Well, it's going again but at least it's nearing the end.
Over the past few weeks the outlets and switches were changed, the light fixtures replaced, and the kitchen was unpacked. Some things I had were old and ready for the trash so I got to go shopping a little. It was nice to be able to do that although I have to admit that spending at this point is a little worrisome due to the sheer amount of money this kind of renovation project ends up adding up to. But, in another sense, it's easy - too easy - because things don't seem to cost that much when you've put out large amounts for flooring and cabinets, etc. Anyway, I was able to purchase a broom, a mop head, a new garbage can, some new baking sheets and pizza pans, some spice containers, drawer dividers, dinnerware, flatware... and I'm very excited about how nice it will be to cook and eat at home! LOL So far, I'm even enjoying cleaning on the main floor. ;)
When we moved the stove into place, we saw that it had a little chip that we didn't notice when it was delivered and we were a little concerned because it is right on the front right corner of the top - very noticeable. We were so disappointed that we hadn't done as thorough an inspection as we should have. As we were reading through the manual, my husband noticed the warranty on the last page said that there was a 90 day scratch and dent warranty! Yay! So, long story short, there will be a repairman coming to see what is needed to repair it. :)
Speaking of appliances, we got a call just today that our (third) fridge is in and delivery is arranged for tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully there will be NO damage this time and we'll get to keep it... and clean up the old appliances to sell if we can find a buyer. It would be nice to offset some of the expense of this whole thing, even a few hundred dollars, if we can. We'll see what happens.
Today we also had our new table delivered. It's a natural oak pedestal style and looks very nice in place. The most exciting part for me is that my feet don't dangle so badly at this table. The reason is the extra inch that was taken off two of the chair legs to accommodate we short people. ;) The colouring is very close to that of our cabinets in spite of them being two different types of wood. When it is at its smallest, it will seat 2-4 people and there are two leaves that can allow us to add up to 4 more people if we need to. After it arrived, we put up the window coverings in the west-facing windows. We actually got some warm weather the past day or two and so I felt we needed to block some of the heat/sun that was shining through the canker worm scourged tree out front. Usually that tree is our protection but this year it is without leaves due to these worms. :( Last year the same thing happened but because we had a warmer spring and more rain, the trees actually started to grow new leaves. Sadly, that isn't the case this year.
A phone call a couple days ago informed us that our countertop installation should happen on the 25th which is a week from today. Then we will finally see the "finished" project. We hope to also have the baseboards in by then but we'll see how it goes. I also need to add the faux finish to the hallway and one wall in the kitchen where the table goes. This feature wall should give that dining area a little bit of a different feel. So, we have enough to keep us busy now until the corian goes in. I'm really looking forward to the plumber and electrician finishing their jobs as well. I'll have a sink, dishwasher, water in my fridge, and plug-ins again! Oh, HAPPY DAY!!! LOL
Dee..
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
holding pattern..
We are now in somewhat of a holding pattern with the renovations. A few things happened today and it was a long one.
We got a call from the company we bought our appliances from saying that the refrigerator will not be available to ship for a couple weeks. We still have our old one so this is not a huge deal although it was disappointing.
The flooring install was completed and it looks beautiful! It's exactly as I was hoping it would be. I wasn't sure that the sugar maple cabinets would go all that well with the countertop corian colour we chose (Aruba) but I figured if the flooring had all the colours in the kitchen in it, then it would pull everything together. So far, so good! The paint colour brings out the blues/grays and the browns match the cabinets very well. Now just to see in a couple weeks if the same effect is achieved with the counters. :)
Also today, the bathroom was completed. We noticed a few places where the caulking needs to be fixed, but otherwise it's done. It is amazing how big it looks and how well things go together when I wasn't entirely sure that anything was going to match very well. It will be nice to have a shower tomorrow morning!
So... now we are in that holding pattern, in a sense. We need to install new baseboards and some door trim in the hallway including painting them. I need to unpack my kitchen and put the stove in place. Then when the counters arrive we will have the dishwasher and fridge plumbed in. We have some under counter lighting to have installed as well but will likely wait till the dishwasher needs to be wired. We will change out a few light fixtures and electrical outlets/switches as well. It still sounds busy but it will be a much slower pace than we've been keeping for the past several months and that is a VERY good thing!
Dee..
We got a call from the company we bought our appliances from saying that the refrigerator will not be available to ship for a couple weeks. We still have our old one so this is not a huge deal although it was disappointing.
The flooring install was completed and it looks beautiful! It's exactly as I was hoping it would be. I wasn't sure that the sugar maple cabinets would go all that well with the countertop corian colour we chose (Aruba) but I figured if the flooring had all the colours in the kitchen in it, then it would pull everything together. So far, so good! The paint colour brings out the blues/grays and the browns match the cabinets very well. Now just to see in a couple weeks if the same effect is achieved with the counters. :)
Also today, the bathroom was completed. We noticed a few places where the caulking needs to be fixed, but otherwise it's done. It is amazing how big it looks and how well things go together when I wasn't entirely sure that anything was going to match very well. It will be nice to have a shower tomorrow morning!
