we're getting closer

This was an exciting weekend for us. We bought our new windows, bought the washer and dryer (exciting to me since laundry is my favorite chore), brought home a few floor samples and found our entry door. You know what this all means? That we are getting really close to sheetrocking and putting all those walls back together. At this point we are missing a few minor items, but for the most part, we have everything we need to have a full functioning kitchen. *JOY*

We've decided to do wood throughout the entire first floor. We were going to do black slate on the kitchen floor, but putting all the samples on one palette left us questioning our decision. So wood it is (everywhere except the half bath and what we're doing in there is still TBD). We chose Kahrs Storm Maple Grey, which is a really pretty dark maple with a greyish tint. For the upstairs we chose a darker wood, Kahrs Volcano Oak. I am blown away by Kahrs. Everything their company stands for and the quality of their product is just so impressive. They plant 5 trees for every tree they use for their product. And, some engineered wood floors have high VOCs (nasty) but these don't and they even say their floors have the same amount of formaldehyde as an apple. An apple!

volcano oak

storm cloud maple

images via Kahrs

lola's pottie

C never ceases to amaze me. Now we just need to do something about the cement, add some plants and a way cooler fence.

//before//

260 square feet of grass

Lola should really work on looking happier. I mean, this is all for her. Ugh, teenagers.

P.S. Do you like the ditches dug for the main water line? C put in temporary bricks so we can enter into the driveway and we don't really know what to do about the side. We didn't want to pour concrete since we're just going to tear apart the driveway and put grass and pavers in.

garage art

updating a 1967 house = urban art in your garage

we see the light

Lighting downstairs is complete on 3 separate circuits: living room, dining room and kitchen. Seeing a light pop on has never been so beautiful...

We have 7 more lines to go and are expecting to be ready for inspection next Monday. And on another bright note, we are no longer at the mercy of the sun setting at 6PM. More work for us!

landscaping inspiration

I know I should be all about windows and floors and dreaming about a completed kitchen and living room. But since gutting the backyard, landscaping is what's on my mind.

all images via plastolux

landscaping up carver

We tackled the backyard this weekend. Okay, it was mostly C since he had cleared out 3 trees by the time I got home from yoga on Saturday morning, but I helped a little bit. Unfortunately, we don't really have a good before picture of the yard, but there were a couple dead trees, bricks and other random bushes (you get the picture). Our overall goal for the yard is to make it half grass and half rectangular or square pavers with grass in between . We'll also change out the fence and add various plants/planters and furniture. We want it to feel like a modern oasis. While it isn't a giant backyard, it is 25' x 20' or 500 square feet, meaning it's the same size as our NYC apartment. WOW!

Lola is very excited that we are planting grass for her. She can hardly contain herself. She's really the only reason we started on the yard. We have lots more to do outside, exterior paint, new garage door, new roof, new house numbers, new driveway and lighting. See, the list truly does go on and on. On the inside front, we are getting very close to inspection which means that sheetrocking is almost here and that means putting the kitchen back together comes next. We see the light...

the trees and trimmings from the pesky trumpet creepers

Lola loving the upstairs deck and enjoying the summer-like socal weather

the carved up yard

demolition complete

we have moved

Things have been nuts with the move and the renovations and the jobs. The plumbing is complete and the electric is being wired and the box will soon be upgraded. See, we have still been hard at work even though I feel like we're hardly working. Nothing compares to the pains of demolition.

Former linen closet turned laundry room - reframed and equipped with gas, water and drain

Wiring the electric and new underground gas line for the range

lots of kitchen deliveries!

Um, I didn't know cabinets were flat?