Reno Update: One month later

Has it really been a month already?  I don't think time has ever moved so fast.

Between us working, doing house renovations and walking the dog I feel like time has become the most precious thing.

So, what do we have to show for ourselves after the last month of hard work?  Well, besides hair that seriously needs to visit a salon, a dog who is getting a little round around the middle (apparently those walks haven't been long enough) and an extremely unorganized closet, this is what we have done:

Here is our living room before move in:

Here it is one month after:

Done: 

-New wall colour

-tv wall mounted

-new door

-semi-decorated

To-do next:

-install new windows

-install new floor

-replace trim and baseboards

-but a cabinet for tv accessories

-freshen up the fireplace

The hallway before:

Hallway one month later:

Done:

-new paint colour (though the picture doesn't really do it justice, it's now grey instead of light dusty-rose

-paintings hung on brick

To-do next:

-paint closet door

-install new flooring

-change light fixtures

The nicely outdated master bedroom before:

Now:

Done:

-carpet and walpaper removed

-new paint

-curtains hung on temporary rod

-shelf hung on left wall (not pictured)

-semi-decorated

To-do next:

-install new window

-install flooring

-paint closet door

Guest room before:

One month later:

Done:

- walpaper removed

-new paint

-closet door painted

-curtains hung

-semi-decorated

To-do next:

-prime and paint trim

-install new window

This is the clock that our really good friend gave us as an house warming present.  It's from an aboriginal shop in New Brunswick... we LOVE it.  Even the lines for the numbers are made from little pieces of tree branch!!

Backyard before:

Backyard after:

Nothing done here except a bit of pruning.  This will be a big project for next summer.

Front yard now (don't have a before).  So happy it's starting to look like an actual lawn!!

House exterior before:

One month later:

Might not look like a big difference but...

Done:

-New shingles

-New soffit and facia

-New front and side doors

-Front bridge installed

-One side of new siding finished

-weeds pruned

To-Do next:

-install windows (that should be happening this weekend)

-install new garage door

-finish siding

Here's the old green door:

And a fresh new white one:

Progress: Home Office/Craft Room

No room in our house can be finished at this time because our custom windows seem to want to take forever to arrive to their new home... but when you work from home chaos = even less productivity than normal (which I certainly can't afford).  So, the first room I had to semi-organize and semi-look-presentable was my office.  

Because the office is the only room in the house that's ALL MINE, I get to make it as bright and cherry and girly as I like.

Here is the transformation (so far)

Sports border, Christmas lights and a whole lot of written up walls.

First goes the border, to reveal a nice blue section of wall.  How did I remove it?

A mixture of 1/3 fabric softener and 2/3 water. WORKS LIKE A CHARM.  Just tear off the top layer, soak it down with a spray bottle and use a plaster scraper thingy (yes, that's all I know to call it) and presto! 

My sister and I did this project together, which was so fun because we are equally lazy/silly.  here we are donning our painting finest.

And.....

Here is the final outcome (for now)

Still left to do:

-new window and trim

-change light fixture

-hang paintings

-buy a nice rug for the floor

-take some better pictures

This is just a work in progress, but I know you all wanted to make sure I was actually doing something!!

Hope you enjoy!!

Tara

Welcome to 82 Farm Rd: The Fixer-Upper of our dreams!

We are home owners!! We have been home owners for almost three weeks now, and the chaos of moving/renovating has no sign of slacking off any time soon.  I will never be bored again, I swear.  some days, I think to myself "who did we think we were, how did we think we could renovate a full house?" and then other days I think "I own trees and grass and walls and windows, yay!"  

We have made lots of progress since the big move, hence the lack of blog posts.  Once I stopped for a while it was hard to get the courage to start again... but here I am.  The busy summer season with work is finished (even though piano lessons and substituting starts now, on top of my already full time job) and I seem to have cleared a spot big enough on the couch to sit and type.

Before you get to see the progress: here are the befores.  I'll save the basement for another day... but here is what we are working with right now (complete with to do lists for each room)

Exterior.  We will have this completely renovated within the next four months.

To do:

-New shingles

-New soffit and facia

-New windows

-New doors

-Garage door installed (no we are not keeping the bright green wooden door

-Front step installed

-New patio and step on side

-New walk way

-crushed stone for the drive

-pruning and mowing

-New vinyl siding

Kitchen... I don't love much about this right now, but I will, sometime down the road.

