Home Renovation-Watch The Progress

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2009-09-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

Circa 1850

By Carol J. Beckman ...

Cobbler Cottage-Decorated For Christmas

2008-12-20T20:56:00.000-08:00

We finally have a porch again!!! It's not completely finished but it's a lot better!

Decorating the cottage for Christmas was a lot of fun. I wanted to keep the decorations modest yet still tried to give each room a Christmas feel. I think it turned out cute.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

Staged For House Tour

2008-10-12T19:32:00.001-07:00

Today was very exciting!!! The house tour was a great success. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your wonderful words. I was overwhelmed by your kindness. I would also like to thank my great friend Julie for all her help today. Your the best!!!

"Always Forward....Never Backwards"

2008-10-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday after the episode with the house, my 6 year old daughter looked up at me and said "always forward...never backwards" We thought that statement was very insightful and great advice. We continue to work every night until the middle of the night. My poor husband is exhausted, yet he pushes on.

As for the progress, the bathroom tile was finished today. It just needs to be grouted. It look terrific. The sunroom floor has been completed and I gave the walls it's first coat of paint. I think the color is beautiful.

It looks as though the windows and the siding will not be finished by the house tour. Unfortunately, it looks like we will need to find someone else to finish the job that our current contractors are unable to complete. We are WAY over our contract deadline.

Normally, I would be furious. However, I am finding a strange sense of peace. Don't get me wrong. I wish it was finished. I wish the beautiful little porch was still intact and that Sunday everyone could see the cottage complete. It is going to be so fantastic...but, hopefully everyone will understand these are circumstances beyond our control.

Thank God No One Was Hurt

2008-10-05T21:35:00.000-07:00

Today (My husband's birthday) we were awakened by a phone call saying someone had run into our house at about 5:30 this morning. At first I thought it was a joke. How could that be possible? But sure enough it happened. Someone slammed into the house and took off...Happy Birthday Randy.

When I first saw the house I almost cried. That beautiful little porch was gone. According witnesses we are lucky the damage wasn't much worse. The little cottage held it's own. I can't believe how well built it is. It just goes to show that "they don't make 'em like they used to".

Anyway, after a few moments of devastation, we pulled ourselves together. We have been working endless hours at the house trying to get it ready for next Sunday's historic house tour and we are not going to let this stop us. We will press on and we WILL be on the tour!

Trying To Meet Our Deadline

2008-10-04T06:37:00.000-07:00

I took vacation days both Thursday and Friday and got a lot of painting done. Randy worked on the dining room. It is really starting to look nice. Hopefully the dining room will be finished today and we'll get to start on the sunroom floor. It's been a lot of late nights for the Beckmans. :)

Friday nights are a lot of fun at Cobbler's Cottage. Alton's Homecoming game was last night and the parade came right in front of the house. Randy takes a break to watch.

Still no windows. Siding not complete.

Kitchen Is Finished

2008-10-02T19:37:00.001-07:00

The Kitchen is finally complete. :)

Thank goodness for friends!!! My friend Julie came over today to help paint and Alisha watched my children so I could work at the house. THANK YOU BOTH!!!

Randy's dad began work on the living room floors.

Tile job in the bathroom still needs to be finished.

Still no windows and siding not complete!

The Floors Are Much Better

2008-09-30T22:02:00.000-07:00

Josh & Randy's dad worked on putting the floors back together. They are going to be much better.

My good friend Carrie came over to help out. She did some preparation work for the bathroom tile and started mudding & taping the sunroom. THANKS CARRIE!

Randy continued work on the cabinets. It was a long night.

Windows and siding are still not complete.

Going Backwards

2008-09-29T20:22:00.001-07:00

Tonight we not only didn't get any of our goals accomplished, we took a major step backwards. We had to completely tear out the floor that our contractors had attempted to fix. The subfloor was too unlevel to install the new floor.

The good news is the cabinets are almost complete.

A Whole Lotta Paintin' Goin' On

2008-09-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Randy & I both spent 15 hours at the house. We got the kitchen cabinetry completely painted and painted the sunroom ceiling and wood siding. This morning we put some of the cabinetry back in.

