Showing posts with label paint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paint. Show all posts

Monday, September 22, 2014

Artsy Fartsy

This past week has been a blur of activities!  There's lots going on at the house but it's a little here, a little there--maybe not as thrilling as it should be to earn a blog post...however, people are grumbling to me, at me, about me and my bloggy absence.

The absentee concrete guy finally showed up to rip out the remaining stumps and posts with a bobcat that we weren't able to manhandle on our own.  By absentee, I mean I wrote him a check THREE weeks ago on the day he was supposed to show up.  So this past week he did tear out some things and hauled one load away.  He ended up leaving two of the largest stumps (that touch the house) and a huge pile of debris in my postage stamp back yard, but that's okay because he was coming back the next day to chainsaw down the stumps and haul everything away...
I should be grateful this much was done

That was Tuesday.  He should stick to concrete and not demo.  On the plus side, I never gave him the check for the extended delay, half-work he's done.

Tom and I had artsy fartsy day when the yard was being demoed.  Remember the ugly exterior door that went to the dilapidated-porch-turned-fab-bath?
Old kitchen exit door

I decided I needed to save every bit of the old house that I could and that a sliding pantry door would be a perfect purpose for this gorgeous, dust and grime covered piece of history. We Tom took an hour or so to scrub it down.
Eww--the outside was cleaner than the inside

The door is white...those aren't shadows
Next I slapped on contact paper and free handed a Louisville staple, fleur de lis.  It took another hour or so to cut away the design.

I heart X-acto blades!
 Then we sprayed it down with frosted glass paint.

Not too shabby
Nick and his helper, Cameron, installed the finished product over my newly finished pantry and chalkboard wall in the kitchen.

The hardware was epoxied in place and there's tape covering it here.
Lots more happened last week, but I'll leave you with the thought that the countertops have been installed and they're being stained and finished today!



Wednesday, August 20, 2014

In Living Color...

Did I mention that the plan is to move into Beauty next week???  Sorry Nick.  (((big hugs)))  Sad for me...I haven't begun packing!  I'm starting to stress a bit, but it'll work out, right?  Right.  Packing party, anyone?

I did call all the utilities to transfer service and whatnot and for the first time in over two years, I will have television service!  Yay for cheapo AT&T U-Verse!  :)

Painting has begun!
Living room looking into dining room

Dining room looking into living room

Hallway - I just love that built in wall mirror!
Front bedroom - Spa-la-ahhhh!

Back bedroom - door glass to be frosted!
"Mint" condition back bathroom

Backer board is up in the bathrooms and they're ready for tile-tommorrow.  I love the niche that's built in the front bathroom.  It'll have three compartments with marble shelves for each.

Front bathroom

Nick also installed the door he had fabricated for me in the kitchen.  It's beautiful and adds so much light to the room!
Kitchen exit door

Kitchen exit porch

I thought we were doing a couple steps down from the door, but Nick thought it needed to be up to code and would look better with a 4x4 landing.  Rails are up next.  He's a genius! Duh.

Here's the view from the kitchen to the front door - I'm in love!
In my past experiences, I would have NEVER considered anything beyond neutral wall colors that would make a home easily marketable for a quick sale.  In this case, even if I decide to move in a month, people in the Highlands expect kitsch and vibrancy.  It's gold, Jerry!  Gold!

I bought new ceiling fans for both bedrooms and another Restore fixture for the hallway.  Think nickel finish with mercury glass...

Masterpiece in the making
Tile work starts tomorrow.  Nick is also sanding and polyurethaning the wood floors to cure over the weekend.  The A/C will be installed next Monday.  The movers come next Friday.  Zanax anyone?!  Anyone?!

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Houston, We Have Walls.

I've received plenty of flack for my lack of posting activity lately, but I've spent the last week facilitating for users, a new proprietary software we're rolling out at work. I'm pooped and haven't even been by the house to check progress!

Drywall, ceiling paint and all over primer are finished. 

 

Colors are picked from Sherwin Williams:

Left to right: Crystal Clear - front bedroom and bath, Swimming - dining room and hallway, Spa - living room, Reclining Green - back bedroom, Supreme Green - back bathroom, Lemon Chiffon - kitchen, Grizzle Gray - kitchen chalkboard accent wall
My hope is that these are happy, vibrant colors without being obnoxious. I want to be historically accurate with a twist--certainly don't think chalkboard walls were the hot thing in the 1920's scene. What do you think?

I'm here at the house right now, waiting to meet the A/C guy, Juan Carlos. Yay for central air!

I've been approached by three neighbors as I've attempted to write this post. They're so excited and supportive! And probably mostly curious. They all seemed to really love Bill, the elderly previous owner. 

What do I care? I love showing the progress of this place! I hope the work that's done here will honor not only Bill but this neighborhood. Cannot wait to be here forever!

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

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.

white subway tile shower
Classic, no-fuss shower surround
http://victoriaelizabethbarnes.com/how-to-choose-a-tile-for-a-vintage-bath-marble-hexagon-tile-grey-grout-subway-tile-porcelain-console-sink/
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?

Monday, July 14, 2014

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!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

So I bought a house...

I've been dying to own a home in The Highlands since the day I moved here, August 16, 2012.  After hours of looking, days of wandering up and down the streets, weeks of waiting and months of saving, I finally found my gem!

Yeah, soooo, it's a beast.  I'm not just saying that in my usual snarky, exaggerated tone.


The Beast (destined to be Beauty)
 
It's full of stains, strange odors, animal and bug carcasses and other random awesomeness, but I couldn't pull myself away.  I made my offer in the middle of April and, thanks to terrible lenders with no idea what they're doing, didn't close until June 30.  Talk about anti-climactic.
 
I've made all the renovation decisions so far and have a contractor to do the following:
  • Gut and reno kitchen
  • Gut and reno bathroom
  • New closets in both bedrooms
  • Raise header to basement
  • Repair coal chute hole in the basement
  • New rear deck
  • New concrete steps
  • Repair all house plaster
  • Paint entire interior
  • New windows throughout
  • Central A/C
Without a contractor I will:
  • Remove and replace all landscaping on the property
  • Replace all lighting fixtures (minus kitchen and bath)
  • Have a driveway installed
  • Have the chimney tuck pointed
The list is certain to grow and my budget is limited.  Enjoy this journey with me!
- Chrissy
 
Kitchen - note the yummy unknown origin stains


Mmmm...more kitchen


Did I mention what happened in this tub?


Guest room


Huge porch


Living room


Dining room


Kitchen - with a self-made skylight


Master bedroom


Master bedroom - lots of windows


Basement 1


Basement 2


"Highlands huge" yard - note the sagging roof over the rotting deck