tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13934377200369995082024-02-06T18:04:38.766-08:00Some Assembly Requireda blog about sledgehammers, electrical fires, and the American DreamMegan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-67056237375244946492009-09-01T07:09:00.001-07:002010-08-13T15:40:18.851-07:00House Stats<div>The appraiser came by last week to check out the house and assign a value to all of my toiling. It appears that the hard work has paid off; in addition to having a lovely home, I now have this magic thing called equity. Huzzah! For those of you who care, here are the details.</div><div></div><div>Date Purchased: Sept 25, 2008</div><div>Date Built: 1904 </div><div>Size: 2300 sqft (plus basement and garage)</div><div>Bedrooms: 3</div><div>Bathrooms: 2.5</div><div>Updates: New electrical, plumbing, HVAC, gyp walls and ceilings, flooring, appliances</div><div></div><div><br />
</div><div>Approx. hours of work put into the house: 950 (Please take a moment to mull over the fact that all this work was done over evenings and weekends...ugh.)</div><div>Total trips to Home Depot: 87 (based on receipts and the fact that the cashiers know me by name)</div><div></div><div><br />
</div><div>Date completed: Aug 30, 2009</div><div></div><div>I couldn't be more proud to call this place home.</div><div><br />
</div><div></div><div>PS. Just in case you wanted to see them...</div><div><br />
</div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2Xf7NmufJr5lG3geaG86nSD9tAvGz4uh6FJulIOzCpCnYBzrQ5-mq35FatHJYcjDuV6WsYihUIrjsbIxlypNQFWqlqm8aB87Qno5pu8lCeit6FSwqGbOJXl6EjTBKeym0SJ4rJotPPzm/s1600-h/DSC05297.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376507190979854306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2Xf7NmufJr5lG3geaG86nSD9tAvGz4uh6FJulIOzCpCnYBzrQ5-mq35FatHJYcjDuV6WsYihUIrjsbIxlypNQFWqlqm8aB87Qno5pu8lCeit6FSwqGbOJXl6EjTBKeym0SJ4rJotPPzm/s320/DSC05297.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 180px; width: 132px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMklW16xyoe_BI3dCvLyiKhuh0z26Rwooo6jI557yAmqV7GY5TdN0w-QeN3hQxetbYpfKPnlaSPtwdQYFIXm4yFowDH3aahY0pEVUzt8PzAa-8eS1k7ULP9fZAEoZK92i_Z_ElJ4ih-hkb/s1600-h/DSC05299.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376507748785985202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMklW16xyoe_BI3dCvLyiKhuh0z26Rwooo6jI557yAmqV7GY5TdN0w-QeN3hQxetbYpfKPnlaSPtwdQYFIXm4yFowDH3aahY0pEVUzt8PzAa-8eS1k7ULP9fZAEoZK92i_Z_ElJ4ih-hkb/s320/DSC05299.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 180px; width: 133px;" /></a><br />
That's right, ladies - I have a dedicated shoe closet.</div><div></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-29440091772898655522009-08-19T07:14:00.000-07:002009-08-19T13:10:05.277-07:00The End is HereFinally, I can see the sweet glow of light at the end of the construction tunnel, and it feels wonderful. I'm 99.9% done with the house. (Only closet organizers and some minor, non-Megan work needs to be completed.)<br /><br /><div></div><div>Needless to say, I'm extremely proud of all that has been accomplished, and I whole-heartedly appreciate the time and effort that my friends and family have dedicated to the project. Thanks especially to Mike Hartmann, who even after thousands of dollars, was still the cheapest general contractor I could find, and Patrick Kelley, who worked only for Pabst and friendly company. (Patrick, you're a freakin' saint.) </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, to illustrate the sheer amount of work that has gone into the house over the past year, there are some side-by-side photos posted below. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Official specs will follow when I get the appraisal numbers back.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5Tq6O4wx5pkWgGGlYF57gI2BUPNJcl1hzcYCjsUQ42ITo23_Im3ypHfc2bDe7FIofGvFQvvp16HsfY68QKAbihIpUBRqxqwzigirXw101c1oEj7XxQNhsb2Q1GJ8akntiivMUdXZ8pAi/s1600-h/DSC03645.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371684523228184978" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5Tq6O4wx5pkWgGGlYF57gI2BUPNJcl1hzcYCjsUQ42ITo23_Im3ypHfc2bDe7FIofGvFQvvp16HsfY68QKAbihIpUBRqxqwzigirXw101c1oEj7XxQNhsb2Q1GJ8akntiivMUdXZ8pAi/s320/DSC03645.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Kitchen - Before</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eNdonKKI_jlnFIr8-b3hkWEfrhTDdmoBCLuXH_zdLWtUpcxgOyHp4m7c5KzjQ9XOQK_mS6sJmrfPtGitAwR7bYnnnPF-taVJob2An896XKgjqFG2eZsm5XqrrEVP230rjCgkvidLPdOG/s1600-h/IMG_2190.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371684145783932418" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eNdonKKI_jlnFIr8-b3hkWEfrhTDdmoBCLuXH_zdLWtUpcxgOyHp4m7c5KzjQ9XOQK_mS6sJmrfPtGitAwR7bYnnnPF-taVJob2An896XKgjqFG2eZsm5XqrrEVP230rjCgkvidLPdOG/s320/IMG_2190.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Kitchen - After </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3Fpn_hZOsRAJTaC-_qROpLaKO2FbnuJ_wl6lkUVeWdB7jvA6TWA99_xGAugzd21bLRqy-ae4ey7VukYxLlOV-S9ztcxFic0GoOqzR4vbamzVGTR-BwBXX7SzKuLBdx4Z19RcQ4McDnXp/s1600-h/DSC03619.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371686682689047650" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3Fpn_hZOsRAJTaC-_qROpLaKO2FbnuJ_wl6lkUVeWdB7jvA6TWA99_xGAugzd21bLRqy-ae4ey7VukYxLlOV-S9ztcxFic0GoOqzR4vbamzVGTR-BwBXX7SzKuLBdx4Z19RcQ4McDnXp/s320/DSC03619.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>From Entry to Back Door - Before </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxXq6H3puw5BYzfvqTByH9pz-01k_U6WKorJ35H7VttbpzhRP6pYbYnqe_NgFsTonIPvwIRkKIHUhKA9mrSY9RKYM1pyOQ3KvqcJvgHuYSACePNmP9gzumkz_0GPgytDbzBd8meD-_yfk/s1600-h/IMG_2184.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371685941268643890" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxXq6H3puw5BYzfvqTByH9pz-01k_U6WKorJ35H7VttbpzhRP6pYbYnqe_NgFsTonIPvwIRkKIHUhKA9mrSY9RKYM1pyOQ3KvqcJvgHuYSACePNmP9gzumkz_0GPgytDbzBd8meD-_yfk/s320/IMG_2184.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />From Entry to Back Door - After </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSY7FRWhN1u6D15Tkxso-S9WWmC8PhNWgz8CaXTDOgKFVio3rQocAJo_5smVvBKM3vi_Byc-o4gHU27TCIbv2oMkP4Ow4XdgJWnViKwBMsng7K7akN2eHkP4Y00txpZePNrXrGjfwzbnzj/s1600-h/DSC03115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371688735346505810" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSY7FRWhN1u6D15Tkxso-S9WWmC8PhNWgz8CaXTDOgKFVio3rQocAJo_5smVvBKM3vi_Byc-o4gHU27TCIbv2oMkP4Ow4XdgJWnViKwBMsng7K7akN2eHkP4Y00txpZePNrXrGjfwzbnzj/s320/DSC03115.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Hallway - Before </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpdnecyeLAuP-chs0YNO65TTh4X09nXiyvPPoxb_l_4buNwiyy5A2SSLUNYNirGTfdY7aoSJCOsOSFJ5AdGei9MNlvLgtHDne1SQnHmrUFNtyiK85rqq8UEtp6w6TV7MPiYbCfs1VV-mo/s1600-h/IMG_2192.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371689001934018610" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpdnecyeLAuP-chs0YNO65TTh4X09nXiyvPPoxb_l_4buNwiyy5A2SSLUNYNirGTfdY7aoSJCOsOSFJ5AdGei9MNlvLgtHDne1SQnHmrUFNtyiK85rqq8UEtp6w6TV7MPiYbCfs1VV-mo/s320/IMG_2192.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Hallway - After</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiME8gkROQvnbi7Auvl1EkdFL0TPQEdyA3RlJEvuZhYgLzQVbq8UXEUyMwMbeLR1NBM0ncdg5mmbv6weYn4yU9MbObrcB2Z9qj-5fGPHJG9wlmEyeLP5motUqJEJlpot0cz12SF3inKGsTc/s1600-h/DSC03135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371687212345073410" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiME8gkROQvnbi7Auvl1EkdFL0TPQEdyA3RlJEvuZhYgLzQVbq8UXEUyMwMbeLR1NBM0ncdg5mmbv6weYn4yU9MbObrcB2Z9qj-5fGPHJG9wlmEyeLP5motUqJEJlpot0cz12SF3inKGsTc/s320/DSC03135.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Master Bedroom - Before</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieialGVwLhc-NQV-c2L4oJT-1I1V1fM5ZbJ3gAvTOeJrrUX0icmChroIEz9vy9HR-4lbAjox5HQijm0jJgPZ2-_qZTyiNniCuwOm8p7z0D1N0_hininATMJ1x5_B0I3NH3vtC7F74aiY8O/s1600-h/IMG_2195.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371687546264327858" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieialGVwLhc-NQV-c2L4oJT-1I1V1fM5ZbJ3gAvTOeJrrUX0icmChroIEz9vy9HR-4lbAjox5HQijm0jJgPZ2-_qZTyiNniCuwOm8p7z0D1N0_hininATMJ1x5_B0I3NH3vtC7F74aiY8O/s320/IMG_2195.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Master Bedroom - After </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So there you have it. After almost an entire year, countless hours of work, numerous splinters, roof leaks, and nervous breakdowns, I have a house. A pretty nice house, at that. