Building Gypsy Rose

Mark April 20th as the first "shorts day" of 2007. The nearly week-long Nor'easter that brought record rains, flooding, and high winds to the area has finally passed. With sunshine and temperatures in the high 60's I framed the gable end (bedroom) windows.

When we first conceived Gypsy Rose we thought we'd like Gothic windows in the gable ends. Over time we decided on a different style based on a variety of needs, including the ability to open them up and to be able to use the windows as "emergency exits."

When it came down to framing them in, we hadn't worked out the specifics of sizing yet, so I used the white Tyvek surface to sketch them in. After stepping back with Marion to take a look we turned to each other and said, "I like it." Out came the saw and the openings were cut from the plywood sheathing.

Above is the view of the unfinished sleeping loft looking through the window openings. Given that we had not decided on a window style by the time I'd sheathed the walls, I left the middle of the gable ends free of studs. After cutting the window openings, I built frames to fit and secured them in place (not yet installed in this picture).

Marion is usually at the base of the ladder handing up tools and nails but she was anxious to see the view through the bedroom. Below, I test the windows as an emergency escape. I fit!