Friday, September 26, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Things I've Learned
... That the term "flush" doesnt always mean what you do after going to the bathroom.
... That countersink is a drilling method, not a counter with a sink in it :)
... That when Eric says "fir" or "grounded" he is talking about something electrical
... That "mud is magical"
... That I have an amazing husband who has taught me a lot :)
... That countersink is a drilling method, not a counter with a sink in it :)
... That when Eric says "fir" or "grounded" he is talking about something electrical
... That "mud is magical"
... That I have an amazing husband who has taught me a lot :)
Week 10? (time flies!)
Where did we leave off?
Life has been busy the last couple of weeks, but we have been making progress on the house. Currently, most of the drywall is up. We started mudding this week (basically adding a putty-like adhesive to all of the seams and screw holes in the walls). We have made great progress on the master, office and living room. Our goal is paint the master next week (fingers crossed!). Eric keeps telling me that "mud will fix it" and now I am starting to believe it!
Here is Eric getting ready to mud:
Here is what the walls look like right now. They are starting to look like walls again!
We were lucky to have some helping hands this weekend-- Thanh helped out on Saturday, and Heather (pictured below) came by on Sunday (thanks, friends!)
We got to 'play' a bit too this weekend!
Friday night we went to Carkeek beach and saw a beautiful sunset -- everytime I go to this park I am in awe that this beautiful place is less than a mile from our house!
Sunday we had family over for a sunny bbq and got to see Kelly and Chris (in town from Koln, Germany).
Here is Eric with Jamie & Bob's adorable dog:
Chris, Kelly & Dad:
I (Christina) even got out for a bike ride around Lake Washington today. What a beautiful September we are having!!!
Life has been busy the last couple of weeks, but we have been making progress on the house. Currently, most of the drywall is up. We started mudding this week (basically adding a putty-like adhesive to all of the seams and screw holes in the walls). We have made great progress on the master, office and living room. Our goal is paint the master next week (fingers crossed!). Eric keeps telling me that "mud will fix it" and now I am starting to believe it!
Here is Eric getting ready to mud:
Here is what the walls look like right now. They are starting to look like walls again!
We were lucky to have some helping hands this weekend-- Thanh helped out on Saturday, and Heather (pictured below) came by on Sunday (thanks, friends!)
We got to 'play' a bit too this weekend!
Friday night we went to Carkeek beach and saw a beautiful sunset -- everytime I go to this park I am in awe that this beautiful place is less than a mile from our house!
Sunday we had family over for a sunny bbq and got to see Kelly and Chris (in town from Koln, Germany).
Here is Eric with Jamie & Bob's adorable dog:
Chris, Kelly & Dad:
I (Christina) even got out for a bike ride around Lake Washington today. What a beautiful September we are having!!!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Week 8: Drywall
Happy Labor Day!
As expected, I suppose, we spent our long weekend laboring on our house (as well as spending some good time with friends too).
We accomplished hanging 95% of the drywall up this weekend, and it is so nice to see the start of walls! We didn't quite get to taping and mudding as we hoped, but we will work on that this week.
Pictures:
One section of the kitchen ceiling was damaged, so we cut out that section to replace the drywall. It turned out nice having that section open for the electrical, too:
Here is Christina & our friend Amanda working on measuring and cutting drywall:
Pic's of the [start of] walls:
(office)
(bedroom)
We finished the drywall in the front bedroom, office, bedroom and most of the living room. We still need to finish the drywall in the kitchen and hallway.
... and... a glance at our garden:
and a huge spider we found in our yard :)
and last but not least... it is easy to get up and work when you get up to a breakfast like this:
As expected, I suppose, we spent our long weekend laboring on our house (as well as spending some good time with friends too).
We accomplished hanging 95% of the drywall up this weekend, and it is so nice to see the start of walls! We didn't quite get to taping and mudding as we hoped, but we will work on that this week.
Pictures:
One section of the kitchen ceiling was damaged, so we cut out that section to replace the drywall. It turned out nice having that section open for the electrical, too:
Here is Christina & our friend Amanda working on measuring and cutting drywall:
Pic's of the [start of] walls:
(office)
(bedroom)We finished the drywall in the front bedroom, office, bedroom and most of the living room. We still need to finish the drywall in the kitchen and hallway.
