Let's Talk Remodeling

[SplshMtn99]

Bill, I understand compromise too. Newer is NOT always better.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

It looks great hanging on the ceiling. But I only have half as much light in the room as before!!! The light before with half as many bulbs and behind a globe was an ok amount of light but half as much for twice as many bulbs is killing me.

I am very concerned about running into this same problem when we start picking out lights for my master bathroom.

We currently have this panel of fluorescent lights in this soffit-looking box, shining directly down on the countertops. Even though they're flourescent (the ladies will understand; they're our enemy), they put off a lot of light.

When I remodel, that box of lights (there just isn't another way to put it) will be coming down and I'll be installing two separate fixtures. Not only will they be of less wattage, they'll be separated by the center cabinet we're installing.

You can see part of the box in the upper left-hand portion of this picture. Just be careful when looking at it, you don't fall in love with my beautiful bathroom.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

When cabinets are delivered, do they come with a set of instructions for hanging them/putting them together/installing trim pieces?

My husband knows he can set the cabinets, since they're all base pieces, but we're wanting our contractor to install the trim. I would just feel more comfortable if there was a set of guidelines for them to use.

I really don't want to add $1,500 to our budget for some guy to come out and set some cabinets on the floor and screw them to a stud. I know it's a little more involved than that, but my husband is capable of making sure they're level, in place, etc.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Ours did come with some sort of instructions. I didn't read them though so I don't really know what it covered. I am just loads of help.

 

[shovan]

OK, I'm beginning to think I've had enough of this remodel and we've barely begun. I mentioned earlier about compromises and things never being exactly what I wanted and I'm disappointed in just replacing a light fixture.

My old ceiling fan/lighting in the kitchen looked something like this:

So I wanted a nice new fan with more light. I found this one and it looks great and I went from 2 lights in a globe to 4 direct lights. I thought this looks perfect.

It looks great hanging on the ceiling. But I only have half as much light in the room as before!!! The light before with half as many bulbs and behind a globe was an ok amount of light but half as much for twice as many bulbs is killing me.

The lights for this fixture have a smaller threading on them so it looks like it takes a non standard bulb and they're very frosted. I'm hoping to get some clear bulbs in this size and I may even go up to 60 watts instead of the 40 max it says. I hate doing that but it's either that or take this one out and get a different one.

We also replaced the dining room fan/light. Of course that ones dimmer also but it's only about 80% of the previous light instead of 50%.

We're running into the same thing. We need to replace all these outdated fixtures in the house, yet they throw off so much light. It has been a chore to find something more up-to-date, yet adequate in it's overall light. I truly understand!

This is the reason my kitchen ceiling & light still looks like this!!!

Big discussions with a certified "lighting consultant" at one store & females salespersons at another lighting shop. No one can give us a good recommendation on what will look good AND give the amount of light we need to replace the flourescent. AND all the men including my DH are pushing another flourescent light! Yuck! So there it sits, until I can make up my mind.

 

[shovan]

Miss Jasmine, Your bathroom came out great!! Love the vanity & the new wall color! Very nice.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Big discussions with a certified "lighting consultant" at one store & females salespersons at another lighting shop. No one can give us a good recommendation on what will look good AND give the amount of light we need to replace the flourescent. AND all the men including my DH are pushing another flourescent light! Yuck! So there it sits, until I can make up my mind.

What about recessed spot lighting? I would like it in my bathroom, but I'm trying to avoid cutting into the ceiling, and using an electrician as little as possible to keep costs down.

Also, I'm not sure if you have them or not, but my under cabinet lights help tremendously for task lighting.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Ours did come with some sort of instructions. I didn't read them though so I don't really know what it covered. I am just loads of help.

No, actually you did help! See? You're better than you thought you were.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

And so it begins...

My contractor just called to reschedule. She can't come out today because of scheduling issues, so now it's been put off another week.

Oh well... I guess this gives me extra time to research.

 

[shovan]

What about recessed spot lighting? I would like it in my bathroom, but I'm trying to avoid cutting into the ceiling, and using an electrician as little as possible to keep costs down.

Also, I'm not sure if you have them or not, but my under cabinet lights help tremendously for task lighting.

