The carpernters, who are also the lead contractors from Clinch River Custom Builders, are top notch. I was emailing them from the beach about reusing old access doors, recycling radiators, and anything else that had me a bit nervous about my beloved historic house being gutted out while I was 500 miles away. But it could not have been left in better hands.
It was a good call on my part to leave it all to them. Because their team working here were in hazmet suits getting rid old nasty insulation that had been blown in through tiny holes in the side of the house – about 50 years ago. It took us all by surprise that it was there, behind the walls. The space seemed so inefficiant that we were all convinced there was no insulation in this old house. But there was. And lots of it.
Now it’s gone, as well as everything down to the studs and the windows. And there is physically a new house being built on the second floor of our house.
This is what we came home to Sunday, after I rolled up the plastic in our hallway to take a peak upstairs.
Somewhere behind the walls the carpenters found the original blueprint for the attic addition that contains two bedrooms and a bathroom. We are certain now that it was not part of the original house built in 1919. But how cool is this? It’s number 482 of the reasons I love living in an old house – symbolic of the things that get left behind us, and the old floors that creak beneath our feet.
On Monday there were so many contractors in our house I lost count. I think throughout the course of the day everyone showed up, from carpenters, HVAC folks, plumbers, to the crew blowing in the new foam insulation. The only person missing was the electrician. At one point the worker guy trucks lined my house from the front corner of the house, down the side street and around the back street where we now have a dumpster and a port-a-potty on site.
In all we are handling it fine. That is me, the girls and the dog (who is being helped with some anti-anxity meds), while we live through all this. My husband gets to escape to work. Meanwhile I’m sticking to our TV free summer and finding creative things to do in our basement, backyard, at friend’s houses, and by going for walks in the neighborhood. And contractor watching! The girls are getting a first hand lesson on what it takes to build their new bedrooms and bathroom.
This is a glimpse of the entertainment on the sidewalk as the HVAC crew built the new air ducts for the heating and cooling system. Before now there were steam radiators that brought HUGE gas bills and semi-permanant air conditioners hanging out of the windows.
By the end of Monday a large portion of the roof above the bathroom had been removed, and stayed that way over night, covered by a tarp.
After the carpernters worked all day Tuesday, which was a quieter day on the home front minus the sawing and nailing, we have a new bathroom dormer. And the beginnings of the girls’ bathroom is taking shape. YEAH!
After years of thinking about how I would design this space, today I went to the showroom at Ferguson’s and ordered the cast iron bathtub, toilet, all the water fixtures, and this super rad Kohler Brockway sink, which they had to special order for me. The link is to Pinterest where I’m drooling with inspiration. Our sink will have two faucets, will hang solo on the wall and I’m going to paint the bottom a super fun color – maybe even fushia! Just maybe. Definitely something fun.
I’ll leave you with this inspiration photo, from Veranda-interiors. This is seriously going to be the coolest kid bathroom ever. Can you tell I’m excited?
To follow how all this develops and read about us coping through construction, continuing into next month when our kitchen renovation starts as well, be sure to subscribe to Simply Natural Mom – by Facebook, Twitter, email or RSS feed.
Also check out my Pinterest boards, Renovation Inspiration and Craftsman Style Kitchen.
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