Renovations complete...well, almost.

I didn't fully grasp enormity of the renovations we took on this summer. But, taking most of it in stride, we have completed nearly all the items we set out to do.


I have to say, we have lost steam.


I am so sick of painting. Especially baseboards. That I have taken a hiatus. 


Or I quit.


Either way. There is no painting this week.


We have finally gotten our bathroom near completion. Hopefully the new light will go in this weekend...but it requires..well, you my not have guessed it...PAINTING. I need to get around the light and one of the walls needs a second coat. 


Oh joy.


But it would be nice to tidy it up.



Here is the new vanity:

It was worth the wait for this bad boy.  It is much higher than our original vanity. It has more drawers. The counter is travertine and it is beautiful. It also weighs nearly 500 lbs. No joke. The day it was to arrive, it was scheduled between 10am-2pm. They finally showed up at 5:45pm. Just as well, then my sweet husband was here to direct them and make sure they put it in the bathroom, unpacked and verified it was perfect, mirror included. It also took an additional 2 weeks to get installed and working due to faucet change, back splash...and all the drilling to accommodate the water lines.



Faucet and back splash...

Notice the intricate stone back splash...ok, actually I bought it already on a mesh backing.  We put the back splash up ourselves. Trust me when I say, I'm addicted...so if you need a back splash, I'm your girl! I can have you one put up in no time flat! 


Originally, the fireplace had the same tile around it as was in the kitchen. We had it removed...with no intentions except to have it gone. Luckily, the tile guys were creative and came up with this...

So, even thought the fireplace doesn't work, and we have our loveseat sitting in front of it - it is a charming addition to the wall. As opposed to how we were going to leave it until we thought of something better...like this...

The final piece to the living room/dining room was the kitchen table.


Do you see how this just doesn't really go?

The color is all wrong.


We have been saying "when the twins are 5...they will be less destructive...". Whatever. 


We found this, and decided this was the table for us!

It was large and overwhelming at first, but we are used to it now and absolutely love it. It seats 8, and thank goodness, there is no fighting what-so-ever over who sits where and who they want to sit by.


Yes. Thank goodness.


And I drive a convertible sports car.


So, there is your renovation update. I have to finish our bedroom. It is plain and blah. Needs a decorator. Any volunteers? ;)


Cheers!

A new chapter

Off to high school he goes. 

How is that possible?


A quote I have been hearing a lot lately - "The days are long, but the years are short".


Oh so very true!!


With a smile,a schedule full of challenging classes and and excitement I hope he can sustain...off he went to start his new chapter. 


He makes us proud every single day. 


I know he will excel and I pray that he tries to make the best possible choices, knowing it's impossible to be perfect! 


ADog, have fun! Enjoy! And remember it is supposed to be a fun time! Don't get over loaded! Take each day as a gift.


OH, and we leave in 2 months for Maui...That should help him thru the first semester :)

Renovations gone wild

If you live in an older house like I do (by older I mean it is about 13 years old and deemed "outdated" by every DIY show I watch - and that my friend is solid truth), you know that you need to keep the house 'updated' or you just can't watch Renovation Re@lities without seeing yourself on the show... (have you seen that show??? Great entertainment!!)


My husband bought this house new and was able to just couldn't afford to put the top of the line quality appliances and all the extra upgrades. It has been a blessing that this was all he did...because it kept the doors open (so to speak) to make upgrades and personalize it now.


In the past 9 years we have upgraded our dishwasher so that it doesn't sound like it may take off a section of the house while cleaning the dishes. We have upgraded our refrigerator, washer, dryer...not our oven - yet. We have painted...some rooms twice. We put laminate wood flooring in 2 rooms (Agent P's and twins room). We have done MANY things outside (pool, garden, play area, 21 tons of decorative rock...). 


A few years ago, I updated the kids bathroom (remember? I can't find the post right now...I'll keep looking). However, I didn't do anything with the floor or the vanity. We removed the mirror that was attached with roofing tar (not really, but it's what it seemed like), painted and updated shower curtain, faucet and towels. 


I couldn't replace vanity or floor.


You see - it's like this...


If I wanted to replace the vanity, I had to replace the flooring in bathroom. If I wanted to replace flooring in bathroom, I needed to replace it...IN THE WHOLE HOUSE. No one wants to just do 1 room, when the whole house needs it.


So, about 3 months ago, the carpet cleaning guy indicated the carpet in the living room was on it's last leg.  I coerced him in to putting in writing and signing in blood that I need to rip it out. Not really. Or really. You decide. But really, he did say it was pretty bad. 


That was all I needed.


I relayed that information to my sweet husband with or without some exaggeration. But we already knew we needed to deal with it. We were stepping on exposed carpet tacks between living room and kitchen. We knew it needed to be done...but it would be a big job.


How big?


Oh, ya know - pretty much all but 2 rooms in the house. Moving out for a week. Living out of bags for 2-3 weeks and sharing a bathroom for 3 weeks. No biggie...Right?


As soon as my sweet husband said "maybe we should look into tiling the house"...I said "OK" and within 10 days was ready to go :). I'm efficient like that. 


SO. We had to remove all furniture from living room, ADog's room, dining room and school area. Some went into garage, some went in to Agent P's room deeming it unlivable until we moved it all back out. (the 3 little kids shared a room for a week, I slept on the couch and my sweet husband slept on an air mattress -  that was awesome...or something.)


We had to have tile, carpet and linoleum removed from all rooms, closets, halls. It was like moving, without a moving truck.


But, here you go - in somewhat random order because I wasn't sure how to order them. Plus, at one point, I lost the camera so there is a gap in the order of work. Remember, we are still moving back in and there are kids that live here. Ignore all randomly placed clothing, shoes, toys and other odd objects.

Before - carpet and old tile

removal of tile (kitchen, dining and entry)

opposite direction after carpet removed (living room and dining area)

Kitchen, dining and part of living room 

Before (carpet gone, just concrete floor)

new tile in ADog's room

looking down to twins room

new tile - looking into dining area (back to twins room)

Kids bathroom with new vanity and backsplash

kitchen

New tile

So, the project was far more than I might have realized, but definitely worth it!!  I ended up painting our room and bathroom (in another post, not today, LOL) because "all the furniture is out...now is the time to do it". So, after 25 hours of painting - they are almost done.  Final touches on bathroom are waiting for me - and the new vanity arrives today between 10am and 2pm.


Anyone that knows me has to know this - I have remained relatively calm during this very, very chaotic upheaval of our lives. I moved the 4 kids and I out for 5 days - came home for the weekend only to have to be out of the house for 2 full days until tile was completed. I had to go to IKEA one day because I ran out of things to do ;).


To my dear sweet husband - thank you so very much for (after almost 9 years-heehee) sacrificing SO MUCH to make this MY house too!!!  I LOVE how it has turned out and am so glad that we jumped in 100% to make it happen. I am grateful beyond words! I know it was a HUGE job and I know sometimes difficult! Thanks for all the work you have done above and beyond to help clean it back up!!! I love you!