Let's Talk Remodeling

[FroggyinArk]

FroggyinArk, are you really on commission at Lowes? I didn't know this about Lowes. Although, by the way the designer in the kitchen dept acted when we were ordering our Diamond cabinets for the basement, I started to have my suspicions.

no we do not get commision on stock merchandise sales. but we do get incentives on special order and installed sales.....

We were at Lowes yesterday looking for a pocket door frame for our basement door. DH said he wanted to look at vanity countertops for our bathrooms. Of course after he found a couple of different granite tops he liked he said "You know we could upgrade the vanities too!!!" All I could think was who are you and what have you done with DH. I have made a DIY monster out of him. I told him we need to get the projects on hand done before he gets excited for more.

if you do upgrade from lowes check the grand bay brands. they are currently changing out the in stock models and people are able to get really good deals on the ones we are discontinueing. and grand bay is made out of "real" wood. they really are the moist solidly built ones in stock, and right now, are the cheepest too.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Well, I thought I'd join in this thread, since my DH and I are in the process of finishing our basement. We've been working slowly at it since last November. We only work on it when we have both time and money (neither of which we really have right now), so we're sort of in hiatus. We've got the walls up (though not drywalled) and the wiring's been run (though not hooked up). I keep looking forward at everything we still have left to do in despair. It just seems like so much.

It darn well better be worth it.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Well, I thought I'd join in this thread, since my DH and I are in the process of finishing our basement. We've been working slowly at it since last November. We only work on it when we have both time and money (neither of which we really have right now), so we're sort of in hiatus. We've got the walls up (though not drywalled) and the wiring's been run (though not hooked up). I keep looking forward at everything we still have left to do in despair. It just seems like so much.

It darn well better be worth it.

Make sure to check out Mickeygal's photos. They're remodeling their basement too, and it looks awesome!

 

[FroggyinArk]

it can be daunting to see w hats left on a project.

we started working on this house 7 years ago...

we started by replacing rotten floor in bathroom... since then we have redone evry room , moved some walls, redid the kitchen, altho we still have plywood countertops... and no back splash, built big deck, added a pool and fence, landscaped the yard, and now have a load of antique beadboard on the trailer outsidfe we are plaNNing on putting into our living room ceiling, and stack of rafters and plywod to put a roof over our pergola by hte pool, and a rotten bathroom floor...lol

but then our house is 80+ yeras old and its a never ending battle to keep an old house up.

 

[Hixski]

if you do upgrade from lowes check the grand bay brands. they are currently changing out the in stock models and people are able to get really good deals on the ones we are discontinueing. and grand bay is made out of "real" wood. they really are the moist solidly built ones in stock, and right now, are the cheepest too.

I might have to go look without DH. I don't want to get him excited. If I like them then I MIGHT tell him about them. I would love new vanities too but we have so many projects going on right now.

 

[Hixski]

Well, I thought I'd join in this thread, since my DH and I are in the process of finishing our basement. We've been working slowly at it since last November. We only work on it when we have both time and money (neither of which we really have right now), so we're sort of in hiatus. We've got the walls up (though not drywalled) and the wiring's been run (though not hooked up). I keep looking forward at everything we still have left to do in despair. It just seems like so much.

It darn well better be worth it.

Oh we have you beat!!!! We have been working on the basement for 19 yrs. It is not really as bad as it sounds. DH was all gung ho to finish the basement right after we built it. The whole basement is studded out except for around the vents, etc. I think he then realized how much work it was still going to be. Now it has so much stuff in storage down there we need to get rid of stuff to start working again. We bought a door to go into the storage area and a pocket door for the door into the basement from upstairs. (We would have a swing problem with vents after drywall would be installed.) Since our upstairs is now ALMOST complete we can start again.

 

[SplshMtn99]

We've finally picked a faucet! For some reason faucets have always been something DH & I can't agree on & we spend hours in the faucet aisle. I once had a tag along those lines. Anyway, picked a faucet (1 hole) & 2 soap dispensers (because I have 2 now & love it that way). That will be 3 holes total. yeah! And I used a Home Depot 20% off coupon I have gotten on ebay. 2 coupons cost me $9 total. Using just one today saved me $70+.

