Day 4 and into the Weekend: Wrapped Up

So originally they were going to work on the roof on into the weekend due to the rain on Monday. They decided against due to not thinking they could finish on time anyways. WELL THANK GOODNESS. They ran started Saturday, and continued on through till Monday morning. And we had some crazy 40+ mph winds last night that made me think our house was going to blow away. The THWAP of the tarp was like hearing waves crash at the shore. However as it turns out, we did not and the house remained all wrapped up.


In the meantime we did some little jobs like removing tape that had been up for YEARS, so we could repaint and finish the dining room eventually. Learned a valuable lesson. The green tape didn't pull up much paint at all, but the blue destroyed the paint job. The green is definitely better and worth paying up for.


Also, we used the downtime to finalize some kitchen planning with Milton.
Granite:


Cabinet Color:


Wall:


Layout:


Very excited, think it's going to look GREAT!

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...

Demolition Day 1: The Bedroom (s)

Our Bedroom has been fairly large, and with room for two closets, though we never actually formed the second. And with windows all around and the radiator, honestly the FUNCTIONAL space was limited.


So we are taking the front 'Harry Potter Bedroom' and dividing ours into two (guest room and office).


Step one was to move all the furniture to one side or the other. We didn't want to bring downstairs and then back up, so just split it up, leaving the mattress till last so we could sleep on it up until Demo Day. The pets, seeing the weakened position, set to attack.


The division has begun.

February 21, 2011

Couch Preservation:







"Hanging" Out at Home:

1rst the painting from Camilo Lucarini...



...perfect.


2nd the mirror I bought inspired by the decor in Aunt Debbie's shore house...



...a little small but looks nice. We had some issues with the fact that neither the floor, nor the ceiling is straight, so no matter how straight we hung the mirror, it was never quite right.


3rd the kitchen accents...







...making use of my black white and cream appliances by using accents in the same color. Also, did you know that a pig is on the Lucarini crest? (I found that out AFTER having a penchant for pigs.)

February 5, 2011: Beautiful Day

Wishing I had a usable sunroom. This works too!

First Halloween

I last minute went shopping at Michael's. Originally I thought I would do it next year, but then I thought- this might be the last year I have a sibling as a trick or treater! Also, got to get the ball rolling right that I am not the creepy hoarder, I am a pleasant and fantastically creative young lady who'd like to give your children candy. Not creepy.



I got webbing for my bushes, as well as reflective eyes to hide in them. I also had a tin star hanging on my door with a pumpkin painted on it.



I put in a couple of friendly scarecrows to greet the children. The pumpkins behind them were from Pumpkin picking in Montville. Along the windows were stickers of bloody handprints.



Bought a fog machine at Target. Place it under the front of the car to fog the kiddies way (still I am not creepy)! Also, an additional pumpkin on the step.



Lastly we have a Autumn Greeting.



And TA-DA... Wouldn't you like a piece of that? And may be some candy as well.



Satisfied Customers:



HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Painting in the DA-ARK, Oh OH, oh-oh

So it was a Billy Idol evening as we sang to ourselves "Painting in the Dark" to Dancing with Myself AND "Paint without a Light" to Eyes without a Face. Had nothing to do with alcohol. The Bud Light with Lime didn't come until we ran out of lyrics.



Oh, when there's no way to get light,
In the bathroom crowded tight,
I just grab a brush cuz I'm in a rush,
And I'm painting in the Da-ark...






So let's sink another beer,
Cuz it's gettin hot in here,
I'm on a roll, up on the wall,
And I'm painting in the Da-ark...



OH-Oh... oh-oh.




Paint without a light,
No clue if it's done right, paint without a light,
Tryin' to wash these rollers white, paint without a light...



Seriously though... if you don't like Billy Idol- blame Roxanne, she's the one that got me into him. If you think we rock, credit Roxanne.

:)

Lazy Updates

So I was a little lazy and lacking in wit last night and for the most part just posted pictures with little to no real explanation.

