Kitchen redo

I posted under Kitchen Redo. It's mostly pictures, hey that's what we all like, but if anyone wanted to know particulars of how we did something I'll happily share.

Before

After 

When we last met

It was early in the morning and then, I left you hanging. Sorry about that. Unfortunately there's not much to see when paint is drying, or not drying as the case may be. We'll get to the paint later.

I promised you pictures of the saw cuts in my floor. I don't know how or when (during which ownership) these happened. DH wanted to sand them out. I vetoed his desire because they're so deep. I'd like a little floor left.Around the base of the fireplace. DH does wonders with quarter round.A rose from my garden. Ignore the honking black thing and the light reflection.Filling up shelves. I like that bunny.The manly side. Please don't judge me by the movie titles. I didn't check them before posting.So that's where we're at. The exciting news, my furniture gets to come home today. I can't wait. Maybe I can. That dining table weighs a ton and I have to help move it.

On a sadder note, the plantation shutters are no more. DH was trimming one and the saw jumped and sliced right down the middle. While I hate that he ruined a shutter I'm so very thankful it didn't get his hand, arm, or leg. I'll just make curtains. I'll have more pictures as things progress.

Please note the time

At this moment it's 3:38 AM. I've primed the woodwork in the dining room. I'm headed for the living room.

Oh yeah, I have baseboards in both rooms. Hooray!

I swear

If DH doesn't stop jumping from one project to another I'm going to brain him. I just want one thing finished. Just one. I don't care if the grass gets mowed and if you don't have clothes so what. I just want to be done.

On a happier note, I have French doors. Please feel free to use your imagination and picture them white with white trim. While you're at it, feel free to ignore the crap scattered all over the danged place.The dining room side isn't finished because we ran out of moulding. DH doesn't know his left from his right and that's a mistake you can only make a couple of times before you're in a pickle and out of wood.

I'm finally done painting the shelves next to the fireplace. Again, call on your imagination and imagine actual shelves in place.While you're at it, conjure up a couple of plantation shutters for those glaring windows.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm to the "I'm sick of this" portion of the remodel. I'm tired of the mess. I'm tired of caulking and painting. Hammering sets my teeth on edge. The whine of a saw makes me want to slit my wrists. I miss my furniture.

He's a good egg

DH worked like a dog this weekend. He never grumbled, well not much anyway, and we got so much done.

He built the cabinets flanking the fireplace.He started putting down the baseboards. These are 6 inches tall and original to the house. He installed wall plates and straightened out a wonky outlet.He put all of the window and door facings and trim up so I can caulk and paint.
He even took me to garage sales and bought me this adorable bookcase. It's perfect for the end of the hallway. I think I'll keep him.

Where did this week go?

I've worked my tail off this week, but you sure can't tell it.

Monday I put a second coat of paint on all the walls. This is my accent wall and the adjoining wall in the living room. The darker wall is "Caramelized Onion" and the lighter wall is "Desert Fortress". Both colors by Valspar.
The ceiling isn't white. Instead I painted it "Riviera Dune" also by Valspar.
The dining room ceiling is also "Riviera Dune". The walls, oh the walls. I had fits. I tried "Desert Fortress" and it felt like a cave in there. I hated it. I just got rid of a cave and here I had another one. So, I ended up adding another pint of base to lighten it up so it's a lighter version of Desert Fortress. Tuesday we started putting the trim back up around windows. Why does nothing ever fit the same way? Riddle me that. We marked locations and which end was the top and still nothing wanted to go together right. I blame the humidity.

Here are the dining room windows. We just need to put on the final trim, caulk, prime and then paint. Here's the trim we had made. It's got a first coat of primer and is waiting to be cut and installed. I can't wait. My poor old window trim. It looks so sad. Nothing a ton of paint won't fix though. These windows will have plantation shutters.
In between sanding, scraping off silicone, and other remodeling chores, I've been playing with glass. These are going in the swinging door. Just wait and see how cute this is going to be.

The plan this weekend is to get the rest of the trim and doors up so I can paint. DH is shooting to be done by the middle of next week with his part. I want to be totally done by Friday so I can start cleaning house. We're running out of time.

Remodeling Guy's Spring Round-up

If you're a DIY'er or just like to think about remodeling go see this fellow. He's a hoot.

This weekend we're showing off our remodeling jobs. I'll do before and after to tell the story. Keep in mind we're not even close to being done. Please feel free to imagine the white door frames and baseboards that are missing.

