Finding Friday–On the Road to Reconstruction

Good morning, friends! It’s Friday and I thought I would be REAL with you on sharing what’s happening here on the road to reconstruction, restoration, and renovation.

In researching WHAT to call this process for us…I found this great definition of both. It seems part of what I will be sharing is from “Disaster Restoration”…and other parts?…the “renovation and reconstruction” going on here.

Work on the inside and outside will be in FULL SWING on Monday! Goodness! But, for now, referencing a classmate who told me I was “holding out” on you all, here goes!

Because you asked!

Here’s to sharing an update on all the reconstruction and restoration work to date and going forward.

Nothing in life goes quite as expected, right?

Road to Reconstruction and Renovation

In 2020 we began the search for a crew to frame in a wall in our master bedroom for closets. Well, six crews who didn’t respond later, we finally found someone to frame in the wall and cut out the door openings…that he cut out without measuring…yep! my husband finished it.

The molding came down in the master bedroom and “repose gray” paint went up…but, it just never quite worked. Does that happen to you?

So a search for a new paint color began. So…the master bedroom just got placed in “pause” again.

The master bathroom redo began with a new gorgeous vanity selected, new mirrors, shiplap up and then? The redo of the foundation of the house began. New supports, insulation, sump pump, french drains and sealed walls and flooring…oh, with a great digital moisture meter added was completed in January 2021. If you live in the area, we highly recommend Crawlspace Crawlers…in fact they have become like family.

Front Porch Reconstruction and Restoration

Do you remember last year when the raccoon in the attic episode turned into a new porch redo? That happened next to take our focus off of finishing the master bathroom or making changes to the master bedroom.

Spice Rack Organizer

Then as Mother’s Day approached, my husband’s focus began on the creation of the spice rack organizer that is also a cookbook rack on the outside. It’s simply wonderful and I am not sure how I lived without it. You can read more about it here. Isn’t it perfect?

Guest Bath –Reconstruction

When I say reconstruction…complete gutting of this room took place. Floors, lighting, floor joists, walls, shower, vanity and commode ALL came out! Whew!

New plumbing, door, electrical, floor joists, flooring, sheetrock, tiled shower, commode, vanity, paint, lighting and ceiling finished made my heart sing.

Then renovation came to a halt.

Life happened with family illness and death that I shared with all of you…we left for a few weeks for vacation and then a house fire happened the night before Thanksgiving.

We are so thankful for our insurance company and the contractor they sent our way after Thanksgiving…and it was agreed that work would begin AFTER the first of the year.

Pause continued after family were displaced because of the tornado that affected our community. You can read more about that here and then on the Vue Magazine issue, pages 57-59.

Christmas arrived and then with the New Year began with the emptying out of the dining room.

Restoration Would Begin After the New Year.

Lots of decisions were made prior to the arrival of the restoration and reconstruction crews.

The difficult directions we were given were to make IN STOCK selections. Covid has thrown a curve ball into prices and orders and deliveries so that was truly the tricky part.

But, when God is in the details, blessings just keep coming.

Things like the new French doors–a Lowe’s custom order return for a song and a prayer for the win!

New flooring– Home Depot for the win with this one. Life Proof in Sterling Oak in stock met all of the waterproofing and requirements needed. Much lower than our hardwood floor replacement budget. Checked that off of the list.

This dining room has been an apple green color for decades. I never tired of it…but, really wanted a cleaner look. Pittsburgh Paint– French Gray Linen was what I finally selected. I am in love with it.

An inventory clearance of knobs for those French doors turned into a Lowe’s clearance of the EXACT Schlage knobs that I wanted there for $5 and then lets just replace all of the other indoor hardware for $50. What?! When they are in front of you, you just simply say, “YES, PLEASE”!

New lighting selected for the outside HAD to be those great Dusk to Dawn fixtures I shared with you with the front porch post.

Then there began a search for a replacement buffet for dish and serving piece storage…

Here’s what I found:

It’s still awaiting scheduling its delivery when all of the work is done in the dining room.

The search continues for a new chandelier for the dining room…stay tuned on Fridays for how successful I am with all of that!

