Front Yard Decor

The renovation has entered week 2 and, miraculously, things are going very well. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, to be honest. Here is a photo of our front yard decor:

 

Thankfully, we have very kind and patient neighbours. My next door neighbour, Mary, has even okayed a cement track running across the edge of her property. (They're going to re-sod both of our front yards when they are done.)

More details:

• The method of supporting the foundation of a dug down basement is called "underpinning". The house that we are attached to was underpinned 20 years ago, but we just assumed it would be in rough condition by now and we would have to underpin the common wall as well. Happily, we were told today that the common wall is in such good condition that they don't have to do anything to it at all! This will save time and $$$.
• I have a firm buyer for our cabinets. yay!
• We are truly living in a huge mess now. It's only going to get worse when we lose our kitchen next week. We are told the new kitchen is only a few weeks away. Fingers crossed!
• The glass cabinets from the kitchen were moved to the third floor and will serve as storage for books, toys and scrap supplies. I am so pleased with how they look in the space-- it's as if they were chosen exactly for that purpose.
• We are on our fourth dumpster of dirt. We're told there will be about 2 more. Originally they thought 10 bins, and since every time they switch a bin it costs money-- fewer bins means more in the budget elsewhere.

Here is a "before" photo of our kitchen. It's the photo from the listing when we bought the house, as a matter of fact. Although I love the idea of the original trim on the windows and door, I don't like how the previous owners matched the cabinetry and laminate floors to their colour. It's way too orange for me. Also, the layout is very impractical. The back door actually opens into the island, "bang!". The cabinets on the right are now on the top floor, and we are keeping the range hood, stove and dishwasher. Everything else-- cabinets, island, countertop, sink and tap, are being sold to a nice gentleman putting an addition on his mother's house.

I know. It looks really nice, doesn't it? Believe me, I agonized long and hard over replacing this kitchen, but after living with it for 2+ years, I knew that I didn't want to live with it for the next 15+ years. At least all the components of the kitchen will be re-used and not trashed.

Tomorrow they start the real underpinning-- as opposed to the prep work of the last few days. On Wednesday my mom has graciously agreed to babysit so that we can head out to the west end of town to finalize flooring and basement bathroom fixtures. Kitchen drawings are coming soon, as well as pricing on cabinetry, glass, and doors. I'm keeping my paper bag handy-- I might start hyperventilating when those numbers come in!

 

Comments

[tracy]

I love your kitchen. I am so envious. I have no cupboard space. Well let me rephrase that, I have no usable cupboard space.
You have a wall of it plus more.

[Marlene]

I love reading about your home reno project. Kinda like HGTV! (I love HGTV...heehee!)

[Barb]

Yikes! That's quite the project... I'm glad the progress has been good so far. And thank goodness for kind, understanding neighbours. :)

[Eunice]

Love reading about the progress - keep blogging.

btw: not sure if you need a bathroom vanity & sink. Nice one at Costco - dark vanity & granite countertop & single sink; <$300.