fixin' a nest

how I'd loove a props room(s)

2010-06-02T21:45:00.001-07:00

Thank you Martha for the inspiration!

ooo inspiration for organization...

2010-03-15T23:53:00.001-07:00

the backyard is getting some love...

2010-03-01T00:12:00.000-08:00

just a little...

a play structure. with 26 steps.

we're on step 6... maybe...

AND

a NEW garden...

the nursery - guest room

2010-01-11T06:51:00.000-08:00

I am soo HAPPY with how this room is turning out...

seems like there are endless adjustments I'd like to make... starting with some sort of smallish circle rug...

curtains and a light for the closet... and maybe a bright aqua coat of paint... or some textured wall paper...

I'd like to find a small ornate wall shelf and small floor shelf... of some sort... to paint (or course!) for books...

the tree is gone.

2009-11-24T17:58:00.001-08:00

praise god.

progress on the nursery... much progress...

2009-11-06T00:40:00.000-08:00

kitchen curtain.

2009-11-06T00:12:00.000-08:00

NEVERMIND that my sink is piled high with dishes...

Ive been plotting and planning my execution of curtain making all day!!!

I'd about what I want in the kitchen window above the sink for a LOOONG while now...

I was feeling indecisive... and she, when it comes to home decor... has a great deal of decisiveness...

I called my friend J... to see if she had any ideas... or thoughts...

I explained what I was thinking... about making...

some sort of cafe curtains... panels or haphazardly pleated...

AND She suggested I check out... Making it Lovely!

*taken from makingitlovely.com

Tonight after a few road blocks... my sewing machine wouldn't work... and a broken needle with my mother in laws machine... I finished sewing and hung the kitchen curtain...

Tomorrow I will find a nice ribbon to help tie it up...

Here's the finished result!!!

OOooo the ideas I have... for bedding!!!

2009-11-03T22:41:00.000-08:00

FRIENDS!!!

2009-08-30T23:52:00.001-07:00

I have some updated photos to add THIS WEEK... stay tuned!!!

cups.

2009-05-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

do you see them?

these are our NEW cups!!!

I was looking ALL over online... for something just like these... and then... it occurred to me... as I washed them out for the recycling!!!

$2 per jar... and it comes with fruit that we LOVE to eat!

Week 36: Nesting ideas...

2009-04-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

For our room...

I'd love a few extra pillows... not TOO many... but a few... various sizes & patterns...

I would LOVE to do something like this in our guestroom/nursery...

I love the idea of incorporating some sort of wall fabric...

I'd love to do something like this ... but say... HOPE ... or DREAM instead...

Perhaps some nursery art for lil MAX!!!

For the kitchen I've been thinking of maybe adding some art to the shelves...

Other ideas I LOVE!!!

wall papering the inside of a cabinet... super chic & of course a lovely green bench...

Week 36: Nesting & finishing official business

2009-04-24T21:32:00.000-07:00

So...

If you haven't read the other blog... We ran into a few problems with the public works guy...

after talking with a few very helpful folks... I will take next week to follow the chain of command...

First I will talk with Larry's boss. If that goes no where...

I'll talk with the city council person AND if for some reason THAT doesn't get me somewhere... I'll call Steve... the city building inspector AND he will sign off on our project without public works approval...

and whaLA we will be all done with this never ending project...

I'm bummed that I have to play the politics game a bit... but if it will save us $1ooo ... I need to do it... cause our renovation money is ALL GONE... :(

In other exciting news...

I have a few more photos for you all... and a few requests for feedback from my creative... organized... or perhaps just opinionated friends...

The kitchen

Shelves on the right...

option 1

option 2

option 3

LEFT shelves

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

I NEED feedback ideas suggestions... I'm pretty happy with them over all... functionally they work great... I just want the staging to pop... :)

I have NO CLUE what to do with all these candle things and little glass vases...

They use to fit right in and each had it's own little home in our home... but now... it just feel like... AAAAAAAAAA... why is THAT THERE!????!?!

I've been trying to decide whether we paint out the hooks... to swiss coffee the color of the trim OR refresh the black paint existing... THOUGHTS?

AND

I'm planning on using this for an apron or two...

this is the console... upclose in the laundry area... right now it holds a few odd cookbooks, crappy towels for whatever, a junk drawer box that needs sorting, clean basket liners

Paint projects

I want one of these to say EAT YOUR VEGGIES...

I suspect the washer and dryer will need some sort of shelf directly on top so we don't loose too many things behind it :)

Week 36: Driveway & entry walk COMPLETE

2009-04-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

BEFORE

We finally hired Scapelanders to do our driveway and entry walk... pretty ironic to hire a landscaper to do concrete work... but the price and recommendations were right... :)

I am absolutely AMAZED at the texture of the concrete work... I LOVE it... and I really didn't think I'd EVER hear myself say that... I LOVE OUR CONCRETE... the photos give you a general idea... but I'll have to wait til the lighting is better to capture the texture... it's just lovely... matches our existing old concrete on the house porches BEAUTIFULLY!!!

AFTER

all sorts of project ideas!!!

2009-04-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.craftynest.com/how-tos/

Week 35: Driveway continues & nesting begins

2009-04-15T23:29:00.001-07:00

Driveway install continues...

the truck came at 6:30am

i was up at 6a...

