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House Update - LONG Overdue!

So MUUUUCH has been done on our house project since we last updated here. We are living and breathing in our renovation every day. And not just us, but our one two three children we've had since we started! There may be another one on the way, but that has yet to be confirmed ;)

We are so happy to be done with construction and just focusing on upkeep, decorating, and random repairs now. Ryan just finished building the bench seats for the kitchen (I'll have to post pictures - they're incredible!) and I'm sure he has other projects up his sleeves, because the fun never ends in homeownership - especially with a handy husband!

FYI

Just so you know, the real progress of the home additions can be found here: http://www.raisetheranch.com. This blogger site is more helpful for multiple people managing lists at once - though you're free to check back frequently!

Our "Finish" To-Do List

Finally - a FUN list! All the little things I've always imagined doing to "make a house a home" and never dreamed I'd actually get to...

Master Bath
- Install sink faucet screws & caps
- Hang temporary curtain liner on tension rod, until we...
- Install shower doors
- Install chair rail above tile on walls around tub
- Order/install deep casing for window from Cerbos, then...
- Trim window (normal trim or tile?? Heidi??)
- Purchase/hang blinds and/or curtainrod and curtain
- Hang glass shelves above tub - Bought at Ikea!
- Purchase/hang TV above tub ;) then run wiring for it
- Purchase/hang vanity mirror
- Purchase/hang TP holder Use towel ring?
- Purchase/hang 2 sets of towel hooks - behind door & by shower
- Move in everyday items from guest bath sink
- Move shower accessories from guest bath to master bath
- Organize/unpack items under sink
- Buy/install/fill medicine cabinet (?)
- Clean floor and walls with vinegar
- Find/unpack new floormats and new towels

Master Bedroom
- Buy/hang curtainrods
- Buy/hang curtains
- Bring up dressers, chest, and any other furniture
- Refinish Ryan's orange dresser
- Finish unpacking and decorate =)
- Hang tall mirror

Master Bedroom Closet
- Purchase or build then install closet shelving
- Bring up Ryan's baskets & integrate into shelving (?) - Nope
- Put a dresser in here (?) - Nope
- Move clothes from red/yellow rooms into closet
- Bring up boxes and fill closet! Almost done!
- Purchase/install blinds or curtain rod with curtain
- Hang beaded curtain at entrance

Guest Bath
- Purchase or build then hang OPEN shelving above toilet
- Buy baskets that fit into shelves
- Fill shelves with all sorts of goodies =)
- Hang square mirror on wall behind door (?)
- Purchase/install plantation shutters
- Purchase/hang outer (decorative) shower curtain

Upstairs Hallway
- Purchase/install linen closet door...someday...if we want
- Put rubber grippies on shelves so they stop sliding out
- Figure out what to do with hallway-to-nowhere...
- Purchase/install curtain rod and curtain (?)

Red Bedroom
- Bring up grandpa H's desk
- Fill grandpa H's desk (and put my computer on it)
- Hang Ry's shelving unit above desk
- Dust off top of file cabinet, then...
- FILE! - Started...
- Find, bring up, and cover twin comforter
- Iron bedskirt - Yuck. Not a priority.
- Put Star Wars books in bookcase headboard ;)
- Shorten then hang curtains
- Set up second bed once we get it from my folks

Yellow Bedroom
- Rearrange room to our liking
- Switch out desk for my old one from my folks (?)
- Figure out what to do with extra desk...
- Buy/set up crib -Waiting on missing parts...
- Bring up little white dresser, then...
- Get/install changing table sides from my folks on this dresser
- Purchase/install curtainrods and curtains (?)
- Put boxspring in attic or basement
- Decorate...
- Hang LITTLE clothes in closet ;)

Dining Room
- Shadow stripe top of walls (down to plate rail height)
- Purchase wall trim (up to plate rail height)
- Install/route wall trim
- Fill holes then paint all trim
- Purchase/install curtainrods and curtains (?)
- Organize books on little bookshelf
- Organize books on tall bookshelves

1/2 Bath
- Remove old chair rail
- Paint walls once more
- Paint over spackle many times...
- Install and paint new chair rail
- Hang mirror, TP holder, and hand towel ring
- Purchase/install blinds and/or curtainrod and curtain
- Purhcase/install simple shelving somewhere (?)
- Find bath mat for in here...it's around somewhere

