Tuesday March 30, week 3 day 11

 Today there was a full crew here working on HVAC changes and insulation.  Drywall boards were delivered. And the framers returned to reworking the ceiling over the kitchen island area because they did not figure in the ceiling vent fan when they originally framed the ceiling. An oh no moment for the contractor. Not a lot of visible changes but here are today’s pictures.

Old dining room ceiling with new insulation 

Vaulted ceiling with new insulation 

Skylights with new insulation 

Yay drywall will start to go up and make a real difference

Ceiling vent hole reconstructed

HVAC vent under island

Monday March 29 - Week 3 day 10

 It is hard to believe that we are starting the third week of renovation. I am beginning to understand the time frame a little better now. This week may be a lot quieter than the last two weeks have been. This morning the HVAC guy came to basically look around at the layout that has been framed in. He can see where changes have to be made to heat the second floor and move registers that are now going to be under cabinets. He was here for about an hour and left saying he would be back later this week with the supplies to work on the changes he has to make. Then the dry wall hanger came in. This was a sub contractor of Nick, our contractor and he was going to prepare an estimate. I don’t know if anyone did come last Friday to measure as Nick had said that was going to happen. Maybe he is getting 2 bids on the job or maybe his regular guy came to know how much drywall would be needed. Since we were gone all day Friday it is a mystery. Drywall guy was here for about 30 minutes. Then nothing until after lunch when 2 plumbers came back to work on the laundry room. There are several changes for the washer dryer so these two guys actually made some positive progress today. But there are not any real visible changes to record today.

Steve and I had a meeting with Jennifer Diehl, our designer at the plumbing supply retailer today too. We went over some backsplash ideas, picked out sinks, faucets, hardware and all kinds of things. It will be great. But......

Friday March 26, week 2 day 9

 Well today was probably the quietest since we started. The drywall installer came by to measure. Everyone else comes back on Monday!

On a sad note we were in Grand Rapids Michigan for the funeral of our nephew Eric Gilbert. He was the husband of Steve’s goddaughter Katie. He died Tuesday of a presumed heart attack. He was 50 years old and they have 3 children. Heartbreaking service, but good to see so many of the relatives.  

Thursday week 2 day 8 of renovation

 Again a somewhat quiet day. The electricians finished the wiring for all of the electrical outlets and switches. The plumbers were here to install the lines for the bar sink and the refrigerator ice maker. The laundry room was worked on and some of the electric and water lines were moved. The picture is pretty much the same although they have been cleaning up nicely.

Week Two day 7

 Not a lot a change today. Electrical boxes installed for the can lights 

Tuesday (week 2 day 6 of renovation)

 The unusually nice weather has been a March bonus as the workers were able to set up their saws in the driveway. There was lots of dust as the beams and supports for the vaulted ceiling were cut. I’m happy to see it floating around the driveway and backyard instead of our garage. It was also a bonus because the heat doesn’t have to be on while the doors are open as they walk in and out of the house. It won’t show up in the pictures but the island has been drawn on the floor and so we are able to visualize where things will be a little better. The nice weather also got me into the yard doing a little of the spring clean up and away from the reconstruction noise inside. 

The vaulted ceiling framing completed today

Week 2 Day 5

 Wow! That was our reaction at the end of today’s work. The openings to the family room were made today and we are surprised at how much they were able to open it up. The original doorway was widened and a new opening was made. The vaulting over the eating area was framed in more and the laundry room was started. We walked around tonight visualizing how cool it is going to be to see through to the golf course from the kitchen areas. 

From the family room looking into the kitchen.

Looking out from what will be soft seating area

Looking up to area over eating area

The 2 openings to the family room

Looking back to the eating area

A look from the approximate area of the island stove 

Or kind of my view while cooking

The skylights in the vaulted ceiling

The skylights in the vaulted ceiling area

A look as you enter from the laundry room

Day 4 Friday. End of the week

 Today the progress was all about being able to vault  the ceiling over the kitchen eating area. They decided it could be accomplished with some added support beams. Most of the work today was about getting this accomplished. So no great changes in the pictures.

View of the skylights with a few 2 x 4’ s eliminated.

View into the laundry room where a pocket door will be.

Supports added while vaulted ceilings are being made. Also decided to replace the door to the deck . Just another $$$$

Day 3 smaller changes

 Day 3 is a miserable, cold, rainy, windy, March Ohio day. The crew arrives at 8 am and begins work. The remaining floor is removed and the sky light area of the ceiling is removed. The plan is to vault the ceiling area over the kitchen table since it was open attic space. The first rollaway trash bin has been filled and replaced with an empty one. Habitat for humanity has collected the cupboards we removed and hopefully someone will enjoy them in a new house. As far as pictures go there isn’t a lot of change from day 2 although it does look a little less messy. It is hard to picture how the sky lights might be changed but I took these pictures today.

Looking toward the foyer from the kitchen. All flooring has been removed.

Looking up at attic space

Sky light area to be vaulted over kitchen table.

Day 2 More demolition

 Today the crew of 4 were back to remove ceilings and flooring. It was much more messy today as the attic had blown in insulation which needed to be bagged and removed after it fell down from above the ceiling boards. The wall between the kitchen and dining room is completely gone now so it really begins to feel like a whole space. We are both happy so far with the look. No sense in cleaning things up too much as it will continue to be messy.

Looking out the kitchen garden window. 

Looking up at what was the attic

Still some of the kitchen floor tile.

Looking at the room as you would enter from the foyerI

Looking at the room from the laundry room entrance

A few pieces of the hardwood Steve and I first put down in the originals dining room.😟

Day One Demolition

 Tuesday March 16, 2021 the demolition of our kitchen/old dining room begins. I can’t quite determine if I am excited or scared. I will keep my eyes focused on how great it will be when it is finished and I am sure we will quickly forget all of the troubles along the way.

March 2021

 We got home from our vacation in Florida after a great visit with Rosemary and Bob in Jacksonville and an overnight with Tom and Julie in Peachtree City. Covid -19 shots had been scheduled while we were in Florida so both Steve and I were vaccinated Saturday March 6 with the Moderna vaccine. The second dose will be given on April 3, which happens to be the day before Easter so we probably will plan a quiet Easter as some are experiencing mild symptoms after the second dose.

The big news for this month is that our kitchen remodel will begin. The task of getting ready is starting to seem monumental. With the addition of the foyer floor and powder room being redone it seems as if half of our house will be under construction. I am trying to get comfortable with the fact that everything will be unorganized for a couple of months and keep focused on the finished product. It should be amazing!

So a few pictures along the way.