Slide Show of Kitchen Before Renovation

This slide show shows our original kitchen in our home before our renovation. A couple of things to note is the missing wallpaper and some damage to some walls, were done by my wife over a fit of frustration. The shots were taken on August 14, 2011.

Our brand new roof!! The painters were suppose to paint Wednesday but they never called or showed. Hubby got a call last night that roofers were coming today. Um ok. So they started at 7:30 and finished after 5pm. I have a headache listening to all the banging and hammering. Sounded like they were dropping heavy objects on the roof all afternoon. Just glad it is over. The roofers were very polite and professional and I am overall very happy with how it looks. Just can't wait to get the paint on, pavers down and the porch installed.

Our brand new garage. They really did a great job and now we have a electric door opener. I was not sure I really wanted windows on the garage door but it really matches well with the new windows. Overall very happy with the look and the professionalism of the installer.

Painters showed up. Without calling surprise!

Wow. Someone banging on door woke me up. It was painters to power wash our house. Ok cool. The owner says he lost my number. Um ok how professional of you but whatever. I have to let them in garage to get to back of house. Well the owner left his son to do the power washing. The kid left the back door open to the garage and water is all over the floor and underneath dryer and on the hose for dryer. I was livid I shut the door and thought I bet he will just pressure wash with the actual garage door up. Sure enough he was going to but luckily I pulled it down. I mean really? The wash is mixture of bleach and water I guess. Sure smells like bleach. I don't want that all up in our garage or on my dryer for that matter. So looks like they are done. Not sure when they are going to paint. I assume not till after garage door is put up but I better not assume. lol

Someone showed up

Knock me over with a feather! Nice guy from the construction place we contracted with. He repaired stucco and also repaired our fascia. He told me that nails aren't going to stay too long cause the people that built the house had used paper of some sort but that it wasn't a big deal as long as we kept it painted. I told him we weren't planing on putting up shutters or anything that would require nails. Not sure what to think about that. Another thing that bothered me was he was eyeing our new riding mower. He made a point to ask about it. Kinda creeped me out and made me uneasy. Then some people pulled up to the house and supposedly said something about someone falling off a scooter or something. I don't know it was suspicious and here our garage is wide open for all the world to see everything that is in there. Maybe I am being paranoid?

Well no one has showed up today

I assume no work is being done today. However we bought a John Deere riding mower over the weekend and they will be delivering it soon! And have appointment with Lowes for Wednesday to measure for shutters for front of house. I want those babies in right now especially for front living room. Dogs are driving me nuts looking out the windows and barking. We had a film on old windows and you couldn't see out but with new windows they can see everything. Ugh! I supppose some day we will get someone out to finish up the rest of what they are suppose to do. I think if we don't hear from anyone by Friday we need to call or email them. That will make it 2 weeks since their last email.

A little bit of damage from them removing the wood around garage door. I hope they plan on fixing this?

Well they finally came out to remove wall. Actually they were out yesterday later in afternoon and removed a portion of one side. Looks a little better but really itching to get it all completed. Not sure if they are coming back or not as no one has called or sent us a schedule of the work so I guess we will be surprised as to what happens or who shows up next haha. I believe the driveway is to be torn out next and the sidewalk. So maybe I should move our truck just in case. Hopeful thinking hehe

Current exterior pictures of our home

Here is some pictures of the exterior of our current home. This was taken a day before they are to tear down the low wall in front of the house. They may also at the same time remove the driveway and sidewalk.

It's in a movie/slide show format.

And so it begins

Had someone knock on door last week. Not sure who they were or what they wanted as I do not and I repeat do not open the door to anyone unless I am expecting them. It doesn't take but 2 seconds to call someone to say hey I am coming over to look at this or that. Again someone knocks on door today. I do not recognize truck so I am not opening door. We are in process of having ton of work done and I know people will need to come over and quote bids. Fine but I don't think it is too much to ask to call ahead and schedule to make sure A. someone is home and B. that the someone in house will be expecting you and not freaked out to who is knocking on door. So at least this guy was smart and got in his truck and called me. I came out and told him I do not answer door unless I am expecting someone. I think he thought I thought he was some mass murderer or something but you can't be too careful these days. Yes I am home almost everyday but by myself and I do not feel secure just opening the door nilly willy to just anyone. Ok rant over.

