sink love

I finally got a working sink in my kitchen.  I never knew how special that would be… just like that old song; “Don’t it always seem to go, you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.”  I was so overwhelmingly ecstatic I just had to post this on FaceBook – ( I don’t even like FB )

In order to get the sink in we first had to install a counter.  We decided to go with an 1 & 1/2 inch oak butcher block from Ikea.  Our counter length was one inch more than the 73″ one that they offer, so we had to buy the bigger one.  Let me tell you a few things about that:

1. The counter is huge, approximately 97″ x 27″.  It barely fit in my van.  It stretched from between the two front seats all the way to the rear door. So a car or a small SUV would never work for pick-up and delivery would cost more (199.00 shipping) than the counter itself.  Here’s its box in our dining room, it almost hits the ceiling:

2. It weighs a ton.  A ton. Which makes it incredibly difficult to maneuver in a small space, such as my 130 square foot kitchen. Here it extends into the hallway and sits on another cabinet awaiting the first cut. (the double-sink in the background was simply too big, out with it.)

3. It’s solid oak and hard as hell. Cutting the sink hole was painstakingly slow (at least with our jigsaw) and there was no room for error.

4. The catalog says it’s treated, but in reality you have to treat it with Behandla (bah-hand-la-la-la)  I am sure whatever it is ( latex based sealant of sorts? ), it must be sold at any local hardware store, but I bought mine at Ikea – because it was easy.

5. You must wait 24 hours for drying time between each coat and I think you need about 4 to 5 coats. I don’t know why I wrote directions on the can (?)- the graphic are perfectly clear……..bush 10-12 m-squared and for 24 hour keep it on the tip of your pointer finger.

6. Good news we have enough left over for some small cabinets that may someday flank our stove. (the stove we do not have yet)

So that’s where we are…..I have change my mind on the color for my accent wall….I was going with this vibrant red-orange (at the bottom of post), but all of a sudden I got this feeling I wanted  soft light colors inside the house.  So paint color is up in the air….just like my mind,  floating about without a clue of what I really want, but dead-fast in knowing I only want to paint once.

Is that even possible?

Cheers!

the ugly truth

Okay here goes: we have not had a working kitchen for quite some time.  We used to have a kitchen sink so we were able to kind of make due, but the sink has been gone now for what feels like forever.

This issue is compounded because one weeks ago a plumber came out and said he could NOT fix the sink in the upstairs bathroom.  He said maybe (maybe!! -wtf?)…. maybe he could fix it if he broke through the ceiling in the dining room, and he even added, “I may have to take out some of the wall.”

This was too much for me.  Plumber-man was scheduled to come out the next day to do the nasty; to destroy the one part of the house that isn’t broken, but I got cold feet.  I called him off.  I have not heard from him since.  Therefore, the sink upstairs doesn’t work either.

So where’s the ugly?……right below.  As it really is with a bucket of dirty dishes to the left waiting to be cleaned by the maid.  (we don’t have a maid)

that’s my dog Batman sleeping under the stairs

Let me clarify: it’s an awesome sink, but we have not cleaned it up just yet.  The entire basement has remained in “AS-IS” condition since the day we moved in.  Which is funny because I wanted it fixed-up first, so we could find places for things and only have to move them once.  Oh well.

Now that’s pretty messy, but wait, wait, there’s more.  To the side opposite of where Batman is napping, is our temporary kitchen.  Including a banana peel and cantaloupe skin awaiting the compost pile.  I have absolutely no system for compost.  This will have to be solved rather soon.

I didn’t clean or move a thing for this photo.  You can see I also brushed my teeth in this sink. Plus we have a spray bottle of ammonia and water, next to a squeeze bottle of agave, cardboard recycling, and cooked rice from last night’s dinner.  Yummy.

So maybe you have been here-done this, or maybe you are like me and you are plugging along and getting by.  Tell me about it.  Share pics if you want….I can’t be the only one.

My Advice:   Don’t pretend it’s okay, because then your motivation slips, at least it did for me.  I say tolerate but do not “like” and keep on moving forward.

****News Flash: Low and behold I may see a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel.  I have been informed, it is quite possible, likely probable, that we will install a sink tonight.  Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so very excited.  Cheers!

drool tired

I just woke up and there was a river of drool seeping out the corner of my mouth.  Man I must have been tired…..h*ll I still am tired.

I got to thinking about our ambitious project only to realize what I imagined and what is reality are two different things.  For some odd reason I thought that everything would be finished and I would basically shop my own stuff, (my storage unit)  taking only what is beautiful or useful.  Casually having  a plan without doing any of the planning.  I had visions of placing these favored items in their own perfect spots that were all ready and waiting.

not my beautiful house

Reality is awesome because it can shake you up and spit you out without even trying.  And it’s always there for you anytime you want it. It’s very dependable.

