the saga of the half bathroom...

So when you first decide to do your own home renovations yourself you tend to have very high/unrealistic expectations. Like me, for example... I thought we would achieve all our goals and have a fully completed living space after about 2 months. Well folks, I learned the hard way that (just like design) everything takes about 3 times longer than you originally anticipate. or expect Especially when you have jobs and lives and continual distractions in your life. But it's ok... I've resolved myself to the initial shock of living in a 'construction zone' and I've finally come to grips with having a room specifically designated for power tools, paint and wood. =)

Step by step we're getting closer and seeing the improvements is both fun and encouraging. Especially when you can get things done.

The half bathroom project however is a prime example of my unrealistic ideas of how long it takes to do something (and not just do something but do it right and do it well). I posted a blog about a year and a half ago about the tiling work we did ourselves. It was a tough job but we had a lot of fun doing it and we learned a lot. After that point I struggled for a long time with the design of the bathroom and specifically the little corner niche that could be a great storage space. I didn't quite have the right understanding of how we could utilize it to the fullest. I spent a long time trying to design the right solution for this space in my head. I also debated about how much time, money and energy to put into a half bathroom that not a lot of people are going to see (because it's techincally inside our bedroom). So, all of this combined with the fact that we hardly EVER have time for projects of this magnitude anymore plus just wanting to get it done... led us to hire the wonderful David P from Prime Renovation! So, yeah, we sold out and had someone do it for us! ...I know... I know.

But... I do not regret it! David is great and completely understood my vision. He even took a sketchup model that I created for the niche and completely recreated the real version - but better than I imagined! So, after all of that hemming and hawing, and nearly 2 years later... our little bity bathroom is done! ...I still need to get a large mirror for the wall and a couple other odds and ends, but phew, it's such a relief to have such a big project completed. Thank you David P!!!

Here's some before and after photos along with the sketchup model I created to figure out the built-in storage and mini marble countertop...

washers & dryers

The tale of the washer/dryer closet goes back to last spring and summer. When we first bought this condo it came with a stackable washer/dryer however we knew up front that it was broken. It was old and pre-historic and had crazy buttons all over it for mysterious washing settings I never even knew existed.

My brother graciously offered to help us fix it at the time so we wouldnt have to buy a new one - YAY! However, after he got it working and we began to use it regularly we discovered the dryer was staining our clothes - BOO! After a while of this we decided it was time to move on to a new washer/dryer that actually did what it was supposed to - clean clothes - rather than the opposite - dirty and ruin everything.

Once it came time to purchase the new washer/dryer we decided to completely fix up the W/D closet as well. After removing the old appliance we discovered that the sneaky tilers that had installed the tile floor must have completed the tile grouting AFTER the washer/dryer was installed - there was a large area under where the washer/dryer sat without grout at all - nice - very quality work.

Justin & his Dad took on the job of re-grouting and sealing all the tile, patching & sanding the drywall, fixing the dryer exhaust vents/outlets, installing new baseboard, installing beautiful new french doors, and painting the interior of the closet. Then we spent a significant amount of time shopping around for a new washer/dryer (that would fit such a tiny closet space). We finally landed on a Whirlpool Duet Stackable unit. The day they delivered/installed it, we were on pins & needles waiting to see if it would fit in the closet - it DID end up fitting (with about 1/2" to spare - yikes!) Anyway, the whole project probably took about 2-3 months. Justin was a champion and stuck it out without me - at the time I was crazy busy with work and had absolutely no focus for house projects. I'm so lucky to have him!

Here's some photos of the lovely closet transformation... it's so nice to have reliably clean clothes again!

chicago ~ the vacation city!

I've always loved this old postcard. I love that it advertises Illinois as being the perfect place for a vacation... after the blizzard of 2011 and a winter that has extended far into the spring, I'm not exactly convinced. But now that it's starting to get warm, I suppose I can start to believe it again, since the past 6 months have been pretty wet, cold and inhospitable.

Thankfully however, the sun is now shining, the flowers are blooming and beautiful lake michigan is blue once again! With the return of spring, Justin and I have been hard at work trying to get our second bedroom in order to welcome good friends for fun summer vists. Our first reservation is for this weekend; our good friends Brooke & Steve are coming to town!! ...And just in time for the unveiling of our guest room! (Actually, they were a major source of motivation to get it done... ) Aren't they awesome friends!?! =)

Here's a few photos of our newly completed room. Enjoy and see you this summer!

Electricians for a Day!

Justin and I decided to give electric wiring another shot this weekend by putting up a dining room fixture and installing new light switches. We had our eye on a light at CB2: the Firefly Pendant Light. We really like that it looks contemporary but also has a vintage feeling to it. After spending a couple hours this afternoon messing with the wiring, mounting and hanging the fixture, we finally have a dining room light! Now that's it's dark out we are really loving the shadows it creates on the ceiling. We also used clear bulbs which look really cool when the light is dimmed.

I've had a dream of installing 'push button' light switches (common in homes in the early 1900's) ever since we purchased this condo. When I was a kid, for a time, we lived in a very old house in Wilmette which had all the original push button switches on the walls and I remember loving the sound of pushing them in and seeing the other button pop out. So, I was super excited when I found these could be purchased... not from Lowes or even your local lighting store however. We bought a couple from Classic Accents online and I'm hoping they will be a fun addition to our victorian condo. We still need to purchase the faceplates but here's what they look like installed!

the blizzard of 2011

a few photos...

Over the past few months we've been working on getting our dining room more 'put together'. We managed to hang a few photos, put up some curtains and install a wall shelf for all our books. It's so nice being able to use this space, considering that only 6 months ago it was filled with tools, wood and sawdust!

before

after

our bedroom chair (i just reupholstered the cushion with striped yellow fabric)

smallest space, longest project.

