We spent the day getting lots of odds and ends done today.
We had put the new vinyl flooring in two weeks ago and I shellac-ed the shoe moulding so it would be ready to go in shortly after. But as usual we left the shoe moulding sit until today. I finally got tired of looking at the pile of wood sitting in the dining room so I started measuring. It was a tricky room since it has an octagon bump-out and built ins I had to go around. But I did get it all done.
Unfortunately the amber shellac didn't match the color exactly. The older trim has been there for 100 years and has aged to a more reddish brown. The new amber shellac is more golden. I am hoping after a few years the dirt and mopping will help the color darken a bit.
I also FINALLY grouted the countertops. We choose an epoxy based grout so it won't stain on the countertops. They turned out very nicely.
And I shellac-ed all the windows, trim, and the hallway floor. They look amazing! I need to get some more shellac as they only have it in quart size (although they did have the clear shellac in gallons) and I ran out. I am going to finish the floors upstairs when I do.
Our house is getting so close to done, done, DONE!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Making It All Worth It
We had an official appraisal done on our house.
I was worried. Nervous. Anxious.
The two houses in our very small town that have recently sold were both right around 30,000. But neither had been updated at all. So I hoped we would get at least 30,000.
We bought our house for 14,900 in 2002. Houses here are dirt cheap. Or were.
The appraisal came back yesterday at 68,000!
I guess all of our hard work is worth more than living in a nice house.
We aren't moving or selling. We just wanted to refinance for a lower rate. We accomplished that. Our interest rate will be cut in half.
Now we can move onto more home improvement!
I was worried. Nervous. Anxious.
The two houses in our very small town that have recently sold were both right around 30,000. But neither had been updated at all. So I hoped we would get at least 30,000.
We bought our house for 14,900 in 2002. Houses here are dirt cheap. Or were.
The appraisal came back yesterday at 68,000!
I guess all of our hard work is worth more than living in a nice house.
We aren't moving or selling. We just wanted to refinance for a lower rate. We accomplished that. Our interest rate will be cut in half.
Now we can move onto more home improvement!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Kitchen Complete
Nothing like pressure to get you moving right? Especially when that pressure is coming from the bank. :D
We refinanced our home loan which meant an apprasier had to come through. So we had very limited time to get the kitchen done. We didn't get the new lighting in yet and we have a few "behind the scenes" things we want to do but overall the kitchen is done.
Here are the (almost) final pictures.
Here is the new improved kitchen! (We still want to put crown moulding around the entire kitchen to match the tops of the cabinets. Just one more thing to add to the to-do list.)
I love the granite countertops!
The new island. So much counter space!
This is one of those little things we need to finish. The beadboard will cover the end of this cabinet. Just need to get it cut and put on.
Nice bling eh? ;)
We refinanced our home loan which meant an apprasier had to come through. So we had very limited time to get the kitchen done. We didn't get the new lighting in yet and we have a few "behind the scenes" things we want to do but overall the kitchen is done.
Here are the (almost) final pictures.
Here is the new improved kitchen! (We still want to put crown moulding around the entire kitchen to match the tops of the cabinets. Just one more thing to add to the to-do list.)
I love the granite countertops!
The new island. So much counter space!
This is one of those little things we need to finish. The beadboard will cover the end of this cabinet. Just need to get it cut and put on.
Nice bling eh? ;)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Faux Tin Ceiling
We looked into putting a tin ceiling in our entryway. The prices were ummmmm, preposterous.
So we looked into the plastic panels that are a faux tin ceiling. For our little 6ft by 11ft entryway it was almost 800.00. Not happening.
And then we came across this wonderful product called textured wallpaper. It was $11.00 a roll. So for 2 rolls we spent 22.00.
Here is a few pictures of us putting it up last night.
So we looked into the plastic panels that are a faux tin ceiling. For our little 6ft by 11ft entryway it was almost 800.00. Not happening.
And then we came across this wonderful product called textured wallpaper. It was $11.00 a roll. So for 2 rolls we spent 22.00.
Here is a few pictures of us putting it up last night.
All that is left is the faux paint treatment, complete with metallic touches.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Past Meets Present
Today the most wonderful thing happened. We were working on the house and we noticed a car driving by realllllly slowly. Now this is not an unusual thing in our little bitty town so we didn't take much notice until the dog started barking.
I walked outside and a man was walking over to the camper where Becca was.
He said he had lived here a long time ago and wanted to take some pictures of the house.
It turns out he is a Nannestad. He is family to the original family to our house! I was so excited as I never thought anyone would come back to look at our house.
