Let's Talk Remodeling

[KDIPIAZZ]

Over the past 8 years, we have completely gutted and renovated/remodeled every room in our 1886 Italianate Victorian

- replaced old tin roof with new tin roof. the original roof had been compromised when a previous owner tore off the box gutters
-replaced 24 windows with new
-removed 8 single pane windows in the basement and replaced with glass block
-installed new staircase to basement as the old was a spiral death trap
-converted one attic room (out of 3) to playroom, refinished attic steps, replaced attic windows with double-hung windows, added insulation and flooring, wiring, lights, heating and A/C
-converted 1 of 4 bedrooms to bathroom: installed shower unit, garden tub, hardwood flooring, vanity, sink and toilet and created walk in linen closet
-converted old bathroom to master closet (which tells you how small the old bathroom was!)
-removed shower unit from main floor bonus room - a previous owner was elderly and just installed a shower unit in the corner of the parlor, which had been converted to a bedroom - I understand adding a shower downstair if no longer able to handle the stairs, but the toilet was still upstairs?
-restored parlor: studded out walls, added insulation, new wiring, added phone jacks and outlets, new drywall, paint, 2 window seats, made fireplace operational, replaced mantle, added 2 window seats, lights, ceiling fan, carpet
-created 1/2 bath underneath the stairs
-restored family room: studded out walls, added insulation, new wiring, added phone jacks replaced door and replaced another door with a window, lights, ceiling fan, carpet
-restored dining room: studded out walls, added insulation, new wiring, added phone jacks and outlets, new drywall, paint, removed door, made fireplace operational, replaced mantle, added 2 window seats, lights, ceiling fan, carpet
-enlarged main entry door, replaced door, replaced light and added slate flooring to the foyer
- refinished bannister and spindles on main staircase
-master bedroom: studded out walls, added insulation, new wiring, added phone jacks and outlets, new drywall, paint, made fireplace operational, replaced mantle, lights, ceiling fan, carpet, removed wall to access master closet
2 other bedrooms: - studded out walls, added insulation, new wiring, added phone jacks and outlets, new drywall, paint, removed and sealed 2 fireplaces, lights, ceiling fan, carpet (1), hardwood floor (1), added closet space
-kitchen: removed wall, re-opened and refinished back staircase, expanded out to previous back porch, added laundry room, studded out walls, added insulation, new wiring, added phone jacks and outlets, new drywall, paint, counters, tin ceiling, peninsula, 2 new entry doors to front and back of kitchen, cabinets, sink, lights, 2 ceiling fan, slate flooring
-replaced rotted wooden front porch with concrete and replaced rotted pillars
-scraped and painted gingerbread and soffit
-added small deck off kitchen
- dug out garage floor so that we could actually fit cars inside, pouted new concrete floor, replaced garage door, poured concrete apron, replaced shingle roof with tin to match house, replaced single 4 single pane windows with glass block
-installed fencing and 2 dog runs (I foster)

On the schedule for this year
-remove cracked concrete and rusting metal supports from kitchen porch, pour new concrete (stamped) and replace rusting metal pillars with new wooden ones to match front porch
-landscaping

on the schedule for "when i get to it"
-replace fixtures in bathroom: the bath was the first room we did and the fixtures haven't worn well
-repaint rooms and general maintenance/freshening of decor
-remove one old pine tree
- plant more fruit trees and berry bushes

on the schedule for after i hit the lottery
-concrete driveway


I'm fortunate that DH is EXTREMELY handy and we did all work except the roof (he had no previous experience with tin and didn't want to be 3 stories up) and the kitchen counter (wanted someone else to be responsible for perhaps dropping and breaking my soapstone!)

 

[mickeysgal]

Within two minutes of being on that site, I found this and have already emailed it to my cabinet guy!

http://www.nkba.org/xconsumers/getfile.asp?id=64

I love that detail where it curves in front of the bowl.

Thanks for that link!

Ohhhhh thats pretty. If you have a guy that can reproduce that kind of detail - hang onto him. He's worth every penny. Does he travel?

The bath vanity that we want to do has two sinks with a stack of drawers in the center. We're going to have that pulled out - offset - flanked by fluted fillers with ball feet on the ground. I wonder if I can somehow curve the granite backsplash to match the offset? We're looking at Diamond cabinets as we haven't found a guy that can custom build to that detail.

 

[mickeysgal]

Over the past 8 years, we have completely gutted and renovated/remodeled every room in our 1886 Italianate Victorian

Yes, you have! That is some list.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Ohhhhh thats pretty. If you have a guy that can reproduce that kind of detail - hang onto him. He's worth every penny. Does he travel?

Oh, he's great! When I was doing my kitchen, after he'd given me the original quote, I decided to have him build the arch that is over my kitchen sink.

