Disappearing Stairs

Happy Tuesday!
When we purchased the new house, the potential open hearthroom/kitchen and second garage/shop were the two real selling points. The open hearthroom/kitchen required the destruction of an existing staircase and two walls, and the creation of a new staircase. In just a few short weeks, those tasks are nearing completion.

Rebuilding the mailslot from the front porch inside.

The Sheetrock Crew were delayed on another job for a few days, so they offered to stay on our job and begin work on Monday on the hearthroom, new staircase. That meant that Spousal Unit and RG had to tear out all the old paneling in the room, pull new wire, put in new switches and electrical plugs, new insulation, and finish work on the baby can lights on each end of the room over the weekend.
Clean up is a never ending job, and we get help whenever and from whomever we can!


She prefers suturing to sweeping!

 

Monday:
Busy Monday again! Sheetrock Crew had an awesome day. They measured the hearthroom and staircase for sheetrock. They went and picked it up, hauled it all in, and hung it all up! They put in a tiring full day. The heating and air man rerouted two different air ducts and fixed a faulty switch. The fence man put up the horizontal wood boards on the wood fence. And the Carpenter was finalizing order of staircase pieces and coordinating with the sheetrockers.

View from new stairs looking through Hearthroom toward back of the house. Kitchen is to the left.



The new stairs from the basement level.



We think we might be able to play checkers on the old linoleum tile they found under the carpet in the basement.


Tuesday:
Spousal Unit is replacing large chandelier in the now Martini Room with a large ceiling fan/light, and relocating the chandelier to our new dining room. We met the cabinet rep at the house to finalize the 3D drawings for the new cabinet/island in the kitchen. Just a couple of modifications to be done. We located some matching kitchen tile, and I picked up a box today. We had the Moving Company come by the old house and give us a bid on moving us. We are tentatively looking at the last week of September for the big move, depending on progress made the next two weeks. Spousal Unit, RG and KB tore into the old staircase this afternoon. They framed in the "hole" in the kitchen floor, and totally removed the stairs! We are now thinking we will keep the closet in the basement area that was in back of the stairs. Good storage and nice break in the very large room for furniture placement.

Basement level...stairs removed and setting off to the left.

Staircase gone- now framed for kitchen island placement!

Now that the Kitchen/Hearthroom is nearing completion, it is time for the garage/shop build. Spousal Unit is working on City Permit to build. Plans are drawn and ready. "Safe Dig" has been out and lines marked. We need to have the sewer lines found and "mapped out". Preparations are well underway. I just hope that the kitchen island cabinets, appliances, hardware etc arrive before Spousal Unit gets totally consumed out back, or it just might be Christmas before we have a stove to cook on again!!!!

Keep Smiling!
Deb

Slow Down for the Tunnel!

Happy Friday!
I have missed a few days blogging and I have a lot to catch you up on! I will start with an explanation for the title of today's blog! I have been forced to SLOW down, which is very difficult for me when I have a million things I would like-and need to be doing, because I had surgery on my wrist on Tuesday. I had Carpal Tunnel Release surgery on my DOMINANT right wrist. I have been experiencing a lot of numbness over the last few months in the Median nerve innervation (thumb, first and second fingers). The EMG I had done scared me enough that I knew it wasn't going to get better, it was going to be a matter of when I would get it fixed. The only "fix" being surgery. SO....the hand surgeon who has operated on me before had a cancellation Tuesday, so I decided to JUST DO IT!

Spousal Unit agreed that I needed to get it taken care of, but he also suggested that the timing is convenient for not being able to keep a house "on the market" clean, not being able to pack and move, and no longer be the clean up crew for the remodeling crew. Yes, I agree (:
But unfortunately, it also means having to cancel the August REDO Sale, type only about 8 words a minute, and use my uncoordinated left hand to try to do everything I need to do and one handed  ):
Tuesday was pretty much a blur of a day thanks to anesthesia, so we will move on!

Wednesday:
The activity level is popping at the house. Spousal Unit had to work today, so I was up early and over to the house to let all the workers in. I took this picture about mid morning of the traffic jam in the driveway!

