Home Improvements: before and afters

Here they are...Before and Afters. (Remember, the before shots were taken with a film camera and then scanned. I'm not great with the computer stuff, so the scanned shots are not very good as far as color representation, exposure, and that sort of thing.)

Bathroom

Before: '70's yellow, huge cabinet sink, '80's light fixture, and awkward metal shelf.
And, After: soothing blues and browns, new floor (I actually can't remember the original floor tiles), pedestal sink, and crisp white tiles.

Kitchen:

Before: peel 'n' stick floor tiles to cover unfinished drywall and generic grey floor tiles (not in the picture), plus a fridge that is just too big for the tiny space.

And, after: More blue (after I finished the drywall), floor tiles that bring out the blue in the walls, compliment the not attractive cabinets (replacing the hardware is still on my list), and a new fridge that brings out the grey in the floor (this was a necessity after the old one broke).

Bedroom:

Before: No ceiling fixture, and terrible flowery wallpaper. I hope I never have to take down wallpaper again...what a chore! Oh, and the previous owner left his metal mauve window blinds for us.

And, After: Lovely shade of greens, bamboo shades and I also used bamboo garden posts as trim around the ceiling, we had a fun ceiling fan/lights installed. Forgive the messy room, though, we spend little time in this room and tend to disregard it.

Our 'spare room' which became Hubby's studio:

Before: More wallpaper! THREE layers to be exact! We took down the flowery stuff to expose some stripy stuff, to expose some circus characters. The last layer has some plaster patching OVER it. A huge light fixture hung way too low. Our ceilings are fairly low, and this fixture should've been in a dining room, maybe...over a table.

And, after: Hubby painted in shades of blue and grey and made it his own creative space. At least most of the house has nice hardwood floors. No carpets to tear up.

We also had some issues with the yard...

A new septic had to be dug, so we were left with a less than attractive yard. I'm not sure what the yard looked like before being dug up, though, since it was February when we looked at the house and everything was covered in snow. We did know we'd have that terrible plywood shed to take care of eventually, though. It basically became a home for squirrels after they chewed through most of the walls within a couple years.

So, we got a new shed...
And, we had some grass put in most of the yard.

Last year we started planted flowers near my garden beds and Hubby's working at laying slate in his rock path. I am anxious to see what comes up this spring.

Home Improvement: Day 2

Though I'm sure Hubby would rather I hadn't, I started painting this morning. It was almost 9 a.m. so I thought that was late enough. To be honest, I didn't remember painting being such a loud task. He's still in bed, anyway, so it couldn't have been that loud, right? I just get so excited to have something to do, and even more so when it elevates our tolerance for this house.

Don't get me wrong, this house isn't the crap-shack I oft claim it to be. It's just hard to deal with the inflated housing prices in this area. When I look back at our options when we were buying, it makes my head spin. We looked at houses that had missing windows/doors; houses with holes in walls from renters or other domestic issues; and houses with living rooms the size of standard bathrooms. And these were still around $220,000!! We had no choice but to pay more for a house that wasn't exactly falling apart. So we got this beauty...with just minor issues. Cosmetic mostly, but in every room. And that is why I'm still chipping away at projects. I was also fortunate in meeting tradesmen in my coffee shop job and have gotten some deals on electricians and such.

Oh, the painting...

Here's the wall after the spackle, sanding (still not super smooth, but much better), and a layer of primer.

And after the first layer of paint.

Here's a close up of the comparison of the paint against the white. It's not really as 'institution green' as it looks in the picture. The lighting in the basement isn't great.

Don't forget, this was the starting point!

Home Improvement: Day 1

Well, actually...

as I said before, Hubby and I have done a lot of work on our house in the (almost) 6 years we've had it. I am still working on 'before and after' shots of what we've done already, but since we didn't have a digital camera until just last year, I have to track down, scan, and then post the before pictures.

Anyway...

I had the whole day off to myself today. After morning coffee with Hubby before he drove off to work, I took a trip into town to get some spackle for the basement wall. It's just a small wall, so I took a chance and got just one can. Besides, I had said that we still have plenty of 'free' projects to do around the house, and then immediately had to go out and spend money. I figure $10 for a home improvement project is pretty damn good, though! And, it was only that 'expensive' because I bought a new paint roller (couldn't remember, but we DID already have a new one), and a tray liner (which we also already had).

I've never used spackle before. In fact, I almost just bought drywall joint compound because it comes in a big bucket, even when you buy the smaller bucket, and I figured I'd be sure to have enough. But then I figured it's best to do the job right. I always make fun of Hubby for using a paring knife to cut bread and say, 'a job is easiest when you use the right tools'...so I took my own advice. It made me want cake when I opened it though. To me, it looked like a can of delicious frosting!

I used the entire can. (I finished to whole wall and realized there was a smaller portion of wall facing the main wall. I mean, I knew it was there, but didn't realize it was textured. It was smaller and not as pitted as the larger wall, so I used up what I had to fill in the major flaws, figuring I could sand away the rest. Also, it's not as visible and with paint it may not be noticeable to potential buyers.)

So here's a close up of the textured 'pitted' look.

