Just when you thought it was done...

One of the things on the top of my Christmas list was a day of help from my Dad. It doesn't seem very nice to ask for work, but if you know my Dad then you know that not only does he have skill, but he really likes it!
So while my Mom and I worked on curtains he fixed some electrical. Then he tackled one more demo project - the debated closet. We've been discussing taking it out since the beginning, yesterday Art won the debate.

And so the demo continues - and hopefully ends.

Before:

After:

Up Next: Somebody took all the drywall out of the kitchen (don't accuse the man on the ladder, he's actually not the guilty one). Fortunately we're hiring  a professional to come in and fix it. You see, drywallers just aren't that expensive - I will never drywall again.

All that work is really quite exhausting.

The work continues

***Disclaimer***
In order to save you from being disgusted some images have been removed from the the telling of this story.


I've been busy - and not busy blogging. Art finally quit working in Salt Lake and moved to Logan. It's so wonderful to be together again. I didn't miss his mess making or laundry - but I truly missed getting to spend my time with him, and cuddling up to him at night. It's really handy that I married someone who makes me laugh and smile every day.
ok -enough sappiness.
The work continues - just at a slower pace than we would like. You see, this week we discovered some mold in the kitchen, and a rotten sub floor, and a broken pipe that had caused some mold in the basement. (This is where I do not add photos) All preexisting conditions that were not disclosed by the sellers. We've been trying to figure out our options as the sellers are liable to repair the damage - or at least their insurance is...well, anyhow - it's irritating and complicated and has slowed down the work in the kitchen because we have been trying to solve that issue, and we couldn't put in boxes until the plumbing was fixed. We haven't really even opened the can of worms that is the basement laundry and bathroom - I'm trying to pretend they don't exist.
We're hoping to get a lot of work done in the week between Christmas and New Years when we are both off work and school. However, we determined that in order to have any sort of an enjoyable holiday we needed to leave Logan and the house. So we are in Salt Lake for the weekend and are enjoying lazy days and no measuring. Ah, the luxuries.
More pictures to come as work progresses!

Weekend Update

It wasn't the most productive weekend. Partially because I was hacking and coughing. Partially because we had an entire Uhaul trailer full of wood to unload. And partially because we discovered mold in the kitchen that need remediation before we could move on. Not fun.
But it didn't stop us.
The mold is gone, sub floor replaced and the entire kitchen has arrived.... in piles all around the house waiting to be assembled into boxes. But I'm not complaining, I'm one step closer to a kitchen and we're on to rebuilding....

On Friday and Saturday morning I did get the office finished - maybe? Art wants me to add one more vertical piece extending from every other vertical piece on the chair rail. I'm not so sure. Opinions? Either way I have to sand the trim and do one more coat of white paint. I also have to paint the closet doors - one more set of louvers...I hate those things!

In the beginning...

 Then the strongest wallpaper ever to be removed....

It's finally gone, and the priming has begun...

Up goes the trim - all by myself!

Finally, some paint and I'm all done (maybe).

banned

Thanks to my over-protective husband and worrying father I have been banned from the circular saw. And I didn't even cut anything off! I did not injure anyone or anything - in fact I made a perfect miter joint on my 5 1/2" base that didn't fit in the chop saw. And I finished the office trim. And it looks really nice. And I've used a table saw, chop saw, saws-all, and I passed shop class. But I still got banned. Worriers.

See this...

