More " Then and Now" Photos

Sept. 27, 2016

I took a few more pictures to show the changes...

Bedroom changed to part of Same great room.

Window changed to French Doors.

Same bedroom showing it is now part of the great room.

Still waiting for wood floors to be repaired and refinished.

I'm pleased with the progress in the kitchen...

 

Looking Back and Moving Forward

I've been in SC for most of  September and I'm trying to wrap up a few chores before I head back to FL.  I've been painting,  working on flooring, cabinets and making an island for my kitchen.  I've been blessed with excellent help from family and friends  throughout the month and  I could never have gotten this far without them.

Today I sort of hit a wall (figuratively)  and needed a break.  I headed back to my home away from home, cleaned up and took a nap (one of only a handful of naps I've taken since I arrived, but a daily activity under normal circumstances).  Right before I drifted off to sleep I started thinking about all we've accomplished.  Take a look...

ThenNow

Bedroom with added linen closet

Back porch - On the way to becoming a laundry room.

I believe my friend's expression says it all, but look at the bathroom now.

New everything and a water closet instead of a giant linen closet.

Note:  I would have salvaged the green and black tiles, but they weren't tiles, just plastic.  We salvaged some for a future project.

  First look at the kitchen and dining area ...

 Same area with new floor.

Cooking up a kitchen.

This was the living room or "parlor" and now it's a bedroom with a nice new closet.  Piano is in storage and will become a desk - eventually.

There is still a lot to be completed, but I am re-energized looking at all we have accomplished so far! 

Back to work tomorrow! 

Good Days

Duke Energy finally came out yesterday to run the line to the house and set the meter.

No more  running an extension cord from the power pole to the house and, best of all,  the AC has been connected and it's finally cool in the house!

A beautiful sight...

The addition of AC has given me more stamina and the "to do" list is shrinking.

All rooms are painted with two coats of paint.

One closet needs a final coat of paint.

I will start the trim/woodwork tomorrow.  Sanding and then two coats of paint.

I won't do the baseboards until after the hardwoods are refinished.

Appliances will be delivered on Monday.

The downside of the AC is that Barney, my dog, is no longer tied on the front or back porch.  This means that he has to be inside with me and today he decided that the basin for the pedestal sink would be the perfect bed!    He's a goofy little guy.

More Progress

"Back Porch Sittin" Coming Soon

The back porch was started yesterday and finished today!  I love it and am looking forward to using it!

However, the painting goes on ... and on.

I've had help with the painting, but now I'm on my own. 
This morning I felt very overwhelmed by how much painting remained and at the end of the day I felt great about how much I finished today.   Maybe I was more motivated because I wanted to sit on the porch and relax.

Each room (and ceiling) needed priming followed by two coats of the top color.  It's a five room house, but one room is really two rooms combined so it may not sound like a lot, but it is!  As of tonight, I have completed the biggest room and hallway.  The other rooms are in various stages of completion and the woodwork and trim remain.  I can, however, do the woodwork and trim after I have a certificate of occupancy.

More painting tomorrow!  :) 

Sunday - Rest

I've been working on the house all day everyday and decided that I needed to take a day off today. 

I ran some errands, took a long nap and went with a friend to babysit her two grandsons. 
Spending time with two absolutely adorable little boys was a great way to end the day. 
It's impossible not to relax when you spend time blowing bubbles with a three year old!  Precious time.

Back to painting tomorrow!

Still Making Progress...

Utility Room Floor - Installed

Just needs 1/4 round trim.

Bathroom and water closet floor almost finished!

Also needs trim, but the finish carpenter will do that!
Paint shopping tomorrow and then more painting.

Week of September 13th

The HVAC system was delivered and installed this week.

The electric meter is supposed to be set this week.

Appliances have been ordered and starting to arrive. Some this week and some next week.

We did a lot of work while Doug and Katie were here and I need to jump back on the painting tomorrow.  I was going to purchase the wall paint today, but the Sherwin Williams rep said that the paint will go on sale on Friday at 40% off.  That's a sale worth waiting for and I have several other chores to keep me busy in between.

I really hope the electric is connected on Thursday because I really would like to have the air conditioning!  It's hot here!

It's beginning to look a little like...

A KITCHEN!

My kitchen will be one wall and turn the corner on the left.  At the end of the turn will be the refrigerator. Sink will be under the window and the range will be to the right of the sink.
Cabinets are Shaker White.

I ordered ready to assemble (RTA) kitchen cabinets in order to save money.  I knew I wasn't going to have custom cabinets so this option made sense. 

To save a bit more money, I assembled them myself.  There were a few wrinkles and the company is going to send the corner cabinet to me assembled and ready to install.  I tried to assemble it myself, but some of the parts did not line up and the company rep started suggesting modifications I might make.  I politely told him that I did not order the cabinets in order to re-engineer them.  He took a deep breath and said he would call me back.  When he called me back he offered the assembled option and I took it.  The front of the sink base has a crack so I will receive a new one with the assembled cabinet. 

I assembled 15 drawers yesterday and today!

Hard Work = Great Results

One of my brothers and his wife arrived on Wednesday evening and we got up early on Thursday morning to hit the ground running. 
We didn't stop until tonight, but we did enjoy a wonderful day yesterday with my nephew and his wife.

All rooms painted with primer - YES!
Ceilings in all but two rooms painted with two coats of final coat - YES
Door frames filled (spackled) and sanded - YES

Kitchen cabinet assembly started - YES

Flooring for main room installed - YES!

This room is about 23 X 17 and we installed vinyl plank flooring.  The look is grey/brown barn wood and while I know that no one will be fooled,  it is a very beautiful floor and will be easy to maintain.


Before

during

finished

 Covered for protection against future foot traffic and interior work.

The Big WOW!

Take a look at the progress...

From this:

To This:

 As you can imagine,  I am delighted.

















Painting is ongoing.  Primer right now and top coats after.

They poured the concrete this morning for the front and back porches.
Back porch will be screened soon.

Best news of all... one of my brothers and his wife

arrive this evening to help!

We have a floor to install and kitchen cabinets to assemble.

I keep trying out colors for the front doors. 

Maybe a decision will come soon.

More pictures when I have them.

Going over to the house now to write the date in the wet concrete

and then back to the painting!