We had the Carpenter Crew, Sheetrock Crew, Electrician Crew, Plumber, Heating &  AC man, and Fence Crew at the house all at one time. No one besides me seemed the least concerned about working around each other! Looked like a party of Ford Trucks in the driveway, and it was loud, dusty, and organized chaos inside!

Today was the day the Carpenter Crew cut the hole in the floor of the family room for the new staircase. Spousal Unit cut his work day short again as he just couldn't stand not to see that cut made! It took my breath away and made me panic just a little. There was definitely no turning back now! I am a visual learner, and not seeing a finished product other than in my mind on how the new staircase would look, and how the new hearth room/kitchen would look was more than a bit overwhelming, as well as exciting!

The Sheetrockers "hung rock" on the ceiling, the new post and header, and patch where the shelving unit used to be, and started "tape and mud" in the kitchen.

The Electricians were still sorting out the house wiring and placing new junctions for ceiling fans in all the bedrooms.

The Fence Crew had taken down the our old fence, but now had permission to take down the neighbors as well. They set more post holes. I have a great idea on utilizing the old fence wood for a REDO project, so I hope the Fence Crew see the note I left them about not hauling it off. (I threatened Spousal Unit that he had better leave my note too!)

The Plumber is reconfiguring the gas line, and water line into the new post to the new kitchen island. The Heating and Air Man is relocating some air ducts. Please appreciate that my descriptions are over-simplifications of much more complicated jobs that take these workers several days to accomplish!!

Spousal Unit has been working on removing the two built in buffets, and two cabinets/shelf units in the Hearth Room and replacing the non-functioning built-in lights at both ends of the room with small "Baby Can" lights that he will put on dimmer switch.

RG and "Posse" came and hauled off a trailer of trash items, and then loaded all the old removed kitchen cabinets and the cabinets from the Hearth Room and took them to our storage unit for future use in the house again, and in the new shop. But for now, removing them from the house helped create much more working space which with all the people here working was very helpful!

I have to admit, I was not feeling well, and overdid even in my capacity as "Foreman". I accomplished very little, was grumpy doing it, and went home early in pain for a date with Lortab!

Thursday:
My date last night was very boring, but really helped me sleep! I was a better person this morning! I took a one handed bath with plastic over my hand and felt like a new person! I was at the Appliance Shop by 8am finalizing the purchase of the gas range/oven, met the Pool Man at 9:00 to convince him that Spousal Unit does want to fill in the pool with dirt, but we (I) honestly want him to fix it up!

Then it was on to the Cabinet Shop to meet Spousal Unit to finish decision making on the kitchen island plans at 9:30. BUT....the best news of this day.....Ray received notification that she passed her National Boards so we are CELEBRATING!! Her father's quote was "you are no longer a peon, but a certified PA!" We all are so happy for her. We were confident, but now a huge weight is formally off her shoulders with the official news! After a picnic lunch on the back patio of the new house with Ray, RG, KB and Spousal Unit, we ladies headed for pedicures and  then we joined a big group and went to the Casino for a few hours, and then met for dinner/drinks after. SUPER!!

Friday:
Another parking jam in the driveway this morning.This makes Spousal Unit very happy! Sheetrockers back early for another coat of mud. Electricians continuing wiring. Heating and AC Man finishing up duct work and talking about sewer location and water lines for the new shop. And the Carpenter Crew hard at work on the new staircase. I actually got to walk down it for the first time today! So SWEET!

I am so happy that we can leave the windows in the staircase area. I love natural lighting! I will have to be creative about decorating them, but the old broken shutters had to go! The two walls that house the windows are concrete and will be sheetrocked on Monday.

The Hearth Room/Kitchen is now really all one big open room, so decorating is a challenge. Especially because we are working with the existing old kitchen cabinets and counter tops and then incorporating the new island. I hope what I am envisioning in my head looks as good in person!!
Spousal Unit took down all the remaining paneling in the Hearth Room and unfortunately there was not exposed brick above the fireplace as we had hoped. But the Sheetrock Crew had a delay in their next job, so we hired them to sheetrock the Hearth Room and the new staircase next week. This is particularly great as now that big messy job completed all at once! Spousal Unit and I can finish/decorate the fireplace temporarily until the new shop is done and he will have more time and all his equipment in one place to remodel as he really wants to. (His remodeling of the two fireplaces in our old house were awesome!) He is also replacing old light switches and electrical plugs, now the electricians have deciphered the electrical mess. We both are really enjoying spending time at the house, and feel we are now making our imprint, and making the house ours. We are looking forward to actually moving there one day very soon!

