Almost finished a room...

Week 4:

It is actually starting to look like we're making some progress... On Friday night, Michael and his friend Dave worked on hanging the beadboard up in the bathroom. Thank goodness, the fish are finally gone. There is only one piece left and the beadboard will all be hung.




I worked on patching the holes in the back bedroom and finished patching all the ceilings.

On Saturday, my mom and I went to Home Depot and purchased a vanity and toilet for the bathroom. Then we started in on the painting. We got the ceiling and the walls painted in the bathroom so it is starting to really look good. Michael worked on cutting some more tile for the floor.



Next, I started in on painting the back bedroom. Since it was bright blue, the paint doesn't cover up very well. However, it does look a lot better. Michael started in on putting down the laminate flooring so this room is going to be a huge improvement.



While Michael worked on the laminate flooring, I worked on the front bedroom. This one is the closest to being finished. I painted the ceiling and this is apparently what happens when you do that (which of course, Michael thought was hilarious. I didn't see him offering to help though...) -


I finished the ceiling and started in on cutting in the room. I was determined to finish that room that night. But then.... I ran out of paint. So we called it a night.

On Sunday, I picked up some more paint and then taped off the room. I rolled the walls and began painting the trim. It is starting to look really good. I should be able to finish it this week.

Michael's stepdad came over and sprayed the ceilings. I was really excited because it meant we could finish painting all the rooms. Then this happened... -

Apparently, old houses have wallpaper on the ceilings. So when we sprayed, the paint was too heavy for the wallpaper, and it peeled off in the dining room and one bedroom. So now we have to paint the ceilings again. They will probably end up looking even better, but still, it is one more thing we have to do and it means all the time I spent patching the ceilings was kind of a waste...

We should be able to get a lot done this week because my vacation starts Wednesday. I hope to get everything painted in the next week. We will see...

Filling in the holes...

On Monday, Michael worked a little more on getting some beadboard up in the bathroom and he spray painted the bathtub again.

He also worked on filling the hole in the hallway and I added a little touch...

No one will see it once the hardwood is put down, which is probably the only reason Michael let me do it. I think it's funny.

Then Wednesday, Michael and his dad fixed the hardwood in the front bedroom so there is no longer a big hole in the floor.

Hopefully, we will get a lot done this weekend. The second coat should be going on the walls and hopefully the ceilings will get painted. More pictures to come....

Week 3

Week 3:

It is now actually starting to look like we've done some work. Michael's dad came over Friday and the two of them worked all day on the bathroom floor. They tore up the rotted wood where the toilet used to be and the rotted wood in the front bedroom. Then they replaced the wood in the bathroom and put down backerboard in the bathroom. They ran into a little trouble finding the wood to go in the front bedroom, so meanwhile, we have a big hole in the floor. Since there is no sub-floor, you just see all the way to the dirt. It's a little strange.



On Saturday, we got up early and headed to - where else - Home Depot, to get some supplies. Then we headed over to the house. I worked on patching the ceilings, which I have decided is my least favorite chore of everything we have done. But I got it done. Now the spots just need to be sanded and then they can be painted. Then my mom came over and helped me start painting. We started with the dining room. Of course, we totally Tom Sawyer-ed my dad into helping (the brush goes which way...?). We finished painting the dining room (first coat) and started on the front bedroom. Michael's family came over and checked everything out. Plans were made on what to do with the kitchen and they picked up some tile for the bathroom. Michael worked on putting up the beadboard in the bathroom, which I think looks really cool. Saturday night we went to Lowe's and got a new lawnmower and edger (and some creeper said, "girl, it looks like your grass is growin'").

On Sunday, it was back to painting. My mom and I finished the front bedroom, the living room, and the middle bedroom.

Michael's mom worked on tiling the bathroom. It is looking pretty good now.

Michael did a lot of work in the yard, including mowing in the middle of the day, which I thought was a little nuts considering its 101 degrees outside. He also started painting the bathtub which is going to look great when he finishes.

All in all, a very productive weekend. The house is starting to come together. As Michael says, we're 90% done with 90% to go...

Over the weekend...

Day 12:

Busy, busy day.

Today's focus was really the bathroom. Michael got to work on tearing out the vanity - not as easy as we had hoped. But he finally got it done. Sanding then continued on the bathroom walls. Meanwhile, I started digging up some of the monkey grass in the front flower beds - again, not as easy as we had hoped. I didn't get very far. I continued spackling the walls, and I believe they are ready for paint. Mom and dad came over to check everything out. Then we headed over to the Home Depot to stock up on some supplies - paint, beadboard for the bathroom, backerboard for the bathroom floors, etc. Now we're ready to really start working... Michael pulled the mirror out of the wall and then used a piece of dry-wall to patch the hole. We are making some progress.

Day 13:

Michael worked on hanging up our brand new mailbox and house numbers. I think they look awesome.

Then it was back to the bathroom. Michael tried to get the water turned off, but to no avail - the valve is broken. So he called MLGW and they came over and shut the water off for us. We moved the tub into the kitchen and he took the toilet out. Then we pulled up all the flooring. Now the bathroom is completely bare. I also did some trimming on some of the plants around the yard, cleaned all of the light fixtures, and we sprayed some stuff that is supposed to kill all of the mosquitos in the backyard - we'll see....

