Trying Something New: Part Tres

Part Uno - my fitness journey and hurdles along the way. (well that was how many weeks ago on my initial post....)

Part Dos - family happenings aka family drama (yep, think I'm late on this one too)

Part Tres - Home Renovations (ok first post on this, not too bad....even though I did plan on it a few weeks ago)

Here we have it, the last of 'Trying Something New' plan.  Just remember it's a plan, sometimes plans succeed and sometimes plans fail.  I am hoping for the succeeding part.

Last Halloween (October 2015) marked three years for us in our lovely 1908 Folk Victorian Cottage (at least that what the historians tell me it's called).  Some good times and some bad, but we are learning what it takes to raise a 100+ year old structure (AKA the money pit).

Recently we considered selling our second love (shock factor due to getting our property tax in the mail - let's just say it is up over 100% since we first purchased the property).  That along with escalating utility bills (from heating and cooling over 3500 square feet of leaky, non-insulated walls and windows and doors and  floors....the list goes on) and home prices selling for a ton more than when we first moved in.  But then we looked at smaller, more efficient homes in the our hood (we do love Grant Park) and realized that if we sold our house and used the profit (a good chunk of change) to put down on another place, we realized that we could get nothing close to what we wanted.  So the renovations continue.

When we first moved in there was a small list of 'had to fix right now' items and a lot more 'we will take care of it when we get more money and settled' list of items.  Among the most important:

1. Fix half bath in hallway - there was mold halfway up the walls due to a leaky toilet the previous owner did not know how to turn off....

2. Make a nursery out of bonus room by master bedroom - I was 8 months prego when we moved in and didn't have a minute to spare.

3. Fix leaky roof spots (there were several) from years of deferred (NO) maintenance.

4. Find our driveway - back yard was so overgrown, we bought the house before realizing we had a back driveway.

5. Paint - ok, so not exactly a necessity, but it did make the house feel more like home to have non-off white walls everywhere.

As it stands right now, here's our 'To Do' list (here's our original list and photos)

Library
1. paint
2. replace light fixture
3. make and install library shelves
4. refinish gold tufted sofa
5. make window seat bench

Living Room
1. paint
2. install crown moulding
3. paint fireplace
4. replace light fixture
5. make fireplace functional

Original Fireplace Brick

Thought we might like it in white....uh, NO

Ah, just right!

Cleared out and ready to be refinished!

Sanded down, our floor guy was beyond enamored with our floors, he was a big floor nerd

Shiny and new {again} & a tiny silhouette of our dobie in the background

Hallway
1. create gallery wall (still a work in progress)
2. paint walls
3. paint ceiling
4. replace light fixtures

view from hallway to living room & front door

View from the living room to the hallway and sunroom/playroom at the end 

Dining Room
1. replace missing fireplace tiles
2. paint light fixture
3. paint



Kitchen
1. replace flooring?
2. new cabinets
3. new countertops
4. replace hanging lights
5. paint
6. new layout?

Not bad, I know, but just not enough counter space

and that mint/pastel green has got to go

Ugh, and the stove vent that looks like it got chopped off

Would be so much better if it was open to the dining room

Coffee Station aka the place JD and I fight over

Front Bedroom
1. fix/patch wall leak
2. paint
3. refinish floors
4. closet doors

Mid DIY Paint Job

Painting done, time to reasemble 

Not the neatest, but all painted and DIY old door headboard

Half Bath
1. replace/fix drywall mold
2. replace toilet
3. paint
4. new mirror
5. replace lights

Jack & Jill Bath
1. paint
2. mirror for vintage sink
3. replace toilet
4. refinish floors
5. replace hanging light
6. replace vanity lights

Back bedroom
1. paint
2. refinish floors
3. closet door
4. new light fixture

love the interrogation style single light hanging from the ceiling....

Sunroom
1. refinish floors
2. paint
3. paint trim
4. replace lights
5. new back door
6.  replace windows

Trim Painting time

Oops - wrong touch up color - time to repaint....the whole room

Another paint job done!

New rug {LOVE}

Yep, that's a playroom for sure

See that white door?  That goes to the 'Midget Bath'

Mudroom
1. replace floors
2. replace window(s)
3. new light fixture
4. new door
5. paint

Midget Bathroom (lovingly referred this way due to the my height door and smaller than normal tub size)
1. Remake into a butler's pantry (see below)

The green plastic tile, the palm tree wall paper, the nailed shut window, all so perfect...NOT

Yep, that's a capped off toilet hole.  We get fancy around here.

See that tub?  That's your average short tub.  Even for me, I have to bend my knees

I tried a pano shot with my iPhone so you could take it all in at once

another tub shot - aka the dog bathtub

Even though I don't want this sink for this space, I'm hoping someone else can use it

Laundry Closet
1. add shelving
2. tile flooring
3. paint

Sophie's Room
1. paint
2. new ceiling fan

Master Bedroom
1. paint
2. new light fixture
3. refinish floors

Added a new light fixture

CJ's Room
1. paint
2. add board & batten
3. new light fixture

Master Bathroom
1. replace pedestal sinks with vanity
2. replace tub in surround with free standing tub
3. new shower
4. replace toilet
5. replace vanity lights
6. replace chandelier
7. paint

~whew, that is a list.