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>Thanks again to anyone who helped -- no matter how big or small your contribution. Your support has meant the world to me, and I truly couldn't have done it without you.</div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-72124237688053261212009-07-27T06:02:00.000-07:002009-07-27T07:33:41.003-07:00Progress for the Sake of ProgressI'm not feeling particularly chatty today, so I'll just say that a long Sunday was spent installing baseboards and feeling generally meh.<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div>Pictures:</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz_r9werhH3wBdrfhK466gifAHIVECCTQonwEo4zL2W1yDCG9m6WYMurTAdXKgS0azKYS2k693nwRQfCi3lwSnqtZCFlI6NLq03s4zQcUjI2vpr8ejnGfw9QREUUUemFYRqKdXXgq4nV2/s1600-h/DSC05137.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363125583991667058" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz_r9werhH3wBdrfhK466gifAHIVECCTQonwEo4zL2W1yDCG9m6WYMurTAdXKgS0azKYS2k693nwRQfCi3lwSnqtZCFlI6NLq03s4zQcUjI2vpr8ejnGfw9QREUUUemFYRqKdXXgq4nV2/s320/DSC05137.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONgmsNA6YeKZwNqEZ1Jo55n4XZpDKzXE0pbHbUREpfjo4Gt2c77qn6YoHdzDX9XHgQZMmcPRplYfd69szKiRCzg1UrGm7oeiMS9Ujh3vnUJfMuLJLk_MCjRti_Dp-Ma3cCzAfYApcxQbo/s1600-h/DSC05133.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363125782773535522" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONgmsNA6YeKZwNqEZ1Jo55n4XZpDKzXE0pbHbUREpfjo4Gt2c77qn6YoHdzDX9XHgQZMmcPRplYfd69szKiRCzg1UrGm7oeiMS9Ujh3vnUJfMuLJLk_MCjRti_Dp-Ma3cCzAfYApcxQbo/s320/DSC05133.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJE_CXW6MJp99px5Y8anHDDhf5GaciR56ZBQD3f26yxjxpyxKKAxfcL7LQBvw_Cg8E-tzeC87Boi83dnob0n0PNgByzVMTRpvmuSAhQke4QBqOcYVlMsvyxOnfKE8PlykrS92uJED7gmL/s1600-h/DSC05140.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363125969206228994" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJE_CXW6MJp99px5Y8anHDDhf5GaciR56ZBQD3f26yxjxpyxKKAxfcL7LQBvw_Cg8E-tzeC87Boi83dnob0n0PNgByzVMTRpvmuSAhQke4QBqOcYVlMsvyxOnfKE8PlykrS92uJED7gmL/s320/DSC05140.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>And...craft room. The craft room had been to this stage for a couple weeks.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpRlwPRfHD4lJx0xTXL9DKvvoi-UIWwgBHV9trhkLW7dunDJ6bBdfe2zuTlCutUGWyMd6v1BnbuoGrnVa8wVBogQ0_aMH8L5Aoaka7hMCg5AQoiGHef-rhXbesxSkbngIm-6dCYWrBZ2z/s1600-h/DSC05145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363126477521206466" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpRlwPRfHD4lJx0xTXL9DKvvoi-UIWwgBHV9trhkLW7dunDJ6bBdfe2zuTlCutUGWyMd6v1BnbuoGrnVa8wVBogQ0_aMH8L5Aoaka7hMCg5AQoiGHef-rhXbesxSkbngIm-6dCYWrBZ2z/s320/DSC05145.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Matt helped me put together that awesome carpet-square rug.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_F5T9jnams9C22P0CajtHQ-nb36yur1YevlSnb6KI2RjXZCGeCH6PpH3_h6GeZCgnp54noVBWhuBHKjQCZfKJqf3Q6XkgKyMnVDqbpjDYIShgSTQKYXOEimDOdVdeVUmhe7Eb4creTd8o/s1600-h/DSC05147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363126645094868018" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_F5T9jnams9C22P0CajtHQ-nb36yur1YevlSnb6KI2RjXZCGeCH6PpH3_h6GeZCgnp54noVBWhuBHKjQCZfKJqf3Q6XkgKyMnVDqbpjDYIShgSTQKYXOEimDOdVdeVUmhe7Eb4creTd8o/s320/DSC05147.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>The book nook.</div><div></div><br /><div>And lastly, a working pantry, also with help from Matt.</div><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4J0p3FxlTPF-jd95Hp_oFUWusSx9J36Qd6O0wptFX8hyphenhyphenhNeGmff1LLp1CtucOdxmQ-VcQfporDcnhA9Pe054TWX0Jbb_Z3T4duaHppuGvv7Od-GpKTj8YhHn5iPa3PbKZ8wY5KreePQ3/s1600-h/DSC05108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363127077419060018" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4J0p3FxlTPF-jd95Hp_oFUWusSx9J36Qd6O0wptFX8hyphenhyphenhNeGmff1LLp1CtucOdxmQ-VcQfporDcnhA9Pe054TWX0Jbb_Z3T4duaHppuGvv7Od-GpKTj8YhHn5iPa3PbKZ8wY5KreePQ3/s320/DSC05108.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div></div></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-32619205843693550542009-07-22T08:46:00.000-07:002009-07-22T09:01:01.763-07:00Stairway to HeavenFirst off, many apologies for the lack of posting in the last few months...Mom visited for a month, then another two months of slow progress due to unpacking and a general need to be social. :)<br /><br />I finally figured out how to tackle the stair issues. It turns out all they needed was time -- 3 months of time to dry, that is. After sitting for so long, the stain had finally cured and was a lot easier to seal (without the color rubbing off!)<br /><br />Here are some progress shots...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xl9uaaQmRgFRWn2fD-NRVs32jjB4BfRCU1S80q98C0cCE0cZFK-FJBT2NikPP1sbSytQjvbKGsbUKJpMMTu-erPSlJgtslRa62VgkAF-Wy5w486lOhPgujPIdJLFzgvDTd1rsXTjR5qP/s1600-h/DSC04751.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361312357280164706" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xl9uaaQmRgFRWn2fD-NRVs32jjB4BfRCU1S80q98C0cCE0cZFK-FJBT2NikPP1sbSytQjvbKGsbUKJpMMTu-erPSlJgtslRa62VgkAF-Wy5w486lOhPgujPIdJLFzgvDTd1rsXTjR5qP/s320/DSC04751.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I had to cover the stairs in paper while the stain cured, otherwise they would have gotten mucked up with all the traffic. Also note that the dining room walls have been painted!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRGgLtbTq110DrCeWeVHAB2f6bhGaCAwKFtSLaum_x_wO6blhZowfQiXrdO6wiYLO3WxCrBtk9Xi58hQ5f8rhP0zts1E411wU_0mer-SVkSsdQ99V97oDhGRGo_Cc22MYhJNIHM8HlGBj/s1600-h/DSC05117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361312789073481426" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRGgLtbTq110DrCeWeVHAB2f6bhGaCAwKFtSLaum_x_wO6blhZowfQiXrdO6wiYLO3WxCrBtk9Xi58hQ5f8rhP0zts1E411wU_0mer-SVkSsdQ99V97oDhGRGo_Cc22MYhJNIHM8HlGBj/s320/DSC05117.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Once they were finally ready (read: once I was finally ready), I put 4 coats of sealer on each tread, making them nice and shiny!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaki1fPaF19FFYNIFnL-AmpLrKjODCUXgZF_0EHwo8qkDSphQCPicRwqqj84ta9ixrmCG59TqYEl0e9nDsUg16RSAfwpN1IRS6un6FpwPPLb15580Tv-r3e-R6kXi_08rZUoL_5z5HZmq/s1600-h/DSC05123.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361313604973436386" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaki1fPaF19FFYNIFnL-AmpLrKjODCUXgZF_0EHwo8qkDSphQCPicRwqqj84ta9ixrmCG59TqYEl0e9nDsUg16RSAfwpN1IRS6un6FpwPPLb15580Tv-r3e-R6kXi_08rZUoL_5z5HZmq/s320/DSC05123.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday, Kirkwood stair came out and installed all the decorative trim and the ballusters! (See the gaps at the top? Yeah, they sent too many short ballusters and not enough long ones...so they'll be coming out to fix that soon.)<br /><br />I've been so used to the stair being open that I think it will take a while to get used to the ballusters. They definitely change the look and the feel of the steps. The upside to them is that they keep the cats from leaping off the stairs and onto the dining room table.<br /><br />What do you think?Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-87201557172569889222009-03-31T09:26:00.001-07:002009-03-31T09:30:03.253-07:00Stair Staining Debaucle!Mike and I attempted to stain the stairs this past weekend. In order to get the color we wanted, we used a General Finishes Water-based stain in Ebony, and applied it on the heavy side. (We wanted a dark brown-black.)<br /><div></div><br /><div>We let it dry overnight, and tried to seal it the next day, using a GF water-based High Performance Poly in Satin, but the sealer pulled up some of the stain and left the wood looking streaky and blotchy. </div><br /><div></div><div>Anyone have any suggestions as to how to leave the stain thick and still seal the staircase without it lifting the stain???</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBEigTtnVSy-geNGMN0CBlEDODqV3XI2y2QkXl8Qrnpc28-lJnK8G7-mKa6XII59Iex-xCnoZgy25cW7G6pteegb7bbNCzby1vEf_KVWUNzzpvV9sXGJepsu0AbVlu26ZhMGGUJYZXhv_/s1600-h/before+after+stain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319389824939808018" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBEigTtnVSy-geNGMN0CBlEDODqV3XI2y2QkXl8Qrnpc28-lJnK8G7-mKa6XII59Iex-xCnoZgy25cW7G6pteegb7bbNCzby1vEf_KVWUNzzpvV9sXGJepsu0AbVlu26ZhMGGUJYZXhv_/s400/before+after+stain.