Fixing up the house: week 2

And week 2 begins...

Day 8:
Michael met the electrician and his dad at the house. Apparently, the wiring is going to be our Vietnam (as LBJ would say, "That bitch of a war that kept me from my lady"). It's one of the big things that has to be done. The alternatives are a) getting shocked or b) the house burning down. Neither of which I'm real excited about. However, it is kind of a pricey project. Still not real sure how we are going to proceed on that one. Just hoping he gives me a plug in the bathroom for my hair dryer.
Michael also pressure washed the porch, front walk, and the side of the house - something so simple, yet made a huge difference. House is now starting to look a lot better.

Day 10:
Michael met the exterminator at the house. In my opinion, this was another must-have project. I do not like bugs. Period. And I had already determined that I would be willing to pay large sums of money to get the bugs gone and to keep them gone. Luckily, it did not take large sums of money. Bugs should be gone in a week. Thank goodness. Still need to get the house treated for termites though. Apparently that is a little more on the pricey end. Dad says he knows a guy. Seems like he's got a guy for everything. Probably a good thing.

Day 11:
After a rough day at work, Michael and I head over the house, dog in tow, to get a little work done. I am determined to get this bathroom painted this weekend. At this point, I would like to have something substantial to show other than a clean sidewalk and a clean fridge. Paint has been purchased. We are planning on putting beadboard around the bottom. So now there is just one thing standing in the way - popcorn walls. So Michael sets me to sanding. Tells me to cut the sandpaper into quarters and be sure to wear a mask. Then he leaves me to it. So I get to sanding, by hand, and I am thinking this is going to take us forever. Then I look over and see an electric sander sitting on the vanity, and I think, "I wonder why we can't use that?" So I go to ask and Michael, of course, laughs at me. "You've been doing it by hand?!" he asks. Astonished, as if I would know how to use an electric sander without someone showing me. So he shows me how to use it and the sanding goes much better. I am about halfway done so I am thinking this bathroom will definitely get painted. Certainly on my way to my very cute teeny tiny bathroom. If only I could get that plug... Did a little more spackling and called it a day.

Fixing up a 1920's Home in Cooper Young

It has begun...

Michael and I decided a few months back to rent a house his mother owns in Cooper-Young. We knew the house was old and that the task might be a little over-whelming, but to me, the thought of fixing up a home sounded fun. The house is three-bedrooms, around 1400 square feet, with living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, pantry, and backyard. The backyard was clearly a motivating factor, considering we've got this puppy that goes 100 mph 100% of the time - she needs a place to tire herself out. So June 1, the project began...

Day 1:

Michael goes over to the house and finds a disaster. Or as Michael says, finds the house destroyed. I walk in, and I am in shock. I just shook my head. There is no way this is going to happen. The prior residents were apparently hoarders. I'm talking, newspapers from 2005, Taco Bell sauce packets by the hundreds, empty shoe boxes - a.k.a. TRASH. Nothing but trash. We spent the day cleaning out two of the rooms but decided that it was just too much to handle by ourselves. So....

Day 2:

I head to Target on my lunch break to pick up cleaning supplies. I realize that I am actually a nerd, true-to-form, when I get excited about picking stuff out. Michael hires three guys he finds down the street for a $100 to fill up a 18 foot dumpster. Full. Overflowing. With TRASH. Bunch of junk. But the house is empty, and that is all that matters. I use some of my fancy new cleaning supplies to shine up the old piano that is left in the house. Things are starting to look up. Until we open the refrigerator. Eeek. Nope. Not going to happen.

Day 4:

I take the day off work. I'm ready to get going at about, oh, 8:00. Michael needs sleep of course. So I attempt to keep myself busy. Head up to Dad's office to get some pointers on spackling walls. Head over to Home Depot to make some purchases. I get sidetracked in the plant department and end up picking up some herbs. Pick up some spackling and a few tools. Plant my herbs. Wait for Michael to wake-up. Later that day, Mom wants to come see the house. Entices us with a free dinner so of course, we acquiesce. Today's project - clean the kitchen. I start in on the stove, Michael on the fridge. He gets the inside (minus disgusting drawers and shelves) pretty darn clean. We mop the floor and things are looking pretty darn good.

Day 5:

I head over to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and pick up some new stuff for the bathroom. Planning on making this the cutest, darn teeny tiny bathroom ever. We had on over to the house but we're lacking on time to do much. I work on fridge/freezer and get it SPARKLING clean. Make Michael move the fridge out so I can mop underneath. I clean off the countertops and head into the bathroom. Start in cleaning in there and get it looking pretty nice as well. However, there is a funky smell I am thinking is coming from the carpet... That is going to have to go...

Day 6:

Mom heads over to the house to help. I put her in charge of cleaning the front door. It's the cleantest, clearest front door there ever was. The neighbors ask if she can come over and do theirs. We start in on cleaning the door frames and spackling the walls. Michael rips up the carpet in the bathroom only to discover a nasty surprise - ANTS. Tons of them. But at least it smells better in there. We order a pizza for dinner from the place around the corner. A little expensive, but not too shabby. Feeling pretty good about how things are looking so far.

Off to the house to do some work. Will update soon on more progress that has been done.