The wait game

We are waiting for our marble (it was the cheapest option and what I wanted. How often Does that happen? Answer: this is the first time ever) to get cut and once that is in it will practically be done. Yay! I also started clearing out the guest room and sticking stuff in cabinets. So cool to actually have a pantry!

Pantry +micro!

Today our pantry became final (so excited I don't have to go to the garage anymore). And we got a microwave! Basically we are waiting for the countertops to be fabricated and this job will be closed up shortly thereafter. Aunt Cindy- be planning for a backsplash party soon!

things people tell me

this weekend I had a couple of "signs" from people that maybe it was time to take a break.

 

the lowe's employee:

hi!  are you guys new to the neighborhood?

 

andi:  no.

 

the lowe's dude:

I sure see you here a lot.

 

(this is a bad sign)

 

 

at sunday school (after I've been painting all day and working with dark tints-- my hands are covered in crap):

 

2 y/o:  teacfer!  thevre is hamd santifizer ofer thevre. 

 

(again, not a good sign)

who wants to scream?

THIS GIRL.

 

while most people had a relaxing memorial day weekend, I deemed it "wrap up house projects" weekend.  OH MY.  one leads to another... and leads to another... and although i'm usually pretty good living in messy conditions, my studio has taken a hit and IT is driving me NUTS. 

 

"this too shall pass"

 

which is easy to say until the washing machine breaks...  there is this little part of me that wants to cry.  can't just one thing be easy?  we're getting this all done and going somewhere.  anywhere but here. 

 

I tried fixing the washer today.  I took the back off and everything... drained the hoses, dug around in the outtake valve all by my lonesome (I had to google how to do all this and look at help forums...) but to no avail.  I thought I found the problem but it didn't work.  dallas can have his turn.  by the way things work here, he will just have to look at it and it- and it will fix itself.  :)

 

here's what we did this weekend:

our neighbors wanted to put a new fence in.  I don't know why.  ours was only at a75* angle and broken off.  it looked JUST fine.  we're glad we did it.  not totally convenient timing but glad to get this all over at once!  AND!  I got to show off my dandelion growing skilz 

we have a fridge!

i took on the steps this weekend.  do i recommend this?
NO.  it takes a long time!
homemade stencils
patience (running low)
time
and not my best handiwork
(don't look too close)

when our buffet left this weekend our couches did too!  we knew we were going to sell them, but didn't know it would be this easy.  a moving crew and truck-- yes!  take them!  dallas and i adopted the dog beds for a night.  our table is now cleared off and we have actual seats to sit on now

i finally got permission to start moving this into my new cabinets!
i'm sure it will only take a couple hours. (ha)

today our countertops got templated.  yay!  i'm supposed to expect them next tues-thurs.  i gave the dude a bunch of chocolates. hopefully that caffeine speeds him up.  Monday?  nevertheless-- once they come in, the stove will go in and we will be DONE! 


then what?  we'll probably refinish our floors. 
and i'll cry because it still won't be done
but that's another story for another time.

We have cabinets!

Well...some

Cabinets are in!

Our house

I'm sure you are curious as to what new things have happened here. As of Sunday, not a single thing. The cabinets have yet to come but i painted the front door. Until the stripe gets painted Everything else looks like this.

Worst idea ever

I spent a few hours yesterday painting the cove part of our living room. Enough to use every muscle in my abs and lumbar.... Which became all to clear during mile 15 of my marathon today. I did horribly but still finished. There will be no pics tomorrow of the place, but a bunch on Tuesday!
Andi

"it's fine".....

...meant no female...

EVER.

there were 4 of us that "liked" the color we picked yesterday.  well, 3 people liked it.  in my mind it was "just fine".  

even as i painted it i was thinking... "you can make yourself like this.  it will be FINE."  

2 hours later at the end of my entire friday painting day,  i'm having a pity party because i DONT.  it 's a mancave.  it's too dark.  it's not happy looking.  

it's NOT fine.  

so i made dallas drive me to lowes, because it is closer than any other store that sells paint.  and i brought home 2000 paint chips.  and this morning i went back to get 1 qt of my favorite one.  and i painted it.  jury's still out on this one while it's drying.  and if i don't like it, i'll have a major major pity party.  

(let's just hope it doesn't come to this). 

so today, while i'm preparing for tomorrow's marathon.... and should be lying around, i'll hopefully be standing on a ladder painting because i LIKE this color. 

meanwhile... you'll probably find me sitting on a stool painting our front door (because it doesn't go with the grey at all....).  and thus the entire first floor painting project continues.

Still a holste deep at heart

Holste is my maiden name. We are well, on a whole rather indecisive folk.  when I can't make up my mind Dallas will say, "common holste!" We are painting everything. When you go from rooms to open concept...you paint e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. As in talking 4 gallons of paint everything. When going to that much work I want it to be right the first time.... Which is why I tried a bajillion colors before really getting going. Am I happy with the end product? Eh. It's ok. Although I wish it was a few shades different, it will work. Which one would you have picked?

Day 10 (?) I think.....

