Days 76 thru 93 - Behold the changes as I get caught up

I sort of lost my mind from Day 76 thru today 92.  I had to get ready to move, I scheduled the appliances to be delivered. I had this JOB that I sort of needed to maintain in order to pay for this fun journey. But to be honest, there wasn't a lot of activity after the main floor bathroom tiling was done. I think my guys got pulled onto another job, because I know they didn't forget me (as if anyone could!). 

Here's a breakdown of what happened in the last 3 weeks. The lights were back ordered and just showed up on Day 91 or 92. That was NOT my fault (for once). The plumbing inspection had to wait for the bathtub refinishing (it looks awesome except for one spot where someone clearly touched it before it was dry). The carpet has been laid, the master bath is beautiful and... I moved in and took away the pristine look of an empty house! And no, I'm not unpacked. And no, I don't have enough furniture for the house. Oh and my queen matress and box spring wouldn't fit up the stairs to the attic. 

Here's a breakdown of things that aren't done. The pulls aren't on the vanity (I could do it but I'm not going to), the vanity isn't sealed or set (or whatever the hell you call it), the quarter round isn't on the kitchen floor or the master bath. The outside light isn't up yet, nor is the outlet for hot water heater. The dumpster is still in the driveway (and with the 30 MPH winds today, I had to gather cardboard from the neighbors several doors away). There are other things but why go on. It'll get done. After all, there's no payment until items are completed. I know how this game is played.  And I haven't done anything in the way of home improvements, but that's OK. Unpacking boxes is hard work too. Plus, acclimating myself to my new location.

So here are some pretty pictures.

Carpet. I say I picked it because of the picture of the kitty on the sample. I did. Can't lie.

It's color is "flannel" and it's soft and comfy on my toes

Transition to master bath

The cats like the carpet. I like the carpet. We're happy. It compliments the wood and the wall color nicely. It's a little darker than the sample, but I was warned about that. The salesman told me that it's always a little darker than the sample, so keep that in mind when picking carpet. (Thanks to Carpetland for the awesome service, btw). Since the master bathroom isn't complete, I'm not sharing that just yet. But it's pretty awesome.

Next came the appliances. Again, the weird kitchen layout caused me a little heartburn, but I think I got it figured out with the help of one of my coworkers. It's all about functionality in an old house. Back in the day, there was an ice box in what is now my laundry room. There's a milk door and everything. But putting the refrigerator in that room wasn't an option. So without further ado....

I switched the fridge and stove

This gives better sight lines when coming into the kitchen

 I like the flow in the kitchen. I bought black to tie out the black granite on the other side of this galley kitchen. I know stainless is "the thing" but since this is free standing, I didn't want a stainless front and then "not stainless" on the sides. It works for me. I plan on getting a small cabinet to put between the fridge and the stove to give me a little working room. Not a high priority. And I may have to make it based on the measurements I think I need.

This is not the final location

I didn't want (originally) the laundry on the first floor. But after considering the cost of relocating the plumbing and the fact that my dirty clothes were already on another floor, I decided to keep the laundry off the kitchen. Here's another "mistake" I made when considering my reno. There's a door to the driveway to the left. The stairs outside are super awkward. I knew I wasn't going to use that door (turns out the fact that one of the subs broke the key off in the door, rendering it useless, actually helped me) but I should have included this in my loan amount. So eventually there will be a window here, the door removed and the steps taken down. In the meantime, the washer/dryer have been rotated to left. They fit perfectly and gives me room for a shelving unit for more storage (always lacking in an older home). I also might have given more thought to stacked machines. I'm pretty old school. I really don't like front load washers. It's a personal preference (and a financial consideration as well).

Lights. Ah, my lights. I'm so ecstatic with my lighting choice in the master bathroom and bedroom. I was also surprised by my electrician when I found out that I have 2 smoke detectors hard wired into the house. It's the simple things (no annoying dead battery sounds!)

Pretty:

Sconces in Master Bath

Master Bath

Bedroom overhead lighting

 The new code requires a lot of outlets, which allowed me to have a couple that are attached to the main switch. I don't have a preference, but I'm sure someone will. The ceiling fan is also wired so that I can turn either the light or the fan on via the main switch. My outdoor light is also set up upstairs. It's a motion and dusk to dawn light. But this way, if I hear an odd noise, I can manage the light without coming downstairs. Kinda nifty. That's what I like about my contractor and subs. They're always looking out for me in different ways.

So, going forward, I hope to have the master bathroom completed, pictures of how my furniture doesn't fit and general comments about this whole process. Even when the contractors leave, it doesn't mean that the work is done. I have a list of restoration projects that need to be completed. I have a home tour for Restoration Exchange to prepare for (in a year). I also have a house warming that needs to be thrown. But in the mean time, I am really enjoying my new/old digs. My house is warm and welcoming. Oddly, it doesn't creak and grown like other old homes I've been in. It just needs some sprucing up outside, some more love inside, and it'll truly be "my home". It's getting there, slowly but surely.

Day 73 - 75 Ode to a Bathroom

I remember waaaayyyy back, about day 5, when one of the construction crew said to me, "It's going to feel like it's taking forever. And then one day, it'll go so fast you won't believe it, it'll be done."

Well, that day has arrived, folks. 75 days into this project and I am well and truly amazed by how far we've come. Not only my own work in the kitchen, but the painting my friends accomplished, the attic renovation, the hardwood floor refinishing and now the main floor bath.

I walked into the house on day 75 and was literally speechless.  ME. Speechless! I know I griped about having to pick out paint, and pick out tile and grout and faucets and lights and blah blah poor me. But I had no idea the impact these things would have on my little 1922 Craftsman. This poor house was soooo run down. It hadn't felt the love in years. I was giving it my all to see it return to it's former glory. So I present to you what I consider to be the crowning glory of my design skills.  Ok, not really, but I DID pick all this shit out.

Before:  Can we just say GROSS. I mean, besides the fact the the previous owners had left personal items in the medicine cabinet. The pipes for the faucets leaked from the wall to the sink (I'm sorry I couldn't save you, sink) hence the white and green buckets underneath it. The shower surround was poorly installed, and had gross icky stuff on it (I honestly refused to go near it and I'm not typically grossed out by much.) Amazingly, the original window and frame had very little damage, making  me question just how often the shower was used. But at any rate, gross is probably an understatement.

And now for the big reveal (I know the floor isn't clean yet, and the tub isn't refinished either, but...who cares, this is freakin' awesome)

I win. I win. I "decorated" something. And it's so good the contractors' office manager brought his girlfriend to the house to see it! This bathroom impressed a MAN! I WIN!

Ok, so, technically, the water still isn't on, I haven't flushed a toilet in the house, EVER. But COME ON. Is this not a thing of beauty? Look at that rain type shower head. IT'S SQUARE! Look at that window! Look and drool over that tile job! With its 2 built in shelves and its rockstar gray grout that draws the eye from the floor. I walked into this bathroom and thought... "holy shit, I want to SHOWER in here... NOW!"

Too bad it's for my eventual guests. I could always just pretend I didn't have any room for them to stay....

*Note... I'm not sold on the color. And it's my fault. I fat fingered the paint code when I wrote the email with the paint colors.  Clearly, attention to detail is crucial with paint colors, or you get robin's egg blue. Not acceptable.

**PS Note... OMG I'm so excited!

***PPS Note...yeah, we're going to fix that horrific white p-trap thingy. Seriously. I am NOT going to have plastic screwing up my chrome design aesthetic (listen to me!!!)