And what I started with...like something out of some horror movie involving an abandoned building, I know!

After a layer of spackle, it looks better (trust me), but now it's ready to be primed and painted.
Now the color? I have about 8 or so cans of paint in my basement from our original re-do's. Since it's basically the wall at the end of a hallway, at the bottom of a flight of stairs, I'm thinking a light neutral. My 'gym' room is a very pale green hue called Chardonnay. But I also have a slightly darker color but along the same lines called Chatham Green, which is what we used in our bedroom. Oh, and then there's a really light blue that Hubby used for his studio...I'll probably go with the Chardonnay, even though it is the same color used in the room if you were to go through the door in the picture above. It's a basement, though...would anyone even notice? Would that be a bad choice? Should I just go with white since I'm going to have to repaint the whole stairwell, eventually, too? Oh, my...it's just paint for the basement!!

And, yes, I did wear a mask and goggles when I sanded the wall! Though, I'm not sure why my mask is all sunken in and looking like a duck bill!

So after that, I got all the dust out of my hair and sat down to study for a bit. And now...I'm enjoying sitting still while I blog a little before moving on to the oh, so exciting task of paying bills.

I wanted to start painting tonight, but I am not sure. I have to be at work at 5:30am tomorrow, and so will be out by noon so that will give me a good portion of tomorrow to continue my work downstairs.

Stay tuned for the next chapter of 'Boring Things Old People Do On Their Days Home From Work'!

projects and purchases

First off, I finally had an okay day at my new job last night. I was allowed to train on the register because the predicted snow storm was keeping most people away from shopping. I was also giving the 'helmsing' duty for an hour...I walk around the store helping customers and telling the other people putting product out what needs to be done. A strange job for someone only on their 5th shift. Their weren't many customers to help, and the slow day made for a fairly clean store and not much to report. I was also, apparently, given a task that was deemed a 'surprise' to one of my co-workers: pulling product. Look at a pile of boxes, see what needs to be put out, put product out. Yeah...advanced stuff, indeed. I guess once I'm there awhile, people will stop treating me like a newborn. I've said it before, I'm sure: it's a grocery store...not f*ing brain surgery!

Anyway...

I found a cute hat on etsy last week and have been thinking about it since. And then the proprietors contacted me about some book pages (long story...). And then I looked at the hat again, and decided that it really would look cute on me and for $9 I would be silly not to buy it.

So I did: I blocked out her face, though now it seems silly since she had posted it on etsy already...whatever. Isn't it adorable, though!!?

And I started my basement project yesterday morning before work. It turns out to be a bit more labor intensive than I had originally anticipated. I was just going to sand the walls smooth, then paint. But once I got the sander and started the job, I found that the wall is not just textured but also 'pitted'. Sanding will make it smoother and fix the patch job a bit, but it won't fill in the millions of speckly holes. So, the new plan is to get some spackle or something to fill in the holes, then sand, then paint. Which means, my 'zero dollar fix up' will now be the cost of a bucket of spackle. At least it's basically just the one small wall. And, 'yes', that is what we've been living with for almost 6 years! You can guess how often we are 'hanging out' in the basement!

I have some pictures I took of the improvements we've done to the bath and kitchen, but I have to find and scan the old ones for comparison...that may never actually happen.

And lastly, I have this ridiculous picture of my Moxie. She, for whatever reason, fell asleep while refusing to lay her head down. It's just short of sleeping while standing!

House vs. Home

Everybody knows I'm waiting for spring to start a classic car restoration with my sister.
In the meantime, it's all I talk about. (I will be blogging about it as it happens, but am blogging now just randomly to keep it bobbing around the blog-o-sphere...http://www.barracudadiaries.blogspot.com/)

Now, get ready for something new...but not exciting or probably even interesting. I started this blog as a way to promote my Etsy shop, but it's really just become a place for me to hang out, get stuff off my chest, and a way to kill time when it's not enough time for more intense tasks. Pardon me while I also construct ridiculously awful sentences.

I am also taking an online course in Veterinary Assisting. It's basically a course explaining a lot of what I see happening at work, as I aid mostly by restraining cats and dogs during exams, shots, ear cleaning, etc. It's helping me get a better idea of what happens after the blood and urine samples are taken...fascinating! I'm also doing a little independent study of the basic anatomy and inner workings of animals by studying a veterinary terminology textbook. This one's more intense as it's basically like ready a biology text for fun. Which it is...fun, I mean...but also not a quick read.

