To the Windows...To the Walls...

Fun stuff this week, peeps!  The plumbing was inspected and approved Monday without incident.  Perf!

Hella-sweet pipe, sir!

New argon-filled, double-hung, vinyl windows were installed Wednesday.

Trim...coming soon!

Nick worked his beautiful magic today doing the exterior siding work.  They stopped making this 3 inch clapboard siding decades ago.  He found a way to modify 4 or 5 inch cedar planks to look like this:

New bathroom exterior

Perfect match!

I found a snafu today with this though:

Whachu talkin' bout, Willis?

Apparently, Nick and the city building inspector need to chat...we are all under the impression that building permits weren't needed since we added the bathroom under the existing roof line.  The electrical inspector thought he'd have building inspector come anyhow.  <angry face>  Nick seems to believe it'll just be a phone call fix.  <fingers crossed>

Insulation will be installed and drywall will be delivered tomorrow.  They'll start hanging drywall on Monday.

Attacking the Basement

Nick asked when I was cleaning the basement up. Wha?!? That's not YOUR job??? Ugh. 

This place is a wreck (but not near as bad as that fridge)!

So we started our day off at Java Brewing Company, followed by a stop at the farmer's market...quinoa stuffed heirloom tomatoes and fresh cayenne peppers are going to be so delish!

Then, off to The Beauty! We scraped and shoveled and swept all morning with great success. 

Wheee! We're done! Off to Emser's Tile, per Nick's request...

I picked out wall and floor tile for the new bathroom (different from the first, cuz Nick's a turd). 

The Carrara marble floor tile is the biggest they have: 12x24".  Nick cannot possibly complain about that, right? The wall tile is still technically a subway, though it's 16x4"...the sterling grout ties the two together. I'll still do the shower floor to match the hall bath floor:

This is the best compromise. Really. It's a nod to the 1920's bungalow style in a modern interpretation. Right? Right! I knew you'd agree! :)

Back to the basement where the Bobcat decided he wanted to attack a crack with hydraulic cement--he's obsessed, but highly successful. 

Look at that determination! Don't worry. I walked across the street for cat litter, to soak up the fuel spots, and beer, so I could watch him work, like a real supervisor. 

The plumbing inspector comes Monday and the windows (and maybe the kitchen door) will be in Wednesday. 

We also made a run to the ReStore for this $17.50, to-be-repurposed, treasure:

Stay tuned for more!

Two Become One

I got is weird image text from Nick yesterday

 Me: ??? 

Nick: That is your new kitchen window

Me: What?

Nick: Really

My thought:  You ordered used windows for my house?  That doesn't look like the argon-filled, interior mullion, vinyl, double-hung, white lovelies we discussed...WTH, Nick???

Nick: We closed in the one window that was next to it

(Did I mention that Nick doesn't use punctuation in his texts?  Is he too busy?  Who's too busy for grammar?!  Oh, wait...he's building my house.  Big picture, Chrissy.  Big picture.)

Ahhhhhh!  Now I get it!  He's a genius!  He used siding from where the bathroom was framed up and matched it to a T.  That window looked like this yesterday morning:

Stinkin' awesome!  You can't even tell that isn't original construction.  There'll be a single hung French door to the left of the now-just-one-window.  It's gonna be great!

The electricians and plumbers were there yesterday too.  The electrician geeked out with me about lighting in the kitchen and suggested three more recessed can lights.  I talked him down to two.  He also LOVES outlets--they're all over the kitchen.  <happy face>  He's great!

View in the kitchen into the new bathroom
Who knew water supply lines are color coded now?!

The drywall should start August 4.  Wheeee!  My project for this weekend is to restore these bad boys:

One of two original wall scones in the living room

I bought new switches yesterday evening and I'll probably change out the bulbs to Edison bulbs.  Stay tuned for that!

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

The new bathroom is now framed up and ready to go.  The plumber and electrician should be back out today to do whatever magic it is that they do.

Now Nick is pestering me to make tile, flooring and fixture decisions.  Gaw, Nick!  I thought I wanted a white subway tile shower surround and the marble flooring we're you're putting in the other bathroom???

He thinks it too matchy, matchy.  I think it's historical-like consistency in a small space.

Classic, no-fuss shower surround

This is similar to the carrara marble I picked

My thoughts are clean, white hard surfaces with pops of color in the paint selection and linens.  I'll have a white pedestal sink with an oval recessed medicine chest mirror and flanking sconces.

This is where you come into play:  Help decide what the best approach is here!  Am I being retentive or consistent?  Is there a better idea?

She's a Brick House...

Are you singing with me yet?

There's so much work going on at the house this week! 

They demoed all the plumbing and roughed it in throughout the house, including adding the new bathroom plumbing and moving all the kitchen jazz for the new configuration.

The new tub's installed and toilet plumbing was moved over for concentration elbow room. 

They dug out and blocked up the footer for the new bathroom.  

They also excavated and blocked up the BFH (big freakin' hole)!