Tim & Caiah woke up for it too...

he kept asking funny questions about the boots laying around the yard while the guys made sure everything was how they wanted it...

they did every other section... which worked out great...

also... i've been nesting

1/2 bath still needs:

toilet paper holder & towel bar

a shelf of some sort

living room still needs:

the photo wall updated, odds and ends on shelf sorted, window seat toy box filled... top of entertainment center staged... pillows recovered...

laundry room area still needs:

shelf under window

linens sorted

some sort of cover for washer and dryer station...

console sorted

another garbage can for recycling

Dining room still needs:

window seat cleared out

scheduling our final public works inspection for 4/21

final city inspection, hoping for 4/23 next thursday...

Week 34: Driveway demo & grading begins

2009-04-15T23:27:00.000-07:00

Week 34: drum roll pllllllease!

2009-04-03T21:33:00.000-07:00

after MUCH MUCH frustration...

I mean... MUCH... frustration...

I talked with the official public works guy, who emailed the appropriate (and most recent) final documentation for our trash disposal...

I collected (twice) the dump receipts (once from our old contractor & once from Nu Way the dump).

Then I tried to complete the official paperwork. But I didn't have the exact information I needed ....

So I called again and ask both parties for their documentation numbers. Clearly stating what date I needed them from... and other specifics...

again. they didn't add up...

So I kindly asked the NuWay folks to help with the paperwork, as they had offered originally...

AND they were crazy rude... I'll spare you the details...

I followed up with the former contractor...

Then a day later got a call from NuWay saying they were sorry and they'd love to fill out my paperwork.

So while I had actually already filled it out... I agreed and waited a day to see what they came up with...

AND

They were almost 50 TONS off of the real number... goodness...

anyhow...

I faxed my version in... and held my breath... assuming I'd at least have to revisit it...

THEN we received THIS in the mail... less than a week later...

don't know what it is?

it's the $3,600 deposit we gave public works at the beginning of our project..

AND it was COMPLETELY refunded!!!

Hooray!!! Now we can get a driveway!!!

Week 30-34: Unpacking & finishing touches... kinda

2009-03-07T23:24:00.000-08:00

I hate unpacking. I didn't realize just how much I dread it.
In life... I am a GREAT decision maker... well at least I think I am... :)
However there is nothing quite like having a million... little... seemingly unimportant... decision to make... to foul me up... there are no principles to default to... bah!

But slowly we've made progress...

The cork board/magnetic chalk board still needs the trim painted out... but I'm REALLY happy with the functionality of it... AS IS CAIAH and the way it finishes off the wall and transitions to the hall way...

we had custom shelves and corbels made (out of poplar) based on a kitchen magazine I saw... and fell in love with... Tim agreed... The custom shelves, in the end, were still much CHEAPER than ordering cupboards... and I personally LOVE the look in my house... better photos will come later...

We reused our target hardware ($10 for two, came in dark brown)... then spray painted them blk this time... thanks to Tim!
AND I added our old ikea poles (they come in black)... I needed a few extras soo... I went back to ikea AND instead of $4 a pole (already inexpensive)... I found them for $1 EACH!!! DIVINE!

one of my favorite finds... a light fixture from OSH that was $89!!!

our poor sink cabinet... will be without doors for awhile... It needing some adjustment to fit our farmsink... I need to call and have them reordered... but really it's the last thing on my list...

I want to find some way to display these linens...I have 1/2 aprons... napkins... also pillow cases ... but those will go elsewhere... they are from my great grand mother brought over from Italy... well most are... the others are cost plus :)

laundry "room" the catch all place in the house... :)

our master bath NEEDS art... more towels... but both will have to wait...

our master bedroom is a disaster... clearly it needs some tlc and a little more vision... I love the raw space... I'm waiting for it to speak to me... but the paper curtains keep interrupting...

we have a lot of clothes... most of which are sizes we dont wear right now... still trying to figure out what to and how to store clothes in this house...

this hallway landing will probably be my OTHER catch all for months to come... o it could be pretty... I know... :)

Caiah's closet is coming along... it still needs another coat of paint... but... it will wait...

old curtains: we have decided not to reuse them... many reason... but I kinda like having the window seats bare... Tim... isn't quite as excited about the idea... so we decided to wait... for now... I'm thinking maybe some sort of textured blinds...

... and MORE boxes to unpack!

Week 29: Moving in

2009-03-01T23:24:00.000-08:00

The POD was FULL... AND my husband... He's the master packer!!!

No really he IS!

Not one single thing was broken or damaged... not even in the boxes...

Getting a POD was one of the BEST uses for our money in this project!!!
seriously. it took 6 people right around an hour to unpack and most of that time was spent with pregnant me trying to figure out where I wanted boxes... :)

We had a wonderful WONDERFUL crew of people who came and helped... on that saturday... and a few that helped tremendously on other days... I am so grateful for my friends AND family...

5 months pregnant me... laughing at steve... being steve...
an empty pantry is intimidating... where to put what?

the office is our catch all room the living room... just is

Caiah's room was set up first... it seemed like the MOST important part of a smooth transition for him...

Although... he HATED the scratchy sheets... there was NO leniency for them being CARS sheets... So we've now bought jersey cotton sheets in Caiah's requested green color... I'll show that later... :)

guest room closet... we're gonna keep it door less for a few more month till we decide how we want to use it... more on that later...