A Long Night

2008-09-26T22:04:00.001-07:00

I just got home from Cobbler's Cottage. We got quite a bit accomplished tonight. I did some caulking and painting and Randy and his dad did the wood ceiling in the sunroom. They also got the new floor installed in the office.

Definitely Not Much To Report

2008-09-25T18:17:00.001-07:00

The sink and faucet were put in. (although it isn't functioning yet)

Getting There

2008-09-24T20:40:00.001-07:00

Painting inside & out continued today and I put the final coat of polyurethane on the countertops. It's starting to become the cute little cottage I envisioned.

It's Been A Few Days

2008-09-22T20:10:00.000-07:00

However, not a whole lot to report. Randy worked on the custom cabinetry over the weekend and I stained the counter tops.

Tonight Randy started putting up the chair rail and I put the first coat of polyurethane on the counter tops.

Well...

2008-09-17T18:11:00.001-07:00

A few things were accomplished today. The driveway side of the house got painted

Randy continues building the kitchen cabinetry and counter tops.

The kids horsing around at Cobbler's Cottage.

Today's Update

2008-09-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

The washer and dryer was hooked up today and a couple of the upstairs windows were installed.

My mother-in-law spent the day priming the wood planking.

Painting Of The Exterior Begins

2008-09-16T19:43:00.001-07:00

I was very excited to see that they began painting the exterior today. I can't wait until the entire exterior is one color and you can no longer see chipping paint.

The microwave was installed and Randy began work on the counter tops and custom cabinetry.

A Better Day

2008-09-15T18:06:00.001-07:00

We had a bit of drama over the weekend. Due to many unfinished projects and the extremely heavy rainfall we got some water in the house.

However, today was a nice little surprise. The kitchen appliances were installed and...WE HAVE A TOILET!!! No more running across the street to Johnson's Corner to use the rest room. :)

Painting of the trim began and some more light fixtures were hung.

Isn't the fixture below fantastic? I'm in love with this chandelier in the master bedroom.

A Few Things...

2008-09-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of days a few things have been accomplished. More trim, a couple more light fixtures, and the water is now hooked up to the sinks in the bathroom.

18 Days Past Contract Deadline

2008-09-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

The list of what needs to be done seems never ending. The contractors still need to finish the siding, install four more windows, finish the trim, paint the trim and doors, install all appliances, install vanities and kitchen cabinetry, paint the exterior, install faucets and toilet, fix drywall in several places, install additional light fixtures...I could go on and on. Randy is getting way more accomplished on his job list working in the evenings, than the contractors are working full days. Today and yesterday I could barely see any progress.

However, Randy is there again tonight working late hours to try to do what he can.

I am still excited about the project. It is going to be so cute.

Still So Much Left To Do

2008-09-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

I went over to the house after work today and for some reason it really hit me just how much there is still left to do. Randy has been working such long hours and I know he is completely exhausted. I feel so sorry for him. I'm looking forward to the day it is complete so he can get some rest.

Anyway, some of the window and door trim was done today and the baseboards in the bedroom were installed. Randy finished the floor in the new addition over the weekend.

More Color

2008-09-05T21:54:00.000-07:00

Switches and outlets were installed today. Some of the old doors were put back on and the bathroom now has paint color.

The Beckman father/son team began work on the new floors.

Paint Colors

2008-09-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the kitchen and master bedroom were painted. These are not the best photos but the kitchen/hallway is a soft yellow and the bedroom is a soft blue.

Sunroom is still a work in progress.

We Have Windows

2008-09-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

Most of the new windows have been put in. One of the master bedroom windows was broken upon delivery, so it will need to be replaced. Two of the three bedroom windows upstairs should be installed tomorrow. That leaves one more upstairs in the loft bedroom that needs to changed out. I don't see another one anywhere so I am wondering if we are one short in addition to the one that still needs to be replaced.

The siding is coming along also.

Tonight Randy worked on the sunroom ceiling, with a little help from his father. They insulated and are drywalling. It is really beginning to feel like an interior room and it is holding in the newly vented air-conditioning quite nicely.

It's looking much larger now.

Weekend Update

2008-09-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

Friday and Saturday some of the new windows went in. Appliances were delivered and a final coat of mud was applied to the drywall. The weekend was very busy we for us with relatives in from out of town, so we weren't able to get much accomplished on the house. Work resumes today.