Well, Beau did complete (most) of his lofty goals from the last post. We got the house put back together just in time for Monique's shower. It's amazing how effective a deadline can be. The shower was really nice, and everything went perfectly. Eventually there will be pictures, but we haven't gotten around to it yet (maybe I need a deadline for that too...). The den furniture isn't exactly where we'd like it, but there's time to fix that. Maybe one day, we'll even buy some furniture of our own!
We weren't able to get the sod laid, and it's probably too hot now to do it, so that will have to wait until late summer. Next on the spending list is to get some trees taken down. There are 2 or 3 that give us concern, and for my peace of mind, I need them gone before the middle of August.
Beau and I are headed to H-town for the 4th, and can't wait to see all of his family. I'm sure it will be a calm and relaxing weekend.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Before and ... current?
So I am little late for my monthly posting...
We had a number of busy weekends all in a row, but things seem to be settling down a little bit (though not much). In the midst of life, we have gotten some work done. As seems to be the case with home remodel, I don't have anything completely finished, but some stuff is substantially under way.
The painting is getting toward a finishing point and I pretty darn happy with how things are turning out. I'm trying to get it done, but I've been having some trouble motivating myself. I'm resolved to get it done. We will be hosting a baby shower here on June 19th and my (lofty) goal is this: finish painting, get the wood floor installed in the den, get the shoe installed, repair the floor in the kitchen/dining room/hall, and get the back yard graded and sodded. I don't think it is all going to happen, but I'm going to try.
Nathan and I succeeded in getting the hardest and probably the most expensive part of the first stage of the backyard renovation done on Sunday in about an hour and a half. It is a pretty entertaining story, but I have been advised not to put it into writing. You should ask me about it the next time you see/talk to me. Anyway, the rough grading work is done.
I am going straight over to the photo sight to upload some before and after pics. I will do my best to caption them before I crash tonight. Enjoy!
We had a number of busy weekends all in a row, but things seem to be settling down a little bit (though not much). In the midst of life, we have gotten some work done. As seems to be the case with home remodel, I don't have anything completely finished, but some stuff is substantially under way.
The painting is getting toward a finishing point and I pretty darn happy with how things are turning out. I'm trying to get it done, but I've been having some trouble motivating myself. I'm resolved to get it done. We will be hosting a baby shower here on June 19th and my (lofty) goal is this: finish painting, get the wood floor installed in the den, get the shoe installed, repair the floor in the kitchen/dining room/hall, and get the back yard graded and sodded. I don't think it is all going to happen, but I'm going to try.
Nathan and I succeeded in getting the hardest and probably the most expensive part of the first stage of the backyard renovation done on Sunday in about an hour and a half. It is a pretty entertaining story, but I have been advised not to put it into writing. You should ask me about it the next time you see/talk to me. Anyway, the rough grading work is done.
I am going straight over to the photo sight to upload some before and after pics. I will do my best to caption them before I crash tonight. Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
I have been remiss
I have officially been scolded for not updating the blog. Honestly, I kinda forgot about it a little bit. I know, I'm a horrible person. The trim was installed quickly and expertly. It took less than two days to get it all done. I have been trying to get it painted ever since. So, for the details...
In the days just before the trim carpenter is to come and install everything, Jenny decided that she didn't like my plans for the shelving unit. We had to go to Lowe's and Home Depot in search of some sort of "decorative" trim with which to trim the front of the shelves. I was rather perturbed, but. as usually happens with these things, Jenny was right. She decided on base cap and it looks a lot better than what I was going to do. If it counts for anything, I did a good job with the selection of all of the other trim.
There's been a whole bunch of puttying, caulking and some painting going on. The good news it that what I have painted so far looks pretty darn good. I'm working with oil-based paint on the trim. It's kind of a pain to work with and Al Gore has been leaving me nasty phone messages, but it looks really good when all is said and done. I've been using an additive called Penetrol which helps eliminate brush strokes. My painter turned me onto a while back. They make one for latex, but he said it's not nearly as effective.
A good hint: do you have any paint brushes that have stiffened up? Do you hate how you can never get a roller all the way clean? Well, I have and I do. I was running low on paint thinner and was at Lowe's picking up various things. I'm staring at the section with the paint thinner in it and I spy something in an identical metal can labelled "brush cleaner". My first thought is: paint thinner in a different, more expensive can? It says it is intended to clean brushes and rollers that have been used with latex or oil-based paints. Hmm... not paint thinner... So I figure, what the hell. It it saves one brush it pays for itself. This stuff is pretty amazing. I'm buying a gallon the next time I go. I still have no idea what it is, but it's worth it.
Jenny and I have decided on a floor for the den, I think. When we went to Carla and Charles' house right after the hurricane, we saw the wood flooring that Charles installed and Jenny really liked it. It was a wide-plank, hand-scraped wood floor. That's what we're going to do. I was thinking of trying to install it myself, but Nathan's dad has a good friend who is willing to do it for me for 1.25/ft. I can't argue with that. I'm trying to get the dining room/kitchen finished up first so that we can move furniture back in, but then I'm going to finish up the painting in the den so that I can get the floor installed. He has an opening in mid-April, so that's my goal.