Week 28: Floors moving SLOWLY ... and concrete drive bid

2009-02-25T21:30:00.000-08:00

Seriously.
I hate the hardwood floor install, stain and finish process... I'm normally pretty good with patience... but seriously... I am so ready to have a finish product!
We've gone with a dark stain... not exactly sure its prefect but the interior decorator friend likes it... and she picked the house color, that I questioned, and I LOVE IT... so I'll trust her...

so, so far... this week...

mon. sanding floors
tues. sanding floors & stain samples
wed. you got it... sanding floors & stain
thurs. 1st coat
fri. 2 & 3 coat

SATURDAY. is the BIG move date!

Week 28: Floors & more finishing touches

2009-02-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

So it seems there are more finishing touches that I keep thinking of... getting closet shelving & poles installed... over sized face plates for island outlets... still need to find that 3ft door to keep the freezing basement air down stairs... and not filling our sweet home... I'll try to locate things this week... and hopefully we'll have most odds and ends tied up by the end of the first week of March...

TODAY... Tim and I filled (technically, it's half full) a dumpster... I think we've just about emptied the house of any empty boxes and debris that could possibly be in there... we pulled up the masonite boards & plastic which has been protecting the front room floors... moved stuff we want to save to the new garage... tossed EVERYTHING else...

Tomorrow... we'll go through the old garage one last time to see if there is anything else BIG that we want to get rid of...maybe we'll shop vac the house to get things all clean for the floors folks on monday... We'll also cover all the cabinets and tape them to try... to keep some of the sanding dust out...

I can not wait to see what the finished product looks like!
And even more... I can't wait to live in this amazing master piece!

Week 27: finishing touches

2009-02-16T21:00:00.000-08:00

People we are in the home stretch...

THIS WEEK... We need to...
Pick hardware for kitchen & baths
(maybe get it installed)
Find a ceiling fan/light fixture for master bedroom
(install)
Find a light fixture for dining room
(install)
Install plumbing fixtures (kitchen & bath)
Get broken tile fixed & sealed - scheduled for friday
Order closet doors for last room (install)
Follow up with Arcadia Sash & Door for door hardware
Buy a new mailbox (ours is missing)
Follow up with interior painter (paint on window, curtain hardware & toilet)
Have shower glass installed
Continue to empty house of construction trash
Buy curtains & hardware for bedrooms & baths
Organize Sears deliveries (Ovens (ASAP), refrigerator & dishwasher)
Figure out who can install appliances (hehehehe)
Schedule final Fire inspection
Complete Public Works Paper work (collecting paperwork, waiting on d.r. to get correct numbers)
Schedule FINAL inspection

It looks like a long list... but really... it's just time... and luck :)...

It is so NICE to have a long list... and NOT one million people to manage...

Next week.
The floors get finished and we start move in FRIDAY!!!

It's hard to believe we're at the end...

BOLD = DONE

Week 25/26: while we were away...

2009-02-13T14:42:00.000-08:00

While we vacationed... Kellie helped to make sure things ran smoothly... what a HUGE relief it was to be able to have someone in town... more or less... to keep an eye on things... I don't think I've ever texted one person soo much in a week... but it was the perfect form of communication... :) especially with the time difference...

While we were gone...
Rafee installed the sinks & countertops for both bathrooms and kitchen & figured out how to get the farm sink to work with the wrong type cabinet...
Reed finished his work with the crown molding, baseboards, door trim/jams, closets and hung all doors... cut misc holes for electrician...
Jose continued to work on painting the interior... (it has taken 3 guys almost 2 weeks to get about 75% done... it would have taken tim and I years... )
Felikians installed carpet in the three bedrooms...
Sears delivered the cooktop & downdraft vent...
The driveway became a crazy mudpit prefect for wrestling!

We're exactly two weeks away from moving in!!!
As you might know ... I was hoping to move in this weekend... but... the floors must sit... for 2-3 weeks minimum ... bah...

It's just amazing even with all the dust and miscellaneous wood parts and junk around... that it still really looks like home... I'm sooo excited to move back in... fill our pantry... enjoy our new living spaces...

Anyone interested in helping us empty the POD should save SATURDAY February 28th!
:)

Week 25: while we're out...

2009-02-01T22:05:00.000-08:00

a Friend will hold down the fort...

I expect paint & floors to be complete this week...
a touch more finish work
HVAC complete
plumbers install sinks
countertops installed bathroom & kitchen

Week 24: Highlights

2009-02-01T21:53:00.001-08:00

we have tile in bathrooms (& it looks LOVELY!)
cabinets installed (kitchen & bath)
door jambs
trim and stools on windows
trim around closet in guestroom/ nursery (by the way, I keep forgetting I'm preggo)
hardwood flooring is 70% complete
new window sashes in and door glass panes
interior paint is 50% complete (we decided to go with the same color paint throughout the house, its a medium-light shade of brown)
exterior paint is complete except new window sashes which have to be painted out
electrician came and installed exterior lights

its been fun to show a few close friends the house...

Week 24: Coordinating... BAH!

2009-01-25T20:02:00.000-08:00

This week we have...

Reed Thomas coming to do finish work... O my... I am grateful for him... He will probably be working the next few weeks... on and off...

