Renovation Weekend #1

Our first weekend with the house, we dug right in.  David parked the RV in the yard so we'd have a kitchen, bathroom, and place for naps and movie watching for the littles while we work.  Because he's still in tax season mode and working 60 hours per week, he just may decide to crash there a few nights during the week after he puts in a few hours on the house.

The first big job was to get out all the carpeting that was in the house. Nearly all the floors need replacing or refinishing, so getting the old out was the first step in making way for the new.  The boys worked hard the first day with their Papa to unload the rugs from any window available. It was quite a sight!  When all was said and done, David brought 1100 pounds of carpet and padding to the dump.

Here are the before and after pics of the rooms after the old rugs were removed.

Family Room -  Before:

After:

School Room - Before:

 After:

Stairways (there are two!) Before:

 After:

Boys' Bedroom - Before:

That little door in the above pic opens to this full attic space. The boys can't wait to build the coolest Lego room ever. ;)

After:

Girls' Bedroom - Before:

After:

Girls' Room - Before:

 After:

Master Bedroom (floors and ceiling) - Before:

The ceiling was sagging by several inches. The guys were able to lift it, put in new strapping and drywall. Viola! New ceiling. :)

The library, one girls' room, the upstairs hall, and the master bedroom revealed original wide board wood floors under the carpet. The floors are too damaged by paint to refinish. So, we are planning to paint these rooms and try to keep the character of the home as best we can. That will save time and money, allowing us to get in our home sooner.  If we end up hating it, we can make changes later.

Library

The kitchen, dining room, and downstairs hall have lovely hardwood already in place. What a blessing!

 The girls and I spent a good amount of time in the kitchen this weekend scrubbing cabinets. We still have several to clean.  They are so grimy, but worth the effort!

Some other projects tackled this weekend:

Closets for the girls' rooms refinished and drywalled

Exterminator inspection and approval

Water system cleared and running

New door on family room put in with a temp installation. It will need a perm. fix, but we just needed a door that locks for now.

New locks and keys for all the doors

9 bags of leaves raked along with the a bit of trash collected.

The trash and yard work is abundant.  We have great exercise ahead of us, for sure!  Anyone looking for a good workout is MORE than welcome to join us! We would LOVE the help!!!

I found a neat thing while walking through the house and picking paint colors. Can you see it? Look carefully and join us in asking the Lord that the message and hope of His work on the cross be forever embedded in our hearts as well as our home.

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  1 Corinthians 1:18