He told me that it would cost extra and that he would figure a price and get back to me. Well, I expected it to be around $300, and when he called me back, he only added a whopping $100 to it. He's very reasonable.

The bath vanity that we want to do has two sinks with a stack of drawers in the center. We're going to have that pulled out - offset - flanked by fluted fillers with ball feet on the ground. I wonder if I can somehow curve the granite backsplash to match the offset? We're looking at Diamond cabinets as we haven't found a guy that can custom build to that detail.

I've seen them designed like that and they're very nice. DH and I decided that if the cabinet maker's quote came in under $3k, that we would go with him; otherwise, we were going to purchases a furniture-style vanity like the one in our hall bath.

I'm going to get a quote on Friday to curve my backsplash. When she curved the granite on the island, it didn't add much to the price, but do an ogee edge? Well... let's just say that I went with a plain old bullnose and that's what my bathroom will be getting too.

It added almost $1k to the estimate. I almost died.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Over the past 8 years, we have completely gutted and renovated/remodeled every room in our 1886 Italianate Victorian

WOW!

That's some remodeling job!

I love, love, love old architecture. One of my favorite things to do, is drive through old towns and look at the buildings/houses. The detail they used to use back then is mind-blowing - especially in the downtown areas.

I would love to see pictures of your house before and after!

 

[binny]

hey I found more of my people!

We have an amazing master suite that was here when we bought the house last year. A friend of mine says that htey must have been doing "movies" *wink wink* up there or something because the rest of the house wasnt really updated LOL
Anyway, here are some shots of different room in our house now. http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2104265628


I am in the middle of my kitchen "do-over" Im going to copy and paste from my other thread ok?


I painted a long time ago and now the rest is going to be done in a few weeks!

This what it looked like when we moved in. The blue cabinets were really bad and the hardware was definately original 60's and smack dab in the of the doors
The floors are in bad shape and the countertops are stained and cut.

I painted the cabinets and the walls so right now it looks like this:

This is the countertop that we chose

this is the new floor that is waiting to be installed!

We are also changing the the backsplash to a faux tin tile like the one on the upper right here:

So my question is what colour should I paint the rest of the walls now. the yellow is not going to work obviously. So what should I go with? I am thinking it needs to be bright still but maybe a light beige? What do you think?

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

hey I found more of my people!

I am in the middle of my kitchen "do-over" Im going to copy and paste from my other thread ok?


I painted a long time ago and now the rest is going to be done in a few weeks!

This what it looked like when we moved in. The blue cabinets were really bad and the hardware was definately original 60's and smack dab in the of the doors
The floors are in bad shape and the countertops are stained and cut.

I painted the cabinets and the walls so right now it looks like this:

I remember your cabinets! I'm trying to decide if I want to glaze my bathroom cabinets.

This is the countertop that we chose

LOVE it! It looks like the one that I want for my bathroom! What's the name?

I think it'll look awesome next to your cabinets.

this is the new floor that is waiting to be installed!

Looks like mine! I love it!

We are also changing the the backsplash to a faux tin tile like the one on the upper right here:

Cool! What color?

So my question is what colour should I paint the rest of the walls now. the yellow is not going to work obviously. So what should I go with? I am thinking it needs to be bright still but maybe a light beige? What do you think?

I'd pick one of the darker colors out of the granite, like the ones towards the bottom of the picture. I'm all about the color.

 

[binny]

I remember your cabinets! I'm trying to decide if I want to glaze my bathroom cabinets.



LOVE it! It looks like the one that I want for my bathroom! What's the name?

Why, butter rum of course! If they had a Captain-n- coke colour I would buy that one! its Formica you can buy it stock at Lowes.

I think it'll look awesome next to your cabinets.

Thanks

Looks like mine! I love it!

it is gorgeous! I bought it at Costco $20/box with a copoun you cant beat that Worked out to be about $1.12 a SqFt

Cool! What color?

The one on the top right hand corner. The dark coppery one. I think it will go great with the hardware that I installed.

 

[KDIPIAZZ]

WOW!

That's some remodeling job!

I love, love, love old architecture. One of my favorite things to do, is drive through old towns and look at the buildings/houses. The detail they used to use back then is mind-blowing - especially in the downtown areas.

I would love to see pictures of your house before and after!

Much to my chagrin, I don't have many pictures before the remodel. Here's a few I managed to snap during various projects

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/kdipiazz/album/576460762372980585


And here are the kitchen pictures. My previous kitchen was such a hole I was the most excited about this project.

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/kdipiazz/album/576460762372980257

 

[binny]

I coundlt access the first link but the second one is amazing!

Congratulations, its a beautiful house!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Why, butter rum of course! If they had a Captain-n- coke colour I would buy that one! its Formica you can buy it stock at Lowes.

