Stuff is still happening...

Of course, things are still happening with my remodel, they're just not so dramatic as before.  The things that are happening are the things that will really make the whole project complete.

Like some new appliances...

and a wall of cabinets...

One of the things that is going to be everyone's favorite change is the archway.  I don't know if you remembered that I had them cut an opening from the sunroom to the dining room.  Well, they trimmed that today and I finally got a feel for it.

and last, but certainly not least, we got the last window cut out today...

You are probably noticing a few other things like ceiling fans and such.  Little touches like that are big changes for me.  I don't remember ever having a ceiling fan or a light dimmer.  Now I have both.

Well, that's enough of a sneak peek for now. 

Testing...123

I know, what a silly title.  I wanted to do a test of the panoramic setting on my camera.  They just finished painting my sunroom (yes, on a Saturday) and I thought it would be the perfect time to try it out.  Uhhhh, not the best, but OK for a first attempt.

I am so happy with the wall color that I chose.  Here are several better shots...

 

So there you go.  The electricians will be here Monday to get the kitchen ready for appliances and the cabinets in the sunroom may be installed on Monday also.  Sorry if the pics don't do justice to the soft peachy color on the walls.  I'm really digging it and hope you are too.

More Progress...

I awoke with clogged ears this morning.  Imagine that.  The dust, plastering and such is finally affecting me.  I feel good, just can't hear as well as usual.  Which is ok, because I had a full crew here today.

 After the painter did the second coat yesterday, that made way for the flooring guy to come in and put in new sub-flooring, mud the seams, let that dry and then lay the vinyl tiles.  He had an air compressor in the kitchen and believe me I was glad when he would warn me "I'm going to make some noise" so I could put in my ear plugs.  It took him all day, and he was somewhat funny turned, but he completed it. 

He will be doing the floor in the studio also, so he's already making sure that the seams and the faux grout will line up with the kitchen to really maintain the continuity of the placement of the tiles.  At first I had thought about doing the kitchen on a 45 degree angle, but I decided against that.

As you can see, the opening into the dining room has been cut, so the plasterers would be able to do their thing.  Also as you can see, they know how to do their thing quite well.  They put plastic down and when they were done, everything was nice and neat and quite clean, considering.

Yesterday, the brick team was here and they trimmed in the new windows with the brick recovered from cutting the holes in the wall.  A lot of cleaning and sawing and such went into this project and they will be back soon.

Everyone is doing a great job.  I may have a bit of a quieter day tomorrow, and to be honest, I'm OK with that.

Well that's it from the Widder Keene.  All is well here.  I'll continue to keep you posted.

Remodel Progress

My garage has already been transformed in the space of twenty days...

The ceiling and wall board really show the progress that has been made in just about three weeks.  The image on the left was taken on July 2nd, and the one of the right was taken today, July 22nd.

I'm really excited about the laundry center also...

You can imagine how convenient this will be, not having to carry laundry baskets up and down my somewhat narrow basement steps.

The back porch is coming along nicely, also.  Here are the skylights in the first stage of installation.

The under deck drainage system has been dismantled and screening will be installed between the joists. 

So as you can see progress is being made.  Hopefully I will have flooring in the kitchen this week.  What fun this has been.  Plasters will probably be here tomorrow and they usually work until they're done.  I've had workers on Saturday and Sunday and as late in the evening as nine p.m.  Everything is passing inspection and people are hustling.  I've seen and heard the usual cell phone usage, but no jam boxes have been used.  Pretty cool, huh?

All in all, it's been a breeze.  I do sometimes wonder if Tim knows what's going on.  I'd like to think that he's smiling down from his new heavenly home, giving my project the old thumbs up. He did the thumbs up all the time, but for some reason I can't find a picture of him doing it.  We'll go with this one instead...

Have a great week everyone.  Keep checking back for more progress.  All is good on Planet Keene.

More progress...

For those of you who don't remember what my garage looked like before the remodel started....

