Room #1 - Rennovation

We (mainly Greg, sometimes me) have been busy, busy, busy with household rennovations. We're taking it room by room and completed #1 in March this year. Looking back at the pictures, I am amazed at how much work it took to complete this one. This room was an addition to our original 1926 house and the plaster walls were covered with wood paneling. There were nine windows and two doors when we started.

BEFORE: behind the green wall on the right is the back of the fireplace.

Started to remove the green paneling and break through the plaster (covered in wood grain contact paper ... must have been lovely).

The room had nine windows total, three on each external wall.

This wall faces our neighbors house. We closed in the two outside windows.

Breaking through to the fireplace.

There were two doors leading to our living room, one of which we never used. We decided to close in the left one and add a little extra wall space in both rooms.

We decided to close off all three windows leading to the back yard. Now I wish I had left one window there ... live and learn.

All three windows gone.

With Greg's expert researching and negotiating skills, we got top of the line Anderson windows, with all of the features to keep the integrity of our old home for just over 5,000 with our tax rebate. That is for 19 windows! The downside to completing our own installation is that half of our master bedroom is full of window boxes.

Neighbor side minus one window. One to go ...

These pictures make it look a lot easier than it really is.

Next step was insullation. Our house has absolutely zero insullation in the walls and our monthly utility bill is through the roof. Greg tackled spray foam insullation. Super easy and a lot cheaper as a DIY project! We got a lot of discouragement when we shared that we would do this part ourselves (glad we didn't listen).

Topped it off with roll insullation.

We also decided to replace the ceiling, which was a first and last time project. Looks nice, but waaaaaay to much work.

To cut down on cost, Greg stripped and salvaged all of the existing woodwork.
Again, looks so much easier than it really is. Notice the door on the left is completely closed in.

I've also got to mention that Greg pays very close attention the the details. Check out the molding he put on the fireplace.

Ta Da! So pretty and I love my brick fireplace!!!

Front wall and new celing fan. For more details on front window replacement, see blog post dated Sept 30, 2011.

Neighbor wall. Oh, and we refinished the wood floor ourselves too. Don't have a picture, but it's new and shiney now ... again, an easy DIY project.

Room #2 is under way. Post with pictures coming soon (well, in a couple of months or so).