Progress

I have to admit, I am totally sick of the Laundry Room. I think I was ready to throw in the towel once the washer and dryer where installed. However I had started to paint, therefore I had to finish!

Memorial Day weekend would have been a good time to knock out this project, however we had better things to do that weekend!

This week, I have managed to finish almost all the painting. I have this tricky spot behind the water heater and HVAC unit. Overall I think I did well! The color is Valspar Betsy Ross House Moss in a Semi Gloss finish. I think the finish is a little too shinny for my taste, but I went off the recommendation of the Lowes employee.

What is left:

1. I need to source new shelves. I was hoping to repurpose my Ikea Ivar Unit from the old apartment, however once we where able to put the appliances downstairs it be came apparent that the shelves did not fit. 
2. I would like to add a countertop on top of the washer and dryer, so that I have a flat surface for a ironing board. Jes is already fighting me on this. Since the appliances are next to the HVAC, he'll need to access them if we ever have an issue. A countertop would only get in the way... I guess he has a point. 
3. Clean up any drywall mud that is stuck to the utility sink, gas line, ducts and copper pipes. 
4. Dust HVAC and water heater
5. Accessorize! 

I would LOVE to get a new utility sink - found this one by Kohler. However it's not in the budget for this makeover. Maybe after we get the entire house sorted, I'll splurge for the sink. 

x, Shan

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Success

I am beyond happy! The washer and dryer have made their way from my living room to my basement. Very special thanks to Jes, my brother (Luke) and my father! Now all I need to do is finish painting, organize, and get Lowes back out here to finish the install.

How did they do it.... Well, remember that hole - it got bigger!

Now, what should we do about that?

x, Shan

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Momentum is lost

I have been struggling to find the momentum to finish unpacking. It makes me think...

• Do I really need what is inside those boxes? 
• Have I missed not having those items out? 
• Would I need to re-buy anything if I just donated the boxes without opening them? 
• Do I even remember what is in the boxes?? Probably.... um, not! 

Jes and I hit "a wall" with the whole washer and dryer not fitting in to the basement on the delivery day. Knowing that we where able to get the dryer halfway down the stairs, we decided returning the units where not an option. Therefore we turned to Angie's List to find some general contractors. We came up with the idea of completely remodling our basement steps, in the mist of the remodel we would bring down the washer and dryer.

• Three out of the four contractors reached out after our initial email. 
• Two contractors came out to officially quote the job. 
• One contractor said it wasn't possible. 
• The other gave us a $2,000 estimate, but hasn't responded to our follow up questions. 

Therefore, we are back to trying to do it ourselves... again. Jes is convinced that we can remove the section of the drywall back (you know the hole he has already created) and that would give enough  clearance for the machines. I have convinced Jes that we should paint the laundry room now before we can bring everything in.

While I wasn't looking to have the laundry room be our first project, out of necessity,  it's going to have to be.  Therefore, I have a new Pinterest board! I have to admit - I LOVE the big open laundry areas. However I need to find a tiny (very tiny) laundry solution! But, it's always good to look at everything for inspiration.

x, Shan

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Not so happy day.

Ever since I moved out of my parents house at 19 years old, all I've ever wanted is my own washer and dryer. That's it! For the last ten years, I have been using common area apartment laundromats... It's was horrible. Hauling pounds of dirty laundry down to the scary basement, eight floors below, taking the nasty smelling fright elevator. Trying to avoid conversations with the crazy cat lady.

Finally, the day came where my Prince Charming purchased our very own washer and dryer. A shinny new white matching set. Best part, Lowes was ready to install next day. Complete bliss!

Jes swore up and down that he made all the measurements.... Well the installers came, looked at our stairs and said it wasn't going to fit. They made an attempt - it wasn't going to fit. So they dropped off the machines in the living room. Fail.

But it gets better.... Jes came home and insisted he and I could get the machines down the stairs. Not joking... Jes and I make an attempt to move the dryer downstairs. Jes measured everything but the distance between the ceiling and the steps. Turns out the machine is too tall to make down the stairs.

Great - we had the dryer half way down the steps. Then, all of a sudden Jes gets the idea that the dryer can fit if we knock down a section of the wall... Yep, the hammer came out...

Mid way through taking down the wall, Jes had a change of heart, and decided we needed to bring the dryer back to the living room. WTF!?!

So, now I'm left with a giant hole and a washer and dryer set waiting to be installed.

x, Shan

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It's all the little things

Jes and I where lucky to find a recently re-modeled and flipped home that we agreed on; meaning we have very little initial work that needs to be done. We walked through a fair amount of homes looking for "our home". We saw gently loved and in-lived in homes, extremely outdated homes with LOTS of character, and re-modeled/shinny new homes.

Picking a home is really stressful - it's where you are going to live for the next five to seven years! Maybe even longer.... which might put some self-imposed pressure to make the "right" selection. Despite what they tell you, the process is NOT FUN. This is just my opinion... I would much rather negotiate the price on any house than go though the selection of the "right" house. Good thing I had Jesse; he was very vocal in what he wanted.

Once you make the selection, you start making the big project list. For us it's: (1) purchase a washer and dryer, (2) figure out how to get more square footage in the kitchen, and (3) create great curb appeal for the front of the house.

It's not until you have lived in a place for one day that you realize the little things that are missing... a mailbox, towel bars, and a toilet paper holder. It's the little things that take you to Lowes three days a week. It's not just buying the towel bar - it's buying the drill bit to make holes in tile, the right anchors for the bar, and some other little doodads that I can't explain their purpose.

This is where Jesse gets to show off his "handyman" skills. This is where I pour a glass of wine and crack-up over these "manly" attributes.  Jes has successfully installed our mailbox, two towel bars, and (with the help of my dad) changed our dining room light fixture.

The mailbox instructions listed four steps for installation -  Jes took about 35. Our bathroom fixtures are an ongoing "project", it's taken three days for the towel bars... and we still have a toilet paper holder to install. The light fixture was the easiest and was done within a few hours. All kidding aside, I am proud of Jes for tackling these tasks. He has never had to do anything like this before, he just needs to figure them out at his own pace.

x, Shan

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