01 May, 2008

Built in Ironing Board and Ice Box

Monty, I'll take what's behind door number one...

Eek! The new tenants are moving in on Saturday. Where did the month go?

In getting the top-floor unit ready for our paying guests, we found ourselves with a longer to-do list than we originally anticipated. Isn't that always the case? While the electrical and plumbing systems take priority, it was fixing the ironing board and cleaning up the ice box that were the most satisfying tasks.

The built-in ironing boards were definitely one of those vintage details that sold us on The Box House in the first place. Each unit has one. But the one on the top floor was off its hinges and the screw holes were stripped. There was no way they'd hold new screws. There were also some dowel rods on the underside that needed replacing.

To take care of the screw holes, I filled them with PL Fix Wood Repair to create a new surface. We were very impressed with how it worked. Ted was able to screw the hinges back into the ironing board and said it was "almost" like screwing into wood. So we do recommend this product.

Voila! Now if someone opens the door, the board will not come crashing down on his or her head.

There's even a separate board for ironing sleeves.

I'm not sure if the tenants will actually use this, but it's a fabulous vintage detail, and one that really makes me feel connected to the women who toiled in the kitchen before me. Yeah, right. Like I really toil in the kitchen.

As for the ice box "repair", that was a bit of a surprise. When I was at Home Depot for my 20th trip of the week, Ted secretly stripped off the old and ugly contact paper that was covering the tenants' ice box in the pantry:

So now it looks much more presentable.

We should be able to wrap up the final tasks on our list Thursday, and spend Friday doing a last clean-up before the tenants move in. I'm excited because they seem like very nice people, but slightly apprehensive because we've grown somewhat accustomed to having The Box House to ourselves.

9 comments:

Ethan@OneProjectCloser said...

Hope all goes well with the renters. I'd use the vintage ironing board, especially the sleeve thingy!

Jen said...

I agree, the sleeve thingy would be handy. But wait, just how long has it been since I've ironed...

When you get your first rent check, it will feel much more comfortable.

Love the old house details.

Jennifer said...

I want that built in ironing board!!!!! I LOVE it! I never iron, but I want it anyway.

That ice box is so cool, too... I would LOVE to rent a place like that!

Amalie said...

The l=picture on that wood filler box looks like someone shaving their legs...or maybe I just need another cup of coffee...

I am so jealous of your tenants! I would have killed for all those details!

Joanne said...

Ethan--Thanks for your good wishes!

Jenni--I can't remember the last time I ironed; one of the benefits of working from home means I don't have to maintain a business wardrobe! We already received (and spent) the first rent check on general maintenance stuff--including prepping the tenants' unit--and it was nice not to have to dig into our own pockets for that. I could get used to this.

Jennifer--Come on over anytime to try out the ironing board!

Amalie--Great. Now I can't look at the wood filler box without thinking I really need to shave my legs sometime.

Andy said...

I'm jealous of the built-in ironing boards as well...I'd love to have those too! :)

Anonymous said...

I've got a old vintage ironing board that folds down out the closet still got the pads to it the original pads it needs to be sanded and painted I left it original are you interested shoot me a price. Trying to figure out how I can get a picture on there of it

Anonymous said...

I am looking for an old fold out ironing board.

Anonymous said...

Is this still available?