So... now we are in that holding pattern, in a sense. We need to install new baseboards and some door trim in the hallway including painting them. I need to unpack my kitchen and put the stove in place. Then when the counters arrive we will have the dishwasher and fridge plumbed in. We have some under counter lighting to have installed as well but will likely wait till the dishwasher needs to be wired. We will change out a few light fixtures and electrical outlets/switches as well. It still sounds busy but it will be a much slower pace than we've been keeping for the past several months and that is a VERY good thing!
Dee..
Monday, June 2, 2008
slowing down..
The crazy pace is slowing some now. The weekend was a time of painting as we primed a couple rooms and gave two coats of paint to the kitchen, livingroom and hallway. It took us a few hours on Friday and then 13 more on Saturday. Sunday we changed some electrical plugs and prepared for today.
Our flooring installer was early this morning so we were glad that we got up earlier than we thought we needed to. He was almost an hour early! He installed subfloor in the remaining areas except the bathroom because he needs to have the sink and toilet out to do it there. Then the prep was done.. which involves using a levelling material to fill the spaces between subfloor pieces and allowing that to dry. It was a lot slower drying than last time so no actual flooring was put in today. But tomorrow there will be some sanding of the filler stuff and then the flooring will go in. So, Dennis spent part of the afternoon cutting the flooring while we put a fan on to help with the drying.
Tomorrow, as I said, the flooring will be completely installed by the end of the day. I'm thrilled about that because it will be so nice to have a decent floor under my feet. We will also have the plumber come to put shut-off valves on the bathroom sink and install the tub spout. It's one that needs to be threaded or it would have been done already. Our bathroom guy will then come and install the new toilet and sink after the flooring is completed. Then we wait....
Today we also had the countertops measured for. The guy came pretty much right on time and within a short time had made a template for the cutting of the corian. He told us it could take 1-3 weeks... and most likely closer to 3 so we have some waiting to do. The waiting was not quite so hard when there was a lot that still needed doing. Now that it's mostly waiting.. and waiting.. it's a little more difficult.
I'm starting to really long for a completed house. This process has really gone quite smoothly for us and I'm grateful for that. We've had few delays and things were actually moved up about 4 weeks from the original dates we were given at the beginning of the whole thing back in early March. Tomorrow I think I will start to decide where to put things in the kitchen. I have a few things I've put in the cupboards mainly to get them out of the way but I'm looking forward to figuring it all out so I might as well do some of that if I can do it without being in the way of our tradespeople. If not, then that will be my Wednesday afternoon project. :)
Dee..
Our flooring installer was early this morning so we were glad that we got up earlier than we thought we needed to. He was almost an hour early! He installed subfloor in the remaining areas except the bathroom because he needs to have the sink and toilet out to do it there. Then the prep was done.. which involves using a levelling material to fill the spaces between subfloor pieces and allowing that to dry. It was a lot slower drying than last time so no actual flooring was put in today. But tomorrow there will be some sanding of the filler stuff and then the flooring will go in. So, Dennis spent part of the afternoon cutting the flooring while we put a fan on to help with the drying.
Tomorrow, as I said, the flooring will be completely installed by the end of the day. I'm thrilled about that because it will be so nice to have a decent floor under my feet. We will also have the plumber come to put shut-off valves on the bathroom sink and install the tub spout. It's one that needs to be threaded or it would have been done already. Our bathroom guy will then come and install the new toilet and sink after the flooring is completed. Then we wait....
Today we also had the countertops measured for. The guy came pretty much right on time and within a short time had made a template for the cutting of the corian. He told us it could take 1-3 weeks... and most likely closer to 3 so we have some waiting to do. The waiting was not quite so hard when there was a lot that still needed doing. Now that it's mostly waiting.. and waiting.. it's a little more difficult.
I'm starting to really long for a completed house. This process has really gone quite smoothly for us and I'm grateful for that. We've had few delays and things were actually moved up about 4 weeks from the original dates we were given at the beginning of the whole thing back in early March. Tomorrow I think I will start to decide where to put things in the kitchen. I have a few things I've put in the cupboards mainly to get them out of the way but I'm looking forward to figuring it all out so I might as well do some of that if I can do it without being in the way of our tradespeople. If not, then that will be my Wednesday afternoon project. :)
Dee..
Thursday, May 29, 2008
speeding right along..
