I’ve read and watched enough about remodeling projects over the years that I knew the entire condo was going to be a real mess. In anticipation of what lay ahead, I sent Richard to Montana. Don’t feel sorry for him – he has business there and has lots to do. But he’s gone for three weeks. This is a good thing for him during the razing.
Here he is where he most loves to be, although he’d like to be there with him. He’s in Montana, surrounded by mountains and big blue skies in the spring just as the landscape is beginning to green up, sandwich in hand. This man loves a picnic. Richard has a few health issues that make it safer for him to be away for a bit. Besides, there’s nowhere for him to sit in the family room or at his desk. He will be happy he missed this part. Good. Very good.
Another Good
Cabinets and Flooring Arrive!
These are Decora cabinets finished in Sherwin Williams’ “Agreeable Gray.” Love this color. It’s a little lighter than my wall color. Not as stark a contrast as white cabinets, my first choice. It will be fabulous! These cabinets are about 2″ deeper than my old ones – didn’t expect that. The cabinet at the far end of the photo is baking sheet/cooling rack storage. I can’t get over the size of the upper storage cabinet. It’s separated into four healthy slots divided front to back by wooden dividers. Good. Very good.
I decided to use beaded board around three sides of the island. The color is Sherwin Williams’ “Sandy Ridge.” It’s just dark enough from the wall and cabinet color to stand out as a focal point for the room. Good. Very good.
The Bad
Our condo was built sometime in the mid to late 1980’s. During his evaluation, the flooring rep felt there was a noticeable dip in the floor between the dining room and living room. When the plumber went into the crawl space, he noticed the living room floor had been raised. Sure enough, looking at the original blueprints we learned the living room was originally a sunken living room.
The floor was raised utilizing a number of 2×4’s, and not so successfully so, at least not for installing a new floor. The carpet in the room effectively hid imperfections in floor height, but because I’m having a laminate floor installed, it is imperative the floor be as level as possible. Bad. Very bad.
A new plywood subfloor is being installed to level the flooring between the dining room and living room. The plywood areas definitely feel substantial compared with the old subfloor.
We also learned that the former owner made subtle adjustments as they installed the tile floor to keep the entire floor on the west side of the condo and into the kitchen and powder room even. Read: Not level. Obvious to all once the carpet and tile were removed. Some of the subfloor was in good shape. On the entryway-powder room side, however, the tile was glued differently onto the subfloor. Bad. Very bad.
The gray glue will have to be scraped or sanded down before the new plywood subfloor is installed. The idea is to keep everything as level as possible and to keep the dried glue from breaking off under the new floor as traffic will cause it to break down. Over time, the new floor would become uneven with noticeable high and low points. It’s just like wallpaper. If you think eventually you or someone will wish to easily remove it, install according to manufacturer’s directions. This is an obvious do-it-yourselfer mistake that makes the process more expensive and time-consuming.
The Ugly
Reader Caution: What you’re about to see is not for the weak of heart. Avert the eyes of small children. Avert the eyes of wives or husbands or partners who assert, “You want to do what?” No explanation needed. The photos speak for themselves.
Okay. Maybe this one needs explanation. Remember our “do-it-yourselfers?”
The back storm door in the kitchen is one-half inch shorter than standard. To get a standard storm door to fit and to avoid spending hundreds of dollars more for a custom storm, my friends cut off the outside threshold so it would fit. There was nothing for the storm to rest on and seal. Over time, the storm began to fail. Water from rain and melting snow seeped through into the subfloor causing this damage. Richard and I replaced the storm a year ago when our unit was repainted. Yes, we spent the hundreds of dollars to get the threshold rebuilt and for a proper fitting storm. But we did not know the subfloor was damaged. Ugly. Really ugly.
Sledgehammer damage. It happens.
From now on it’s “Beautiful. Really beautiful.” There’s so much to look forward to.
Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.
Brian Tracy
Let’s take a look at my rooms being remodeled during the first phase.
We had to move the contents of the living room, dining room, and kitchen into the family room and office. We’re keeping the old fridge in the garage. Don’t worry. It looks much worse now. Emptied the contents of the laundry room, too, that also served as a pantry.
My daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren helped empty contents of the pantry in the kitchen, all the cabinets, china hutches. Yeah, that’s plural. In all, we moved four sets of dishes, and that does not include the three other sets I have in the garage. Good grief. I have a problem.