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-5952732184080441022009-03-24T07:33:00.000-07:002009-03-24T07:54:48.390-07:00In the Final Stretch...Flooring, etc.The flooring installers came last week and installed all of my hardwood flooring in less than 24 hours. I have close to 1200 sqft of hardwood in my house, so these guys must have been working up a sweat. <div><div><div><div><br /><div></div><div>This week (today, actually) they are finishing my carpet installation. :)</div><br /><div></div><div>Once the carpet is installed upstairs, I can finally start moving furniture around. The first thing I'm going to move upstairs is the bedroom furniture. I CANNOT WAIT to sleep in my own bed again.</div><br /><div></div><div>Wahoo!!!</div><br /><div></div><div>Here are some photos of the hardwood. Pardon the dust...since there is still work goin on in the house, it's REALLY difficult to keep these puppies clean.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJNGkdxp7CDym7LPh3Ug2P3b1SoQglPXwHE2CJYSow251ha6C66epI1SA_XtSW9Y-DxRbkA6hi1rlbZeceln2FiQatWHwPe-VR4SsHIXMj3_gDBQOGWRpkIZYeqqlOvZvfv7duxtaHxkk/s1600-h/DSC04658.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316766146090263474" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJNGkdxp7CDym7LPh3Ug2P3b1SoQglPXwHE2CJYSow251ha6C66epI1SA_XtSW9Y-DxRbkA6hi1rlbZeceln2FiQatWHwPe-VR4SsHIXMj3_gDBQOGWRpkIZYeqqlOvZvfv7duxtaHxkk/s320/DSC04658.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief0LQbOObGXiEyhqX_l9fdzJBxDr9SkIBcnXyvbhECKBXIdX-GxJslErtzM3H2mM4ANRIdk1oiyeX8k8FGCXh30Yn4aADnlRL1nWcIKfZHl3EfE0OvIkhwvlpapSGWIQE1v-aLqtq6LIp/s1600-h/DSC04659.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316766481839611666" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief0LQbOObGXiEyhqX_l9fdzJBxDr9SkIBcnXyvbhECKBXIdX-GxJslErtzM3H2mM4ANRIdk1oiyeX8k8FGCXh30Yn4aADnlRL1nWcIKfZHl3EfE0OvIkhwvlpapSGWIQE1v-aLqtq6LIp/s320/DSC04659.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib18vMsfAzr0_SUF7YBtNGyDfYJtCEMXzZYCnaeoevLAUyAvIdZizga6LqKA7r21CHzUUEaffMl_2GkD9kaGxAKiYQAanwDTFjV8yXijDcLVr4uxuxcMDYG-oYxa5NBMH2YD5gXUR5TWjm/s1600-h/DSC04663.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316766915798722290" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib18vMsfAzr0_SUF7YBtNGyDfYJtCEMXzZYCnaeoevLAUyAvIdZizga6LqKA7r21CHzUUEaffMl_2GkD9kaGxAKiYQAanwDTFjV8yXijDcLVr4uxuxcMDYG-oYxa5NBMH2YD5gXUR5TWjm/s320/DSC04663.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2rjNm8WwppK3yt0dOmJPqzqj7SCG_tJQ2bSDKTrrSXriT4MW4AGf7xyEWgiHTLKqnSTz9ZbRHeAwDN13bXDzWbwfIANDpUrO6BWZ-W0biGnOxilPVrksCSdNh3OBh574gUAV9cx17dpa/s1600-h/DSC04664.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316767124623969874" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2rjNm8WwppK3yt0dOmJPqzqj7SCG_tJQ2bSDKTrrSXriT4MW4AGf7xyEWgiHTLKqnSTz9ZbRHeAwDN13bXDzWbwfIANDpUrO6BWZ-W0biGnOxilPVrksCSdNh3OBh574gUAV9cx17dpa/s320/DSC04664.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU01c7_i5sJcsiN8KzWJiMQlj5_wKWTY1-v0ZRjGntFbDX7abJTsM-kIN4leDuhUXZlPOExgDO1MTliSgiGRjXk2WLnUCA9CO8ZspzkJGevjjlqkG0DSq9TwNWzB_WoO9znvHwlRIZJTNt/s1600-h/DSC04644.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316767373583508002" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU01c7_i5sJcsiN8KzWJiMQlj5_wKWTY1-v0ZRjGntFbDX7abJTsM-kIN4leDuhUXZlPOExgDO1MTliSgiGRjXk2WLnUCA9CO8ZspzkJGevjjlqkG0DSq9TwNWzB_WoO9znvHwlRIZJTNt/s320/DSC04644.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>I would have attached photos of the hall as well, but I don't have any where the hardwood isn't covered by a thick film of dust. Oh well!</div></div></div></div></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-5505274354560749522009-03-16T08:05:00.000-07:002009-03-16T08:22:03.391-07:00Plumbing, or No More Home Depot Potty Breaks!The plumber came and installed all of my fixtures last week! So now, instead of driving to Home Depot in the middle of the day to use their bathrooms, I can just use my own!<br /><br />Mike and I installed all the toilet accessories (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">TP</span> holder, towel bar, hand-towel ring, etc) yesterday, after we finished painting the bathrooms, so now I even have toilet paper! (Napkins are a poor substitute.)<br /><br />Here are some photos of the master bathroom, in all it's mostly-finished glory! (The only things left to do are to buy mirrors and install the base boards.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvfdpAFXaYv3ipvhRNLvT-bxc5A_GITAzMx5aZxlMGhvUE2kFtDYAuAPnDskzkQJxXZpnVOOA5L6g_TfKDGEiIPBWUrkbnkt8xVfhMqJOkbpC9Fge4WKO5GHI40__gixYg0Hb6qZXG8IK/s1600-h/DSC04628.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313802935798976706" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvfdpAFXaYv3ipvhRNLvT-bxc5A_GITAzMx5aZxlMGhvUE2kFtDYAuAPnDskzkQJxXZpnVOOA5L6g_TfKDGEiIPBWUrkbnkt8xVfhMqJOkbpC9Fge4WKO5GHI40__gixYg0Hb6qZXG8IK/s320/DSC04628.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Dig the toilet, bath accessories, and the lovely warm-beige walls! (I wanted a neutral color in the bathrooms, since the slate is so colorful.) The green ring around the floor will eventually be covered with base that matches the window trim.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BSTo0DXJGjn76B6oXP3gOG3evqgbsbPjtsUveiRapXvKuZT5IJ4sfk2kkuuWv7dlzNeTBdlBP_DjfiCWy-bzssfZMFFSrjevMeNklc5472aVpYyudScz0LgonK9uLDVKsOi5o33R71Bb/s1600-h/DSC04626.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313803184597567826" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BSTo0DXJGjn76B6oXP3gOG3evqgbsbPjtsUveiRapXvKuZT5IJ4sfk2kkuuWv7dlzNeTBdlBP_DjfiCWy-bzssfZMFFSrjevMeNklc5472aVpYyudScz0LgonK9uLDVKsOi5o33R71Bb/s320/DSC04626.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">SOOO</span> nice to be able to wash my hands in a sink! (Before I was using the main shutoff valve in the basement...) The faucets throughout the house are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kohler</span> Forte, in brushed nickel. Thank goodness that the contractors had good taste -- these things retail for $200/ea. I didn't have to pay for any of them, because they were already in the house! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wahoo</span>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI1n6cfv7eOnK5YSzlVC_9MTOL_0zxPkjChhN495fPWW1Q4DbuF79IKaw1iP4iNls6BmakQt6Sw-NQx7NAXdKdJDKSTPq4b3fs6wGWQjOhP_6iuSPAZ0iImZWM1TRUJV7AwK47Z2j1sTN/s1600-h/DSC04624.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313803041707244626" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI1n6cfv7eOnK5YSzlVC_9MTOL_0zxPkjChhN495fPWW1Q4DbuF79IKaw1iP4iNls6BmakQt6Sw-NQx7NAXdKdJDKSTPq4b3fs6wGWQjOhP_6iuSPAZ0iImZWM1TRUJV7AwK47Z2j1sTN/s320/DSC04624.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The shower, on the other hand, is a completely different story. Pete's half of the building has standard, wall-mounted fixtures, and a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">wimpy</span> little rain head. I wanted my shower to feel like I was at a spa every day, so I splurged, and bought myself an awesome <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kohler</span> Forte shower set that includes a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">hand shower</span> on an adjustable slide bar, and a 12" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">dia</span>. rain head. I cannot wait to shower in here!!!!!!<br /><br />More photos to come...Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-66268774610471074702009-03-06T07:24:00.000-08:002009-03-06T07:36:03.079-08:00Stop Stairing!The magic stair fairy came while I was in TX this week, so when I returned I had an (almost) full set of stairs!! Wahooo!!<br /><br />Here are before and after pictures...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xL1vfsJ3rKV5SRQC7anfTcc27nyUr_Tpvk53v6gN2kfmXqtmjzQ6iuwAVyWe3WGxCC21CL_CQ4e9uzk9-Aje0go6INygGk-M_vCqAl5XAMuS7wMZaYjOIkAbLFWUeTvblK9C5cyV-6Vh/s1600-h/DSC04582.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310097189132847026" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xL1vfsJ3rKV5SRQC7anfTcc27nyUr_Tpvk53v6gN2kfmXqtmjzQ6iuwAVyWe3WGxCC21CL_CQ4e9uzk9-Aje0go6INygGk-M_vCqAl5XAMuS7wMZaYjOIkAbLFWUeTvblK9C5cyV-6Vh/s320/DSC04582.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />BEFORE - 2x4's on stringers. Super safe! (Not really though.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWwqenPJYy655caq2ov9txOuaybj9RXXOsTH0TMnVPX7htHE-GEvvM4npQhP3slxJPE-lLkk3caP2hkLB0acqVJRYfY2M8N0mKNazW-eXjkfmBx0O85Lld976jPpmTpYdko_dX3OgZn8d/s1600-h/DSC04596.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310097002005873730" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWwqenPJYy655caq2ov9txOuaybj9RXXOsTH0TMnVPX7htHE-GEvvM4npQhP3slxJPE-lLkk3caP2hkLB0acqVJRYfY2M8N0mKNazW-eXjkfmBx0O85Lld976jPpmTpYdko_dX3OgZn8d/s320/DSC04596.