We (as in not me) grouted the floors.... Tiled the mud room...  they were making fun of me for choosing a dark grout.  i chose dark grout because i knew it would eventually be that color.  (what can you say when you have dogs?)

meanwhile, the dogs and i spruced up the front porch.  it got painted last weekend but needed some TLC.  i went to the plant store (o'tools is right down the street- how dangerous!) and i went by and picked up an unfortunate looking chair at this place.  "this place" is not descriptive, but, i don't even know if it has a name.  there is just stuff EVERYWHERE and you just pick out what you want for cash only.  a coat of silver spray paint and an outdoor pillow really makes it pop.  someday soon i'll get the paint out and put our house numbers on there. ...

you know... that someday that lies between: installing cabinets, basically painting the entire first floor of our house, getting stuff done for art shows, wedding chocolates, counter tops going in, appliances going in, installing can lights, putting on cabinet hardware, re-staining the back deck, picking out and installing back splash, not killing my garden that i planted and painting the basement stairs.... but soon.  :)

I'd say similar to Legos

Today the floor got done and we are avoiding the little plastic things.

Day 9

Barricades. Today the flooring started! The prep work took forever as they screwed the base down every 6" to help prevent squeaking. (Much appreciated). Dogs go to their friends' house during the day and we are trying to keep them off it at night. Truth be told they're really too tired to move, but you can never be too sure!

Bella demonstrates how we really feel

After a weekend of nonstop concrete and painting, we were an bit envious of our polka dotted beanie.

Andi

Day 8: all the things I hate

Today is the beginning of the end. Walls were sanded and textured. Then it was my turn: dusting for a few hours (still not close to done, but better), priming (yuck) and ceiling painting (double yuck). I am glad that all three of these occurred on the same day and I can get it over with. Tomorrow: floors!

Day 8

Andi

Dinner is served

When you tell people you are doing a kitchen remodel, the most heard responses are, "you will go nuts without your kitchen sink!" "It was the worst time ever". "You're going to get sick of doing your dishes in the bathtub". "Out contractor took 14 weeks". "I'm so glad we never have to do that again". "Ugh". To which I wonder who these people really are. Because truth be told, (taking into consideration we are 2 weeks from being entirely done) this has been a wonderful experience. Here's why: I am an artisy type of person and don't care how dirty my house is, as long as I can look at colors and get to my studio. You don't have to clean during this process. At all. We practically had the entire neighborhood swing by unexpected yesterday and did anyone care how dirty is was? No. We are doing a kitchen remodel. Was I embarrassed? No. I have the greatest excuse. I'm going thru a kitchen remodel. I am so less stressed now. Do I have to worry about what s for dinner? Or having to do dishes? No. We are going thru a kitchen remodel. Do I have to worry about what to make for dinner? No. It's easy. Your options include, and are limited to: cereal, espresso, frozen cookies, chips and hummus, pizza, a sandwich, fruit or dog food. That's it. And none of them require dishes. So when people feel sorry for me going thru my kitchen remodel, I let them, but secretly love every guilt free minute of it!

Tonight's dinner options include: snicker doodle, sugar with cinnamon frosting, moms secret recipe, or pb wit chocolate drizzle. Bon apatite!

House de Burnum

Literally translates to: "house project in every corner".

Today I got this painted and dried right before the rain came. Dallas and our neighbors have been putting in a fence all day. This project is sure to last until late tomorrow night.

Day 7

Today was layer 3 of muddying the walls. The humidity is ever so helpful and not much else got done. On a exciting note.... This is one of the last days we will be able to look down to see what clothes are in the laundry room from thru the kitchen floor.

Day 7

Today round 2 of 3 of muddying drywall took place. A lot more could probably have got done but the rainy weather didnt make for a quick drying environment. The gas line was moved to its new home too. Since there was no obvious change, I'm sharing this picture of love. I sat down to read a little bit today and of course Bella was right there within seconds.... Closely followed by little fritzel. He does love his Bella bean!

Our own little project.

My family knows that when I decide to start my own "little" project it is something larger than a little. Usually I get excited, rush right in and don't think the entire thing through. I've hated the stairs (and carpet on them) since we moved in. This was 5 years ago. My thought process went like this: "the dumpster leaves Monday. Lets get everything in it that we can." So tonight we ripped out the carpet, 10 million staples and nails, and the side walls. Whew, what a difference. Ou know your house is bad when it looks better immediately after the demo. I'm just going to paint them for the meantime, but a drastic improvement already!

Day 6

Today all the electrical was finalized and the drywall process has started! Not a lot of mudding to do in comparison to most jobs. It's gonna look great!

Day 5

Today not much changed.... That you can tell. New electrical... Boring, but, I will now have 5 outlets in my kitchen (as opposed to 2 like we had before). The columns are being built on the sides and we are almost done with the demo stage and the dust clean up will start sometime in the near future. (THank heavens.). Fritz also found a new little home for himself.

Day 4

It might not look like much got done today, but its because i initiated the first change order today. Our banister between the kitchen and our stairs has always bothered me. Until today....when it came down! It wasn't part of the original plans but it looks much better now. The hvac person was here today, wood floors in the kitchen came up, lights got moved around and some electrical stuff was changed. Final cabinet designs were picked and ordered. Yay!

Our kitchen day 3

D and I were gone all late last week thru the weekend. The contractors still worked. We are definitely past the point of no return.

Day 1

Andi