Whew. Typing virtually one handed is extremely time consuming! But, ya'll are now caught up to date.
So, until next time.....slow down, but don't STOP for a tunnel!
And always... keep finding little things in life that make you smile!
Deb

Happy Saturday!

Before we talk house redo...today I attended a wonderful celebration of a long lived life of Edna. Unfortunately, my friend no longer has his mom here with him, but he knows she is free of illness and was one who lived a very full and long life. I feel I got know her and her family after the wonderful service today. Touching music and sharing the story of those we have lost in this life can be so healing for everyone. All in attendance knew Edna in different capacities, and hearing "her story" was enlightening, comforting and helped us all to know her in her many different "hats"! I am sending prayers for Edna and her family tonight! (My "Granny", my grandmother was also named Edna...which is not such a common name. I thought alot about her today too which really made me smile!)

SO, on to REDO! Today Spousal Unit was finishing preparations for the sheetrock to be hung on Monday morning. The ceiling fan needed to be taken down, and can light frames removed. Where the ceiling was removed over the old staircase area, new insulation needed to be installed. RG, K and B were assisting again today with these projects, as well as taking down a pretty large limb from one of the trees in the front of the yard that broke in the storm. We are really going to miss their daily help when college classes resume next week!

I was back at the Cabinet Shop with a few items, and I did a little "saleing" as well. In addition I  was on pool clean up duty, as the storm really took its toll! The roof job is finally completed on the old house, and the air conditioner fixed too! I am hoping for a cool, good nights sleep tonight with no roofers waking us at first light tomorrow morning!
I did some upholstering today as well. I covered three ice cream chair seats for our next REDO Sale, and I finished the vanity chair for the new house Master Bedroom.
Remember the chair from Kimberling City, MO thrift shop buy on our vacation to Tablerock Lake? Here is the before:

And after in the chair's new home at my vanity in the master bedroom!

I am pleased with the material. It has a cream background and medium paisley print in soft brown, two shades of pink with a hint of green. The master bedroom is not a high priority on the REDO list, so we will be living with the soft pink walls, and ivory cream painted trim and curtains for awhile, so I am EMBRACING the pink! This material is assisting me greatly in that endeavor! I think utilizing strong brown woods, creams and neutrals with accents of pink will work for both the male and female living in the room!

I got a picture text from our daughter Little Miss A today from her home. It was a picture of their new toilet....fully installed (and WORKING properly) sitting on the beautiful tile floor she and son-in-law Codeman laid themselves! They gutted their main bathroom literally down to the studs and have completely redone it! SO proud of them when I got the toilet pic!!!! I guess the apple didn't fall too far from these trees!!
I am so looking forward to getting to see the room in person. Hopefully a roadtrip soon!

Our other daughter Ray took a new job, and is now contemplating buying a house again. I am hopeful that she finds one that is not a major fixer upper...as this REDO crew is currently stretched to maximum capacity!!! Just kidding! She should buy what makes her happy and works for her! She can always count on her family!

Hope you found your smile today!
Deb

Happy Frantic Friday!

Wednesday:
I had the new house to myself for the morning hours today. I enjoyed a little temporary peace and quiet without the demolition team onsite!. It took me about four solid hours to clean up all the mess from the last couple of days work. I carried out trash/debris, tools back to the garage, and swept and swept, and swept sawdust/sheetrock dust. 
The tree I transplanted is looking a little droopy, so I added more dirt from its previous home and watered it thoroughly by hand. I also spent some time just "being" in the newly formed kitchen/hearth room, imagining the finished room in my mind, "seeing" as many of the details in my mind as I could. I am feeling more at home in this house, and I can visualize the new room more each day.
Spousal Unit is still really wound up. He got off work early again this afternoon so that he could complete the final details of demolition on the two walls, and prepare for the electricians that will be coming on Thursday. The end of peace and quiet and the clean kitchen/hearth room!
Thursday:
None of us slept very well last night. Our air conditioner at the old house is malfunctioning and it was too warm for comfortable sleeping. Ray is taking her National Boards this morning and we all are anxious along with her! We are so confident in her abilities, but anxious for this day to be over for her. We were able to reach the drywallers and they actually were available between bigger jobs to fit us in! They came and measured, and will begin on Monday. The Electricians were here and started their big project. We therefore were without power for anything we were doing today at the house. Luckily it was a bright sunny day so we could at least function in the new open main rooms of the house.

