House Upheaval : Day 19

    I am almost with kitchen , now we're just waiting on countertops, the sink can't be done without countertops, the dishwasher can't be done without the sink and water so it 's a whole thing. But they should be here in a week. Which is pretty crucial because I'm having several Halloween Parties. As well as the countertops I have a lot of painting still to do. But even without those things done , I love my kitchen. It's gone from the most hated room in the house to the best room in the house.

House Upheaval : Day 1012

        I kid , it just seems like that long.  BUT it's the last day until the countertops come in. The guys have been great and it 's been really interesting. I've learned about my house. It turns out the original early 1800's structure was a cabin and IT'S STILL HERE ! They just wrapped the newer part around it ( the newer part being late 1800's) and went on. That's why there are cavities ( or animal highways, as I think of it). They wrapped it in clapboard and added the porch , my studio and kitchen. This explains why they didn't break into those cavities to make more space inside the house as I wanted to. Maybe they wanted to , too.  Apparently , it's sort of a bad idea to disrupt a cabin structure especially one this age. Seeing the evolution of this house from the inside out has been fascinating , though I completely realize that it's like geneology, it only matters if it's your own.  Regardless , I like thinking that maybe in the future someone might live here and be renovating and think of me as someone back in the 2010's and say  " Hey, that's when they put in the new kitchen ".  But that's just me , I'm a romantic.  With an almost finished new kitchen.

House Upheaval : Day 17

         My beautiful Hickory cabinets are in , and they are beautiful.  Unfortunately, the countertops won't be here for a couple of weeks , because of that I won't have water for a long time. But tomorrow the fridge gets moved into place and maybe my stove will come. So I'll have part of a kitchen back. And my cabinets are beautiful. I sometimes like to just go in and touch them.    Anyway, Contractor Dave has put the third coat of mud on the walls and it's really looking great.  Now, I have to start sanding doors and the window so I can start painting. Seriously , like right now. I can't wait to see that red trim go. And my cabinets might be lonely.

House Upheaval : Day 12

           Obviously , this is Contractor Dave and his lovely assistant Chaz.  In this picture Dave is "supervising" Chaz in his work and at the same time entertaining us with a story.  In the other photo clearly we're playing charades, Chaz is signing " sounds like" and Dave is....well I don't know what Dave is doing.  But I have to say the whole thing has been a lot more fun than I would've expected home renovation to be.

House Upheaval : Day 8

            Well,  the floor is two/thirds down which makes it much easier to get to the fridge , let me tell you.  But , also more importantly it's a sign that the " Prop up my house -Kitchen Renovation" is nearing an Amazing Finish !!!  This maybe slightly over-stated.  Unfortunately , I don't have photos of the reinforcement of the joints under the floor. If it was not the size of a postage stamp it could be a dancehall it's so strong now. I didn't get photos because I was running around looking for cabinetry that I could paint and undersized appliances. That didn't work so I revised my plan and got a clearance dishwasher and hickory cabinets , some on clearance some not. I love them. They're so clean and nice smelling and beautiful , I think.  Also , Contractor Dave was able to find a tidge more space so I could have regular appliances.  Surprisingly, small appliances are much more expensive and hard to find so they have to be shipped which adds to the expense.  In the last few days the electricians came and the plumbers , doing things that will improve my life and the house.  When the hard work is done it won't be finished though , I have to paint the floor , fix and paint the walls and tile but the important things will be done.  Step by step , it's getting done. I'm amazed.