A Homeowner's job Is Never Done

Okay, so maybe you remember, or maybe you don't, but we're currently remodeling our family room.  Yes, the computer is still in Lydia's bedroom, but we're working on that.

The good news is, we're making progress.  Tons of progress!  So much progress that you can actually see the progress now!  Wow, did I say "progress" enough times?  Ha ha!

So, the reason it has been taking so long: behind the scenes work is very, VERY extensive.  Old houses have a lot of updates that need to be done.  For example, knob and tube wiring is dangerous, so any of that sort of wiring that you uncover, you must replace with lovely, new wiring.  And, someone in this house a long time ago thought it was a good idea to have splices in the middle of a wall with no box.  Naughty, naughty.  We also rerouted pipes and ducts.  (By "we" I mean Lance and any helpers he gets from time to time, of course.  I just hang out with the baby all day.)  Oh, and he had to frame the entire room, because, also in an old house, the walls are pretty skewed.  On the outer wall, it was just panelling on the cement.  We also uncovered the crawl space (gross), and the rest of the walls were crooked.  So, as much fun as the Dr. Seuss look is, we wanted to do things right, so that required re-framing everywhere.  Oh, and we moved a doorway.  So, pretty long list of things before the real fun happens.

The past couple of weeks have been a lot of fun to see happen.  Drywall went up, and a lot of painting is done!  It actually looks like a room instead of an entrance to the creepy, crawly wonderland that is the crawl space (shudder).

This week, Lance is finishing up the paint and getting ready for a major reno' day with family, doing the drop-ceiling.  It's been a couple years since we've had a ceiling in there.  We've seen the joists for so long that I might be a little claustrophobic with an actual ceiling.  It will be awesome, though.  I'm so excited!

After this weekend, we'll have to finish the doorway to the furnace room, put in base boards, and carpet.  I'm sure I'm missing something, because there always seems to be something new to add to the list, but it's getting so close!  I can't wait for Lydia to have an actual room to herself!  And I can't wait to get the office clutter and other clutter organized in the new and improved family room!

I don't have pictures.  Sorry, but I want the big reveal to be a surprise.  But let me tell you, you'll love what we did with the under-the-stairs space.  Lance definitely rocked that space!

Then, on to the next reno'...  (sigh)  A homeowner's job is never done...

So, what other renovations do we have planned?  Well, we'd like to carpet the bedroom downstairs.  Right now, there are disgusting, linoleum tiles glued onto the cement in there, so it's not very cozy.  And I might convince Lance to paint the walls, because the faux wood panelling look is just yucky. 

We're planning on doing the basement bathroom next.  I'm super psyched because I get to choose the wall color!  With Lance's approval, of course, but I've already run some ideas past him, and he's on board.

We're also hoping to get new counter tops in our kitchen, just for that wow factor for when we actually do sell our house. It will look like a gourmet kitchen, even though it's still pretty small, but with dark, new counter tops, our white cabinets with glass doors, and our recently refinished hardwood floors, it will be gorgeous!

So, what are your renovation/dream home plans like?