We are still trying to decide a color to paint inside house. I think we are just going to contract someone to do it. I really don't see myself getting on a scaffold or ladder to paint. However I do see myself slipping and falling from ladder and scaffold hahaahaha

Day 2 of window installation

Tues they did all the windows. Today they installed storm door and new front door. Now they are putting in the sliding glass door. The house has been open to the elements from the hole where the sliding glass doors are going in. I do not like flying bugs. I am trying not to freak out out but can't wait for them to get the doors up and in place. Been up since 4:30 am and I am exhausted. I have to admit though it is making the house look much better. And quieter as well. Also has seemed to help with humidity in house. Really hoping that this helps with our cooling costs a little too. It is time for a nap soon lol

Almost done with front installation

However I am fighting vomiting as they are using some type of varnish to clean up I guess the caulk. Not to mention the one guy is smoking a cigarette outside. I am highly allergic and the combo of smoke smell and varnish is really not working for me. Will be glad when they are done and out of here for today.

Windows are here!!!

They people never called to tell us they were coming and got here 20min early. That really is a huge pet peeve of mine. We have animals and I need extra time to get them out and put away. Oh well. Wanted to get outside to get a before picture but again they arrived before I could get that done. They are doing the front of house today and also a new front door and storm door. The guy said he would not rush and be back tomorrow to do the back half of house. So hopefully they will be out of here around noon. Then I can take a nap haha

Picked color for outside of house

Wanted a dark green and this is what we picked:

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/ideas/color/SW6426_basque_green/

This will be very nice with the pavers we picked out for driveway and walkway. The shingles we picked were a chocolate brown color. And the trim was white. It should look really sharp.

Said they could start as soon as permits are pulled and filled. Can't wait!!! They said should take couple weeks time. We are also getting screen porch put on. YAY!!!

Have appointment with contractor this week

The people that we want to do our roof and painting on outside are stopping by hopefully Thursday so we can pick out shingles for roof, paint for house and approve new proposal. So excited. We are not only getting new paint and roof but they are going to knock down a weird wall outside the front area and put on a screen porch. Also getting new garage door and they are also taking up old driveway and sidewalk and putting down new cement which we have already picked out. Looks rustic. Hubby laughs at me cause I keep saying I want rustic here and there all over really. Well if we can't live in the mountains right now I want our house to look as if we are. haha.

Windows as far as we know are right on schedule for the 7th and 8th of July. So very excited about this. Especially for fall when we can open up the entire house! The 2 front bedrooms we haven't been able to use for many years now. And our windows in the living room are just window panes. I can't imagine the great fresh air and cross breeze we will have for the fall. And we are going to have Thanksgiving here. That will be so awesome! So I can't wait for the hot weather to get out of here just to utilize the windows haha.

New AC

Our noisy old ac unit

Signed contract to get windows installed

They should be put in July 7th or 8th. If not that week then following week. So that means we need to postpone the kitchen and tile work. The window people suggested not doing that till the windows were in. They are afraid they will damage the tile from taking out the sliding glass doors. And for the amount of money we are spending on tile I would rather wait. So sent off email to kitchen place to see if we can do it around August 15th. The AC is still on track to be put in Monday. Unless we have storms. I swear I feel like I am on a roller coaster lol. Just can't wait for it all to be done.

Lampshades

Found this website http://www.thecabinshop.com/117-aged_leather_lamp_shades.html. Love the different type of shades. I have real old lamps from my great grandparents that I want to keep but just update the shades. Why are lamp shades and accent pillows so expensive? I did however find some great pillows on sale up in TN for 11bucks a piece. That is a big bargain for what is out there!

Well new AC gets installed 6/13

I can not wait. Hubby told the guys it needed to be quiet. I can not imagine not having an AC that doesn't sound like a freakin airplane engine. I love to sit outside all the time and it will be like heaven having peace and quiet! Next week Window World is coming out to give us estimate and I really hope it isn't too expensive. Still waiting to hear back from the roof/construction people for bid on roof, painting and possibly a front porch. Kitchen gets started 6/22. Can't wait for everything to just be over and done with. Current health issues are going to make for very challenging couple of months. Gonna document all the changes and try to keep this updated for all that are interested. Thanks for reading!