We're Almost Finished at My House

I can see the finish line, even through all the dust! This is the first time I’ve done a renovation in my home and I finally get to experience what my clients go through. So far, everything has been pretty smooth and according to schedule. That is because of all the pre-planning I did and the great trades I’ve hired. Spending a little more has been well worth it.

The only hiccup so far is my appliances are taking longer than expected. My fridge isn’t due until the end of November and my dishwasher won’t be here until January. So, the old ones will go back in until the new ones arrive. This is pretty common right now as we are experiencing a lot of delays in our industry. Thanks COVID!

Here’s my to-do list (from my previous post) with many more items checked off:

• Install Tile in Laundry and Fireplace Surround {DONE}

• Electrical Work - Install New Lighting & Move Outlets {DONE}

• Install New Fireplace Mantle and Built-In Cabinet {DONE}

• Demo Bar Top and Wall in Kitchen {DONE}

• Cabinet and Flooring Demo {DONE}

• Install Wood Flooring {DONE}

• Appliances and Plumbing Fixtures Delivered {ALMOST}

• Cabinets Installed

• Counters Measured

• Painting

• Counters, Appliances and Faucet Installed

• Backsplash Installed

My new fireplace surround and built-in are all installed. They just need to be painted, then we’ll add the mantle shelf and hardware. Here’s a little video I posted on Instagram the day it was finished.

Then, it was time to demo out all the old stuff. First we took down the half-wall behind my peninsula and the bar top. That made such a huge difference in the space! Next the cabinets and appliances were removed. Finally, all the old flooring was hauled away and what a mess that made! Even with plastic and the door closed, all the food in my pantry was covered in a thin layer of white dust.

I also had to set up a temporary place for us to prepare simple meals and wash dishes. Thank goodness for my laundry sink. We moved the fridge to the garage and I set up a shelf to hold plates, cups and silverware. This has worked well so far.

As I was preparing to leave for High Point Furniture Market, I realized my floors were going to start while I was gone. I didn’t stress out as I had put together a team of vendors I could trust to get the job done. I have to say, I love my new floors! The color is a little darker than I thought it would be, but I think that’s because my old floors were so light. Eliminating three different floors (wood, carpet and tile) and replacing with one made a huge difference in how the entire space feels.

One of the most surprising things I learned while shopping for floors is that real wood floors were just about the same price as the vinyl planks. What!? The floors I selected were in the “engineered wood” category which means you have a thin layer of stained wood that is stacked on layers of plywood. We were able to glue it down directly on my concrete slab, which saves time and money. I also made the decision to lay the planks in a different direction down the hallway.

Cabinets are going in next and those will take about a week. I still have not finalized my tile backsplash. The one I liked the best is on backorder and costs 3x my budget. At the point, I’m not willing to wait or spend the extra money. So, back to the drawing board! I also have to figure out my paint colors, schedule even more deliveries and figure out how to cook on my grill.

Thanks for Reading!

Jennifer