Home remodeling is a test...

A Home remodel is a test...

A test? Yes, between 2 people who have been married for 27 years last Friday. It definitely tests our patience…with each other! My husband is of the accountant sort that watches every purchase(not that I don’t disagree with it) and I am of the designer sort that knows what looks good and doesn’t always want to wait until we can fit it in the budget! We can wait for certain things if it means

I get just the perfect fireplace or the perfect glass backsplash…

after 27 years(30 if we count dating) we have also learned to

compromise. (He is not much on visualizing without pictures so

I have to provide pictures if I really want something…not a

problem!)
Whew! These past 2 weeks have been busy…we have so far torn

down the 32 foot wall that ran down the center of our main floor,

pulled trim off of windows, hired a contractor, and ordered doors,

raised the sunken living room floor to match the rest of the floor,

and moved the back door. Amazingly, the building permit only

took 8 days to be approved- I was pretty excited as I was told it could take up to a month to get back. Therefore, we are legal

and everything!
I have included pictures of the “expert laborers” (our wonderful

friend Mark and my wonderful brother-in-law Bob- actually I

should be thanking their wives for letting them come play!) These

2 have been invaluable with information, suggestions and tools…

boy, do they have tools! It is unbelievable to me after looking at

their “stashes”, that they still have tools on their wish lists!
I wanted to talk about hiring a contractor a little bit. Some things

to keep in mind: Are they licensed and insured? Have you seen any

of their previous work? What is the main focus of their work- are

they finish carpenters and going to sub out most of the work or are they pretty well rounded with work experience? Are they comfortable

answering your questions? Do they get back to you right away or is it

excuse after excuse? Most of all, are you comfortable with them?

They are going to be in your living space and around your family,

so be careful whom you choose.



Design Quote of the Week: “If you make a compromise- selecting something cheaper than what you really like- it compromises you, because you are never really happy with the result.” Rose Cumming

TOP 2 PHOTOS: 32' wall is out/looking to kitchen & back door

THIRD PHOTO: Looking to living room from end of kitchen

4th Photo: Looking to front door/living room

RIGHT: Sunken living room floor

raised

RIGHT: Back door BEFORE

and AFTER(the hole in the far right photo is the space the door formerly occupied.)

I hope you enjoy the journey with us- next weeks photos should be of the new hallway wall (It will meet up with the new back door placement) and entry to the half bath. Other plans are to add surround sound, a gas fireplace, a music system with different zones(because god forbid we actually have to listen to the same music as the other occupants), and new kitchen.