1st floor design-done!

finally...some progress!  

to 412's advantage, the chimney wall between the kitchen & dining room is not load bearing...ahhh!  this means so much...basement stair don't need to be reconfigured (just reconditioned), patio doors replace rear windows, and dining room gets sunlight by not being isolated.  

also, the rear facade seems to be close to finish, including adding a rear balcony to the 2nd floor back bedroom (most likely in the future due to budget constraints).

i would love any comments, ideas, etc., especially from my architect friends

old school...

this pic of 412 is from 1958...looks like i own the largest house on the block...nice!

sweat equity...

who knew how difficult removing wallpaper would be?  since this is a fha construction loan, all work has to be performed by licensed contractors.  there isn't much i'm allowed to do except for painting (and maybe removing wallpaper).  

my first day at it didn't go so well...

however, by the 2nd day, i found my technique. it's all about the scores & working the scraper...

unfortunately, i ran out of water (discovered the water isn't turned on), but i was able to begin another wall in the living room that was peeling (somewhat) easily without the solution...

by my estimate, i have about 10.5 more walls to go.  holy manicure needed after this project ends.

to be or not to be...

a load bearing wall.

not much has happened at 412.  trying to figure things out, such as, if the above chimney wall between the dining room & kitchen is load bearing to finalize design.  this wall affects the layout of the kitchen determining if the kitchen will have an open layout with the dining room (first choice) or not and how to redesign these scary basement stairs... 

so these back stairs can go away to add more room to the kitchen & the 2nd floor back bedroom.

this week, the electrical, & hopefully plumbing & hvac contractors will be submitting estimates.  their input is needed prior to demo so we don't demo more than needed.

break...

needed one to get re-energized.  in the last week since i closed on 412, i met with joe palmer, contractor, and we walked through each room making decisions, such as, demo walls, move the door to the opposite side, expose roof ceiling, etc., etc., etc.  

we did decide that the first thing that needs to be done is demo so we know what we are dealing with which will lead the design process.  oh, and i get to be in charge of removing the wallpaper in the living room...so excited!  

in the meantime, since the exterior, most likely,will  follow after the demo or simultaneously, i had to decide on kitchen windows.

i really want this:



but I think i have to settle for one of these:

an ozzie must have...

Contemporary Pet Accessories