After having workers in all week, I thought I'd get the weekend off to catch up on some things.  My contractor forget his phone and my doorbell is ringing at 8:00 a.m this morning (Saturday).  Imagine his surprise and confusion at seeing me in my pj's.  He was asking where the drywall hanging crew was, and I said I didn't know they were even scheduled... He walked away with a dazed look on his face and said he'd talk to me later.

Good thing he woke me up, they arrived about fifteen minutes later and in two hours we went from insulation to insulation and ceilings...

I have to admit, I got a little teary eyed when I saw the ceiling boards.  It's finally starting to come together in such a big way.  I'd just been unable to visualize the room with the rafters showing.  Now I get it.

The same thing is happening with the back porch.  Only when the ceiling is put in will I realize that it will be an outdoor room and not the view from a tree-house (a wonderful description by one of my fellow artists and Facebook friends of the picture from my last post).

Still, it is all really exciting and we all know that a feeling of excitement is a good thing.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and I'll keep you posted.

Oh, and just so you'll know this remodel really is taking place in my home here is a scary self taken picture...remind me to not raise my arms in public...talk about wrinkles...sheesh

TTFN

Day two and three...

My carpenter tells me if all goes well the screened in porch may be finished in eight days.  Eight days?  That's next Friday!  Of course that doesn't mean finished-finished, it means ready to do the electric and trim and such.  But still, I'm so pleased.

My kitchen cabinets are installed, but I really want to wait until I get appliances before I show another picture of that.  In the mean time here is my inside view from the porch...

I am really having fun watching and documenting the remodel.  It has really helped me get into the groove of the changes that I'm embracing.

I do hope you are enjoying it along with me.  Stay tuned for more...

Deck remodel

Day one of  the deck remodel.....

It was so hot here today, I felt for the guys out on the deck.  They got a real feel for why I'm screening it in.  The lead man said several times, "it's like a desert out here".  They are right on schedule, though. He said they would be ready for trusses by 3 pm and he was right!

Well, I see another work van...it's the drywall guys ready to work their second full shift of the day.  These guys don't stop.

Take care and look to the clouds when you're feeling down...

That way you're always looking up!!

One day later...

That's what I'm talking about...

Dry wall and plasterers in kitchen tomorrow...yes working on Saturday...Rock On !

Garage...

Just a quick picture of the before and the "so far"...

Be sure and click on the picture for a larger version..

Thought you might want to see this.  Pretty cool, huh?

More riveting pictures as the progress develops.

Remodel update

I am finding it hard to believe that another week has gone by.  Since I know everyone is soooooo interested in my remodel, I'm treating you to a few more pictures of the progress. 

In order to get the number of windows I wanted they had to cut through the brick.  Wow, it made a lot of dust and had the neighbors laughing as they ran out to roll up their car windows...

They know what they are doing though and have been able to retain a lot of the brick needed to use on the front of the house.  They will probably have to order the ones that can be matched, but for a more original look the masons are going to work in the ones that they carefully removed...

The purple kitchen has been "dismangled" and they have already cut the hole for the walk through to the living room. 

The new doorway opening replaces one set of bookshelves that were there originally...

Tim and I had always wanted to make a walk through from the kitchen, as we ate in the living room.  It was a hassle to cook in the kitchen then carry everything through the dining room, which we really just used as an extension of the entry way, to get to the living room.  Anyway, here is where we are so far...l

 (Yes, I do have my television in my fireplace.  1969...big ranch style house, small rooms...grrr)

Another thing I can hardly believe is the difference that cutting this opening has made.  The house already seems "lighter" and not so claustrophobic.  Cozy is nice and I like it, but cozy can sometimes start to close in on you.

Well, I don't want to toss too much your way, so I'll end with this last picture...

I love clouds and take tons of pictures of them.  I would paint nothing but cloudscapes, but alas one does not live by clouds alone.  Honestly, if you look at this shot long enough, you can almost see these beautiful clouds start to move across the sky.  I have looked at clouds from both sides now...and it's a good thing.

Talk soon.