Monday, August 16, 2021

 Hi Everyone!  I hope you all had a really good weekend!  I went into Charleston with my 2 daughters, Megan and Jenny.  We went for lunch at The Butcher and Bee.  I had a Bee-LT and it was so good!  Jenny had ordered bacon-wrapped dates and we shared them because Megan doesn't like dates.  They were excellent!  We then left Charleston and stopped at a fabric store (the girls were making masks) and then did 2 more stops (Trader Joes and Costco).  We went back to Megan's house to drop off her food, etc. and then we headed back home.  It was a good day but I was really tired.

Saturday when I got home from Megan's the carpet guys were just finishing up the stairs and then they left.  I cannot believe what a difference the carpet makes!  I love that I am not walking on underlayment anymore!  I really don't love shoes, so walking barefoot is just wonderful again!  Here are some pictures:

The stairs were hard because they turn here at the bottom and they turn at the top also.  They did a great job.  I have to paint the white picture framing trim going up the stairs and the bannister.  I don't have stripes going up the stairs, that is the reflection of the bannister!

Up the stairs and a little turn.  

This is the front guest room.  All that is in there now is an antique dresser.  The box that is in the right side of the photo is the mattress for the bed.

This is the upstairs hallway.

My room will need the other nightstand put together and some art work for sure.  It is looking good though.  

The contractor hooked up my refrigerator and stove on Friday!!  That was major!  I actually fried myself and egg yesterday for the very first time!!  See photos below:

The hardwood flooring is all done now also!  You can see some of it in the kitchen but here are other photos of it.

This is the family room all done.  I guess I'll have to go rug shopping!

This is the space going into the half bath downstairs.

This is going into the kitchen.  That is where the stove was installed.  

Things are really moving along!  Today the downstairs toilet will be installed, the dishwasher will be installed and the gas tankless water heater is being installed as I type this post!  There really isn't too much left.  The gutters, garage door and a few odds and ends and then it is complete!  I have been doing this since May 1st and I am to the point where it needs to end, but I have to say the house is looking really good!  I am so glad that I decided to take on this project.  Now the decorating part will start!  That is the FUN part!

Everyone have a wonderful day!

Sherri

8.12.2021 Remodeling Update

 Hi Everyone!  Well the remodeling is finally winding down.  I will show you some photos of what has been happening since the last update!

The tub in the guest room was awful!  It was a fiberglass tub/shower combo but it was a weird blue, yes you heard me blue!  The toilet was yellow with a white seat, the sinks were yellowish and were so old, the vanity had also seen better days.  The linen closet was filthy dirty!  Here are some photos:

This is the bathroom completely redone.  I think I am going to paint the mirror white and distress it a little.  Just love it!  I also have put the outlet covers and switch plates on.

This was the old tub/shower combo.  Don't you love that blue-NOT!!

Tada!!  All new and fresh!  I decided to save a little money and had the fiberglass recoated.  It is guaranteed for 10 years.  The plumbing fixtures were missing in the photo but since then my contractor has put the new ones on.  So much better!!

Last week I painted from Thursday all the way through Sunday.  I only ate and slept and the other hours I was painting.  I painted the kitchen, 1/2 bath, area outside the bath and the breakfast room/Butler's Panry area a lovely gray (same as my Master Bedroom).  It is Valspar's Polar Star.  Such a lovely color gray.  Ignore the flooring in the photos, they hadn't put the engineered hardwood down at this point.

This was the existing pantry.  It was filthy dirty-food and bugs everywhere!  I didn't even want to go in there.  I cleaned and cleaned and then painted.  It looks like a whole new pantry!!  Love it!

Today the engineered hardwood floors were installed!!  Tomorrow carpeting will be installed upstairs.  It has been a long few months but it is finally getting there!!

This is the butler's pantry/breakfast room area.

The half bath and area outside the bath.

This is part of the kitchen.

I painted all the bedroom closets over the weekend also.  That would be guest room #1 and 2's walk-in closet, the hallway storage closet, the Master walk-in closet and then the Master regular closet.  I only have 2 photos of the 2 guest room closets so far.  

