I think I can....I think I can ...

I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by to multiple loose ends on this house. There seems to be a hundred things that are started , but not finished, and it all just looks so drab. 

So ... In an effort to improve the situation, I decided to tackle the front door. 

( Those  of you that know me well enough know - when I get busiest , I tend to think micro, and tackle smaller and smaller projects. Not always the best plan , but it helps me to get something small done , then I can focus on the big picture.) 

If you've followed this post bofore, you'll know that years ago my sweet friend Sunny chose my front door color for me when I could not, and she made a great choice.i have loved my high gloss Peacock blue! 

So that's what the little house will have. As much as I hated spending the money on this paint two years ago - this little quart has gone quite a long way! It was worth every penny if it had just done my front door, but it covered my two back doors as well and there's still a half of a can. 

Ahhhh! 

That's better! 

It definitely looks happier. 

A few more cabinets have gone up. It is clearly not going to be a speedy process.

The replacement refrigerator arrived.

This time I am not taking any chances! Thanks for the recommendation @seancraft

I'm looking at a couple of options for the lights over the island.

Feel free to chime in. 

There's room for two, and they are visible from the front door when you walk in - so it's a big decision. 

The narrow ones have slits that make nice points of light on the walls when the other lights are off - so I am leaning that way. 

There's plenty of recessed cans, and under and over cabinet lighting , so these are not the only light source.

Thanks for the input! 

The window AC was finally removed! These sliders are not my favorite, but ... they are a huge improvement. 

I think this room is going to have the greatest transformation.

The HVAC was finally hooked up, as well as the water heater - woo hoo!

 Not photo worthy, but big leaps. 

I think we are probably at about the 2 week point. 

Not quite to the countdown phase - but almost.

I am getting really excited about seeing this finished - can you tell? Are you with me ? 

Thanks for the support - I sincerely appreciate it.

xo

B

So....I guess listing by May 15th is out?

Yep - I guess  that ship has sailed - but ... I am still hoping to get this little house completed by June 1st! 

If only my motivation were all that I needed to finish :) 

I think the floors look good though! It only took three different floor guys until I could find someone to complete the job! 

Too bad I could not convince the contractors to cover the newly finished floors before walking on them and tracking in mud. :/

2 hours spent cleaning - and covering with Rosin paper. Not the end of the world - I know ... But I do have blisters on my knees, and I hate wasting time.

Oh well - note to self ...

Next time - I will be the first one back in when the floors are ready and get them covered before anyone else walks on them! 

Appliances were delivered - so that was a happy surprise. 

I found Lowes to be the best price for what I was buying, and I like dealing with them , so that was an easy choice.

Not too happy about this scratch, but their customer service is great, and the new fridge is already ordered.

The windows have been in the house , ready to be installed for a couple of months now. Somehow it was only after the old window was removed (on this rainy day) that the installer decided it was not going to be the best fit. So unfortunately ... We have the plywood / abandoned house look now. 

Never a good look ! 

This is not going to attract buyers! 

Sadly - yesterday's downpours also took with them all of my beautiful peonies! I hope there will be a few new blooms before the house hits the market. They were gorgeous! 

Maybe the day lilies I transplanted from the back yard to surround the flag will be blooming by then. My timing on the yard has not been the best so far, but I have been able to enjoy the lilacs, tulips, bleeding heart, lily of the valley and clematis. The new owners will have the joy next year. :) 

Inch by inch , step by step ...

Photo updates :

Redoing the terrible patch job over where the old floor furnace was. This will be a huge improvement in the hallway. 

The threshold where the wall was removed between the living room and the kitchen. As luck would have it - it was exactly the width of two peices of oak. :) 

Sanding the old bookcases - getting ready for primer. 

Bathroom tile moving very slowly up the wall. I'm not sure why this is taking so long - but it looks a little bit better everytime I come by.

Living room sanded - now to tackle the kitchen!

These floors were covered for so many years , they are in beautiful shape.

The fonished patch job. Once it's stained to match the rest, it will been better. 

More detail on bathroom - light gray grout will define the pattern nicely and break up all of the white. 

I'm getting excited for this project to get finished! There's not  too much more to do!

Compare & Contrast

The floors are not going quite as smoothly as I had hoped. 

This is ( or will be) the kitchen. It has great pine under all of that mess, but I am having trouble getting to it!

I tried first, then called a floor guy who said it would be no trouble - until he started and changed his tune. 

Then Andrew, my contractor took a whack at it - only to give up a day later. 

Finally I threw my hands up and called one of my lifelines.  A really great contractor in town that does excellent total rehab/ renovations gave the name of a guy to take care of it, and sent him over within an hour!

Thank goodness - because I was just about to give in , and throw down some laminate!

He will get started on Monday. I can't wait to see the end result! 

While the kitchen continues to look like hell, the bathroom is shaping up nicely!

It is so nice to see some positive progress. 

Have I mentioned how happy I am to be rid of the blue tub?