So here is the reality: my one son decided he wanted to move in one day, and he spent that day moving nearly everything he owns into the house.  His room isn’t even painted yet.  Most his stuff is in the living room at the moment.

We don’t even  know which bed we are bringing over (queen or full) so we are still sleeping on the air mattress.  The mattress and box springs might have to be hoisted up outside the house to the second floor through the balcony.  ( we have a very tight turning stairway)

The dog chewed (my dogs’ blog) up my new furniture in the last years and I wanted those repaired before they entered my perfect home. ( they don’t chew furniture any longer, got to love puppy stage)  I don’t even  know how long my sofa is, and its in the back of the storage unit  sitting there damaged.

I had all this down time while waiting for the house to close.  All I did was day dream and seriously visualize about how perfect it would be.  These dreams are still in my head, I can see them.  I am just now  reaching the conclusion, that everyone else on the planet has known for years; there is no magic wand.

Reality is telling me to slow down, practice patience, strive for balance, even  actually eat and sleep more – maybe even read.  BTW: Here’s one of my favorite blogger’s (non-renovator) summer reading list

It’s been close to one thousand degrees lately and everything is dry and thirsty….my veggie garden is extremely sad.  I tried to start it from seed and apparently I didn’t conscientiously consider how shade and sun would effect my baby seedlings. (I will be buying plants to populate my garden any day now.)

So I guess this post is more of a rant then anything else.

I am such a newbie at this.  I am betting I hit every pitfall out there and I bet waking-up drooling won’t be so uncommon.  Ewe, I did just type that./or

I do love this project.   I actually love learning what renovations, actual renovation, really meas.  I totally enjoy reading all the bloggers out there that have and are going through similar issues -keep writing.

It’s all good.  Now that I know,  I’ll try to be better balanced and less insane. Cheers!

trash plus 3.99

I found these two cedar (?) planters curb-side waiting for their journey to a local landfill.  They even were filled with high grade planting soil….I could not resist.  They virtually jumped into my car.

One box was split, some wood glue and a clamp handled that issue in no time at all.  So far so good.

I already had these six foot hardwood stakes that I bought at the local discount store, one package only 3.99.  I bought two packs.

Prior to finding these planters curb-side, I was actually planning on buying the planters for my project.  What was I thinking?  ( Disclaimer: I live near an area where people throw away anything and everything – maybe that happens everywhere I don’t know)

After a brief lesson with this saw, a compound miter saw, I was on my way. My goal is/was to build a semi privacy wall of flowers for the south facing end of our front porch.  Currently, morning glories are started in the box and I will add some hanger greenery, plus fill in the base color.

I also might try hyacinth bean vine, which I first grew while living in Texas.  I brought the seeds up north and have been  growing it ever since.  Up here it blooms late August and September.  It is spectacular. (shown below)

Once the box is populated, and it’s as pretty as I am imagining, I’ll be sure post an update.

I am hoping it will not appear junkie or cluttered once the plants take over. If it does I will move it somewhere else.

Have a great day!  Cheers!

Finished floor Comparison- Dining room

The picture says it all.  The floors turned out fantastic.  Now we must finished the baseboards and walls. We will be living in the house in 5 more day – still without a kitchen.  I will protect these floor like a maniac.  I am going to buy The cardboard roll stuff, called Ram Board, show below, while we paint and work on various other things.

I am super pleased with the color and finish.  Here’s a close up look at the living room.

Yay!

Sneak Peek

So our floor guy has started on the house.  He has sanded two bedrooms, and like a kid I can’t wait to show the improvement.

The first bedroom has some damage on the floor from someone moving furniture, but it will barely show once the stain is applied.

In our bungalow, like most all bungalows from this time period (1923)  the upstairs floors are all pine and the first floor is oak, except the kitchen which is maple. We are not doing the kitchen this time around, as bigger changes for the kitchen are planned in the future.

Here is the before shot of bedroom one: (sorry it’s blurry I didn’t have my glasses with me at the time)

” Where are my glasses? ” <- I say that a million times a day.

before bedroom 1

They spilled paint all over the place, and I really can’t say what else the prior people did to this poor floor.

Here is the the same floor sanded:

bedroom 1 sanded

You can see the marks but, they do not concern me.  It’s a small room.  Once it is furnished, it will look fab.

Bedroom two, on the other hand, looks like brand new wood.  It’s just about perfect.  See below.

bedroom 2 sanded

We will be picking stain(s) today or tomorrow and hope to be back in the house in about 8 days.  I am not sure whether the upstairs will be as dark as the first floor, different wood and all.  I am leaning on making it lighter upstairs (?)  I am still pondering this, so any opinions are appreciated.  I don’t know much about stain on pine, other than it takes it up differently.  For me, that knowledge isn’t very descriptive of the final look…..lol.