Danny Moore will start installing the cabinets... TOMORROW... that's good... he'll be here ALL week...this is MAJOR... because basically nothing can happen until after the cabinets are in...

Jose... will come and paint... I am VERY curious to see... how this sub works... he was... the cheapest for interior paint... it was the cheapest or us painting for the next year... by ourselves... this seemed like a better idea... If he does a horrible job... we'll have paint on the walls... and it will take less effort to repaint... b/c the drywall will be covered...

Rafee will come to tile the walls... of our shower... the Hot Mop guy will be coming around noon...

and Gus will most likely... come and start the flooring...

I am not exactly sure... how all these people will work together... in the same house... but ...

Individually they seem like great people... soo hopefully... they can work things out...

Other items to address...

getting the dumpster filled... & picked up

call electrician to talk finish work

call plumbers " "

call HVAC " "

figure out paint color(s)...

start figuring out Cai's bedroom decor

have I mentioned we're hoping to move in valentines weekend?

I think I will start aiming for the following week... but... it never hurts to aim high right?

Week 23: More Progress

2009-01-25T19:54:00.000-08:00

Tim put ALL this crap AND MORE in a dumpster... ALL BY HIMSELF!

NOW THAT's CROSSFIT at WORK!!!

our pretty home... new roof... first coat of paint... i love the brown paint...and light trim... it will be sooo lovely... with a green lawn... :)

Week 23: Expectations.

2009-01-18T19:48:00.000-08:00

This week we HOPE to...

find someone to help with site clean up... our front and back yards... look much like... a dump... Nu-Way Roll offs & Tim & friends :)

finish drywall mudding

have floors delivered... and possibly begin installation

have cabinets delivered... and installed

put hardware on new doors (um... I can't find one doors hardware... :( )

figure out what we're going to do for a driveway AND start dreaming (no. we don't have an ounce of money for it... but it NEVER hurts to create a plan) about the backyard...

pick interior paint colors (beige for MOST of house... maybe some color for the bathrooms & continue getting bids

pick moldings (BAH... I probably should of done this last week...)

BOLD items are in process or completed... hooray.

Week 22: insulation, drywall & exterior paint prep

2009-01-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

It's been a BIG week!

We passed our inspection Monday.

Got insulation & started paint prep Tuesday

Drywall & paint samples Wednesday-Friday.

Another inspection passed (drywall nailing) Friday afternoon.

Other odds & ends.

We picked house colors. Dunne Edwards, Hickory, Swiss Coffee & Cocoa.

Talked about wiring for sound throughout the house... and started that process with a dear friend...

The roof!

2009-01-13T15:04:00.000-08:00

AND LOOK a ceiling to the back porch... where I will live... because it's soo pretty back there...

& other silliness...

AND a garage door ordered... $600 less than costco or sears. very impressive.

insulation starts and finishes today.

drywall starts tomorrow.

It seems impossible...

2009-01-11T07:44:00.000-08:00

but.

I do believe.

we're about

ONE MONTH out... (5 weeks)

from moving back home...

we probably won't have interior paint yet... but we'll have appliances and floors... and bathrooms...

who needs more than that?!?!

not me.

bad. bad. bad. news...

2009-01-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

So... there is, what looks like, a long list (15-20) of things I need to take care of before we can pass our rough inspections (which happened on 12/29)... Which felt really doable... except for one issue... the windows we're missing their energy star ratings... I had NO WAY... of knowing what those ratings were for each window... soo I called the window guy to assist...

Today,Wednesday the 7th of JANUARY, I followed up for the third time... two times previously I left messages... today I talked with Steve. And it was bad. bad. bad. news.

He ordered the WRONG windows. He ordered clear glass instead of low E, which is what you need in Pasadena... So. Now. We will probably be set back at least 3 weeks for replacement windows... which means... we can't move forward until then...

I am PRAYING, that by some miracle of God the City of Pasadena will allow us to move forward with the remaining inspection items... which are expected to take about 2 1/2 weeks... and then... wrap us up with our final inspection WITH THE CORRECT WINDOWS... AND hopefully move in right around the 14th of FEBRUARY!!! I could NOT think of a better gift... :)

If not. We'll deal. and move in mid march. bah.

Week 21: 1/6

2009-01-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

caiah being unbelievably cute on the job site

Today.

I met with one painter, one insulating/gutter guy... who looked similar to Tim... but wore hudson jeans (people. they cost $200 a pop)... and fancy sunglasses... Caiah was convinced it was his daddy... :)

I also talked with Martin our dry wall bidder. HOORAY for Martin... who came in UNDER budget... at $8900. I was really afraid that number was going to be WAAAAAY off... given the amount walls we ended up opening up... It will take him 7-10 days to finish the job.

Tim helped coordinate getting our wiring finished... telephone & cable... hooray... all done...took him 2-3 hours and $320.

I also called to confirm with roofer that he would be starting tomorrow... in return he informed me that he was always planning on starting on thursday. bah.

Would you believe I have four or five more calls that I didn't get to today...

window guy. ac guy. dave r. mark the electrician. inspector steve.

tomorrow.

I just keep reminding myself to breath... and try not to die over personal deadlines missed...

Week 21: 1/5

2009-01-05T18:22:00.001-08:00

It is looking really good...

and the vents are in! HOORAY... a few finishing touches before things are all done...

it looks soo lovely.

