Renovation 2007

All Done

2007-11-03T15:17:00.001-04:00

Finally--an update!

2007-06-06T20:48:00.001-04:00

I know, I know...."What took you so long?" Construction has been slow going and not too interesting, but things are really coming together now.

Above: Countertops were installed 6/1/07 (our 10th anniversary!)

Countertop close-up.

Backsplash was installed today, but still needs to be grouted.

ABOVE: Backsplash close-up.

Big tease! Appliaces arrived 6/1/07, but are waiting to be installed.

Lastly, the beadboard was put up last week and the downstairs bath got the tile floor completed. These shots don't show it grouted, so I'll have to get a shot of that later.

Wood Floors!

2007-05-23T20:35:00.001-04:00

Cabinets....

2007-05-20T19:00:00.001-04:00

When the kids and I got back from Missouri, we found the cabinet installation almost complete and some of the interior doors are installed! Below is what you would see if you walked in the front door.

This is the view of the kitchen from the corner of the dining room.

Remember what it used to look like? I can't give you the same angle since there USED to be a wall between the two rooms!

FEAST or Famine...

2007-05-15T19:28:00.000-04:00

On Monday, May 14th, just when I thought no workers were coming, the shower stall showed up--finally. THEN, the kitchen cabinets arrived a week early and a few hours later...the hard wood flooring arrived!

Below is the base for the shower installed after the concrete was poured on Tuesday.

And.....the Kitchen cabinets are being installed this week!

I LOVE my new Pantry!

Thanks for checking in!

We're PLASTERED!!

2007-05-12T20:00:00.000-04:00

This past week, the wallboard went up and the platerering was completed (with the exception of the kitchen and dining room ceilings that were mistakenly textured. These will be smoothed out either May 14th or 15th).

Here is the view from the entryway looking up to the kitchen.

Below is the plastered kitchen.

This view below shows the finished bathroom walls as viewed from the office/guest room.

May 5th (Week 6 completed)

2007-05-05T19:24:00.000-04:00

Inspections, Inspections!

This week the electric, plumbing and framing inspections were completed. Monday the insulation should be inspected

and then...drum roll please.....the plastering may begin! We are still waiting on the shower stall which was due Wed, Thurs or Fri of last week. Hmm...But we have the rest of the plumbing fixtures just waiting to go in!

We also had the sub floor completed, temporary wall was taken down and new windows went into the kitchen and bath.

Above is the view downstairs without the temporary wall or POLE!! This is where we do all our "cooking" (thanks to the micro, toaster oven and G5!!) and eating.

Thanks for checking in!

April 26, 2007

2007-04-26T20:16:00.000-04:00

Excavation of concrete for new shower drain.

Wiring completed for new recessed lighting.

New subfloor glued & nailed down. (no more squeaks!)

Movin' Right Along

2007-04-23T20:49:00.000-04:00

The past week (4.17 through 4.23), the carpentry was fine tuned, the hall closet upstairs was removed to make room for a floor to ceiling cabinet in the kitchen (leaving us with a tiny hall cabinet), and the linen closet ws framed for the downstairs bath. The ceiling height in that bath will be raised, which will be great. The electrician came today and we did a walk-thru to outline our wish list and he will return tomorrow to begin all the new wiring for the kitche, DR, LR and hallway. So, these things are ahead of schedule, if you can believe that, BUT the shower stall will be arriving in 3 more weeks which is 3 weeks late! We should be fine for a finish date in the long run. Thanks for checking in!

Our Temporary kitchen.

Lighting items arrived 2 days before the electrician!

Framing for the linen closet.

The AC duct running downstairs to give some more air flow.

We also decided to remove some of the wall at the foot of the stairs which will give more flow and open up to the playroom.

Lastly, the ugly AC duct that was left exposed in the LR has been placed into the wall. A new opening was created between the DR/ LR. The plywood you see will be a new 2nd layer of subfloor which will be put down in an opposing pattern to the current plywood after the 1st layer is re-nailed down. This should solve the prominent squeaking!

Bare Bones

2007-04-17T17:22:00.000-04:00

If you were to walk into our house and look up the steps (which are down to the sub floor), this is what you would see:

Then, the kitchen and Dining room as viewed from the living room:

Here is the Kitchen as viewed from the dining room:

Lastly, the downstairs bath. Yep, we're down to one toilet and it is upstairs!

IT ALL MUST GO!

2007-04-15T21:02:00.000-04:00

Marathon Monday is upon us, as is a storm bringing torrential rain and 20 mph winds, but the destruction will go on and Paul will run against the wind! We spent the weekend clearing out the final items and gearing up for the race as well as the demolition. The kids especially enjoyed making their own marks on the wall separating the dining room and the kitchen. All to support Dad, of course!

The downstairs bath will also be gutted. Too bad, huh?

Looking for More?

2007-04-05T14:56:00.000-04:00

Looking for more? So are we! Check back here after April 16th to see our
Bath and Kitchen demolition pix!

Thanks for checking in! -Lena & Paul

Look at that Hole!

2007-04-03T18:46:00.000-04:00

The concrete was cut in less than 2 hours.

Then removed.

And the door installed!

YAY!

Day 6 -Prep for Slider

2007-04-02T15:59:00.000-04:00

Here is the internal view. The concrete will
be cut tomorrow!

External view.

Week 1 complete!

2007-03-31T09:42:00.000-04:00

Temp Kitchen Space (formerly the playroom)
Bath walls to be demoed.
Future slider spot.

Not much to report. The carpenters ripped up our carpet, boxed in our "playroom" so that it can be used as a temporary kitchen in the weeks ahead. I've also included a pic of the bathroom before it gets demolished. Next week's plan is to install the new sliding door. So, here's a
"before" picture of that as well.

March 29th (Day 4)

2007-03-30T07:10:00.000-04:00

So, on days 3 and 4, the steel beam went up, one temporary wall came down and now the carpenter is working on boxing in the lally columns and the beam to prep it for wall broard and plastering. Phew. They also framed the new doorway which will lead from the mud/playroom to the office/guest area. Thanks for checking in on us!

(Top Pic) Wall Removed. (Bottom Pic) Frame for new doorway.

Day 2 (of approximately 96)

2007-03-27T19:14:00.000-04:00

Today the carpenters tried as hard as they could to get the wooden beam out. They burned through 5-6 saw blades and finally got it out in pieces. I heard a loud "SWEET" as it thundered down.

Here is one end of where it used to be.

Here's a shot of the spot on the floor where the pole used to be:

I've been told that tomorrow that steel beam IS going up. They also discovered that a lot of the electrical wiring was not up to code, so some electricians were out doing the re-wiring. We benefit from having switch plates in logical places now!

Walls up, Walls down

2007-03-26T18:07:00.000-04:00

The "pole area" used to look like this:

After today's work of building the temporary support walls, it looks like this:

Tomorrow, the steel beam goes up and possibly the temporary walls can come down. You can see this huge piece of metal on the ground in the pic from today.

Also, walls leading to the office were removed in preparation for the bathroom renovation.

Clearing out

2007-03-25T21:05:00.000-04:00

So, On Monday March 26, 2007, it all begins, or ends, depending how you look at it. I'm determined to stay positive, so it's a beginning. The pole removal will be the first big change for the Joseph Household. We're ready. Thanks to help from the kids packing away most of their toys and all our stuff being moved to a storage facility by Paul and Gary. The emptiness is quite a teaser, though. We feel like we have quite the spacious playroom. We're all looking forward to the addition of a shower downstairs and a sliding glass door as our new exit. Then...the kitchen. Will keep ya posted! -Lena