Kitchen
- Finish island countertop or purchase then install butcher block
- Finish trimming island
- Run water line to fridge for water/ice maker - Roland coming!
- Try phosphoric acid on floor to remove excess grout
- Caulk around baseboards (?)
- Finish sealing grout
- Put second coat on wall behind sink
- Finish unpacking kitchen =/
- Pick out then buy/order and install cabinet hardware...
- Fix table leg (find new screws)
- Hang shelves on wall above table (?)
- Decorate walls
- Hang plate rack somewhere (from Ryan's folks)
- Figure out how to make faucet splash less (Ryan...?)
- Clean up junk under window

Living Room
- Get piano from my folks
- Finish rearranging furniture (Ryan wants to try something...)
- Hang Ryan's shelving unit above his desk (?)
- Paint or stain Ryan's shelving unit (?)
- Unpack boxes
- Figure out where to put everything...
- Hang pictures
- Hang shelves for CDs/DVDs above one of the sofas (?)
- Buy a biiiig basket for the blankets
- Purchase/install curtainrods and curtains

Stairs/Front Hall
- Last coat of polyurethane on stairs
- Paint risers
- Build trim over front door
- Purchase/install pocket doors...someday
- Figure out how to make-do without a coat closet...

Basement
- VACCUUM! and sand treads
- Prime and paint stairs (or stain the pine instead??)
- Install baseboards on stairs - Almost done!
- Fill holes in and paint baseboards on stairs
- Connect humidifier water line - Roland coming!
- UNPACK BASEMENT!!! =) - Working on it...
- Clean basement once unpacked - Big job...
- Organize basement once unpacked - Another big job...
- Buy or build then install kitty door
- Hang clothesline in laundry area
- Finish inside of windows around laundry area
- Set up some kind of flat surface for folding laundry
- Figure out where to keep iron/ironing board
- PUT IN LAUNDRY CHUTE! (hahaha)
- Connect internet/cable wiring

Entire Downstairs
- Touch up wood floors, then sand & polyurethane

Entire Upstairs
- Finish all internet/cable wiring jacks

Exterior
- Paint exterior doors, inside and out
- Caulk/paint exterior trim around doors
- Spruce up trim around basement windows
- Install new locks on rear doors (& perhaps on front door)
- Caulk/seal entire seam between foundation and siding
- Scrape/paint foundation
- Widen driveway and add gravel, then have paved
- Bring rocks/cement to dump - Already took one load
- Plant pachysandra
- Ready garden for winter...move plants, get new plants, etc.

Latest To-Do List

Master Bath
- Finish spackling over screws on shower ceiling
- Paint shower ceiling Needs 2nd coat
- Finish tiling Thanks, Dad!
- Grout floor
- Grout walls outside of shower
- Grout walls in shower below border Thanks, Dad!
- Grout walls in shower above border Thanks, Dad!
- Install toilet/tank
- Install faucet hardware - Almost done...waiting for parts
- Install shower hardware
- Caulk all seams
- Install shower doors - Using temp. curtain rod for now!
- Install chair rail above tile on walls around tub
- Purchase/hang shelves above tub
- Purchase/hang vanity mirror
- Purchase/hang towel and TP holders
- Rehang bathroom door and cabinet door
- Install tub apron
- Fill holes in door trim
- Paint door trim

Master Bedroom/Closet
- Paint walls (after choosing paint color!) Thanks, Mom H & Heidi!
- Sand baseboards
- Paint baseboards and window trim
- Finish spackling then paint old smoke detector hole in ceiling
- Purchase or build then hang closet shelving
- Remove all tools and trim from this room!

Guest Bath
- Grout window tile
- Scrape excess grout off floor tiles
- Scrape stickers off floor tiles =)
- Purchase or build then hang shelves above toilet

Upstairs Hallway
- Paint walls once more Thanks, Mom H!
- Fix doorway cut-ins! Thanks, Mom H!
- Paint attic trim
- Paint linen closet Thanks, Lori!
- Install brackets for shelves in linen closet
- Build, polyurethane, & install shelves in linen closet
- Purchase or build then install linen closet door

Yellow & Red Bedrooms
- Paint closet doors Thanks, Seth and Heidi!
- Paint then install closet door knobs
- Paint baseboards in red room once more Thanks, WaiMay!

