Before and After...the Bathroom

The tub is actually about a foot smaller than a normal tub, and there was no shower. So to accommodate his mother when she was here, Bryan's dad fashioned a shower for her out of a rubber hose...it worked pretty good, it just wasn't pretty.

Looking from the now study to the bathroom. We had just started taking up the tile and taken out the cabinet.

The toilet was kind of in an awkward spot, so one of our plans was to have the plumber move it so it would be on the other wall behind the door.

Starting to take off the OLD tile...to find even OLDER paneling and anti-mold paper behind it. Suffice it to say, the mold paper didn't really work ;)

Paul, our contractor, built this wall where the doorway was to give us more wallspace in the bathroom.

Where the tub used to be. That was one of the heaviest things I have ever dealt with in my life...caste iron baby!

After cleaning the mold, we had drywallers come in, and then our cabinet guys were were AWESOME!!!! I would recommend them in two seconds to anyone. We decided since we have little boys, anything we put on the floor is pretty much going to be ruined, and since it's such a small space, we went with linoleum. Allman's carpet did this and all of our carpet...again, they are AWESOME!!! We told them our budget and they found something similar to what we had in mind that was about 1/5 the cost. The tub surround and the countertop are cultered marble. At first I was kind of scared because I was afraid it was a dated look, but I am SO glad we went that way. It is way easy to clean and it's so bright, it makes this tiny bathroom look a lot bigger.

and...

All of the fixtures are that brushed bronze...I like how they are throughout the house and give it that antique feel. I got the over the toilet thing from target on clearance... yay...and the mirror from lowes on clearance...double yay! The color is here is a little lighter from the front room, it's called Troller.

Before & After - The Master Bedroom

This picture was taken in February of last year, but when we were getting ready to move here the first time, eight years ago...this room's walls were that dark brown fake wood paneling, and there was an orange shag carpet. So as part of our rent, Bryan and I repainted, hung new lights, and recarpeted to brighten the place up. Who'd a thunk we'd be undoing it less than a decade later...

Bryan's dad actually put this fireplace in, brick by brick, over 30 years ago for another family who lived here at the time. It was made to last through the millenium, but the house wasn't made to handle the fireplace :) It was so heavy, the floor was starting to sink which worried us. So, after a lot of agonizing going back and forth, we decided we had to take it out.

It was bittersweet taking it down, knowing how hard he had worked to put it in.

Just some of the layers of wallpaper we encountered.

Bryan and Asher taking down the paneling.

Painting with kids isn't easy...spackling with them is even better :)

Once we tore everything down, we found that the water over the years had damaged the walls, so one of the last things Bryan's dad helped us with was he cemented the entire wall where the damage was, preventing anymore sluffing or corrosion. Those walls will outlive the rest of the house. That's how he did everything...to last.

These were our fireplace guys. They did a beautiful job...but interesting individuals ;) Also, shortly after this time, the young women I served with in the Orchard 1st ward used us as a service project (don't you love it when that happens???) It really was such a blessing. Half of them took the kids and played games and kept them occupied...the other half came to the house and helped me paint the master bedroom and the study. I think teenagers are my very favorite people. I couldn't believe how much we all got done that night, and I can't begin to tell you how grateful I was for all of their help. Special, special girls...

Bryan, from the time we decided to get this house, wanted a library of sorts somewhere. We were quickly running out of places to put it, so when we found out we had to take out dad's fireplace, we figured this would be the perfect place for them, so he was off!

When Bryan finally finished, he wanted so bad to show his dad. I have no doubts his dad thinks they are wonderful.

and...

Again, the paint was an eggshell from Kwal, this one was called Renovation...ironic ;) The stone on the fireplace was from Harristone and it was the cape cod color. We finished the mantle and the bookcases in red mahogony stain.

Before & After - The Front Room

after we tore off all the paneling to make sure there was no scariness hiding behind there, we found this window that had been closed off several years before and some water damage. After fixing the walls, we began the slow job of replastering with help from Alex and Danelle.

starting to paint...good thing I didn't know what I was getting into :)

AND...

tAdA!!!
You can't really tell from the pic cuz I'm such an awesome photographer, but the glass in the lights as well as the glass in the front door is that seeded glass....melt my heart I love that stuff!

The little bookcase was made by Bryan's great great grandfather. For his birthday last year, I had it refinished. We need more stuff on the walls (and a piano) but I like how it turned out. For those of you who care, all of the paint we used is from Kwal...this color is an eggshell paint called Astron. We got the lights from Lowes, and the carpet from Allman's carpet in Bountiful (LOVE them!).

Bryan's Beautiful Bookshelves...