... and... a glance at our garden:
and a huge spider we found in our yard :)
and last but not least... it is easy to get up and work when you get up to a breakfast like this:
Monday, August 25, 2008
Week 7: Lots and Lots of Rain
So we are now into week 7 of our remodel project and there are no major reports to make from last week.
On Friday Eric was driving home from work when his car overheated, so Eric spent Saturday fixing his radiator (he’s so handy!) and other small repairs that were on his to-do list for his car.
I worked until 1 pm on Saturday and was feeling exhausted and lazy, thus no house work got done Saturday.
We arose Sunday with grand ambitions of getting the majority of the drywall UP. We were up early and started working early… and then came the rain. Lots and lots of rain. Unfortunately, we only have a carport so we couldn't realistically keep working and keep the drywall dry. We tried to wait it out but the rain kept coming…. so we called it a day and went to Hale’s Brewery for an early dinner :)
Hopefully the rain will clear up a bit this week, so we can get all of the drywall up this week, as Eric's Dad is coming next weekend to help with finishing work. We'll have lots to report then!
On Friday Eric was driving home from work when his car overheated, so Eric spent Saturday fixing his radiator (he’s so handy!) and other small repairs that were on his to-do list for his car.
I worked until 1 pm on Saturday and was feeling exhausted and lazy, thus no house work got done Saturday.
We arose Sunday with grand ambitions of getting the majority of the drywall UP. We were up early and started working early… and then came the rain. Lots and lots of rain. Unfortunately, we only have a carport so we couldn't realistically keep working and keep the drywall dry. We tried to wait it out but the rain kept coming…. so we called it a day and went to Hale’s Brewery for an early dinner :)
Hopefully the rain will clear up a bit this week, so we can get all of the drywall up this week, as Eric's Dad is coming next weekend to help with finishing work. We'll have lots to report then!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Week #6: Drywall, etc! (tribute to Opa)
This week/weekend's accomplishments:
(1) We finished hanging the insulation in the bedrooms (we were waiting on the electrical, which also got done this week!)
(2) We started sanding the interior doors and found layers upon layers of multi-colored paint. The picture below gives you a sense of the "Neapolitan ice cream" look of the layers. The previous owners, like us I suppose, were not afraid of color! Christina's good friend Melba came over Saturday and helped with the sanding -- always in high fashion!-- thanks Melbs!
(3) And the BIG HOORAY of the weekend... the walls started to come up!!! We took a trip to [a very busy and chaotic] home improvement store early Saturday morning to buy 36 sheets of 4x8 sheetrock (1/2" thick). It is so weird/wonderful to see walls again!
Nick M. was a big help in hanging the walls with Eric (thanks Nick!). Here is Eric measuring cuts of the drywall.
The first sheet is UP!!!
It started off a little "rookie" but got more precise and 'professional' with each sheet.
They both seemed to know what they were doing ;)
We went to a bbq today to celebrate a friend's first triathlon (go Heather!) and Eric continues to work on hanging the drywall in the front bedroom as I type. We are working on getting the big pieces up first, and then going back to the smaller/custom areas.
We also appreciated Beth & Chad for stopping by on Saturday with flowers--- we were very sad to hear that Christina's Opa (grandpa) died Friday from Pancreatic cancer. Above is a picture of Christina asking him to dance at our wedding a year ago. Please keep us in your thoughts -- he was an amazing Opa and friend and we miss him already.
(1) We finished hanging the insulation in the bedrooms (we were waiting on the electrical, which also got done this week!)
(2) We started sanding the interior doors and found layers upon layers of multi-colored paint. The picture below gives you a sense of the "Neapolitan ice cream" look of the layers. The previous owners, like us I suppose, were not afraid of color! Christina's good friend Melba came over Saturday and helped with the sanding -- always in high fashion!-- thanks Melbs!
(3) And the BIG HOORAY of the weekend... the walls started to come up!!! We took a trip to [a very busy and chaotic] home improvement store early Saturday morning to buy 36 sheets of 4x8 sheetrock (1/2" thick). It is so weird/wonderful to see walls again!
Nick M. was a big help in hanging the walls with Eric (thanks Nick!). Here is Eric measuring cuts of the drywall.
