Day 114 | Farmhouse Sink

January 21, 2014January 25, 2015Leave a comment

Day 114

OK installing wood floors on a slab foundation is MUCH harder than nailing them directly to the subfloor of a raised foundation. The glue is messy, the boards begin to separate, and it takes A LOT longer! I’ll let you in on a little tip…use painters tape! As you go along tape the boards together after they have been glued, this will keep them from separating and it will save you the heartache from finding gaps between boards that cannot be pushed together. Ugh!

On a positive note, we ordered our kitchen sink HERE from Pacific Sales. This was one feature that I didn’t want to skimp on. I truly believe that an apron-front, farmhouse sink can help sell a house! Women, don’t you agree? Can’t wait to see how it will pull the kitchen together.

Mmmhmm… an apron front sink is just the ticket. KOHLER

Day 112 | Wood Floor!

January 19, 2014January 25, 2015Leave a comment

Day 112

We are finally ready for flooring! After sanding, painting, installing moldings, cleaning, and removing tack strip the family room is ready for floor. We purchased dark brown, engineered hard wood HERE and we are going to install it ourselves! We have installed wood floors before on a raised foundation, but never directly on slab. We shall see what it’s like to have to use glue…

Sample of the wood we chose next to the kitchen cabinets.

Always make sure to leave the boxes of wood inside the area where they will be installed 2 days prior to installation. It allows them to acclimate to the temperature so that you don't have them expanding or contracting once they are in place.

Always leave the boxes of wood inside the area where they will be installed 2 days prior to installation. It allows them to acclimate to the temperature so that they won’t expand or contract once they are in place.

Day 111 | Hood Vent Cover

January 18, 2014January 21, 2015Leave a comment

Day 111

Kevin constructed a box to hide the vent that goes above the microwave. It blends in great with the cabinets!

Day 105 | Hardware

January 12, 2014January 24, 2015Leave a comment

Day 105

Hurray! The cabinets are in!

Just missing the fridge… and counter tops… oh and flooring… BUT it’s coming together!

Shaker style cabinets from Ikea!

We installed all of the hardware on the doors and drawers, we hung the microwave, and added plywood to all of the counter tops in preparation for eventual granite.

Nice new microwave hood.

Plywood laid for the granite to be installed and hardware put on all cabinetry!

This afternoon we drove down to Anaheim and checked out all of the granite wholesalers. Got a lot of prices, now we just have to decide. Black? Dark Gray? Marble?

Day 101 | Cabinet Install

January 8, 2014November 12, 2016Leave a comment

Day 101

Over the past few days more drywall in the kitchen has been put up and more cabinets have been installed. It’s finally beginning to look like a kitchen. Excited is an understatement. Does this mean we get to move out of our parents’ house soon?

More drywall being installed.

The frame for the kitchen island/laundry center.

Drywall complete!

Cabinets beginning to go up!

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Day 90 | Bathroom Floor

December 28, 2013January 21, 2015Leave a comment

Day 90

Kevin and Jason worked on putting the floor in the bathroom.

HELPER: Jason

VISITORS: Mom R., Grandma, Gary, Daisy, Kathy, Ryan, Heather & Tim

Day 89 | Back to work…

December 27, 2013January 21, 2015Leave a comment

Day 89

Today Kevin and Jason worked on the bathroom. My mom and Caleb worked on cleaning up around the house.

HELPERS: Jason, Mom U., Caleb

Day 88 | Dining Table

December 26, 2013January 25, 2015Leave a comment

Day 88

Merry Day-After Christmas!

Today we bought our dining room table HERE from World Market: Cost Plus for a great price! They were having a 15% after Christmas Sale today only and we got an additional 10% off for taking a table already out of the box. Woohoo! I love to find good sales.

John’s guys have begun drywalling the kitchen!

World Market Bishop Table

VISITORS: Mike & Nikki, Jon & Suzanna

Day 81 | Minor Changes

December 19, 2013January 21, 2015Leave a comment

Day 81

The inspector came today and told us we need to change a few minor things to the new electrical and plumbing. No worries, easy fixes Kevin says! Phew!

Day 77 | Unexpected Expense

December 15, 2013January 21, 2015Leave a comment

Day 77

So far this home renovation project has progressed on schedule and without any surprises… until today. Our plumber informed us that the plumbing under the guest bathroom was completely rotted and that we really should replace it. This was one room that we weren’t planning on renovating, looks like we were wrong. That means added plumbing costs, new flooring costs, new vanity… ughh!

Today Kevin sanded the hutch and ripped up the floors in the guest bathroom.

HELPER: Matt Milburn

Day 76 | Normal Saturday

December 14, 2013January 21, 2015Leave a comment

Day 76

My mom continued stripping door #2 of its’ paint and my dad installed the sprinkler box, which he so nicely matched to our new paint 🙂

HELPERS: Mom & Dad U.