But I'm looking for more. And I think I realized what that is. We've been doing minor repairs on our house since we moved in. We have done quite a bit to make our house a lovely home that Hubby is finally happy to live in. So that's my cue to want to move. But do I want to move? Or, is it just that when I go to work and look at pictures of a co-workers home improvements it makes me want that again. Those little things to spruce up your house to make it your home...not just that major purchase you made 6 years earlier when you had to move out of your apartment?
There are a lot of things I'd like to change about our house that only moving could remedy. Well, actually, our neighbors moving would fix one problem (the loud neighbors). But we have always had intentions of moving into a house within walking distance to town, coffee, and beach.
We looked at a house yesterday with all of those qualities. And, by Cape Cod real estate standards, it was cheap. But it needs a lot of work, so I got that giddy 'moving in and tearing the place apart' high and wanted to buy it.
Then, we had two days to think about it. And typical of our hashing things out...we flip-flop as we discuss it, each of us seeming to be on opposite sides every time. Or, we're both leaning one way, but then talk ourselves back the other...it's terrible.
The house would be a great little fixer-upper for someone with a little more financial security...or, someone without a dog and in need of a fenced in yard. Yes, I know, fences can be put in, but this yard is an utter mess and it wouldn't be a quick fix.
So, after the last two days of wanting to buy a new house for (mostly) the wrong reasons, it dawned on me: if all I really want are some home improvement projects to keep me busy til spring, all I need to do is get out my list! If Hubby is happy here with all the sweat equity we've already put in, then I'm happy to keep on fixin' her up. It would be silly to move to a house close to a busy road where he'll get annoyed and the dog will never not be on edge due to the traffic noise, just so I am not bothered by neighbors who are less than courteous at times.
But just when we think we've talked ourselves out of it, we seem to reel ourselves back into the discussion. The main thing is that it is a cheaper house so we could lower our mortgage, so I guess we will look into re-financing first. Our house will be tough to sell and I just don't want to dig ourselves a big ol' deep hole.

So 'the point?', you ask...I've decided to start some projects around the house. Starting with a big 'spring' clean of the basement and attic to get ready for a yard sale this spring/summer. That will clear out the basement for the scrubbing of the century. Some sanding and painting. Then, new floors in the 'mudroom' (our multi-purpose room that has never served a purpose) and possible floors in the finished rooms in the basement. I'm actually excited to start.
It won't be as exciting for you...but I will try to post before and afters.

people

I try to keep my blog somewhat light-hearted. The occasional personal 'oh, whoa is me' post is the exception. And I try not to get too personal or political or opinionated.
But today, I was scanning the TV channels (I've been in bed all day -sick- and wanted to ease myself back into the world of the living) when I saw Tyra Banks was having a show about how people can be judgemental. I could only watch enough to see these four 20-30 somethings saying they thought a woman with a blue wig, short 'baby doll' dress, Betty Paige tee-shirt, and tall lace up black patent leather boots was a 'devil worshiper', dominatrix, and would probably get their kids hook on drugs if they should be left alone with her. Now I admit to that initial fear of some youths who are covered in their black hoodies, exposing just enough skin for you to know they are all tattooed. But until I actually spoke with someone, or saw them doing something terrible, I would try not to judge them. And if I did, and I was wrong, I would apologize profusely.
But these people just kept saying she should be in the circus. And that she should not have children (which she does). And they kept harping on her blue hair. And maybe she should 'take up painting' if she wants to express herself (she said she is a writer). Why can she not wear a blue wig if this makes her happy? How does blue hair have anything to do with anything other than ...well, the color of her hair?!
I couldn't watch any more. I understand that it is hard not to judge at first sight, but we are at a place in time where people express themselves in many ways. And your way of dressing or wearing your hair can be just as plausible a way of expressing yourself artistically as if you were to just draw a picture of it.
I'm basically just writing this post to get out my frustrations.
What makes a judgemental girls pointy-toed, stiletto slouch boots okay, but she is against another for wearing a bulkier black pair of boots? Because big black boots are 'so 1990' and we're back to the slouchy '80's styles?
There is enough judgement in the 'work-a-day' world, why can't we let loose and express ourselves on our own time?
Had I a blue wig, I would wear it right now!

snow, again

Just when I thought it was just going to be cold, and that maybe the snowy season had ended...more snow. Here's why I think it snowed: I was thinking of going to Dad's to clean out the car. Doh!

It's probably a blessing in disguise, though. I started to feel a bit of a sore throat coming on during work Monday. I bought some medicine and have been taking it to try to keep this cold from getting worse. This, too, came at an okay time I suppose since I am not scheduled to work again until Saturday. That gives me several days to get better.
Today I have a lunch meeting for my vet job. And I have a lesson for study, which I have already skimmed. And then I am planning on resting.

I want to take some time to go through the house with a pad of paper and note all chores for each room. What I mean, is: if I were to put my house on the market tomorrow, what eye-sores should be addressed? I have let things pile up. Mostly it is because the weather doesn't really permit me to do what I need to do...like, painting (ventilation) and major clean-up (think yard sale). But, if I have a list ready, when the time comes...like an unseasonably warm day off...then maybe I can cross something off the list before Spring rolls around? Then, of course, there's the matter of all the recyclables and returnables taking over the basement. All they need is a trip into town and that problem is solved...that would require me to get off the computer and stop being lazy (and, right now, sick).
Basically, we bought this house with the assumption that it is our first house and we don't want to stay here. We have a neighborhood in mind where we would like to live, and someday, we'll make it happen. In the meantime, I feel like my stuff is just taking over and I need to think about what it will be like when we move. I don't want a big hassle in the end, if I can streamline now!
But, alas, here I sit, drugged up on cold medicine, waiting to go to a meeting I will likely have trouble focusing on.
There's always tomorrow...or Friday...