Flooring!

Back in January I bought flooring for the studio space because Lumber Liquidators was having a big new years sale... had I known that it would be august before we would lay the floor I would have waited, but oh well! Anyway... its that time! Walls are painted so its time to lay the floor... right? Wrong! First we need to level the floor, then cut out the area for the tiles (since the ceramic tiles are 1/4" and the other flooring is about 1/16") Thanks to my handy dandy daddy, we got it done!

Cutting out a section for the ceramic tile

Next we needed to put in more screws to the creaky squeaky sections. After that it was time to lay the subfloor. This will insure that there will be a very level, nice and clean surface to stick on the laminate tiles. So last night my dad and I cleaned the floor, glued the sheets and stapled it down! 

Yes, I am now the staple gun master!

We only got about half way through before it was 8:30 and time for some dinner. So my dad headed home, I cleaned up a bit and proceeded to have a nice bowl of cereal, Gotta have my Pops! Tonight, while I get my hair cut my dad said that he is going to bring my grandma over to "see the space" (and or help him finish the floor.)

Half way there!

I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful family and support system that is willing to help me with this project. I don't know where I would be without them and I can't wait until its finished and I can have a very special Friends and Family night for all of them to show my appreciation.

but until then, I always provide my helpers with the key ingredient to success,  a cold beer!

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Coming Soon?

As the summer slips away is almost comical that my initial goal was to be open by June 1st! I definitely underestimated how long construction takes and how many things go into making such a simple space turn into a beautiful studio boutique. So what is going on?!

Here's the plan. We will be open for German Day, Sept 6-9 but it will not be finished. This is the busiest time of year and I just can't focus enough time to working on the space. The final goal is to be finished and working in the space by Thanksgiving. "But thats almost 3 months from now!" - Yes... it is, but there is no way I'm going rush the finishing of the space that I've put way to much time and money into. I'm going to take my time, do it right, and make it perfect. We will have a grand opening party sometime in the winter.

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Finished with the Facade!

Yesterday was very exciting because when I came home... the facade was finished! My little Bavarian style front is complete! Can't wait to put out a flower box next year... and maybe re-paint the shutters so they stand out a bit more. 

5051 N. Lincoln Ave!

 The inside is ready for some paint and finishing! Before the German Day Festivities, the floor will be finished, walls and ceiling painted and some custom cabinetry will be installed by the front window. I've decided (along with my studio/boutique contracting advisor... aka dad) that those three things will take the entire month of August to complete considering he has a full time job and I still have orders to fill. I'm very excited about the space and have come to terms with the fact that it is realistically going to take until 2013 to complete.

Facing Lincoln Ave

Looking in from the front door. 

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Studio Boutique Update

Not much to report... this week was pretty quiet. Lights are going to be put in next week and then I believe its our turn to get to work; starting with the ceiling.

The facade has also not changed at all this week, but it sure did change last week! I'm very excited to see the beginning of the Bavarian style store front. 

5051 N. Lincoln Ave

Everyday, people ask me, "So when is the studio going to be ready?" "When is the grand opening?" and the truth is... I have no idea. The contractor said that the interior was going to be complete last week and the facade this week, but its not. So I can't gage when its going to be ready, plus I don't know how fast I'll be working either... I've never laid tile in my life, so it may take me a little while.

I'm hoping for an August opening, but we shall see... we shall see. 

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1,2,3... DRYWALL

So excited to see the space last Thursday... because it looked like this! Even more excited about it because there was nothing there on Wednesday. It's starting to come together and I couldn't be happier.

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Coming soon to Lincoln Square!

Thanks the wonderful people at the DANK Haus for graciously welcoming Rare Trachtenwear to the Lincoln Square Neighborhood by offering their windows to us for the month of June!

To kick off the Maifest May 31st - June 3rd, we put up some of our most sought after pieces in the DANK Haus's new windows!

Men's New Polo and Bundhosen with the Sunflower Dirndl

Bringing some pops of bright colors to the night life of the fabulous Lincoln Square!

Rainforest Queen Couture Gown

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Looking more like a store and less like a crack house

For a while there the front of the studio was completely boarded up and very uninviting, however... as of Saturday... we've got fabulous new aluminum windows and a very professional door! I'm so excited!! Its all starting to come together and the contractor said that the interior should be complete by the end of next week and the exterior the week after!

Front of the New Studio Boutique as of June 2nd

Looking out the new windows!

That means my job comes in... To save some money I've opted to do all the finishing myself meaning, floors, painting, fixtures etc. And what I have in mind is going to take me some time... serious time. But I've got a week to prepare, so time to get back to work... dirndls don't sew themselves. (but that would be really sweet)

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