Mel - my project

[Darci]

Hi Mel, first of all, our walls are plaster, not drywall, something new for me to deal with!!

The tile shower has not been used for over a year and a half. When we moved in, we discovered that it was leaking into the basement, we believe that the floor tile is cracked, so we just decided to not use it (it is a second bath) until we can get it ripped out and replaced. The problem then became that in our main bath, they had put in a whirlpool tub (very nice, but who has time to use it!!) and it does not have a shower element, and only a half wall on the side with the plumbing. So, we thought, no big deal, we will have someone come in, build up the wall and put in the shower element. No go - the tub just sits on a tile base, so we were told that if you tried to use a shower in there, that the water would get between the tub and the tile and leak into the basement and no one would touch the project because there would be no way to stop the leak. Hmmmm...what to do. So, we found one of those shower curtain rods that forms an oval on all sides of the tub, and we now have a shower curtain that goes all the way around, and we put in a temporary detachable shower head that will work till we get to THAT project.

So, I think that this mold is not an ongoing problem in the laundry room as there is no longer moisture there because the shower is not in use. Some of the plaster crumbled off and dh fixed that. We washed the rest down with bleach and painted with Kilz, which is supposed to kill the mold.

I think that we just have one coat of paint to do and it is done!! Then on to the kitchen..sigh. Gotta love an older house - actually I do - everytime I walk into my house I feel the love that the family there before us had. They raised 6 kids in this house, and you can just tell from talking to the family how much they all loved this house. And STORAGE!! This lady loved her closets, and I have so many big huge closets (not the new fangled walk in kind, but big ones nonetheless!!).

Isn't it fun to sit in your newly remodeled rooms!! We painted our living room, put in new carpet, new tile around the fireplace, and I recently installed shear curtains and a topper on the 14 foot long wall of patio doors that are on one side, and I just love it!

[mellymom]

Hi Darci,
Ugh! plaster is its own hell! It took 48 5 gallon buckets to take out the old horsehair plaster and 8 contractor bags of lath strips to empty out the living room and the 2nd floor bath......down to studs!! I put insulation in the living room walls and new electric wires that AREN'T covered in cloth! I'll have to do all new baseboard when I finally do the finish in here, since the old houses had the outlets down there, and its much higher now to conform to code. There is 9' of drywall now, annie did much of the artwork, unfortunately. Noah did do his fair share, though. I plan to do the wainscoting up 3-4', chair rail, and then paint some good Guat colors that are muted to keep in tune with the old house theme also. I have some of my pics from my pick up trip blown up to 8x10 and I'll use them for artwork.
The dining room is next. I haven't finished the living room since I want one to flow right into the other. There is a huge opening between them. I will do the same wall finish, but in a different color.

My next project, slated to start is the end of Oct. 575 new square feet off the back of my house. The dining room window will become the door. I found the swinging door from between the kitchen/diningroom up in the attic when I started renovations. It will go in that entry. I'm expecting lots of bumps and bruises for awhile. No window in it. that doorway will lead to a new entry way, 9x11 with a huge closet taking up the long wall. The other long wall will face my driveway and have 6' french doors I can open to get my gram and anything else in easily. Off the small wall, opposite of the diningroom doorway, will be a door to a bathroom 9x13? High toilet, old looking like the one in my attic bath, matching oval sink, and a walk in shower. Perfect for my gram. Still coming in that door, facing you on the end wall is a closet the width of the room. I'll use the old diningroom window we took out for the bathroom. To your left now is the doorway to my gram's/guest room. I planned 12x13? I have a full size bed, dresser,tv stand and closet planned for that room. Another 6' french door facing you for her to be able to look outside, and go out to a patio. (Secretly wishing the hot tub fairy will show up and place a new one for me right there at Christmas!)
Off grams room will be the pantry/utility room. You've now just about completed the circle of the square! Do you follow me? One wall has the upright freezer, washer, dryer and utility sink (something I miss so bad with hamster cages needing washed, dirty socks only a boy can bring home, and all manner of paint projects to be cleaned. The other wall ends up with 9' tall wall shelf of wood, 10' long of pantry space for my foods I stockpile from sales and some of my kitchen equipment. I plan to put a rod above it and hang some cream fabric with the blue willow pattern on it, so it looks older. That brings you to my kitchen door we use now as an entry. It has a transom above it not in use since its the back porch now. I want 9' ceilings in the new rooms so I can use it again. That will provide circulation for me to gram's room.

If possible, depending on the quote, I will put a full, huge room, open space above all 24'x 24' of the 1st floor. Serious rumpus room. The boys want lifting equiment, I'd use it too. Abi wants a big tv. She can ask her dad. That can be a great Christmas some year. Toys no longer in my living room? No one all over my couch? Hmmm, sounds good to me. I will need to use Aaron's room as a 'pass through' room, but it can be done. I'll take Abi's and Aaron's windows out to use in the new room. Probably for the end of the room, and new bigger windows on the sides. I may even try to do a small porch off there so there is access to the ground, and a cover for gram's doors.

Ultimately I will have 6 bedrooms and 3 full baths. The layout downstairs means I will be able to potentially stay in this house for a lifetime. Enough room to foster forever and having everything on the first floor, I can grow old here. Even the garage is a very close few feet. Feeble days, here I come!

I plan to use the big12" tiles in all the new rooms. Entry, bath, pantry all make sense, and gram is older and can't always get to the bath quickly. That will really simplify life for cleaning all spaces. I'm getting pretty pro at it, and my dad's housewarming gift of a wet saw is a blessing.

If I can get Jodi to help me, I'll attach the floor plans for fun later!
melanie

[hreitz]

Mel, you are amazing!!!!! I wouldn't even know where to begin... I couldn't even visualize the plans for our basement the contractor showed us until the walls were in.

How pathetic am I????
Your house sounds beautiful!!!!

Heather

[Darci]

Wow Mel..sounds like quite a project. Makes my little laundry room painting seem quite tame!!

I agree with Heather, your place sounds amazing.

[mellymom]

your project is turning out quite the project! I can't wait to see it done!

I'm cheating this time and having alot more contractor help! I'll just do the finish work, they're doing the hard stuff!

melanie

[mellymom]

hey Darci, I'm coming to Wisconsin! I was watching foodnetwork and they were eating 'kringles' and drinking 'Sprecher' rootbeer and my favorite, they were making some really far out cheeses! The flavor of the day was 'chicken noodles soup' cheese. mmmmmm.....and I can see your paint job!

melanie