It’s been over a year since my last post. As of yesterday, I feel I’ve finished the last detail and can now call Arborion finished … although it will never really be finished. There’s always upkeep and improvements.
In the year I’ve lived (recreated) in Arborion, I’ve come to realize that so much heart, soul and reverence went into the build that I find myself staring at the choice of wood grain on the tansu stairs, or the joinery of the shoji bathroom door, and remembering just what went into the design and creation until it manifested into something physical. Each detail compounding into a home.

Arborion
I’ve had to repair a fascia board that began rotting from the end. While I was at it I went ahead and restained all the exterior cypress trim again.
I added a walnut chair rail to cover the seam between maple and walnut paneling. A handsome ceiling fan with light has been installed. I was careful to recreate shorter fan blades so it would not be too close to my head as I ascend the stairs to the sleeping loft. Some of my family members banded together to purchase futon mattresses for both my bed and pull out bench/bed. Thank you, family! I also installed the weeping willow stained glass that my mom made for me in the sleeping loft gable, awning window. Thank you, Mom!

Sleeping Loft Weeping Willow Stained Glass
The lower kitchen cabinet now has maple doors. Walnut backsplashes are in place finishing out the countertops. Small maple trim has been used in some of the corners and joints of the maple paneling. The shower/tub is functional and the final walnut trim has been installed. This was all with help from my Dad. Thank you, Dad!

Kitchen

Shower with trim

Shower with trim

Cozy reading nook

Micro trim in the reading nook
I have a rock climbing route to get up to the storage loft. And I hand-stitched curtains that hang from custom wooden curtain rods.

Rock climb route to the storage loft
I also found a solution to my tankless water heater. I needed to create an exhaust vent and fresh air intake for the propane water heater. The modifications also needed to keep the utility annex watertight. I achieved this by creating an aluminum hood for the water heater with a gap at the bottom. When the tankless water heater is in operation it draws air from the outside through soffit vents and into the heater where it is expelled, along with excess heat and moisture out of the utility annex through the aluminum hood.

Aluminum hood

Hood for tankless water heater exhaust

Vent screen

Vent port

Vent cover
This has been a labor of patience and love. And sometimes mostly patience. But at this moment, sitting at my fold-up walnut table, in front of my four-foot widow, with a view to my back yard homestead, I could not have imaged how wonderful and growth-inducing this project would become. And the journey continues on …
Thank you for joining me on this journey to completing my dream home — Arborion.