Front Guest Room Walk-in Closet

Back Guest Room Walk-in Closet.  This closet had tons of BB's from an old BB gun all over the shelves and floor.  There was also a very long mathematical equation written in red all over the back wall.  I think they both look so much better now and will look better tomorrow after they are carpeted!!

I am so glad this has been winding down, but I really do love planning and orchestrating my plans!!

I hope you all enjoyed the tour!  Have a wonderful evening!

Sherri

8.2.2021 Where Did July Go?

 Hi Everyone!  Welcome August!  Where did July go to?  It just flew by.  It is hot and humid here in SC and we have been having really horrific thunderstorms almost daily.  I try and stay indoors most of the time because the minute you go out it is like a sauna out there!  I do have to take care of my gardens, flowers and the pups of course.  I have been working on the house, specifically painting which is all inside.  Thank goodness!

So far I have moved into the kitchen!  That is monumental to me my friends.  I have been without a kitchen and have been working out of my dining room temporarily.  I use an electric burner that Jenny and Kevin let me borrow.  I have also been using my air fryer, microwave and toaster oven.  Oh and I use my gas grill whenever I can.  I really missed my sink for getting water and washing my dishes.  I had to go to the bathroom upstairs and use the sink and tub.  Little by little everything is getting done!  Here are some photos of the kitchen update:

I bought this riser at an estate sale on Friday for $10!

I am loving this herringbone pattern behind the stove.

All the subway tile is grouted.

I am loving the quartzite countertops.  Excuse the wire coming down the contractor was putting in the under cabinet lights.

Here is my pride and joy-a pull out spice cabinet.  It is really narrow but holds almost all of my spices.  So convenient by the stove.

I have moved into the Master Bathroom also!!  This has been such a lovely thing!  I feel like I am staying at a luxury hotel (just the bathroom though because my bedroom doesn't have carpet yet LOL).  Here are some photos of the bathroom.  Loving the glass barndoor shower door!!

Everything turned out even better than I thought!  I especially love the glass tile border in the shower.  I originally wasn't supposed to have a bench, but there was a vent for the bathroom in that spot, so a bench was necessary.  I like it though :)!

In amongst all the renovations, I decided I needed to get a bicycle.  I went on FB Marketplace and here is what I got:

I have always wanted a bike I could ride around the neighborhood and/or go to the many parks in this area with Jenny and the boys.  It is good exercise.  It has a basket, water bottle holder and cell phone holder.  The lady also gave me a brand new helmut, water bottle, bike lock and a few other little things she said she wanted me to have.

Hope you enjoyed the reno updates!  Have a wonderful day!!

Sherri

Den Painting and Kitchen Tile 7.26.2021

Hi Everyone!  I haven't been on here in awhile because I have been painting, painting, painting.  I had to put KILZ on the trim and wainscoting in the den.  The wood was stained Black Walnut.  It took 2-3 coats of KILZ.  I then painted the trim and wainscoting with semi-gloss white.  It took 3 coats of that.  I then pick a bold color for the top of the wall above the wainscoting.  I picked Veranda Blue.  I love the way the white paint makes this color pop!  Here is the room so far.

This is what the den looked like before my paint job.  I think the change is so much better!!

 

The contractor came today and worked on the kitchen backsplash tile.  I chose a white subway tile and behind the stove a herringbone pattern with the subway tile.  Here is the backsplash without grout.  It will be grouted tomorrow.

I love the way this has turned out.  Once the wood flooring is put down the Refrigerator and Dishwasher can be installed.  The gas stove might have to wait because I am waiting for the gas line to be brought in from the street and a meter set.  It will be amazing though.  The appliances are all stainless steel.  The grout will be white.

My contractor also could make the windowsill extra deep so I can put mementors, small flower vases, etc. on there.  (There is a piece of trim missing under the sill.)  So happy about that!

Everything is moving along and I can move into the kitchen soon.  I will still have to use a portable burner because the stove isn't ready yet, but it will be wonderful not to be cooking in the dining room!  I have been doing this since the first week of May.  I also now have water on the first floor!