Week 21: 1/2

2009-01-02T18:34:00.000-08:00

Had to pick new tile... cause what we picked before was backordered... BAH!

and then... the new tile was unavailable... double bah...

so kirsten is going to pick something nice for me... so I don't have to think about it...

the color for kids bath is white matte. should be darling.

AND

Carpet for three bedrooms (RUEFUL RATTAN)... we're hoping we'll have enough to put hardwood in the master b/c of the indoor-outdoor factor... it will probably stay concrete in all honesty for a while... till we're SURE we have the cash...

$250,132

2008-12-26T00:15:00.000-08:00

The amount we will spend on our remodel IF we can now stay on budget...
NOW how's that!!! I suppose I should also clarify. our projected budget was 250k.

using the contractor we were looking at 285k.

feels good to be back on track...

This would include a driveway... doors & hardware :) ... and drum roll please... some sort of flooring in the master bedroom... It will also include exterior paint... and the paint for but not the labor... for the interior...

we'll take it room by room for a year or so... :) and use no VOC paints...
at least that's the thought....

and BIG progress! windows & doors

changes.

2008-12-22T21:22:00.000-08:00

We let our contractor/ gm go today...

the budget JUST doesn't allow for the quality that we want AND to pay someone 30% to manage the project...

so... here we go... o my... it WILL be a busy busy month for me...

hopefully we can finish the project within two months...

pray for me... if you think about it... for peace and wisdom... lots of both please... :)

Week 20: 12/15

2008-12-15T17:31:00.000-08:00

our old roof came off... and was papered...

which is suppose to make it "Water tight" ...

I am skeptical to say the least...

Picked a Roof.

Malarky

Highlander CS

These are shingle samples... so we could decide which color we wanted...

I honestly can't remember which we chose.

Week 19: 12/8 & 9

2008-12-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

what I bring to the job site... never be without wheat thins OR water...

and do remember your tennis shoes instead of flip flops

our kitchen island all mapped out on the raw floor

the electrical starts to take shape

tim's future office is a storage space for MANY odds and ends

water damage. bah. the room had to be gutted of plaster and moldings.

view from the back of the yard

aaaa trash

from the back porch

framing for the wall between the kitchen and kids bath

bye bye plaster... entrance to tim's office

AND

a little humor provided by the best framers ever!!!

Curt Wygand Construction. LOVE THEM.

almost a month

2008-12-08T21:19:00.000-08:00

since the last post... there IS much to show...

but I'm going to do it in order... so for the next few days... check out the "older" posts...

I'm hoping to make this blog a little table book when we're all done with the project...

Week 18: 12/4

2008-12-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

framing. continued.

more walls gutted. and our dining room... looking lovely with tub & tools...

back to front view (laundry room through to dining)

first trip to lowes

2008-11-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

So on our way out... Caiah fell asleep in the car... but I couldn't JUST turn around and head back to Pasadena for nap time... so I thought I'd try something different... so Cai took a 40 minute nap in the shopping cart...

I needed desparetly to purchase plumbing fixtures for the plumber to be able to work...

we want people working... soo I made a special trip out to LOWES... in san dimas...

while we didn't find exactly what we wanted... It was good to see what they DID have out there...

and pricing and such...

I think I will be headed back here for outdoor lighting fixtures...

not since friday

2008-11-18T22:02:00.000-08:00

I haven't visited...

I heard today was the big day... with a crane and everything... to install a MASSIVE beam that will hold our main roof... I can't wait to see it... tomorrow we'll take a spin by the "broke house" as Cai calls it...

today was also a MASSIVELY disappointing day... to find that the cabinet "budget" is about 1/2 what we needed... so it's time to get more creative... and pray... for something to fit the spaces... and the budget...

Week 15

2008-11-14T16:01:00.000-08:00

The house is really starting to take shape... and I'm really happy with it all... the roof lines are absolutely beautiful... Christian you did a fab job!!!

I love the awning over the back porch... love love love... it just feels right...

the main roof line is taking shape

we have the prep for roof in... over our master & cai's room...

there is no roof... the sky IS the limit...

met with interior decorator... we've pretty much decided on paint colors for the exterior... and a few other things I'll note later ... gotta jet to dinner...

home depot trip

2008-11-09T21:05:00.000-08:00

pricing on kraftmaid cabinets...

we liked 11 & 17

we actually want a one door refridge...

and a pull out drawer freezer...

cook top for the island

a super cheap set of washer & dryers... not sure they'll be what we actually get... but man what a deal!!!

shower head

most of our fixtures & such I have bought from homeclick... it seems to be the best deal for good -best products ...

however we will be getting our cabinets from home depot...

so we ventured out to duarte to see what we could see...

Tuesday-Friday

2008-11-09T20:51:00.001-08:00

cai practicing his building skills

cai practicing his balancing skills...

north west window of master... we like windows...

south window of master

the view from our master... we need to work on it...

eating lunch

the master from outside

master from inside... it's just beautiful...

Saturday & Monday's work...

2008-11-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

my baby is definitely a boy... and this might be the cutest lil mischevious look I've seen on his face...

the roof line is really beautiful... it's graceful... and just lovely... the perfect pitch...

here's some ceiling rafters and tarp...

and a stray stalking another neighborhood cat...

here's that window near the basement entrance... can you find the black iron railing...

in the middle of the window?