The first sheet is UP!!!
It started off a little "rookie" but got more precise and 'professional' with each sheet.
They both seemed to know what they were doing ;)
We went to a bbq today to celebrate a friend's first triathlon (go Heather!) and Eric continues to work on hanging the drywall in the front bedroom as I type. We are working on getting the big pieces up first, and then going back to the smaller/custom areas.
We also appreciated Beth & Chad for stopping by on Saturday with flowers--- we were very sad to hear that Christina's Opa (grandpa) died Friday from Pancreatic cancer. Above is a picture of Christina asking him to dance at our wedding a year ago. Please keep us in your thoughts -- he was an amazing Opa and friend and we miss him already.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Goodbye "Pav" the Fish
It appears that the banging, hammering and dust was too much for our fish, Pav.
We found him lifeless with his head buried in the rocks today. So long little friend.
His buddy Lov did the same thing a while back. I think the rocks were too big or the fish too small. Good thing Eric and I dont have rocks to bury our heads into when the construction gets to loud or when the final re-model bill arrives ;)
To Pav and Lov... may you swirl down the toilet in peace...
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Colors?
We are looking for ideas on color choices for the interior of our house. Thoughts? inspirations?
At a later time I will post what ideas we have floating around in our heads, but we would love to hear what you think too!
At a later time I will post what ideas we have floating around in our heads, but we would love to hear what you think too!
Week 5: Saturday - Insulation & Misc.
It is week #5 of our house remodel project.
This morning we ran errands getting various supplies, including french doors from the re-store, pictured below (they are stacked one on top of the other). We will sand them down and re-paint them, but other than that they are in pretty good shape. These doors will replace the wall between the front bedroom and the living room, adding extra light and entertaining flexibility!
The rest of the day, Christina hung the insulation in the front bedroom:
And Eric worked on replacing the chain on his motorcycle:
We are now waiting for the electrical to be finished in the office and bedroom, so we can hang insulation there-- and then start to drywall! It is slowly starting to come together.
We have become accustomed to living a bit more simply through this process-- enjoying our backyard, eating outdoors, reading and spending time with friends.
Our Backyard & Garden:
This morning we ran errands getting various supplies, including french doors from the re-store, pictured below (they are stacked one on top of the other). We will sand them down and re-paint them, but other than that they are in pretty good shape. These doors will replace the wall between the front bedroom and the living room, adding extra light and entertaining flexibility!
The rest of the day, Christina hung the insulation in the front bedroom:
And Eric worked on replacing the chain on his motorcycle:
We are now waiting for the electrical to be finished in the office and bedroom, so we can hang insulation there-- and then start to drywall! It is slowly starting to come together.
We have become accustomed to living a bit more simply through this process-- enjoying our backyard, eating outdoors, reading and spending time with friends.
Our Backyard & Garden:
Monday, August 4, 2008
Week 4 (time flies!)
I can't believe we are already into week 4! Time flies... We had a partial work/partial play weekend, as Eric was in a friend's wedding on Whidbey Island on Saturday (our good friends Kate & Jim's wedding).
We did, however, accomplish 2 great feats: 1) ALL of the popcorn ceilings are down!! woo who. we are sore..... And I have sworn never to buy a house with popcorn ceiling again (at least not when they are super-glued to the ceiling!) 2) we started hanging insulation (see slideshow). The electrical is also coming along. I will allow Eric to get into the technical pieces... It is exciting to actually be putting things up rather than just demo, so that is nice.
Here is a slideshow of the weekend's work (you can also click here to go to our picassa web album)-- and enjoying good beer and time with friends Sunday night. Have we mentioned we heart Uber?
We did, however, accomplish 2 great feats: 1) ALL of the popcorn ceilings are down!! woo who. we are sore..... And I have sworn never to buy a house with popcorn ceiling again (at least not when they are super-glued to the ceiling!) 2) we started hanging insulation (see slideshow). The electrical is also coming along. I will allow Eric to get into the technical pieces... It is exciting to actually be putting things up rather than just demo, so that is nice.
Here is a slideshow of the weekend's work (you can also click here to go to our picassa web album)-- and enjoying good beer and time with friends Sunday night. Have we mentioned we heart Uber?
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