Day 57-60: Master Bedroom

OK so I think these are last pictures until the actual FINAL Pics. Which really won't be much diff if at all in here. But coming up on the finishing touches 99% done this weekend.

Can't really see it but there is a DOOR into the bedroom:


Walking in door looking to the far right corner:


Then walking to that corner and looking back (door on the left leads to hall, right is to closet):


Standing back where you started and looking towards the left:


Inside the Closet- The "His" side on the left:


Inside the Closet- The "Hers" side on the right:


Inside the Closet- about face looking into bedroom:


Not a great shot but, 5 inch Mocha stained solid Oak, Vintage Hand scraped prefinished flooring. Looks way better in person but I think you get the feel:

Day 12: Untarped (Things Get Roof)

Saturday we were descended upon by a flock of roofers. They roofed the back door overhang, the main part of the house, through the sun room, and the front door overhang. Also, our roof is now connected to the old portion. Look at that sexy continuity:


Front door is really forming:


Brendan chilling in our sun room:

Day 11: Developments in the Back and Front Entrances

Looking towards the back...

Puppy welcomes you to our kitchen:


The view:


New overhang (from below and side):




Now moving forward, perhaps one might note the step no longer has a backpack stuffed hole in it:



Through the front door in the living room:


To the left:


On the right:


Out the front:


Steps will lead forward and to the right to the driveway, railing on the left.

Day 7: Framing, Foundation, Electrical Inspection

Inspection results:
Foundation... We have had this ditch since pre-Halloween, and it was as large as it was because the architect mis-measured our house and drew the foundation too big. So between recalculating math or doing extra digging, Milton chose digging. I was cool with it, makes no real diff to me. Cept it turns out we would need new drawings and new approvals to do such a thing, and so they will now be filling it in. Seems like a silly waste of work!


Otherwise everything else was good.

Foundation prep dug out back:


Not a lot happened to show, as most of the big stuff was static waiting for the inspector.

But the old door to my bedroom that was segmenting the new length of hall was taken out, and so not the hallway looks more normal (though still unfinished, and furnished with a creepy pup).


And they installed the fan in our guestroom/office.

Days 5 and 6: Life

Weekend life during renovations...

Since no one is coming through during the weekends, we freed our REAL mattress for a welcome break from the air-mattress. Obviously vacuuming first. Ah real sleep. I missed you!


Dinner makings are limited. We have our fridge- thankfully, and can make use of the toaster oven/microwave/crock pot.
Our bedroom/living room/kitchen (fridge is in other room, and the bathroom seconds as our laundry room):


Goat cheese quesadilla (toaster oven), frozen veg burger (toaster oven), cranberry bourbon pecan sauce (whole foods prepped foods), and mache greens. Not too shabby.

Demolition Day 2: A moment to go over the Electric Casualties and other issues

So as expected... problems have arisen. There were the original problems of finding an architect. In the end I wasn't able to get one to the house. It was weird. But I moved on and looked for a GC. There I was a little more successful, narrowing down to the fellow that did my moms house and the one that did previous work on mine. I liked both guys A LOT and I suck at telling someone no, but in the end went with the one that seemed to have more experience with the kinda of project we were doing, and in general the one that had less on his plate in teh way of projects going forward. We took his architect as we got a deal on him, and moved along.
The architect from teh start was a little shaky on what was in need of variance or not, and so naturally we got involved with the town and decided to apply for the variances directly rather than through him. This process took several months despite knowing people and having our info together. Unfort when you are also relying on others to get info in on time, things don't always go smoothly. But eventually we had our variance and then needed final docs from the architect. Those took longer than one might think (3 weeks on something already 99% done for variance approval?) But eventually came in, and as per expectations... permits said to take a week - took two... and then finally work began. Received the permit on a Fri, packed on the weekend, and demolition day 1 was Tues.

Tuesday most things were fine... Made the spot for the fridge too small - had to redo it, foundation in the back not good for building out doorway - simplified doorway and gave up 6 inches of space, lumber came too early - found a spot for it. That night we came home mildly in shock but ready to spend night one in the living room. We ran out of oil. It was cold. Never happened in 4 years living there, but quickly and cheaply fixed. YAY.

Wednesday things got real as a room was ripped off the house. As was the cable/internet/electric.
And so we packed.


And headed to my parents house.


And all was well.
Let's see what Thursday brings. Demolition Day 3 we are ready for you!

Demolition Day 2: Harry Potter conversion to our Master Bedroom begins

Here's a shot from when Brendan checked on it during the day...


But at night it was much more sinister...


And gone... sinnister and totally gone...

Rewind: Jan 2010, Happy Birthday Mr. Ehlers

So after two successful runs hosting dinner for friends/siblings/aka people I knew would be way understanding of any mishaps in the service, we went for a birthday dinner with Brendan's parents (and younger brother).

The whole dining table in the other half of living room worked very well:






Dessert was eaten on the couch, and again I think everyone left happy:


***Note the table "runner" is actually a collection of placemats lined up. We got so used to the lovely Christmas runner Nanie gave us that we didn't want to leave it bare again. HOWEVER, we have since gotten a red normal runner... pics to come.***

Great Success!

Rewind: Dec 2010, Christmastime & the Presents it Brought Our House

1) Snow:






2) Christmas Tree Candle Holder:






3) Cookie Jar:

Rewind: Dec 2010, It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

A zoomed in version of this was used for our first "family" Christmas card:




First Christmas-time Guests: Nanie, Aunt Debbie, and Danny.

By the tree...


On the Couch...



They brought with them some additional decorational goodies and so we fine tuned the Christmasing: