Reno2100: Our Demolicious Mid-Century Ranch

Merry Belated Christmas!

2009-01-01T17:41:00.013-05:00

So, what prompted me to write this holiday post now that the holidays have officially passed? Well, the fact that A) We didn't do a holiday post and B) We'll be taking down the decorations this weekend and I wanted to selfishly share how fabulous everything looked.

After using the red and aqua color combination for the wedding, we figured we'd put all that left over ribbon to good use. The results is a lovely, vintage-like feel perfect for our mid-century ranch.

What a score at Target! Wrapping paper that matched. Coooooooooool!

Anyhoo, it was a great holiday for us. Hope yours was, as well.

Jacqui and Craig

The After Pictures

2008-11-14T09:32:00.003-05:00

Now that the wedding is FINALLY behind us, we can focus on finishing up the little things that still need to get done around the house.

Long-awaited "after" pictures will be posted after the holidays, though we might post some pictures of our holiday-decked house.

So, thanks for your patience and interest in our insane renovation!

Jacqui and Craig

Design Rant #5: Diamond Mirror

2008-08-14T20:46:00.006-04:00

BEGIN RANT

Okay... I'm as vain as the next gal. Or metrosexual. I will readily admit to spending oodles of time poking at the signs of middle-ageness that are slowly creeping onto my reflection.

That being said, I think you'd have to be out of your ever-loving mind to spend $3,500 on a mirror. Yes... $3,500.

What do you get for the money? Besides a hand polished mirror? Well, the Diamond Mirror, by Piet Houtenbos, promises an exceptionally clear reflection. Um... As opposed to the "muddy" reflection we seem to all be victims of?

Sorry, but I don't get it. $3,500? I mean... do you KNOW how much Botox that can buy?

Thanks, but no thanks. At that price, I'd better be getting that swank, chatty mirror Snow White's stepmother had. And you better be damn right I'd be the "fairest of the all."

END RANT

So, where are we?

2008-07-08T22:08:00.005-04:00

Okay, okay...

We did rather abandon this blog, but for very good reason: We were abducted by aliens.

Now safely back on on Earth, we can resume this lovely blog and post where we are in the whole house renovation thing.

So, where are we? Well, technically we're in the "finishing stages." We're finishing painting, we're finishing the electrical, we're finishing the little things. Of course, anyone who has ever done a complete gut/rehab knows that enough "little things" can eclipse one whole "big thing."

Such has been the case with us.

Truth be told, there were SEVERAL weekends when we didn't do a damn thing in the house, which I think both Craig and I needed. Now, though, we're back on track and desperate to "finish" the house, aka Phase 1. Phase 2, which refers to the exterior/landscaping, is looming on the distance like an unwelcome guest you KNOW you have to answer the door for.

So, in a nutshell, we still have to:

• Touch up painting here and there, especially in the family room
• Finalize the surround sound wiring, which is good seeing as we used our stimulus check wisely and splurged on a 52" HDTV
• Finish the wine rack in the kitchen
• Replace two sets of regular cabinet hinges with 270º hinges
• Purchase and install wire baskets for pantry
• Finish misc. stuff in the guest bathroom
• Re-polish kitchen floor (it's gotten really scuffed up in the last few months)
• Stain/seal our master closet doors and refinish the door that leads to the AC closet
• Fix the hallway light, which seems to be possessed (We think we have a faulty switch.)
• Get the final electrical inspection. (Yes... we still have an open permit, God help us.)

So, that's what's up and what's happening. All in time for our—snicker–House Warming Party that will be held virtually 2 years after we purchased the house. If you're in town on August 30th, stop by and take a tour. Which reminds me that I have to put together a "dazzling" iMovie showing everything that we've done to the house for the party. It will save Craig and I the hassle/joy of repeating ourselves. Beyond that, I think I'll like see the "wholly crap" reactions to what we've done in the two years we've been in this house.

Anyhoo, look for the long overdue "After" pictures once we clean up the house and get it picture perfect.

And... thanks for your patience while we were away with, you know, the aliens. (Oh, yeah: Elvis says, "Hi.")

Thank you... Thank you very much...
Jacqui and Craig

Design Rant #4: Low Trunk Tables

2008-04-19T14:16:00.003-04:00

BEGIN RANT

Above, the set of Bleu Nature's "Low Trunk Tables." Now, while some may describe them as nothing more than stumps topped a with rounded piece of laminate, according to vivre.com, they'd be wrong.

Here's what they actually are:

"Driftwood spread across the shore is the impetus behind this unique design. The ultimate in modern nature, these low tables are fully functional, as they are fastened with metal and enamel tops. An inspired way to redefine and re-use earth's creations. Natural. From 7¾" to 15¾"."

An inspired way to redefine and re-use earth's creations? Really? Inspired? There are a lot of words I'd used to describe these, but "inspired" would not at all be one of them.

The cost for "the ultimate in modern nature?" A hefty $1,750.00

All I can say is, "I'm grabbing a chain saw and heading to Lowe's."

Ugh...

END RANT.

Design Rant #3: Tevere Chair

2008-03-31T09:38:00.006-04:00

BEGIN RANT

Okay... this is more of a "disappointment" than a rant, but I just can't help myself. For days now I've been thinking about the Tevere Chair by legendary designer Enzo Mari. (Remember the print of that big, graphic red apple from '63? That's him.)

Anyhoo, beyond the fact that I seriously dislike the chair, thinking that it looks more like a shop project than a "designer" chair. What I dislike most is the price tag: $940.00. With taxes (if applicable) and shipping you're looking at a grand.

I'm sure some will love this chair. I'm sure some won't mind the $940.00 price tag. As for me, with all due respect to Mr. Mari, no on both counts.

END RANT

Love Is In the Lair.

2008-02-13T23:07:00.007-05:00

I love our house.

And, to be honest, since September '06, when we began our remodel, I haven't really loved it much. Appreciated it, yes. Love? No. At times, I've actually disliked our house very much. (Please keep that between us. It's very sensitive.)

Granted, while we still have little things to do-freshen up paint, pass the final electrical, and stain a couple doors-we're finally at a point where I'm not wincing every time I walk into the kitchen, or the family room, or the guest bedroom, or the studio, etc.

So, hopefully soon a bunch of pictures will be posted that will absolutely astonish you.

Hopefully.

Of course, now we have to get started planning the exterior of the house, which will include new gutters, a new irrigation system, new well pump, new French drain, and landscaping, as well as tree trimming, tree removal, grading, etc. A shed and outdoor office is also in the works and need to be planned out before anything else can be started.

Yeah... home ownership. Gotta love it.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T14:59:00.000-05:00

I believe the above picture says it all.

Have a great New Year!

Jacqui and Craig

What's Swedish for "damn tired?" IKEA.

2007-11-14T19:45:00.000-05:00

We left early this morning, around 8:15 a.m., anticipating oodles of downtown Orlando traffic.

We were not disappointed.

Once we arrived at the new IKEA, though, I was pleasantly surprised that we didn't have to wait hours in line to get inside. Our timing was perfect. Sure, we had to wait a little while, but so did the Jews and look how well they made out. (I have Jewish friends. I can write that.)

Immediately upon entering we were enthusiastically greeted and handed gift cards, which is how I think every shopping experience should start out. Now, had we been one of the first 100 people in line, we would've received a chair. Somehow, though, I think sleeping in a tent outside an IKEA store is worthy of a little more than a chair. Especially since an IKEA chair is, like, 43¢ or something. (I exaggerate, of course, but not by much.)

Now, within 15 minutes of our arrival, poor Craig has a "low blood sugar thing" and needs food pronto. Much to my surprise, there's already a huge crowd at the restaurant. Craig gets in line and I run to the bathroom, where I end up standing in a second line. NOTE TO IKEA: You need more women's bathrooms in the Orlando store. And the toilet paper dispenser in stall #2 is a bit finicky.

After several minutes educating the woman behind me about how to properly "shop IKEA," I take my turn and immediately head back to Craig. We make our brunch choices, which of course included the Swedish meatballs and end up sharing a table with an elderly couple who admit, "we're too old for this kind of thing." I think, "Yes, probably. You could easily perish beneath a pile of sheepskin rugs if you're not careful."

Once satiated and properly sugared up, we get back on task... er... shopping.

Friends, let's just say that it was great. And frustrating. But, mostly great. I had forgotten how big IKEA was. That it would take hours to snake through the whole thing. That there was gobs of stuff that begged to be held and, yes, loved. Most of all, I had forgotten how mommies with strollers and cranky babies made me so insane. Now, granted, I shall eventually be one of those mommies, but for now I just have to ask, "Is the opening day of an IKEA store the ideal time for you to shop with your twins?"

*sigh*

We ended up buying a much-needed window treatment for our living room window, which is massive at 120" x 72". We also bought a couple of other things that we needed for our kitchen, including great handles at two for six bucks. Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

Speaking of, Barry, the IKEA kitchen guy, was wonderful at tolerating my "Why the hell didn't you open last year?" attitude. We shared with him our kitchen saga, and lamented that the kitchen we were standing in was exactly the set up we would've bought. Had we done so, we probably would've saved a few thousand bucks. Ah, well. Maybe for the next house.

Ultimately, the only "bad" part was that the check out line was insanely long. Seriously. It took us at least 40 minutes to check out. Apparently, Cashier #6 wasn't very experienced. And according to the new, improved Cashier #6 who replaced him, he "just left." Couldn't handle it.

All in all, a good day. An exhausting day, but a good day. Next time we go, it will be on a Monday. And I'm wearing sneakers.

Design Rant #2: Leather & Plastic Chair by Front

2007-11-13T13:20:00.001-05:00

BEGIN RANT #2

Of all the mindless design concepts out there, I think this one is a real winner, in a very loser sort of way.

Here's the description: A new look for the most common chair in the world! Front's Leather & Plastic Chair gives the common patio chair a face-lift by adding a smart and stylish leather seat. Turns the most ordinary piece of outdoor furniture into a comfortable and sophisticated armchair.

Does it? Does it really? Turn it into a sophisticated armchair? Really?

Let me get this straight. You want me pay $489.00 for what's essentially a $5.99 plastic patio chair with a leather cover?

Personally, if I had $500 to spend on a chair, outdoor or indoor, this wouldn't be on the top of my list. It wouldn't even be on the bottom of my list. I'm actually fairly certain it wouldn't be on my list at all. In fact, it would be openly mocked and put on my "you've got to be friggin' kidding me" list.

END RANT #2

Derailed by a Microscopic Demon

2007-11-01T23:24:00.000-05:00

So, there was progress happening. Lots of progress. Then, bang! Actually, it was more like a-chew!

Our handyman, Inmer, was hit by the nastiest of flus one can imagine. He's been laid up in bed for a couple of weeks now. Of course, he calls and says he wants to come finish up everything, to which I respond, "Sounding like that I wouldn't let you step foot in the house."

Poor him.

Poor us.

Poor house that is still not finished. Which, oddly enough, makes me feel not so good. Maybe I'm coming down with something?

Ah... yes! I think it's called "renovationitis."

State of the Kitchen

2007-10-10T12:26:00.001-04:00

I should mention that the kitchen is farther along then seen in these pictures, but thought I should post these anyhow. I mean how else will you fully appreciate the next post?

Anyhoo, after our "kitchen guy" turned out to be a horrific disappointment, we hired our handyman, Inmer, to finish our kitchen the right way. And we're thankful we did. A lot of things that had bothered me, like the clearance between the fridge doors and the counter, have been resolved.

Here, some shots to give you an idea of where we were:

The same angle, sort of, with the addition revamped cabinets. Here, Inmer is sanding down the opening for our kitchen sink in the brand new peninsula. The blue tape indicates where the required electrical outlet will be installed.

A long shot of the kitchen. Much better now than before!

View from the opposite side. You get a good idea of how it's going to look. Having had the stove "pulled out" in the kitchen for so long...

I'm surprised at how much bigger the kitchen feels with it tucked in the nook.

We did hit a snag with the faucet we had bought on Overstock.com. Though we loved it, it was not set up for a side spray, which is indispensable. We found a lovely faucet with a pullout sprayer in, of all places, Home Depot.

It's starting to look very, very good. Very good. About time.

Jacqui and Craig

Water, water, everywhere!

2007-10-02T16:49:00.001-04:00

Today, dear friends, a beautiful, beautiful thing happened. For the first time since September 4, 2006.... we have a working sink in our kitchen.

After MONTHS of doing dishes here in the utility sink, we are now able to do dishes in our kitchen.

I can't even begin to tell you how happy that makes us.

Now, I'm off to do dishes. Happily for a change.

56 days and counting...

2007-09-18T11:55:00.000-04:00

The countdown, dear friends, has begun. After months of waiting with bated breath, IKEA will finally be opening on November 14, just in time for the holidays. Which of course refers to gifts received as well as given. Naughty or nice, be still my IKEA-loving beating heart!

The question to ask is: Which tent do we use to camp out in? And should we make enough S'mores for everyone? Hmmm...

Who needs a lawn flamingo?

2007-09-07T00:22:00.000-04:00

Seen right outside our front door, resting on a branch of our oak tree.

ImPRESSive News

2007-08-30T10:52:00.000-04:00

I'd like to take a little detour from our renovation-related posts to share the following:

A few weeks back, while rummaging at the local school surplus warehouse, I spotted something truly fabulous: A Craftsmen Machinery Company Superior letterpress. Of course, at the time, I didn't know how fabulous a find a Craftsmen Machinery Company Superior letterpress was.

Now, I've always loved fine letterpress printing and had considered it an option for our wedding invites. Once I discovered that the average cost would be in the $1,500+ range, though, that option went out the window. Suddenly, now before us, was an opportunity to buy this lovely gem, apparently in near-mint condition, with storage cabinet and oodles of press-related bits and pieces. Which meant not only could we have letterpress invites, but also business cards, greeting cards, and oodles more.

The only thing holding us back was red tape, so to speak. The press would still need to be formally "released," which basically means that prior to selling anything, the surplus warehouse needs to make sure that it's not wanted by a school.

I went back every week on the one day they're open, Wednesdays, only to be told that it had not yet been released for sale. One of the guys that work at the warehouse, Miguel, knew quite well that I was interested. The fact that I told him, "Unless a school wants it, consider it sold" might have something to do with it.

In the mean time, I scoured the internet and learned as much as I could about all things letterpress. I joined a fabulous website, the briarpress.org, ordered books to get us started, and, oh yes, even designed a logo for our little letterpress. (Apparently, it's tradition that private press owners name their presses. A list of names has even been maintained for decades, if not centuries.)

After lots of names/logos, this is where we ended up:

Snazzy, if I do say so myself. One of my more beloved logo designs, too. Best of all, we received confirmation that "Mighty Ink Letterpress" was an available print name, which was great news considering we already registered mightyinkletterpress.com.

Well, last Wednesday, it became official. I arrived at the warehouse bright and early and got the news that it had finally been released for sale. The final price for the CMC Superior letterpress, the cabinet, type trays, and all other bits and pieces? A mere $107.00, which included tax. Mind you, the bits and pieces included the following metal font packages still "in wraps":

I get the feeling that the whole thing's been stuck in some corner in a school basement since the '70s. (I'm guessing the press itself is probably a '65 - '68 model.) All told, after the gobs and gobs of research I've done, I figure that it's collectively worth about $1,200. Possibly even more.

Well, we've made room in the studio. The how-to books are on their way. Now, we just have to go pick it up. Mind you, the press alone weighs 200 lbs. (Thank God we have terrazzo floors!) We can't wait to get started... lots to learn, lots to learn. We can't wait.

Jacqui and Craig

Did I say "nickel finish?" I meant chrome... really. I did...

2007-08-26T18:40:00.000-04:00

Well, I thought I'd share the horrific, highly comical, realization I had today:

The vanity light that we've been searching for? The nickel-finish, modern light? Yeah... well... It just occured to me today that what we really should be getting is chrome. Our bath fixtures are chrome, our bath enclosure trim is chrome, our towel rack? That's chrome, too.

So, forget everything I ever said about a nickel-finish vanity light. We want chrome.

God help me.

Have you seen "the light?"

2007-08-05T13:15:00.000-04:00

Specifically, a simple, modern, nickel-finish vanity light? One that would look lovely with the West Elm bathroom mirror pictured below?

We're serious. Months of searching in stores and online and I/we have yet to find a vanity light for our bathroom that makes as swoon with joy.

Now, you might be asking yourself, "Should a bathroom light make one swoon with joy?"

Yes, damn it. It should. At the very least it shouldn't make one shake their head in disgust. (There are oodles of not-so-simple, not-quite-modern, nowhere-near-nickel-finish vanity lights, you see.)

So, if you've found a simple, modern, nickel-finish vanity light, please let us know. We're desperate. And, frankly, damn tired of taking showers in the dark.

Why I Love Mid-Century Modern Furniture

2007-08-01T17:25:00.001-04:00

The above is a picture of a table that recently sold on eBay for $371.00. The reason I'm posting it here is because we actually own this magazine/end table.

I, however, purchased ours at a the Farmer’s Market in Royal Oak, Michigan about three years ago. The price? A staggering $18. (Originally priced at $24, but I haggled.)

All in all, it just goes to show what a smart investment mid-century modern furniture is. (I doubt anyone will ever make money in 40 years on their Ethan Allen dining set.)

Just wanted to share. And, yes, gloat a little.

Mosaic Goodness

2007-08-01T16:26:00.000-04:00

After months of waiting, we finally ordered the mosaic tile for the guest bath. As a refresher, here's what the guest bath looked like before we took a sledge hammer to it:
And here's where we are now and have been for six months. Only change from the picture is that the bath's doubling as a storage room till the kitchen is finished.
Essentially, here's the look we're going for in the vanity, the main difference being that our vanity's back wall will be one giant mirror.
The mosaic tile we bought is American Olean's Bijou de Verre in "Snow," seen below.
It's an iridesent white, which we scored big when we found it online at a www.oddlyenoughmosaics.com for only $10.43 a square foot. Everywhere else was charging $16 - $23. (Thanks, Erin!)

Anyhoo, I'll post updates on the guest bath progress as it's made. Right now though, we're just waiting for the mossaic tile to arrive. Then, we'll get our hands delightfully dirty.

The Great Outdoor

2007-07-30T12:08:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, it's the little things that give us joy. In this instance, it's our address plaque. Seriously. We finally removed the old, nasty one that came with the house. (See below.)

In its place is a fabulous modern one manufactured by Craig. We had bought the numbers at Home Depot Expo a while ago. However, mounting each one individually onto and into the brick wasn't something that we were both groovy on.

Inspired by some expensive signage and another DIYer's homemade solution I had spotted online, we constructed our own out of simple Plexiglas that was sanded to give a frosted appearance onto which we mounted the numbers. The whole thing was then hung using spacers so that it, like the numbers, "floated" off the brick wall. Here's the result of Craig's hard work and my humble assistance:

Add to it the other mod details, like a swanky modern outdoor light that I spent literally DOZENS of hours online trying to find...

And this cool little doorbell button...

And all together, here's what our new, ubercool front entry looks like:

The door, FYI was stained by Craig, too. (You'll be seeing gobs more of his handywork soon.)

Already the plan is in the works to improve the front walkway, for which we've already selected super-groovy/affordable stone tile from, of all places, Lowes. Regrettably, other stuff takes priority, like our backyard with the HORRIBLE drainage issues that we have to fix ASAP.

Till next time...

Kitchen Bitchin'

2007-07-26T22:49:00.000-04:00

Seven months living in our house and we still don't have a completed kitchen.

I blame ourselves. And, of course, our kitchen guy. Sadly, when you try do something on the cheap, you eventually end up paying for it in other ways. For us, it's been nights in bed spent wondering when we'd be able to make a meal without having to travel to the laundry room to do dishes.

Our kitchen guy has left to Panama—long story. Needless to say, I don't think we'll be seeing him again anytime soon. At least, not this month.

However, things will change this week. We'll be calling Inmer to finish up the kitchen, which includes installing the tile counter top. Sadly, our kitchen guy had orginally promised to install tile counter top as part of him getting the job. (Doesn't look like that's gonna happen.) At least we know that in Inmer's hands it will get done and done well.

Last week, we received the last pieces we needed–the Schluter System for the counter top. The Silestone tile itself we received the week before last. (Damn heavy, that Silestone tile is!) Below is a picture of the look we're going for.

Notice, if you will, the oh-so lovely stainless steel Schluter border that will finish off the edge of the counter top. Very nice.

Sinkwise, after much deliberation (not really), we decided on a huge, single bowl model by Kohler. We also scored big on our kitchen faucet, which we bought at Overstock.com for about $80.00. Great design, very well made. (We bought the Satin Nickel one below.)

All in all, the kitchen will be done, we hope, by the end of August, which would be exactly one year after we bought the house and first demoed the damn room. It's all very funny. In a dark, twisted, home renovation-related sort of way.

So, let's hope that next time I write on the topic, instead of kitchen bitchin' I'll be boasting about a "bitchin' kitchen."

Let's hope. Let's hope, indeed.

Design Rant #1 In a Series

2007-07-20T13:52:00.000-04:00

In my online pursuits of inspiring design and a worthwhile vanity fixture for our master bath, I've come across a “new” phenomenon that truly perplexes me: Absurdly expensive, absolutely ridiculous so-called modern design pieces.

Take, if you will, the following... thing... called "Dead Vase" by Fredrikson Stallard.

It retails for $1,100.00 US.

Um... excuse me? How much?

The product description reads as follows: This deflated porcelain cadaver comments on form and function. The decadent, voluptuous form is created by deliberately exaggerating the pitfalls of ceramic production. The creation of a partial vacuum inside the piece during the manufacturing process causes uncontrollable folds and ruptures, making each piece unique.

Individually handmade limited edition of 200.

Um... I repeat... excuse me?

So, let me get this straight: You want me to pay eleven hundred dollars for something that anywhere else would be considered a "mistake"? You'd have a better chance of selling me a half-eaten liverwurst sandwich on moldy bread. (Mr. Stallard, feel free to run with the idea. I suggest a starting price of $300. $400 if you include a floppy pickle spear.)

I do, though, have to give the writer props: he/she actually makes the piece sound intelligent. Too bad it's anything but.

It simply amazes me. The fact that this piece is currently in stock, though, does not.

Next time: When your "kitchen guy" relocates to Panama before he's finished.

Back Yard Before

2007-05-12T19:03:00.000-04:00

With still lots to do inside the house, of course we spent today working in our yard. Better to make progress before it gets too damn hot, which it will.

Here, some of the before pictures taken from atop a ladder.

Leaves. Lots and lots and lots of leaves. Our camphor tree drops lots and lots and lots of leaves. Notice, if you will, how there is ABSOLUTELY NO GRASS in this yard. I'll be an optimist and say that we've got a "blank slate" instead of a "dirt pile."

Piles of the stone and brick rescued from the renovation. Those will be used to make our outdoor cooking area.

Craig in the background, doing what Craig does.

Our biggest thing now is to plan what we're actually going to do. We know this: we need a shed, we need a sprinkler system, and we need more dirt. Which is why instead of bagging all those leaves we've decided to do something pretty ambitious for a couple of apartment-dwellers-turned-homeowners. We're going to compost. After all, why toss away all that possible new dirt? We'll see how it goes. Should be interesting.

What happened to January? And February? And March? And...um... April?

2007-05-06T17:57:00.000-04:00

So, yeah... we missed a couple of months. Not because nothing was happening as far as the renovation goes (duh), only that I was lazy.

Yes. I said it. I was lazy. I could've said that I was trapped under heavy machinery, and there has been a bit of that lying around, but that would've been a lie. I've also been busy with my freelance, which is what has helped pay for the renovations noted on this blog. So, in a way, I have been busy in a renovation-related way.

Still, today's post is loaded with oodles of news. For starters, the terrazzo floors are finally redone. Let me just say that it took quite a bit longer than anyone anticipated, including Benny from Panamerican Flooring. While the results are impressive, it was painful for everyone. Several days of cleaning, polishing, and moving furniture around. And several more days of cleaning up the ultrafine dust that's left over from the process. As you can see, the results are mighty nice.

Even more impressive if you consider this is the same guest bathroom floor that once had the yellow linoleum floor and the nasty ceramic tile and looked like this:

What else? Ah, yes... the master bath. We're finally bathing like normal people. Here, a cropped shot of the master bath. (A full shot will be posted later. I'm such a tease!)

Now, what about the kitchen? Damn fine question. The kitchen, quite frankly, is a bit of a sore spot for me/us. The cabinets are up but we're waiting for the exterior panels and doors to arrive from Canada so that they can be installed. Needless to say, the "company" that's doing the kitchen won't be getting many referrals from us. (Long story.)

Notice, though, the lovely stainless steel fridge in the picture. The Kenmore Trio. We love.

And here's a reminder of where we were, the day we tore out the old cabinets...

Still, I'm hopeful that the end result will be worth the money we're paying, which is actually a fraction of what we were quoted elsewhere, ergo why we used Company X, an acquaintance of my brother-in-law's.

Hopefully, we'll have a kitchen by the end of the month, though I'm not holding my breath. I've passed out too many times to try that again.

The guest bath, seen below, is still not finished but we at least know what we're going to do and the materials we need, which includes about $946 in mosaic tile. Notice the fabulous little built-in counter with shelving created by Inmer. Nice, aye? It will be lovely and finished in time for our guests of honor when they visit—that's, you Daddy and Mommy B!

Good news is that the family room is completed. But, I'll post pictures about that and the laundry room in the next posting, which I'm hoping will be much more frequent than it has been.

Thanks!
Jacqui and Craig

Where the hell have we been?

2007-04-10T17:42:00.000-04:00

Busy. The fact that I'm writing the very thing that you're reading means that something else that needs to get done isn't being done.

That said, I'll be posting a bunch of posts soonish. Really.

Thanks.

We're Safe.

2007-02-04T12:38:00.000-05:00

You've probably seen the news and heard about the destruction in Florida, which happened not too far from where we live. Actually, the brunt of it hit a few miles from where my sister and her family lives.

Fortunately, we suffered none of the damages that others have. Just a lot of fallen leaves and a few small branches that were knocked lose from the canopy of our oak tree. Still, it makes us all the more dedicated to trimming the trees on our property.

Take care and thanks for your e-mails and calls of concern.

Jacqui and Craig

S'long 2006. Howdy 2007.

2006-12-31T22:56:00.000-05:00

How was 2006? Well, it was a hell of a lot better for us than George Bush and Brittany Spears, we know that. All in all, it's been year full of "gets":

• Getting my freelance gig going
• Getting settled in Florida
• Getting a boyfriend
• Getting a house
• Getting a fiance

The last "get?"

Getting an ear infection, which is why we're home on New Year's Eve and I'm writing this exactly one hour before midnight. The only reason I'm smiling in the picture below is because the three Tylenol Extra Strength gelcaps I downed started taking effect a few minutes before.

Mostly, the last third of 2006 had us as new homeowners/renovation novices turned experts. Whatever 2007 has in store for us we can only guess, though an end to our home's renovation in the near future would be a fabulous start. We do, however, know that there will be a wedding happening sometime in 2007. But before we immerse ourselves in wedding cake tastings and photographer selections, we need to tackle some of those hefty renovation bills.

*SIGH*

Still, no complaints. Well, maybe a tiny one. A wish, if you will, for one more "get": Getting our bathroom finished so we can stop taking baths in the bathtub with a cup. (Don't ask.)

Be safe, be happy, and we hope you "get" what you need, not just want, in 2007. Let's all pray for peace and work towards change.

Jacqui and Craig

Merry Christmas?

2006-12-24T19:17:00.000-05:00

So why no new posts for almost a month? Easy... I was afraid of jinxing our progress, slow as it has been.

The scoop is that we're living in our house, though our belongings are sitting in a PODS container in our driveway. More specifically, we are living in a 10 x 20 portion of our house. Inmer, our handyman extraordinaire, built a temporary room in the living room for us, complete with a door, while he and his crew finish the bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallway.

The daily scenario plays out something like this:

At about 8 a.m., Inmer and his crew pull up and park on our lawn/dirt pile. Since he has a key, he graciously lets himself in. As he does, he shouts out a sincere "Good morning." To which we groggily reply from our bed, about eight feet away, "Good morning."

They start work and I get up to make coffee in our makeshift kitchenette that consists of a hot plate with two burners, a coffee maker, and a toaster. (We'll be digging out my microwave out of my storage unit sometime next week.)

Craig stays in bed, trying to gather the strength necessary to deal with the dregs of society he currently has in his class.

We have a toilet, a bathtub (no showers until the tile's up), and a refrigerator in the "scary place," i.e. utility room. Oh, and we have dust. Lots and lots and lots of dust. Though there's a plastic sheet covering the entry to the hallway and the half of the house they're working on, there's dust. There's no way to avoid it. For that reason, we haven't used our new AC unit but absolutely adore our wet/dry vac.

On the upside, we have primer on walls! That's huge! As of now, we're guesstimating that the house will be complete by the end of January, and that's only because we trust Inmer and his crew to finish. The floors will be done the second week of January, along with the installation of our kitchen.

As for our first crew of drywallers who did, in fact, disappear on us, we'll be taking them to small claims court. Joy. A valuable lesson has been learned: only pay after the work is done and done right, even if they're "trusted" acquaintances of family.

All in all, we're thankful. After all, we're spending our second Christmas together in our first house. Maybe even Santa will pay us a visit. Of course, there's no way in hell I'm clearing out all the crap we've got jammed in the fireplace. He'll just have to use the door.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2007!

Jacqui and Craig

Au Revoir, French Doors

2006-11-29T23:41:00.005-05:00

Here, the previous French doors that were held up by little more than... well... I don't know what they were held up by other than the will of God.

To the right, some of the rotting wood that we uncovered. Of course, the people who originally built this didn't use treated wood. I mean, why would they? Right? Right? God help us...

The new French doors installed by Inmer and his helper. As it turns out, the eave/header was dipping in the middle a full inch. They had to jack up the middle of the header to make it level.

Let's just say this: You don't know stress until someone starts jacking up part of your roof. Still, no scary squeaks or nasty sounds. If anything, it's probably level for the first time in decades.

Anyhoo, that's it for now. More later. Lots more.

Family Room Floor

2006-11-14T11:32:00.001-05:00

Well, the nasty tile floor in the family room, seen below in the "before" picture, is now a pile of shards in our beloved dumpster. We rented a chipping hammer and power scraper at Home Depot this past weekend and went to town.

Here, the results of our labor.

I had never used a chipping hammer until this weekend. It was sooooooooo cool. (I'm such a dork.) Of course, the aching muscles we suffered afterwards were anything but cool.

Still, once we finish we're going to have a killer stained concrete floor.

Day 70

2006-11-09T16:41:00.001-05:00

In the last two months, one week, and two days, I have learned three very important things:

1) Don't tear down one wall if you're not prepared to tear them all down.

2) When somebody says a few days, they really mean several.

3) The only carpenter you can trust 100% is Jesus.

Fact is, people disappear. And things just happen. My electrician, for instance, is sick and won't be able to finish till Monday/Tuesday. The inspection will happen next week Thursday/Friday, which of course holds up most of the drywalling.

At least the plumbing will be inspected tomorrow.

The money, the schedule that has been rewritten more times than Russian history, all of it—I'm just not going to sweat it anymore. With God's help and our handyman's, it'll all get done.

Actually, there's one more thing I learned:

4) You won't find atheists in foxholes, or in homes that are being remodeled.

Amen!

Progress!

2006-10-30T17:05:00.000-05:00

Well, things are in a good place, which means my sanity is, too. And if I'm sane, Craig is sane. :)

Here's a run down of where we are as of November 1st:

1) The plumbers will be done by Wednesday/Thursday with the rough in so the inspection can happen Friday/Monday.

2) The AC will be installed Monday/Tuesday of next week. (They're removing the old AC unit tomorrow so that we can demo the closet.)

3) Rough in of the electrical will be finished up by the end of this week. Hopefully, the inspection can happen Friday/Monday.

4) Final measurements of the kitchen cabinets will be taken on Wednesday so they can be manufactured locally ASAP. Installation date is still TBD.

5) Imed will be at the house tomorrow, prepping the walls for the drywall, building the frame for the whirlpool tub, and doing miscellaneous stuff that needs to get done prior to drywalling.

6) Tomorrow night, Craig and I will be demoing the closet at the end of the hall that housed the old AC and will be home to the new one. (We found black mold on the walls so it's gotta go!) That gives Imed Thursday and Friday to drywall the new closet.

7) This weekend we can paint the inside of the closet and get it ready for the AC guys on Monday. The install will take just two days.

8) The floors in the bathroom will be done Tuesday/Wednesday of next week and the remaining floors will be done once the drywalling is completed, which should be by November 12th.

9) Also next week we'll be ready to have the security system we won at the local home show wired. 10) As well as have Terminix come out and treat the exposed wood prior to putting up the drywall.

Let's see if it all happens as we hope/plan/pray. One thing's for sure, we both expect no more surprises. Considering we've replaced almost every damn thing in the house, there's really nothing left to surprise us. We hope.

Jacqui and Craig

Tearing down the house...

2006-10-28T22:05:00.000-04:00

The project of the day/weekend.

Here, the oooooooooold metal duct work we removed.

Along with this...

Rat #9. Or is he #10? We kinda lost count.

More to do tomorrow, but here is how we left it today. The hall ceiling totally demoed and a foot higher. Plus, the bathroom framing is finally done, thanks to Imed and his son. Tomorrow, more demo, reinforcing the overhead beams for the drywall, and clean up.

Oh, and I think we need yet another dumpster. That would make three.

On a similar note, we ordered our Starck 3 sink and toilet (Hurray!)

Of course, we still need to figure out what ceiling fans to buy and light fixtures, but that's okay. At least things are back on track.

Missing: One subcontractor. Reward if found.

2006-10-27T14:17:00.001-04:00

People misplace things. Keys, cellphones, wallets. It's the nature of the universe. But, rarely does one misplace a person.

We have, for the most part, misplaced one of our subcontractors. Specifically, the individual hired out by our drywallers to frame out the bathroom. As it turns out, the work done was substandard and needed to get fixed. Unfortunately, he and his helper have been MIA for days.

As a result, progress has been delayed for nearly two weeks. (Thus the few postings.) The good news is that my brother-in-law found us someone to come in and save the day. Much to our delight, Inmer's not only fixing what the others failed to do, he's redoing what they apparently did very badly. And he'll have it done by Tuesday when the plumbers will start repiping the house.

As for the additional cost of hiring Inmer, that's something that we'll be subtracting from the final amount we pay the drywallers, not that they know that yet. After all, we paid to get it done right, not just get it done, which is exactly what I'll tell them when they ask why the balance is a little off.

Slated for this weekend: The removal of the hall's ceiling and the old furnace duct so that the new AC can be installed Thursday and Friday of next week. (No payments, no interest for one year, thank God and Gator AC.)

The drywallers, although they're on our sh*t list, can begin once the electrical passes inspection. That is, unless we misplace them, too.

Our Eleven-Year-Old Central AC

2006-10-17T20:47:00.000-04:00

By the title of the post, you may very well be able to guess what this is about. Yes. Our eleven-year-old central AC. Now, you might be asking yourself, "Just how long is a central AC unit typically good for?"

Good question.

Answer? About eleven years.

Yeah, I'm sure you didn't see THAT coming. This unit is so cost-ineffective that it'll cost us about $214.00 a month just to run the damn thing.

The only reason we're even considering getting a new one installed is because of a wonderful thing called financing. Gator Air is offering no payments, no interest for one full year on a 3.5 ton Bryant system. So, I guess that means that we can worry about the cost November of 2007. Maybe by then we would've won the lottery. Who knows?

Either way, I really don't think we have much of a choice. Unless we want to ignore it and replace it once it totally breaks down. Maybe we'll be lucky enough so that it doesn't bust on us in the middle of July.

At least we didn't get any surprises from the plumber. Yet.

Six Weeks and Counting

2006-10-15T10:34:00.000-04:00

Holy cats!

Six weeks into homeownership and where are we?

Well, our house is almost entirely gutted, almost entirely rewired, and we're looking to get the replumbing done next week. After that, the drywallers will work their magic. Which means that by the week of November 6, the floors can be refinished, and then kitchen cabinets can start getting installed, providing they're ready.

Of course, once the drywalling is done, then 2/3 of the electrical work can get finished, as well as 2/3 of the plumbing: Installing the bath fixtures, depending on when our Starck 3 fixtures for the master bath arrive. (We gave up on the Escale toilet from Kohler—the rough-in is not standard and we aren't about to relocate the toilet.) Once the kitchen cabinets are done, then the final round of electrical and plumbing can get done.

It's all happening in stages.

At this point, I can't even imagine it being finished. I think it's because we started the demo from the first time we saw the house. We never bought it for what it was, but for what it had the potential to become. Something that we're going to realize much, much sooner than either one of us ever dreamed, thanks to friends, family, and tons of elbow grease.

All in all, we made the right choice buying this house and doing the renovation. We just found out last week that the rehabbed bungalow in the corner of the next block, all 1,153 sq. ft. of it, has an asking price of $259,000, much more than what we paid for ours at nearly 2,000 sq. ft. on one and a half lots. And the new condos in downtown Sanford, just a 1.5 miles away from our house, are selling from $500,000 - $1.2 million.

We can't wait to get the house reappraised once we're done.

The additional month we'll be spending in our apartment will be well worth the extra expense. We'll have time to pack, purge, paint the house, and do the little things we haven't done for weeks. Like take a breath and enjoy the fact that we're going to have one hell of a home.

Jacqui and Craig

The Barefoot Bandit

2006-10-07T21:55:00.000-04:00

Of the many things we've uncovered at the homestead was this little bit of local lore: Apparently, while our home does not have the distinction of having once been an honest-to-goodness crack house like our neighbor's one block over, our '56 home has not lead the perfect "Leave it to Beaver" existence.

It seems that at one time, not too long ago, the house was used as a sort of half-way house by the dregs of (Sanford) humanity. Among them, the notorious Barefoot Bandit. Named so because he would commit multiple break-ins in one night, all sans footwear.

While we're not quite certain when the Barefoot Bandit's naughty nightly shopping sprees took place, we do know he was caught. Perhaps the hopes of finding some buried treasure will still realize itself. If it does, though, I can promise you this. We're pawning it.

Next entry: The Half-Way Point

Not So Shocking. (Pun intended.)

2006-10-04T22:45:00.002-04:00

Today, proof positive that rewiring the house was an absolutely good thing. Seen here, a sample of 50 years worth of wear and tear. And rats, or something.

As for the rest of the house, all the bedrooms are mostly gutted. Thank God we figured out a way to save the ceilings with the help of wire snips and molding. (Don't ask.)

View of the guest room from the office, sans walls. This weekend we need to neatly trim the remaining drywall as close to the ceiling as possible.

We will also be reinforcing and/or replacing a few termite-damaged studs with the help of my dad and Craig's new toy, Mr. Ax.

Hopefully, that'll be it for the surprises. At least until we talk to the plumber.

Grills and Garland

2006-10-03T15:31:00.000-04:00

And here is what greeted us when we walked through the doors of the local Lowes this weekend: Christmas trees and garland. Tim, the grill guy, is none too happy that they've brought out the holiday trimming so early. "It's not doing much for my sales," he lamented. I fear my suggestion of him dressing up like Santa Claus and handing out lumps of charcoal did not go over too well. Hey, it least it tied into the grills.

Remains of the Day.

2006-09-30T20:46:00.000-04:00

Day One of the master bedroom demo. Lots of 50s drywall—about twelve 42 gallon construction trash bags worth—and more than a few surprises...

Like some black mold/water damage. Nothing we can't fix, but nothing we would've ever known was there had we not reluctantly decided to gut the bedrooms for the sake of the new electrical system. The termite damage we uncovered, on the other hand, was totally expected. Doing this, we realize, is actually a good thing. Painful, but good.

Seen here, another surprise of the "what the hell?" variety. That's rolled up newspaper that was used to "help" hang the window. On the outside? Caulking. That's it. Just caulking. Who the hell installed this window? The Three Stooges?

Tomorrow we tackle the rest of the master, which is farther along than this picture shows, the other two bedrooms, the hallway, and the ceilings. All with the help of my sister, brother-in-law, friend/innocent bystander, a 4 oz tube of ultra strength Bengay and a couple of six-packs.

Yeah... Good times. Good times.

Thanks.

2006-09-27T09:40:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's posting prompted emails and postings from friends, family, and even a couple of kind bloggers. With the help of family and Visa, we're going to manage just fine.

A phone call with my sister brought with it a realization: We're gutting the whole house. Something I NEVER, EVER dreamed we could do or would do. But, when we're done, we're going to have a beautiful home to share with those same individuals who have given their support and prayers.

It's all worth it. We are thankful. Very, very thankful.

A Renovation Reality Check

2006-09-26T16:17:00.001-04:00

We knew buying an older home would have its issues. We joked about it needing TLC, as well as triage. We laughed at the construction quirks typical of a 50-year-old home. Today, I'm not laughing. Not even a little. Why? One word: electrician.

After several visits from electricians, one of which was apparently scared off by the scope of the job(s), I spent a total of five hours speaking with two more today, and a third will contact me tomorrow. The jist? The whole house, all 1,924 sq. ft. of it, apparently needs to be rewired to make it up to code. Two words: holy sh*t.