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />AFTER - Lovely oak treads with painted risers! And a handrail!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVShO8WJAJvmms-EFozE3h4aVLw-F3RXjdFdKrffSKX18DdXcYRoWyApL9XCurW2JsrDEYVDqr4-XAeI0ES1BHBMuC8oIUFfzxoqdS-CYt3_E5zq59iFtCUIcJ7S4upO53YFqOoSIfEw9/s1600-h/DSC04594.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310097599303895442" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVShO8WJAJvmms-EFozE3h4aVLw-F3RXjdFdKrffSKX18DdXcYRoWyApL9XCurW2JsrDEYVDqr4-XAeI0ES1BHBMuC8oIUFfzxoqdS-CYt3_E5zq59iFtCUIcJ7S4upO53YFqOoSIfEw9/s320/DSC04594.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />From the top, looking down. It's no longer a death trap!<br /><br />We have to stain the treads, handrail, and post before they can come back and install the spindles. This is the first major finish job that I've hired done (other than the countertops), and it was TOTALLY WORTH IT!Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-8393659627975075572009-02-26T11:05:00.000-08:002009-02-26T11:12:17.017-08:00Tile Finale!After a big push last night, which lasted until about 11pm (Thank God Pete is out of town.), we managed to install the remaining tile in the master bathroom. We still need to go back and grout both upstairs bathrooms, but at least it's progress. <div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Photos below...</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnOTr3uQ3Btkp-d_PwpkkezhPpr-bPWcUczQBOTjxakmTskr_JWSYYkesIsPIfnot4v8VYNWu0AF8bDa_s3DUSWrLEXLo_kSJ5Wwe92JbJtU15LWbndCnQU7kN4PJHvKvpT4yCAxBkUGG/s1600-h/DSC04474.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307184843539494354" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnOTr3uQ3Btkp-d_PwpkkezhPpr-bPWcUczQBOTjxakmTskr_JWSYYkesIsPIfnot4v8VYNWu0AF8bDa_s3DUSWrLEXLo_kSJ5Wwe92JbJtU15LWbndCnQU7kN4PJHvKvpT4yCAxBkUGG/s320/DSC04474.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Finished wall and niche!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_68VDJNDu0fPx91_iZXnSq-cXmiNjhNd4QiYpI4K96x_0AYXTO0SqhQNgyN9rLgp9Py1l2I3Logm-YTZbskp3lhlCLKWKWZNK0uE360XKqgoO9DHrU95ZA3kK0ME9Cc3FdGeIvz_aUYo/s1600-h/DSC04480.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307185019320552402" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_68VDJNDu0fPx91_iZXnSq-cXmiNjhNd4QiYpI4K96x_0AYXTO0SqhQNgyN9rLgp9Py1l2I3Logm-YTZbskp3lhlCLKWKWZNK0uE360XKqgoO9DHrU95ZA3kK0ME9Cc3FdGeIvz_aUYo/s320/DSC04480.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>More dramatic shot of finished wall and niche!</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpkZvadOgEMlUhsFWAuSZWrl94OTAvQVGVbeQnY3Vsw883-iAU2T8VYiTAFDiPYhX4wFOh9DxkRzYhT1mnG1L6MQDA9BifFTYZrc6fBuBAbj0g_w_heJb4u3srpZzL3vyEq-wKAPuATbD/s1600-h/DSC04478.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307185259779349378" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpkZvadOgEMlUhsFWAuSZWrl94OTAvQVGVbeQnY3Vsw883-iAU2T8VYiTAFDiPYhX4wFOh9DxkRzYhT1mnG1L6MQDA9BifFTYZrc6fBuBAbj0g_w_heJb4u3srpZzL3vyEq-wKAPuATbD/s320/DSC04478.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Awesome step detail into the shower.<br /></div><div>P.S. If you have previous experience with grouting, or don't mind sitting through a short tutorial on how to grout, and would like to help (or are simply interested in the FREE BEER that comes along with helping to grout) please call me or email me. The plumber is coming the week of the 9th, and I have to have the entire 2nd floor-worth-o-tile grouted and sealed.</div><div> </div><div>Thanks!</div></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-70633574531859294352009-02-23T07:43:00.000-08:002009-02-23T08:01:32.594-08:00Holy Progress, Batman!Mike and I turbo-tiled this weekend, and managed to knock out a giant portion of the master bathroom wall tile. It was surprisingly easy, considering all the cutting that had to take place. <div><br /></div><div>Photos below...</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbsnE7uJW5kNGuAcbwhHkhqy1sCzYl9eHMoiCyKyiy7CJ9nrxlka-G5T1Ot-J5UBiAm4VasnC-vQ9xhFj2ItvCpwDq2v1JKDnK3Ihl6vjTWVy2Mqu4mMFas6gZsnY0AMOY5fyjWwzLMTk/s1600-h/DSC04473.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306019711316222658" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbsnE7uJW5kNGuAcbwhHkhqy1sCzYl9eHMoiCyKyiy7CJ9nrxlka-G5T1Ot-J5UBiAm4VasnC-vQ9xhFj2ItvCpwDq2v1JKDnK3Ihl6vjTWVy2Mqu4mMFas6gZsnY0AMOY5fyjWwzLMTk/s320/DSC04473.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>We finished the entire tub surround. When I first saw this idea in Pete's house, I really disliked it. The slate seemed oppressive. Now that I've finished my half, I really like it. I think the difference is that his tile goes up an extra 4" on the wall, and the tiles are darker. Mine are more colorful and earthy. Ooh la la!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyygD0eZktJ9NVqvso60Vga9eSapry_7k9d_2dQ9fWrsZTnrNb1MB8QuAVyI1bR7L8ZrkeVn8JbDqLJdawNMnatfeMLCILU5OUu9CvagJsit42jbVA1SqFY3VDDTjSxdaWO-QiR4JlkRB/s1600-h/DSC04466.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306020722790332002" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyygD0eZktJ9NVqvso60Vga9eSapry_7k9d_2dQ9fWrsZTnrNb1MB8QuAVyI1bR7L8ZrkeVn8JbDqLJdawNMnatfeMLCILU5OUu9CvagJsit42jbVA1SqFY3VDDTjSxdaWO-QiR4JlkRB/s320/DSC04466.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>The area shown here is the continuation of the tile from the left side of the tub surround. There will eventually be a glass enclosure to keep the shower from spraying everywhere. (Also note - another beer niche, for drinking in the shower, or holding shampoo bottles. Very versatile.)</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-az91yMeoNkgSRBT1XVN6CVHgnJFl-eOaZeA_sIYF-Zg3tz-GQ4547rIRlKOpi0U0SwCEx-gVYxkbzYFmhM5uRu0x6p5Yu9ZgHN3CF9LtXcQWSQP58wruZFIjM_aO4pNuEo7cRmwmh8Di/s1600-h/DSC04467.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306021724528886290" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-az91yMeoNkgSRBT1XVN6CVHgnJFl-eOaZeA_sIYF-Zg3tz-GQ4547rIRlKOpi0U0SwCEx-gVYxkbzYFmhM5uRu0x6p5Yu9ZgHN3CF9LtXcQWSQP58wruZFIjM_aO4pNuEo7cRmwmh8Di/s320/DSC04467.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I think this photo really illustrates just how massive this tiling job is. I have close to 200sqft of slate tile in this bathroom alone. This photo shows the shut off valves for the shower (left) and the rough-in stubs for the two shower heads... I call this area "The Slate Cave." If you stand in here with only shower shower and tub lights on, it feels like you're in a nicely refined Bat Cave. It's a good thing.</div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-73720765021301626022009-02-19T10:59:00.001-08:002009-02-19T11:22:28.353-08:00Master Bathroom Tiling Adventures!So I've started tiling the master bathroom. So far, the main floor, the shower floor, and the front of the tub surround are done...and have I pictures to prove it....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdNySVCErjdkbPSRzpfIQtYqKVKIM7LRiclT3bOg1apfZTGGgkHS9ICf_RchFh1yqWbGZIouuJvEnUZASrcwjg9fnTB-uWf03yaAVVD7Mn2uWp_CcG4G0FdYYoeV4gbX9Fad8m58juCWN/s1600-h/DSC04414.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304586277057840930" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdNySVCErjdkbPSRzpfIQtYqKVKIM7LRiclT3bOg1apfZTGGgkHS9ICf_RchFh1yqWbGZIouuJvEnUZASrcwjg9fnTB-uWf03yaAVVD7Mn2uWp_CcG4G0FdYYoeV4gbX9Fad8m58juCWN/s320/DSC04414.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The white spot you see if where the toilet will go, once plumbing is done. Yay, plumbing!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDCCrocuNrHbh_Dp6jQBRL4h3GUv5ZaOGGyx-DJLl0c68K44FpK3iHV1JiWVwGRx6Fg9f7Lb-BX1_wXAKAypr8n0VFpbc0fG0AEOvTw9cahGLgRYSeQIMqi7MtgjlUNqW1Xd2tH0nF8WR/s1600-h/DSC04416.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304589607269543906" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDCCrocuNrHbh_Dp6jQBRL4h3GUv5ZaOGGyx-DJLl0c68K44FpK3iHV1JiWVwGRx6Fg9f7Lb-BX1_wXAKAypr8n0VFpbc0fG0AEOvTw9cahGLgRYSeQIMqi7MtgjlUNqW1Xd2tH0nF8WR/s320/DSC04416.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is the shower floor....all mosaics. We had to create a slope for drainage using concrete and thinset. It was complicated.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z10VeK5Gurw_ddqagH2an1GZ2vLmtAYRW0O3qgnmE1Rfw_vETbTUJ1kvOje4iKTE2n2g0a-qtFeXOyaj5Bnh9TFymUw939KnS58mPs9oMDXkfQXGvZMiCfMeFP7M6CitkcUF0KN9-3OC/s1600-h/DSC04451.