We are so close to being finished with the downstairs den that I can’t hardly stand it. The only things left to be completed before we can start moving in some furniture are painting doors, tiling the fireplace, finishing touches on the mantel, and carpet. Going our current pace, we should be in there sometime before June. I’m just kidding, but I am sitting here while my children sleep in front of the computer posting pictures of the project instead of downstairs working on the project. Maybe that’s why the end of our home renovation projects always seem to drag on into eternity.
Anyway, here are some updated pictures to show how far we’ve come:
Painting the walls. Yes, that's Edie over there in the closet. Working on this room has been a family affair. We even had Roarkie do the electrical.
She actually thought this was fun...to be four again.
Ken built the mantel and shelves himself. Now that I know he has this skill, his "honey do" list just got a lot longer.
It's current state. You would not believe the amount of caulk used in the making of this picture.
Again, what it looks like at the present. I'm so excited about my built-in shelves that I've already started decorating them. Over the fireplace is the spot for the TV, and all over the place will be speakers. When it's all finished, we'll have you over to watch a movie!
About a month ago Ken started working on renovating our downstairs den, and I’m tickled pink. Up until now, it’s just been a room with no real purpose besides storing baby swings and car seats that aren’t being used at the time. As a result of this project, my house is covered in sheet rock dust, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. I have always wanted a fireplace in my house, and Ken is building the mantel for it as I type this. Is there anything my sweet husband can’t do? I have yet to find something that makes the list.
The first two pictures were taken several years ago before we moved in the house. Up until now, most of our renovating projects have been on the outside (new siding, new deck, new doors & windows) with the exception of painting the interior. When we bought the house we knew it was a fixer upper, but we got a great deal on it and it’s in a perfect location. It had all the makings of what we were looking for–three bedrooms, several baths, big back yard, a fireplace, and a room for my sewing. It just needed some TLC (and I don’t mean The Learning Channel).
Check out that fireplace mantel? Every girl’s dream…well, every girl in the late 1970’s that is! We took the carpet out as soon as we moved in due to the smell. Like I said before, we really have not used this room since we moved in and instead have used the living room upstairs for all our den needs.
These next pictures were taken last week. Ken ripped out all the old fireplace and has added eight overhead lights (to help it feel less like a dungeon). I know it sounds silly when you are looking at exposed studs, but just getting that fake stone out of there made the room feel so much cleaner.
And these last two pictures were taken yesterday with new sheet rock on the ceiling and walls. And you can see the makings of the new fireplace. The box for the fireplace arrived last Wednesday, our wedding anniversary, and I told Ken that nine years must be the firebox anniversary. It was for us anyway, and what a great gift! Who knows? We might have a working chimney for old Saint Nick this year!
