Days 87-92 - Like watching paint dry

Oh, we're so close ... it's right there, within view ... but yet, we ... aren't .... there .... yet. It's so close that for the first time in this project, I feel like I'm waiting. For this whole time, since the project started in late June, I never really felt that impatient. Everything was "ongoing" and I didn't get too caught up in wondering when it would be done. But now, I know what has to be finished, and it isn't all that much - so it's just the waiting and watching. Like watching paint dry.

Which is appropriate, since this last week has been filled with a lot of ... painting. Painting is not easy to live through - they're everywhere, prepping, sanding, painting ceilings, trim, then finally the walls. I know I already mentioned this, but our living space is still getting smaller (didn't think it was possible!) before it gets bigger. For this past week, the kids have been back in their bedroom, but Tim and I have been camping out in the basement. Wish I thought it was as "fun" as the kids did the week before!

When I last wrote, we were out of the house for the weekend while they finished the wood floors on the first floor. Well, we returned home Monday morning and caught a glimpse of the gleaming finish just as they were laying down the red rosin paper.

Lusvi covering newly finished old floor in living room

New floor in office/guest bedroom

All under wraps

And on Tuesday, there was another big milestone:

Now you see it ...

Now you don't!

This is sort of like one of those "What's the difference" pictures in magazines - everyone notice the storage container in the driveway is GONE?! We were able to move all of our stuff into the garage and have that lovely hunk of metal hauled away - gotta get to this driveway before the ground freezes.

Also accomplished this week - LOTS of plumbing hookups and electrical connections. We've got working sinks upstairs and flushing toilets. We've got HEAT (phew, just in time - temps have dipped into 30s!). We've got lights! Here are a few examples:

Overhead drum pendant in master bedroom

Ceiling fan/light in Carys' room

But back to that painting. I do have a few shots of our freshly painted bedroom ...

Benjamin Moore "Pale Oak" in bedroom - all dressed up with some lighting and a new door. Oh, and check out the w/d in their new home on 2nd floor!

In the spotlight ...

Here we are at night:

Days 84-86 - Floored

Our adventures in flooring continue ... the kids spent the rest of the week "camping" in the basement. Carys loves it and thinks it's the greatest thing. The new floors on the second floor were done and cured by Thursday morning - so nice and shiny!! We all snuck up to look at them before they put down the red rosin paper to protect the floors while they finish the painting and plumbing and electrical work.

Meanwhile, the guys continued to work on installing the wood flooring on the first floor. They blended it all in where the wall used to divide the living room from the old first floor bedroom - this area is now part living room, part hallway.

Ready for sanding and coating

Tim and I had our same "bedroom" in the dining room up until Saturday morning, when we had to clear out of there so they could sand the dining room floors along with the other first floor rooms on Saturday. Oh, that was fun - packing that up. We had left the hutch and sideboard alone during the project, with all those highly breakable glassware and dishes inside. But now it had to get carefully packed and/or relocated. After a late Friday night and an early Saturday morning - plus some extra muscle from Carlos and Lusvi to move furniture - the place was ready to go for first floor finishing.

Won't be cooking this weekend!

Also on Saturday morning, the granite guys showed up to install the granite counter top for the vanity. Very exciting! Been so curious to see this come in!

One sink in, one to go ...

By noon on Saturday, we skipped on out of there - time to escape the smell of the polyurethane and the logistical issues of not being able to actually walk to any of the bathrooms or fit in the kitchen, not to mention not having a great spot to sleep. Ah, the little things. So, another getaway - this time to the Hamptons (er ... ah ... the Hampton Inn, that is). Nice comfy spot to watch the Red Sox beat the Tigers in Game 6 to win the American League Championship! And guess who is a proud member of the "I stayed up for the whole thing" club??

"Take a picture of the bags under my eyes, Mom!"