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304590009129532066" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z10VeK5Gurw_ddqagH2an1GZ2vLmtAYRW0O3qgnmE1Rfw_vETbTUJ1kvOje4iKTE2n2g0a-qtFeXOyaj5Bnh9TFymUw939KnS58mPs9oMDXkfQXGvZMiCfMeFP7M6CitkcUF0KN9-3OC/s320/DSC04451.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here you can see all three surfaces -- the main floor, the shower floor, and the front of the tub surround.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQWzKBcgoDF0RiOG7cUQTO1Ue3gtZhV80kTsvg7zsjOIvhLjRFH7895WE694QKWRtn6TQ2e4D6sd1UMmAlQP6WvSTxveKbCROzCYnBAOTU-mSkoKNcepv65BgpvkQtJsuI88IucCfVrdm/s1600-h/DSC04453.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304590297969661538" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQWzKBcgoDF0RiOG7cUQTO1Ue3gtZhV80kTsvg7zsjOIvhLjRFH7895WE694QKWRtn6TQ2e4D6sd1UMmAlQP6WvSTxveKbCROzCYnBAOTU-mSkoKNcepv65BgpvkQtJsuI88IucCfVrdm/s320/DSC04453.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And my favorite part about this whole thing is that there's a secret loose tile, which serves as an access hatch to the tub shut-off valves. (It's the dark grey and reddish square tile on the left.) Neat!Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-85382820990971096342009-02-05T07:21:00.000-08:002009-02-05T07:54:11.187-08:00Hot Countertop Action!Some major things have happened around the house in the past week. The first is that we got the floor tile done in the guest bath, but the second is the most exciting... <div><div><div><div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>I NOW HAVE COUNTERTOPS!! (Bamboo-colored countertops!)</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgfcIoGiwbkani2MagyTqOvhQEw1XN9SLBVUSB1Rwwqxbugz4iamrtTq3JE2KCjFnigFHdgHnI87FieAlqffy3WMNXEwnwEk5kgKzw_pwn9NK-bOKOzzvskGrspWmXpNxA98ufdXj_OMt/s1600-h/DSC04387.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299336822933906258" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgfcIoGiwbkani2MagyTqOvhQEw1XN9SLBVUSB1Rwwqxbugz4iamrtTq3JE2KCjFnigFHdgHnI87FieAlqffy3WMNXEwnwEk5kgKzw_pwn9NK-bOKOzzvskGrspWmXpNxA98ufdXj_OMt/s320/DSC04387.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Holy island, Batman! The island is 11'-6" long, and 42" deep at the middle.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcy7lLhLuGlCPeIemdborvhDjqMGBa6HQ56_C6wQ8vhgD6QmhhGIUAlTx72nLW85HgNfaB8q_bjvm4M_eSeaVM_6JbN4s_24mBrDl1BpS-5aWaTUh8XNBWr5n1IYZ76noTDXWlOBxk2yK/s1600-h/DSC04397.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299337734968905650" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcy7lLhLuGlCPeIemdborvhDjqMGBa6HQ56_C6wQ8vhgD6QmhhGIUAlTx72nLW85HgNfaB8q_bjvm4M_eSeaVM_6JbN4s_24mBrDl1BpS-5aWaTUh8XNBWr5n1IYZ76noTDXWlOBxk2yK/s320/DSC04397.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Because the island was so large, it had to be in two pieces. Can you see the seams? No, I didn't think so... That's because my fabricator (Heartland Stone, from Columbia MO) and installer (Bob from Top Notch Interiors, also out of Columbia) were AMAZING. Bob is a subcontractor for Heartland Stone and I've got to say, he and his partner are artists when it comes to handling stone.</div><div><br /></div><div>Short commercial:</div><div>I would <em>highly recommend</em> using Heartland if you're having countertops or vanities made. They are friendly and knowledgeable, their prices are very competative, and their turn-around time is really impressive -- my tops were installed less than 2 weeks after I ordered them.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNplULkI7UV3juIZVe2oyG1s2cmxQKOHuRYwO6i7pe0OCYDAW7ONVq_NdaHbAS-89UIdHFmi7YrB8-3RM6t1fsX-m9aff6bge99Z1NPu_QhSrT95XjrcbS7kb5t0tTLU6pQI6nVdKs4RAw/s1600-h/DSC04399.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299341313363180786" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNplULkI7UV3juIZVe2oyG1s2cmxQKOHuRYwO6i7pe0OCYDAW7ONVq_NdaHbAS-89UIdHFmi7YrB8-3RM6t1fsX-m9aff6bge99Z1NPu_QhSrT95XjrcbS7kb5t0tTLU6pQI6nVdKs4RAw/s320/DSC04399.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is my recessed, stainless sink with the Kohler faucet I got off eBay. (eBay is now my best friend.)</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX68HQCAtHacJkf6Vd3ELcaovulFb_9YYEWoSpnx75MfeHksblIPtnzZIMkqvFXgsHMSfvIom8Kr9NX2FIK7c0bgSUmkoNlEtMnVDxUlEJRLBn8Dl4RWwMVeHoiYP2E6MWY4J-3eKRY4xO/s1600-h/DSC04392.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299340205277656706" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX68HQCAtHacJkf6Vd3ELcaovulFb_9YYEWoSpnx75MfeHksblIPtnzZIMkqvFXgsHMSfvIom8Kr9NX2FIK7c0bgSUmkoNlEtMnVDxUlEJRLBn8Dl4RWwMVeHoiYP2E6MWY4J-3eKRY4xO/s320/DSC04392.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>This is the master bathroom vanity. It looks excellent -- now all I need is tile and plumbing!</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_mvg85nThx7jK0Y6EzUyVigCr4F7WO4V7N6aVC-YK59FxdZJO3HxRT5O0756Ua4GzFBki5HbqEDfeeJCjuUWnk9pCG2B_-l8QiLIvYzdbsjfXc0eEHy5BkGVhA6JFq6exdEpUQOHPPAt/s1600-h/DSC04389.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299340641769017474" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_mvg85nThx7jK0Y6EzUyVigCr4F7WO4V7N6aVC-YK59FxdZJO3HxRT5O0756Ua4GzFBki5HbqEDfeeJCjuUWnk9pCG2B_-l8QiLIvYzdbsjfXc0eEHy5BkGVhA6JFq6exdEpUQOHPPAt/s320/DSC04389.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pVeZWFyBBzK45mZ6SsMU_w_YpChP6eAN3jmQr6kdcUvFoCG_IyuwYRZFqGY-nBrk59KLTS5G1LoEmjKbcwX3RsjzbEKqLEwMAW1CO77TU5Ayukvrt4_SiNLTP-T-RcWhxE5IYsxRzSpK/s1600-h/DSC04374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299334536137461458" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pVeZWFyBBzK45mZ6SsMU_w_YpChP6eAN3jmQr6kdcUvFoCG_IyuwYRZFqGY-nBrk59KLTS5G1LoEmjKbcwX3RsjzbEKqLEwMAW1CO77TU5Ayukvrt4_SiNLTP-T-RcWhxE5IYsxRzSpK/s320/DSC04374.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Last but not least, the guest bathroom is really coming along. I was hesitant to put that much slate in a small space, but I really like how intimate the bathroom feels now.<br /></div></div></div></div></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-7660394448780383172009-01-27T08:12:00.000-08:002009-01-27T08:15:27.047-08:00Vertical Tile in Guest Bath? Check!Now it just needs grout!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hXsdAAHLBm_dNoEdeYamL6DRCOWUhXN4UD9U8QBkOxY7Bi3UJkywJ-Jl7fGnz3Ww5Mpjq1Sh6BtS7kczZ1rq0-X-5DBfp6IqKcBdyjSucyLSB3rn_ADcBG5P7I42_z-BcwiR178kJ5ti/s1600-h/DSC04371.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296007433360468098" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hXsdAAHLBm_dNoEdeYamL6DRCOWUhXN4UD9U8QBkOxY7Bi3UJkywJ-Jl7fGnz3Ww5Mpjq1Sh6BtS7kczZ1rq0-X-5DBfp6IqKcBdyjSucyLSB3rn_ADcBG5P7I42_z-BcwiR178kJ5ti/s320/DSC04371.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />PS. I had my countertops templated yesterday...the color will be BAMBOO! Thank you for your votes.Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-19489620729424545932009-01-20T08:10:00.000-08:002009-01-20T08:17:33.120-08:00Tiling, Continued...Behold! the Glory of the guest bathroom tile work. (It's not complete, but you'll get the idea from these progress shots...)<br /><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIEQNxUZOGU9kzoaQT2USVhwLXJGHHBuDekYQ3BWCoqsXitEvC2lwfhuNY0pO1cTpw1vSZBMtmuR0bvbKdNApfX3L0JLULSj_nQlLdXelmqIm7LnFCq_5JaiIaCM_bUMJH894Zr-XZ_t0/s1600-h/DSC04301.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293409655825118786" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIEQNxUZOGU9kzoaQT2USVhwLXJGHHBuDekYQ3BWCoqsXitEvC2lwfhuNY0pO1cTpw1vSZBMtmuR0bvbKdNApfX3L0JLULSj_nQlLdXelmqIm7LnFCq_5JaiIaCM_bUMJH894Zr-XZ_t0/s320/DSC04301.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><br /><div>Close-up of the beer niche...I mean...shampoo niche.</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblBQ8Phln6TfXeEJkhYsl6Ze_cGN1xyt2riia1gjXL4PfRmD00jG8v1bV1pEv8GE8qrZI_6a7nqJJ-tPLqaDxM5k3PgkylMxXl-idlQzbq-6Trzz3LocoskQDMcKCV3azTPVv4Xbsp8gh/s1600-h/DSC043002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293410623871160658" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblBQ8Phln6TfXeEJkhYsl6Ze_cGN1xyt2riia1gjXL4PfRmD00jG8v1bV1pEv8GE8qrZI_6a7nqJJ-tPLqaDxM5k3PgkylMxXl-idlQzbq-6Trzz3LocoskQDMcKCV3azTPVv4Xbsp8gh/s320/DSC043002.jpg" border="0" /></a>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-90171189378860346732009-01-11T17:34:00.000-08:002009-01-11T18:06:22.445-08:00Tile and AppliancesWe tiled and installed appliances this weekend, and I don't really feel like writing, so here are photos! <div><div><div> </div><div>This is the half bath on the first floor. Simple tile layout -- it only took us an hour.