VISITORS: Jake, Kelly & Stephen Chakerian

Day 75 | Sod

December 13, 2013November 12, 2016Leave a comment

Day 75

Sod and the rest of the plants were installed today! I am SO happy. To see a project come to fruition is so fulfilling. Thank you dad for the BEST house warming gift. It’s coming together!

The grass alone makes it look like an entirely new house!

Just in case you forgot…

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Day 74 | Flowers

December 12, 2013January 21, 2015Leave a comment

Day 74

My dad’s guys began installing some of the perimeter flowers in the front yard. I’m sure the neighbors are glad to see something other than dirt piles in our front yard.

Day 72 | Island Building

December 10, 2013January 25, 2015Leave a comment

Day 72

Kenny’s guys came and rough plumbed the island and the kitchen sink. Kevin installed the island frame that he built.

Kevin built the island frame outside and moved it inside once it was finished.

This island frame will one day house our washer and dryer.

Day 70 | Appliances Picked Up

December 8, 2013January 21, 2015Leave a comment

Day 70

Kevin and Jason picked up the appliances from Sears today and put them in the garage until we are ready to move them in!

HELPER: Jason

Day 66 | Floor Patching

December 4, 2013January 25, 2015Leave a comment

Day 66

Uncle John’s guys came out to patch the floor beams and cover the holes in the floor with plywood. My dad’s guys were here today leveling out the grassy areas in the front of the house.

A good amount of our floor was removed due to rot and unlevel footing.

Day 65 | Home Inspection

December 3, 2013January 26, 2015Leave a comment

Day 65

Javier, our HUD Inspector, came out today for the first draw for the contractor. He was there to see the progress we have made to allow the next bit of money to be released. Uncle John’s guys began assembling the kitchen cabinets, hurray!

Matt came later in the day to help Kevin install crown molding in the dining room and kitchen.

Kevin and Matt putting up the crown molding in the dining room.

Matt and Kevin putting up the crown molding in the dining room.

HELPERS: John’s Crew, Matt Milburn

Day 64 | Inspection Tomorrow

December 2, 2013January 26, 2015Leave a comment

Day 64

Today Kevin took off work to work on the house because we have an inspection from the bank tomorrow. He finished up the last details on the trim in the dining room. He also cleaned up all the tools that were laying around so that it was easier to walk around.

Day 62 | Cabinets Arrived

November 30, 2013August 20, 2015Leave a comment

Day 62

Today we finished adding the moldings to the dining room and Kevin ripped up more flooring in the dining room to begin leveling out where it was ramping up. The previous owner added the master bedroom and family room to the house in the 90s. This addition was built on a slab foundation set a few inches higher than the original house. So to transition from the dining room to the family room you had to slightly step up. To compensate for this, the previous owner sloped his wood floors to hide the gap, which looked and felt very uneven and cheap. When we pulled off the flooring, and leveled the dining room we thought we could just make the transition an actual step, but unfortunately it was not high enough. So now we are trying to decide what that transition piece will look like.

The kitchen cabinets were delivered today! They just need to be assembled… the one downfall to ordering from Ikea.

HELPERS: Uncle John’s Crew

Day 61 | Moldings

November 29, 2013January 21, 2015Leave a comment

Day 61

We didn’t have work today so Kevin did a lot of work on the house. He began adding moldings to the dining room to add some character to the large room. We searched Pinterest for a bunch of ideas, we landed on this…

EXAMPLE Board and Batten
Instructions here: http://www.justagirlblog.com/board-and-batten-part-1/

Now our turn…

As you can see the back of the hutch hasn’t been attached yet so you can see straight into the second bedroom.

Kevin cut sheets of MDF to make these moldings. Made this project pretty affordable.

Kevin used a laser level to ensure consistency (since our floors are sloping…and missing in places haha)

Moldings with paint!

HELPER: Jason

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 28, 2013January 21, 2015Leave a comment

We have so much to be thankful for, especially this year! Thank you Jesus for blessing us with this beautiful house. What a fun and rewarding experience this has been for Kevin and I. The learning process of designing, building, correcting, and re-building has been one we will cherish forever! Thank you for the numerous friends and family members who spend endless hours at our house… what a tangible way to show their love and support. Thank you for this precious baby who gets to enter this world surrounded by those who love him/her and into a house created to protect him/her.

We couldn’t be happier.

Day 59 | Mirror Installation

November 27, 2013January 23, 2015Leave a comment

Day 59

Today we cleaned up the family room from all of the tools and materials that had begun to collect. The boys worked on getting the built-in hutch to fit better in its new location. They also painted the family room walls and installed our new bathroom mirror! The previous owner only had a small medicine cabinet hung above their sink (which was also off center) and it looked too small for the wall and out of place. I ordered a large piece of mirror this morning to replace it and it was finished and ready for installation this afternoon! The boys put it up with liquid nails*.

New lights! Kevin had to rewire and cetner them because the original light fixture was centered over the medicine cabinet instead of the sink (*shaking head).

