I’ve intended to stay more up-to-date with the postings, but the actual renovations + packing up our apartment keep taking up all of my time. Now I just need to survive until Tuesday. That’s moving day. And it’s coming up VERY soon. Fortunately this morning was the first time I was able to walk around… Continue reading »
Sep
18
2nd Home Renovation Weekend
We’re about to start on the 3rd weekend of renovations so I suppose I should write about weekend #2 before they totally run together. Unlike Labor Day weekend, we only had 2 days to work so we were going to try to be Energizer bunnies and get lots done in those days. There were big… Continue reading »
Sep
14
The Red Room Renovation – taking shape
The Red Room, situated in the front of the house, this room (also known as the master bedroom) is roughly 11′x11′ in size with original hardwood flooring (that probably hasn’t been finished in decades) and a small closet and an en suite with a small shower, toilet and sink. The room is well lit by… Continue reading »
Sep
14
My love-hate relationship with our ladder
With all of the painting, I’ve been putting in a lot of time on our new ladder. It’s really cool – expands up to a 13 foot ladder for use outside but collapses down to a step ladder or any height in between. Can even become 2 step ladders. Place a board between the 2… Continue reading »
Sep
14
Lath and Plaster – Tools Required
Now by no means am I an expert at lath and plaster – but I have experience (as the images show) some serious cracks and hence I have some valuable tips to share with you when your renovation adventure takes you down the path of lath and plaster repair.   Do the Right Thing –… Continue reading »
Sep
14
Lath and Plaster – Background
Lath and Plaster Renovations: Anyone who was a teenager and had a house party is well versed in the doorknob hole in the wall repair; this is to most of us the introduction to drywall and plaster repair. However unlike drywall and the act of quickly throwing poly-filler into a hole so your Dad won’t… Continue reading »
Sep
13
Labor Day Weekend
We took the term “Labor” way too literally and worked on the house throughout the 3-day weekend. Saturday: We load up the car with everything we need to stay in the house for the long weekend. Set up an air mattress in the dining room. I check out the walls – Hugh was wrong about… Continue reading »
Sep
12
WWMHD?
There’s a new saying in my life that is making it increasingly difficult to get things done quickly: What would Mike Holmes do? Or WWMHD? For those of you who don’t know who Mike Holmes is, you obviously don’t spend most of your spare time watching HGTV. I, on the other hand, have gone from… Continue reading »
Sep
12
It begins….
I meant to get this going before the renovation began, but we’ve been a little busy with the actual renovations. So I’ll take a few posts to catch up and then will try to stay more up-to-date. We closed on the house on 8/31. The plan is to move out of our apartment in San… Continue reading »
Sep
10
Just gotta take that first step
With all of the home renovation projects in our future, I finally have something blog-worthy to write about. I thought it could be a great way to chronicle our renovation adventures and keep everyone informed of the progress we’re making turning our new house into our long-term home. Maybe it will be a way to… Continue reading »