Dining Room
- Shadow stripe top of walls (down to plate rail height)
- Purchase wall trim (up to plate rail height)
- Install/route wall trim
- Fill holes then paint all trim

1/2 Bath
- Spackle under window and around door
- Remove old chair rail
- Paint walls once more
- Install and paint new chair rail
- Hang mirror, TP holder, and hand towel ring

Kitchen
- Finish corner countertop
- Finish island countertop (or purchase then install butcher block)
- Run water line to fridge for water/ice maker - Roland coming!
- Try phosphoric acid on floor to remove excess grout
- Caulk around baseboards
- Finish sealing grout
- Install shoe molding b/t countertops and backsplash
- Touch up paint behind sink Needs another coat

Stairs/Front Hall
- Sand treads once more
- Stain treads, spindles, and banister
- Polyurethane treads, spindles, and banister 1 more coat!
- Paint risers
- Build trim over front door

Basement
- Sand treads
- Prime and paint stairs (or stain the pine instead???)
- Install baseboards on stairs - Almost done!
- Fill holes in and paint baseboards on stairs
- Connect humidifier water line - Roland coming!
- UNPACK BASEMENT!!! =) - Started! Thanks, Mom & Dad
- Clean basement once stuff is moved
- Buy or build then install kitty door

Entire Upstairs
- Clean up attic and back-fill insulation where necessary
- Clean plywood floor
- Empty out, then...
- Carpet!!

Entire Downstairs
- Touch up wood floors, then complete final sanding and polyurethane

Entire House
- Paint interior doors
- Plaster and touch up paint on walls where necessary

Exterior
- Remove plastic compressor base and install pavers
- Paint exterior doors
- Caulk/paint exterior trim
- Install new locks on rear doors (& perhaps on front door)
- Caulk/seal entire seam between foundation and siding
- Scrape/paint foundation
- Move wall around front right bed
- Widen driveway and add gravel
- Cut back bushes, especially forsythia
- Finish weeding and mulching
- Clean junk from driveway and side of house - Lots in trailer!
- Bring rocks/cement to dump - Already took one load
- Chop up and freeze biggest rhubarb stems Do again

Our Massive To-Do List

Pending Projects (in no particular order):

GUEST BATH
- Hang TP holder (8/25/05)
- Hang towel rods / hooks (8/26/05)
- Hang clock (8/27/05)
- Re-spackle areas (thanks, Ry's mom! 8/23/05)
- Touch up paint (9/05/05)
- Re-paint ceiling w/ semi-gloss
- Finish painting door (8/23/05)
- Tile around window
- Grout around marble sill (thanks, Dad! 8/05)
- Find or buy then install ceiling vent cover
- Order vanity cabinet (8/13/05)
- Remove pedestal sink (8/21/05)
- Install vanity, sink, & faucet (8/22/05)
- Figure out baseboard situation (8/21/05)
- Install baseboards (12/01/05)
- Fill holes / paint baseboards (12/01/05)
- Remove old door knob / install new (9/04/05)

DOWNSTAIRS BATH
- Grout floor (thanks, Dad! 8/14/05)
- Stain grout...? (not gonna do...)
- Seal floor (9/04/05)
- Buy/install wainscoating (9/05/05)
- Buy toilet (9/05/05)
- Install toilet
- Install sink (after removing from guest bath)
- Buy vanity mirror (8/26/05)
- Hang vanity mirror / towel ring / TP holder
- Re-hang door
- Paint (after CHOOSING paint color...) (4 coats!!)

EVERYWHERE
- Paint trim (1/6 done)
- Install trim (1/6 done)
- Fill nail holes in trim (1/6 done)
- Paint 2nd coat on trim (1/6 done)
- Paint doors (two coats) (1-1/4 done)
- Pick out/order door knobs (8/26/05)
- Install door knobs
- Carpet upstairs
- Sweep/vacuum/clean (hope it lasts...8/14/05)
- Install wall jacks
- Hook up cable
- Hook up Cat-5
- Empty Jeep (8/1/05)
- Wash windows (2 left - thanks, Ry's mom!)


MASTER BEDROOM / MASTER CLOSET
- Fill holes in installed window trim (thanks, Heid! 8/26/05)
- Paint installed window trim (2 done)
- Paint ceiling (thanks, Annette! 10 or 11/05)
- Paint (after CHOOSING paint color...)
- Reorganize work zones
- Buy/install closet shelving

FOYER
- Paint stair risers
- Sand stairs (thanks, Heid! 8/24/05)
- Sand railing (thanks, Heid! 8/26/05)
- Stain/paint stairs
- Decide whether to paint or stain spindles
- Do whichever is decided
- Trim up the stairs (3/4 done. 8/24/05)
- Paint door, sidelights, and transom
- Figure out trim for above transom
- Do whatever is figured out
- Trim baseboards (8/14/05)
- Fill holes/paint baseboards (8/22/05)

UPSTAIRS HALL
- Paint 2nd coat of green
- Fix bathroom door trim paint against green (3/4 done. 8/25/05)

