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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Kitchen Reno Day One




What a difference, huh!

The good.....
  1. The baseboards, wallpaper, upper cabinets and ceramic tiles were removed.
  2. I thought the water would be turned off today but it looks like we may have the sink and dishwasher another day or two!
  3. We thought the wallpaper would be stuck onto the drywall like the other rooms of our house and instead of gouging/repairing it all, we had opted to have new, very thin drywall layered over the existing.  But when Kris, our contractor, noticed that it not only came off easily, but pulled off in complete sheets like post-it notes, we were pleasantly surprised!  That not only saved him 2 days of work, but expense for us!
  4. The boys are doing great!  
  5. The Mister said he'd bring home dinner.
The bad...
  1. I woke up with a migraine.   Ugh.  Mine last two days, and yes it's still with me!
  2. The tiles wouldn't budge from the sub-flooring and had to be removed with a jack hammer.  
The ugly...
  1. Migraines and jackhammers.  'Nuff said.
  2. When we moved my desk we found a petrified bird head.  Yes, a real one.  
  3. The picture above of my hand in the jack hammer dust.  That couch is in the living room!  I knew there was a reason I didn't finish my spring cleaning this year! ha.
The funny...
  1. When we moved my desk, we found 32 toy mice underneath the drawers!
  2. I've decided that doing a kitchen reno is going to make me richer and skinnier! I was in my studio all day.  There wasn't anywhere else I could be, so I had a very productive day listing items in my shop.  And since I wasn't in the kitchen all day, I didn't eat much.  I didn't cook, bake or work at my kitchen desk!  No snacking! ha.



64 comments:

  1. If you really look at things, you will find the good, the bad, and the ugly in everything. That's unfortunate, I guess, but people are the same way! Great start to the redo.... sorry you have a headache too. I know THAT's not helping you much. Keep us posted!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, yes...I do agree that people are the same way!

      It was a good start...I'm really happy with the progress! I might have to sit on the porch swing a while tonight...hope it's not dusty. haha.

      Hey, you're first!

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  2. So sorry about the headache. I've lived thru the jackhammer without a headache and it was BAD! Happy to hear you saved both time and money with the wallpaper removal. So cute about the cat toys; not so much the bird head! Take care and feel better. Glad the boys are doing well and yeah, for the mr. bringing dinner home.

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    1. So nice to have dinner brought home...now the things I made ahead can last another day! :)
      I had to laugh at all those toy mice....every time they would all disappear I bought another pack! lol....

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    2. When the movers took out all our furniture at our last house a few months ago, I found a zillion milk rings that had been pushed up under furniture!!!!!

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  3. Minus the migraine, jackhammer and petrified bird ~ I'd say you are well on the way to a stellar kitchen!

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  4. What a difference a day makes!
    How cool that the wallpaper came off so nicely. Mine has never done that.
    Sorry you have a migraine, and then had to hear a jackhammer. :( Feel better!

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    Replies
    1. Mine has never either! Who knew! I've always had a terrible time and Kris even put new drywall over our non-fixable bedroom walls, so we all just assumed we would do that again and save ourselves a lot of grief.

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  5. Love that your wallpaper worked out so easily. What a bonus. Just pace yourself and take it easy. Can't wait to see the progression of your redo.

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    1. One more day of destruction and then things should start to improve! yay!

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  6. so which cat left you the bird head? hmmm...ha...ouch on the migraine...i hope that goes away pretty quick for you...ugh...cant imagine one during the reno...

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    1. It's hard to tell...but I bet they were really disappointed when it went so far under the drawers that they couldn't reach it! ha.

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  7. I would say this is exciting but I feel SO bad about your migraine. I've never had one but I am a wimp whenever I get the slightest rare headache.

    Funny about the toy mice. Just think how "new" everything will soon be!

    Jane xx

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    Replies
    1. I know...what a pain! seriously! lol....Mine usually go a full 48 hours and then leave just about the time I think I might die.

      yes...everything will be new...and dust-free, once I clean the whole house. lol.... oh gosh.

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  8. Seems to be working out ok barring a lot of dust, a lot of noise, a bird's head, lots of toy mice and that wretched migraine. Shame that came and hope it goes away soon. . . . :)

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    1. Hmmm....I think you're concentrating on all the negatives! rofl....

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    2. The many positives will follow I am sure . . . . :)

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    3. yes, more will follow. The good and the funny were positives on this first day, though, I think.

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    4. I can see the wallpaper has come off nicely.
      Are you going to hang the wallpaper of should I come over and do it for you . . . . love doing it. . . . :)
      I remember well Maria not wanting a 4 inch hole drilled through our kitchen wall for the hood exhaust pipe - she agreed in the end bit there was a lot of mess to clear up . . . . well worth it though . . .
      Hope day 2 goes well. . . . and your migraine is better . . . :)

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    5. No more wallpaper for me...just paint! I bet you can't guess the color!

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    6. Errr . . . . let's see - grey !! Have I got a degree in ESP ?? . . . . rofl

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  9. Sorry you're in pain. Tim get those. They suck.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, they do...awful! Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

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  10. Good idea to keep a positive attitude about the whole process.

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    1. Knowing there is a good end result is motivation to keep happy..haha. And then I can fall clean instead of spring clean. lol....