Dining room
Before: We started with this...asbestos and beams...During: We got down and dirty. I uncovered 79 years worth of dirt and debris in the walls. After: We regained 2 feet of ceiling space and it's much more appealing. I love 9 foot ceilings. We also hung this old door. It swings between the dining room to the kitchen. This separated the dining and living rooms before. And now we have a real wall with an area for the french doors.Imagine them painted white.Living room
Before:After: Again, feel free to imagine white shelves on either side of the fireplace.We had horrid Berber carpet in both rooms and chose to go back to the original hardwood floors. Perfectly imperfect. I wish I'd gotten further along in the remodel for the round-up, but didn't.

Here's a recap of what we've done since March 17th. We took out the dropped ceiling in the dining room, removed the divider between the two rooms, removed the plaster and insulated the outside walls, repaired the floor in a couple or three places, covered the remaining plaster walls and ceilings with sheet rock, built a new wall between the two rooms, refinished the floors, hung a door, and gave the fireplace a face lift. So far we've got one coat of paint on the walls and I'm waffling about the color. Stay tuned, it could change.

For more of what's been going on check the posts labeled remuddle. The whole sordid story is there.

Be sure you check out the links to other remodeling jobs at Remodeling Guy.

I'm either incredibly brave or unbelievably stupid

I fixed the floor. I can't believe it blended in so well.

I sanded the whole floor with 220 grit and went over it with a tack cloth.

Then I got the palm sander with 150 grit on it and went to town on the shiny spot. I checked every couple of seconds to make sure I wasn't sanding it down too far.

I crossed my fingers, applied the next coat of poly, and walked away. I really thought I'd be able to see it once it started drying. It turned out perfectly.

Unfortunately, everything else I touched today turned into manure. That's okay though. I need a little fertilizer for the perky posies I'll have tomorrow.

I'm an idiot

This is what happens when you disconnect your brain. See that glossy spot? See the satin rest of it?

I started a new gallon of poly just as I was about done with the second coat and forgot to stir it. Now I've got a glossy area in the middle of my satin floor. Grrr!

I'll be spending some quality time on my hands and knees with the sander for this little brain fart.

A floor story

See this spot in the dining room?Now look again. And now it's gone! I love a good sander. It's smooth enough you can sock slide. I did and didn't even kill myself. Most importantly, I didn't knock any holes in the new walls.After a good sanding and multiple vacuum jobs the floors are ready for staining. I used Minwax Wood Finish Special Walnut 224. That's what we used in the other rooms before we found out the flooring was red oak. It still looks good.When I stain a floor I do it on my hands and knees with a rag. I make sure I get stain in all the little imperfections that didn't sand out. I'll show you the saw cut marks in the living room later. Once I stain it I leave it alone for about an hour and let it do it's thing.

While I was waiting, DH put the swinging hardware on my door and we hung it in the opening.Hi Honey! No there isn't any glass in the door right now. It's coming.

After we got done monkeying around and tracking dust everywhere, I got an old cloth diaper and went over the whole floor catching dust and any stain that might not have soaked in.

Now it's time to put up barriers. This goes to the kitchen and now has a door as well as a flowered sheet hanging there.This is to keep the cats from going in the living room from the hall.From this point on, nobody, but nobody gets to walk on this floor but me. If I catch you on the floor I yell and scream and you'll go hide.

I put my hair under a shower cap, make sure I don't wear anything fuzzy and that my bare feet are clean. The first coat of poly was done completely with a brush. If I see a fuzzy of some kind I pick it up and stick it in my pocket. It took 2-3 hours to do both rooms last night. I had trouble seeing once the storms rolled in.

This morning it was nice and dry. Not tacky at all. I lightly sanded it with 220 grit sandpaper and vacuumed again. I put the second coat on using a low nap roller and brushed it out. If you do this make sure not to roll more than you can brush before the bubbles dry and be sure to overlap your edges.

Here's the dining room after the second coat.Here's looking from the dining room into the living room. Can you see the difference? The living room has one coat and it's satin. That's what the whole thing will look like eventually.This is a stinky job, but it's going to be worth it. I love my floors with all of the little imperfections and blemishes.

Be still my heart

We're sanding the floors! My word they are pretty.

I'll answer Autumn Leaves' fuzz, fur, and hair question tomorrow.

For your viewing pleasure

Can you guess what this is?It might help if you click the picture.

Stage I of the remodel is done and we're running full steam ahead into Stage II. Stage II is my favorite because it involves color and doesn't involve sanding.

Happy Earth Day!

Did you celebrate? Do you celebrate? What did you do?

Do I celebrate? Of course! Every day is a holiday around here. I treated myself to the sights at the Old Fishing Hole. I saw sunning turtles...and my favorite migratory bird...the Yellow-headed Blackbird.I also celebrated by planting a tomato plant. I'm looking forward to sun-warmed tomatoes later this summer.