New steps are formed and poured, too. 

I'll have a driveway and new sidewalk when the interior is closer to being finished. 

Monday, Nick will frame up the bathroom!

Christmas in July!

Nick called yesterday to tell me he'd received everything I ordered for the bathroom and kitchen (minus cabinetry)!  Wheeee!

Next, he said there's no room for the wall sconces I picked to flank the oval medicine chest.  I'd have to get the three light bar instead.  Boo!

He also said the pendant I picked for above the kitchen sink was too large.  I didn't look at measurements; I just did a search for MINI pendants.  Mini pendants can apparently include something 13 1/2" wide.  Oops!

Oh well.  On to other things.  The chimney guy came today to tuck point it.  I ran over to the house to meet him after work.  He was no where to be found so I commenced to opening ALL treasures Nick had left for me!  CHRISTMAS!!!

Stuff!

Cast iron tub (poo free)

Mirror..mirror on the wall

Lights!

More stuff!

He had put together the pedestal sink so I pretended I was washing my hands using the faucet.  Then I primped in front of the mirror and admired the can lights he already installed in the bathroom and kitchen.  I tried to pretend I was installing the giant pendant in the hallway but the nine foot ceilings impede that without a ladder.  Double boo!

From no where, I hear the clink of what I imagined as reindeer feet and the tinkling of none other than--dubstep--coming from above.  Santa???  You're so hipster!

Nah, it's the chimney guy.  He was really sweet and quiet.  Not who I expected to be a Skrillex lovin', chain smoker.

Here's his work:

 

 

Note:  I do not have a fireplace.  The chimney is to vent the furnace heat.

 

Up next: The footers and other concrete work should start this week, along with plumbing!



Rub-a-Dub...a Chick in THAT Tub

You remember THAT tub, right???  I had the old tub for sale on Craigslist and a local Facebook group sale page and had several opportunities to meet weirdos interesting people.

Sunday was the best!  A friend gifted several day lily and monkey grass plants for the new place from her own garden, so the Bobcat and I spent the morning temporarily planting them.  I hope it rains enough to keep them healthy until I can find a more permanent home for them.

While digging in the dirt, another tub-interested party arrived in their big ole' Jeep.  They seemed normal.  I was skeptical, but paraded them through the house to the tub anyhow.  The husband was fascinated with the house and we all know I love a fellow rehab geek!  He and I continued to bro out while his wife decided if the tub would work for her.

He called his buddy with a pickup and she asked him to run her to the ATM for the cash I requested.  Yes!  They were taking it!  No more poop tub!  What?  You'll take the toilet too?  Sure, I'll throw it in for free.

This couple was an awesome hoot!  He asked if I would take his wife to the ATM while he and Bobcat used his Jeep to pull out a shrub root or two.  Uh, yeah.  Have at it, dude.  I liked this group so much!  His buddy and buddy's wife showed up and we all went at loading the tub and toilet in the truck.

We ended up drinking beer on the porch, laughing it up and planning the exterior paint job that his buddy (tub picker upper/professional painter) could do for me.  We joked about loading up the girls in the back of the truck in the tub and sending them down the road like that.  Then this happened:

Ooooo, gurl!  She classy.

What a sport!  She hopped right up there and posed for me.  I can't wait to hang out with these guys!

FOLLOW UP:  This week, Nick and I decided to turn this mess...

...into a NEW bathroom!  YES! Two bathrooms!!!  That door is from the back bedroom and it'll have a full shower, toilet and sink.  Perfect!

I plan on keeping that door and frosting the glass for a kitschy retro look.  Here's how it looks after Nick's demo magic:

Look 'ma!  I got a straight roof line!

The footers and foundation should be started Monday.  All the plumbing demo is done.  Stay tuned for more!

Welcome to the Jungle!

In the beginning, there was this:

Tree Monster

More overgrown mess

Alley

After killing Tree Monster

Every two feet, along the alley side of the property, there are fence posts.  These aren't just regular ol' posts.  We're talking 10 inch diameter, five foot long logs that are concreted a foot and a half into the ground.  This house may look wimpy but it's solid.

Over two full Saturdays with the help of ten people, countless shovels, a few chainsaws and two trucks with several tow chains, we managed to do this:

Wow...there's a house there

Fun stuff for the city to haul off

Still have posts to dig out 

Don't judge our filth...still smiling!

Yard work is hard without a working bathroom--I'm told that peeing behind the dumpster with a lookout is preferred to the gas station's facilities across the street.  Note:  This week Nick and I decided to add a second bathroom to the project list.  More to come on this topic!

Lots of neighbors came by to meet me and they are all thrilled with the progress.  How awesome to have a great community!

I really can't imagine how I thought I'd be able to do any of this alone!  My friends are truly amazing. I didn't capture everyone in one pic, but I want to say thank you.  There isn't any way I know to really show my appreciation.  I will attempt to earn this help with home cooked meals, adult beverages and super fun company (me)!  Just give me a bit to get this place in order.

Love you guys!