House Remodel Edition 7: Moving Out, Moving In

It's hard to believe that I'm actually writing this post from our own house, where there is not a single temporarily wall up, and the appearance of "ram board" and blue painter's tape doesn't completely dominate the scene. The last two weeks have been a flurry of activity - paint, concrete-pouring, deck building, insulation and door installation - though we haven't actually been around to witness it.

Thanks to our amazing friends (A, B & C!), we were adopted while our house was unlivable and as a result, were able to have a stable and calm home base right in our neighborhood. This was a far cry from what had been the norm the last few months! Not only did our friends take us in immediately after returning from a long holiday trip, but they also have a young baby and a three-year old at home. We had fun living in the Big House, taking turns cooking family meals, bathing the little ones in a big tub, dressing up, and playing trains, cranes, Frozen and whatever else the kids dreamed up. There were moments of chaos and emotions running high, as expected, but overall I think everyone transitioned well to the new scenario. I say it again: We have amazing friends. Thanks guys! We will look back and forever smile at moments like these:

Though we are back at home, there are still a lot of projects in the pipeline. Hardwood floors, molding and window trim, bathroom tiling & plumbing, deck building and some more painting are yet to come, so our finish line is still in the distance. But it IS really nice to see a fresh coat of paint everywhere and to see how the new spaces fit in with the rest of the house. We had fun imprinting our hands and initials into the fresh patio concrete, and the kids rode their bikes on the patio the very next day. It's fun to imagine the future moments we'll enjoy in that covered outdoor space. 

As I write this seventh update on our house remodel, I realize that it's hard to really give an accurate picture of what it's like to go through an addition/remodel. This blog gives a general sense, but there are so many more logistics, details and issues that have to get sorted out on a daily basis - and I know those would be way too boring for a blog. All in all though, our experience seems to be pretty much on par with what the books say, and so far we feel we made a good choice in choosing our general contractor - I think they can make or break a project. Hopefully we can say the same thing at the end of all of this, once the last bill is paid! Until then we just keep on, keepin' on.  

Here are lots more photos of the construction progress:

Remodel Month 5
Remodel Month 4

Remodel Month 3

Remodel Month 2

Remodel Month 1