Hello to Old Friends

Sami is busy unpacking boxes that she packed up seven years ago when she cleaned out cupboards and drawers in anticipation of the remodel. Two observations; 1). We have a lot of stuff! 2). It is nice to see some of the lovely things we have done without for seven years.

The upstairs landing has been finished, complete with a new light, Venetian blinds, paint and hardware. It looks clean and bright, don't you think?

But Wait – There’s More!

Yes, we are nearing the end of our 385 item to-do list. We are working hard on the two remaining areas; the living room and the upstairs landing. We have also been shopping for some additional needed furniture; bookshelves to replace the partial board ones we have acquired along the way, and a hutch for the dining room to replace the one we dropped and broke over a year ago. It dawned on us that we have yet another unfinished project that will give us all of the new furniture we want. Let us explain...

About forty years ago Sami gave Don a table saw and with it Don set about building furniture to replace the motley selection of hand-me-downs with which we began our married life. He designed bedroom and living room furniture; including a bed head, dressers, bedside tables, bookcases for the bedroom and living rooms, end tables, and a storage trunk. Based on the plans he bought a truck load of quarter-sawn oak and plenty of hardware. He finished the sides of the rough-cut wood and sawed it up into “furniture kits.” In the mid-70s he got as far as finishing the bedroom pieces, and we have enjoyed them ever since. Now, we have decided, it is time to finish the rest. What is left are two tall book cases; one will become the dining room hutch, the other will go into the living room. Two end tables, a low book case, and a storage trunk.

Before computer assisted drawing software.

 We have been eyeing the end of August as the finish date for the remodel, but with this new project our remodel will go on for a few more months. It will be wonderful to have all of the hand-made furniture – finally!

The Final Frontiers

We push ahead, Don with the fireplace project and Sami with the upstairs landing. Our last two big projects!

The tiles will come on a mesh backing. Although to get the exact pattern we want, Don will need to cut many of them apart. Here are samples of the colors we have chosen.

Another new skill to learn. Mortared tile removal.

A super messy job.

The naked fireplace.

One thing we like about this house is the generous about of storage it has. We have cleared out all of the linens and sewing things to refresh this bank of closets.

Big Bucks, Little Bucks

To finish up the project we have spent several big bundles of money. First we bought a new hot tub. Our old one was just worn out. We enjoyed it so much and so often, we decided to replace it.

Oliver helps cleaning out the old hot tub, to prepare for it to be taken away.

Another good sized purchase was buying tile from Pratt and Larson to re-do the living room fire place face and hearth. After that we selected a dining room set that we really like. This one is made of cherry wood. The final big project of the remodel is to have our wood floor refinished, so we have contracted with a fellow to get that done.

When we were not out shopping, Don was installing new windows in the living room and refinishing all of the mahogany trim. Sami placed the final order for the remaining Venetian blinds.

With Oliver's help we painted the living room a warm, happy golden.

A few years ago we were gifted with lovely new fireplace tool set. Over time the broom fell apart. We found it would cost a lot to have it rebuilt, so Sami bought a small Asian household broom for $2.49 and fashioned a new broom in the metal handle. Its not perfect, but it will do the job.

Don says the light at the end of the tunnel is getting mighty bright. We will be so happy to come out of the other end!

Face Lift

On Tuesday we picked up the last three new Milguard windows that will replace three of the four windows in the living room.

On Thursday we visited Pratt & Larson to look at tile for the fireplace.. With a change in the fireplace tile we will completely bid farewell to the 1940s "Barbie doll pink" that was everywhere in our house.

We are thinking of a geometric pattern with the sunny color as the main color and the blue and red colors alternating as accent colors. What da' ya' think?

Today we are playing catch-up with yard work, but tomorrow it is full steam ahead with the living room face lift.

Second-To-The-Last

We have been hard at it and have finished another room. Yea! Our bedroom seemed to go more quickly than some of the other rooms, perhaps because much of it (except for the insulation job) was cosmetic work. However, we refreshed everything, including trim, windows, furniture and walls. We also think this room went fast because we are getting better at plaster work and painting, plus we have experience researching new items and understand what we like and want better than we did at the start of this project. It was a snap to decide on a ceiling fan and a new bedspread. Don installed the final touch today; the Venetian blinds. Here are are few photos of the final results...

Don modified the headboard he built 40-some years ago to allow for our new queen-sized mattress.

We love our old-fashioned twin closets - but what a lot of woodwork!

We are happy to be back in our airy, upstairs bedroom.

Only the living room remains to finish, and we are well on our way in there. We also want to completely refresh the six cupboards and the window area in the landing outside our bedroom, not exactly a room, per-say. However you look at it, we feel the finish line is in sight!

Kitty Good Seal of Approval

Our Bedroom is almost done! Don refinished the tops of the oak bookcase and night stands that he built forty years ago. Sami finished painting the walls and Don put the final touches on the ceiling. We have added a new bedspread and pillows. As you can see, Daphne has given it the thumbs-up, kitty-style.