Tuesday, August 11, 2009

House Progress

Sometimes when I think about our new house I am overcome with excitement and joy. This is the first house that Deaner and I have owned as a married couple and I get excited at the possibilities and potential of our new place. Other times, I simply want to cry when I think about the house. I feel like I have been working FOREVER (all of two days) and I am not only exhausted, but the amount of work left to do seems insurmountable. It hurts my hand to grip anything thanks to holding a paint brush for 9 hours straight today and it hurts to raise my arm in the air due to having to extend my arm above my head to do much of the painting that I did today. It was certainly a productive day but the house is such a disaster that it is hard to appreciate how much I got done. I got up the entire second coat of paint in the bedroom and I am liking the color better. I also got half of a 25ft wall painted. How you might ask? Standing on top of a ladder on top of scaffolding. That is another story for another day though. I forgot to take a picture of that unfortunately. I'll do it tomorrow since I feel certain I will be back up there working away!

First of all, I finally took some pictures of the finished kitchen. It is still a disaster "clean" wise but hopefully I can work on that tomorrow. Not owning a vacuum is becoming an issue.I know it is hard to tell the color in these pictures but I was fairly happy with how it turned out. I'd like to emphasize again the lack of choice around here. How do y'all like the light fixtures? The ones over the cabinets were there and I hate them and they will be replaced. Just not at this second. Too much other stuff to worry about for now! Here is a picture of the kitchen storage unit thingie we got. See any issues with it?Someone please tell me how my husband managed to put the handles on like that!?! And there was no point in getting mad about it because there was NOTHING that could be done. Since the doors on this thing aren't really wood it would leave a big ole hole if I made him change it. I am still in disbelief that he did it. I knew there was an issue when I heard loud cussing coming from the kitchen followed by hysterical laughter from Deaner and Jon. Oh well, I'm trying not to sweat the small stuff, right? I did get a little annoyed however when he tried to reason with me that it actually looked BETTER this way. I'm not mad, but I am not STUPID! :) Next up is the bedroom. It took over a day and a half to strip this stubborn ass hideous wallpaper! Here is the process........that is St. Steph in the picture!That was an experience I never want to relive. Unfortunately I have just noticed that one of the guest bedrooms and the downstairs half bath are also wallpapered. I'm not pleased about this discovery and I am doing my best not to think about it right now. Here is what the newly painted bedroom looks like. Keep in mind this is only after one coat and no trim paint. I finished that all today and will take another picture tomorrow.Next up. The laundry room. The biggest disaster in the whole house. Apparently George hammered out all the ugly awful wall tiling but left it on the floor. I heard rumors that the contractor is supposed to come this week and that it will only take a few days to completely renovate, but I'm not feeling optimistic. I'm think that there is a solid chance I will have to put off the washer/dryer/fridge from being delivered on Monday. What do y'all think???Anyways! Those are all my picture updates for now! Tomorrow I will take a picture of the finished bedroom. Y'all will have to excuse the little bits of scrap blue wallpaper that are all over the floor still. I would go buy a vacuum cleaner tomorrow but I have to be at the house for our new mattress to be delivered. Want to know what the delivery window is? 9:00am to 8:00pm. WHAT THE HELL? That isn't a WINDOW that is more like a BLACK HOLE of time! Assuming that it comes before I need to pick up Deaner from work, we are going to pick out a chandelier and get it hung up while the scaffolding is still up. Please god let the mattress come before 8:00pm or there is a good chance I will lose my freaking mind. I'm off to rest my weary hands!!!

14 comments:

Peachy Keen said...

It looks like you have a lot on your plate but you deserve a major congratulations for all the hard work you've already accomplished! The kitchen and bedroom look great so far!

morgan823 said...

I think I've left you a comment before but I found you through Magnolias, Marriage and Manhattan. Anyway, I LAUGHED so hard at picture of your cabinet that your husband put together. It was too funny and sounds like something my husband could do! I love reading your blog even if I don't comment much. Anyway, your doing a great job with everything, can't wait to see it all finished. I have a blog as well (although mine might not be quite as funny as yours) it's www.benandmorgan.blogspot.com.

Chubs said...

Hey - I am astounded at your progress. I guess if you lock some one up in a hotel room for a few months a lot of energy and aggression builds up. You might want to consider taking a day and doings errands, etc., instead of manual labor. You could still ",ake progress" without the physical pain.

How hilly is your little town? Is it a good walking town?

susanne said...

It is looking fabulous!! You are too close to see how good it is coming along. Loved the light fixture but I really think you should NEVER get rid of the kitchen cabinet with the handles attached by a UVA engineering degreed man. It's too good to ever throw out. I'm sure Mr. Jefferson would get a good laugh, as well. And then take Deaner's degree back.

Jenny @ Practically Perfect... said...

Oh my gosh, that is hysterical! I just laughed and laughed when I saw the handles - I eventually had to show my husband because I knew he would crack up about it, too! Sorry Deaner, but that's pretty funny! Good for you for not getting really steamed ;-)

Oh, and whoever invented wallpaper should be shot. It is the WORST stuff in the world to remove!

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

I love the kitchen!!!! And oh my goodness...that's a lot of wall paper on the floor!

d.a.r. said...

OMG you guys have done a LOT of work!!!! It looks great!!!

Anonymous said...

It's is all looking great.....and maybe my son the engineer should not put any more furniture together...???????????

Sill laughing

old dad said...

You are really working hard and I'm sure all will be great when it's done. At least you are not stuck in a hotel room!

Oh the cabinet will make a great conversation piece. The handles make it easier to open whether you are standing, kneeling or sitting on the floor. What an ingenious way to allow flexibility.

Hope the weekend goes well with the move.

Megan said...

The house looks so good! As a homeowner, I can tell you the work never stops, but you'll love the outcomes!

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

You have done a LOT in two days!!!

I have to say...um...it could maybe look like the handle was supposed to be that way? You know, in a modern-art type of way?

(I love the comment of "old dad" and his glass is half full theory on the handles.)

(I am so, so, so glad you got your swap gift...I have to admit I was getting a wee bit concerned and feeling bad that it took so long!)

Colette Armstrong said...

Thank you for making the third day of school a little bit brighter. My 7th period thanks you for my mood change!! I was great to see you at the wedding, and I can't wait to read what happens with the house!

Erin said...

Isn't Deaner an Engineer? (nyuck nyuck) I'm sure I'm not the first one to use that but I just had to laugh. You could kind of pass it off as an "Ikea" type of "eclectic" piece of furniture.

Your bedroom is SUCH an improvement. I love the color!

Emory said...

I can't wait to show Bradley the job that Deaner did on that cabinet! I agree with your mom, you should never get rid of it.