The remodeling/home improvement thread
 

Here's the official Vintage remodeling thread. Show us your projects. Past and present.

Dean, you must have plenty to show! :LOL:

Here's the kitchen, before and during remodeling. Some of these pics are "repeats" from the Odds and Ends pic thread. No after pics to post yet. The project is going slowly. The carpenter can't be here every day, which I knew from the beginning. I'm hoping by the end of next week it will look like a kitchen again. :rolleyes:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...90199Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...90197Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...90194Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...70215Small.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...20307Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...20306Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...40301Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...40300Small.jpg

Weird. I was just thinking about posting some pics just before you posted. We must be psychic or sumpin'. :D
I'll ask Martha to take some pics tonight after we get through priming the beadboard and going for ice cream.

Nice looking cabinets you've got.

Thanks. I'm only doing this once. I have to like all my choices until I die, according to Rick.


Can't wait to see your pics.

In 2003 we had a garage built finally (to house our "baby") then had our back porch taken down and built a four season room that was finished in Feb or 2004.

I will warn everyone just like I was warned. It never goes "exactly" as you planned it. Unlike watching the shows on HGTV, nothing can be done in the allotted time frame. Especially, within the forty-four minutes of an hour show (after commercials).

I remember one episode about building a gazebo during a half hour (twenty-two minute) show. It went something like this, with the parts they do not mention in (parenthesis) : After deciding on the spot in your yard where you want to locate the gazebo (after three weeks of arguing, and at least two threats of contacting a divorce lawyer). Start by leveling the spot you have negotiated (This is easier said than done, that is why we are NOT going to show you that it took a professional with a Bob Cat and a helper a day and a half to accomplish this). Then simply follow the instructions that came with your gazebo kit (that were translated from Spanish to English by the carpenters five year old child) and you should be done in about a day (if one does not count the sixteen trips to your local hardware store for all the missing screws, bolts etc that were not included in the kit to begin with that claimed that all you needed was a hammer* and a screw driver**.) We hope that it will bring many hours of enjoyment and relaxation to your (the) family. (That buys your house after the divorce settlement requires that you sell it)

* The hammer was thrown at your wife after the sixth day of construction when she inquired: "You are not finished yet? They did it on HGTV in a half an hour.

** As it turns out: The "Screw Driver" was a reference to the Divorce Lawyers that you and your ex hired to handle the split up. There is now little doubt in your mind that they were "driving" the "screwing" you both got while they stirred the pot to get you both worked up into a frenzy against one another while they laughed all the way to the bank after increasing their "billable time".

:banghead: ;) :cry:

What about just modeling? We did all the interior stuff in our pool house; does that count?

Pics of all projects, new, and old are welcome.

I like seeing what people do with their homes/spaces.


I liked your post, Matt.

Rick and I work pretty well together, but know better than to tackle any large project.

Hiring the professional is cheaper than a divorce. :LOL:

I do watch HGTV and have gotten some ideas along the way.

We had a house fire about 4 years ago. Nothing major fire wise but it burned/melted my sons plastic stereo. Lots of black smoke and toxic soot which the fire dept blew through the entire house. Their idea of clearing out smoke is to open all the windows and put a big fan in the front door. We had soot in every crevice of the house. Six months and a complete gut and rebuild later we moved back in. Thanks to the insurance company and a small loan we we're able to do all our remodeling at one time.
We managed to stay married too. That's the true test of a marriage, remodeling.

Our next project is the kitchen and a bathroom off the kitchen. I want to make it more friendly for my Mom to visit. It would also be nice for our friends to have a place to change and shower after hot tubbing! :cool:

We usually buy older homes and fix them up - enjoy them for a year or two and then sell. This will be our third house to do that - and our last - We're sick of working on houses.

For example, Christmas before last, we moved all the furniture out of the living room, sent our parlor grand piano off for refinishing, ripped up the carpet and pad, patched the concrete pad, painted the living room, dining room and hallway, and put down laminate flooring. After finishing at about midnight on Sunday night, the day before work started again after the holidays, we looked at each other and said that after 25 years of doing this kind of stuff, it's lost its appeal.

I do have to say it does look great, and we get lots of compliments from people that come in the house. What we didn't do ourselves is tile the fireplace (marble tile to match marble accents in our tile floor). We didn't build the custom mantle either.

Our next project is the master bathroom - then we'll be done with this house and it won't have taken 10 years to finish. WHEW!!!

Unfortunately, I didn't take pics of the new condo before I had all the ugly builtins torn out, and painting and new carpet done. It looks great now. When I'm done putting the finishing touches on (I hope soon!), I'll post some pics.