Micaiah's windows...

they are HUGE...

but we found out today... that we will need to change the size of the other bedroom windows to his ENORMOUS size 6' x almost 3' ... per window... IF we stick with double hung windows...

Bah! city of pasadena! Bah!

Our choices are to change them to casement windows... that crank to open and close... OR stick with the original plan with marvin windows ($$$$) or go with Lincoln Wood windows instead ($$) ...

rafters in Micaiah's room

I told tim tonight we need to buy more clothes QUICKLY... so we can fill our NEW closet at least half way... I am going to love this lil space... with the window... and spaces where we took out the original lil closets...

Micaiah likes the garage

the roof is just soo beautiful... it's amazing to see the craftsmanship...

o my rafters!

seriously. we could fit everything we own in our garage attic.

I'm really happy we decided to go with the 9foot ceiling in there... AND the 4ft gap between attic sides...

Tim loves the garage

beige, white or warm white?

2008-11-02T12:42:00.000-08:00

I need to decide which one I'm moving forward with for all the trim on the house inside and out...

AND don't you dare suggest mixing the two on the trims...

also... folks any thoughts on paint brands?

we've only ever used BEHR... which has served us well...

I want our master bedroom

2008-11-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

to have some feminine glamour... just small little touches...

a big mirror

a 1940's chair with curves

a black & white print

a round glass lamp with shade

...

bad news... good news

2008-11-01T21:35:00.001-07:00

last night someone decided to break in our home & garage... the one under construction...

when the framer (the amazing man who deserves a bonus) arrived this morning he found our front and back doors wide open... along with the garage with the lock (the lock which I've had since college) ripped off the door and missing... (tim might be sadder about that lock missing than the whole ordeal of waiting for the cops... and boarding up the house... )

when we got the call this morning... I held my breath... to wait and hear what was missing...

in a project like ours... the budget is fine tuned... I know where I plan to spend money... I know where I want to save... an unexpected hit like this... would be sad... for my ceasar stone countertops... and marvin windows... my two splurges...

....

turns out everything is still there... well was... until we moved it to ensure it's safety... cops think the folks were looking for copper piping to steal... weren't able to find any prints...

....

pipes are suppose to go in this week... but I think we'll put that off until the windows and real doors are in... to ensure they stay in...

....

(back door getting dusted... )

Neighbors: keep an extra eye on our place will you?

We're gonna set up motion lights tomorrow or Monday...

fridays work done.

2008-10-31T21:03:00.000-07:00

quite honestly.

I'm not entirely sure they did anything today besides put up the tarp...

dave assures me they did... he says some days go slower than others...

I hear they put up more shear walls for the garage... and plywood... those are quite possibly the same thing... I'm just not sure... :)

they also put up a tarp so the rain won't come into the existing home and rot the ceiling... that would be bad... very bad...

hoping to get my detailed timeline in the next two days... it will tell me when we will need to make certain choices... to keep things on task...

Wednesday

2008-10-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

master bedrm from the exterior

our bathtub!

our master bedroom door with windows...

(side note. I think they frame it wrong... one more thing to get fixed)

our garage

Micaiah's new bedroom

watching the roof line grow

aaaa lumber

a new lock for the gate...

Monday.

2008-10-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

third bedroom framed out.

including mammoth closet.

hall & basement entrance framed.

windows measured by owner of arcadia sash & door. Tom. nice guy.

we're going with marvin ... wood... it will double our window budget... from 4k for vinyl to 9k for all wood... but I think it's worth the difference given we live in a craftsman style home...

10/24

2008-10-26T22:15:00.000-07:00

Micaiah is learning some building skills... he announced this was his house...

the new footing in the RIGHT spot...

closets framed. oops. I didn't really want full closets... my bad... instead we'll do some sort of "built in" shelf... or maybe just wall space...

Caiah exploring...

more progress...

met with contractor to clarify "closets" in master... and decide on garage storage in attic space...

among other items...

a/c moved... framing begins!

2008-10-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

It is with much sadness that our a/c unit was moved today...
we seriously JUST put the thing in 2 years ago... we didn't know we'd be able to renovate the house soo soon...

anyhow. I feel dumb for putting it in... when we did... but the good news is ... we'll be reusing the a/c and furnace... and the ducting...

that makes it a little softer blow...

the stairs are now walkable... and look lovely...

AND

FRAMING!!!! it started today!!!

I got a phone call at about 7:30am asking about details of the beam in our bedroom (whether we want it showing or not... ) and if we want a vaulted ceiling in our garage or storage...

I started thinking about doing something ecletic ... go figure... maybe a storage lofty combo thing... something the kiddos could use... or we could use... I suppose playing the garage attic... isn't the brightest idea I've had... :)

*all these photos from today are brought to us by the power of the iphone... and my sweet husband... hooray for TIM!

stairs in the works

2008-10-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

More footings progress

2008-10-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

while I was away...
we also got the kid bathroom tub & our bath sinks...

then today...
the contractor confessed the footing by our a/c unit off by a few inches... so he'll have to do it over...
sad.

more good news though...on the budget front...
lumber was suppose to cost $19,800.00 but because of the crappy economy it was $9,000. soo we have a driveway in our budget now... and wiggle room on the windows that we want... those Mavrin's are beautiful...

other than the headache I had while talking with our contractor... which was totally unrelated to him... it was a good morning...

progress check.