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimwoBephPaR66E4Njx8Qhv5wUFQjEyI-mEcvV3MHfR-6aKtOP4Zsx09XjRrnik4KBKbKZ0KIoHC7ryE-zxGSRZsHi68StsSYNbpfpX81DyRogxUl6APOCYGjZllcAsWxVHbWJgN-v_YsV/s1600-h/DSC04276.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290220454883846482" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimwoBephPaR66E4Njx8Qhv5wUFQjEyI-mEcvV3MHfR-6aKtOP4Zsx09XjRrnik4KBKbKZ0KIoHC7ryE-zxGSRZsHi68StsSYNbpfpX81DyRogxUl6APOCYGjZllcAsWxVHbWJgN-v_YsV/s320/DSC04276.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><p>This is the front entry. I felt this area needed something a bit more flashy, since it's the first thing one sees upon walking through my doors. Dig the 45 degree angle and the mosaics!!</p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fIF6xYKB9SmuHSKH72h7z-w6YMftN1DAkyTV0GdDEllyij2o0AzHxg_276cEhIUEN3caz3zSs3T6G5i7F9qfeP1_I-Muy1oOSu_tqbGOv1oCZOnH367PtY5kN0P1ry4H-rITkzU22VDG/s1600-h/DSC04279.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290221218275666498" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fIF6xYKB9SmuHSKH72h7z-w6YMftN1DAkyTV0GdDEllyij2o0AzHxg_276cEhIUEN3caz3zSs3T6G5i7F9qfeP1_I-Muy1oOSu_tqbGOv1oCZOnH367PtY5kN0P1ry4H-rITkzU22VDG/s320/DSC04279.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>This is the finish entry tile. We places slivers of the hardwood flooring around the edges to show what the wood floors will look like next to the tile. Nice, eh??</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-7tkvjJ58whu5eGHhJyTIM4RSw8YQqLQa-F7fxhQiobh_7M0GVjWN4vrNzijKw6IZlceDRP1a8uGXpid2IHvHDZ5-CybRIygjcZvPzKkXGCpfOWc6M1q5tclN2X6FB3Wne3taDPDhCvW/s1600-h/DSC04281.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290221701937141170" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-7tkvjJ58whu5eGHhJyTIM4RSw8YQqLQa-F7fxhQiobh_7M0GVjWN4vrNzijKw6IZlceDRP1a8uGXpid2IHvHDZ5-CybRIygjcZvPzKkXGCpfOWc6M1q5tclN2X6FB3Wne3taDPDhCvW/s320/DSC04281.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>The appliance shots pretty much explain themselves, but I'm stoked nonetheless. I'm leaving the plastic on until I absolutely have to take it off.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrxIbXlDtlTXMPFrPIU4NVtWJOA1ew3FX68oCxTRl1UakL-pO_lnrLgsswERroZWtNwFKtOR-eY2flBBpOsoKL3IByuIGQgim6rE2YDMDhLwC1KZfLo6tmSKlmRv9dLdjNcDtqVWBfT0C/s1600-h/DSC04273.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290222134618834434" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrxIbXlDtlTXMPFrPIU4NVtWJOA1ew3FX68oCxTRl1UakL-pO_lnrLgsswERroZWtNwFKtOR-eY2flBBpOsoKL3IByuIGQgim6rE2YDMDhLwC1KZfLo6tmSKlmRv9dLdjNcDtqVWBfT0C/s320/DSC04273.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div> </div></div></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-30682847308004376972009-01-06T12:46:00.003-08:002009-01-06T12:54:57.781-08:00Come Together, Right Now!I took a few days off over the Holiday to do some work on the house... <div><br />Mike and I worked our asses off, and I have pictures to prove it.</div><div> </div><div>Ta-da!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoK-DYHZMjiV4LI3P2XS4Oe526LRTueSsG0xPNy7-He6NHaYKp4Htc7lixRBKhW4TY73CPzWWeF7aNnu21VtjtBWieXIZqeHYZ4feaGR421aIbiNsEf4mi2DeIL5f8lDjvhpVgcJm5Dr6/s1600-h/DSC04262.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288286293306868514" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoK-DYHZMjiV4LI3P2XS4Oe526LRTueSsG0xPNy7-He6NHaYKp4Htc7lixRBKhW4TY73CPzWWeF7aNnu21VtjtBWieXIZqeHYZ4feaGR421aIbiNsEf4mi2DeIL5f8lDjvhpVgcJm5Dr6/s320/DSC04262.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Holy Kitchen! It's starting to look like a real house! (Now all I need is countertops and a sink and the kitchen will be done!)</div><div> </div><div>Oh, and appliances, which are in the house, but not yet installed...</div><div> </div><div>And the electrical work is finished! We just need to have the city inspect! Huzzah!</div><div> </div><div>(The last item to go in...the chandelier!)</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPuX1lwMSZ0VbR8Ro2lyCUqZhgoxOGtZykq2hfQOQZmS3OjECDZYUsNS8gdeiwu8gxgQQrLOEcVyxkQWoaY5FTHXXlw6CW3gbFo_a2oJGReAvA08otuxN43BIhhIyXAH8GE3qULAgwgJZ/s1600-h/DSC04267.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288285475757148610" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPuX1lwMSZ0VbR8Ro2lyCUqZhgoxOGtZykq2hfQOQZmS3OjECDZYUsNS8gdeiwu8gxgQQrLOEcVyxkQWoaY5FTHXXlw6CW3gbFo_a2oJGReAvA08otuxN43BIhhIyXAH8GE3qULAgwgJZ/s320/DSC04267.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Tile starts this weekend, and once that is done, the plumber can come finish it all up for me! Yay!</div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-73749562788061594642008-12-22T07:09:00.001-08:002008-12-22T07:29:15.580-08:00No More construction Lights!<div>Today I'm celebrating the fact that I no longer have to use construction lights while working on the house. "Why?" you ask. Because we got most of the lighting installed this weekend! Huzzah!<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><br /><div>Photos below...</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX2V2SOOFXDR1vxTIATF2NNXyK5H1rddYvSlqDk7TvkzSZf8FEdiQAOGsaqyb7FE8XpjbUtC41wz1vUgQ1hwf3LgVGckFoN0vYHdg0lBp0vNZ169LTEm87EWT18irJJDRpq5ynD5787-E/s1600-h/DSC04142.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282632511440578706" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX2V2SOOFXDR1vxTIATF2NNXyK5H1rddYvSlqDk7TvkzSZf8FEdiQAOGsaqyb7FE8XpjbUtC41wz1vUgQ1hwf3LgVGckFoN0vYHdg0lBp0vNZ169LTEm87EWT18irJJDRpq5ynD5787-E/s320/DSC04142.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Kitchen Track Lighting</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NnhfMglvt57tZbMYh6GM3p1YribDGhjGa10G5JLmeDjBEvz9Ie4-EkMthhua5slD_6VRwP6m3gQsxQ2WVY11saM7lzZg2SYVVU0uZscdhUSo0We8Tbpnt-k4YEq21wGxSlkAORU1pD4e/s1600-h/DSC04146.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282632927219812978" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NnhfMglvt57tZbMYh6GM3p1YribDGhjGa10G5JLmeDjBEvz9Ie4-EkMthhua5slD_6VRwP6m3gQsxQ2WVY11saM7lzZg2SYVVU0uZscdhUSo0We8Tbpnt-k4YEq21wGxSlkAORU1pD4e/s320/DSC04146.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Wall Sconces in Upstairs Hall</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxv_de8nU4FymtsiQt8vA89dZzfnYpjYmGAyWvo9SsZDwN47LKtRpHdrPI9j9VFRt4_HiL8TDBMOrcLsCYeEQc2UJNruEpacXD5LZ_GvZb_ZZYT8GzXIyGMdTdtOb23axkQMOQf3nMemTm/s1600-h/DSC04158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282635079932516290" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxv_de8nU4FymtsiQt8vA89dZzfnYpjYmGAyWvo9SsZDwN47LKtRpHdrPI9j9VFRt4_HiL8TDBMOrcLsCYeEQc2UJNruEpacXD5LZ_GvZb_ZZYT8GzXIyGMdTdtOb23axkQMOQf3nMemTm/s320/DSC04158.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ceiling Fan in Living Room<br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwT5s_ZAhrGDGRxe8ej_siQm11jrw0E4j0U7zWDIoSYRdEyn8qqjpKH7Uw14obmPAQI28iqZ4gbhFA1G8GBJRzQdO3J0yjL6IwY7LNjPD1t5LRtJreEidXpBffwyvYL61CLIAiaItMwA1w/s1600-h/DSC04137.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282633570159151378" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwT5s_ZAhrGDGRxe8ej_siQm11jrw0E4j0U7zWDIoSYRdEyn8qqjpKH7Uw14obmPAQI28iqZ4gbhFA1G8GBJRzQdO3J0yjL6IwY7LNjPD1t5LRtJreEidXpBffwyvYL61CLIAiaItMwA1w/s320/DSC04137.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ceiling Fan for Guest Bedroom / Craft Room<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7Wkyjlww1obbPXO71UzEeK2N-74lPx2s2ht6bsazcazvV_oS2Ef8dLcNWD8l1fxONag9iypofTV4pJ1TcHNp95Yrc4GnL0-gBLm0keVI8vKr8MGsFB0SRLNlYWGNRHTZ7MRcKNHcDrUV/s1600-h/DSC04147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282633362623119186" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7Wkyjlww1obbPXO71UzEeK2N-74lPx2s2ht6bsazcazvV_oS2Ef8dLcNWD8l1fxONag9iypofTV4pJ1TcHNp95Yrc4GnL0-gBLm0keVI8vKr8MGsFB0SRLNlYWGNRHTZ7MRcKNHcDrUV/s320/DSC04147.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Master Bedroom Ceiling Fan</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8qc754WphlHBPtQPW6qZ3QPcuYUkKJXErEYxWWGHhR3kZxHtJHDwgDq_wjF4SPsmRapqxvbc67opChbPYw7M1r_JGhnyV8pKEsZDcDjUpKIrpqx7JVqJF91wemgeQ_HTQbh1K8T2n61I/s1600-h/DSC04150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282633198970779650" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8qc754WphlHBPtQPW6qZ3QPcuYUkKJXErEYxWWGHhR3kZxHtJHDwgDq_wjF4SPsmRapqxvbc67opChbPYw7M1r_JGhnyV8pKEsZDcDjUpKIrpqx7JVqJF91wemgeQ_HTQbh1K8T2n61I/s320/DSC04150.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Vanity Lighting for Master and Guest Baths</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZw4KhfWVAoIZ_e78JYua0YxhW3h_ObRyf25SxKOieqb1by6RpCEfCjUgYgUwFPzl2Nv5Sc62_fae-Bydt6xK82dBkY1GidivSn13FQBH8TAjElHwqv44xR-sLPfCxr4nvKersUSaNPmLt/s1600-h/DSC04155.