Day 6: Base Cabinets Install

We worked Saturday night late to get the cabinets installed.  They couldn’t just be screwed into the wall of course.  The side cabinets are 4 1/2 inches shorter so Ryan had to build a base to set them on.

We cut out the carpet from underneath for obvious flooding reasons, and to make it all perfectly level.  Ryan is a perfectionist!

Ryan got the cabinets attached to the wall and to each other.  While he was doing that Rett was enjoying some more empty cupboards.

While Ryan attached the cupboards I put on the knobs.  They are a brushed bronze, I really like them, especially the pulls.  And Rett continued to peek a boo.

We got the counter tops attached and it looks great! 

We ran out of time so I still have knobs and pulls to attach, toe kick to install and the feet. 

We will put up bookshelves on each side of the center piece once I find some I like, or we may have to build some.  It is looking ready for the big screen!

Day 5: Sheetrock

Ryan had a day at home and worked and worked!  He got all of the sheetrock put up, it was a long hard day.

I think the mess keeps getting bigger I think!  Hopefully it will get wrapped up soon.

We also picked up the cabinets and just set them into place so I could see how they would look.  I am so excited, it is going to look great!

I also got a first coat of stain on the countertops.  It is coming together nicely!

Day 4

Ryan and I got the beam put up all by ourselves.  It was scary for a minute, and he could have called 4 men, but he thought we could do it alone, and we did!  It is so open and nice!

All that hammering didn’t help with the bedtime routine.

 

I want to stain the beam and leave it exposed, Ryan wants to wrap it all in sheetrock.  What would you do?

So next is sheetrock patching, flooring, entertainment center and painting/decorating, that is a long list!

Downstairs Day 3

Ryan and I got the basement electrical all wired.  It included 6 new lights, so three in the living room instead of just the one.  It is much brighter.  We didn’t put the covers on because Ryan wanted all matching light bulbs and I haven’t been to the store.  But they are up and working!      

The other three lights were in the hall, under the stairs, and in Emma’s room.  I am excited for the progress!

Downstairs Day 2

Ryan made good progress downstairs. 

He called me and told me he removed the old wall with out building a brace wall.  He said the upstairs sank down into the basement about six inches!  I said you are kidding me, he said yes.  Stinker, scared me to death!

So he REALLY got the brace wall put up FIRST so he could take down the original studs and load bearing beam, so the upstairs is firmly supported right now.  Hopefully… 

He bought a really cool scraper tool that goes on his saw.  It scraped off a ton of old carpet pad, and other rough spots on the concrete.  I think we are leaning towards staining the concrete floors since we flood every single summer.

Hopefully once we get a deck on around the entire house then I wont flood and we can have carpet again.  We still are not totally sold on the concrete though, it would be cold and a lot of work to polish up these 30 year old floors. 

Next step is to wire in the new lights and then install the new beam which will be here tomorrow.  Ryan isn’t able to work on it today.  Hopefully he will have another day soon.

Country Livn Creates…

Mr. Country Livn is currently creating a mess of our downstairs.  I am hoping we know what we are getting ourselves into!  Here are some before pictures of the basement and “the wall” 

We are hoping to get a more open and inviting room down here.  Then maybe we will actually use the space for more than toyland.

Day 1 progress;

Ryan and a couple of his guys got it taken down really quick.  They even vacuumed it afterward, pretty nice!

I am pretty sure the temperature increased 5 degrees down here.  I’m not sure if it really did but I feel like it is warmer, I hope so.  We have to reposition one light switch and put in a beam to stretch across 17 feet.  I hope the upstairs doesn’t cave in!  I’m sure Ryan knows what he is doing….  We only currently have one light down here also, so while we are into the ceiling we will install at least two more lights.  That will really help brighten it all up.