2008-10-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

I arrived to 586... with NO ONE on site. Not a good feeling at 10am in the morning... obviously someone had been there recently... in the past day... but not a soul was there this morning... I made a quick call... (guys we're installing a door else where)
took a closer look at the junk pile to see if we'd had anymore valuables tossed in...
yep. basement staircase hand rail... cost us almost $300 if I remember correctly... about 3 yrs ago when we moved in...
called dave back to request the hand rail be salvaged from the wreckage...
I think someone should hire me to manage a job like this... perfectly useable things just get tossed... trashed ... for no good reason... I would of had to pay for that same railing AGAIN... now that just seems stupid to me...

before & after (grass may never grow here again...soo sad)

before & after, some aren't as encouraging as others... :(

maybe thoughts.

2008-10-14T11:21:00.001-07:00

maybe... it's because I have little control over most things in life right now...

maybe I'm just type A...

maybe... I'm a little bitchy... wouldn't be the first time I'd heard any of those...

but seriously... just put your cups & bottles in the trash worker friends... pllllleeeeeeease... pretty pretty pretty please...

in return I promise I'll bring your more cups... and bottles... and treats... cross my heart...

*this photo was taken AT LEAST two weeks after I'd delivered these cookies...

master bedroom doors...

2008-10-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

I really really like saving money.... AND getting something lovely...

case in point.

Lincoln wood doors (ours will be without grid work)

$2100

the nanowall

it starts at 10k

now we need to choose which windows we're going with...

Lincoln wood (a bit cheaper - $478, a bit ugly) or Marvin (a smidge more - $528 ... but absolutely beautiful...did you know a window could make me swoon?... I didn't) ;)
a couple hundred dollars difference... in total...

hoping to decide by tomorrow...

foundation done.

2008-10-12T14:59:00.001-07:00

laying a foundation friday

2008-10-12T14:40:00.001-07:00

potential master doors

2008-10-11T14:25:00.001-07:00

these are nice... and perhaps a good compromise...

Pella has an 8ft sliding door that would work well also...

misc ideas...

2008-10-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

master bedroom
I want the nanawall ... I'll forgo for now... budget being what it is... if we have an extra load of cash after the house, garage and new car purchase... then I will indulge... they run about 10k+...
instead we'll do an 8ftish slider... not sure the cost yet... but be assured It's probably 1/4 of the nanawall

kitchen...
I would love white shaker style cabinets... on bottom... top we'll have open shelfs... I CAN NOT WAIT...

ingdirect.com

2008-10-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

seriously.

I feel like a genius.

I know I'm not.

when we got our home loan we put it in an ing account... an online savings account...

and in 4 months...

we've made

$2,300!

isn't that amazing?!?!

I'm amazed...

we could buy a nice frig with that... and a dishwasher...

updates.

2008-10-07T12:54:00.001-07:00

thursday they put the driveway back together...
filling it back up with dirt... making sure it was nice and compressed...

forms ready to go...

the first round of cement was poured friday morning.
we have basement stairs and footings

then on monday
they took the forms off... and away from the footings...

items I need to address:
getting a new bid for plumbing work (15k)
checking the hardwood floors for water damage (why is there a hose filled with water in my front rooms?)
checking on getting a timeline for construction
setting up pre arranged weekly mtg with contractor
identifying sliding glass back door for master bedroom instead of the fabulous, but ridiculously priced (10k+), nanowall
redesign kids bathroom with existing wall in place
let mind rest...
follow up with window bid
HVAC thermastat... where the hell is it?
Light switches ... where the hell did they go? they were new...dude.

habitat for humanity ReStore

2008-09-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

... cool name for a store aye?

ReStore

today we made a short trip to see what the pasadena site had to offer... nothing for our home reno today... but lots of ideas for christmas presents... and other crafty things...

unforchantely they will be moving to Azusa in October... so they will be a bit farther away...
href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_etlq8v46KLk/SOMSQxFirFI/AAAAAAAACVI/FKAMhaYMjIE/s1600-h/IMG_3088.JPG">

I'll be heading back there in the next few weeks... let me know if you want to join in the scavenging fun!?!?

progress

2008-09-29T22:18:00.000-07:00

new sewer line
new plumbing
concrete stairs to basement ... gone.
mostly ready for concrete pour

our master bath tub.

2008-09-25T17:17:00.001-07:00

check.
By Hydro Systems, we're just doing a tub no fancy extras...
it will be 66"x36"x22"

I found it at a significant discount ... which always makes me smile...

$851.67

Bathroom rework

2008-09-23T13:45:00.003-07:00

We decided to tweak the bathrooms a tad...

the "kids" bathroom... to save money (7k) by not moving a load bearing wall...

the master just a little moving of plumbing...

here's a peak at some of the ideas we had to chose from...

I HAVE SOO MANY PHOTOS FOR YOU ALL!!!

2008-09-23T13:45:00.001-07:00

You should be very very excited...

tile tile tile!

2008-09-18T19:34:00.001-07:00

Master Bath Tile ($12 sq ft)

Kid Bath tile (cheap per sq ft) ;)
We'll use a white subway tile... of from this sample board...

building permits.