We ordered our Silestone last week at Home Depot & between their 10% off sale & some other 10% discount they had, I saved $600+.

Got a frig & stove at Sears using some special they had going on & will get a $350+ refund check -- plus they were on sale.

Got my sink from Galaxy Tools website (Ticor 16 guage sink) & paid only $155 for a sink that the MSRP is $560 on.

Neighbor who is a vinyl floor installer did our floors 2 years ago at cost & free labor.

I have a coupon for a free gallon of the new BM Aura paint worth about $50.

Plan on using my other Home Depot 20% off coupon from ebay when we get to the tile backsplash.

All work will be DYI except Silestone installation.

I'm doing really good in the money dept so far. AND, I've gotten to know 2 people by name already at Home Depot that's been open about 1 month in our town.....and they even know me by name. And I've sent the kitchen guy over to "that home sites" finished kitchen blog. Now we are emailing each other pictures of our projects.

I've going to list our old frig & stove on craigslist to get some $ back since they are in very good condition. AND since our laminate counters are only 7 yrs old & in VERY GOOD condition (just a color I don't want anymore)....and we live in a condo where everyones kitchen is the same set up, I've going to list them here for sale incase anyone still has the original 20 yr old counters & wants to update for cheap.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Oh we have you beat!!!! We have been working on the basement for 19 yrs. It is not really as bad as it sounds. DH was all gung ho to finish the basement right after we built it. The whole basement is studded out except for around the vents, etc. I think he then realized how much work it was still going to be. Now it has so much stuff in storage down there we need to get rid of stuff to start working again. We bought a door to go into the storage area and a pocket door for the door into the basement from upstairs. (We would have a swing problem with vents after drywall would be installed.) Since our upstairs is now ALMOST complete we can start again.

Well, now I don't feel quite so bad. I would have preferred a place with an already finished basement, but DH somehow got it into his head that we (not being very crafty, tool minded, or experienced in the ways of remodeling) could do this ourselves. Well, lots of headaches later (one caused by a stud nearly cracking my skull) we still only have the ghost of walls...but that's better than nothing. We finally moved all our basement junk into the area that will be for storage (and which is therefore pretty much done). Now the main room is essentially clear and we can say things like "Hey, this is where the pool table will go!"

But still...vents, plumbing, fixtures, finished electrical, ceilings, drywall, carpet...yeah, then pool table. I'm not holding my breath.

 

[DisneyPhD]

This is our faucet, but I am not 100% sure of it. I think the one like MissJ would be better (but almost twice the price I think, so I might just stick with 2nd best.)

http://www.deltafaucet.com/wps/port...tchen&PC_7_C_9RO_collection=Signature#7_C_9RO

image wasn't working, here is a link.

It is delta, the only brand the plumber we worked with for the addtion said he liked.

Progress is very slow. snails pace lately, but at least a little bit did get done today.

 

[mickeysgal]

Make sure to check out Mickeygal's photos. They're remodeling their basement too, and it looks awesome!

Awww...thank you!! Thats a nice thing to say.

 

[DisneyPhD]

So here is the list so far as to what we have done to this house since moving in 8 years ago.

Paint and flooring new through out (no big deal)
New front porch (wooden, deck like)
took out root system from old pine tree and re landscaped
New back Deck,
new siding on house, and garage
New doors to entry way of the house 1 before 2 more this remodel
New windows throughout
new bay window with seat
New roof on house and garage
finished basement, new glass block windows


Then came the big stuff
addition to 2nd floor turning it from bungalow to 2 full 2 story. Went from 1300 sf to 1800 sf.
Addition was master bedroom with walk in closets
100 sf bathroom with Jacuzzi tub, double sink, and shower
2nd large bedroom (for the girls to share.)
Hallway that is big and long enough to use for storage, play space and office space.

