It's Demo Time!
The main floor renovation didn't seem real until we started the demolition. Even after choosing (and putting down deposits) for cabinets and appliances, it still felt like the same old house.
But then we ripped it apart.
It was a lot of prep work before the big day. First, I continued to sand down the bannisters. I wanted to get at least the sanding done before the tile, and I finally got that finished.
Second, we had to modify the electrical. We wanted some pot lights in the hallway to brighten it, plus we're going to add pots to the kitchen and the living room.
Third, we had to get rid of everything on the main floor. Well, not everything. We moved the dining room table into the fireplace room and left the rest of that intact. Everything else, including my books, had to be moved.
We got rid of the china cabinet (as the china will be stored somewhere less intrusive), we threw away the dogs' disgusting couch, we moved Rob's table from the kitchen to what will be the new office.
Then, a few days before the actual reno, we had to move the kitchen out. I'd been moving it slowly here and there, but at this point, I had to get rid of everything. I minimized down to the bare ncessities and created a cute little kitchen in the front of the house!
At the moment we get to do dishes in the bathroom sink, but oh well.
At one point we decided to see how easy it was to remove the popcorn ceiling in the living/dining room. It wasn't hard, just tedious, so that got added to my list. I spent a few afternoons and evenings scraping the damn thing. I sprayed a section with water, then used a scraper to remove the stucco. It's messy and gross and I had to wear a mask and safety glasses.
What else? Ah yes, we had to minimize dust on the upper floor. We created some Dexter-like sheeting over the bannister, the fireplace room, and the bottom of the stairs. It worked really well!
We have decided to leave the hardwood in the fireplace room (which will be the new dining room) and in what will be the new office (the front of the house/dog bark area/book zone).
As I moved things and removed baseboards and cleaned out the laundry room, Rob built the new office doors! The reason we wanted to put an office downstairs is that we have three bedrooms upstairs. And while we might have another kid, it would also be nice to have a guestroom. I also thought a small room at the front (with pocket doors to let in light) would make the space less cumbersome. I think it looks fantastic!
We bought two pocket door kits from Home Depot, then two doors from Lowe's.
Then came the REAL demo. With some much-appreciated help, the kitchen cabinets are gone! The tile is gone! The laundry room sink is gone! The appliances are gone! The hardwood in the dining room is gone (with some stored in the garage)! The weird nonstructural bulkhead that separated the dining and living rooms is gone! Everything is gone but the linoleum, which Rob and I are going to remove shortly.
So now I am house camping for the next month! It's been fine so far, but it's only been a couple days so we'll see what my opinion is in a couple weeks...
What's Next?
- Remove the rest of the floor
- Finish electrical
- Tile! (Aug 12th!)
- Cabinets! (Aug 20th!)
- New Appliances! (Aug 23!)
- Countertops! (?)
- Backsplash!
- Put kitchen back together!
- Drywall!
- Paint!
- Baseboards!
- Choose and install lights
- Build wood accent wall
- Install blinds
- Move furniture
- Bookshelves + move office downstairs
- Stain bannister
- Paint bannister
- probably some more I'm forgetting
But then we ripped it apart.
 |
| Before |
 |
| After! |
It was a lot of prep work before the big day. First, I continued to sand down the bannisters. I wanted to get at least the sanding done before the tile, and I finally got that finished.
Second, we had to modify the electrical. We wanted some pot lights in the hallway to brighten it, plus we're going to add pots to the kitchen and the living room.
 |
| We had a bit of a marital spat about where to place the entry light, but our dear friend Sarah helped us decide |
Third, we had to get rid of everything on the main floor. Well, not everything. We moved the dining room table into the fireplace room and left the rest of that intact. Everything else, including my books, had to be moved.
 |
| My heart hurts! |
We got rid of the china cabinet (as the china will be stored somewhere less intrusive), we threw away the dogs' disgusting couch, we moved Rob's table from the kitchen to what will be the new office.
Then, a few days before the actual reno, we had to move the kitchen out. I'd been moving it slowly here and there, but at this point, I had to get rid of everything. I minimized down to the bare ncessities and created a cute little kitchen in the front of the house!
 |
| The couch is now gone, but has everything you need! Microwave, coffee maker, slower cooker! And a mini-fridge not shown |
At the moment we get to do dishes in the bathroom sink, but oh well.
At one point we decided to see how easy it was to remove the popcorn ceiling in the living/dining room. It wasn't hard, just tedious, so that got added to my list. I spent a few afternoons and evenings scraping the damn thing. I sprayed a section with water, then used a scraper to remove the stucco. It's messy and gross and I had to wear a mask and safety glasses.
 |
| Nothing says the 1980s like popcorn ceiling |
 |
| My tools - a Lysol bottle filled with water and an old BP takeout container |
 |
| And this happy little fellow, the scraper! |
 |
| It left a bit of residue but overall wasn't terrible to remove |
What else? Ah yes, we had to minimize dust on the upper floor. We created some Dexter-like sheeting over the bannister, the fireplace room, and the bottom of the stairs. It worked really well!
 |
| Obviously, it was taped up better during the demo |
We have decided to leave the hardwood in the fireplace room (which will be the new dining room) and in what will be the new office (the front of the house/dog bark area/book zone).
As I moved things and removed baseboards and cleaned out the laundry room, Rob built the new office doors! The reason we wanted to put an office downstairs is that we have three bedrooms upstairs. And while we might have another kid, it would also be nice to have a guestroom. I also thought a small room at the front (with pocket doors to let in light) would make the space less cumbersome. I think it looks fantastic!
We bought two pocket door kits from Home Depot, then two doors from Lowe's.
 |
| The panels in the door are frosted glass! (and clearly, are not 100% installed yet) |
Then came the REAL demo. With some much-appreciated help, the kitchen cabinets are gone! The tile is gone! The laundry room sink is gone! The appliances are gone! The hardwood in the dining room is gone (with some stored in the garage)! The weird nonstructural bulkhead that separated the dining and living rooms is gone! Everything is gone but the linoleum, which Rob and I are going to remove shortly.
 |
| yeeeeeeesh |
 |
| The hardwood was my task. It took forever because we were saving it. It took ALL day. Not that I'm complaining - I didn't have to sledgehammer or lug tile until the very end |
 |
| The old owners covered the linoleum with more linoleum, then that linoleum with tile. Thanks, old owners. |
 |
| Removing that weird non-structural bulkhead allows us to make this our den! |
 |
| laundry room |
So now I am house camping for the next month! It's been fine so far, but it's only been a couple days so we'll see what my opinion is in a couple weeks...
What's Next?
- Remove the rest of the floor
- Finish electrical
- Tile! (Aug 12th!)
- Cabinets! (Aug 20th!)
- New Appliances! (Aug 23!)
- Countertops! (?)
- Backsplash!
- Put kitchen back together!
- Drywall!
- Paint!
- Baseboards!
- Choose and install lights
- Build wood accent wall
- Install blinds
- Move furniture
- Bookshelves + move office downstairs
- Stain bannister
- Paint bannister
- probably some more I'm forgetting
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