Skip to main content

Under construction...

John has got the re-modeling bug again and I couldn't be happier!! He's a talented and handy guy. He loves an excuse to learn something new and to buy a new tool of course! He started some projects back in October after taking a break from May. All the painting wore him out (I did help some and so did some professionals). He started with a simple project of putting a stain glass faux film on the windows by the front door. It was fast and not only provided the privacy he was looking for, but it also looks great!

Next project came in December and was a fabulous Christmas present! I got a beautiful farmhouse style porcelain kitchen sink. It's extra big and deep! He got a 7 inch grinder to cut the granite for that project. It was an enormous mess though. The fine dust created by cutting out granite covered everything!! I lost the use of the kitchen for a while, but it was worth it.

Last year, at the end of the winter season our gas fireplace went out. I so badly wanted it fixed. Luckily John found an insert on Craigslist for a great price, thus began the next project...re-doing the fireplace. That started in December and is still not finished, not because John doesn't work on it, but mainly because he keeps re- doing things after changing his mind about one detail or another. He torn out the tile in front if the fireplace, pulled out the old unit, re-plumbed the new unit, discovered there was no insulation behind the unit, installed more insulation than needed, built a support frame and is now finishing the trim work and flooring. I can't wait for the finished project!

While at Home Depot getting fireplace supplies, John got distracted in the paint department and decided to start re-facing the cabinetry. He started with our medicine cabinets first, but plans to do all cabinets and maybe even the doors. It a cool system of distressing by Rustoleum.

Flooring comes next, but we are waiting till spring break to tackle those. He's putting laminate wood floors in hand scraped hickory in the foyer, dining room, powder room, master bath and kitchen. A plush new carpet will be installed in the family room. Bailey opposed wood floors in the family room cause he loves laying on the floor! After some thought, we agreed with him! The floor will be a big job mainly because he'll have to pull out the existing tile! Messy!!

We've been in the house for 2 years and even though there has always been that look of "under construction", it is finally starting to feel like home. John has a ton more ideas for the outside and I haven't even really touched the upstairs!! But... It's still a great place to call home!

Faux stain glass privacy film.


Measure twice, cut once!!!


Adding insulation to the fireplace.


My pretty sink and new faucet!  Doesn't it look great!?


Getting closer...He added the stones at the bottom hearth area too.


Medicine cabinets.


Doesn't everyone use their dining room to paint cabinets!?!?!  Yikes!


Lots of wood flooring getting acclimated to our environment.


Did I mention John is a total slob while working on projects!!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Back-to-school 2024

  I've been avoiding writing again. If I write about back-to-school, I must admit how hard things have been.  My heart has been broken by the harsh reality that my children are grown up. Being a teacher during back-to-school is easy for me. I'm a pro at that. My ELA buddy teacher even told me I could do it in my sleep. But facing the challenges of parenting young adults making major life transitions pulls at my heartstrings.  This school year, I only have two active students right now, and Bailey is in the works for a return to Texas Tech in the Spring semester. Lorelei started back first. She's a Senior! She had her first college visit at the beginning of August and most likely her last! She loved Texas State.   This was followed by Senior pictures.  We grabbed some sushi from our favorite restaurant after.  Then it was Senior Sunrise and the first day of school for her.  My first days back were great. I always enjoy reuniting with my team and We...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chasing fireflies...Spring of 2024

In April, while in Austin, I was enchanted to see an abundance of fireflies in Savannah's backyard. It brought tears to my eyes, not only because I find fireflies (or lightning bugs as we called them in the Midwest) intriguing and nostalgic, but because it was so fitting for where the Boyen Bunch is in life right now. After several attempts of "chasing" these fireflies with my camera, I captured a picture of one bright one lit up. Nature imitates life. The milestones my kids are reaching this spring are life-changing! The idiom chasing fireflies means chasing dreams, moments, and experiences that are captivating and elusive. We have two graduates this year. Savannah graduated from UT and Jonas graduates today from Comm. Arts HS. The moments this spring are fleeting, just like the light of a firefly. Here one moment and gone the next... I have referred to May as Mayhem for years (not claiming the idea, just saying I've been using this term for a bit). I have many previ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Enjoying the messiness...

  I have two wonderful, crazy, and messy dogs. They bring joy, cuddles, laughs, and, well, you guessed it, messes. I have shredded rugs, window sills gnawed on, shoes with teeth marks, bare patches of dirt in the backyard, and muddy paw prints everywhere.  Let's remember the people I live with, my teens and, the messiest in our family, my hubby. Not dirty messy, more like clutterbug. And I'm sure he's clutter-blind. Oh, he does his best with reminders, like when I remind him, "Don't forget, I like to eat at the kitchen table." Unfortunately, our breakfast room is on the way to the back door and patio, with a detached garage. John uses the table as a stopping point before putting things out in his garage. Yes, his garage. I stay out of there at all costs!  What's my point? I feel a weird guilt almost daily over the normal messes of life in my house. I make my bed every morning around tiny messes in the corners of the room, where bags of donations have been ...
Post a Comment
Read more