The Monticello conceit - customizing our dwellings big or small, you?

[UTUSN]

Us geezers remember what passed for "history" in our basic educational system, stuff more like myth making/hagiography. Like how to draw a picture of JEFFERSON's "genius" by describing how he had made brilliant features of Monticello, such as having his bed jut out between his Study on one side and other room on the other, so that he could LEAP out on whichever side suited his waking state.

Now with Al GORE's internet and The University of YouTube, multifarious knickknacks of previously ignored knowledge are immeasurably revising what we were taught - such as, that monticello means "little mountain" or that Wikipedia immediately informs us that Monticello was built by his slaves and that it was sold and in private hands until becoming a museum in 1923. I'm sure some/here knew these things, but your education my vary from mine.

I remember a short story in elementary school by a daughter who clearly idolized/idealized her father, her example of his wonder being how he knew every inch of the house at night without turning on the lights. Don't we all have this trait?

*** But I digress. I assert that now we are *all* geniuses. So what customizing have you done to your abode? For context, "starter" home would be an laughable understatement to many/here about mine so there's that. Here are some of my JEFFERSON bits:

* What's the deal with outside water connections and indoor electrical outlets being installed at ground/floor level? So I had the water things piped up to almost waist level and use extension cords (will surely be told "dangerous" ) for same reach. Bedside fan and light connections within reach (yes, have Remotes).

* Relocated the driveway from the front to decongest traffic, a contribution to the neighborhood. Got rid of absentee landlords and house flippers, another one.

* One key for all doors, one for fence gates.

* Got rid of all cabinets - those ceiling-high (why?) things and down-below ones. Just a couple of wire type shelves at shoulder level. No bulky furniture with drawers - storage bins (like for winter stuff, other stuff). Rolling rack with bars for trousers like in department stores. Trousers/shirts all are in Rotation. All in the two constellations: Blue/black vs brown/green.

* Had a wall knocked out to join two small rooms. First, replaced an iron bathtub (now in high demand) with regular step-in shower, but then later had the ankle-rim removed for hospital-type no-rim shower pan for potential access by wheelchair.

* This, besides the utilitarian necessities (appliances, infrastructure).

[Chainfire]

1. I arched some of my passageways. It is more pleasant on the eyes than square openings.

I have done some outside corners with two 45 degree angles instead of a single 90 degree angle. It makes it look like you cared...

I put down wood floors where I cut the huge tree on my property, I hauled the logs to a private sawmill where I helped saw it into planks, brought it home and dried it for one year in a covered shed, too, took the dried wood to a cabinet shop where I helped to have it planed and straightened, brought it home, nailed and glued it down, made baseboards from the leftovers and stained and finished it. That was my living room, dining room and hallway. Then If figured out that I could go to the Home Despot (intentional spelling) buy prefinished plastic that looks sort of like wood and snap it down in my bedrooms and closets...

I have to tell you, my wife wouldn't say "shit" if she stepped in it up to her knees, while we were installing the wood floors, This Old House was playing on TV. We were both covered in floor adhesive, she looked at me and said we should do a program...This Damned Old House. I may have heard her cuss one or two other times in the 53 years we have been together...

I have also wallpapered the kitchen, and bathrooms. I would rather have an ass-whipping than hang wallpaper...Every time I do it, I swear I will never do it again. The next time I do it, I will swear that I will never do it again. I know that it is not popular any more, but I like the way it finishes a wall.

I built a lot of our furniture, China cabinet, dining room table, coffee table, end tables, etc. I am not a carpenter, but a plumber that impersonates a wood butcher.

I bought my first house nearly 50 years ago. I can count on one hand the time I have brought someone in to fix something.

[UTUSN]

2. Excellent, ALL! Am not worthy over here! - An amusing slap-down I got:

In the days before (my) cell phone/GPS, I was lost and stopped at a small, upscale/niche furniture store for directions. Not my taste but very nice furniture, in no way "rustic." So the high maintenance sales person provided the directions and I looked around a bit at the stock. She knew I wouldn't be a customer and just let me be. On my way out I pointed to a small table and said, "We guys could make something like that out of two by fours."

Without a beat she said, "Yes, and we women have to PRETEND to *like* it!1"

[Conjuay]

3. Ive turned

every garage of every house I’ve lived in into a spelunking cave. VERY special talent, that.