Completed Projects Update: Week 5
In the month of June we made great strides.; all of the big projects were completed (installing floors, tiling the shower, refinishing ceilings, and most painting). Now that July is here we are moving into the house and have a month to unpack and complete the long list of "little" projects before we run out of energy and before Peanut arrives :)
* move into houseSaturday: With the help of a group of friends we moved almost everything from our apartment into the house!
Thank you Kevin B., Colby, Margaret, Kevin K., and Eric L. for your time and energy helping us move Saturday morning! We are sooooo thankful and I am especially indebted to you for helping David with this project!Tuesday: David and JD moved our beds into the house and we spent our first night here.
JD
beautiful makeshift curtains for the windows :) Our first house guests, my parents arrived Saturday afternoon. They enjoyed luxury hospitality...the ceiling fans had not been re-installed, make-shift shades adorned the windows, the kitchen sink/clothes washer/oven/microwave/refrigerator were not yet in place.
My parents are troopers and we treated it like a camping trip and scavenger hunt.
Oh, the joys of moving into a house that is still being remodeled!
My parents are troopers and we treated it like a camping trip and scavenger hunt.
Oh, the joys of moving into a house that is still being remodeled!
Thursday: Mom, Dad and I finished moving items out of the apartment. It took parts of Tuesday-Thursday and 8 loads with my SUV and their van to finish the move. I think I would have gone crazy moving the last "small" loads without their help :)
In the midst of moving the final things from the apartment we had trouble removing a door storage unit that I had installed a couple of years ago. Since we had already moved all of the tools to the new house and only had a screwdriver on hand, Dad ingeniously decided to remove the door knob in order to pry off the unit :) Men are quite handy!!!
* re-texture all of the ceilings (from popcorn to a flat finish)Done!
* remove all linoleum (kitchen and bathrooms)
Done!
* update kitchen
FLOORS
90% complete; need to lay tile under kitchen appliances
90% complete; need to lay tile under kitchen appliances
COUNTERS
Done!
FIXTURES
Sunday: David recessed the power box for the stove into wall, hooked up plumping for sink and installed new faucet.
I am continually impressed with David's ability to identify and self-start these minor projects. For example, I knew the stove jetted out past the counter further than I liked-- but I did not know that recessing the power box into the wall was the solution. And, I did not know how to do it or who to call I would have needed to call to have it done. But, my guy knows these things and is completing them like a champ! I suppose Christmas has come early for me this year!
Friday: David installed our new microwave!
Who knew you had to install a plug-in for the microwave? Who knows how to do that??? I was impressed, yet again :)
CABINETS
Friday and Saturday: Mom cut shelf paper to line all of the kitchen cabinets. She did a meticulous job cleaning and prepping them for our dishes!
* update bathrooms (refinish walls, replace toilets, fixtures and faucets)
I am continually impressed with David's ability to identify and self-start these minor projects. For example, I knew the stove jetted out past the counter further than I liked-- but I did not know that recessing the power box into the wall was the solution. And, I did not know how to do it or who to call I would have needed to call to have it done. But, my guy knows these things and is completing them like a champ! I suppose Christmas has come early for me this year! Friday: David installed our new microwave!
Who knew you had to install a plug-in for the microwave? Who knows how to do that??? I was impressed, yet again :)
CABINETSFriday and Saturday: Mom cut shelf paper to line all of the kitchen cabinets. She did a meticulous job cleaning and prepping them for our dishes!
Floor installation is done; need to seal grout
* remove wood paneling in entry and family room
Done!
Done!
* re-texture paneled walls
Done!no new progress
* paint walls throughout house
Guest Bedroom
Done!
Baby's Bedroom
Done!
* paint walls throughout house
Guest Bedroom
Done!
Baby's Bedroom
Done!
Dining Room
We need to apply a second coat and cut in around the trim
We need to apply a second coat and cut in around the trim
Master Bedroom
Wednesday: David finished painting the walls and cut in 3/4 of the trim
Family Room
Wednesday: David applied the 2nd coat of paint to walls; we need to finish cutting in the trim in a few places.