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  11. I admire your patience! thanks God you have! these things make feel nerveous:)

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  12. I feel for you, Betsy but I just know this is all worth it. Migraine....BE GONE!

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    1. Oooh...I hope you have magic powers and that command worked! :)
      Yes, it will be worth it...I can't wait! It will be more fun in a couple of days when new things start going in!

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  13. YIKES!
    Hope you are feeling better....
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    Replies
    1. It does look a little bleak, right now, doesn't it? ha.

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  14. Great day! I'd have to say you are one brave woman to have all that work done in your kitchen. I'm sure you have planned for some meals...of some sort huh? Trust it won't upset the boys too much to have all those changes. And trust you are feeling much better very soon. The last thing you need on top of everything else, is to not feel good. ARGH =( Can't wait to see the end results!!

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    1. Yes, I have plenty of meals ready to go! Thanks for the good wishes...I'm sure tomorrow will be much better! I need to go to the grocery tomorrow, so maybe I'll miss most of the jack hammering. ha.

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  15. Your contractor got a lot done in one day!

    I don't think I'll ever want to move my desk after hearing what came out from under yours.

    Sorry that you have migraines. Hope it doesn't last too long.

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    1. haha...well, you don't have a kitty running in and out all the time! (aren't you glad? ha.)

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  16. Blah to the petrified bird head
    Guess the cats left you a present rather ummm dead
    Found their secret spot too
    Where all the toy mice disappear at your zoo
    Hate stinkin migraines and a jack hammer as well
    That just had to be hell
    But at least 2 days less
    Your ocd has to put up with mess

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    1. I can't walk on that kitchen floor
      being barefoot, which I adore.
      Have to wear flip flops in the house
      as we play with a new mouse..
      or 32....and boy, my ocd
      is taking a beating, really!
      That dust! The mess!
      Hibernating in my studio is best!
      ha.

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    2. lmao just close your eyes and count to ten
      then all will be alright at your den
      If you count really really slow
      Don't stub a toe

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    3. I'd have to count REALLY slow,
      like one number daily, don't ya know.

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  17. Oh wow Betsyi..those are big changes coming! You will love it when done! Oh dear, migraines..no fun. I used to have them and those are no fun. I liked the 'funny' parts you shared:)

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    1. Don't really know why I added that extra letter to your name..haha

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    2. Just a few more days of mess and then it will start taking shape. :)

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  18. Replies
    1. Makes me wonder what will happen next....something crazy is always happening here! Ha.

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  19. Yay for your wonderful take on the good, bad and ugly. ;)

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  20. Okay. I am laughing so hard. When I first looked at the couch picture I did not think it was a couch. I thought it was you behind a plastic dropcloth trying to get out! HA! I thought, Oh My God - the first day has trapped and killed her!

    So sorry your head is throbbing... in time to the jackhammer! Ugh. Kris certainly got a lot done... and no cats in sight? :-)

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    1. Oh, that is hilarious! I only wish...that dust is everywhere! Ugh. But after I was everything it it will not only be new but fresh and clean.

      Headache is still here today, but I knew it would be! Ugh.

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  21. I always enjoy following a project. It would make a good timelapse video.

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    1. You know, you're right! I might need to learn how to do that...would be cool to post when it's all done. Great idea...thanks!

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  22. Good progress!! And, yea, for the wallpaper!! I'm sorry about that migraine, Betsy. I know it was especially miserable with the jackhammer going. I hope you make it through the rest with no problems! blessings ~ tanna
    ps so glad the boys are doing well!!!

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    1. Yes, the boys are very curious, but not stressed, so that is a very good thing!

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  23. When it's all done tho....what a dream kitchen it'll be, I'm sure!!
    Ewwww, a jack hammer? I'd have left for the day. I can truly feel for you with a migraine and all that commotion.

    But, best of all....not having to cook.

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    1. That is so true about not cooking....last night was great...it's like a mini vacation!

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  24. Hi Betsy - I can imagine the dust .. yugh! Still in a month or so the dust will be a forgotten remnant - the petrified bird's head is another story! Hope the migraine is going ... but with a jack-hammer = not fun ..... Cheers Hilary

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    1. Yes, we do tend to forget the negatives when they are a distant memory! And the good far outweighs the bad here....

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  25. Oh my! the petrified bird head!!! sounds like that poor bird's migraine was even worse than yours! ;) ha ha . . .
    Oh, but I can only imagine the dust let alone the sound of the jackhammer just to remove those tiles . . . yikes! :(
    But all in all I'd say day one looked awfully productive- what a difference! And yay!- no extra dry wall!! :)
    And now it sounds like you have 32 mice to let the cats redistribute all over the house!!

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    1. Oh, I know! I guess that was done during the night at some point. I'm sure they were very disappointed when their toys went too deep under the desk and they couldn't reach them anymore.

      Yes, tons of work for the first day...I'm pretty happy about that!

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  26. Always a good attitude...even with a migraine! We are thinking of downsizing and have a few projects to do before we move...one is to replace our tile floors and like yours, they will need a jack hammer. Put right onto the sub floor with the best bonding stuff ever. Ugh! So your project will be my inspiration. And maybe I'll lose a few pounds too! Glad the wall paper was easy...let's hope the rest of the project goes that way too!

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  27. Like Suza, it took me a bit to see the sofa photo in the right perspective! There's nothing quite like living right in the midst of a remodel, but then it's all worthwhile when it's done.

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