Well known Chicago glassblower Nick Paul visits the Graystone

Nick Paul a well-known Chicago glassblower and his wife Heather visited the Greystone to discuss doing a custom set of flatware that incorporates the house logo. We are very excited to see what he comes up with.

Meet Stacy the Man with the plan.

Stacy was one of the first people we told about the possibilities of getting the Graystone. Partly because he's one of our best friends but mostly because he's the only one we could trust to help restore it. We were pleased to find out that he accepts bits of string as payment so that worked out well for us, So he was hired.

Day 2 of Stripping the entryway in The Graystone Manor in Historic Pullman

Day 2 of Stripping the entryway in The Graystone Manor in Historic Pullman and guess who stopped over.  That`s correct the World Famous Ken Brink.

Over the Past few weeks since purchasing The Graystone Manor in Historic Pullman we have had some visitors as well as a few hidden treasures found in the walls and rafters.  Below are some pictures that I wanted to get posted.

Genny Fagan our trusted designer from Walter E, Smithe stopping over to tell us about the Diva Chaise that would look awesome in the Side Parlor next to the Baby Grand. Dear Diva Chaise if you are reading this I think I love you!

Ian Lantz a new Pullman resident stopped over to say hello.  While he was over, Barb and Ian had a "Bright Idea" represented by the light bulbs. .

 Barbs Parents coming over for the fist time.  Cant wait to have some Chile during a stripping party.

 A banner from The Pullman House Tour circa 1970`s that was found in the basement rafters.

 Proof from the closing table

Day 1 of Stripping the formal dining room 1-18-13

Back from a 10 Day much needed vacation in Cancun, and got to work within 10 hrs of landing. Truth is the entire time we were in Mexico was spent dreaming of ideas. We called today test strip day and will hopefully declare a winner tomorrow, when we have some light.  Here is a short video I shot of Barb applying the very first stripper the very first day!
Cheers,

Nick

New Year New Project

It has taken some time to set in.  Nick and I will sometimes just look at each other and just say "I can't believe it".  I am not sure what is more surreal- that we are the owners of the Greystone (!!!) or the amount of work we have ahead of us.  I mean, all we really need to is make a kitchen, rehab the bathroom, pull the trees out of the gutters, redo the walls and re-finish the floors.  Oh, and strip.  Lots and lots of stripping.  It is hard to not want to take all the paint off the orginal wood after seeing what the previous owner did to the foyer and stairs.  I mean, that wood is freakin' awesome.

Nick thinks that we can do all the trim in the house.  I think we should try the formal dining room, living room and foyer and re-evaluate.