Our home is 66 years old. We're the second owners. Original owners did some wacky things to this house. It was a post World War II home and building supplies were still in short supply, but they managed to stay true to building standards. It's lath and plaster which is harder than rock I'm finding out, but also softer than sand when you try to drive a nail in the wall and instead of a hole you get a crater!!..........Back then painting was not I guess the thing to do. Every friggin' wall and ceiling was covered with wallpaper. The old paste and paper kind. Then painted over, and repapered, then painted. Back and forth for 30 years they did this. They covered up a built in china cabinet.......when I found this out my thoughts were WTF why!!!! Our home and the two next to us, all have the same blueprint inside. They still had their china cabinets and they also had their original fireplace.....we had this ugly, huge white rock of a monster as ours........I liked it at first, but living with it, having to scrub the rock to keep it clean, was not a fun task, nor an easy one. It still is a real wood burning fireplace..........
I finally convinced the hubs that I was serious when I told him I was packing my suitcase and moving out because I could not stand the house any longer.........he gave in. It's funny when knowing that I won't be around to fix dinner can wisen the guy up............Just kidding......but I was that close to loosing my mind......His philosophy is "if momma's happy, he's happy"......
Home Improvement Check List:
China Cabinet
Fireplace
Crown Molding
laminate floor
updated lighting
Build in Microwave
replace interior doors
carpet
paint
and a few surprises along the way...............
Nothing major. Just superficial things that can make a house a home. This gives this old house some restored character. It's still an old house, always will be an old house, but it's a house that I will probably live out my remaining years in (or maybe not). My human has raised 3 boys, fostered a couple of dozen pets, and she's watched countless snow flakes fall from the living room window, and watched lightening shoot across the sky............This was never her dream home, but she's made it warm and inviting as it was before. You can still come in, kick your shoes off, and sit a spell. Put your feet up and relax. She made sure that there isn't anything in her house that cannot be washed if it gets dirty, or wiped up if spilt...........................
Here's the before, during, and after..................
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| Yes, those are windows that have been closed up. I WILL OPEN THEM UP once again, but I will have to be a widow to do it. Opening them up now, creates a larger problem on the outside that the hubs is not willing, nor will he ever while he is alive, let me do. (Yes, we knew they were there. Our neighbors have them!!!) |
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| There is a method to my madness. The contractor made sure that when the time comes to open up the space and let the windows be free, it can be done without a lot of headache!!!.....Have I said how much I love the contractor I used!!! |
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| My original intention was to put a large screen TV on the mantel itself. It's a deep 12 inch mantel. Mounting it the wall was a better choice and I'm glad that I did...... |
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| Behind this wall is the china cabinet |
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| Yep, there she is!!! |
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| All done........my pride and joy!!!! This fills my heart full of happiness. |
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| These are the original kitchen cabinets. I had them resurfaced 20 years ago. A coat of fresh white paint on the inside makes them all pretty again. |
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| The kitchen ceiling is now tin. When you replace an ugly ceiling fixture, you're left with having to replace the ceiling. Tin was my answer. I love it..... |
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| My old microwave sat on my counter. Counter space that is precious to me. Finally got a micowave built in. Of course I had to give up my old olive green, 1970's double oven stove for it. Darn!! |
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| The new, updated, double oven gas stove. |
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| New oak stair treads and risers |
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| Crown molding was added and I said bye bye to my yellow walls........ |
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| Original hardwood floors are underneath, but once the old carpeting was pulled up, it's not worth refinishing in the living room. At some point in time (like when I am a widow) I will have the dining room refinished. I like the warmth of carpet in the living room. I have hardwood in my spare bedroom which I use for my office/craft room and love it. I'll rip out our bedroom carpet at that time too.....I've got to give him something he likes and he likes carpeting. Think this is called compromising........... |
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| Carpet is done. The cabinet was once my entertainment center. I had the glass put in the doors and now is used for the rest of my glassware, china, serving dishes, linens, etc... |
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| Panoramic view....I'm scaling back again of knick knacks. Looking through my own camera lens. I see what shouldn't be there. I'll pack it up, and pull it out when I'm looking to change it up some. |
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| My kitchen is small. I have two more projects for this kitchen. I'm replacing the tile counter and sink. I'm still looking for the counter top. Not sure if I want granite or what. |
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| Frig gets replaced when it dies......hopefully soon...... |
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| I love pillows, lots of them....quilts, and afghans |
I love country.......I'm not modern or contemporary. I'm just an old school gal, who loves the look of well worn pieces. I'm still into roosters.......so you will see roosters everywhere. I still have empty, naked walls. Pictures are being scaled back.... I have clean, fresh walls that some of my photos now hang from, but I'm not sure what others I want to hang. Right now I'm busy repainting picture frames and from there I'll make my decision what gets hung, what gets put away. For sure, my main man, John Wayne,will be back in my office!!!! Sounds corny I know, but these pictures are awesome of the Duke, the man himself. And, it's my office and he can hang out there with me.............
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I can sit back, relax and drink a glass of wine, watch the shenanigans of The Bachelor, and know that I'm pretty sure this wine was made just for me. I am the Mad Housewife............
I'm all done with the remodel and just in time. Me, the human host, and the hubs are heading to Las Vegas this weekend. Fast cars, loud engines, crashes spell Nascar.........Looking forward to snapping a few dozen pictures................
Thanks for coming along on my remodeling journey. I'm done.........now its time for the fun of looking through a camera lens again. I've missed my trusty companion.
Twitter @CotySimon
Instagram/Howunique310
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