To do:

-replace flooring

-new stainless steel appliances

-new counter top

-refinish cabinets (dark espresso or white? It's a toss up)

-remove awkward porch wall

-remove window apron

-new paint colour

-new cabinet hardware

-new backsplash

Hallway, which is not near this narrow or long in real life.  

To do:

-replace flooring

-clean brick

-paint closet door

-new paint colour

-new room doors

-replace light fixture

The living room, with a real working wood fireplace.  We have already had our first fire and I automatically knew my hours of labor invested in this house are so worth it.

To do:

-new fireplace mantle/tile/screen

-replace wood bookshelf on brick with something less awkward (floating shelves?)

-paint closet door

-new light fixtures

-clean brick

-new windows/trim

-replace flooring

-remove wall paper

Dining room

To do:

-Install built-in window bench/shelves around end window

-remove wall to the kitchen and install ceiling beam

-new flooring

-new windows/trim

-chandelier over table

-replace baseboards

Room one: future home office/craft room

To do:

-New paint colour

-paint closet door

-new closet door hardware

-new window/trim

-refinish floor

-replace plug-in/light box and plates

-new light fixture

-remove wall paper border (not shown)

Room two: future guest room

To do:

-remove blue shelf

-remove wallpaper border

-prime and paint ugly dark walls

-build shelves/organizer in the closet for Jonny's clothes

-new window/trim

-refinish floor

-new baseboard

Room three: future master bedroom

To do:

-remove wall paper

-pull up carpet immediately 

-paint walls

-paint closet door

-new window/trim

-new baseboard

-replace toilet and vanity in ensuite

-new closet organizer

-new light fixtures

Main bath.  This is going to be our focus after the exterior work/flooring is done

To do:

-remove wallpaper

-new paint

-Knock out the totally ridiculous bathtub closet (not pictured)

-new sink and vanity

-new soaker tub (and maybe separate stand up shower

-build a closet (a real one)

-new flooring

-new window/trim

-install fan

-install plug-ins (right now there is not ONE in the bathroom)

-new light fixtures

Side yard/shed/fire pit

To do:

-shingle, repair and put wooden clap-board on shed (looove clap-board)

-install vegetable gardens behind shed

-remove the rose bush forest

-snip, mow and seed yard

-fix up fire pit

-build benches for fire pit

Backyard

To do:

-use a brush saw as much as we can

London

To do:

-No repairs needed (except maybe the odd adjustment to her new home)

So, there you have it.  The basement holds the garage, laundry room, rec-room, pantry, furnace room and an extra bedroom... but for right now my to do list is long enough.

I'll be back really soon for some progress reports.

Tara

A Year of Mobile Moments

It has almost been a year since we've been married, and in a few hours we are off to embark upon a anniversary road trip to mark the event.  It has also been almost a year since I bought my iPhone... so I decided that it would be nice to go back through the pictures and see where the year has taken us.  Sometimes our phone cameras capture on the fly images of something we thought was important or special.  Let's see what mine captured this year:

Beautiful London

Fundy Nataional Park

Jonathan relaxing on our road trip last summer

enjoying life to the fullest

The first painting I sold in years, it went to a great home!

New car, now dubbed "The Grasshopper"

My first attempt at sewing solo.  Not the greatest!

London and Marya love

Baking with Marya (who is making great use out of my apron)

My two hunters on the Northern Pen

Wonderful halloween make-up

Times two (again, watching too much Walking Dead)

London protecting supper

We always get a real tree, one of our favourite Christmas traditions

An unimpressed Christmas elf

BINGO!!

A beautiful droopy face

Snowshoeing adventures

Winter wouldn't be winter without sledding 

Game night with the sister

Reliving Maine by making some homemade clam chowder

Road trip to the city

Happy third birthday London

My favourite passenger

park happiness

snuggle buddy

recognition for an awesome piano year

A rare night out on the town

Two of my favourite people

Bachelor party enthusiasm 

Wedding P.I.Cs (Partners In Crime)

Celebrating our Aboriginal heritage with the kids at work

Fav cousins

My first wedding photo booth experience.  Uncle Jase was such a good sport!!!

Mom finishes her masters. Way to go!!!

And there you have it.  I'll see you after our vacation!!  Here's to another solid year of fun and new adventures!!!

Tara