NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

Renovation progress report – week 7

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While renovating, sometimes your life feels like a bad melodrama. duh-duh-dummmmmm….

Twice the money – check
Quadruple the time – check
Way too much drama – checkadee check check

So let’s just say that everything is costing more, taking more time and causing more headaches (*cough, cough, I’m talking to you, city that we live in*). But, time marches on and the renovations continue. Because I’ve been galavanting for the past week in Minneapolis, none of these contributions are mine. Ryan gets full credit for everything, of course.

Completed kitchen
First, the kitchen. A small wall came out and was rebuilt (you can see the new 2×4 in front of the basement door). Most of the plumbing has been run. I’m considering leaving it as is, putting a table in there and calling it a day.

Back door love
I love our new back door. It’s the same one as we have in our current home. Something about a good solid door makes me feel safe and happy. Wait ’til you see what color I’m going to paint that… I think you may love it.



Closet-capades
Ryan and I will be sharing a closet in the new house. Currently, we have separate closets, so that will be… different. One necessity of sharing closet space was having more space.

Another necessity is that it have light. Right now, Ryan gets ready in the dark. I’d like to tell you I wouldn’t mind if he turned on the light at that Godforsaken time that early morning hour, but that would be a lie.

Because I’m going to let you in on a secret – I am a beast in the morning. (And, arguably anytime.) I think Ryan tried to turn on the overhead light once. That was shut down. Quickly.

Then, he tried installing a light IN the closet. However, that meant the light went directly in my eyes. Did I mention I’m not a morning person?

So, now he gets dressed in pitch black. Sometimes he shows up to work with his pants on inside out. I’m in the running for wife of the year.

Where was I?

Oh yeah…

Ryan’s installed 3 lights which will allow him to shut the door and get dressed in the closet.

And, then he’ll come out of the closet.

Okay. That was lame. And, probably not funny. You can start sending the hate mail directly to our new house.

But, I’m thrilled about the size of the new closet. A hanging bar will go the entire length of the space and there will be shelves on the other walls. Nothing fancy, but perfect for us.

Ryan will soon have the insulation and drywall installed and I’ll paint. Yippee! Wife of the Year, here I come.

Green grass grows
Because the yard is currently covered in creeping Charlie, the only place with real grass is where Ryan planted it. And it’s growing like mad.

6-year-old neighbor kid: The grass is growing.
Ryan: Yeah…
Kid: I didn’t think it would.
Ryan: Thanks for the vote of confidence.

So long, garage

Here is all that remains of the red garage. The same guy who took the fence and the cabinets took down the entire garage, piece by piece.

Took him over a week. But, at least it will get used again. If we had taken it down, it would have taken a few hours and been filling up a dump.

(Circa 2007)

So, now we’re attempting to get all the necessary permits to build our new garage. We’re almost there, I think. Then, we’ll Ryan and my dad will have to tear up all the old blacktop and concrete and pour a new slab. Ryan and I are crossing our fingers for an Oct. 1 start-date.

It’s beginning to look a lot like…
CHRISTMAS!
These were in the eaves of the garage and were found when it came down… Ryan couldn’t believe I was going to keep them. But, you bet your bippie that these are going in the yard come December. (Okay, technically, they are sitting in the yard now.)

Deja vu
 A old door being used as a saw table.

(Circa this week)
(Circa 2007)



Everything comes full circle, doesn’t it?


What do you think?


(Updated checklist here.)

Comments

  1. The conversation between the neighbor kid and Ryan made me laugh.

    I covet your giant walk in closet. Especially in an older home. It is AWE-some!

    I love the look of the old basement door in your kitchen. It is fabulous!

    And I am in complete agreement on twice the money, time, and drama. COMPLETE AGREEMENT.

    Way to go Ryan for all the progress!

  4. Wow he was busy while we were gone. I can’t wait to see what color you picked up for the front door. And I love your morning escapades….

    Derek and I had separate closets at the old house because of space and it was an adjustment to have to share again.

    Well it was for me at least because Mr. Neat was not happy with all my stacks.

    Can’t wait for next week!

  6. OK, first I’m a bad blogger and rarely comment because it involves me emerging from behind google reader. But you should know that i LOVE your renovation posts. Especially as a renter, I get to dream of one day doing our own renovations or buying a new house. 🙂 AND, I am the biggest grump in the morning. Charlie knows better than to talk to me, touch me, or even glance in my direction before I’ve had my coffee.

  7. We have the same back door, also recently installed. I wasn’t planning on painting ours, but we definitely need to finish the trim work. Time, and the ever-elusive money are our setbacks. Sigh. Why do renovations always cost more than anticipated??

  8. Nice job Ryan! I think the door will be red like the scale? We need a new front and back door. I want to paint them island teal, but got shut down.

  10. Great update! I can so relate to the morning thing and the tiniest bit of light can wake me up! Not a good thing 🙂
    You guys are doing awesome!!
    Wendy

  11. You guys (Ryan) are amazing! I can’t believe how much you guys are getting done. And your bad jokes are awesome. And I’m really happy to know that you’re a beast because I never would have pictured you being a beast and as a beast myself, it’s nice to know you’re a beast too. We can now totally be beastly bff’s.

    Oh and yeah, give up that door paint color! I’ve been thinking of painting a door lately…mostly because it’s a cheap project.

  13. Looks like everything is coming along great! [minus the costing more part, booo…].

    Your backdoor is the same as our side door leading in from the ‘garage’. Great door!

  16. I started twitching when you said something about building a garage.

    This update was stinking hilarious. And I 100% support calling the kitchen done. I also want your closet.

    And now I want to buy another house. Look at what you’ve done to me!

  17. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again you two really amaze me!! So much progress, still don’t know how you 2 find the time and energy!

  18. I seriously live for these posts. You guys amaze me. So glad you found Christmas decor in the house’s rafters. And I want a door color hint. You know how to get a hold of me 🙂

  20. love the christmas decorations! I’m so mad at my hubs, we found a ton of stuff in our house when we moved in and he T.H.R.E.W. it away! Can you believe it? Pshh! Men!

  23. it’s looking good!!
    and those christmas decorations are cute! i would keep them too!

    i’m sure you’ve already thought of this – but i was looking through this month’s TOH, and saw one of the before/after pages and thought – kim could be in here once theirs is done! 🙂