We've gradually been working on our bedroom closet for about 4 months now. You wouldn't think such a small space would take so long to complete, but then again, pretty much everything we've done has taken about 3 times longer than we've initially thought. Nevertheless, we have a real closet now and it's SO nice!

The original closet was a bit torn up from some brackets that the previous owner had installed incorrectly, so we did a lot of skimcoating to fill in the holes and uneven walls then we planned a new system for hanging shelves with rods. We selected solid wood double doors instead of the hollow bi-folds that were there previously. Once we were able to install the doors we could complete the new casing around the doors and finish repainting the interior, adding the wood shelves, rods and baseboards. We still have to add the crown trim to the top of the door frame but we'll be doing all of the doors at the same time (once we pick out the crown we want to use).

Today we installed the doorknob hardware so it's finally feeling complete! Here's a few photos:

We also finished installing the light for our guest room. Another task completed! Woohoo!

it's almost 2011 and I'm feeling reflective.

Well, it's my 7th Christmas Vacation day off of work and I am finally getting around to updating the old blog. I was inspired by the lovely words of Candis and decided to steal her letter reflection idea. Not that I have much of a letter to write but definitely some thoughts that have been swirling around today, many of which have been brewing over the past weeks and months of 2010. It's amazing how God is working inside you even when you think he's all but disappeared from your life. But then you finally give him some time to speak and he does just that.

Justin and I were talking today about the past year, it's been the most tumultuous yet. 2009 was in some ways a preparation for 2010 and I'm so thankful we had that quiet time last year in Columbus to prepare ourselves.

In 2010 we lived in my parent’s basement for 8 months, searched for a condo, welcomed new jobs, a new city, new friends, a new way of life. Then we did it again when we finally found our home in Chicago, we moved again in May, Justin got another new job, we made some more new friends, explored the city from another new angle and attempted the unforeseen monumental task of rehabbing. We spent the summer learning new things; how to put up crown molding, lay bathroom tile, put up new door frames, paint, caulk, be an electrician, be a carpenter, be an interior designer, be a condo association member. We trained for our second half marathon and got to experience the beauty of Chicago from it's amazing bike trails and parks. We celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary in Door County Wisconsin with the butterflies, sheep, melty chocolate chip cookies, horses, homemade breakfast, goldenrod, coffee, books, campsites, deer, rocky shorelines, ferries and fun. We've searched for a whole year for a church home; visting Harvest, Moody, First Free, Missio Dei, City Vineyard, Evanston Vineyard and Soul City. This task will be left unfinished in 2010...

And over the past 4 days I've been coming down from the Holiday High. Sustaining myself on leftover cookies, cakes, candies and fatty holiday leftovers.... laying around on the couch, watching old tivo-ed reruns of 'The Office'... taking part in the consumerism of America by exchanging gifts and consuming consuming consuming... all while searching for something more.

Where am I going next? My desires for life and passions have been driving me crazy lately and I've found myself lost within them all, striving to figure out the 'next' big thing or my future goals and wishes. All of this 'figuring out' and holiday excess has left me exhausted, depleted, hopeless and hungover. Only today, as I begged Justin to take me to 'Hot Dougs' for one last Holiday junkfood splurge were we finally thwarted by its very convenient holiday closure!

Instead we walked to the coffee shop where I found myself finally able to put into words the frustrations I've been feeling: 'Where to next?' And that is where God so kindly and gently reminded me that I'm not the one that's supposed to be figuring all that out in the first place!

The pure exhaustion I've been feeling is most likely from attempting to figure it all out on my own. So this is how I got to where I am on New Years Eve 2010... God will lead me to where I'm going if I simply let him... slow down on seeking for it yourself, God knows the desires of your heart, God knows your fears, your hopes, your dreams. He knows you need a creative outlet, he knows your passions for music, for art, for dance, for design, for family, for friends, for a church to call your own and a community to surround you. He's gotten you to where you are and he will get you to where you are going. It's time to trust him (again) and most of all time to get it all off your back and give it to the only one who can handle it all (with his feet up!).

Sometimes I think it's crazy that I must keep relearning this simple and fundamental principle over and over again in my life but then I am reminded that this is just the journey, and I am thankful that I have a God who's that big and willing to shower me with such undeserving grace. This past year during all the train time spent commuting I finally had the pleasure of reading 'Redeeming Love' by Francine Rivers... and was once again confronted with God's resilient love for our rebellious hearts and cheating minds. He always welcomes us back with open arms and a smile on his face, ready to meet us exactly where we are and love us for who we are at that very moment. And then I remember that he was there all along, waiting for me... standing next to me and hoping for my return.

It is my hope that 2011 will bring with it a consistent dependency on Christ and the overarching stability that I so desire and long for. If anyone or anything can provide stability, I know God can. He's already brought me so many steps closer just today – this last day of 2010.

Our first Dover Street Christmas!

We made our goal and were able to decorate our house for Christmas. The living room is complete! Merry Christmas to us!

A congratulatory kiss!

...have a Christmas cupcake!

Happy Holidays! ...from our back deck! After being completely inspired by the talented work of my fellow designers at Hoerr Schaudt, I made my first meager attempt at winterizing our planter containers. We had several trimmings left from our Frazier Fir Christmas tree and then we went out and got some Red Osier Dogwood branches to add some color as well. Can't wait to see it once the snow falls tomorrow! I know they're pretty simple but now that I know how to create them I'll probably go all out next year. Hopefully we'll also have some more containers by then!

In other condo news, we FINALLY finished our ongoing light installation project! We got it up this afternoon, and I must say it is so very nice to have a real light again, rather than a hole in the ceiling. We've also updated our bed linens, blankets and pillows. Next, I'll be working on some artwork to go above our bed. So many more projects ahead! Happy Holidays!