A slice of sunshine for the foyer

So we have been working like little busy bee's on the garome since Carson's 4th Birthday party was quickly approaching.  Through the month of the October we had a lot of accomplishments, most of which I have shared with you along the way.

1.  Bathroom Vanity
2.  Washer & Dryer hookup
3.  Furnance installed

Those 3 things alone make me feel like a rapper in a music video just throwing money up in the air, so rich and famous. Reality is most people take these everyday things for granted but when you go weeks upon months without them, you truely do appreciate them. So seriously go kiss your bathroom vanity cause without it you would be brushing your teeth at the kitchen sink or with a garden hose (trust me I know this).


Ok - so onto another project! The foyer/coat closet/mud room/message center - it's an all in one spot for us. It is a small spot but the high ceilings gives us a little more space and can "fake" a larger area.
The space is the only access in or out, so it will have lots of traffic and be a dumping ground for sure. It's the first place and last place you see when coming and going - so it needs to have a little funk and a lot of funk-tionality.

The lighting for these pictures are terrible - but it was midnight folks - and we have one light source right now (there will be more in the future).

Up go the boards... LOVE it!!

 



So I am going to create a bench with storage for shoes underneath. Coat hooks on the back wall, small hooks on the small side for keys and stuff.  Garage door wall will have all the message center boards and bins (its the pottery barn collection I have had for a few years, considering painting it, its black but I might go for another bold color that complinments the yellow?)

 

So what do you think? Some suggested we not board the garage door wall but my vision see's it all boarded so that it is cohesive to my overall plan of this message/mud center.  What do you think?

Long Overdue - In more ways than One

So when I finally logged on to my blog page and saw that I haven't shared anything since August 25th I thought "wth Katie what's the hold up"...........and then it hit me, work, moving, building, parenting, school, life, work, work, work, work! But here I am, we made it and you are about to see some changes - Exciting Right?!?

So let's get to it.  The last time you visited the blog you were just seeing mostly stud walls and a little drywall...well more drywall has happened (which is good because going to the bathroom while the world/family can see you is, well, interesting). 

Back wall of Bathroom

Utility closet in bathroom

Doorway into bathroom

 

Once the drywall was complete, it was on to tiling the tub/shower. If you know me well you know that I like saving money.  I have a passion for repurpose/reuse/recycle. I find great pride in trying to create a small footprint - making the unloved loved again. So that drive and philosphy in me, is totally in FULL force with this entire project. Sometimes maybe a little bit too much, like holding out for bathroom faucets for about 6 months until I could score something on clearance. Listen a girl has to do what girl has to do, right?

 

So for the tub/shower I scored a brand NEW tub from the habitat for humity restore for only $37! The only problem fun trick is being able to accomadate for the grooves around the top of the tub where a surround would be snapped into place. I am not a fan of surrounds, they are zero on the ten scale for beauty. So I already knew I wanted to use white subway tile, not only are they cheap (about 19 cents each) they create a nice timeless look that can really accomdate a lot of decorating styles or trends.

 

Pair that with shower/tub faucets for $59, we have ourselves a great shower at an even cost.

 

 

Once the tiling was done we shifted back to drywall - man I forgot what a process drywall is, mud - sand - repeat - times 3 or 4....man oh man I didn't think we were ever going to get done.  (and when I say we, I am really saying Jason - that poor guy is a one man show when it comes to mudding drywall).

 

But we did make it and that meant - P.A.I.N.T. Finally a job that was all mine.  If you follow the garome sweet home facebook page you saw a sneek peek of paint color - well here it is live in action!

The color is roasted pumpkin?!? Guess that is fitting since we love fall and halloween in the family, but I was hoping for more of a "coral" name - but apparently even paint colors are seasonal?!?

 

So back to the topic of SAVING (my fav). For the vanity we decided to repurpose an IKEA dresser we already had. I have been following some IKEA hacks on pinterest and thought why not. I love the color of the wood and well FREE is what I love the most. I mean why go spend the money on something when you have something that can function just as well. I will say that some planning and wood skills came into to play to convert the piece, but lucky for me Jason is well HANDY!

 

Vanity top, do you love/hate/not sure. I guess all white wouldn't be everyone's choice but I loved the squared bowls and the modern touch. I like a mix of modern and traditional. Let me hit you with another amazing deal this vanity sink was only $75 at the habitat for humity restore (it was also brand new). Amazing right, you are asking yourself right now, why have I not been to this store!!

 

Faucets are Martha Stewart and another amazing steal at just $24.50 each (see why I held out for six months).

 

DO the MATH, that is $149 total for a bathroom vanity. Most people spend that one faucet alone.

 

 

 

Yes there are drawers missing they will be fixed into place eventually.