Reina Cut List Part Overall Size Specific Dimensions A Shallow Cab 21 x 89 x 16.5 ST-2  [15.75 x 89] SH-6  [15 x 19.5] BK-1  [19.5 x 89] B Pantry Cab. 41 x 89 x 24 ST-2  [23.23 x 89] SH-8 [22.5 x 39.5] BK-1  [39.5 x 89] DV-1  [22.5 x 20.5] DV-1 [22.5 x 24] C Fridge Cab. 36 x 23 x 24 ST-2  [23.25 x 23] SH-2  [23.25 x 34.5] BK-1  [34.5 x 21.5] D Utility Cab. 41 x 89 x 30 ST-2 [29.25 x 89] SH-8 [28.5-39.5] BK-1 [39.5 x 89] DV-1 [28.5 x 20.5] DV-1 [28.5 x 24] E Dr. Bank 15 x 30.5 x 24 ST-2 [23.25 x 30.5] SH-2 [13.5 x 22.5] BK-1 [13.5 x 30.5] F Upper 15 x 36.75 x 12 ST-2 [11.25 x 36.75] SH-4 [10.5 x 13.5] BK-1 [13.5 x 36.75] G Micro 30 x 20 x 14 ST-2 [13.25 x 20] SH-3 [12.5 x 28.5] BK-1 [28.5 x 20] H Upper 12 x 36.75 x 12 ST-2 [11.25 x 36.75] SH-4 [10.5 x 10.5] BK-1 [15.5 x 36.75 I Upper Susan 24 x 36.75 x 24 ST-2 [11.25 x 36.75] SH-2 [22.5 x 22.5] BK-2 [22 x 36.75] BK-1 [7 x 36.75] J Base Susan 36 x 30.5 x 36 ST-2 [23.25 x 30.5] SH-2 [34.5 x 34.5] BK-2 [34 x 30.5] BK-1 [7 x 30.5] K  Sink Cab. 33 x 20.5 x 24 ST-2 [23.25 x 20.5] SH-3 [23.25 x 31.5] BK-1 [31.5 x 19] L Base Susan 36 x 30.5 x 36 ST-2 [23.25 x 30.5] SH-2 [34.5 x 34.5] BK-2 [34 x 30.5] BK-1 [7 x 30.5] M Dr. Bank 25.5 x 30.5 x 24 ST-2 [23.5 x 30.5] SH-2 [23.5 x 24] BK-1 [24 x 30.5] N Dr. Bank 25.5 x 30.5 x 24 ST-2 [23.5 x 30.5] SH-2 [23.5 x 24] BK-1 [24 x 30.5]
It's the cabinet cut list for my kitchen.  Art got it all written up and I put it on a pretty spreadsheet last night - it was a romantic spreadsheet making moment. It's getting cut this week and we're starting the rebuild - I can hardly stand the excitement!	Dr. Bank	25.5 x 30.5 x 24	ST-2 [23.5 x 30.5]	SH-2 [23.5 x 24]	BK-1 [24 x 30.5]

All By Myself...

Yesterday Art worked on framing out the final column and building the pony wall. Now, I can assist in this. I actually built the smaller beam; however, two people working within the same 12" space is a little much.

On top of that I have finally figured out a way to attack the "remains of the wallpaper"... I actually got all the wallpaper off (do you hear the angels singing Hallelujah? Cause they are...) However, when I went to take off the teddy bear border, what minuscule parts I could find to peel off, it pulled beyond the wallpaper, and glue and took of the paper layer of the drywall - Kind of a problem. So I figured out this grand plan to solve the issue with chair rail and trim.  On Thursday I got all the tools out, all my stuff ready - and then determined I wasn't exactly sure how to fire up the compressor, annnnd I knew the stress that would occur if I broke a tool. So, I stopped and I waited until an expert could be consulted. Thank heavens I married an expert. Yesterday he gave me a little tool instruction, some tips on process, and a lesson on scarf joints - and Wa laaa - I did it. Ok, most of it, I still need to add all the vertical pieces, paint, and then add the lower runners and the base - but I can do it, and I already did most of it all by myself.

Please imagine the accent...

That's One - One dumpster filled and emptied....

And the second is already getting loaded...

A Long and Grueling Week...

Things Done:
1. Demo. wall between living room and dining room

2. Demo kitchen laundry area and pantry

3. Demo the wall between the living room and the entry

 4. Demo the soffit in the kitchen (for anyone who knows anything about soffit - usually it's made of 2x4's and drywall. Not at our house. This was framed with 2x12's and 2 x6's - then wrapped in drywall. The next picture is all the wood that came out of the soffits alone...) But isn't it lovely afterward....

5. Plan the layout for the new columns, pony walls, and beams...

6. Build the new beams - including adding LVL's for structural support -build out and align the columns

7. Run new electrical to columns and half walls.

8. Create an open layout for our new house!!!

9. Pendant lights for the kitchen ordered.

10. Stainless steel farmhouse sink ordered.

11. Carpet ordered and measured

12. Thanks to watching sales and Black Friday - new washer and dryer ordered, new fridge coming for 300 less than originally purchased. Hoooray for sales!!

13. Celebrate our first Thanksgiving in the new house.. (Thank heavens I started a turkey breast that morning - I ran home for 30 minutes while Art ran to storage and pulled together our whole dinner, complete with fresh mashed potatoes and delicious slow cooker gravy...)

13. Kitchen layout finalized and ready to be cut this week... And that brings us to the next list...

Things to do:

1. Cut out kitchen -install next weekend

2. Get dumpster emptied - fill again with the miles of nail laden lumber

3. Gut the new laundry room downstairs

4. Run the electricity/plumbing for the new laundry room downstairs

5. Finish the last column and pony walls

6. Paint the trim in the office/bedroom

7. That STUPID wallpaper - then I can paint.

8. and well, that's just a start - Let's just say, a new house is at the very top of my Christmas List. And going back to work tomorrow will be a nice relaxing break.

Don't be disappointed...

