Renovation Reality: Nearing the Finish Line

It seems like time is slowing down, or maybe it's just progress slowing as we approach the finish line.

We painted in anticipation of the doors and windows being installed, but then we didn't have doors and windows until last Wednesday.

The felt paper went up on the house in anticipation of stone siding, since the windows hadn't come on time, but the rain held up that work plan.

But, at least the floor was put in this past week. And it is glorious with the paint and the new doors and windows.

Now that the floors are down, I had to finish the wood that was hidden under the ugly brass threshold piece to complete the transition between rooms (because we are not putting in T-molds). I had to sand and fill a huge crack and nail holes with wood filler, but the stain is taking nicely, although a horizontal pattern has begun to appear. I guess it'll just add character to our beautiful old oak floor.

The other threshold looks more finished, though the difference between the two woods (maple and oak) is pretty distinct.

The first of our lights went up in the dining room last week, and it is perfect. For us, for the room, the house, for our style. I am so happy with it, I can't wait to see the rest of them installed.

And we expect to get our cabinets in next Tuesday.

Or Wednesday.

Or Thursday.

DH blames me because the samples of our floor color and preferred cabinet stain color didn't arrive at the cabinet maker's on Thursday last week when the Post Office said it would. Didn't anticipate that at all. It arrived Friday.

The only big decision left to make is the ceiling fan for the back deck. We finally found one that could work, but we need to be sure it is the right length.

We ordered lights for the posts out back, and one of them arrived on Friday.

Our island light arrived on Friday too. I sent an email on Friday morning asking where it was, because my order status said they were delivered. Turns out it broke in transit and was returned, and a replacement light was shipped out. The replacement arrived about an hour after I sent the email inquiry. I think I got the new light before I got their response.

We may have a kitchen without counter tops for about 10 days. If the cabinets are installed this Thursday, and they're measured on Friday, it'll be a week to two weeks before the granite can be cut and installed. Ah, the hurry up and wait theme again.

And then there's the stone siding, stone steps, and window box. If only the weather would cooperate. They wanted to start work on the steps and siding on Friday, and it poured rain, so they went home. It feels like those dreams when you're trying to run as fast as you can, but you're bogged down, and are moving in slow motion.

Renovation Reality: Hurry Up and Wait

We have drywall!

That is such a huge milestone. Of course the dust is an inch thick on the subfloor, and everywhere else, and I have no idea how to get it all up, but it's a great feeling to know that the rebuilding process has begun. From here it's painting, installing doors and windows, installing appliances, cabinets and lighting. Then the stonework outside, stone steps, wooden roofing, lighting and fans, and we are pretty much at the finish line.

Of course I'm getting ahead of myself.

This past week or so was wasted running here and there for kitchen door quotes below $2000. Nobody had anything in stock we liked, which would have been the least expensive. Everything we liked was around $1000 with at least 3 weeks before delivery. Then Clint started searching on Craigslist. There are tons of doors there--the same doors we were looking at, but at half the price.

So on Saturday (7/27) our sitter played with the girls and we drove all the way to Beaver County, PA to to look at a beautiful door with oak frame.

The best part was making a plan with DH on the way there. "Signals for if we don't like it?" he asked.

"I will tell you I don't like it." I said.

"Good, don't blurt out anything positive. Point out things you don't like, even if you like it."

"I can't do that. If I like it, I'll be quiet so I don't ruin the fun of your negotiation."

"But then I won't know if you like it. If you like it, say 'the eagle has landed' (or something like that--I don't remember exactly what he said)" he said.

"Or, 'the chair is against the wall.'" I said. "How about if I like it, I just poke you?"

And that's what I did, almost as soon as I saw it.

Of course they made a little small talk (he made his own wine, and was selling the door and some appliances for a friend); then they negotiated for a few minutes. Clint offered $100 less than he was asking. In the end, they met half way and the guy even threw in a bottle of his homemade wine.

Yes, the door fit perfectly in my car. Then we had a nice lunch at a bistro on the main street, and then back home with our beautiful door.

The workers came on Monday and were impressed with our door. Since the other doors and windows weren't expected until 8/1, they fixed our leaky and rotten porch roof, and then moved on to another job until the doors and windows arrive.

What to do in the meantime? Paint.

A lot.

By the way, tray ceilings are really tricky to paint.

So, after two days of painting 3 different colors, it's finally done, and dry. And it looks beautiful.

We even painted down the hallway so that the old plaster walls had a new coat and looked better, plus all the imperfections were patched by the drywall guru, so we kind of had to paint in there. The hallway needs new lights too.

And we are ready for the wood floors to go in, which have been acclimating in the middle of the work zone for the past week. Can't wait for those to go in. But that's next week.