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282636599134919602" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZw4KhfWVAoIZ_e78JYua0YxhW3h_ObRyf25SxKOieqb1by6RpCEfCjUgYgUwFPzl2Nv5Sc62_fae-Bydt6xK82dBkY1GidivSn13FQBH8TAjElHwqv44xR-sLPfCxr4nvKersUSaNPmLt/s320/DSC04155.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Vanity Light for Half Bath (1st Floor)</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-67896743940638963272008-12-16T13:43:00.000-08:002008-12-16T13:57:13.687-08:00Rock the Vote!Hello, Loyal Readers!<br /><br />Today is the day (or tomorrow, whenever) that you get to voice your opinion about my countertops! I know this is a thrilling prospect and you may be thinking to yourself, "Wow. Am I ready to make such a humongous decision?" Well, the answer is yes. Yes! You have the power to determine my countertop color! (Or at least influence the decision...)<br /><br />Please vote on the side bar over there -----><br /><br />(For reference colors, please see other entries -- all paint colors, flooring, and cabinets and slate tile - booya! -- have been previously shown in the blog, and these colors should help mould your decision.)<br /><br />Here are the two possible colors for countertops:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q8n26Yo7J6hvsM3muemKBXP3Wg0qoXz7O1rHcSNNa8JsbePVjvQIoTaqGiH9PeuHmb93oTyWMS1Gx1zxEnGj5hw9hMHcPAQ38s8Lx0lT-UNDWjBFi-yQBB2dDX7q8efXg528FMleqidv/s1600-h/silestone+color+options.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280508004589032546" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q8n26Yo7J6hvsM3muemKBXP3Wg0qoXz7O1rHcSNNa8JsbePVjvQIoTaqGiH9PeuHmb93oTyWMS1Gx1zxEnGj5hw9hMHcPAQ38s8Lx0lT-UNDWjBFi-yQBB2dDX7q8efXg528FMleqidv/s400/silestone+color+options.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Notes: Bamboo shows fairly true-to-life on screen, (assuming your monitor is set up like mine) - light off-white/beigy undertones with flecks of caramel and mink. Yeah that's right -- dessert and animals. (Also read: off-white/beigy with flecks of tan/gold and grey-brown. Very fetching.) Antique gold looks much more gold and much less caramely than it does in real life. This one is much more monochromatic, and looks velvety and rich in real life. Both textures are smooth and somewhat glossy -- and the flecks within are about twice the size as they appear in this post.Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-4583004067297437782008-12-15T08:08:00.000-08:002008-12-15T08:12:43.924-08:00What a BummerDespite spending weeks trying to patch the ceilings and hide cracks in the drywall, we returned to the house yesterday after Mark painted to find that all the imperfections were still visible...and that the cracks were even more noticeable.<br /><br />For now, we are going to install lighting and just get this train moving along again. Once the lights are in, we can install flooring and get the plumber out.<br /><br />So the ceilings downstairs are ugly for now...I'm going to hire them redone sometime in the future...but not before I move in.<br /><br />Very frustrating.Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-49887623773697624272008-12-11T08:30:00.000-08:002008-12-11T08:56:36.811-08:00Painting and Flooring and Fixtures, Oh My!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuk-DScwd_sxgGXUXWReJbBHXUJdseJogEZTNlfYa2246-8359KSwzv7VX3qU016ZBeFRfk1ShyphenhyphenBWvftn843Oo21oB-5Pv_jWisIZbdrEIdWI6RqaLFoOhFVfpQL2XNzpDg1v_P2GEp-K/s1600-h/DSC04083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278577098706161458" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuk-DScwd_sxgGXUXWReJbBHXUJdseJogEZTNlfYa2246-8359KSwzv7VX3qU016ZBeFRfk1ShyphenhyphenBWvftn843Oo21oB-5Pv_jWisIZbdrEIdWI6RqaLFoOhFVfpQL2XNzpDg1v_P2GEp-K/s320/DSC04083.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHzJ6ui2ZQd0a9MWSrMfsBTOgJUP-xoNxk7i369iLkxwAUrPb3SdhNyPvrwbakfVHGDuCKLazCuydSyu8Tfw1hBNvT0o1VOE-n85qFCEoeY5JFH-_JHZfOwngoFdPTja06CxDkBbMl96E/s1600-h/DSC04088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278577247605441442" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHzJ6ui2ZQd0a9MWSrMfsBTOgJUP-xoNxk7i369iLkxwAUrPb3SdhNyPvrwbakfVHGDuCKLazCuydSyu8Tfw1hBNvT0o1VOE-n85qFCEoeY5JFH-_JHZfOwngoFdPTja06CxDkBbMl96E/s320/DSC04088.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3zmhY5lRNVnR5pzNgNc2-jP0sqt0ttYUYGkDzjxgP-7-26ZGhozcT4Suh-27Jrf6Ya5iWfrSrYAD0TJOBefKeY6Uw28SH_mmSIWlwes5mbJgRGmBebsjnGFaTfUP2e8mJC4tC4euNKcC/s1600-h/DSC04088.JPG"></a><br /><div><div>Last weekend, Mike, Patrick (a new friend/work associate, who agreed to work for a 12-pack of PBR) and I managed to install OSB underlayment on most of the second floor. The floors are now mostly level and squeak-free, which means that we are soooo much closer to installing hardwood and carpet. (The carpet guy came out on Tuesday to measure.)</div><br /><div></div><div>This week, Mark will paint the ceilings and trim, and hopefully by next weekend, we'll have light fixtures installed and felt floor covering put down. Mike and I have decided that we're going to do a floating floor for the hardwood, which means that we won't need to buy a flooring nailer, but we will need to buy felt and glue. </div><br /><div></div><div>It turns out we don't have enough slate tile to complete the bathrooms as intended, so I'm also working on trying to find an inexpensive neutral to finish off the areas. If anyone has suggestions of where to find a marble-look beigy tile for under $2.50/sqft, please let me know.</div></div></div></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-1803836721833407972008-12-01T07:40:00.000-08:002008-12-01T08:00:28.806-08:00Weekend (House) Update with Megan K. HomeownerI'm at work, so this will be a low-frills post. <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div><br /><div>Lots of things accomplished this weekend --</div><br /><div></div><div>We installed the transom window over my back door. (The builder had obviously broken the last window - my guess is with a ladder, since the window sits 7'6" above the ground.) When I bought the place, there was a piece of plywood tacked in place with a few nails. Needless to say it was a huge heat-loss issue. But now it isn't! Bonnie (Mike's mom) ordered a window from a company she works with regularly -- $50 later, I've got a whole new window, and my living room is a lot brighter!</div><br />Here are before and after pictures -- don't mind the plastic in the after shot -- that's to protect the door from paint overspray.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGFcVLzRqEt0SqA0e_9UhPE2tkSjPKSb6Sto7zBtWV5DTaH62aXYHWhxU-w6pRmpTbpWgPpj74-_leXx9tue-S9gQA5MDJpy5sv_JZtPnWmQLvKzkcQ5WB0J_1KHyDXyDtiBpNp62AeFj/s1600-h/DSC03595.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274851369269566514" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGFcVLzRqEt0SqA0e_9UhPE2tkSjPKSb6Sto7zBtWV5DTaH62aXYHWhxU-w6pRmpTbpWgPpj74-_leXx9tue-S9gQA5MDJpy5sv_JZtPnWmQLvKzkcQ5WB0J_1KHyDXyDtiBpNp62AeFj/s200/DSC03595.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOq0Ngou5jgJjNQfSxaGZtneFJZPcldVjq1CdiA4i95W2tAK_Oi4k-nOAkYSZmTHw4R4FZfMGq4CkFE4dXpTVvwh3mn7xon4V1Uxes5tzmcpnKjdgf1q1kvx6XTNmGgB4sz5D_D4c_4bi/s1600-h/DSC03964.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274851540724139794" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOq0Ngou5jgJjNQfSxaGZtneFJZPcldVjq1CdiA4i95W2tAK_Oi4k-nOAkYSZmTHw4R4FZfMGq4CkFE4dXpTVvwh3mn7xon4V1Uxes5tzmcpnKjdgf1q1kvx6XTNmGgB4sz5D_D4c_4bi/s200/DSC03964.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div>We finished the wiring to the garage, so I can use my garage door opener now! (The garage also has two overhead lights, a receptacle (for the future garage workshop area), and an exterior light, which is controlled by a timer. (The timer photo is a bit blurry, but it shows the switch counting down the time until the exterior light shuts off -- this is nice because I have no way to turn off the light from inside the house.) Yay safety features!</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3oIxoWsIhFxLwC0cfiQ9NiQSiDOBsHO75lOrnPJTaiujDBOvITkNsfJEgFC0lTKV_ya9bTdGCLb51Je8pD3xfx8gqGsGXicJQG9eJQZhU9x5A9onX-LUb8Zrtf664NhF4A7R9Dgz2Jze/s1600-h/DSC03977.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274850653699726674" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3oIxoWsIhFxLwC0cfiQ9NiQSiDOBsHO75lOrnPJTaiujDBOvITkNsfJEgFC0lTKV_ya9bTdGCLb51Je8pD3xfx8gqGsGXicJQG9eJQZhU9x5A9onX-LUb8Zrtf664NhF4A7R9Dgz2Jze/s200/DSC03977.