Month: September 2019

I was sitting in my son’s flat in Verona, Italy while eating a sandwich and I glanced to my left and saw his oven. It is a SMEG. While my reefer is not a SMEG – they are too expensive and too tall – I was, nonetheless, reminded of my new refrigerator and the recent work I’ve done on its enclosure. Have a look:

OK. It’s been awhile. I suppose because the subject matter fails to inspire gushing. I mean, we’re talking about trim here. But while the subject may cause yawns, I must admit this stage of Sparta’s rebirth is exciting. As each strip of trim is applied I feel more confident that this project will be completed. Believe it, I have had my doubts these past few years.

So I am finished with interior window trim. Which brings me to my next challenge. First, an aside. One of the benefits (and dangers) of having a blog detailing one’s labor of love is receiving unsolicited advice. On several occasions both of my readers have weighed in with something like, “Have you thought of ?…” . Well, no. Actually I haven’t, but now that you mention it. And that’s how it starts. My brother-in-law, Jim, has been useful in that way and now my brother, Bill, has jumped into the fray, creating heretofore unimagined complexity. The subject was kitchen counter trim and initially my solution to the back-splash edge was going to be aluminum “L” strips. Yeah, the matte silver didn’t match the copper sink but, whatever. Bill said to me “Why don’t you use copper. It will look better.” Gr-r-r-r. So I accepted his challenge only to find that copper trim is hard to find. And when you do, it’s expensive. My janky solution was to take my aluminum “L” strips (Oh yeah, did I mention I had already bought them) and paint them. Oh, but were it just that simple. No. aluminum doesn’t take to paint – or vice versa. In fact, paint just sloughs right off. So I had to vigorously sand each strip to make it more receptive to treatment, spray each with self-etching primer (5 coats), then spray with copper paint (4 coats) and finally 3 layers of clear top coat. Jeesh.

Thanks, Bill. No. Really. Thanks!