Here's where I stand. I need to paint the downstairs bathroom, a vanity for the downstairs bathroom, and I need to paint trim in the bedroom. Actually I need to paint trim everywhere. But here is why those first two things need to happen:

Once I paint the trim in the bedroom, I can
1) put the furniture in its final resting place
2) fill the furniture with the clothing currently residing everywhere but in drawers
3) take tupperwares of clothing out of attic (thereby clearing attic space) and go through and organize what I need and don't need (mostly basing it on what I can fit reasonably in two Tupperware, half a closet, a pant trolley, and drawers)
4) Have a clean organized room.
5) Organize desk area / unpack my office supplies currently loitering in Brendan's office.
6) Hang pictures (there by also clearing space in attic room and living room).

Once I paint and get the vanity for the downstairs I can:
1) Call the plumber to hook up toilet, sink, and radiator in downstairs bathroom, as well as check plumbing in shower
2) Put an above the toilet cabinet in
3) Begin unpacking toiletries in a more permanent manner
4) Clear out (take apart toilet) in upstairs bathroom
5) Floor upstairs bathroom
6) Return tile saw (clearing area in sun room)
7) Have plumber back to put in upstairs vanity and toilet (also clearing area in sun room)
8) Put in linen closet/shelving in nook by shower
9) Unpack rest of toiletries-towels-linens, freeing up space in living room, bedroom, attic, and closet downstairs.

At that point, ladies and gents... I will be able to walk in my sun room again, thereby being able to organize for a garage sale. I am not 100% sure I have enough for a real garage sale but I think I do... (sink, vanity, books, toys, porcelain dolls, may be a book shelf, dvds, stereo, etc...) also once I have the room to move and put things, I may have more that I don't even know of. I will also happily at that point take things from others to sell in their stead in a grand ol' joint sale.

After that? I get to actually focus on making the place presentable to have company (yay).

So there it is- the hold ups: I am lazy and sick of painting (getting over that this weekend) and Lowe's won't get me my vanity (supposedly arriving tonight).

The Vitals

By Sunday night we made sure we had...

...somewhere to sleep...




...somewhere to shower...




...and first time, Monday night, somewhere to cook...



Pasta and Sauce compliments of my next door neighbor. Sauce was homemade!

Art???

First let me state, these too went in the trash.

THE BIG MOVE (Part II)

We woke up in the new house. Despite the lack of heat, it wasn't unbearably cold, but definitely not something I could deal with during the work week. I had agreed to house sit for my mother (hence not prioritizing radiator hook ups), so it was all good.

The agenda: finish cleaning out apartment, head to storage, take it all back to the house, and meet Andrew at my Mom's house around 3 to load up the stuff I have there, and unload for the final time.

It was raining, but I figured if I can close in a snow storm, I can finish moving in a rain storm.

We came to realize that in order to pack the truck in a way to keep the stuff from the apartment from sliding around, we would not be able to make the apartment/storage space one load. While we were in the apartment, taking the packing process very seriously...




...my friend Pat called. Brendan was very optimistic thinking we would be back at the house in an hour and a half. I thought two hours would mean we really rushed. Three hours later, we were still at the apartment, a little dumbfounded...




We bid a final farewell to the apartment grounds. The rain, thankfully, had begun to abate.






Weary and a little wet (more me than Brendan, he was mainly packing the kitchen up while I was running back and forth to pack the truck), our apartment lives were OFFICIALLY over.




Brendan would get his due (as if he hadn't lifted enough yesterday). We got to the house around 3:00 pm, where Andrew and Pat met us. This meant it was unlikely we would get everything we wanted done, but with the three guys there, we managed to unload the truck, drive to Mahwah, reload the truck, drive back, and unload it again all within 3 hours.


Brendan, Pat, and my brother Andrew got my long dresser (kind with the vanity mirror) up the stairs and made it look easy! Andrew pulled from the top of the stairs, Pat took the middle platform, and Brendan lifted from the stairs base.




It was very cool to watch. Sadly- Andrew had to go home and do homework, but Pat, Brendan, and I went to Heritage Grill for some burgers and appetizers.


Lastly we said goodbye and Happy Birthday Eve to Pat!




And off we went to spend the week at my Mom's with my brother.