Today was off to an early start since we had a couple different people here again. We were up about 7am to see that we all had a chance to use the washroom and be ready for the day. The first tradespeople to show up were our cabinet installers around 8am. They got started almost right away and man, do they work fast and furious! We were amazed! By 2:30pm they were cleaned and gone for the day. They got all the cabinets in but the ceiling moulding and kick plates. Watching all the action was very exciting!
At the same time, the fellow doing our bathroom was here and was able to get the tub surround installed and some mudding done. It's nice to know that one more day should do it once the subfloor and flooring is done, along with some things the plumber was going to take care of when he's here to hook up the dishwasher. :) And it looks really great!
We got a phone call today saying that the fridge has arrived again so it will be delivered just before lunch tomorrow. We're very excited and hoping there are no damages again. ;)
We're hoping that everything will be done by about a week from now... except the trim and baseboards. They will likely take a little longer. It's great to see the BIG changes happening and I'm just hoping we will have enough steam to keep going until it's totally completed. It's so easy to peter out the closer one gets to the finish line but we don't want to leave anything undone so we're just praying for enough strength to keep on keeping on till it's ALL done. :)
Dee..
At the same time, the fellow doing our bathroom was here and was able to get the tub surround installed and some mudding done. It's nice to know that one more day should do it once the subfloor and flooring is done, along with some things the plumber was going to take care of when he's here to hook up the dishwasher. :) And it looks really great!
We got a phone call today saying that the fridge has arrived again so it will be delivered just before lunch tomorrow. We're very excited and hoping there are no damages again. ;)
We're hoping that everything will be done by about a week from now... except the trim and baseboards. They will likely take a little longer. It's great to see the BIG changes happening and I'm just hoping we will have enough steam to keep going until it's totally completed. It's so easy to peter out the closer one gets to the finish line but we don't want to leave anything undone so we're just praying for enough strength to keep on keeping on till it's ALL done. :)
Dee..
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
the fast track..
I feel like we're now on a fast track with most of the renovation things. Since I wrote last, the subfloor was put into most rooms, the flooring installed in the 3 bedrooms, the plumber and electrician were here a couple times each, and things were begun in the bathroom. Last Friday was a hectic day! There was a mix-up with the delivery we were expecting but it worked out to our benefit after all. The delivery was actually mistakenly booked for Saturday rather than Friday... but we needed some of that stuff Friday so my husband went to take care of that and ended up borrowing a van from Home Depot to bring the stuff home in. The store staff loaded it for him and we had a couple guys here working on the bathroom that unloaded it for him so it actually worked out ok. We were also refunded the delivery cost. :)
On Saturday we covered the flooring in the master bedroom with plastic and went to work filling holes, and sanding. I'm grateful for quick drying joint compound! We got a LOT done in a short time. Sunday we gave it a coat of primer and a base coat of "Only Natural" by Behr. Then on Monday I was able to put a faux finish on it with a colour called "Antique Ruby" which was probably not the right shade to use for a faux finish though it looked perfect as a solid colour to match our vertical blinds. I had hoped for a nice deep, rich burgundy... but it looks pretty pinkish in bright light. At night it's incredibly beautiful though. Anyway, the faux finish I used was a positive application with a "tight bag roller". With the beige colour underneath it left a lot of contrast which was exactly what I wanted. My husband and I were both not really sure about the pinkish tones but when all is said and done, and the furniture back in place, it's quite a nice look. Whew! By Tuesday evening we were able to move our bed back and are now quite comfortably enjoying a new bedroom. :)
The bathroom has been worked on most days and is coming along nicely though it will be a week or so before it will be completed.
Tomorrow and Friday (if needed) the kitchen cabinets will be installed. I guess I better head to bed and get some sleep as morning will come early, I'm sure.
Dee..
On Saturday we covered the flooring in the master bedroom with plastic and went to work filling holes, and sanding. I'm grateful for quick drying joint compound! We got a LOT done in a short time. Sunday we gave it a coat of primer and a base coat of "Only Natural" by Behr. Then on Monday I was able to put a faux finish on it with a colour called "Antique Ruby" which was probably not the right shade to use for a faux finish though it looked perfect as a solid colour to match our vertical blinds. I had hoped for a nice deep, rich burgundy... but it looks pretty pinkish in bright light. At night it's incredibly beautiful though. Anyway, the faux finish I used was a positive application with a "tight bag roller". With the beige colour underneath it left a lot of contrast which was exactly what I wanted. My husband and I were both not really sure about the pinkish tones but when all is said and done, and the furniture back in place, it's quite a nice look. Whew! By Tuesday evening we were able to move our bed back and are now quite comfortably enjoying a new bedroom. :)
The bathroom has been worked on most days and is coming along nicely though it will be a week or so before it will be completed.
Tomorrow and Friday (if needed) the kitchen cabinets will be installed. I guess I better head to bed and get some sleep as morning will come early, I'm sure.
Dee..
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