These are the beginning of the new boxes.

The "fence men" came and began taking down the old wood fences on the back of the property. There is actually two fences, one of ours, and one of the neighbors. They were thrilled to have us take them both down and us replace with a new.
Ray completed her test mid afternoon, and so we all met for dinner and a casino evening out. We all needed the break!

Friday:
Last night, Topeka had a bad thunderstorm with incredible straight line winds. We lost power for most of the night, which meant another warm night of uncomfortable sleeping! Our neighbor two doors down lost a huge tree that fell across our street. There was a crew with chain saws taking it off the power lines at 4 am. AND, the part of the roof that was not newly shingled yet was leaking into our garage area. It was a long night.
So, since I was up early anyway, I just had to join the girls at an early morning estate sale.Trying to navigate to the sale was tricky around downed trees that closed numerous streets, and most traffic signals were down, but it was worth the trip!  We got some nice pieces. We have been so busy with the houses, that "picking days" have been far and few between!  BUT, we did have to postpone the next REDO sale until September instead of August due to a number of factors. But "saleing" today reminded how anxious I am to get back to that work!
Spousal Unit and I met with the cabinet rep and completed our plans for the new kitchen island. Hope to have finalized plans back by the first of the week. We also met with the hardwood floor rep, and luckily he actually had put in the original floors and assured us he can still match them again! He is available and hopes to start right after the staircase is moved. We looked at appliances at two stores and need to do some additional research so we can finalize that purchase in timely fashion as well.

The guys took out the shelving unit in the kitchen wall and framed it up for a new sheetrock piece to be hung there on Monday. They also trimmed out the paneling up at the level of the trim and beams in the hearth room preparing for sheetrock as well. I keep seeing new "toys" I mean tools appearing. Good thing we will soon have a new shop! Spousal Unit had given his ideas and basic drawings to a local draftsman a few days ago. He was so thrilled when he picked up the final plans today! He had extra smiles today!

Hopefully, RG also got another trailer full of debris unloaded, but with the storm clean up happening, the city dump was extremely busy. Our electricians got called out to emergency situations, and our fence team we think got derailed as well with their chainsaws and trailers. But, luckily our old house roof is complete as we are expecting more rain tomorrow.

The guys also began taking out the buffet on the right as the new staircase will be going in starting next Wednesday. The beautiful glass doors and marble top will be repurposed.....that inspiration yet to be finalized but will happen!

(I am thinking we create a "vintage looking" new desk area on the back wall of the new kitchen.)

Busy, frantic times.....making me smile everyday!

Happy Header Tuesday

Today Spousal Unit didn't have to draw a clockface for me, I awoke when he left for the new house about 4:30am. Crazy I know. He was consumed with how to handle the header issue! Our Little Miss A's words about the need for support in such a span rang home to the man. So today, he, RG and two very helpful buddies K and B took out the remaining wall supports and put up a very heavy header across approximately 20 feet between the kitchen and hearth room. They left a post support at the entrance to the kitchen on the front side of the room. This was a lot of work, especially working around and over a very large hole in the floor....the staircase to the basement. I was nervous watching them walk across a plank trying to get footing as they worked!

I admit, I was holding my breath when the final supports were removed. I believe everyone in the room silently were very relieved that nothing moved! That is until Spousal Unit declared victory and quitting time!

'

I spent my morning at Custom Wood Product showroom looking at cabinets, counter tops, hardware etc. This is the fun part, although somewhat overwhelming getting started. I narrowed down my selections and headed out with some samples checked out. I will spend some time consulting with Spousal Unit when he has rested up, and my daughters and friends over the next couple of days. The cabinet rep should be calling within the week to come out and measure and finalize the plans.  We also secured the master carpenter to move the staircase. He hopes to start that project next Wednesday.That should be lots of fun to watch!!