Oh, how funny! I swear, you'd never know that wasn't granite from that picture! The things they're doing now with that!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Much to my chagrin, I don't have many pictures before the remodel. Here's a few I managed to snap during various projects

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/kdipiazz/album/576460762372980585


And here are the kitchen pictures. My previous kitchen was such a hole I was the most excited about this project.

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/kdipiazz/album/576460762372980257

I was so bad about taking before photos. I don't have any before my secondary bath remodel. And I so loved that sea-foam tile that was in there too.

Your house looks exactly like I thought it would on the exterior! I love the windows!

Your kitchen looks great. You managed to modernize it, but keep some vintage feel to it with the soapstone, the backsplash and the ceiling.

Do you know the history behind your house?

 

[shovan]

The bath vanity that we want to do has two sinks with a stack of drawers in the center. We're going to have that pulled out - offset - flanked by fluted fillers with ball feet on the ground. I wonder if I can somehow curve the granite backsplash to match the offset? We're looking at Diamond cabinets as we haven't found a guy that can custom build to that detail.

Do you have any pictures of the look you're going for? I'm still looking for more ideas.

hey I found more of my people!

binny, I see you found it! Did you see the pics of the tin backsplash?

Am I There Yet, Your kitchen is beautiful! Love the curve in the granite, what a great suggestion she gave you! I wish I could find that kind of work here in New Orleans. I'm still waiting for the 2nd quote on the bathroom, he told us he have it to us last Thursday!

 

[shovan]

Much to my chagrin, I don't have many pictures before the remodel. Here's a few I managed to snap during various projects

And here are the kitchen pictures. My previous kitchen was such a hole I was the most excited about this project.

I couldn't view all of your pics, but your kitchen came out unbelievable! I love the tin cieling with the crown molding! The soapstone island looks great! I can't believe all the work you've done! And your marriage & sanity are still intact!

 

[binny]

I did see the tin backsplash I am excited to see how it looks in here. I put oil rubbed bronze hardware in my kitchen so I want to go with the darker one in my kitchen I just love that look!

 

[shovan]

I did see the tin backsplash I am excited to see how it looks in here. I put oil rubbed bronze hardware in my kitchen so I want to go with the darker one in my kitchen I just love that look!

Go take a look at KDIPIAZZ kitchen pics, they have the bronze tin backsplash! It looks great!

 

[Chicago526]

Hey binny!

I have no decorating advice, I barely have the nerves to pick out my own stuff , I'm not about to tell others what to do. I just wanted to say that your kitchen looks great so far!

 

[KDIPIAZZ]

Not quite sure why the first link isn't working - it is for me. You can also access the folders over to the right side although it's just a few pics. I wish I'd had a digital camera through the whole thing!

binny - my backsplash is actually stainless steel panels, not tin tiles. I got it from archpro.com. It cleans beautifully! I got the tin ceiling tiles from americantinceilings.com
Are We There Yet - we actually know the whole history of the house. The house was built by and owned by one family until 1978. When the parents died, the 7 children fought amongst themselves, portioned out the farm land and built their own houses close by, and sold the original family home with 5 acres to outsiders, who attempted with varying degrees of success to renovate.
We are the 4th set of outsiders It's nice because some of the neighbors who grew up in the house shared pictures and stories and we could see some of the original things while renovating. It's not so nice when some of the others complain about things we've changed (like knocking down the rotting wooden springhouse - I think they were more upset that the snakes moved on...possibly to their properties) or knock on the door with 4th cousins once removed wanting to show off OUR house. Luckily, the nice siblings live closer than the nosy/nasty ones.

shovan - you lose all sanity in the first couple of months! After this long, the relationship has to be strong because no one else could stand to live with either of the 2 insane people!

 

[mickeysgal]

We're doing a built in armoire-like piece in between the two vanities. It'll have double doors at the top, then four drawers down below. On either side, there will be three narrower drawers and your typical double doors under the sink.

He's building it all on furniture-style legs and arching the doors to match my existing doors in the house. This is the same guy that did my kitchen and he does awesome work. I honestly expected that quote to come in more around $3,500, so I was pleased.

I'm hoping we can use granite remnants for either side of the armoire, since it'll only be 43" wide on each side.

Just curious...What is going to be the size of your armoire piece in the center? Will you be doing glass doors at the top? Are you doing this piece because you don't have a linen closet? We have a similar length vanity but we have a small linen closet in the room. We were going to keep the vanity the same length and frame the huge mirror that we currently have.

 

[mickeysgal]

Do you have any pictures of the look you're going for? I'm still looking for more ideas.

Yes, I am trying to pattern it after a certain style in the Wood-Mode catalog. If you go to www.wood-mode.com, its the style featured under the design portfolio/French and English Inspirations. This particular piece is a kitchen island with curved drawers. I'd love to have this in my bathroom, however I bet the price to curve drawers is out of sight. We'll see - I'm going to find out.