New lights! Kevin had to rewire and center them because the original light fixture was centered over the medicine cabinet instead of the sink (*shaking head).

Removed the medicine cabinet and didn’t even bother patching the hole because it will be hidden behind the new mirror. Notice how off center it was!

HELPERS: Timmy & Whitney

NOTE (1/19/15): the mirror eventually had to be replaced because the liquid nails that we used to adhere it to the wall began majorly discoloring the mirror. Pretty soon there were so many dark marks that you could barely see yourself! We had to purchase a new mirror and installed it with an adhesive that was made specifically for mirrors. Make sure you read the back of the labels before adhering mirror to any surface!

Day 58 | Drywall Complete

November 26, 2013January 25, 2015Leave a comment

Day 58

Over the past few days Uncle John’s guys finished drywalling the kitchen and dining room walls and ceiling. What a difference that makes. It actually is starting to feel like there is an end in sight!

Finished drywall!

My dad’s guys leveled the dirt in the front yard to prep for sod and greenery.

Almost ready for sod!

Matt came over and helped paint the dining room and kitchen ceiling.

HELPERS: Uncle John’s Crew + Matt Milburn

Day 56 | And Then There Was Light!

November 24, 2013January 26, 2015Leave a comment

Day 56

Kevin installed all of the outlets and light switches in the dining room. The lights now work and can be dimmed. Hurray! They look so good. I cleaned out our tub and shower really well (you wouldn’t believe how much dirt and grime had collected over the past 56 days) and my mom continued to strip the paint off door #2. My mom also gifted us with a cute mailbox that Kevin put up today. Later Caleb and Kevin loaded a bunch of trash into the truck and make a trip to dump it in Timmy’s apartment complex dumpster…shhh!

Such a cute mailbox from Pottery Barn

HELPERS: Mom U. & Caleb

VISITOR: Elissa

Day 55 | Paint Finished

November 23, 2013January 20, 2015Leave a comment

Day 55

Kevin prepped our bathroom for paint, primed and painted it, installed a new toilet (a must for any house your purchase!) and a new light fixture. Ahhh! Almost done!

He and Timmy also sanded more of the nursery walls to get them to that more even texture (what a mess!). They also painted the ceiling in the office, finished the pocket door trim, hung the new porch light, and started wiring the switches in the kitchen and dining room.

Jacob finished painting and Mitchell finished the electrical! It’s coming together!

HELPERS: Timmy & Mom U.

VISITORS: Mom & Dad R.

Days 50 – 54 | Progress

November 18, 2013January 25, 2015Leave a comment

Days 50 – 54

This week Jacob continued to paint, my dad’s guys laid a new pathway and added the edging between the eventual grass and greenery. It rained Wednesday and Thursday so not much happened those days.

Getting ready for a new pathway.

Stone pavers for the new pathway installed and Jacob continuing to paint.

New edging installed to separate the eventual grass and greenery.

HELPERS: Dad + Crew, Matt Milburn, Jacob Bishop

VISITORS: Jen Robinson

Day 48 | More Painting

November 16, 2013January 25, 2015Leave a comment

Day 48

Today Kevin and Timmy primed more of the walls and ceiling for paint. You wouldn’t believe how much primer… and time… it takes to cover these crazy colors. They also began skim coating the nursery 🙂 walls with mud to help get a more even texture. The nursery bedroom is one of the original bedrooms and it has plaster walls that are very uneven and messy looking.

Thanks Tim for being such a great painter!

HELPER: Timmy

VISITORS: Grandpa, Loretta, Dan, Monica, Mom & Dad R., Stephen & Kelly Chakerian, Katie Skutvik, Mom & Dad U., and Caleb

Day 47 | Finishing Projects

November 15, 2013January 20, 2015Leave a comment

Day 47

This has been a busy week! We have got a lot accomplished. Jacob has been painting all week, Kenny and his guys have finished rerouting the gas lines, and my dad’s guys have made a lot of progress on our front yard. Kevin and Timmy continued working on our bathroom by sanding and mudding the walls and priming. They also began priming the living room. Goodbye crazy colors!

HELPERS: Timmy, Dad U., Count On Plumbing

I’m Pregnant!

November 13, 2013August 20, 2015Leave a comment

Well in the midst of this crazy home renovation, I found out I’m pregnant! We are so excited. It’s a good thing we found out before we finished the extra bedroom. Looks like we will need to begin creating a nursery. 🙂 Guess this means I won’t have to do as much painting 😉 Phew!

Day 43 | Bathroom Details

November 11, 2013January 20, 2015Leave a comment

Happy Veteran’s Day! Thank you to all of our service men and women who so bravely protect our country.

I didn’t have to go to work today so I finished painting the vanity, lined the shelves and under the sink with contact paper, and primed our bathroom for paint. Kevin worked on installing some necessary wood braces in the wall behind the stove so that the gas line could be installed. Jacob continued to sand and my dad’s guys worked in the front yard.