1 Year Anniversary Progress Report

Before and After Photo Journal

Wow! It's already been a year of being a dedicated weekend warrior.  Don and I closed on our new home one year ago on June 26th, 2017.  After moving and settling in we wasted no time getting started on our renovations. 


Most home buyers, find a nice move-in ready home that fits their lifestyle and taste. Both Don and I knew that with the current housing market our dream home couldn't become reality without putting work into it. 

Purchasing this very large Fixer-Upper was scary for me.  I kept having visions of nothing changing and having to live in this dated old monster of a house. It's like I couldn't relax until we dug into renovation because that would validate the vision of our future home.

Time restriction and the sheer magnitude of the work has slowed our pace down, but looking at all the projects that have been started (not all completed) since we moved in is pretty impressive. We started off by replacing the roof on the back end of the house, luckily we hired someone to do that, cause I was not getting up there, but everything else on the list below is Don and I.

Since last July 2017 we've been busy..

1. Bought & installed 9 windows, removed 1(in kitchen), and trimmed out 4 in the west/front
2. Removed vinyl siding on the north and front/west walls
3. Stained and applied cedar shingles to the front/west exterior
4. Scraped and Painted exterior trim on west wall
5. Pulled out trees and restructured gardens on all sides of house
6. Demo'd the kitchen and pulled down 2 layers of ceiling in kitchen and dining room
7. Installed a new wood stove, tile hearth, and vertical woodbox
8. Cleaned exposed beams and added supports to a carrier beam
9. Cut a low hanging limb that threatened our chimney (hired out)   
10. Salvaged barn boards and repurposed
11. Removed interior walls in the kitchen, applied new insulation
12. Reframed the pantry, applied drywall over new insulation
13. Reclaimed land overrun with grapevines, raspberries, and fallen trees
14. Made a raised bed vegetable garden
15. Started construction on the farmers porch off the kitchen (south wall)
    
    Just to name a few things :)

I've selected a series of pictures from before, during, and the current state for each project we are working on. Much work still needs to be done, but I think it tells the story of our vision and accomplishments over the past year.

Front of House 

Before:
 Our new house as purchased kind-of. We had already taken off the old storm door and cut back the overgrown garden and weeds.

During:
Four new windows and trim, new siding, and trim being scraped and painted

Today:
We are very proud of the direction our renovation are looking. 
The fight continues.

Before:
Front bedroom had wallpaper that fell off like a dream

During:
Getting the new windows installed, new paint on walls and ceiling and new trim

Current:
1st completed room in the house with cool accent wall and new upholstered headboard. 
Lucky Girl!

Kitchen, Dining Room and Pantry

Before:
Kitchen as purchased, we liked the barn boards on the pantry wall, everything else had to go.

Before:
The pantry was a plus, but we didn't need all of this space,
and thought it could use a good makeover.

During:
Opened the wall facing the kitchen and divided to make a space for the refrigerator.
(This wall now removed, was the most disgusting wall in the house,
seems at one point they had a squirrel problem)

During:
Kitchen cabinets removed and walls to the studs, and added new insulation.

Today:
Our North wall has new insulation, and is ready for cabinets and
a tile back splash to ceiling (when we install the cabinets & ceiling any way)
 The pantry is newly framed with drywall and has a fresh coat of paint on the walls and shelves

Before:
We loved the open space, but knew we wanted higher ceilings and exposed beams, plus wanted to expend the doorways to the kitchen.

During:
Ugh!!  So glad this part is over.
Buried in debris and getting ready to pull down the ceiling.

Today:
Still have lots to do inside, but it's slowly coming together.
We have the last 2 windows to install, but that should be any day now. 
We also will be removing the small window on the left and putting in a patio door

Today:
This is the Kitchen side of of the chimney surround. The barn boards were pulled off the living room walls, cleaned up and repurposed for a rustic & modern look.

Outside Landscaping, Reclaimed land, and Farmers Porch

North Side 

Before:
We liked the hidden yard on the side of the house, it was just a bit too overgrown

During:
Wow! A sweet little rock wall under all that growth

Today:
What a great place to cool down after a working hard all day.

South Side 

Before:
The South side of the house, note where the lawn ends on the right side. 
That is where the tangle of thorns and vines begins.
 Not to mention the metal dump we uncovered.

During and Today:
 Vinyl siding is removed, 2 new windows installed, 2 more more windows will be installed soon. 
We have also started on our future porch by installing ledger board.

Today (like for real today 7/14):
Last 2 windows installed on 1st floor and getting our porch sauna tubes marked out

Today (like for real today 7/14):
Loving the light that is coming in. All the boxes are our Ikea kitchen, I'm wanting to get them together ASAP

Before:
This is by far the worse tangle of thorny bushes, and grape vines.
We were fighting a losing battle in the thick of last summer.

Before:
More tangled vines, thorns, and scariness

Today:
Starting in early spring we were able to gain ground.

Today:
Land reclaimed, and an old fallen apple tree cut up and cleaned up.
We also made small garden around the well and a cover for it.
 Can you see were the thorny bushes use to begin?   

Today:
All the land seen here is was reclaimed  from a tangle of thorn and grape vines. 
The remnants of the 3 brush piles burns in the background

Today:
We've created a small garden and hope to expand it next year. 
Our lettuce is yummy and can't wait for the tomatoes.  

Front or West Side

Before:
The front of the house and gardens were a total mess and overgrown
with Tiger Lilies, Virginia Creeper, and weeds.

During:
Pulled everything out of the gardens and starting fresh. 
I did keep some of the lilies and will see what I like next summer.
Also made a rock bordered garden in front of the house.

Today:
I love my gardens, but they still need some work.  I'll probably move some
 plants around for next year 

We have worked so hard this past year, but we all love seeing the progress and get excited that we are closer to our goal.  

Don and I have to send out a big Thank You to Don's dad George, he has helped us install many of the windows.  Sometimes in old building surprises arise, it was great to have your experience.  

Thanks, till next time