodworkers with an audiophile heart: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/NotReallyFurniture.html
Regards from Perth, Derek
This stuff must be murder on your operating budget.
https://www.schiit.com/products/toilet-paper
Thank you so much for sharing. Look forward to taking a class at LAP.
Perfect! I have followed this labor of love since the day you put it out to the universe. When a plan such as this comes together in such an elegant and life-affirming way, the result speaks for itself. Congratulations to you Chris, Lucy, John, and Megan.
Wow! The improvements in the back half of the store are very well done.
Thanks Chris. Enjoying the series. It’s a bit of drive from California to visit so I appreciate the tour. I’m 6 years into woodworking (and thinking of going to either North Bennet or Krenov for formal training full time if I can get in). Are there any books you can recommend that have lots of pictures of different styles of period furniture? Similar to that, do you know of any books that show truly stunning pieces of furniture? I’ve got a pretty good library of woodworking books and am looking to add some in what I mentioned.
Hi Joe,
I’m not Chris but this Lost Art book might be just what you’re looking for if you don’t already have it:
https://lostartpress.com/collections/books/products/the-difference-makers
Good luck in your woodworking journey. Sometimes worth checking out local community college classes on your way to more adventurous learning. Southern California has a bunch of you are nearby.
Hi David,
Thank you. That will be on my Christmas list for sure. I hoping to find something that focuses on prior historical styles. I’m sure it exists. Not a huge rush. I will check out community colleges as well, great idea. Thanks as it didn’t occur to me.
Sincerely,
Joe
I’m impressed that a “kitchenette” has a Kitchen Aid mixer…. Surprised it isn’t cobalt blue and upstairs!
Ha! That’s a Kitchenaid coffee maker! I do have an old Hobart upstairs
Looks really good. Last I was there (a few years ago) I don’t think the kitchenette was in. I really like the green color on the cabinets.
First, everything is exceedingly neat, organized and stylish. I am jealous and abashed.
Second, no need to apologize for that sound system, seems perfect for anything this side of theoretical audiophilomania (see description in Krafft-Ebbing). Anybody who needs better speakers than Klipsch probably spends more time reading specs than playing music.
Third, is that an Epson 10000XL?!!
Given the before pictures of the bar when you moved in, this is nothing short of amazing…
Thanks for the tour. I like the cabinet color and the kitchenette wall color. How were the bookshelves bolted to the wall?
Our building is masonry construction. So I screwed lots of L-brackets to the shelves and then attached those to the masonry with Tapcons. My goal was to be able to climb the thing if necessary (it isn’t).
The space looks very inviting and I can understand why you’d be excited to walk down to work in the morning. One thing, though – is LAP a BYOTP sort of place or are you guys just rolling the dice?