Framing

Step 4: Measure your top and bottom plates (green board--treated wood so it doesn't soak up moisture from the concrete) and cut to size. Next, mark each every 16" so you know where to place each stud (on center).

Line up a stud on each 16" marking between the top and bottom plates. For the basement, we also had to measure how long to cut the studs by finding the lowest point along our wall/ceiling. Upstairs, we kept all the studs the same length.

Use your nail gun to nail each stud into place.

Clean where your wall will go and place glue onto the concrete to make extra secure. Lift the nailed wall into place--remember your chalk-lines? Line up the green board along your chalk line. Use a nail-set (basically a small gun that shoots the nail into the concrete) to secure the green board into the concrete. Use a level to make sure plumb and level with existing walls and/or ceiling.

Basement Update

I'd like to do some more step-by-step updates on the basement, but I've been so swamped that I haven't gotten around to it and I'd like to post some kind of update. I'll hopefully get to this with actual photos within the next few days/weeks.

We are on track to meet our "finish the basement before Christmas" deadline. Our sheetrock mudding and texturing got finished yesterday. Our doors and trim were delivered today. And tonight we plan to tile around the fireplace. The doors and trim came many hours later than we hoped, so we'll likely spend tomorrow installing them (instead of husband doing it today during his day off). We were hoping instead to rent a paint sprayer to spray all the trim, doors, and ceilings. I wonder if that is still realistic? Probably not because I still have to paint prep. :(

Next week we'll be painting the walls with color. We've decided on a light blue; who knows for the bedrooms and the bathroom, though. It is hard to make color decisions, especially when you don't know what you plan to do with the decorating scheme yet! Volunteers are certainly welcome.

Next Friday the carpet is coming. After that we'll simply have to put the vent covers and light fixtures in. Oh, and get a mantle for the fireplace, tile the bathroom, install the toilet and find a vanity for the bathroom.

I can't wait!

Chalk Lines

Step 3: use a tape measure and chalk line where your walls will go (use your plans/blueprints). Our chalk seemed to get dumped out so we have a great big red mess--be careful that the chalk doesn't get tracked upstairs--it can be permanent or semi-permanent!

By the way, framing before plumbers come is way easier! We have a few big pipes that we are having to problem solve some solutions to work around. We also decided last minute that we might as well add a fireplace in the corner (gas). Better to do it now than have to rip things out. If you have any clever ideas of how to work around this pipe, let me know!

Bathroom/bedroom closet wall (with tub box on top).

Prepping for more framing

Step 2 on the basement project: take down all the insulation so we can build the walls. Wow was there a lot of insulation. Reminder: insulation is not comfortable near your nose, eyes, or skin! After we are done framing we will have to cut the insulation into strips and place it between each stud.

Back to Construction

We planned from the beginning to finish our basement as soon as we could. After taking a longer break than we anticipated and finishing projects outside, we finally got started. Step number one was to finish the HVAC, which husband and dad-in-law were able to successfully complete themselves. It turned out great and I even helped fill in the gaps so no air leaked. I am simply amazing! And hurray for DIY projects that save money!

Mystery

What do people do with the space above their kitchen cabinets? It looks so plain and dull, but I also do not want to make it look cluttery, either. I bought a few vases that coordinated perfectly with my color scheme for a few bucks each at Thai Pan and threw them above my fridge. But now what?

Oh, and what about plant shelves? I only have ideas for Christmas decorations--garland and statues of Santa, maybe?

Plates

I knew all along I wanted to put a plate rack in the kitchen, but didn't know what plates to use. I acquired the retro apple pie plate from Russell's grandmother, made use of a Christmas gift card previously unused to Thai Pan where I picked up the rack and the blue plate, and found the yellow at Wal-mart. I like how all of the plates have the tan/brown complement.

This is how much I love you all--posting a terrible photo of myself because I am sure you are all dying to know how big my belly has become. Maybe my excuse is with all of this decorating and sewing I am worn out--look how tired I look! This is me and baby at 23 weeks.

