May 17, 2011

Mona Lisa Comes Home !!


            Some elements of a house give it special character; for example,  a front entry, a fireplace, etc.   For Folly, a very special feature is the island in the kitchen/family room.  Architecturally, the kitchen is a most unusual, and pleasing, space.  As one walks into the kitchen, the wall on which the stove/oven/ hood are placed curves away from you.   The cabinet doors are curved as is the range hood.  (Incidental intelligence for planning a budget:  a curved wood door costs six times as much as a flat door!). 

In front of this stands an island which holds the sink/dishwasher/trash.   



 Beyond that, the space opens into a cozy family room.  Since this room will be the central gathering place, the social heart of the house, so some extra attention to the various parts seems appropriate.  My hope  was the eye-catching stone top of the island would be a conversation piece, a magnet for friends and family.  

           Readers may remember my search for the countertop.  Wandering up and down aisles and aisles of granite, marble, and quartzite reminds one of the unbelievable richness of Mother Nature.  Who knew that stone came in so many patterns and colors?  There are literally hundreds of choices!   After searching several stone yards  up and down I-95, I finally settled on an exceptional piece of quartzite – something quite out of the ordinary and absolutely fascinating in the movement of the pattern.  How appropriate that it was called “Mona Lisa”!   Folly deserved no less than this magnificent stone!   

           All these months Mona Lisa has been quietly waiting at the fabricator, Elgin Marble.  Mona Lisa is big – the finished size is four feet wide by almost ten feet long and three centimeters thick.  Weight:  over 600 pounds.  How does one move such an item?  Carefully. Methodically. Slowly. Interestingly, after the truck brought her to the site, there were no other machines used.  The team established a route which consisted of small steps. 




From the truck to the ground. To the door.  To the midpoint of the room.  To  the front of the island.



            Up onto the island.




     The procedure took about an hour, but the finished product was worth the wait!!