too tired to think of a title for this post...

...maybe you can think of one for me?!

so here are a bunch of progress photos (in no particular order)


KITCHEN: finished installing and grouting the backsplash tile

BATH1: Finished installing and grouting the bath surround tile

installed the fixtures: toilet and vanity

love the sink- got it at lowe's

BATH2: tile installed and grouted...door installed...toilet and vanity too!

DINING ROOM: engineered floating click-lock oak flooring is getting installed (as i write this post)

the nice people from lowe's came to the house today to move the fridge from the garage to its final resting spot!

Slate floor at entry foyer and first floor bath is installed, sealed and grouted.  just needs one more coat of sealer (3 total).  I love the aluminum transition strip that we have installed between the slate and wood.

BASEMENT: flooring was installed.  It is resilient vinyl plank flooring.

it's a little dusty!  we also installed the oak "pole wraps" over the lally columns.


and last but not least...
BASEMENT: brick veneer wall (what did she say?)  yes,  brick. veneer. wall.

It is real brick, just 3/8" thick. 

still dont know if we are just crazy for doing this!

tiling update

almost finished...

just the bottom row and then on to grout!

for the edges, instead of using bullnose tile we use this aluminum edge strip that you can find at lowes or home depot. 

it makes for a nice clean edge

and here is the finished sump pump...ahhh peace of mind!

well, almost finished- we just have to fill in the concrete in the gap around the cover.

house guts

good news; the debris pile has been removed from the basement, so now we can finish the rough framing and electrical

bad news; the debris pile has only made it as far as the side yard 

it looks like the house threw up all of its house guts

the fireplace wall got some new drywall

and so did the office- goodbye trains!

the second floor bath got a tub 

just an update

We passed our rough plumbing inspection!

and the plumber installed a toilet- kind of.

the water isnt hooked up yet, so in order to use it you need to pour a bucket of water into the tank!  but it beats the alternative!

the basement wall framing is underway:



here is an updated basement plan:

we are actually selecting final paint colors:

neutrals, big surprise

and we are still covered in snow and ice, but its nice when the sun comes out and shines thru the icy trees

the basement never looked better!

all the basement walls have been removed!

the debris pile needs to stay put for now because there is a mountain of snow between the basement and the dumpster...and i just heard that we will be getting a "significant amount of snow" in two days! snow is evil.

the little bit of reframing that needed to be done at the second floor bathroom is now complete

and we installed the tile backerboard on the floor so the plumber can do his thang.

we have been using hardiboard instead of durock tile backerboard because it is SO much easier to work with.

and last but not least, the first floor bathroom got a tub!

this is very exciting...it marks the first 'finish' item to be installed and it just means that the end is in sight!