Moving Into A Cob House

I have moved into the tiny cob cottage. So far I have lived in it for ten days and nights. This is the office / dining area.

The building has been very comfortable so far. The quality of sleep in the loft is remarkable. Here is the hang out space. Some bench seating will be built soon.

I now have a kitchen!

There will be a lot of room for storage under the counter. I am planning on adding more shelves on the left side.

A view out the window at breakfast time.

The week wasn't without excitement. Two severe thunderstorms that each produced tornadoes came around. In the picture below can you see the lowering on the left? That lowering produced a tornado about ten miles away.

 

One of those severe storms took a bite out of the west wall of the cottage. Its minor but I need to get the finish plasters on the outside of the building.

Those angry storms don't look so bad from the back side...

Plaster, Finishing, Electric

It has been a while since the last post. Things inside have changed!

First there was a finish coat of plaster.

My friend Georgie had recommended the book Clay Culture: Plasters, Paints, Preservation by Carole Crews...which is now my second favorite book of all time.

That book provided confidence. It game me the confidence that anyone can work with earthen plaster. Thank you Georgie!

Working with the plaster was such an amazing experience. How beautiful is this plaster?

Then...

The finish plaster received two coats of alis, a hand-made clay based paint.

Easy to make and a joy to use it was expertly applied by the talented Nina who made sure it was done right. Thank you Nina!

At long last the imagined white finish appeared.

The cottage is now adequately bright without lights, even on a cloudy day.

I miss the reddish warmth of the natural clay but the improvement in brightness makes up for it.

And even the loft is bright now.

The floor received a coat of shellac as a sealer. What a difference it made to improve the appearance.

A desk / workstation area has been added in the alcove.

Then...

 

It was time for electric.

The building is now fully electrified and is habitable.

Next post ... THE MOVE IN!!!