One of the long-standing jokes of our marriage is anytime we go to a store, and we see something we want but can't afford, Bryan will matter-of-factly say, "I can build that." Doesn't matter if it's a kitchenaid mixer...he can build it :)

So, when we first started talking about what we wanted to do in this house, one of the things he wanted were built-in bookshelves in the bedroom next to the fireplace. We ran out of rooms to create his dream library, so this was to be the next best thing. Of course he said, "I could make those, easy!" Me, being the incredibly supportive wife that I am met his enthusiasm with doubt, reticence and a little "SURE you can." I know, I'm nice.

Well, 3 weeks, a few trips to lumber stores, and a lot of staining, sanding and drilling later...I'm happy to say I couldn't have been more wrong! They turned out absolutely gorgeous and I'm so proud of him! He could hardly fall asleep last night, as he was trying to decide which books to put on which shelves. This process will probably take a while...

Shutters and a Porch

Take a look at our latest finishing touches!Shutters!
A cute front porch!

We Passed!!!

Okay, I have never been a fan of tests, and inspections have an even more nasty connotation to them as far as I am concerned. So, needless to say, I was approaching today's FINAL inspection with the city on our house with some serious trepidation.

The inspector arrived, more or less on time, took a relaxed stroll through the new part of our house...checked some outlets, checked the smoke detectors, scribbled a few scribbles on his important pad of something something, and next thing I know, I am reading the word...

"PASSED"

I could hardly believe it. I didn't expect any major problems, but to PASS?! Too good to be true.

The only negative thing to come out of the experience, was that all of our smoke detectors are wired together, so when one goes off, they all go off. By the time he finished testing each one, they were all chirping like an aviary because of low batteries. So I changed all of the batteries...no small feat but that would take too long to explain why that is...anyways...continuing on...after all that, two lonely co detectors were chirping. I decided to ignore them. That worked for about 10 minutes, until the kids started getting irritated. When your kids are irritated, it is a short road to your own irritation. TWO HOURS later, and lots of undercover swear words, I silenced the chipper beasts. Nothing is broken, no one is worse for wear, but it definately has me rethinking the logic behind this modern day marvel.

Score!

We own one piece of furniture that we got brand new (a curio Bryan bought me for our first Christmas). Everything else is either a hand-me-down, a garage sale gem, a ksl.com killer deal, or furniture from my childhood. I am fine with that..especially with little kids, I think I would drive myself crazy trying to protect "new" stuff from their little hands, feet, and stickiness.

Our dresser is one I had when I was little...one of those awesome particle board/cardboard numbers. Five drawers for Bryan and I to share...we have literally been able to say our "[drawers] runneth o'er." We have never had a headboard. When we moved to Bountiful from Layton, we got rid of our extra couch because we knew we wouldn't have a family room, and we never got one once our first renters moved out. So, our family room has been all but empty of stuff to sit on. In my state, it has been woe-ful (and yes, that's my word, so don't give me flack!)

WELL...

Paul, the amazing awesome cutest contractor ever, told us he was taking his old bedroom set to DI and asked if we would want it. For being older than I am, you would think it would be yucky, but the opposite...it's gorgeous!!!

THEN...

I was distracting myself from puking and was perusing the free section of ksl.com (I can afford to window shop in that section hahaha!), when I saw a free couch and loveseat...in Bountiful! I called on it, not expecting much (over 100 people had viewed the ad). Well, the guy called me back, and now, thanks to Bountiful Boy and Paul, I have...

a couch

a loveseat

a chest of drawers (do you see all those drawers???)

a dresser (MORE drawers!)

a headboard (can you imagine these when I refinish them to red mahogony to match the bookshelves and mantel??? Gorgeous!!!!)

& a nightstand.

Can you say blessings???

Was it a mistake???

Okay, so most of you know I have this addiction to color. The plain white look just isn't for me. Well, I think I may have gone too far this time. My first, conservative thought was to paint the door black. Well...this is what I ended up with. I either need some reassurance or a couple kicks in the patoot. Mistake or no??? I'm scared....

P.S. We haven't bought a doorknob yet so ignore the gross brass one and the nice pink insulation if you can. Your opinion needs to be well-informed :)

A Roof Over Our Heads

Lookie Lookie!

It is hard to believe that a few short days ago, this was just a big cement hole. Three of the four walls and the chimney are now up. Paul works so fast...he's amazing. Even more amazing because every two seconds I find Aeden out there crouched next to him trying to help. He screams "I elp Paul! I elp Paul!" as I carry him away :)

For kicks, I thought I'd give you a quick rundown of everything we've gotten done in the past few days:

• take out chimney
• take out old plumbing
• rough in new plumbing
• take out moldy bathroom linoleum
• take out old old windows from future dining room. I got both windows out, and only broke one pane....not great, but not bad.
• start taking out the banister
• haul off wood on the north of the yard
• and so much more (at least I think there should be more...I just can't think right now).
  

Walls!