Painting

I went back and forth about hanging this painting in the kitchen. It just doesn't seem like anyone ever has a large painting in their kitchen, but after deciding on my curtains, I thought it coordinated too well. Plus, it matches my cabinets and I didn't know where else to put it and I really like it (or maybe that it IS so big).

Husband did a great job hanging it for me. It was challenging because the studs were not centered (obviously) but I think it looks pretty good. The frame got a little scraped up in the move, so I need to either use some leftover stain from the table or a wood marker to touch up the scrapes.

Kitchen Curtains

I need to get sewing again--I have to finish my nursery set. But, I was determined to finish the curtains I planned to make in the kitchen first. I needed some inspiration to know what color scene to commit to for the rest of the decor and I figured fabrics were a great place to start.

I was originally going to go with some pinks to compliment my green paint (I was surprised at this plan myself as I'm not really THAT into pink). But, we came across some tasteful designs with a different scheme. Husband ended up consulting me and we ended up with some fabrics I absolutely love! I am happy that I managed to match stripes with a pattern--that's usually totally out of my comprehension (or maybe husband did the matching!).

I couldn't decide between just loops or knots. I couldn't commit so I went with both.

I didn't originally plan to make the laundry room valence, but had extra fabric and decided to go for it. I like how it coordinates, but has more stripes than the rest of the kitchen to add a little contrast. I totally made up this pattern myself by observing features from a few store bought curtains and valences I already have. I have plans to get blinds soon. After I made these curtains, I decided to surprise husband and hang them myself. I was a little apprehensive but figured I built almost entire houses, I could manage. Not so. I ended up making a useless hole because I forgot about the metal around the window. Plus, when husband hung them for me, he followed my lines which we decided I placed too low. Oh well!

By the way, what do you think of the golden naked baby? I got it as a hand-me-down and swore I'd trash it, but maybe it's retro enough to get away with? At least for a laundry room?

I know most people make these door curtains out of sheer, but I wanted to add a little color. Both the tie back thing and the actual curtain are reversible so I can change to stripes if I need a change. I like how it still lets in some light but offers more privacy. BTW, I started to follow a pattern on this from the web, but ended up with my own creation. And the curtain rods are magnetic. Totally cool!

Window shade for the kitchen window over the sink. As you can see, it is adjustable. It works well for me, but husband has requested I add more buttons so he can see out the window better. Hmm. . . I guess I am a little ego-centric and didn't even think of that when I made it!

Halloween

Apparently my dog goes CRAZY for pumpkins. Weird. He couldn't get enough of the scraps--made for easier clean-up!

The great thing about being part of your own construction is the left-over tools. We used some painters plastic to keep the kitchen clean. Plus, a nail and utility knife came in handy for husband's design (below).

Husband's masterpiece. I was very impressed, especially because most pumpkin sculptures use special tools. Husband was limited to a steak knife, potato peeler (which broke), nail, and utility knife. Not too bad!

I was careful to plan my own pumpkin so the hanging man had enough support but accidentally bumped it afterward and he fell down. Luckily husband is very crafty and we strung him back up with a proper noose (sewing thread).

I've never been much into decorating for holidays. I think I am 1) too lazy, 2) too cheap, and 3) lack the decorating sense for regular decor, let alone keeping up with the seasons. My other excuse has been that up to this point, I didn't have a house to put the decorations in.

I did find myself, however, a little disappointed that I didn't have a single Halloween decoration. So I made my husband buy me a pumpkin--the night before Halloween. I was impressed with the ones we found--apparently the only pumpkins left at the store were monsters or teeny tiny. We went with the monsters.

I also tried to get batting to make spider webs outside and husband found a blacklight for the porch. Unfortunately, I unknowingly bought the wrong kind of batting and it simply pulled apart into fuzzy clumps instead of becoming stringy like webs. For indoors, I got a $2 ghost tealight holder. I know, I really went all out. We had some guests over for dinner and I bought an orange ghost plastic table cloth, some candy pumpkins and a few rubber mice (husband contributed a few mouse traps for effect).

