Nathan ran the electrical lines for downstairs and set up the network box with a lot of help from my brother. I think I have pictures of some of that somewhere, but I'll have to find them later. From there, we needed to start upgrading the electrical upstairs. That seemed a little overwhelming and we weren't sure where exactly to start. After an unexpected visit from the electrical inspector this fall, Nathan got back into it and we spent quite a few weekends working on the electrical upstairs. We added 2 or 3 new circuits and a LOT of new outlets. I no longer have to stretch my cords to their limits to try and reach the next outlet. I'm feeling very outlet rich. I learned exactly how far my arm can fit into a 2x4 wall before I take my skin off, and how to use my whole body to pull a stubborn cord through the wall (although even sometimes that's not enough and Nathan needs to come save me).
For Christmas, I got a waffle cone maker and Nathan and I told the kids that when we got the electrical all done, we could have a waffle cone party. We invited some friends over (they brought homemade ice cream, yum!!) and celebrated getting the electrical done.
After passing the electrical inspection, finishing a few support studs, and fixing many squeaks in our living room, we were ready for insulation. After the insulation guys didn't show up when they were supposed to, we were happy to have them do our part of the insulation as compensation. We ended up having insulation put up along the framed outside walls, a pillow type insulation put up on the unframed outside walls (including the walls where our bathroom plumbing is behind our false bathroom wall). We also had them blow insulation in the ceiling downstairs for sound and around the tub and shower to keep the water warm. We put the bats up along the inside walls around the bathroom and salon for sound. The insulation guys also blew new insulation into our attic. Immediately we could feel a difference everywhere. Our house is more uniformly warm. Downstairs it's not nearly so cold, and the echo is reduced so much it's almost eerie.
Unfortunately, the guys installing the insulation took my drain hose out of my washing machine and forgot to hook it back up. The next day, when I went to do laundry, I ended up with a whole washer cycle's worth of water all over my basement. Luckily it didn't quite get the sheetrock and we had just cleared the basement out. I was SO happy to have a drain in my floor. I cleaned up the floor just in time for the insulation inspector.
Last week, our sheetrock guy came and started hanging sheetrock. He finished the taping and texturing on Friday and started in with texturing this week. Here are some pictures of how our basement looks now.
The walls of the playroom. Off to the left is the salon door and off to the right is the new storage room door.
The door you see is the storage room door. The unfinished part is going to be my shelves. Off to the right you can barely see my family room door.
Family room door and the wall between the playroom and my storage room that used to be the bedroom.
This is the salon. The door to outside is off to the right. This is taken from the door between the playroom and salon.
The wall where my station is going to be.
From the salon looking towards the door to the playroom. You can also see the door to the washroom/storage room. The big white thing is my old chimney. We had Matt cover it with sheetrock. I LOVE the look.
From my storage room looking towards my bathroom.
Where my washer and dryer are. The bathroom door is off to the right.
Looking through my bathroom door.
Looking into my utility closet. I get so many comments on this. People often ask if I could fit anything more in there. I didn't think so, but we just had to put a whole house filter in there when we found out that our water softener had been damaged by a stone. It's the newer looking blue thing on top of the pressure tank.
Looking towards the tub.
And my new ceiling texture. This is the ceiling in the playroom.
And the ceiling in the washroom.
Finally, we have a new wall in my dining room. I can't believe how different it feels in there without it even being finished.
One more look at the wall in the dining room.
Things are progressing nicely. I'm excited and nervous to go pick out paint this week. Nathan is trying to clean out his garage to start building the cabinets in my salon. Next week, Matt is going to do the stained concrete floor in the playroom, salon, washroom, and bathroom. Last time my inspector came out, he mentioned that the only inspections we have left are the final ones: final electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and the FINAL final inspection.
The door you see is the storage room door. The unfinished part is going to be my shelves. Off to the right you can barely see my family room door.
Family room door and the wall between the playroom and my storage room that used to be the bedroom.
This is the salon. The door to outside is off to the right. This is taken from the door between the playroom and salon.
The wall where my station is going to be.
From the salon looking towards the door to the playroom. You can also see the door to the washroom/storage room. The big white thing is my old chimney. We had Matt cover it with sheetrock. I LOVE the look.
From my storage room looking towards my bathroom.
Where my washer and dryer are. The bathroom door is off to the right.
Looking through my bathroom door.
Looking into my utility closet. I get so many comments on this. People often ask if I could fit anything more in there. I didn't think so, but we just had to put a whole house filter in there when we found out that our water softener had been damaged by a stone. It's the newer looking blue thing on top of the pressure tank.
Looking towards the tub.
And my new ceiling texture. This is the ceiling in the playroom.
And the ceiling in the washroom.
Finally, we have a new wall in my dining room. I can't believe how different it feels in there without it even being finished.
One more look at the wall in the dining room.
2 comments:
Wow! It is getting so close! I love it when things finally start coming together. It looks great, but come on, be honest. Don't you miss the fake wood walls a little bit?
The only thing I miss about the fake wood walls is that I didn't have to worry about kids coloring on them, or hitting them with toys, etc. I'm afraid I'm going to be a little obsessive about my new walls.
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