Countertops Are Here!

You have to say that in the tone of Pauly from the Jersey Shore.

Anyhoo...finally... things are starting to shape up around here. The counter tops were installed in the kitchen and hall bathroom and they look great! We had one minor mishap where I felt like passing out because Thanksgiving is Thursday and I am having a party of 14 but hey, we got the kinks worked out around 9:00pm that night. Thank you to a very kind plumber who has hit it off well with Mr. Lucas and to the nice counter top installation guy that actually answered his phone after hours and came back at 7:40pm to make the sink whole bigger in the bathroom because the sink wouldn't fit. Who knew installations and updates could be so stressful. I didn't...but I have a bit more insight on the topic now.

So, the bathroom is finally (almost) updated, needs a bit more decor. We took down wall paper, painted, added new towels and a shower curtain, then put a new counter top in and vessel sink. Now, in addition to some more decor in here I am going to replace the cabinet knobs. 

I feel some sense of accomplishment now. But more work is yet to be done! 

They installed counter tops in the kitchen and an under mount sink. We had the plumber install a new garbage disposal too because the other one spewed water everywhere when we ran the dishwasher. Ah, the quirks of home ownership. The big kitchen reveal is coming soon!

Cheers!

The Wallpaper Must Go!

Wallpaper. I don't like it. I never really have. I prefer my walls to be left pure. ;) Taking wallpaper down.  I don't like it. I never have and I have never even taken it down before! 

I did some Internet research and watched a few you tube videos so I think that makes me an expert now, right?

The culprit

The weapon

My research findings are that is it much easier to take down wallpaper with a steamer. It is also much easier to take down non-vinyl wallpaper. However, to my dismay, vinyl wallpaper is what I discovered I had.

So with a few choice words after that discovery, I started with steaming the heck out of the walls. When that didn't work, because the steam could not penetrate through the dang vinyl, I began to peel and peel the vinyl paper away. It left the paper backing still on the wall, unfortunately.

Removing wall paper requires beer. 

Once I got all the dang vinyl off the wall I was able to bring out my trusty weapon...the steamer! I steamed the backing and it easily peeled off. I also got a good facial in the process.

Some parts needed a little scraping to get started but once it got started it came off in large pieces, yeeeah!

After I steamed and peeled a million times over it was time to wash the glue off the wall. I used a damp soapy rag...you don't want to saturate the drywall otherwise you may ruin it. I used the rag to wash off all that gunk and soap, it came off pretty easily and then I used a clean dry rag to wipe the walls down. 

Many hours later, clean white wallpaper free walls emerged! 

I am awfully proud of myself if I do say so. Next on my agenda for this bathroom is a fresh coat of paint, a new counter top, and new sink installation! I also need towels and a shower curtain.

Oh...and also on that bathroom update agenda are new light fixtures, did you see that funky fixture a few pics above?? It is just not doing the trick for me.

Cheers!

A Little Help In the Kitchen Please!

First things first. The kitchen. This house has lots of potential but the kitchen and the bathrooms are going to be the biggest task. Why you ask? Well, lets start with the kitchen.

The appliances are, um...vintage...and the countertops, they speak for themselves. The linoleum flooring also needs to be updated. But, I know the people that lived here before loved it the way it is so I certainly want to respect that while at the same time making it my own and er...more updated.

The oven and microwave must have been fancy back it the day. Its one of those combos that attach together. I think one of my friends had a microwave/oven combo in their Barbie Dream House...I remember it being pretty cool.

This is the eat in kitchen area. I love that they kept the beams the origional color and did not pain them. 

One of my main concerns is that the fridge is custom framed and it's small, very small. Much smaller than the mega fridges of today and yep I sure do want one of those mega fridges. They are shiny, have bells and whistles, and fancy bright lights! Shiny things are hard for me to pass up. Fortunately, we have a handy friend that helped knock out the framing and cabinet above to make room for my mega fridge. 

He reframed around the new fridge and then built a wine rack above. Love. It. 

Yes, I do believe I need more wine up there. 

I think he did a mighty fine job. Now, if this mega fridge ever needs any mega servicing, we are in trouble because I don't think there is any way to get it out of the kitchen, it was hard enough to get it in! So, lets hope that mega fridge is built to last a mega lifetime. Next on the kitchen recon mission agenda...floors, countertops, and back splash!

Cheers!