Monthly Archives: June 2012

Busy worker bees

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This is what we’ve been up to for the last few weekends:

Front Entrance popcorn ceiling removal

GOODBYE 70s popcorn ceiling. You will NOT be missed. Yes, the ceiling was perfectly fine, but I couldn’t look at stuccoed walls any longer.

Front Entrance popcorn ceiling removal 2

Front Entrance popcorn ceiling removal 3

With all the walls demoed, it was time to rebuild. We used 1″ X 3″ strapping and shims, in part to level the ceiling (which was wayyyy off) but also to allow enough room to fish wires for lighting after putting up the gyprock.

Leveling the strapping

Family Room ceiling strapping

Family Room ceiling strapping, view 2

Family Room ceiling strapping, view 3

Next up, gyprock:
First piece of gyprock going up in the family room

Family Room ceiling, gyprock piece #2!

Family Room Gyprock install 3

Family Room Gyprock install 2

Family Room Gyprock install

We’ll be finishing up the entrance ceiling tomorrow, if all goes according to plan. This time around, we’ve learned from our mistakes and decided that we’ll hire someone to take care of the plastering once the gyprock is up. Plastering was just way too time consuming (because, well, we sucked at it) so we decided to leave it to the pros.

While the plastering will be in progress, we’ll also be starting our bathroom reno project. Adam’s mom will be visiting at the end of August and we’re hoping to make our house somewhat livable by the time she arrives. More pics coming soon…!!!

The Kitchen Reveal: Before and After

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Here it is…the moment you’ve all been waiting for.  Only 7 months of waiting, right?  I know you’re all skipping straight to the photos, so I may as well get right to it.

Here’s the before:

Kitchen

Kitchen, Before

And now (drum roll please…..):

Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, full view

Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, full view 2
Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, full view 3
Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, full view 4
Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, view of Fridge
Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, pantry and fridge section
Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, glass cabinet opened 2
Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, glass cabinet opened
Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, Island
Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, View of the Sink
Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, View of the Sink
Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, Sink
Velvet Toolbox Kitchen, View of the stove

So? What’s the verdict? I should add that I’m going to also add a roman shade to the window above the sink, and curtains for the patio door. The fabric has been ordered but will only arrive in July (gulp…) and I didn’t want to prolong the reveal any further.

I’m really really pleased with the end result. It’s everything I envisioned and more. The 6 months of intense and exhausting work has most definitely paid off.

I’ve only showed photos of the kitchen from one angle. That’s because the view from the other direction looks like this:

The "Other" view

View From Kitchen Patio
THIS, my friends, is our next project. More to come in the next few posts….!