The addition took us 11 months to complete. We did a lot of it ourselves, but did hire out for heating and cooling (new 2nd furnace and AC) and plumbing. Did I mention I was pregnant when we started? Poor baby had to co-sleep, there was no other place for her.

Now is the final phase (and much needed) Kitchen and great room remodel.

You would think compared to the rest of it this would be a breeze.

Sometimes I wonder why we ever bought the house to start with. We have changed more then we kept. It is a good neighboorhood.

I am so done, and never moving when this is all over.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Okay here are the latest. Tomorrow it will be done (except for a small hole in the ceiling from the old light fixture).

New light fixture!

And now the bar stools and backsplash (you can also sorta see the cabinet hardware, you can't really see the design running through the knobs and handles, I'll have to take better):

Tomorrow DH paints!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Wow, that looks amazing. I can not wait until we are all done. Can I ask you something?

Did you paint the wall behind the cabinets? Even though only the top really could be seen? On 2 walls only the top will be seen, and it seems like such a waste to paint it all blue (the color we want the rest to be.) Maybe just prime it and leave it?

I don't know if my counter tops has a back splash on it. I don't think it does. I know the Corin we 1st ordered did, but then we changed our order to Silstone. If we do a back splash it might take up all the space in-between (like you did.) hmmmmmmm. Need to think about this. Just when I think all the decisions were made.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Thanks! I am happy with how it is all turning out. It's difficult to visualize when you are picking everying out.

No we didn't paint behind the cabinets. In fact that is the soon-to-be-former paint as a new gold color is going up tomorrow (thanks to DH).

 

[Hixski]

Thanks! I am happy with how it is all turning out. It's difficult to visualize when you are picking everying out.

No we didn't paint behind the cabinets. In fact that is the soon-to-be-former paint as a new gold color is going up tomorrow (thanks to DH).

It looks great!! The new paint color will really change the way the whole thing looks. Your before and afters will look so different.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Your kitchen looks beautiful Miss Jasmine!! I'm so jealous! We can only do a budget remodel & seeing all these great kitchens keeps adding so many ideas to my wish list. hehe

If I did them all, our condo would need an ENTIRE remodel because the kitchen would FAR out do the rest of the place.

 

[SplshMtn99]

DisneyPhD, this is the faucet we ended up picking today. http://www.moen.com/browsecatalog/productcatalog/configurator.cfm?skurefno=316933 Much less than price listed there -- and I see them on ebay for even less now. In stainless steel. Its close to yours.

I actually made a mock up of rolled up papertowels wrapped in foil (dull side out) & bent it into an arch like the faucets I had looked at. So many of the arch faucets are sooooo tall (13" to 15" tall). I used a rubber band & secured the foil "faucet" to our current faucet to help me visualize. The tall faucets would just be toooo much in our kitchen. And too tall visually with the window, molding & blinds behind it. So we opted for the one I linked above. I was just happy because DH wanted a separate sprayer on the side. He liked this one once he got to play around with it. So I agreed to it.

We are having Silestone put in too & opted NOT to have the 4" backsplash. It shaved a chunk off the quote & decided we would tile the full wall backsplash instead.

 

[mickeysgal]

Miss Jasmine, your kitchen is very, very pretty! Congratulations - being almost done must be such a great feeling.

Two questions - what kind of tile is that on your backsplash behind your stove and where did you get your kitchen bar stools? They're very pretty.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Thanks you all. I am really so happy with the results.

Mickeysgal, I'll have to look at my price sheet to see about the tiles. I can't remember what they are exactly. And we bought the bar stools from a local dinette, barstool and patio store.

We weren't going to do the 4 inches of Cambria, but now I am glad we did as it blends perfectly with stove since it has the black in the same area and the refrigerator.

 

[SplshMtn99]

We weren't going to do the 4 inches of Cambria, but now I am glad we did as it blends perfectly with stove since it has the black in the same area and the refrigerator.

I hadn't noticed that but you're right, it does.