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOh_zxbiglOKQiOH7OdvBdhGbsiVkg-wud0TOrlWyDh6bAoVYs9wLpjdKadCNoswa88UHYalj6-xW3-D_Kcyf6LQIIFmNpR358khK2zF6NjWdBZV3CAY_lNLfAvZxKr-H-tY0UlSsEO2Wj/s1600-h/DSC03978.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274850821485876546" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOh_zxbiglOKQiOH7OdvBdhGbsiVkg-wud0TOrlWyDh6bAoVYs9wLpjdKadCNoswa88UHYalj6-xW3-D_Kcyf6LQIIFmNpR358khK2zF6NjWdBZV3CAY_lNLfAvZxKr-H-tY0UlSsEO2Wj/s200/DSC03978.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdcPgeoG0meT0ajnynpsa7dn1cAb4dskOFP1zKOzCWGlABt_0D5DDzoASTtyF9h4MjSaVCrkv4Gt1N2nBqVyT0Ng9ilHvvho8pn8wKWXcY9-57MN6f49GF9BTmnDLnErKOMJk4eZd0_de/s1600-h/DSC03979.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274851069277005154" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdcPgeoG0meT0ajnynpsa7dn1cAb4dskOFP1zKOzCWGlABt_0D5DDzoASTtyF9h4MjSaVCrkv4Gt1N2nBqVyT0Ng9ilHvvho8pn8wKWXcY9-57MN6f49GF9BTmnDLnErKOMJk4eZd0_de/s200/DSC03979.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div>In addition to those big ticket items, Mike and I also managed to install underlayment in the living room area, and set and wire the half wall for the island. Two steps closer to flooring!</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_pHwBSPTgOujkkGuODMMMTWdFqPzw2TOpvQpyHsqUnxCh5uE6XIKiu0dWM_pJSfAqRAnYRapq91WnU9n4qNfxnhMuojWhwWRIieCjBnFDOYswMxndGiiMGhebQKV3T0ueMVBRgEDrjFG/s1600-h/DSC03967.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274849968337606466" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_pHwBSPTgOujkkGuODMMMTWdFqPzw2TOpvQpyHsqUnxCh5uE6XIKiu0dWM_pJSfAqRAnYRapq91WnU9n4qNfxnhMuojWhwWRIieCjBnFDOYswMxndGiiMGhebQKV3T0ueMVBRgEDrjFG/s200/DSC03967.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRP2k9UgUkaRoxC0XY5cUUs3E2PIiyHFv2wCl-avuFpATkSa-bj0S1HJpANoB_dLZAornCZV8pKr-rh-OKlxl4MqQxToiEGQnX5spdqHuP-H76cavtJb0fIhQLTkZX73R62nARM0ALU23/s1600-h/DSC03981.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274850284674755730" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRP2k9UgUkaRoxC0XY5cUUs3E2PIiyHFv2wCl-avuFpATkSa-bj0S1HJpANoB_dLZAornCZV8pKr-rh-OKlxl4MqQxToiEGQnX5spdqHuP-H76cavtJb0fIhQLTkZX73R62nARM0ALU23/s200/DSC03981.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div>Last but not least, Mike ventured onto the roof and discovered that the magic roof fairy had visited over the Thanksgiving Holiday and had finally fixed the gaping holes near my chimneys -- this means that I can start patching the master bedroom ceiling and get Mark to paint again. Huzzah!</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPDeyI0N38osPkuVaxuVKMnzGoe4EKWfZgIhHjNSWiLaQxY7pW12z-_ibT7iOhUVlcgZ7BCWXXneHet4Zl-_WA_ewIXGxwOcRQwRBPnyh95mTLrRt3Zgaew4hNzBi2neGZrop2IACuWl4/s1600-h/DSC03969.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274849709764255298" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPDeyI0N38osPkuVaxuVKMnzGoe4EKWfZgIhHjNSWiLaQxY7pW12z-_ibT7iOhUVlcgZ7BCWXXneHet4Zl-_WA_ewIXGxwOcRQwRBPnyh95mTLrRt3Zgaew4hNzBi2neGZrop2IACuWl4/s200/DSC03969.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Pretty, huh?</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-9342293961188802202008-11-05T08:27:00.000-08:002008-11-05T08:35:44.350-08:00Details DetailsI'm not ready for appliances yet, but the place that quoted me prices requires delivery before Christmas in order to secure a price, so it looks like I'll be ordering them soon...<br /><div></div><br /><div>In the meantime, I decided to shop around - I'm a spend-thrift. Mike and I went to the Sears Outlet yesterday, but all their appliances were an average of $300 more than what I was quoted. So that part of the visit was a bust...</div><br /><div></div><div>But....</div><br /><div></div><div>I did find a totally awesome range hood for my cooktop for a BARGAIN.</div><br /><div></div><div>All the range hoods I had been looking at online were in the $1600-2000 range. I got mine for $800. (That's $900 less than Pete payed for his, which...well...isn't as snazzy as mine.) Huzzah!</div><br /><div></div><div>It's a GE Monogram series hood -- for 30-36" cooktops. Has 4 dimmable lights, washable vent filters, multiple programmable settings for light/venting, a timer, and it'll even tell me when I need to replace the filters. Sweet.</div><br /><div></div><div>I had to order the chimney vent off the internet, since my ceilings are 10', and I bought the actual hood at Sears Outlet -- it has been a display, and comes with all necessary parts -- and has a 1 year warranty!</div><br /><div></div><div>Here's a photo...</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265212860395482866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 384px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiourozM9AD3UOkHdJCD3UA80IVz887t_Dcbp6jrZ4iqleSmCruBZlgxArBrz8bPriEddC-yAqxR8LW1r8oRmaYCnvWe4d7LOxq31Qm8Pi_frupeH1Jk3FP5Irc21acQTBczCPSQEFrktIi/s400/range+hood.jpg" border="0" /></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-71623124937235649032008-11-03T09:34:00.000-08:002008-11-03T09:41:37.937-08:00Visual Progress!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sp09pLNGJ64GIYx6amwFQeaQAvQX5WhQmQPIE9fjopwwWoGODBpIyDZzucA5iVjgUtOddJc-SVL2q_4oMqkZf9LIiPzVCsmHhdx_-NswlduwS-Lv1MEsU_rQTJfp0qbxu0FjNDUfZo0M/s1600-h/DSC03623.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264487465284413522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sp09pLNGJ64GIYx6amwFQeaQAvQX5WhQmQPIE9fjopwwWoGODBpIyDZzucA5iVjgUtOddJc-SVL2q_4oMqkZf9LIiPzVCsmHhdx_-NswlduwS-Lv1MEsU_rQTJfp0qbxu0FjNDUfZo0M/s400/DSC03623.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>See those little blue rectangles on wall? Those are counter-height receptacles. (Shown covered in painter's tape...)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This weekend, Mike installed all the receptacles and light switches in my house(!!) while I primed the walls and caulked doors/windows.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>That means I'm one step closer to having working light fixtures! (The breakers still need to be installed...and we need to put up fixtures.) And, I'm ready for Mark to come over and paint!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Yay!!</div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-42599512885782518872008-10-30T13:19:00.000-07:002008-10-30T13:27:09.542-07:00Progress is Being Made...I Swear!Mike and I have been mudding and sanding and sanding and mudding...which means lots of progress, but none of it is visible.<br /><br />On the up side, my friend Mark (who works for a painting company) is going to paint my house for me, so that should be nice.Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1393437720036999508.post-15699943967882762502008-10-24T08:07:00.000-07:002008-10-24T08:14:48.951-07:00Moving OutLast weekend I moved out of my apartment. Well, I moved my stuff out of my apartment. I'm still sleeping there, on a twin-sized bed that belonged to Erin and me when we were wee lasses. Most of my stuff is now sitting in my house basement, or at Mikes. I'm just glad it all fits. (And once I start unpacking, my shelving (which currently holds boxes) will be mostly empty, and I can go back to pretending it's barracks.) <div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOX3ZAf_K9-TqFfrAsX8vTNxkoFFGLuV6OKfTwuanWhQVSBhi8uuqiSlWYinI-vba3gnj51UiJ7vX8HKZgA1ue1vhTLpAIbpdAZfPNi-5Aas_tfVSv6pZu4oGMuKBj_p-YtW4FFKh2SOzh/s1600-h/DSC03593.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260738353168839970" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOX3ZAf_K9-TqFfrAsX8vTNxkoFFGLuV6OKfTwuanWhQVSBhi8uuqiSlWYinI-vba3gnj51UiJ7vX8HKZgA1ue1vhTLpAIbpdAZfPNi-5Aas_tfVSv6pZu4oGMuKBj_p-YtW4FFKh2SOzh/s320/DSC03593.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div>Oh, I also bought a sofa this past week. It's AWESOME! (Disregard the awful pillows...those will be recovered.)</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLMvNyIVrnfrHS2dDixDwyDUzsFS3wEXEqCj6PlFgqr4sMJwlqM7CD08Ph1Kb1dQr37y9FOzSE-Wv8h_b6-afa0GteiuzTi6Ga_RWbL6PZP-x49H1SWc4SPUEzgptaWLi7c4eUD-7PkFL/s1600-h/217-13512-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260738994640407010" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLMvNyIVrnfrHS2dDixDwyDUzsFS3wEXEqCj6PlFgqr4sMJwlqM7CD08Ph1Kb1dQr37y9FOzSE-Wv8h_b6-afa0GteiuzTi6Ga_RWbL6PZP-x49H1SWc4SPUEzgptaWLi7c4eUD-7PkFL/s320/217-13512-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div></div>Megan K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04302517092005363531noreply@blogger.com0