House Remodeling Thread (long)

[Zen]

Well... I got a new desk

Now to rebuild the house around it

Why on earth did they put a window air conditioner in the wall?!?!?!?!

[tulip]

Trek--I like the backsplash! All handmade tile would be too busy, I think, and having a few here and there allows one to appreciate each one. Nice job.

Zen, that is a great desk. I may (eventually) have a nice kitchen, but my desk...well that's a door over two filing cabinets. Someday I'll have a real desk like yours!

Latest update (not much to show in photos, but alot done): the electricians spent three days for a presumably one-day job of installing all the electrical everything and lights (recessed and pendants) in the kitchen. Turns out the previous owner totally jerry-rigged (sp?) the electrical system in the entire house and it's just a good thing that the whole thing didn't just melt or explode. No permits, no inspections. So they had to bring new lines from the street and rewire most of the house.

Trek, was it you who said "be prepared for delays and increased cost by 20%," or something like that. Yeah, you're right. They have to come back to bring the rest of the house up to code later with more outlets in the other rooms, but at least it's safely wired now.

On the good side of things, the lights look great even though they are only roughed in for the inspections. I have three recessed lights and three pendants--two over the counter peninsula and one over the sink. The place is also wired all over for under counter lights, disposal (in the cabinet to keep the backsplash "clean" of outlets and switches), and the appliances. Last night I just spent a few minutes oohing and ahhing while dimming and undimming. Ooooh. Aaaaah. One can begin to imagine what the space is really going to look like.

Today and tomorrow are the plumbing days. Let's hope that there aren't any surprises like with the electricity.

In the meantime, we had alot of rain a week or so ago, and guess what? MY ROOF LEAKS! YAY! Why not? So it looks like I can't do this whole thing with my savings so I have to go out and beg for a bit of credit for the roof and insulating the attic. *sigh*. Bail out, bridge loan, whatever, I need a roof.

I've also changed the countertop decision because of cost. Paperstone is too expensive so I'm going with concrete. It'll be very cool and unique and 1/3 less than my original material.

But you know what? I'm still glad I bought this place and I'm still glad I'm renovating. It's going to be such a sweet little home for me and my pup (I can't believe I have a pup!)

[Tuckervill]

Trek, I said "OH WOW" when I saw your backsplash. I like it!

Karen

[Tuckervill]

Getting the wiring re-done is one thing you will not regret, no matter how much it costs.

I almost didn't buy this house because of the wiring. It was still using a fuse box with those old round fuses, and none of the outlets were grounded. The owner was changing a fuse the moment we were walking in with the inspector! My insurance company wouldn't insure it with that fuse box. Fortunately, the seller worked with me, and we got a work-around with a new box, without rewiring the entire house. I made my husband change out all the outlets and switches, too, just in case.

I want to see pictures, Tulip!

Karen

[Trek420]

Zen, nice desk! Looks like a good place to work or create.

Tulip, no. I think I said "remodels all either cost twice as much as expected or take twice as long or both"

I'm interested to hear what you think of concrete. I know only one person who has it. He regrets it because of the upkeep. Says you have to treat it often. OTOH you can have any color, any surface, paint a picture with it, very creative, durable and of course ecco friendly.

Tuckerville, that's exactly what I hope the buyer will say when they come around the corner and see the kitchen!

Tuckerville & Tulip and all, Yes, all hand tile would just be way too much. I'm thinking of the market, somewhat neutral but also thinking of myself. As my cousin the contractor to the stars ;-) said "you don't know how long it will take to sell, do something you will enjoy and like seeing every day". I like the fun of bringing the outside inside with tiles with stars, moon, flowers, and the little kitchen references.

I also had some very :cough cough: creative electrical work that had to be completely redone. The new fuse box is somewhere on this thread

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=20169

[tulip]

The VERY LONG-AWAITED cabinets are being installed TOMORROW! I haven't given anyone an update recently because there's just not much to show. I did paint, but without cabinets, it still looks like walls with wires hanging out of holes.

Once the cabinets are in, the appliances can be moved OUT of my living room and into the kitchen (and hooked up, finally!). I still won't have a sink until later this week, and the countertops will be 3 more weeks to make (concrete).

PICS tomorrow! Whoo-hoo!

[Aggie_Ama]

You are going to have a kitchen soon? Will you know what to do with that?