The Project: update

I CANNOT believe that it has almost been a month since my last post!

We had to pour on the gas on the renovation in this month as our move out date of 3-31 was imminent and quickly approaching. This meant that the kids and I have woke up, got dressed, piled in the van and headed to the new house everyday. All day. Then back to the live/work just in time for bed and past normal bedtimes for the younger two. We are exhausted.

But it's come together! Yesterday, we had the final two city inspectors come through and they issued our temporary occupancy. Which means that we are free to move in but still have work to do (mainly to the exterior) before they will close our file completely. That was a huge weight off! Also, I was able to dink around enough to make all the necessary repairs for the insurance company. So, although I haven't gotten final word, I think we are also insurable! Yay!

So...pictures! Here are a few from my phone. I have more on my camera but it's currently stowed away in a kitchen cabinet and Mr. Koenke is here staining the wood floors (Hooray!) and I'm too much of a scaredy cat to ask if I can tip toe over there. So, in the mean time...

Carpet in the Game Room! Since this pic, we've finished painting where the leak resurfaced...rawr. And installed new trim around the lights as well as lenses.

A long way from how we bought it!

New front door. Many thanks to Kalin's brother who came over to help hang it. We are so grateful for his help!

The old front door.

New studio floor and paint. I stuck with the same paint color as I've had for the live/work space as well as my previous home studio. I love it! It's called Rice Paddy. The floor is a hi-gloss grey laminate floating floor from IKEA. It's sparkly and shiny right now but I know it will soon be dinged with scissors dropping and scuffed by kids being themselves. Such is life. :)

How the studio started.

This is a pic of the hardwood floor being installed. We had them extended into the kitchen from the dining room. I'm so glad we did!

All installed in the rough.

Then the cabinets went in.

And countertops. We went with the inexpensive light grey formica.

Added the sink with the "to-be" backsplash tile propped for a visual.

Like I mentioned above, as I write this, the floors are being stained. They were so filthy (see above pic) I cannot tell you! Mr. Koenke said he had to rough sand them three times when usually he only rough sands once. Ack! This house was really something.

But the raw wood was beautiful even though it had pet stains from the previous owners that couldn't be sanded out.

The stain looks so good!

Dare we revisit the kitchen?

The bathroom was tiled, grouted, plumbed and caulked. Probably the biggest change is the bathroom. I'll post pics soon. I think those are on my camera.

Thanks for hanging in there for all my house renovation posts!