Outside work began the focus…

The outside was where the reconstruction began with the outside dining room outside wall damage and french door replaced.

On to the siding, a beautiful white siding, traditional and classic was where I began.

We really had plans to replace all windows in the house before we ever replaced siding. That was in the real reconstruction plan list.

Are you kidding? Windows are months on back orders and none in stock. If I had my wishes, black windows would be so wonderful against that siding…but, that continues to be on a list.

A dumpster appeared in the yard. LOTS of equipment for siding and then a four wheeler was parked in our covered area next to the garage.

Hammering and sawing and their choice of music filled the outside air to full force!

***praying that my new landscaping makes it…a tiny rose bush looks forlorn from the path of work boots…

Back to a bit of renovation and reconstruction…

And inside? My husband decided to begin to add the new paint color to the dining room.

While we were waiting, that handy carpenter husband of mine began adding bead board and new trim to the outer sides of the cabinets to give it more of a custom look. That tutorial will be coming your way soon!

Somewhere in the renovation part of this area…will be added the Jeffrey Court Whisper Valley Mosaic tile for the backsplash…wish me luck on that part!

And then let’s pause…

Let’s pause for weather too cold to hang siding…or pause for an ice storm and snow…or pause for a subcontractor’s surgery.

But, in the middle of that pause?

Oh, let’s go back to the Master Bedroom! New paint has been a challenge…from Greek Villa, Alabaster, French Grey Linen, Rice Grain, Swiss Coffee, Pacific Pearl and various other grays and blues..all had issues with the lighting in that room. I am no stranger to dark colors for all who know me…through the years there has been dark golds, navy, apple green, teal, black wallpaper, and yes, even, reds.

We finally went up two shades from the French Gray Linen to Silvery Moon and we love it.

New trim paint, molding and a surprise reveal will happen soon in that bedroom. Still in the process of completing a mood board with all of my bedding, paint and accessories.

REAL reconstruction begins Monday.

On Monday, the reconstruction will begin again in BOTH the inside and the outside.

So, what will be in store this week?

The removal of the remainder of the furniture and covering cabinets and appliances happens bright and early Monday morning to start the redo of the ceiling in the dining room and kitchen followed by the removal and replacement of flooring.

I am trying to think ahead to prepare recipes in the kitchen to share with you all…but, seriously? I may freak out with NOT COOKING!

Pray for me…I’m gonna need it for the weeks that it takes to complete the inside.

With each step of all of this process, there have been surprises to be repaired or replaced.

Can I tell you a secret? During our constant remodel in this home where God placed us, it’s like I hear His whisper…”hey, it’s time to fix this”. It usually means the floor joists need repair, the electric has to be redone, or the windows refit, or plumbing replaced.

We have promised ourselves that after the dining room and fire reconstruction is complete, we WILL finish the master bathroom where this great vanity has been hanging out far too long…there are whispers happening there that sort of scare me for what’s ahead in that room.

And in the meantime?

I’m just trying to walk a 12″ wide path throughout my family room, office, foyer and entry hall amid the boxes and furniture. Heaven forbid walking happens in the dark! (I am sparing you the photos of that!)

Hutch contents, cookbooks, dishes and furniture have been moved as much as can be moved by us before Monday. We will need help with the new flooring boxes, the hutch and taking the dining table to the garage.

If I appear off of your feed for a little while, please extend grace…I may retreat to the upstairs until they arrive on that part of the house to nail siding. But, being HERE is required while workers are inside.

Pray I have patience…and perhaps a great pair of headphones…meanwhile I am praying for the RIGHT crew who are AMAZING at their specialty! Right?

The really hard part for me???…not having their feet under my table. We may have to have a celebration meal with ALL of the crews when all is complete!

This is where I find myself THIS Friday…Where do you find yourself today??

Meanwhile, I’ll try to add updates each Friday to help keep my sanity and as my friends would say…”keep me from holding out on all of you”!

Happy Weekend, friends! Don’t mind me…I’m trying to make my way to the laundry room to do laundry!

P.S. It was much easier in this post to place affiliate links in of the products I have selected…and if you see something that you love and purchase…this little blog might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.