Bathroom
Tuesday: David primed the walls for paint.
KitchenWednesday: David started painting in the kitchen.
ClosetsSunday: Mom and Dad painted the interior of entry closet, guest and baby's bedroom closets.
Friday: Dad and Mom painted interior of master bedroom closet
Guest bedroom closet all scratched up
You can see the difference a fresh coat of paint makes to clean up the closet.This is a pic of closet mostly painted except for the bottom part... notice the difference :)
Dad in Peanut's Closet
Dad painting the Master Closet
Mom painting the Guest Bedroom Closet* paint trim throughout house
* add a privacy fence to the west side of property
no progress yet* clean-up landscaping
Front Yard
BEFORE
Our goal in the front yard for the week was to start by fixing 3 problems
Problem #1: sparse landscaping in flower bed (3 small bushes), unattractive brick border and awkward bush in front of door. Also, I think the house needs a walkway added from the street or driveway to the front door; I am a BIG proponent of an unobstructed path to the front door :)
Problem #2: pile of rocks from when David dug to find septic tank
Problem #3: overgrown bush and strange berry bush next to itPROGRESS
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Mom and I went shopping at a local plant nursery while Dad started prepping the front yard for its makeover. It sounds ridiculous, but we spent considerable time picking up twigs and racking this yard. Not to mention picking up small stones in the flower beds.
I purchased 2 boxwood bushes, 2 sage bushes, 2 heather wildes, 5 lantanas, some yellow flowers, a flat of red begonias and some white petunias; we also picked up some gardening gloves, top soil and compost.
Mom raked the 2 front side yards (= 6 bags of leaves) and created a trail to the back yard using concrete pavers we had on hand
Mom removed berry bush and trimmed the nice large bush
Dad tirelessly prepped the main flower bed for planting. He removed the dying bush blocking the front door and then raked and tilled the ground while removing buckets of small rocks. We thought planting this flower bed would take half the day... 2 days later we were still working on it. All because of the rockiness of the soil.
buckets of rock that had been removed from the flower bed soilOn Tuesday we purchased paint for the mailbox stand and a reflective address sign to put on the mailbox. Because of the heat we are holding off on this painting project, as well as painting the garage doors.
Tuesday and Wednesday were also spent on front yard work. We raked leaved, planted bushes and removed stones every day as if if were ground hog day :) But, alas... we finished the front yard Wednesday evening.
AFTER
Problem 1: front flower bed
We removed the strange bush, changed the flower bed to not block the front door (a sidewalk will be added to the front door at a later date), planted a plethora of bushes and some perennial flowers, and removed the bland bricks to add a stone border that matches the other flower bed.
Problem 2: We removed the pile of rocks and leveled the ground.
Problem 3: over-gown bush
Mom trimmed the bush and we changed this flower bed to have a semi-circle stone outline. We planted white, orange and pink Lantana perennial flowers that should bloom for 8 months of the year!Back Yard
Problem: a nicely landscaped area of trees and ground cover had become overgrown. Also, lots of small twigs/branches had grown on the trees and needed to be trimmed.
Saturday: Dad trimmed tree branches in the back yard and used the weed eater to trim around the ground cover area. It looks much better!
BEFORE
PROGRESS
AFTER
Last Saturday I ordered the fabric to sew drapes for the dining room; we are waiting for it to arrive.
Wednesday: Mom and I shopped for fabric options for drapes in the family room; found some great options for chair upholstery. But, I have decided to put this project is on hold until I have the house unpacked.Baby's Bedroom
I have the fabric now and will sew curtains sometime in the next couple of months.
*shopping
Wednesday: Mom, Dad and I made a trip to IKEA to purchase a shelving unit I had in mind for the baby's room.
We also found a great pantry-style cabinet to add storage to the laundry room and one for the garage as well.
Dad found IKEA to be a neat place until we got to the purchasing area.
heavy lifting ; )
Friday: Dad put together one of the pantry-style storage closets for the laundry room. 
We had a great week of fun projects! I am so happy to have spent so much time with the 4 of us working on fun/labor-intensive things!
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