Our newest project is a biggie.  The KITCHEN.  If you remember the above list of 'To Do's', just go ahead and squash the kitchen list, because there is soooooo much more to do than those few things.  This list is much more realistic (and expensive):

1. Open wall between dining room and kitchen
2. Take down all upper cabinets
3. Replace single window above sink with 3 windows
4. Move current door to where larger window is
5. Open up wall between kitchen and midget bath (aka butlers pantry)
6. replace all cabinets
7. replace all counter tops
8. replace slate tile with wood flooring to match the rest of the house
9. install subway tile to the ceiling on stove side
10. new farmhouse sink
11. remove existing pantry and replace with furniture like hutch
12. Barn door for butler's pantry entrance
13. Butler's pantry
         a. remove tub and sink
         b. replace window
         c. install lower cabinets on each side
         d. install beverage cooler
         e. install butcher block counter tops on each side
         f. new sink and faucet
         g. add open shelving with reclaimed wood
         h. new light fixtures

Now that ladies and gentlemen is a LIST.

Throughout our renovation, I'll keep you updated on what our budget is and what we have actually spent on things.  We have hired a contractor so we will not be doing the labor ourselves (who has the time for that??).  Our total budget is $40,000, but, I'll detail that for you more next week along with our design.

Will this be my dream kitchen??? Or biggest nightmare???  So exciting!!!

If anyone has any kitchen renovations suggestions, please, send them my way!

As always, JD's comments (appropriate or not) are in red.

Housiversary Numero Uno

This time last year JD and I were moving into our dream house.  And, yes it was on Halloween.  And yes, there was a black cat sitting on the porch waiting for us.  I kid you not (No, she's really not kidding).

Turns out the cat (known as Mow by the neighbors but whose real name was Samantha) was and is a harmless feline.

And seeing as (extra word) how it was Halloween, we had a ton of trick-or-treaters trying to scam candy from us, but we were fresh out of candy (and if we ever had any, I'm sure I would have eaten it (that is true)).  We were sure our house would be toilet papered the next day (didn't happen, thank goodness!)

Well the year had come and gone. Some projects finished, some started, and many not started.  Here's a look in pictures on what's been going on:

The Grand Front of House

The land of Turquoise (before)

Shades of Gray (after)

As far as the front of the house goes, we still have a number of things to do:

1. Paint exterior
2. Make front screen door
3. Make side entrance screen door
4. Mulch front flower beds
5. Add a black wrought iron fence
6. Remove hedges/shrubs
7. Fix/replace broken sidewalk tiles
8. Trim camellia tree
9. Replace front windows with french door type windows

Living Room

Living Room (during the chaos of moving)

While they were moving out

A little gray paint & crown molding

Ah the living room, sorry for the messy pictures, but with a 10 month old kid and 3 month old puppy, the luxury of cleaning is at the bottom of the list.  Here's where we stand with this room:

1. PAINT!
2. Install crown moulding
3. Refinish the floors (the previous owner's kid used them as his personal skateboarding park) (I may have done that as well  :-))
4. Buy new sofa
5. Upholster both side chairs
6. Paint fireplace brick white?
7. Install ceiling fan
8. Add a down rod for the ceiling fan

I've (I've????  If I remember correctly, and I do, I found the entry way table.  So that would be we've.) also added a little bit to our entry way, although, I am not quite satisfied with the mirror or the lamp (turns out I don't have a pic of the lamp, but trust me, it doesn't work)....

The mirror was given to me from my grandmother and the table was a Hobby Lobby purchase (ah, I love that store)!

found a pic with a lamp...see? I was right

Library

Library when we first saw the house

I think we need to add bookcases

We haven't done too much to the library, besides turning it into an impromptu play room.  Here's our to do list:

1. Paint/replace light fixture
2. Build bookcases around all walls
3. Build window seat
4. Change front window to full length french door windows
5. Paint

Dining Room

Dining room during the unpacking

Current state

The dining room has also been low on our priority list.  

1. Paint light fixture, bright color? black?
2. Paint room
3. Fix fireplace damage
4. Add some artwork

Kitchen

Here's a few shots of the kitchen when we moved in. We were all excited when me first looked at the house because there was a Viking stove in the kitchen....bummer...she sold it before we purchased the casa.  So that left a gaping whole in the kitchen.