One estimate has already been provided and a second will be faxed to us later on today. Needless to say, it was as bad as bad could be. Actually, worse than I expected. At least most of the house, except for the bedrooms, is already gutted.

Still, it needs to be done. We just need to figure out how the heck it will get done.

Three words: God help us.

(Insert semi-smiley face here.)

Bath is a Four Letter Word.

2006-09-25T11:15:00.002-04:00

After roughly 55 hours online, we have FINALLY found a toilet and sink that makes us happy, as if that was EVER a consideration in our lives before last week. That said, I'm stunned that anyone would pay three grand for a toilet that doesn't at least compliment you as you do your business, i.e. "Have you lost weight? You seem lighter."

Anyhoo, here's what we're getting: The Escale toilet from Kohler, Starck 3 sink by Duravit, which is by far the BEST company in the US for modern bath fixtures I've found, and earthy stone tile available at Costco. We're getting a simple Jacuzzi tub at Lowe's, at least that's the plan until we talk to the plumber and electrician. As for the faucet, it's still undecided so if anyone has any ideas, let us know.

Now we just need to decide what we're going to do with the guest bathroom.

Great.

The Master and Guest Baths/Money Pits

2006-09-22T22:49:00.000-04:00

What started the whole thing: wood rot. Oh, yeah... and black mold. It had to go. At least, that's what I keep reminding myself...

Here, what was the guest bathroom.

The view from the living room, nice and clean. And totally unexpected. Note to self: When you tear down one wall, be prepared to tear down lots of walls.

And this is where it all went...

The Call

2006-09-21T13:27:00.000-04:00

The call from Rafael, my drywall subcontractor, went something like this:

"Hello?"
"Jacqui, it's Rafael."
"Oh, hi, Rafael. What's up?"
"Can you come to the house a minute?"
"Now? Can it wait? Is it important?"
(Pause)
"Yes... it's important. You need to see something."

The visit that followed is how I learned that while demoing the master bath, significant damage was uncovered that seriously affected, or more specifically "infected", the adjoining guest bath. Basically, 50-years-worth of showers and bubble baths (big in the 50s/60s) had taken its tole on the wood frame, the plaster, and drywall.

So... yeah. I guess we're doing a new guest bathroom, too. As I type, both baths are being ripped down to the studs.

*sigh*

P.S. If you know of anyone in need of a kidney, or other organ, let me know.

The Master Blah

2006-09-18T09:46:00.004-04:00

Today, the guys got started demoing the not-so-master bath. We're getting rid of the shower stall and we're putting in a complete tub, as roomy as possible.

The master closet and hall closet will be demoed. That space will then be used to enlarge the master bath

The hall closet (below), which is next to the master bath, will become a much shallower linen closet. The extra room will be added to the bathroom.

Our new closet will be that of the adjoining bedroom's (seen right). We're closing off that closet and making an opening onto ours. Later, we'll build an entirely new closet in that room.

The results of the day... This is the view from the hall through what was the hall closet.

View from the master bedroom through what was the master bedroom's closet.

Tile Floor From Hell

2006-09-17T21:35:00.000-04:00

We were going to wait to demo the tile floor of the guest bathroom, but we figured "What the hell! Might as well demo everything at once." Yeah... we're idiots.

First, we had to beat the hell outta the tile. (If you're a sado masachist, you might consider doing this as a career.) Notice the bits of yellow linoleum. Egads!

Here, Craig is scrapping up the ooooooold linoleum tiles. Very sticky and tough. TIP: A gardening ho works great for getting old linoleum off terrazzo, providing you work like a mother.

And, of course, always remember to wear protective eye gear.

Take it off! Take it aaaaaaaaaaall off!

2006-09-16T20:22:00.003-04:00

I never thought demolishing anything other than a piece of chocolate cake would give me such joy, but this has. Following are some pictures taken on my little Motorola phone.

Below, Dad and Craig are getting rid of the nasty, evil little doorway. What you see behind them is what will be our stylish, somewhat sunken dining/family room, the ceiling of which was demolished last weekend.

Found in the attic: Newspapers from 1964; a bottle of lip gloss, no doubt dropped by the recent roofers; one baby jumper; a chewed up rubber ball; and something yet to be identified. Fun! Hoisting bags upon bags of drywall?
Not so fun.

The doorway after.

Much, much better!

The Before Pictures

2006-09-15T19:56:00.006-04:00

Here they are. The pictures that will make you appreciate "the after" oh-so much more. Enjoy!

View of the living room from the family room. Down the hall are the bedrooms and baths. Cedar ceilings, or possibly heart of pine, in need of a scrubbing, are throughout the living room and kitchen.

Yeah... a fireplace. It actually gets chilly in Central Florida in the winter. (Those of you in Michigan can stop smirking, thank you very much.)

This was a carport that one of the former owners enclosed. Badly. This will be the future dining and family room. Two sets of French doors are to the right.

The kitchen in desperate need of triage. This picture doesn't really show how hideous this room is. (Be thankful.)

You just can't appreciated yellow tiles until you see this bathroom. FYI: Those are floor tiles on top of linoleum that's glued on top of terrazzo. Yeow!

I don't know who thought this was stylish. Satan?

Yeah, we have a lot of work before us.

Ranch Sweet Ranch

2006-09-13T23:32:00.000-04:00

No matter how many programs you watch on HGTV, we have learned that nothing prepares you for home renovation. Except maybe a quadruple wisdom tooth extraction.

Nearly two weeks into home ownership and I've made more calls to plumbers, exectricians, terrazzo floor guys, and drywallers than George Bush has made to his daddy.

The joy.

Still, we're thankful. Very thankful. Amazingly thankful. And while it may sound as if it's a painful process, it really isn't. At least, not yet. Maybe in another month. When we realize how much money we've spent.

That said, a note to the folks at greenstreetdetails.com: "$120 for a friggin' 10-inch drawer pull? You gotta be jokin' me!"

Thank you and stay tuned.

You may laugh. You may cry. You may feel sorry for us and make a donation to our renovation fund. It's not tax-deductible, but then neither are all those mochachinos from Starbucks.

Jacqui and Craig