I picked up this little chair at a thrift shop in Kimberling City Mo. while we were at Tablerock Lake on vacation a few weeks ago. We had a guest assistant on the trip...CM who would definitely be a REDO team if she only lived in the same state as us!! We had a blast! Anyway....I found some fun material today on the sale table at Joanns and plan to redo it for the new house master bedroom makeup table. Here is the before picture:

The chair seat is brittle plastic material right now, and needs a little TLC glue. Hopefully I can get to it tomorrow. I think this just may be my inspiration piece to start my plans for the master bedroom. More to come...!

Until next time.....find something everyday to make you smile!!

Deb

Super Saturday

The whole key to the kitchen redo is the removal of the basement staircase and two walls that encase it. Spousal Unit and I are a pretty good demolition team....not so good "carpenter team". In other words, I don't mind being the worker-bee when I get to sledge hammer into a wall now and then, as opposed to always being told what do get, or hand the "master carpenter" while he does the actual "fun work" when we are constructing. We function much better with me designing and decoratively finishing his work when the general building is complete.

In this BIG project....the design of the kitchen island will have to come after we determine exactly what walls are load-bearing, where the gas and water accessiblity will be, and how much floor space we actually will have after demolition. So, Super Saturday was a big day. I should have had Spousal Unit draw me a clockface, as he had trouble sleeping and started demolition day without me at a very early hour. I arrived at the new house around 8am and he already had most of the first wall -at least the first layer of sheetrock downed. We worked very hard most of the day, and by 2pm had both layers of sheetrock, the interior kitchen wall studs, and header completely out.

We both were unbelievably tired, but we were so excited to be able to see through both walls we kept on working. We filled the large trailer heaping full, had some minor injuries and sore backs, but got through both walls!

And as you can see in the picture, most of the tile floor remained in good shape with no cracks or broken tiles. If we can possibly match the tile, we will not have to totally replace the kitchen floor.....well, at least not at the onset!

This is the view looking from the fireplace wall  in the hearth room into the kitchen. The interior wall to the kitchen was not load bearing! SO....it is gone! The other wall is, and we are consulting our personal architect Little Miss A to know what spans a header will support, or if we will need a post support or two. We believe that we can get gas and water lines to the island from below. Once the "boring" details of construction are determined....my fun in designing the island begins!
We didn't make the church wedding, but we did make the reception in the evening. It was so much fun. Spousal Unit left after dinner and went to bed, but he was refreshed and back up again by the time Ray and I returned home after midnight! I swore my feet could not handle even wearing heels, but somehow we danced the night away!! Always energy to be found for dancing!

Happy Monday!
Spousal Unit could hardly work today, knowing that RG has only one more week before classes resume. He took off early from work, and got RG and two buddies over to haul our trailer load to the dump, and then another. Their muscles and energy levels are much younger than ours! I am ready with lots of sample pictures to demonstrate my ideas for the island as soon as the construction basics are settled. We hope to secure the contractor tonight to begin on the actual staircase move next week. That will be awesome! Honestly, I now am much more ready to now make the final move to the new house. I feel very unsettled and annoy myself not knowing which house to look for something! I am sad to leave the house we have called home for seventeen years, but now much more at peace with the move! One of our new neighbors came by with cookies and that made me feel like this new neighborhood might just be right after all!

Until next time....everyday find something to make you smile!

Catch Up!

Between work, internet problems, and working at the new house the blog has fallen behind! So catch up with me!
Wednesday:
It was probably a good thing the parents were working and not around for the tree removal project Wednesday afternoon! "RG" rounded up a couple of friends and a couple of chainsaws and took down a pretty good sized tree that was in the middle of the new shop floor.

This is the tree to be downed.

First report from the guys was that all went very smoothly. (We have always preached to our children to be the first to tell us their stories as we will definitely hear them at some time or another, from someone we know-or even inadvertantly standing in line at Old Navy store at the local mall!) Second hand reports were that there may have been some falling branch near misses to the pool, bird bath, and standing workers! They really did a great job. More importantly, neither "Spousal Unit" nor our medical middle child and second daughter "Ray"had any emergency medical calls! I am now trying to convince the family men how great it would be to move the two remaining little "baby" trees to other yard locations. They are trying to convey to me how much manual labor that would involve!

