7 years of Stuff

It's now May and we have lived at 1732 for almost 3 weeks.  For the last 6 months we have been doing nothing but construction, little moves and preparation yet we are still living in a sea of boxes and repeatedly ask "where is the...?"

But it really pays off when Sophia wakes up happy

in her bright & cheery purple bedroom.

Or can walk herself down to her friend's house to

hang out with them for a solid 5 hours.

Or when it's so quiet that we can hear things

scurrying in the yard.

We're still under construction, and will be for at least 6-8 more months. 

• The final walls and fixtures going up in the second floor bathroom.
• Building a fine looking temporary/canning kitchen.
• Tricking out awesome closets for all of our junk.
• Fixing up the first floor bathroom.
• Ripping out the walls and reconstructing the kitchen.
• Rearranging the "natural" landscaping.
• Painting the first floor.
• Buffing the floors on the first floor (no real sanding, thankfully).
• and about 104 other things.
• whew, that's a lot of things



finishing the canning kitchen cabinets

fabulous use of a weird closet

getting settled



do you see the halo?

 Next up - What's going on with that garden, is something living in there?







We're Leaving Home

1st Grade!

As I write this, my brother, who has recently moved into our old house on Layton Blvd, is posting photos of our old (his new) backyard. 

The backyard where the first days of school were photographed.

Building the Big Girl Bed

The house where things were

built for the first time.

Amazing cakes for my 40th

Big (40th) birthday
parties were had,

as well as countless
 holiday parties,

Thanksgivings, and
celebrations of all kinds.

So, as we say goodbye to Layton Blvd and hello to 49th Street, it is bittersweet.  We will miss our friends, but we hope they come visit us!  Our new block is full of kids, more girls than you can possibly imagine!  People BBQ all summer, drink beer in the front yard on nice days and cut your grass for you when you don't yet have a mower (soon!).  We are looking forward to making new memories!  Come visit us, we have room to spare.

Sophia and Mara Gramling looking like sad American Indians

Swirls, dips and gouges

It's March 11th and we've just completed week three of floor refinishing.  For some reason, this floor feels like more work than any other floor I've ever done, and I have done about 4 years of floors.  Perhaps 7 years and an office job later have something to do with it? 


On the Floor, Edging-Self Portrait

Big Machining

We both feel like we've just accomplished a major hurdle.  With two more coats to go, we're nearing completion on the 2nd floor. 

1st Coat Done!

What happens after the 1st coat...BACON BLOODY MARYS!

Looking Ahead to Summer

1st Floor Painting

As I look back over my posts and photos, the second floor is looking alternately Girlie Extreme and Masculine Bungalow.  Today, I think I feel Modern Clean meets Moody Prairie.

Inspirational Palette

Fabric

Moody Colors

Floor Sanding Madness

Madness or masochism, floor sanding is never fun, but when it's done...everything comes together!

I haven't sanded a floor in a few years, so anticipating back pain and sore arms, I overdosed on Ibuprofen and worked as hard and long as I could on Saturday without stopping. Stopping is where it all falls apart. The muscles start to scream from using them in an inappropriate way, pulling and pushing a 200 lb machine is work that this body (used to sitting 8 hours in front of a computer) is not used to.

Trent had the opportunity to edge the side walls all day Sunday, nose to the floor, he managed to get pretty far. It's looking like we're on schedule, with next week's goal to finish the sanding and maybe even a coat or 2 of polyurethane. One step closer...

Thanks to Matthew Gramling for the use of the gear.  http://www.gramlingresurrection.com/

Trent looking exhilarated!

Lots of radiators to do

The secret door!

Window of Opportunity

BEFORE

The 2nd floor bathroom gets a window makeover.

From the outside you might wonder what's wrong with this window and why would we be changing it.  The answer - from the inside it's really inconvenient.

The new shower will be located up against this wall, with the shower surround taking up 3/4 the height of the wall.  As I have had the opportunity to shower in front of a window before in every rental I've ever lived in: it's cold, the wood rots and, obviously, it gives fodder to spectators on the street.

This weekend Trent spent 3 days cutting out the window, filling the hole, re-framing the original window and viola! 
It now looks like this!

AFTER

On the interior, this window will be a transom over the shower. 

I, personally, have little to show for this weekend since I spent the entire time in the closets painting.  So much for claiming to be "done" with that.  It's done for real now.  Next week -the floors will actually get done and things will come together.

Painting Hurdle Accomplished

It's mid-February and while most families are busy sledding, making chili and sitting in front of the fire, we are hard at work.  Next year we will be that family sledding!  This month, however, we are the family that is listening to Justin Bieber while painting every weekend.  The 2nd floor is mostly completed, with the exception of the huge, tall, enormous front hall that Colin has graciously offered to help with.  Even though everyone has skeptically questioned my choice of Matte (mid-tone warm brown, see previous post) for the hallway, I think it is going to offer a rich, inviting entry to our second floor, the informal space. 

Here's a smattering of messy photos of our glorious, light filled 2nd floor. Next month...floors!

Master Bedroom.  Who wouldn't wake up happy in here. 
It's not as "baby blue" as this appears. Sky Blue is more accurate.
Kind of a Victorian color choice, but with artwork and earth tone textiles, the color will become more subdued.

Master Bedroom.  You'd think those closets would be big right...? wrong.

Sophia's Bedroom, she's fairly pleased with her choice.  Very purpley.
Yes, she is wearing a Santa hat.  She's still stuck in Christmas Land.

Sophia's Play Room.  Considerably less purpley, she showed restraint here.

Art Room. Trent added wainscoting to the lower walls that were crumbling plaster.  The room has been transformed!
Next up here- the tub sink installation, shelves and counter space.

Family Room into Library.  This is a repeat, I just like to look at it.