Boys and Remodeling

The boys have been right there with us at the house as we've worked each day. They love the idea of getting in there and getting dirty, but their enthusiasm and interest in the task at hand usually doesn't last very long. My nephew, Bryson, on the other hand, will cry big tears when you tell him it's time to stop working and go home. The boy loves to work and he's coming in to an age where he's actually really helpful. And, he helps keep Gabe in line when they aren't fighting like brothers.

The first work we did on the house was tear out the carpet. So, let's have a look see at what we got rid of.

Carpet up the stairs.

The new carpet will be the width of the step, instead of just a runner.

I call this one cotton candy.

Blueberry and strawberry.

This will be the craft room/spare bedroom.

Bryson and Gabe being silly in the "up high" closet as Gabe calls it.

This closet sits above the landing on the stairs and is part of the boys' bedroom.

Another version of cotton candy carpet.

The master bedroom.

Baby girl's soon to be nursery.

Her room had newer, neutral carpet, but it came out too.

Barrett has since learned not to slide down the steps.

Currently they are bare except for the tack strips,

so he has learned to walk down the steps instead.

That's a lot of floral for one space.

It's all bare now.

The mirror at the end will go back up and we'll add some pretty trim to it.

The steps are really pretty wood.

I seriously considered not carpeting them.

Practicality won out and Casey wanted carpet. 

The first box of toys brought into the house.

Gabe picked one at random from the trailer and it was filled with matchbox cars.

Sweet boys.

Big boys carrying the old carpet out.

Little boys clearing the old padding from the rooms and steps afterwards.

New carpet was to be installed today, but the walls are taking longer than we had hoped, so we've moved the install back a week. This will also allow time for Casey to complete the bathroom remodel which became a much bigger project than we had wanted. It will be great when it's done, but it definitely pushed our move in schedule back. The bathroom will get a whole post of its own.

Two days ago the first coat of paint color went up on the walls in the craft room. I decided to paint all the walls the same color, grey beige, except for the master. It's going to get a gorgeous blue. Painting all the walls the same color will save a little cash and it's a great neutral so I'll be adding color in wall decor, furniture, and bed coverings. It's so exciting seeing the walls paperless and painted. It's going to feel like a new home upstairs once the carpet is installed. I expect more paint to go up on walls tonight.

Once all the wall repairs have been done, Casey and his dad will focus on putting the bathroom back together. Paneling, tile, toilet, and vanity are coming out...new tile, toilet, and vanity are going back in...along with sheetrock in place of the paneling.

In the meantime, I'll keep cooking meals for the work crew and caring for the kiddos. Looking forward to posting some "afters" for you soon!