If you noticed we added the two recessed cans on either side, thinking we'd have lots of light with that & then could put track lighting or something mostly decorative in the tray area. But the cans didn't give me as much light as I hoped it would & the electricians charged $200 bucks EACH for the can lights!!!

And so it begins...

My contractor just called to reschedule. She can't come out today because of scheduling issues, so now it's been put off another week.

Oh well... I guess this gives me extra time to research.

Ahhh and so it goes....

 

[Miss Jasmine]

And so it begins...

My contractor just called to reschedule. She can't come out today because of scheduling issues, so now it's been put off another week.

Oh well... I guess this gives me extra time to research.

And change your mind...

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

If you noticed we added the two recessed cans on either side, thinking we'd have lots of light with that & then could put track lighting or something mostly decorative in the tray area. But the cans didn't give me as much light as I hoped it would & the electricians charged $200 bucks EACH for the can lights!!!

Duh. I had to go back and look at the picture and what do you know! I saw two can lights!

$200 a pop??? Yowch! I could easily have six to eight installed in my bathroom!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

And change your mind...

And to find more expensive items to increase my budget.

 

[BillSears]

And so it begins...

Everytime I hear that phrase I think of Kosh from Babylon 5 at the beginning of the Shadow War. I sure hope these projects end up a lot better then that war ended.

I popped over to Home Depot during lunch to buy some new bulbs for the ceiling fan. Now I'm totally confused and dismayed. I looked at the box at home and my box says 40 watt max and my DD's boyfriend who installed it said it used the smaller thread lights. On the box at Home Depot it says it uses 60 watt standard bulbs. Just my luck...I get the one remaining old style version that uses the smaller lower watt bulbs.

I can't reach the lights to change them so I'll have to wait until someone visits before I can see if the new clear 60 watt bubls make a good enough difference. It'll probably have to wait until I'm back from WDW since I leave on Thursday.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Everytime I hear that phrase I think of Kosh from Babylon 5 at the beginning of the Shadow War. I sure hope these projects end up a lot better then that war ended.

Oh, there were plenty of wars here during the last two rooms we remodeled!

I can't reach the lights to change them so I'll have to wait until someone visits before I can see if the new clear 60 watt bubls make a good enough difference. It'll probably have to wait until I'm back from WDW since I leave on Thursday.

Darn. I hate it when I have to go to WDW! You poor thing!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Everytime I hear that phrase I think of Kosh from Babylon 5 at the beginning of the Shadow War. I sure hope these projects end up a lot better then that war ended.

Too funny.

I have good news. My counter tops will be installed a week from Friday. I am so happy. They could do it sooner (Tuesday) but I really want DH to be here. I am concerned about how tight the fridge fits in the space and about how the counters are going to fit. There is room on the other side, so they might just have to move them over a bit.

 

[BillSears]

Darn. I hate it when I have to go to WDW! You poor thing!

Thanks, I'm glad there are people out there who know just how bad it is going to WDW.

I can't wait to get out of the chaos on my kitchen, dining room and the mess from those 2 rooms in the rst of my house. A nice long WDW vacation is just the thing to take my mind off of the remodel worries.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Too funny.

I have good news. My counter tops will be installed a week from Friday. I am so happy. They could do it sooner (Tuesday) but I really want DH to be here. I am concerned about how tight the fridge fits in the space and about how the counters are going to fit. There is room on the other side, so they might just have to move them over a bit.

I bet you're excited!

I'm just glad I was there when mine were installed. My husband was getting ready to make a $2k mistake. I walked in at just the right time!

I fired him after that. He's no longer in charge of any details. I just use him for heavy labor.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Thanks, I'm glad there are people out there who know just how bad it is going to WDW.

It's pure torture.

Did I mention that I'm a masochist?

I can't wait to get out of the chaos on my kitchen, dining room and the mess from those 2 rooms in the rst of my house. A nice long WDW vacation is just the thing to take my mind off of the remodel worries.

I can't think of a better place to escape to! Is any work going to take place while you're gone?

 

[DisneyPhD]

I bet you're excited!

I'm just glad I was there when mine were installed. My husband was getting ready to make a $2k mistake. I walked in at just the right time!

I fired him after that. He's no longer in charge of any details. I just use him for heavy labor.

I am beyond excited!

My DH knows he is only here for the manual labor.