Days 81-83 - On the floor

As we inch closer to the finish line, I have to admit that tonight, I feel further away than ever. It's all about perception, and even though everything is built and sealed up and filled in - we have temporarily lost some of the little bit of house we've been clinging to during construction. What's happening is the floors are being done, which means that wherever there are wood floors, we can't be there. Bob's doing the finishing in two phases, so we only have to be out of the house for a few days - he was actually able to do it in a way that we wouldn't have to leave at all, but I decided it would be better to get our physical selves out of this house (and try to preserve what is left of our sanity!).

So tonight, the kids - evicted from their bedroom upstairs - are camping out in the basement. They look pretty cozy, though - kids are the best at turning inconveniences into adventures! Nice of them to remind me of this ...

Some glimpses of the work on the floors:

Sanding machine ready to go in front bedroom

Guys "feathering in" new wood flooring to blend with old in living room

And, while all this is going on inside, looks like some blades of grass are sprouting out back!

Thanks for watering every day, Tim!

Days 75-80 - Taking out the trash

This was a momentous week in the project - the dumpster is gone!

Picking up the last load

That thing has decorated our front yard since June - so nice to see it gone. The guys immediately went to work cleaning up the site, moving out any tools and materials that would no longer be needed. This is a huge step - as you can see from the changes in the front of the house over last week. Between the clean up and finishing the last bits of siding by the garage and mudroom entrance, it no longer looks like a construction site!

Here's the house on Monday

And here it is on Wednesday - all cleaned up!

Starting on Friday, Byron and Ervin were here to start laying down wood flooring upstairs. I love seeing the floors go in - now, it is really looking like a home. The smell of the wood permeates the house, in a good way.

And, all week long, Carlos, Leo and Lusvi continued painting - the colors are going on, and so far so good. As I mentioned, I spent many days stressing over paint color selection, so I've been anxiously awaiting the reality of seeing those colors on the walls.

Pink Cadillac for a pink-loving girl

Days 73 and 74 - A Room With a View

Ah, the window. The big window. The big window in the front gable. Can't miss it. Well, we kinda missed it. Without going into the nitty gritty, there was a little switcheroo on the window - you might have seen a different one in earlier posts. As of Friday, the official window is now in and it sure do look purty!

Out with the old ...

In with the new

Byron checking out the view

By the end of the week, Byron and Ervin also finished putting up the shingles on the gable. Also, Julio and some of the other guys put in a retaining wall for the driveway and the back exit from the basement.

And for a little frosting on the cake, Bob sent over some landscaping guys on Saturday morning - they regraded the backyard (which had been quite the mess after all the excavating and construction), spread down some loam, and seeded the whole back and side. Thanks, Bob! Kids have missed having a yard!

Days 71 and 72 - Nothing muddy about it!

As the week went along, the guys kept working on the interior trim, including the doors, baseboards, window sills, etc, as well as finishing up the tile in the master bath.

Byron and Ervin working on doorway casing - oops, pink car in the way!

Shower tile all done - thanks, Lusvi!

One of the most exciting things that happened this week, though, was when Chris came back to put in the custom cabinets in the mudroom. This is like Christmas morning to me! To have a designated spot to put all our shoes and coats and bags when we walk in - previously, we had a small coat rack by our front door and a black plastic boot tray. So, you can see - this will be life-changing!!

Cubbies! (will be painted white)

Bench with shoe storage underneath; shelves at garage door for keys, mail, etc.

Chris even brought his puppy with him to help!

Days 69 and 70 - Trim and Tile

Many hands on deck starting this week! Byron and Ervin have been working on interior doors, window trim, baseboards, etc. Carlos and Lusvi have been tiling and grouting the mudroom and bathroom. Julio and Reuben have been finishing up the side deck and steps, and pulling up the wood flooring in the 1st floor hall and family room area.

Byron working on trim around laundry closet doors

Carys' bedroom turned into workshop!

Laundry closet w/doors

Campfire?

Old floor stripped, ready for new

Carlos laying down mudroom floor

Sweet!

Corner bench in shower