With this work being done we are out of the house, and slowly waking up to the huge job of picking and choosing what will find a spot in  the house and what items we will just let go.    I am picking from items that I have saved through the entire downsizing process.  This is the final cut if you will, who will get chopped?

Less is more…….I keep telling myself.

“My journey to living better with less.”

Cheers!

Short post

I just couldn’t help myself, after getting this idea in my head I had to execute right away.  It may not be earth shaking in originality, but to tell you the truth I don’t have to have everything the latest and greatest most original according to “their” standards.  ( again who ever “they” may be)  Ha!  Basically I do what I want, some good, some mediocre and some fails.

This story is in photos, because I don’t think I can make sense with words right now.  I was inspired and educated by Stacy at A Goode House.  Visit her site you will not be disappointed, I promise.

Anyway the other day I made a modest purchase at Goodwill.  A few pieces of Russell Wright Pottery. If you want a more in depth profile of the man , his ideas and his work visit this post: design-russell-wright . Be sure to watch the short video at the bottom, it’s beautiful.

So here is my photo post:

This little combination project from the very start to finish makes me happy.  Plus now every time I look at this, it will bring gratitude and joy into my life – and that is really awesome!  Cheers!

I am still doing this

Well for those who I have met through this concept of renovations, I have one thing to ask/say; How do you possibly do all the work and still have time to blog about it.  Wow… I am so impress with you all!

So here’s my current deal: I am working on the  kitchen while we also prepare the floors for refinishing.  We are basically camping at the house due to the fact that we are not moving in until the floors are completed.  That means an air mattress, and a hot plate and limited clothing and all the other useful things you have in your own home….like drawers and hangers, and something other than lawn chairs to cozy up on after a huge day of work.

To make a long story short about the kitchen: this is our semi redo, with major work to be done later down the road.  We plan to move all the appliances and the outside door at some point in time.  But for now I am changing it enough to satisfy our need to make it our own.

I stripped the floors down to the wood.  Maple covered with a black tar-like substance that I think has asbestos in it.  Anyway I will be covering that this time around, and next time they will be restored to the maple. I had to remove two layer of floor coverings, some people have found much worse.  One woman I know found tile and linoleum, three layers of it on top of carpet…..that is just too gross for me to think about.

For now we are going to tile with Armstrong peel and stick black and white vinyl tiles.  Apartment Therapy followers will recognize the strip pattern, I think this will work well in the space and I also think it’s cute and fresh.  One thing you all should know – you can only get this tile from Menards on-line.  I used to be able to go to Home Depot or Lowe’s and get it any day of the week.

click to enlarge

We are replacing the tiny counter with a wood, and keeping the original cupboards be leaving the top doors off. Our appliances are black, and rather large.  Everything will just fit, but I have to solve the problem of no work area, prep area.  We are thinking of making/buying a piece that would extend out from the wall between the outside door and the doorway to the small room off the kitchen where the frig will be.  I will let you see what we come up with once we are finished.

I have been working for the last year and a half to become somewhat of a minimalist.  The open cabinets will help to keep me in check, because I cant hide clutter this way, everything will be in the open. We will have a pantry, (the old coat closet) and I plan to have that super organized.  I can dream, can’t I?

click to enlarge

Forgot to mention, the back splash was a crooked nightmare without any grout. This is a small area and I am planning on subway tiles.  Simple and somewhat predicable, but I like the era of the tiles and I believe they will be perfect for  this 1923  house.

There’s one wall I don’t have a photo of (atm) and it has a two double hung windows next to each other.  The wood work will remain white, and currently I am thinking of a red-orange accent wall to make the window pop.  This may change at any moment – as with a black and white kitchen your options are endless. My inspiration, a lily, had wilted in the process of matching….but it’s close.

I have a few photo additions to my garden as well check it out if you like….. Cheers!

Demo in the basement – small room, dog room

The basement is scary.  I have seen worse, but this is pretty raw I’d say.

The goal here is to take everything out, and basically paint it white, and design a dog room, and a workout area, and a gaming area/movie watching area. I have developed a bad habit of not taking before photos.  I did it again today.

Here is the demo, the maybe dog room.

I needed a saw for these shelves. So I’ll have to tackle this later – maybe tomorrow.

I thought the wood behind the cabinets was kind of pretty.  Only one wall is like this so we’ll see.

Front garden in process

I have to give what is there a chance to grow to see exactly what I have.  I hope to sculpt the bed soon and add plants and flowers, and reshape the old fashioned shurb roses after I see how the grow.  They were way overgrown and very weak.  Now is the time to bring them back to life.

So this is really the “before”, that provides me the canvas fro the real “after.”