happy birthday

I know so many people with birthdays in September that I decided to dedicate this post to them with a picture of a really cool “cake”.

Happy Birthday friends. 

via table tonic

reno update again

Couple more pics for the readers out there and lessons learned this week in project: renovate my condo:

• Skilled trades are invaluable to the success of a project’s timeline.
• Punctual trades are a rarity.
• It can be challenging to work with family.
• Plumbers will cost you more than the original quote.
• You can test what kind of paint is on a wall with some acetone nail polish remover.  If it comes off, it’s latex, if it doesn’t come off the previous owner painted the wall with oil based paint.
• Sometimes forking out cash for trash removal makes everyone happier and less stressed out.
• Thanking neighbours is important especially when you are making a lot of dust and noise.
• Not all microwaves are created equal! (ours is being returned even though it was the smallest)

This past week, the counter top was measured, three quarters of the plumbing was completed, all the debris was cleared including old appliances (minus a fridge i’m still trying to sell), kitchen cabinets were installed, fronts put on, floor grout done and mudded and sanded the walls.   This week, the tiling begins as well as the painting.  Should be exciting.   We have tentatively booked an October 9th move in date.  I think we can make it!  I have total faith in our painting skills.

kitchen updated with cabinet doors/flooring

Looking into kitchen from living room

Hallway

Bedroom

Powder room

reno update 3

Renos are slowly progressing.  Underestimated on the time it would take to complete everything.

We finally got a plumber in and he worked on four different things in the apartment including fixing the plumbing in the kitchen because we changed the order of our sink and dishwasher, working on the shower stall, the bathtub and the masterbath vanity.  We have returned our bathtub faucet for a second time and hope we get it right on the third time.  Because we chose a tub with a four inch lip, we kept selecting hardware that would not clear the lip/ledge.  Also, started laying down kitchen tile only to realize that halfway through, the tiles were slightly different which resulted in lifting everything back up, driving back to the tile place and purchasing new tiles.  They were good enough to take back what we had not used and split the difference. 

This week, the kitchen was installed, the floor re-laid, the walls were mudded (I did some of that!), and we have the counter top person, tiler and hard wood floor guy coming in to give estimates, take measurements and get the job done.   I have also finalized paint that I have to purchase this week and have made my fifth trip in two weeks to Ikea.  I suspect that Ikea has not seen the last of me.  At least I come prepared now with things to keep me occupied while I wait in the exchange line and the pick up line.

Two more weeks I think and that should do it on the new casa.   Here are somore more reno/demo pics.

the tub

the brand new shower stall

the kitchen demolished

Our Ikea cabinets patiently waiting to be hung

words on wood

Love this!

via apartment therapy

reno update 2

We started the kitchen floor today.  Yay we have half a kitchen floor of grey tiles!  Plumbing, kitchen cabinet installation and more flooring this week.  Next week, kitchen backsplash and bathroom tile job.  

Here are some pics:

bathroom vanity

living room with fridge for sale

breakfast bar and post