A working faucet, its a beautiful thing!

Hard at work getting that mirror clean.

 

 

So what do you think off to a pretty good start right.  There is still lots more to do, like trim work, linen closet build, flooring, etc. but I will be sharing it all with you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Master for the Master (the master being ME!)

Things have been moving along at the Garome even though the posts haven't been staying up to date. We moved in at the end of July and the Garome is still in the "rough" stage but it works and functions fine for our family. We have running water - a toilet and a make shift kitchen....what more could we want - ok maybe some drywall would be good but hey it will come with time.  For now we are all just enjoying having a place of our own again. A place to call ours!!

So since the last post the last room to be studded up was C1 & C2's room, so I will pick up from there and hopefully in the next week get this blog up to speed. 

 

 

 

Laying drywall in the master bedroom - looking down the master walk in closet.

 

 More drywall  - enterance to master

 Walk-in closet (most people (girls) squel when they see the closet.  I think the 12' ceilings make it look huge.

 Corner of master

 

C1 C2 - a room for the boys in the making

Up next for wall building is for the boys room, it is exciting to see the walls come together and the transformation happening. I know I know, I am a total goof.

 

This will be the front wall - shared wall with living area.

Side wall installed - this wall will be shared with our bedroom

Kitchen in the making..

The kitchen its on the right side - bathroom (to be) on the left. The large wall in the middle is the divider between the two rooms.

 

 

 

From the inside of kitchen looking out into the living room. The floor will be raised, since this is nothing more than a pole building  - raising the floor is a great alternative to having to cut through all the concrete for the plumbing. Plus I felt that it would help define the kitchen space a little more.

 

 

Anything has to be better than this kitchen, right?!?  This was the kitchen in the old house - now a pile a rubble.  Are you wondering what is all over the walls - MOLD!  Yeah...it had to go.

 

 

S#!@, Shower & Shave - well one day soon....

Seeing the walls come up and form rooms is the best!  The bathroom is coming to life...slowly...but it is and that is soooo exciting.

Washer and dryer will be in the bathroom again like our previous house.

(we loved it there, I mean face it - where does the laundry happen?!?)

The washer & dryer will be under the window, it will be housed in its own space (sort of). I hope to hide it with a curtain or doors in front of the machines. I havent fully decided and it isn't on the top priority list.

 

 

Looking onto the space from the living room area - bathroom will feature a pocket door. This will be a small space so all the space saving features we can use the better. Every inch of available "real estate" will be used (you will see as we move along the process).

 

 

Same picture just stepped back.

Bring on the floor.....

Washer/Dryer space under the window - utility close to the right of it

(will house water heater/water system etc.)

Back wall will have the toiliet & URINAL, yes I said (typed it right) urinal - this is a house of 3 men. Let's be honest ladies I would rather have a urnial in the bathroom then pee on the seat - can I get an amen from all the mothers who are out numbered by men!!!

 

Utility closet is built!!!  Pocket door - saving space!!

 

 

And across the way - a tub and storage feature on top (we are using every inch of available space)

 

Where that bright light is, that will be the top storage above the tub.



 

 

Things are moving along....but we won't be making our June 30th moving deadline as hoped. The world of construction is never as fast as the timeline spreadsheet is. We are delayed by one month - July 31st is the new moving day....unless more set backs happen.
I will admit that we will be living in a work in process space if we do move in July. Most people would not be able to handle the mess, the dirt, the work...but like I always say we aren't most. Though the boys are little I want them to see alot of the changes as we are living in it, I did as a child.  I have some great memories playing in a house that was under construction - ALOT.

 

 

Boys & their Toys

So as you recall or maybe you don't - the old house had to come down. So a whole lot of fun happened for all the boys in my life.

Let there be light - oh and walls too

So you remember the plan from the last post (here), see the vision, feel the vision.  Part of our vision is to try to reuse, repurpose and recycle.  First up on the reuse - WINDOWS from the old house.

What comes out must go in - so that means wall building time - booyyaa!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alot of hard work and this happened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned: Next up Kitchen wall(s) and floor

 

 

Finding the hidden Potential

Walls, windows, and doors oh my....
After a little cleaning of trash and other odd findings we can begin planning, measuring and brain storming on how to layout the garome.

The picutures below represent the "liveable" space.  Pictures are taken from the four corners of the whole space.

  

The side of the garome will be the future bath/laundry & kichen.

 

 

 

Garage doors will be removed - man door removed - add walls & add windows.

 

 

 

 

 

This will be the front of the garome - there will be windows & new front door. Blacked out area will be the garage portion - new wall to be built.

 

 

 

This is the back of the garome - will be the bedroom area.

 

 

Think were crazy? Excited to see the transformation?  Feeling inspired? 

Let us know what you think!!