Thanks for coming along with me on the remodel so far!

Have a wonderful evening!

Sherri

House Renovation Update and Owen's Birthday!

Hi Everyone!  I haven't been on in a while because I had so much to get done on the house and then I went to NJ to visit my family for 6 days around 4th of July.  It was a great trip and I'm glad I got to see my family and friends but I really missed my home!

Lots of things are happening at the house.  The Master Bath shower and floor is all tiled and grouted.  All but the granite sill going into the shower is done and the 2 end tiles that cannot be installed until the sill is put in place.  Thursday the countertops are coming so the sill should be done then.

Master Bath Floor Tile

Master Bath Shower (hardware will be installed soon)

Master Bath Shower (hardware will be installed soon)

 The bannister needed to be sanded down to the wood.  I did that, then stained it and then polyurethaned it.  I think it looks so much better.  Excuse the half painted wall.  I have not finished painting the blue paint yet.

Today the front door is being installed.  I changed from a metal door to a craftsman style fiberglass door with window lights.  Above the door the original window light will be put back in, they are working on that now.  I have also changed out the coach lights on either side of the door.  I can't wait to see this completed!

On July 11th Owen turned 10!  I cannot believe he is 10 already!  Where did the time go!  Our grandchildren keep getting older but not us LOL!!   

I made this collage for Owen's birthday for FB.  I thought I would share it here as well.  He is such a sweet, kind and caring little boy!  I am so glad that I moved close to him, so I can see Owen and Jack all the time!  

Well I would love to show you more, but time doesn't allow for it at this time.  I'll be back when they have the front door all installed.  I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Sherri

House Progress, Ducks and Flowers 6.27.2021

 Hi Everyone!  Hope you are enjoying the weekend!  I painted the Master Bath yesterday and today is my "off" day.  I always take Sundays off from house projects and just rest and relax.

Here are 2 photos of the Master Bath.  I don't know why the trim in the first photo looks like it is turquoise, it isn't it is white.

Master Bath painted Valpar's Polar Star (like the Master Bedroom).  The trim is white not turquoise LOL!

I am in the bathroom looking out into my room.  This week the contractor will be finishing the tile, setting the vanity, hopefully the shower door and new light fixtures.  I'm hoping he does all that while I'm away in NJ.

The Contractors worker put the shutters I had painted on the bottom half of the house.  I think they look so much better.  They were very dull black, so I painted them glossy black.  Like that much better.

Friday I painted the front railings, spindles and posts.  Nice super white now.  Once the new front door is installed and new side lights, it will look like a new place!

The Contractor this week worked on the final kitchen cabinets they were waiting for.  Here is the results so far!

Where you see the foot of the ladder, that is where the refrigerator is going.  I love that I will have a few drawers, not just doors under the top drawer.  Then there is the corner cabinet, which will have a lazy susan shelf unit.  Next in the skinny cabinet my cookie sheets and pizza stones will go in there.  There will be dividers in there.  Then the low little cabinet is below the white farmhouse sink!  I am so excited that I will be getting one!

This is the lazy susan unit int he corner cabinet.  It isn't all together yet, but it will be this week.

Yesterday after I was done painting I went and took care of Jenny's dog, Ringo.  He had to be let out because they were gone up to Charlotte, NC for the day.  I went out an checked her ducks.  They have grown so much.  She has 2 Pekings, 2 mallards and 2 Chunky Camos.  

They are so funny, they all gather in a corner and protect each other.  She got these as little ducklings.  You think they would be used to me by now.  I should have done a video, they were all quacking away!

My roses have just been blooming and blooming this week!  They are absolutely gorgeous too.  The David Austen Graham Thomas rose is just beautiful.  At one time I had 18 buds on it!

David Austin Heritage Rose

David Austin Heritage Rose

David Austin Graham Thomas Rose.  

I really hope you all have enjoyed my photos of the reno and the other goings on in my life!  Here is to having a good coming week!!

Sherri