Here's a few pics as to where the kitchen stands now:

1. Paint the walls
2. Add trim/crown molding
3. Open the wall between the kitchen and the dining room to create a bar
4. Create a butler's pantry where the midget bath is
5. Remove existing pantry
6. Build microwave shelf

Hallway

In the beginning

1. Paint the walls
2. Paint the ceiling
3. Add crown molding
4. Board & Batten (?)
5. Replace light fixtures with pendants of some sort
6. Make an art wall/display for the girls
7. Add bench/seating by closet door
8. Fix door to sunroom

Front Bedroom

Yes, there is a bedroom in there

A few of the current pics:

1. Repair leak above fireplace
2. Add curtains to all windows
3. Make a headboard
4. Closet door
5. Paint the walls
6. Replace/paint light fixture

Jack & Jill Bathroom

love, love. love the tub

Now:

1. Paint the walls
2. Replace ceiling light fixture
3. Replace wall light fixtures
4. Hang shelf above toilet
5. Put up hooks for towels by linen closet
6. Mirror for above sinks
7. Curtain for window

Back Bedroom

The previous owner had the back bedroom set up as an art studio.  

1. Paint the walls
2. Add a light fixture
3. Curtains
4. Closet door
5. Fix/replace tile on fireplace
6. Add storage for my HOBBY ROOM!!!
7. Door to mudroom

Mudroom

The mudroom is a tiny space (7'x10'?) off of the back bedroom.  We've been told the house was once a duplex and since this room as a sink, we thought it might have been a kitchen at one time.  It also has a vent in one of the walls....

love the old sink

1. Have the room leveled (it slopes pretty bad towards the back)
2. Fix the sink
3. New flooring
4. Window coverings, bamboo blinds maybe?
5. Add storage

Sunroom (aka dogs room)

It was so much cleaner before we moved in....

And then we got a puppy....

so much cleaner before...

1. Paint the walls
2. Add a light fixture
3. Level the floors
4. Replace windows with bigger more efficient windows
5. Replace door to back yard
6. Add shelving
7. Eventually turn it into the girls play room (not the dogs room)

Half/Hall Bath

a real mess

The half bath in the hallway did have a toilet when we moved in, however, it had to be yanked out rather quickly due to a leak that was causing the mold issue...

1. Replace drywall on lower half of walls
2. Replace all flooring
3. Replace trim
4. Paint walls
5. Add art
6. Replace lights
7. Fix vent fan
8. Replace pedestal sink with cabinet style vanity (sitting in my front bedroom currently...)
9. Put up hand towel holder
10. Add mirror above sink
11. Replace door with door with frosted glass window

Stairway

I don't have any after pictures for the stairs because they look exactly the same today as they did a year ago.  But, that's not to say that we don't have big plans:

1. Paint walls/stair well
2. Add stair carpet/runner
3. Artwork 
4. Add wall sconces
5. Add mirror to top of stairs

Upstairs Landing/Laundry

can't wait to add a reading nook here

The befores will all look the same, the only thing that we have done is add the grow ruler to the hallway...

1. Paint walls
2. Replace light fixture
3. Add smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
4. Fix laundry closet door
5. Add window seat under window (book nook)
6. Insulate door to attic space
7. Add storage to laundry closet
8. Grow ruler

Sofie's Room

Ah, the yellow and blue, now why would we ever want to change that??

typical girls room!

the 'ombre' style dresser we painted for Sofie

1. Paint walls and trim
2. Install ceiling fan
3. Add second shelf to closet
4. Insulate doors to attic spaces
5. New window shades
6. Put flower lights on walls

Master Bedroom

master closet

These pics were all taken before we actually owned the place.  But, I was optimistic.

the little door goes to the nursery & the frosted doors go to the bathroom

the door with the mirror? the closet!

1. Paint walls and trim
2. Replace ceiling fan
3. Add pictures/art to walls
4. Add two windows on each side of the bed
5. Make window covering for half moon window above bed
6. Add frosted film to bathroom doors
7. Add closet system to closet

Master Bath

As you can tell from all the 'before' pictures, the previous owners had quite the thing for the color blue.  JD and I? Not so much.

clearly we need storage

1. Paint walls and trim
2. Replace hanging light pendant
3. Replace both pedestal sinks with antique looking vanity
4. Replace HUGE tub with smaller stand alone one
5. Make curtains for window
6. Add artwork/pictures
7. Add temporary storage by bathtub

Nursery

And the now:

yep, chair is still not done

1. Paint walls and trim
2. Replace fluorescent light 
3. Insulate attic doors
4. Install board and batten
5. Rug
6. Make curtains
7. Add thermal panels to curtains
8. Add artwork/pictures

Backyard (aka Jungle)

So these before pictures show a little bit better what the before color of the house used to be.  That and that it was crazy, insane in the backyard.  

Yep, there was brick under all those weeds!

1.  Clear off the brick driveway
2. Fix electric gate
3. Build some sort of privacy screen between us and the brown house...bamboo?
4. Add outlets to back of garage
5. Build stone patio
6. Put up a gazebo
7. Add raised garden beds
8. Clear off the fence line
9. Ground cover some kind

I would say that about wraps up what has been done and what needs to be done.  But seeing as how our house is almost 100 years old, I have a feeling it will never really be done.