I have decided that I can handle a tasteful wreath for each season. I am counting on finding a discount one after the season is over. Maybe next year I'll be ready.

Time to finally get to the nursery!

This is my little gummy bear--I mean, baby, at 9 weeks. I am now about 13.5 weeks and looking forward to the "golden trimester." I am optimistic the morning sickness and fatigue will be subsiding soon.

Just in time for me to resume sewing my nursery set (it was definitely put on the backburner while we built our home). I began sewing a yellow and blue nursery set probably 2 years ago as a hobby. Boy am I glad I started it early--being pregnant is tiring and I am glad I don't have to stress out about finishing a whole set by myself. I am excited to start sewing again. I hope I'll have enough time and motivation to also make some additional baby accessories--clothes, burp cloths, blankets, toys.

I plan to paint--or rather, have the nursery painted by someone else, yellow. I am semi-motivated to do it myself, but keep hearing insistent pleas from others that I will damage the baby with the toxic fumes. I wonder if that means I shouldn't clean the bathroom, either. ;)

My in-laws are generously providing us with a crib--once we pick one out. I found a cute one I liked, but I guess it was cheaply made with fake wood. The idea of getting a nice crib is that it will be an heirloom. Anyone know of any cribs with style that are also durable and high-quality (solid wood)?

I also know a nice chair is an absolute MUST-HAVE. I'll have to keep my eyes open.

Work Bench

Our garage has been a disaster since we moved in. Ingeniously, or maybe foolishly, we decided to load all of our belongings into the garage and box by box unpack and place everything in its place. It is taking significantly longer than I anticipated and I must admit I am losing steam. Where does all that junk come from and if it truly is junk, why can't I stand to part from it?

As soon as I heard my in-laws were renovating their kitchen several months ago, I knew I wanted the old cabinets. They graciously saved them for us until our home was complete and I just convinced my husband to finally put them up. At first he didn't see the vision, but the following is what he ended up coming up with.

Pretty cool work bench and storage area, huh? I definitely wouldn't have thought of doing this and I am very impressed with the way it turned out. I am grateful for the extra (hidden) storage space and like to see that every tool has its place. My husband really did a great job.

The best part, this entire project cost less than $40.

Cabinets: free

Counter-top: $3--old solid wood door cut down to size

Peg board: $15

Peg board accessories: $20

I like this alternative much more than the $350 workbenches my husband has been drooling over.

Open House

Found some photos from our open house.




This is my house on a cake. Funny!

View from the front

This is our view from the front of our home. We live right by a turf farm and several fields, which are very pretty. Word is an elementary school will be going in soon.

Notice the pheasant (a rooster) in the middle of the field.

Notice how exciting a hunting dog gets when he lives so close to a field--especially one full of pheasants.

Summer Pre-requisite

A grill has been on my summer wishlist for several years. I am pleased to have a backyard (or a skeleton of one) to house one. Bring on the BBQs or cook-outs (if you are in NC).

What a mess!

I've dreamed of having an Ikea closet system for several years now. I have decided to compromise, however, with a solution to deal with this obnoxious problem:

It just seems like everything I've tried either malfunctions, doesn't seem to save much space, or doesn't hold many shoes.

That's why this is all I want from Ikea, probably multiplied by 3 or 4.

Stairway

Painting the stairway was by far the hardest part of the house. It took me probably 6 hours just to paint the stairway and several hours longer for a few of us to paint the rest of the living room. I left the shadow boxes white. By the way, I have absolutely no idea what to put in them. I know I need a family photo to go in the arched one. Any ideas?

Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us borrow the Little Giant ladder. I don't know how we could've gotten up there without it. In fact, there's one spot we had to leave white because just couldn't reach. I don't think anyone but us will notice, though.

Fish

My sister gave me a fish for my birthday. I was really impressed with how beautiful she was able to put the little bowl together. I think it is very elegant and classy. And I've never seen a yellow one like this. I still have to think of a name for him.

Before (side yard and backyard)

We have to hire someone to grade and level our back and side yards so we can put in a fence. Here is what it originally looks like. I can't wait to get a backyard!!