Historian's Haven built-in mudroom for the Studio — 72" W × 102" H × 18" D, scribed into 1830 plaster-and-lath walls. Rough-sawn white oak frame with mortise-and-tenon joinery, 18-cubby reclaimed-oak upper grid (3 rows × 6 cols), 3"-thick live-edge black locust bench, Farrow & Ball Green Smoke #47 shiplap backing, slate wet-bay tile, hand-forged iron hooks, aged brass label holders, warm 2700K LED strip. Three scopes costed end-to-end; Scope 3 (joiner delivers full carcass installed, DIY finish only) is the current recommendation — best tool/skill fit, highest confidence in furniture-grade outcome.

Shallow wall cabinet with three internal shelves holding 18 removable trays in three sizes — sharpies, gel pens, paint pens, and colored pencils. 24" W × 22" H × 5" D. 1/2" Baltic birch carcass with 1/4" and 3/8" basswood trays. French cleat mount into 2+ studs. Pen tops sit above each tray rim so contents are visible at a glance; lift any tray straight up and forward to take it with you.

Featured warm-wood accent against Essex Green millwork in the Old House kitchen. 42" W × 45.5" H × 4–6.5" D stepped depth, 5 shelves (tiny spices, two normal, large white-cap, deep oils/vinegars base). Walnut 4/4 carcass with brass detail integration — rods, corner screws, label tags, visible cleat hardware. Cleat-supported shelves with brass screws as visible fasteners; French cleat mount into studs with top of unit at ~75" AFF. Three to four weekends, beginner-intermediate.

Professional replacement of rotted two-panel exterior bulkhead door on a fieldstone-and-mortar 1830 foundation. Scope includes old door removal, masonry anchor assessment, failed header repair at house wall, and Bilco Classic Series steel door install with full weatherstrip kit. Decision made: professional hire. CT Cellar Doors is the recommended first call.

Three failing storm windows on the bedroom level of the Old House. Off-track, oxidized, can no longer vent in summer or seal in winter. Replace all three with Allied Window Saver custom low-profile aluminum storms in a factory color matched to Dennis's exterior paint. Sequenced fully after Dennis demobilizes — no scope adder on his quote, no coordination during his job. Caleb removes existing storms (with PPE), measures, orders Allied units, and installs once Dennis's paint has cured. The original 1830 wood interior sashes and their wavy old glass stay in place, protected by the new storms.

Hydronic toe-kick heater under the kitchen island has had a completely dead fan for 5+ years. 7-step diagnostic guide walks the failure search in order — each finding maps to a verdict (DIY fix, possible DIY, or call a pro). Two 115V circuits run through the floor to the island; access likely requires an access panel cut from above before any further work.

6+ person outdoor cedar cabin sauna on the back patio — not a barrel. 2-tier L-shaped bench, 240V / 8kW electric heater, covered front porch for cool-down between rounds. Kit candidates narrowed to two Dundalk LeisureCraft options: Canadian Timber EWC (~$7,800–8,000, 3yr warranty) or the full-custom Dundalk Collection Clear WRC (~$12,000–14,500, 5yr warranty). DIY assembly, licensed electrician for the 240V circuit. Plan in 2026, build in 2027. Cold plunge probably follows eventually.

100A subpanel in the yard fed from the main panel, with three dedicated circuits sized for concurrent loads: outdoor barrel sauna (240V/40A, 6–9 kW heater), Softub or plug-in hot tub (120V/15–20A), and a 120V circuit for low-voltage landscape lighting transformer plus outdoor receptacles. Room for 1–2 future spare circuits. Pro hire, licensed E-1 electrician, CT electrical permit + inspection required. 1830 historic Litchfield property.

Multi-season suppression campaign targeting Oriental bittersweet across 2 zones at the property border and woodland edge. Cut-stump triclopyr method. Year 1 focus: spring mechanical cutting, summer foliar on regrowth, fall cut-stump treatment before first frost.

Multi-season suppression campaign in the border garden — the strip between the driveway and town tennis court. Oriental bittersweet + poison ivy. Invasive removal must be substantially complete before any border garden improvement work begins.

Permanent 10×12 shed for the Manor property. Foundation dug and filled with crushed stone, shed delivered and placed on pad, tools moved in. Three items remain to close the project out: a proper interior storage and organization buildout, battery-powered motion-sensor lighting (interior + rear exterior), and trimming the tree branches hanging over the shed.

Black locust Adirondack chairs with adjustable backs (slotted rear leg + dowel pin mechanism), matching ottomans, and side tables. Sized for two adults of different frames. Pine prototype phase required before cutting final lumber.

L-shaped walkway connecting the street and driveway to the front entry. Irregular natural cleft bluestone on a compacted #57 gravel base — period-appropriate for an 1830 Litchfield County property. Zone 6a frost heave and clay soil fully accounted for in base prep. Expert panel: Landscape Architect, Hardscape Contractor, Historic Preservationist.

Lead-positive north wall repaint with siding repair. Heavy alligatoring and paint failure across the full wall surface. Siding replacement scope confirmed during site visit — board count TBD. Project brief fully developed: scope, cost ladder, payment schedule, sequencing with bedroom storm windows, contractor questions, cost levers, and risk inventory all documented. Quote renewal and revised scope required before signing.