BEDROOMS
- Order/pick up closet doors from Lowes (8/26/05)
- Buy closet door frames (10 or 11/05)
- Install closet doors and door frames
- Respackle around vents (thanks, Ry's mom! 8/23/05)
- Touch up paint around vents (9/05/05)
- Install vent covers
- Buy/install closet shelving

OUTSIDE
- Put square blocks beneath garbage cans (thanks, Opa! 8/24/05)
- Erradicate gigantic weed pile (DONE!! 8/17/05)
- Weed the driveway (1/2 done. 8/17/05)
- Weed "patio" (save tomatoes!) (thanks, Opa! 8/24/05)
- Weed mulched beds...
- Restake tomatoes and peppers in garden (8/15/05)
- Stake tomatoes in backyard (thanks, Oma & Opa! 8/24/05)
- Spray all tomato plants w/ deer repellent (not worth it now...)
- Bring old fence w/ posts to dump (et al) (8/13/05)
- Empty trailer of weeds at dump
- Pick up load of mulch in trailer
- Finish mulching yard
- Get rocks from Barbara's yard (3/4 done. 7/05)
- Add rocks from Barbara's onto rock wall (1/2 done, 7/05)
- Add rocks from Joe's onto rock wall
- Figure out what to use for patio floor
- Do whatever is figured out
- Paint columns (thanks, Heid! 8/26/05)
- Scrape foundation
- Paint foundation
- Finish priming fence
- Paint fence
- Resize front rock wall to make room for driveway

BASEMENT
- CLEAN UP (11/26/05)
- Clean/tape/fold tarps & return to Opa (throw them out instead...11/26/05)
- Reorganize (11/26/05)
- File

LIVING ROOM / BACK HALL
- Trim baseboards (8/14/05)
- Fill holes / paint baseboards (8/24/05)
- Trim windows
- Set up office (1/2 done)
- Move bookshelves to dining room
- Get piano from mom & dad's
- Finish painting (thanks, Lori! 7/05)
- Take down door bell / install new door bell
- Get plant from Barbara's
- Install window trim (3 of 5 sills/sides installed. 12/05)
- Paint/fill holes in window trim (1 done. 12/05)

DINING ROOM
- Panel bottom of walls
- Paint panelling white
- Paint top of walls blue (thanks, Lori! 8/10/05)
- Shadow stripe blue
- Trim baseboards (8/14/05)
- Fill holes / paint baseboards (thanks, Heid! 8/23/05)
- Trim / paint window trim (3 of 3 installed. 12/05)
- Bring in bookshelves / set up bookshelves

KITCHEN
- Order cabinets (8/18/05)
- Remove old cabinets (8/24/05)
- Take old cabinets to the dump
- Remove/save kitchen faucet/sink (8/25/05)
- Install cabinets (DONE!)
- Trim cabinets (DONE! 9/04/05)
- Buy kitchen sink
- Install kitchen sink / install faucet (temp sink/faucet installed)
- Buy/install garbage disposal / hook up wiring
- Buy dishwasher/microwave (10/10/05)
- Hook up microwave wiring
- Run line for dishwasher / hook up wiring
- Choose countertops (working on it...)
- Have countertops installed
- Choose flooring (working on it...)
- Have flooring installed
- Run air duct out of cabinet kick plate
- Buy/install kick plate vent cover
- Paint (after CHOOSING paint color...)
- Choose/buy tile for backsplash
- Tile backsplash
- Choose/buy pendant lighting / move necessary ceiling boxes
- Buy under cabinet lighting / hook up wiring
- Buy pantry door (8/26/05)
- Install/paint pantry door
- Paint two exterior doors
- Fill holes / paint trim
- Build barrel arch b/t kitchen & dining room
- Build bench seating area

MASTER BATH
- Finish screwing down hardibacker
- Pick out floor tile
- Tile floor (thanks, Dad!)
- Grout floor
- Seal grout on floor
- Pick out wall tile
- Tile walls
- Grout walls
- Seal grout on walls
- Order vanity cabinet (8/13/05)
- Install vanity cabinet
- Choose/buy/install sink
- Choose/buy/install toilet
- Build hot tub apron (Buy from Home Depot instead)
- Install hot tub apron
- Build hot tub access panel in Master Closet
- Finish spackling over shower (1/2 done. 8/26/05)
- Finish priming
- Paint (after CHOOSING paint color...)

We've Ordered Kitchen Cabinets - Finally!

Kitchen - Front Elevation

Check out the photos in Flickr... (click on the photo or link above). Once you're in Flickr, you can browse through the Kitchen Photos Set by clicking on "next >" beneath "This photo also belongs to: Kitchen Cabinets (Set)" towards the bottom right.