One final anecdote... two of my friends, Chris and Dustin, are moving into my grandmother's currently vacant house. There is some painting to be done and when mom and dad asked them what color they wanted the walls, they responded "the same color as Beau and Jenny's walls." I take that as a complement :)
In the days just before the trim carpenter is to come and install everything, Jenny decided that she didn't like my plans for the shelving unit. We had to go to Lowe's and Home Depot in search of some sort of "decorative" trim with which to trim the front of the shelves. I was rather perturbed, but. as usually happens with these things, Jenny was right. She decided on base cap and it looks a lot better than what I was going to do. If it counts for anything, I did a good job with the selection of all of the other trim.
There's been a whole bunch of puttying, caulking and some painting going on. The good news it that what I have painted so far looks pretty darn good. I'm working with oil-based paint on the trim. It's kind of a pain to work with and Al Gore has been leaving me nasty phone messages, but it looks really good when all is said and done. I've been using an additive called Penetrol which helps eliminate brush strokes. My painter turned me onto a while back. They make one for latex, but he said it's not nearly as effective.
A good hint: do you have any paint brushes that have stiffened up? Do you hate how you can never get a roller all the way clean? Well, I have and I do. I was running low on paint thinner and was at Lowe's picking up various things. I'm staring at the section with the paint thinner in it and I spy something in an identical metal can labelled "brush cleaner". My first thought is: paint thinner in a different, more expensive can? It says it is intended to clean brushes and rollers that have been used with latex or oil-based paints. Hmm... not paint thinner... So I figure, what the hell. It it saves one brush it pays for itself. This stuff is pretty amazing. I'm buying a gallon the next time I go. I still have no idea what it is, but it's worth it.
Jenny and I have decided on a floor for the den, I think. When we went to Carla and Charles' house right after the hurricane, we saw the wood flooring that Charles installed and Jenny really liked it. It was a wide-plank, hand-scraped wood floor. That's what we're going to do. I was thinking of trying to install it myself, but Nathan's dad has a good friend who is willing to do it for me for 1.25/ft. I can't argue with that. I'm trying to get the dining room/kitchen finished up first so that we can move furniture back in, but then I'm going to finish up the painting in the den so that I can get the floor installed. He has an opening in mid-April, so that's my goal.
One final anecdote... two of my friends, Chris and Dustin, are moving into my grandmother's currently vacant house. There is some painting to be done and when mom and dad asked them what color they wanted the walls, they responded "the same color as Beau and Jenny's walls." I take that as a complement :)
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sheetrock!
The sheetrock is up! It has been hanged (hung?), finished, textured, and almost all of it is primed. I had the primer tinted so it's beginning to look like a finished product. I would post pictures, but I don't know where the camera is at the moment.
The whole process was interesting. The sheetrock hanger was great. I was truly impressed. They were quick, efficient, professional and they did a good job. For those who don't know, these are qualities rare to sheetrock contractors. The sheetrock finisher did good work. That's all that can be said for him. He showed up 10 hours late the first day (no lie). He was also drunk. After an ultimatum he showed up the next day on time and sober. From that point on, things went pretty smoothly. I have been trying to get everything primed, but 1600 square feet of sheet is a bunch. I have primed the walls and some of the ceiling. Hopefully I can finish priming tomorrow and get painting.
Jenny and I have been running non-stop since Christmas. Every weekend has been completely booked. We are finally through all of it (not that it wasn't enjoyable) and have some time to get some work done. We have plenty of painting to do, then trim, then more painting, then floor! Then we take a break.
The whole process was interesting. The sheetrock hanger was great. I was truly impressed. They were quick, efficient, professional and they did a good job. For those who don't know, these are qualities rare to sheetrock contractors. The sheetrock finisher did good work. That's all that can be said for him. He showed up 10 hours late the first day (no lie). He was also drunk. After an ultimatum he showed up the next day on time and sober. From that point on, things went pretty smoothly. I have been trying to get everything primed, but 1600 square feet of sheet is a bunch. I have primed the walls and some of the ceiling. Hopefully I can finish priming tomorrow and get painting.
Jenny and I have been running non-stop since Christmas. Every weekend has been completely booked. We are finally through all of it (not that it wasn't enjoyable) and have some time to get some work done. We have plenty of painting to do, then trim, then more painting, then floor! Then we take a break.
Monday, January 19, 2009
MR. CHAMPION, TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!!
oh my goodness. The temporary wall between the kitchen and the den is officially gone. I forgot how big my house is. Beau finished up most of the insulation in the den this weekend, and with the help of some fantastic friends (Frankie, Jim, Dustin, Kristen and Miranda) the paneling has been demo'ed. Sheet rock is supposed to be delivered today (Monday) and the craftsmen should start work tomorrow. I'm so excited. With the combination of no more visqueen in my house, and no visible studs (except for Beau. ha.) it's going to feel like a real house!!!!
We're taking out the furdown above the kitchen cabinets at the same time too, so our kitchen may actually look a little updated. I'm so excited to have my house back in one piece. It's hard to describe. (This does a pretty good job). (and makes me realize that I need to clean my camera lens.)
I'm so appreciative of all of Beau's hard work through all of this.
Now some more fun starts -- who wants to come paint?!
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