Fixer Upper- Week 13

Right before we were to receive our renter, we had started working on our stairs.  More on that later…

The stairs, when we purchased the home, were already carpetless to the upstairs and we also removed the carpet off of the steps to the basement.  So we were left with stair treads that had leftover glue on them and were in rough shape from years of wear.

My dad, who is the foreman of this little project (remember, I’m the designer and laborer), made an incredible suggestion.  He also might just be a “cut-the-corners-genius” (it comes from years of remaking and redoing on a small income).  He knew if we would take up the stair treads and flip them over, they would be good as new.  Yes!  What an incredible suggestion!  Forty-five years of wear on one side of the treads, zero on the other!

Here’s a little before and after-

Up The Stairs

Weathered Stair Tread

I had to sand a little bit on the old side because of the hangover of the tread.

Round One of Sanding

But here’s the original tread, just the side that was nailed down all those years.  Looks pretty good!

The “Other” Side of the Stair Tread

The sanding commenced and I went through three different sizes of sandpaper on the old stair treads.  The risers also got a good sanding so they could be painted.

It was then that our renter moved in and we had to quickly nail down the stairs temporarily so we could move furniture!  I also decided anytime you’re working on stairs, it’s best to only do three at a time.  😉

After our renter was settled, the tops of the treads were stained and sealed.

Here’s an “almost done” after-

Stairs After

And the basement-

Basement Steps

You want to know the best part, there aren’t anymore squeaks!  Taking them up and redoing them let us put in new glue and get them attached again so they are like brand new steps!

#fixerupper

Fixer Upper- Weeks 11 & 12

Yes!  I do still have a blog!  I know I keep you guessing but what I can I say?  This summer has been a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kinda summer.

For two weeks now life has just been barely breathable and I can now sigh a little breath of relief.  Among having company and having a birthday and few quick trips inbetween, we now have a renter in our fixer upper!  I’m so glad that our renter doesn’t mind that we are still working on finishing the place.

Last I left you, we had just installed the flooring.  And that was the last thing that we completed before the moving truck arrived.  Whew!  Just in time!

Here are some better pictures of the flooring, as promised.

Kitchen with Flooring

It’s a little dusty but ain’t she pretty?

Hallway

Guest Bedroom

By Beam

Look how nicely it matches the beam?  This flooring runs through the entire first floor, minus the bathroom.  I love how seamless it feels and makes the whole house look like hardwood.

Now that it is essential, it was time to turn the water on and see how many leaks our plumbers had to fix.  Turns out there were a few.  😉  So installation for the shower and getting the washer and dryer hooked up took a little time.  But now there is actual running water, laundry services and a soon to be shower!  These things don’t necessarily translate well into picture form, but everybody needs water!

I think that’s all I’m going to post for today.  We are working fast and furious to be livable. Once that happens, work on the outside will start.  And that will be very exciting work!

#fixerupper #flooring #homedecor

Fixer Upper- Week Ten

Time slipped away from me this week.  After we had the kitchen cabinets 85% done, the flooring began!

Here’s a little better picture of the kitchen-

Kitchen

These are really exciting parts of the remodel process and I’m happy to see my design decisions come to life.

For the flooring, we chose a laminate flooring that resembles hardwood.  I did a bunch of scratch tests on my sample, even taking a knife to it.  I think it’ll hold up pretty nicely.  And whatever doesn’t can always be stained over.

My only flooring pictures this far are these (please excuse the dust)-

Flooring Going In

Flooring

Not too exciting but I hope by the weekend the first three rooms are done and I can get some better pictures.

It’s really starting to feel closer to “done” on the inside!

#fixerupper