We talked outside for a few minutes and then (despite our messy house) we took him inside for a tour.
We learned that his family were the ones that put the bathroom in the entry way in the early 70's because they moved his Great Uncle into the house and he couldn't go up the stairs. We also learned that at one time our house had been a split level with two separate families living in it. The upstairs bedroom where we wondered why the load-bearing wall had been removed had been a living room and kitchen at one time. We also learned that where our little shed currently sits was where the outhouse once was. Which, we decided, is why the shed is sinking down in the southwest corner. It may also be the reason the snakes like that corner. We learned about how the town changed when the railroad came through and how the church was moved.
We talked a bit about his family and the other members of town as well.
One great thing for us was when we told him about the grave marker we had found up in the attic not too long ago. He said it was for his brother John Paul Nannestad. We asked him if he wanted it as we didn't feel right keeping it but weren't sure what else to do with it. He agreed and took it with him. I am glad someone in the family got it.
We exchanged information and he was so gracious as to offer his help in any future questions about our house. I am so excited to share what we have done as well as find out what our house was like in the past.
What a wonderful day!
I walked outside and a man was walking over to the camper where Becca was.
He said he had lived here a long time ago and wanted to take some pictures of the house.
It turns out he is a Nannestad. He is family to the original family to our house! I was so excited as I never thought anyone would come back to look at our house.
We talked outside for a few minutes and then (despite our messy house) we took him inside for a tour.
We learned that his family were the ones that put the bathroom in the entry way in the early 70's because they moved his Great Uncle into the house and he couldn't go up the stairs. We also learned that at one time our house had been a split level with two separate families living in it. The upstairs bedroom where we wondered why the load-bearing wall had been removed had been a living room and kitchen at one time. We also learned that where our little shed currently sits was where the outhouse once was. Which, we decided, is why the shed is sinking down in the southwest corner. It may also be the reason the snakes like that corner. We learned about how the town changed when the railroad came through and how the church was moved.
We talked a bit about his family and the other members of town as well.
One great thing for us was when we told him about the grave marker we had found up in the attic not too long ago. He said it was for his brother John Paul Nannestad. We asked him if he wanted it as we didn't feel right keeping it but weren't sure what else to do with it. He agreed and took it with him. I am glad someone in the family got it.
We exchanged information and he was so gracious as to offer his help in any future questions about our house. I am so excited to share what we have done as well as find out what our house was like in the past.
What a wonderful day!
Monday, May 04, 2009
Progress
The kitchen is coming along, although much slower than we had hoped. We have been busy doing the unseen, but necessary, things like plumbing and electrical.
Upper cabinets, painted and doors back on.
The sink area getting closer. We remade the cabinet into a sink cabinet so the 2 drawers are no longer drawers and I need to add the wood trim and paint. We also need to put in the cement board and granite tile on this side. Please ignore the pile of dirty dishes on the stove. I have nowhere else to put them. :)
The west-facing side of the new island. My husband built that fancy shelving unit himself. It looks so nice. Notice the granite tile is dry-laid on this counter. Nothing is stuck down yet though.
The south facing side of the same island. I need to put the wood on these drawers too and paint. I bought the wall paint too this weekend so hopefully we will be ready for that this weekend. I don't want to paint until my husband is done in there as he has a tendency to "undo" all my hard work. :)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Making a Mess in the Kitchen
We decided to go ahead and start on the kitchen makeover. We found some awesome granite tiles we wanted to use for the counter tops and it sort of spurred on the transformation. Here are some before shots of the kitchen: 
Notice the mismatched counters, lack of a sink cabinet, and no "finishing touches".
The upper cabinets
The ugly 70's style cabinets.
Doors and hardware coming off.
Instead of buying all new cabinets we are using the ones that were given to us by a friend. They are very 70's-ish and definitely need a facelift but are in pretty good shape.
So we decided to add a bit of trim and paint.
Primed and painting.
1st coat of paint. They are starting to look like brand new doors!
Notice the mismatched counters, lack of a sink cabinet, and no "finishing touches".
The upper cabinets
The ugly 70's style cabinets.
Doors and hardware coming off.
Instead of buying all new cabinets we are using the ones that were given to us by a friend. They are very 70's-ish and definitely need a facelift but are in pretty good shape.
So we decided to add a bit of trim and paint.
Primed and painting.
1st coat of paint. They are starting to look like brand new doors!
Right now I am on the third coat of paint. I hope to get to the tile on the counter tops this weekend. More pictures to come!
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