2008-09-16T21:48:00.001-07:00

are paid for... 7k

we're business folks.

this week I MUST pick out

WINDOWS (a major part of the budget)
Master bath tub

all before they can get concrete in....
didn't happen today... won't happen tomorrow...

thursday. I will kick ass... and make some BIG ticket choices...

ps. new favorite website... homeclick.com

I'm not updating this site ...

2008-09-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

because there is no new news... damn it!

today is friday.

2008-08-29T21:46:00.001-07:00

I emailed designer... and haven't heard anything back... I'm guessing he's got nothing to tell me...

no permits.

no permits.

2008-08-25T22:37:00.000-07:00

seriously. lame.

christian boehr & les shultz met with our city planner ... and still have one outstanding issue... baaaaaaaah!

christian hopes things will get cleared by wednesday... but again... no one is holding their breathes...

more productively speaking...
met with two interior decorators today... I can not afford one, even at her very very generous pastors rate... the other I can also probably not afford... but she's giving us the friends and family deal of only ... almost all our budget... no... we'll be able to buy tile and counter tops... and not plywood... only... :) sweet aye?

2008-08-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

tomorrow 3pm. is the scheduled mtg with Mehran... and designer...

here are the new idea floor plans... with Caiah's coloring additions...

and

our thoughts... after reviewing our contractors new idea...

monday?

2008-08-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

as we were headed out of town... we got word that ... the meeting which should have ended with us getting our building permits in our contractors little hands... was cancelled by the building permit god at the city...

it's been rescheduled for monday...

let's vote.

who want's to wager we WILL get them Monday?

well folks...

2008-08-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

we're hoping we'll have permits wednesday.

so for now... I'll start sharing our ideas... for what will be... room by room ...

and the current and future floor plans...

Day 7

2008-08-18T12:48:00.001-07:00

Nothing notable.

I brought a dozen donuts... 3 coffee's ... and 6 waters... to the "crew" ...

Turns out there was ONE guy there... not sure what he was doing...

We're still waiting on building permits... hopefully today...

Day 6

2008-08-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

More demo.

Check this out.

And a little ditch work.

Day 4

2008-08-12T22:18:00.000-07:00

one kitchen floor demo'd

one laundry room floor demo'd

kitchen... cabinets... 1/2 bath completely demo'd

hall way shelf demo'd

lawn watered...

AND

we had some random mail in our mailbox... someone didn't get the memo...

3 times on day 3

2008-08-11T22:44:00.000-07:00

yes. I'm stalking my house...

the question was asked how often I visit?

At least once on weekdays...

I'm thinking if I keep my worker bee's and contractor on their toes... with the weekly surprise of a nice treat of some sort... and daily visits at random times... we'll have a greater respect for eachother... and get more done...

it's a theory...

today I brought water... although it should be noted... that the Ralphs on n. lake does NOT have cold water... next time we'll check out Vons...

yes. I stalk my house.

Day 3

2008-08-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

Talked with both the foreman and contractor... clarifying what we'd like to keep safe... toilet and sink from 1/2 bath... sink hardware from other bathroom ... we talked about the floors... and meeting with a interior decorator to talk through style and ideas... to make sure we don't mess things up... we have a good idea of materials we want to use... and the color palette... but I think we're struggling to put a name to what we're wanting the house to feel and look like.... a modern craftsman? ... clean lines... with some simple charm... w a dash of detail work...

O and I think I've come to the (same) conclusion... Tim came to about 3 months ago... I'm ready for the woodwork to go WHITE....

Now for the day's photo update...

(no our house isn't falling over... it's my iphone paying games with me... )

Can you tell what's happened?

Our entire foundation for the master is GONE. And the piece that will connect the basement to the inside... is... chipped away... perfect!

Tomorrow... they go inside...

Side note:

As I took this photo... I heard police sirens... a really really low helicopter... I ask a friend of our resident gang affiliate what was up... but he didn't feel like talking to the white girl...

as I left... they had closed down el molino... and I saw MORE cops then I've seen in our hood... like 12+ ... at least 4 cars... and a fire truck...

man... I kinda miss the excitement of livin' in the hood...

wondering what happened...

what you can expect here...

2008-08-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

1. photo updates on the house

2. a peek into design ideas for each room

3. a peek into landscape ideas for the back yard

4. AND if we get to it... the garage transformation...

End of Day 2

2008-08-08T18:15:00.001-07:00

Day 1 1/2

2008-08-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

this is a view from our back cement porch into, what was... our master bedroom...

progress.

quite a lot.

demo starts

2008-08-07T11:33:00.002-07:00

today.

pictures to be posted tomorrow...

but picture the master bedroom... missing... and a GIANT dumpster in our crappy driveway... and most of the deck... missing...

know the bright blue awning, next door... that I hate... um... I can see it from the opposite side of the yard...

I'm feeling neutral about my bedroom being gone... never to be the same...

for some reason I was thinking they'd start with the kitchen/dining room wall for demo work... instead... they tore off the back end of the house... it was a bit MORE dramatic looking then I anticipated...

I called the contractor and told him they ruined our house... he said they were home wreckers... :)

before

2008-08-07T11:33:00.001-07:00

Our Home Remodel

2008-07-28T23:15:00.001-07:00

beginnings.