Then we hired professional movers to move all the furniture and other heavy stuff. I found a fantastic moving company,Colt Moving. If you live in the Indy area or in Lexington, Kentucky (Wildcat Moving), you can’t go wrong. Colt Moving is great to work with. Reasonably priced, friendly, accommodating, and patient. This is a group of extremely motivated entrepreneurs. I highly recommend their services.
Moving along . . .
On the other side of that wall on the left is the kitchen getting a facelift.
Carpet, walls, tile, fixtures, and appliances are going. Bye, bye pantry. The whole shebang. I’m saving the old kitchen cabinets to repurpose in the laundry room. We were able to do the cabinet wall demo because it was a half-wall and not a support wall. Lucky, lucky, lucky.
And Auggie wants to help! She’s staying with Jessica for a couple of weeks until it’s safe to bring her home.
How does it look at the end of Phase 2?
At The Beginning
Living Room to Kitchen
Kitchen to Living Room
All Tile Removed, Frame for Kitchen Island
I’m exhausted! Stay tuned for Phase 3. The laundry room is stripped and drywalled. My cabinets and flooring arrived today. Cabinet install begins tomorrow! Hooray!!!
I do admire folks who have the courage and vision for a total kitchen remodel. It’s no project for the weak of heart or wallet. Read: I have no courage. I have a weak heart. I found my wallet at Goodwill. Ugh!
And this is not just a kitchen remodel. It’s a transformation of my kitchen/dining room/living room configuration. Oh, did I mention we’re reconfiguring the laundry room? Yeah, I’m over the top.
Over 40 years of home ownership across several states, I have lived with kitchens designed by former owners. Of course, when I selected a house, the kitchen was the most important element. My selections were thoughtful. But, you know, there’s always something you wish you could change.
When we moved back home to Indiana in 2014, I enjoyed the kitchen in our condo, but it was serious time for an update. Not that the existing kitchen didn’t work for me. I wanted something different. I wanted our common areas to work for me, my family, and guests, especially my husband. Our kitchen was galley-style. Whenever I worked in the kitchen, Richard would come to visit, always standing in front of any drawer, appliance, sink I was in the process of using. I was constantly shooing him away, sometimes with little compassion.
What have I learned so far?
Find people you trust. This is a big deal. This is an expensive deal. The project will inconvenience everyone for many weeks.
I am blessed with some very special experienced professionals here in the Indy area helping me through the project. It can be an overwhelming undertaking without the right people on your team. I hired a kitchen designer to draw plans, Kate Horton, because I’m not an abstract thinker. Bought my cabinets from ADS in Whitestown from Bob Drollinger who is gentle and patient. Cabinets are freaking expensive – make sure you get the best quality you can afford.
My general contractor, Rick Parks, Rosewood Construction, LLC, is phenomenal. He transformed my master bath, so I have some history with Rick. He is experienced and patient. He listens and answers all my questions without coming across as a “know-it-all.” He gives good advice. He’s installing my cabinets, appliances, and flooring in addition to all the demo work, plumbing, and electricity. A one-stop-shop for me, which makes my project manageable with someone I trust to do the right thing.
Get the vibe. Trust your people instincts. If a contractor makes you feel uncomfortable, keep looking.
Noticed I mention “patience” a lot. I’m a newbie to all this remodel stuff, so patience is a quality I look for.
Have courage and ask for discounts. I’ve saved thousands of dollars simply asking “Is that the best you can do?” Even going so far as saying “I can find this cheaper online and I don’t pay for shipping or sales tax.” This is a big motivator. Big Box Stores aren’t always the solution – it may be convenient but not always the bargain you’d expect. Hiring an independent local contractor may be cheaper and you’re supporting businesses in your community.
Anxiety – Be prepared Did I make the right decisions? Are the cabinets properly configured? What about lighting – what is too much or not enough? The biggest concern of mine was to have proper flow through the kitchen/dining room for my very helpful accommodating family. I’m doing an open concept so the entire space will be kitchen/dining room/living room in one continuous design. My plan also includes room for Richard to sit at the island side of the kitchen to allow him to keep me company without getting in my way. YES! However, mine is an expensive transition – am I making the right decisions?
Self-doubt is inherent in an undertaking this size. Have faith. Be open to suggestions. Don’t be afraid to mix up the plan if you have second thoughts. Ask questions. Work with your professionals – good ones sincerely want you to be happy with the end product.
I’ve mulled over my transition since 2014. I’ve researched online and with consultants. With my sister and friends who are experienced remodelers. With my husband who ultimately has to live with my vision and won’t complain – he’s a good man.
