During

A view across the cluttered floor toward the soon to be walk-in closet

Dungeonous corner - the bed centered on this wall

Closet (the next project is to push this out about

4 feet so we can have a walk-in closet)

The bathroom wall where the vanity will live

View into hallway

Here are some pictures of the "during" stages of the master bedroom and bath remodel. We started this projects months ago, but for some reason we have lacked the energy for this project that we had for the living room/kitchen. Maybe because we have a bathroom and another bedroom to camp out in. It's by no means comfortable. but with the kitchen stuff washing dishes in the bathtub and having no walls was a huge motivator. Anyway, we are moving again on this major project and we turned a corner this week - we're actually hanging drywall and should have the bathroom tiled within two weeks!! Cody actually tried to put off hanging the drywall until "next weekend" which is how we have ended up taking so long to even get this far, but one massive temper tantrum by me is all it took and miraculously the ceiling will be finished tonight! I wasn't thinking clearly and forgot all about taking "before" photos which is why there will only be "during" and "after" pics to share, but trust me, the room was hideous. It's the home stretch, people!

Finally Made a Committment

After hiring a colorist and then changing my mind about 100 times a day about the wall color we finally committed to this bluish-grayish-slightly greenish color and couldn't be happier! The colorist helped me choose a taupey-grey color and I thought it was all settled until Sunday morning's hangover when I got up at 5:30am and discovered a sample of the blue we eventually decided was The One. I had actually been adamantly anti-blue, but look at it! I described it to Kate as a deep blue like the blue of a Smurf's eyes at midnight under a full moon - kind of smokey, kind of calm, and kind of rich. Now I just have to commit to a floor and counter tops and we'll be home free!

This white patch will be painted over and then the giant tv will live here

Windows

We finally installed all the windows and the French doors this week! The house is totally sealed up and nice and snugly inside. We actually closed in some of the windows to accommodate more cabinets, but I think it looks lighter and brighter than ever in here.
Although, I do need to get some blinds or curtains to prevent the neighbors from peeking inside now. I wish I had thought of getting the French doors with the blinds built in!

Just imagine how nice it's all going to look once the floors are in and the walls are painted. Which reminds me, I still haven't decided on what color to paint the walls....

A desperate pup awaiting to be let in so she can jump, nip, and play.

Sorry, you're staying outside today Charlotte!

They're here!!

The cabinets were all delivered today and they're beautiful! I wasn't too sure about getting dark wood, but I am happy I did! Now we just need to finish sealing off the kitchen wall, install the door and windows (arriving Saturday) and these puppies will be installed within the next week or so!!

More pictures of walls

I know I keep posting pictures of walls, but it's just so exciting! we have some finishing work to get done this weekend and then will have the plaster applied next week.
Here is the kitchen as seen from the dining area. The island is going in where that
yellow thingy is and the oven and cooktop will be against the back wall. The appliance are my pride and joy and I am dying to get them in so I can cook!

Hi Cody! Thanks for being a trooper! (someone has not been happy about staying up till all hours hanging drywall, but he's sure going to be happy when it's all finished and he can watch his enormous, gigantic, awesome television.)

Unholy Mess redux

Here is Jason installing the very last ceiling panel - happiness!

The amazing lighting shining on Cody taking a break.

No more wall-less dungeon

Now it's a walled in dungeon and it's getting better every single day! Here's the drywall hoister-thingy that holds the drywall on the ceiling so you can screw it in without killing your back. This was a GREAT investment for the day and saved lots of time.
Here's Cody hard at work helping to install the drywall. He has been an amazing partner throughout this whole reno process and has done such a great job getting our house fixed up. Without his help and support this would have been an ordeal, rather than an adventure.

I love you, Cody!!! It was 1:00am and we powered through hanging the drywall on the walls and ceiling in the living room. Cody and I were beyond exhausted, but somehow Jason gets happier and more energetic as the night wears on. I suspect if we had been up for it he would have stayed up to finish the job, but we said "tomorrow!!"

Home stretch!

Look what we did last night....

We installed insulation and ran wires for speakers and installed the plywood subfloor now we're snug as a bugs!

Total Devastation! Hooray!

I went home last night to meet Cody and our friend, Jason, who was on hand to help make sure we didn't electrocute ourselves while removing the oven and Jason said, "You know, once this is out we could demo the whole kitchen in about an hour." So we went for it and now are ahead of schedule for getting the cabinets and walls torn out. The house looks weird and awesome at the same time. It's a horrible mess, but we really see the potential awesomeness now and it's very exciting. Tonight is cleanup and cement shopping and this Saturday we're scheduled to rip a hole in the floor and pour concrete! Here are some photos of the demolition along with some extreme cabinet ripping video.

Above is the pantry door where we all measured our height (Kate and Bryce included!). I plan to keep these two doors and put them somewhere special (maybe in the garden) since my aunt's height is on one of the doors along with the rest of us. It's a nice way for me to see that she was able to come over and play with us every once in a while.

It looks so naked! Off with the white formica counter tops!All the bottom cabinets have been torn out. FYI, many gross and crusty things were discovered beneath these boxes. I will spare you the images but, trust me, it was bad. Jason Avery in action with a crow bar and Cody making sure this thing doesn't land on his head.Last bit of cabinetry to go on this side of the kitchen! (We didn't do the side with the sink since a) we want to be able to use the sink until the very last minute and b) I didn't feel like doing the dishes that are still there stacked a mile high. Hmmmm, the first bit of damage on the living room wall. It looks so innocent.Here is where I started to worry about asbestos. Just look at the dust particles. Yo! Hi Cody!

As promised, above is the EXTREME CABINET RIPPING ACTION video.

And finally, the Unholy Mess.

It's starting....

It's so unbelievably weird. We're actually, really and truly renovating the house. Last night we bought gloves and crowbars. Crowbars, people! I cleared out almost all the cubboards and Cody got to work taking the doors off. It's a very surreal feeling... for weeks I've been threatening him to "get ready" and "we have a LOT of work to do" and somehow I never managed to get it into my own head that I need to get ready. Now here we are about to rip down walls and tear out cabinetry and I'm like, "Wait! I'm not ready!" Tonight I have to rush home and get the final bits of dishes and glasses into our make-shift kitchen in the guest bedroom, move the fridge, oven, and start ripping out the drywall all in time for Saturday's cement brigade. We're pouring a footing for the new ceiling beam and it's going to take 16 - 80 pounds bags of concrete to get the job done. Then next week it's time to hoist the beam into the ceiling (after building 2 temporary supporting walls) and I still haven't bought windows or had the French doors framed. Nor have I been able to get my front door ordered. It's a lot of work and I'm still in shock that's it's already started which is weird considering how much time has gone into the planning stages. I guess that's the weird part, up until now it's all been imaginary and then this weekend I started taking my "before" photos and the realization that a) our current house is in really, really sad shape and b) that things are changing quickly and it's time to get moving. Anyway, here's the first set of many, many, oh so many "before" pictures that will be posted sporadically throughout the reno.

Splurges

Cody and I are in the final planning stages with our house design and are getting ready for the funnest part of the home remodel. The shopping. I'm concentrating on stuff for the master bathroom since that's the first project. I know what I want it to look like and now I just have to get out and find things on sale that will fit the vision. I found this site that has amazing tile and different design ideas. I'm thinking maybe I'll splurge on a cool glass tile mural since my bathroom is pretty small and it would look amazing. I can't wait to show these to Andre and talk about how to incorporate some of this gorgeous stuff in my house :)