Our home remodeling project part one

[Laurabearz]

I was chatting with fellow DISers at the Gino's meet and I said I would get off my butt and post about our remodeling projects......

Lots going on around here... We are having a second story added on to our house, and are fortunate enough to own another house a few miles away that we had used as a rental house but we plan on living there while our addition is being built. We figured why not remodel that one OURSELVES before we move in so we can enjoy the fruits of our labor... seems like a good plan.... and other than being weeks behind, things are moving along nicely.

Kitchen before... Dark, poor storage

Nothing left.... We discovered there was no insulation on any of the walls and some of the bricks needed re mortering. No wondered can goods froze in the corner cabinets!

Starting to look like something....

Base Cabinets in...

Normally you would start with the top cabinets, but we have two upper cabinets that rest on the countertops... so we had to work our way up!

9 hours on my knees this past Thursday, but the tile is in. It was grouted today by a friend...

Dining room makeover is going on too...
Before with the lovely dark paneling...

If we had known what a wonderful job they had done putting up that horrid paneling we would have just painted it.... lol
We attempted to get the adhesive off, but with all the scraping and sanding and patching that would follow, we opted to drywall over it...

Our own private HIDDEN MICKEY!!! Found in the corner of the dining room..

Sooooo 6 weeks into the project things are starting to shape up. We are weeks behind schedule with kids being sick and DH working overtime... but all in all I am please. Hard work though... So far it all has been done by myself, DH and our handy friend Woody (in the first picture) 3 people, 3 rooms (we gutted a bathroom too.. pictures to come) 6 weeks into it and counting.

I will update as the work progress if ya'll are interested. I also plan on highlighting the work being done our our main homested. I sent all our info in to Before & After (TLC or HGTV I forget) and ther are interested but are waiting for word that they have been renewed! If they are.... the timing seems right... we could be one of the first shows shot this season!

 

[cgcw]

Oh My, Laura, what a job. It didn't really dawn on me last night when you said you were laying the ceramic tile that you were actually DOING the work. I give you credit.

What amazes me most is that your able & willing to tackle such major work with little children around. I give you credit -- you are much braver than I am. We need an addition -- specifically have thought about adding an upstairs to our ranch. But, until DS4 is in school full time, I'm not sure my nerves could handle it.

Best of luck. I look forward to updates.

Cindy

 

[Laurabearz]

Originally posted by cgcw

What amazes me most is that your able & willing to tackle such major work with little children around. I give you credit -- you are much braver than I am. (snip) Best of luck. I look forward to updates.

Cindy

The kids have only been to the project house a couple of times, to see their room and to understnd why either mommy or daddy is gone... a lot of tag teaming going on here. Plus my son turns ONE next Sunday and my oldest DD turns FIVE next Monday busy busy busy.

Work hard, play hard, laugh a lot. Piece of cake!

 

[4greatboys]

You guys are doing a great job!! looks like a lot of hard work and I bet its going to look so great when you are done! I cant wait to see the after pictures.

 

[kilee]

Looking great!! I for one hate remodeling (I like to hire it out and vacation while it's being done ). However, DH says he's gonna try his hand at gutting the dining room this summer--- I may need to take a trip alone!!

 

[KimRaye]

Laura, I see what you mean about the "pattern" in the tiles.

















































NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Looks soo nice, really!

How're your knees today?

 

[Laurabearz]

How're your knees today?

Better, but I still let out a tiny yelp when I get down on the floor to play with the kids...

And if you look closer... not only will you see the pattern.. but see all those crooked tiles??? Gosh I cant wait for some more distance between me and the project so all the little mistakes dont pop out at me like like Marty Felman's eyes....