Day 1

We're here! According to the computer it's 1:15am. We moved in the mattress.
We had AWESOME help from two of our friends. They're the best. They jumped at the request for help.

The house is new to me. The Hubby is asleep on the couch in front of the TV. Digital cable never looked so good. No kitchen; but cable, internet and phone are at our beck and call. I love it. I'm typing away in my 'office'/'guest room'. I can't believe how much space we have. I love it. I love it. I love it.

It needs work~I was harassing the Man with, 'what do you want to do first?'. I got 'relax' as an answer. Not a bad idea. I love that I'm typing away from my own office. AHHHHHHH!

We had dinner at a place, of which, I can't remember the name. Tinn..something. I told my gf I wasn't going to remember. Right behind Eastern Market. I can't believe how awesome to this neighborhood is. I'm already falling in love with it.

Everyone has a kid or a dog. Without fail. I wonder if we'll fall susceptible to that. Probably. I'm already asking for a dog, even though I know it's probably not the best time. I think right before we start having kids---that may be the time we settle down and take on the responsibility of a pooch.

I'm in a rambling mood, so I'll probably quit here. Hard, long day that was blissfully smoothed out by spending time with my friends and husband and successfully moving into our first new home. Happy Girl :)

Another Day

This is the way I've made my poor husband feel this week. Sorry, Friend. I'll be better, I promise.

Packed more boxes last night. Had the security doors installed yesterday. Dave said they look good--I did not go to the house. I stayed at the apt. and packed and did laundry.

I can't believe that this is the weekend! We're finally moving into the house. It's been a long two weeks--we've gotten so much accomplished. I'm very proud of us. Novice Contractors teehee. Nothing beginner about ripping up floors and knocking down walls. Or is there? :)

We should have the plumber in this weekend. Once we get moving on the electrician and the plumber we can move forward on sheetrockin' the place and ordering cabinets, etc.

Moving

Well, we've taken it very easy this week. We were supposed to go away this weekend, however, the plans fell through so we get to be here in DC and move at a slower pace. One small carload at a time, we're making our way into our new house. We commented on how full the apartment still looks, but I'm sure things will start to seem less cluttered when we lose some furniture.

Trying to make a decision on the bathroom. Do we totally renovate it? Do we leave it alone and do it later? I'm still trying to figure out what it is we're doing in the kitchen. I don't even know where I'm going to put my Foreman Grill and toaster oven. We have nothing to set them on. Is the electrical work good enough to even hook up that many appliances at one time?!?

OK, I had to add this to today's entry. This has nothing to do with the house, but it's still funny. That's my friend Ryan will Vanilla Ice. Random encounter.

Alright, the house. We had the floors refinished!




They look great. We move in this week. Things are progressing!

A Night Off

I took the night off. No heavy lifting for me yesterday. I had to head out of the city to my brother's house to check on our kittens. He's been watching them since we gave notice on our apartment, but he's taken off on a week's vacation so now it's my turn to watch them---long distance. It's been two weeks since I've seen those little guys. I was pretty happy, and they seemed happy as well.

My better-half did some work in the house. He ended up taking down the 2x4's that were standing b/w the kitchen and the diningroom/library (we're still not sure what to do with that space). I think we'll make a half-height wall b/w the kitchen and that room. It will open the place up.

Tonight we'll move some boxes into the basement and possibly a trip to the Depot. In a weeks time we managed to fill a 10 yard dumpster with debris. I think most of the demolition is over. I think. One can never be too sure.

Glad the week is over. Looking forward to beautiful weather and a Sunday afternoon party with friends. Yes, two days off this week. :)

Wood Floors

Yesterday, I went to the house to let the refinishers in to sand, polish and do whatever it is they do to the upstairs floors. My job was to paint the basement beams. Next thing I know, I'm ripping up 4 layers of lamanet flooring to reveal BEAUTIFUL 100 year old pine floors. It was quite exciting. I can't wait to see them refinished.

