Times Up

So after years of  dabbling at renovation attempts and getting the house refinanced to cover the balloon payment due in a month or two we are left with a house that is can't be re-financed in the current market..  AND DH has suddenly gotten serious about doing something to the house...  and feel like I should have his same urgency...  sorry but I have used all that up in the other "hurry lets get things done before the appraiser comes"

BUT he has been working.  New refreshed areas are the hall which I have to admit looks lovely. 

The stairs have handrails after nearly 10 years without them, this area and the mudroom also have holes patched and new paint plus the mud room has a new vinyl floor. 

He is now tackling the kitchen, ya know the room I started work on back in 2012....

I do have to admit he is making progress.  Most of the old floor is gone and he has new underlayment  down in half the room PLUS surprise my unfinished cabinets are in.   Plans are for a butcher-block counter top, green cabinets and stone patterned sheet vinyl floor.  The small area where the cabinets are also has a new paint job and LOOK that green window trim is gone.   

Still on the list to do:

1. Small bedroom - new paint to cover the hole patches (some of those holes were made back in the 90s)
2. Bathroom - needs new floor, walls replaced/painted, Tub surround or something that is more waterproof then the current paint
3. Basement needs new ceiling in the large finished area and walls painted.  Walls we can't reach until point number 4 is done. 
4. Trash/clutter removal -  this is the huge sticking point.   The house is full to the brims of stuff/junk from his hoarder years.  It is still nearly impossible to get him to let go of things

And the count down is under 2 months.   Sigh yes tensions are running high and feelings are being hurt and I am so sick and tired of this house I would rather sale it and find some small place outside of town to move into... 

hmmm I may have found a name for my poodles...

A friend and I were talking about rabbits, yes I have a few and my rabbitry name that is registered with ARBA is Kismet Rabbits. I mentioned that I would use it for my poodles also except it is already taken.. So she started brainstorming for names meaning about the same but that are not used for poodle kennels already. She came up with Moirai poodles :-) I like the sound.

I think they do also ;-)

changes, changes and more changes

I am starting to think I am crazy for making this trip but I am making a lot of folks happy with the number of animals I am moving around.

More delays...

But this time I am responsible.  A recent charity auction has me running over to NC to pick up stock and bring it back to points in between our start in Colorado and our eastern point in NC.   This is the route we will probably be taking.  We will be hauling rabbits, chickens and possibly even turkey poults.   It should be an interesting trip...

Moving Forward...

Well my original plans for a kitchen with purple, cream, green and tan to amber tones have vanished but the new color choices are going to be rather interesting I think.  So not a lot of quirky and colorful stained glass etc but instead I get to play with an even more fun transitional style. 
Color choices are being controlled by our choice of Blue Pearl granite for the future counter top.  The back splash will have a stick mosaic tile that has the granite, blue, black, and clear glass tiles in it.   The floor will be a blue-gray color similar to the blue dove Marmoleum I posted earlier.

 The counter and backsplash will look similar to this photo from Houzz.

Contemporary Kitchen by Stamford Tile, Stone & Countertops Stamford marble and tile

 My lamp for over the dining table got changed to this neat minimal Tiffany style

And I am thinking of this quirky little pendant for over my sink.  I think it will add a touch of color to the blue/stainless/grey tones of the granite and backsplash.

We are also working with stains to find a "cherry" wood color we like to add some warmth. I am actually starting to get excited again about this renovation.

Choices, Choices, and more Choices

Still plugging away at pulling together the colors for the kitchen.  DH thinks I am just wasting time as he doesn't realize how important it is to make sure all your choices will work well together BEFORE you spend the money to buy them.

Last post I mentioned that we had chosen the type of floor we wanted Marmoleum which is a brand of linoleum.   I posted a picture of one color we were considering and mentioned I was still looking at colors.  Well today my second set of samples came in and I think we may have a winner.   :)  I have mentioned Bluestone to DH a few times as a dream floor but of course it is STONE and therefore not what we need in this house.   Today in my samples look what I found....

Contemporary Wall And Floor Tile by San Luis Obispo Building Supplies Green Goods Products

And this is what Bluestone looks like...

What do yall think have I found my floor?

Changes, changes, and more changes...

The floor continues to be a problem child but we have settled on the type of flooring.  It is a "green" product called marmoleum aka linoleum.  The product is very thick, if the dogs have an accident it will clean up easily without damaging the floor.   There is both a floating version AND a glue down version.  The colors we like are in the glue down sheet version so the next step is to find a local installer and see how much it will cost us to have it put in.   

This is called Granada and should look nice but I am still looking at other colors as I would like more color and more contrast with my pale gold cabinets.

The counter is down to three choices, blue pearl granite, soapstone, or one of the new laminates.   

Yes the cabinets are picked they are unfinished birch that we will finish with Tung oil which is another "green" finish.  It turns the pale birch a lovely soft pale gold that will contrast nicely with the darker colors in the floor and counter.  

Next thing to pick back splash and wall colors...