If I had a dollar for every hour I have spent sitting in Lowes, or Home Depot, or Lumber Liquidators, or many other flooring stores, staring at floors - then I would have enough money to afford the hardwood floors of my dreams. But I don't.
So we FINALLY made a flooring decision, and trust me it was not easy. So many factors weighed in, including; dogs, mess, durability, floor layout direction (seems silly but as Art explained it, we had some major issues), and of course affordability. So I'm sorry to say we will not be putting in hardwoods. Instead (muster up your excitement again, I know you're feeling let down) we're going to put in a travertine kitchen and entry way and carpet throughout the rest. We did find a GREAT deal on carpet at a nice local place - totally beat Home Depot and the carpet is far nicer. At first we were feeling like we copped out, but we decided for the amount of projects to be done it's going to be really nice to have someone else come in and lay the carpet. And after the dumpster I filled today and the walls that are now ready to be improved, I'll be ready for someone else to help.
And if you want to know what color the carpet is, just think of Rudy and Lulu and then you'll know!

All in a Days Work...

Nothing like a lovely new house...

To rip apart and make a mess of.
Somewhere in the middle of ripping down drywall and framing Art said, "so I guess we're committed..." I don't think I'm putting this back together!
A little more ripping out to do tomorrow and then we start putting it all back together - New and Improved!

Exciting huh?!

So it doesn't look like much to you, but can't you just sense my excitement? You really should, because it's palpable... It's my new appliances!!! I've never had all new appliances. I really thought that was only something that happened on HGTV, but my wonderful-loving-good looking-slightly germ-a-phobe- husband said that he wasn't building me a new kitchen and putting old appliances in it! So we sold the dishwasher that came with the house and we went out a picked out a new set. Mind you, they are currently in the garage - not really where you want to display your new appliances, but with no cabinets, or counters, or walls just yet, it's probably a better place.

 On a separate note, I think I've made it clear how I feel about beige paint. Let me add to that list - wallpaper. Sorry Mom, but I've made it very clear all these years - and now I am reminded why I hate it so much. (Just a note, from one vantage point in my mothers house you can see 7 different wallpapers - no joke. But I also counted 116 pumpkins from the stretch of the phone cord back in the day (yes, I obsessively count things, but that's a whole different issue)). I've been working on getting rid of this plaid and teddy bear ensemble since the day we got the keys, but that sucker is stuck. I should make my mom come take it off as punishment for the miles she has hung.

The helpers...aren't they cute... 

(Notice the BEIGE closet doors in the background, can't wait to take that on...)

Yesterday I finished the master bath (I feel so fancy having a master bath, I thought those were only on HGTV too.) It's a very light blue and the trim is now  a crisp white. But it didn't start that way. It was originally beige (shocker huh?) with a very thick coating of hairspray. You see, the woman we bought the house from had this terrible teased and sprayed hair ("you just tease it and make it look like a brown football helmet" - That was for you Heidi) And apparently she was quite thorough with the spray because everything opposite the mirror had a pretty heavy layer of nasty hairspray. Fortunately it was nothing a little sand paper, primer and paint couldn't handle. And I will not be causing the same issue to occur again, I don't think I own hairspray.

Tonights Project

I promise, as a homeowner, NEVER to paint a ceiling beige.

A little done, a lot more to do...

It was a busy week of painting and prepping but I was able to finish one small project. There is such joy in finishing something-even if it's a lowly bathroom. While it still has an ugly light and needs some caulk, it's far better than the orange monstrosity that was here before - now it's a soothing light yellow...awww, my oasis in the chaos.

Time to start the next mess...

On Saturday we started to remove our 30 year old flaking, dark, dirty kitchen.

BEFORE:

DURING:

 AFTER:

We are still going to remove the soffit and walls where the laundry and pantry are, but we are waiting for the dumpster next weekend. That and we have to determine if we can remove more wall without the house falling down, minor details.

 Next came the careful measurement, calculation and figuring. (We had good 4-legged helpers) As much as we have talked about our 'dream kitchen' all these years, when it comes to actually creating and building it. Wow -that's a whole different kind of challenge. We have spent so many hours sitting on the floor staring at the walls and talking it's unreal. I think we have finally come up with a design, layout, and color scheme.

So all seems to be moving ahead, except one major issue. The floor. We really wanted to put in hardwoods, but man are they expensive. So we've looked at engineered, bamboo, and everything in between. The other major issue of hardwood is that it's incredibly labor intensive and torture on dogs. We looked at carpet, it's easy to have installed (thanks to someone else doing the work) but carpet just doesn't last with dogs. It gets dirty and filled with hair - oh but the dogs love it so much.... So what do we do?? We're not all that sure - anyone want to solve that one for us? Until then, I'll be avoiding the chaos in my new bathroom.