Let’s begin at the beginning.
Here’s a blast from the 2014 past. This is the area we’re redesigning.
Holy cow! All that gold paint had to go! This side of the condo houses our kitchen, dining room, and living room. It’s one HUGE room, 35′ x 18′ at least, with tall vaulted ceilings. It’s one reason I fell in love with this property. The kitchen is on the other side of the half wall with a 24″x24″ passthrough above the kitchen sink. Well, okay. Let’s open up this space!
Here’s what my kitchen/dining room/living room looked like in 2014 after painting.
What a dramatic difference, eh? I choose Benjamin Moore’s “Revere Pewter,” because it is one color Candace Olson loves as a great neutral/greige. A little on the green-taupe side, I love this wall color.
Okay. I’ve got lots more pictures. Follow our progress with the links below.
OK, probably not the best pictures. This is what the master bath looked like before we decided to remodel. The bath was functional, but the tub needed to be replaced, and the space needed an update.
Keep in mind that in all my Mimi years, I have never remodeled anything. Nada, nothing. After I recovered from the culture shock of the expense, I decided the remodel was really something I wanted to do, if I was going to be happy in the last home I’ll most likely ever own.
I was inspired by model homes seen during a Parade of Homes last summer in Noblesville at Sagamore, a home development on the west end. Here was one of my inspirations:
Cute, no? I fell in love with the gradient shading color of the shower wall tile. The shower stall is clean and open. The space wasn’t that large, maybe a bit deeper than a standard tub/shower placeholder,
3′ x 5′.
Lucky for me, one of my neighbors is a flooring/tile veteran. He also hooked me up with a general contractor, plumber, painter, etc.
This could have been an intimidating experience, but with some help, I was able to maneuver and subsequent projects may be easier, at least I hope so.
Here’s a Tip: Don’t always think you’re getting the best price on tile, flooring, carpet, cabinetry from big box stores or national all-in-one stop hardware vendors. The cabinetry estimate I got for the bathroom vanity was a whopping $1,200 more than my local cabinetry vendor, and less quality, in my mind. The quality of flooring tile and shower wall tile was poor in these stores, and the selection limited. If you’re in the market for a remodel, don’t be afraid to talk to some local small business persons. You might be surprised. But then, I love to support local businesses.
My dilemma was to find a color palette to coordinate with this drapery fabric I found years ago.
I had all the rooms, except the master bedroom and the family painted Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter. A great neutral color preferred by Candice Olson as a paint color that goes nicely with any room style. The Master, however, I painted Benjamin Moore’s Silver Fox:
And while this is a lovely color, it had more green overtones, and I was going for gray. As many times as I compared fabrics with the wall color, the more I was convinced it was not to be.
My fabric has a lot more beige than green or gray, and the tile sales consultant confirmed when she brought out floor tile samples. She brought out mosaic tile. The color combination that caught my eye was:
Crossville Glass Tiles, Ebb & Flow in Rocks and Minerals
Atlas GET 12″ x 24″ tile in Beige
These probably don’t look like they match, but look at the pictures I took at the granite yard, where I selected Cambria in Windermere.
I got some copper, gold, some gray, and some beige. The Cambria was a remnant, but there was enough to do the shower shelves and the shower threshold. Windermere is the quartize I choose for the vanity top.
There’s just enough interest without everything being too matchy.
Look and see how the shower shelve wall turned out! I’m not a fan of the corner shelve used to prop up one’s leg when shaving. So, I asked the tile installer to make a lower shelve at bathtub height, and 6″ deep. Viola!
Master Bath Shower Shelve Wall
Master Bath Shower Trim Wall
And the shower head wall (above)! I choose Kohler’s Refinia shower trim and faucets.
And here’s the Cambria shower threshold:
Master Bath Cambria Shower Threshold
We remain in the process of remodeling. However, I will tell you I asked the GC if I could use the existing vanity, paint it, and if he would bbuild a platform that would raise the vanity, without the top, to 34 1/2″. Yep, he did it, and saved at least $2500 in the process.
The Cambria vanity top will be installed on May 2. Stay tuned for more updates on the bathroom, and, ultimately, the rest of the Master Bedroom.
Yes, I am a Mimi!
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Cute, no? I fell in love with the gradient shading color of the shower wall tile. The shower stall is clean and open. The space wasn’t that large, maybe a bit deeper than a standard tub/shower placeholder,
My dilemma was to find a color palette to coordinate with this drapery fabric I found years ago.
