Spring is Here! Where’s my Crowbar?
So it’s Wednesday and time to show you what I’m REALLY working on. And it isn’t a quilt!
This is me last night after a very long day building cabinets, organizing and designing my new bathroom, and working out more improvements all at the same time. I was pretty beat then, and I’m pretty beat now after another trip to Lowes and lots of work bringing in all the boxes of tile and hardware.
What is happening? Well for starters, we’re finally getting our main bathroom renovated! This bathroom had horrible 1970’s tile, a doubly horrible mirror and ridiculous light, and a triply horrible built in cabinet. Today it is all GONE!
I’m also finally fixing James’s closet and painting his bedroom. This is kind of on my list of “mommy failure”. So many of my friends knew what baby they were having and decorated beautiful, elaborate nurseries for them. I had no idea if I was having a boy or girl, so I just didn’t do anything. Literally. I didn’t even have a diaper pail when James was born. I really didn’t plan that well at all.
So now I aim to make up for it! James has picked out a pretty bright blue color for his walls, I’ve picked a matching lime green for the trim, and this room is soon going to become a super cool, super awesome bedroom for my super cool little boy.
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| New Colors Coming Soon! |
Now all this tearing out and putting back is making for a pretty messy house. James’s room is ripped out with all his toys pulled to the middle of the room, the guest bedroom is housing most of the bathroom junk, and the living and dining room are holding all the new cabinets and gear going back in the bathroom.
Looking back, I see that this is definitely a recurring theme for me for spring. Instead of feeling the heat of the sun and seeing the green on the trees and jumping outside in the garden, I instead take a look inside the house, stomp my foot and insist that SOMETHING MUST CHANGE!
This definitely makes me happy. I get a buzz seeing a new paint color on the wall. I love picking out new materials and colors and playing with design. Just the thrill of taking something I didn’t like and turning it into something I love, it’s addictive and wonderful.
It makes me happy, but it definitely doesn’t make everyone happy.
This is making for a lot of extra stress, noise, and difficulty getting around. Josh is rather stressed out and it’s hard to maintain a normal schedule with so much going on.
The one thing I’m keeping in mind is just that this is temporary. The time it takes to rebuild everything may feel impossibly long, but the truth is in a few days it will all be back to normal again.
So that is what I’m working on this Wednesday! Here’s to getting lots done and seeing amazing change in this beautiful time of the year!
Let’s go drive some nails!
Leah
Nice! I just redid my half bath. Well, the contractor did the hard work but I picked out all the stuff which can be hard too! I'm waiting on the new mirror to be here in June so I can show everyone. It does feel great to get that old junk you hate out of there! Bet yours will be really nice when it is all finished!
Sounds like my life recently…sneaking in quilting in between home renovations and yard work!
Leah
You gotta learn to breathe girl…enjoy the journey. It took me years to get the stuff done (eg new bathroom). As for a cool nursery…second hand cribs, home made diapers…the kids are fine, bathrooms are fine…you do what you can do, you do your best even when you aren't your best, just enjoy it
Hugs from a mom
Wow Leah, you are a very handy human. Don't you just love renovating? Demo is my favorite. A new perspective in our familiar surroundings is just so much fun.
Good luck with your renovations Leah, I hope we'll get to see some pictures in a few days when you're all done!
How exciting! Never a dull moment.. by the way, who plays the piano?
Marelize – We actually all play around on it occasionally! I've always loved piano and decided it was a good instrument to have in the house. The funny thing is, if you start looking you can easily find someone willing to give you a piano, though you do have to pay to have it tuned properly!
Leah
Leah – that's ALOT to be doing at the same time – I know you love it but if you're both overworked and stressed and living in a mess, you won't associate it with happy thoughts. Just take care of you all and like you say, it's only temporary x
Good luck!
I'm impressed. Home upgrades can be stressful, but I desperately need to bite the bullet and do it too. I think you are making amazing progress and it is going to look great. Hang in their.
I have heard of some people having "Home Improvement Parties" where friends are invited to come help. Maybe others nearby can come help. I would, if I lived closer!
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
We have been renovation our old cottage for just over twelve months now still going its a work in progress and it does lift your spirits when each room is completed…enjoy.
Thank you for sharing your gifts with us all you are a very generous person. Best wishes from Australia.
Hey Leah, all this cleaning and making things pretty hmm is their something your not telling us!!!!! Perhaps a bun in the oven too! Julie
Julie – Lol! Definitely, DEFINITELY NOT! James is my only only and we're just happy to keep it that way! (Besides, I'd have to give up my bead desk if I had another kid!)
Leah
Oh Leah I know its so exciting when you start picking colours etc BUT then the mess and you wonder why you ever started. YES it will all be worth it LOL We did a big project on our last last year removed a wall etc the dust I thought the house or myself would never be clean again LOL LOL Rosemary
Oh wow! You're so handy around the house too. I always shy away from any renovation.
Way to go, Leah!
Hi Leah, Sure I believe you LOL! I hope you have taken time to rest after every few hours. Sometimes in our attempt to get things done we don't listen to our bodies. Muscles aching, and feeling tired and needing sugar/food. Well I hope you have achieved all that you wanted. Until you next blog take care thinking of you. Hey that thing I'm sending you is still a work in progress. It's only a small thing but it certainly takes my time. Happy quilting Julie.