Then I came home and blew the whole deal by using spray paint...twice.

Naked plug surrounded by recycled newspaper.Primed plug surrounded by recycled newspaper.Painted plug surrounded by recycled newspaper.I painted the gas plug in the dining room. Notice the recycled newspaper. LOL.

I'd like to think I redeemed myself when I refused a bag at the hardware store, Wal-Mart, and the grocery store.

I do try to be conscious of what I bring into the house and as a result what leaves as garbage.

Speaking of garbage. Did you know a little old man took my paneling from the living and dining room to put up in his cabin at the lake? It didn't go in the landfill.

The ceiling tiles were tested for asbestos and found to be positive so they didn't go to the landfill.

The plaster is going to be crushed and turned into something else.

All of the lumber is going to be recycled into a greenhouse for me one of these days.

The metal strips from the drop ceiling went to the recycling center.

Part of the carpet was taken for a dog kennel. I didn't know people carpeted dog kennels, but that's okay.

I'm sure I could have done better, but I think I did a pretty good job. Happy Earth Day.

Tomorrow I'll give a house update.

More sanding?

Unfortunately.

I got the second coat on yesterday and I'm in the process of sanding. I really dislike sanding this stuff.

DH decided before we started this that he wasn't mudding or sanding. It's a job he hates.

I'll give him this, he's been a man of his word. While I've been cussing and on the verge of tears a few times, he's been in his recliner watching TV.

Lousy man of his word.

I can say I've mudded and sanded 1371.5 square feet of drywall, including the ceiling.

It's done

Hallelujah! Unfortunately we had some casualties. The sander and the shop vac both bit the dust. Literally. Rest in pieces.

Today I've spent some quality time with a broom and dust pan. I'm so glad my granny taught me how to sweep.

In other news, I took the trim to the wood man and he's making me 98 feet of trim to match the original stuff. It should be ready in two weeks. Hopefully I'll be ready for it.

I hate this

But at least I'm on schedule. I started sanding bright and early this morning. I hope to put the second coat on later today. I can only sand for so long before a)I can't breathe for the dust, or b)my hands go numb. It's going to be a long day.

And I thought the ceiling was hard

Well honey, that's nothing compared to the corners. I've got the equivalent of 32 corners to do and have exactly four done. I guess I'd better go get busy.These slackers aren't being any help at all.

Waffle Hair uh, I mean House

Some times life is funny, but then again, not so much.

I'd never ever eaten at a Waffle House until today. Chances are I'll never ever eat at one again. I'm plowing through my breakfast like a farm hand when I spy a hair. I think to myself, hmmm looks like a cat hair, so I start to pull it off the plate. But, it just keeps coming and it's not a cat hair. Ick! That son of a gun was a good 6 to 9 inches long and under half of my food. Gag. Never again. The good news, I didn't blow my diet eating at the Waffle House on Meridian.

I got Mom dropped off at the airport for her impromptu trip to South Carolina. My baby sister's been having some problems and Mom's going to take care of her and try bring her home for a little while. They should be home Saturday.

DH's dad has decided to check himself and MIL out of the nursing home on May 1st so they can spend the summer in the mountains. I hope to Pete it works out okay because that room will go fast and I don't know where they'll lay their heads at night if there's a problem.

DH's dad also insists that you don't have to pay taxes on interest and dividends. Hello? If I get a 1099I or 1099D I'm declaring it and paying the taxes whether he likes it or not. This has turned into a huge debacle and I refuse to participate any longer.

In house news, the wall between the living and dining room is almost finished and I'm nearly done with the dining room ceiling. I'm shooting towards having all of the mud work done by Friday night so I can sand Saturday or Sunday. I'd love to be texturing come Monday.

I've got a crick in my neck, a rip-roaring case of bronchitis, and enough drama to float a boat. I'm not whining. Just telling it like it is.

Playing in the mud and other fun stuff

I'm two-thirds of the way through a 50 pound box of joint compound and I'm not done yet. I've got most of the screw holes covered and am working on the seams. I haven't tackled the ceiling yet.

Here's what DH has been working on. He's building a wall between the living and dining room. Why you ask? Well, remember these? This is where they're going. Now for a home improvement tip. If you should sometime find yourself filling rather large spaces with drywall compound think like a woman.
Get a pastry bag or heavy duty zip top storage bag and pipe it in the crack like frosting. Trust me. It works so much better than trying to cram it in with a putty knife.

Once DH picks himself up off the floor he's going to think I'm brilliant. I just know it.