My parents came by to see the place for the first time. Dad stayed and helped me do lots of the labor---then told me I didn't save much money by doing it myself. lol--typical Nichole/Dad conversation. "Thanks, DAD. I didn't need to hear that!" "Well kid, I'm right here next to you---if you're jumpin' in, I'm with you all the way" The Mother came back a few hours later to do some work as well. My husband and I are lucky b/c we have two sets of very supportive parents.

I did negotiate a wood floor deal which I was pretty proud of. My GC skills are getting better everyday. Except that I let an electrician come in and freak me out about things that needed to be done. My better half was able to calm me down--but all I managed to do was irriate him with my madness. Trying to find balance...

So yesterday's progress was good. The beams didn't get painted, but I think it's probably lower on our 'to-do' list. I don't know if I can handle a night there this evening. I need a night off.

It's Tuesday. I'm exhausted. haha---too early in the process to be tired! We ripped down the last wall in the kitchen. Some beams need to be replaced and now we're just 'thinking' about how to do it. I've got an idea---let's call a carpenter and have this ish taken care of ASAP.

Didn't get to the bathroom. that will be today. I think I'll be showering at the gym for awhile.

Nichole projects for the week--painting the beams in the basement. I have no idea why painting is such a difficult job for me--it's probably because I'm a moron. It's so SIMPLE. Why can't I keep paint on the brush and walls and out of my face and hair? It's a question I'll ponder. I'll get back to you with an answer

The Right Tools for the Job

Well, it was out first full weekend of work on the house. My hubby was awesome and let me sleep in on Saturday morning. I showed up around 10, grabbed us lunch and proceeded to fill the dumpster. Of course it rained all weekend. Not to worry! I made my maiden solo voyage to The Depot. I bought a shopvac and a tarp. We were in business for cleaning demolition debris.

Last night we did run into our first 'hmmm' problem. He started ripping down the ceiling in the living room only to find stuff we didn't' exactly know how to deal with. Remember---we don't do this for a living; we just think we do. So problems that come up, and I'm positive, have an easy solution, we have no idea how to deal with. But, we're smart---we'll figure it out. Anybody have suggestions for cool ceiling solutions?

We ripped the cabinet that housed the sink and garbage disposal. You'd think this would be a 10 minute job. Nope. It took a little longer than expected b/c there was electrical (SCARY TO ME) and then there was plumbing---AND an old metal cabinet that didn't seem to want to give up it's place in the kitchen. If only we had the RIGHT tool for the job, it would have come out with a little less elbow grease. I'm so proud of my husband though-he made it work with a pair of diagonal pliers and a sledge hammer. Brut force and ignorance, as my high school calculus teacher used to say---sometimes that's what you have to use to get the job done.

I spent most of this weekend hauling 2x4's to the basement and plaster and drywall into the dumpster. OH--and I got to use the shopvac. I think that's my favorite tool from the weekend.

Today, we're demoing the bathroom.
I'll post some pictures of the demo soon!

Settlement Day

After many months of intense searching, my dear husband and I finally found our home. A perfect row house in Washington, DC. When I say 'perfect' I mean perfect for us. It's a place that needed a tremendous amount of TLC. We wouldn't have wanted it any other way. It's old, it smells like moth balls, there's no dishwasher. There are plaster walls with such bad patch jobs that it looks as though the wall may give birth---I kid you not, a wall in bedroom #2 has a belly. None of this scared us. We have the vision! We know what possibilities this place possesses! And...it was in our price range.

So settlement day finally came--it was this past Monday. This is our first house, so our first time at the settlement table. There were 8 people in the room and only two of us were signing papers. It wasn't as bad as 'they' say- in and out within an hour. Back to the house to change locks. Our first project; we couldn't wait to get started.
4 hours later, we had successfully changed three locks!

Every night after work we head to the house to do a little more. I've become very skilled with a pry bar, a cordless drill, and a sledge hammer. I highly recommend that all those who deal with frustration at the office head to Home Depot and get a sledge hammer, go home, and start banging stuff up! Demolition is great, it's the renovation part that takes a little more skill.

I plan on using this blog as my online journal; a way to chronicle these stories so that one day, (6-10 months from now) if there are still holes in the walls and unfinished plaster patches, I can remember how exciting it was in the beginning. I can't wait to see what we create.