Big tree down! Cute "baby trees" still standing. Especially the reddish colored tree on the right needs a new home!!!

Thursday:
"Spousal Unit" found out just how big our lot was today by mowing for the first time. I think he will be asking for a riding mower for his next birthday! He and "RG" loaded another trailer full of debris from the fence/tree demolition projects. And, today he met the Electrician that has agreed to attempt to decipher what all is going on at this house.

As you can see there are a number of boxes in the garage!

                    AND the wiring is pretty old, and haphazard with alot of tape patches!!

We are confident the boxes can be updated, and made safe. I am just not confident that my "Spousal Unit" will survive the bid for the work!!

   

Friday:                                                                                                                                                        Today we had the house rewired for complete alarm system. That  was a big project. We are hoping our     

technological skills will be strong enough to manage the system with addition of wireless/cellular! That could be an interesting challenge. 

I began the day filling energetic, so I tackled moving the "baby red tree". Yes, I donned the work gloves and manned the shovel and got the tree moved. Due to a rainstorm, I will post a picture later of its new home.

"Spousal Unit" started demolition on the kitchen!

                                                      

He liked that I had donned work gloves, so after the tree was moved, I became first assistant to taking down cabinets, and hauling off sheetrock/tile debris. The task was a little daunting due to sooooo many elements we found in the wall!

We cannot wait to get down to all the studs so we have a real idea of what the future room will look like! The big question yet to be answered is whether or not it is a load-bearing wall. That hopefully will be revealed with tomorrows work.

Backyard Demolition Begins

When "Spousal Unit" was a young child, he woke so early everyday that his parents placed a stepstool in the kitchen, taught him to make coffee, and left a piece of paper with a clock face on it for him to draw in the hands of the clock so they had an idea of what time he was up! They would leave a dime on the counter, and he would ride his bike to the Seven Eleven shop and buy a morning paper and bring it home. That is how he started his summer mornings! Now he has a wife that has to set rules about how early he can begin his outside projects so as not to disturb the neighbors! With that said....I apologize to any of our new neighbors this morning, as "Spousal Unit" escaped me and started the backyard demolition I am sure MUCH too early! Because his Dad needed some muscle assistance, our son "RG" had a personal wake up call pounding on his bedroom windows at his house as he was sleeping through his cell phone calls. In order to stake out the new shop, a deteriorated glass greenhouse, and fencing needed to be taken down and hauled off. With the extreme heat we have been experiencing this summer, I understand the desire for an early start. I am thankful there is alot of hailstorm roofing repair jobs starting in early hours around the area that hopefully blended with the work noise from our yard!

Here is what is left of the glass Greenhouse, and a partial fence that is between the back patio and where the new shop will take the Greenhouse place.

The guys cleared the Greenhouse, and all that was left in it as well as the wood fence and all the fence posts. They cleared  a number of bushes along the driveway that prevented us from good access in and out of the attached garage. They hauled the trailer full at least three trips to the dump.

I cooked the meals and kept them in drinks. I included them in my morning Sonic-run!

Then they mowed and cleared out more brush so they could use the electronic pin finder and begin staking out the shop. This is looking toward the West from the back patio. The driveway is on the left of the picture.

This view is from the driveway looking North. The west property line is on the left of the picture where the tall wood fence can be seen. The half-circle brick wall can be seen at the far right of the picture. Three of the wood stakes can be seen if you look closely. The one larger tree in the center will have to come down, but I am hoping to move the two baby trees elsewhere. The half-circle decorative brick wall was very nice at one time, but has greatly deteriorated. The fence man came by for measurements today for the fencing along the back of the property, west of the new shop, and we plan to extend it out further toward the street alongside the driveway for enhanced privacy.

I need to have a sit down with my Spousal Unit to seriously discuss design of the new fencing and ideas for a replacement of the brick wall. Design is the last thing on his mind I am sure! I can hear it now...a fence is just a fence. Not to me....it is a decorative landscape canvas! And I am thinking...hmmmm beautiful arbor/gate to replace the brick wall! Negotiation time!