Fence, mended.

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I now have an extremely sturdy, and equally expensive, replacement fence and gate courtesy of HandyDad! It’s nice to know that when the project is too big for this Renolista, HandyDad is more than willing to help a girl out. ☺️

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Tomorrow begins an upgrade to that equally hideous a/c cover thingamagigger (official name of course) which you can see in the foreground of the second picture. We are recycling some of the redwood tri stake to make a bigger, better, more attractive addition to my tiny patio!

Mending fences…

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Today HandyDad began a very un-fun project: replacing my gate and fence to prepare for the upcoming painting project happening in my village.  Yay!  Right?  Before:

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This thing is old as dirt.  It barely closes, barely opens, and is pretty much on it’s last legs.  HandyDad and HandyBro went to work today on a very rare break from their day job and left me with this gift:

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Which is exactly how it currently looks…. Open to the world and all.  At least my neighbors can see my attractive furniture? 🙂  I can’t wait to see what the finished product will look like!  I also managed to pick out a new front door color.  I’m ready to say goodbye to lilac, and hello to cream!

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I may be busier than every before, but I am excited to get back on the renovation horse and get my hands dirty again!

I wish I could say a lot has been done while I have been MIA….

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Unfortunately for me I have been less than productive over the last few months! Between the holidays, work, and spending time with the most amazing man I’ve ever met, I’ve seriously neglected my house! I’ve made a few alterations… Mainly the addition of stainless switch plates with grey switches (not sure if I am feeling it or not) and also my restoration hardware light fixtures (also doubting). Maybe that’s why I haven’t been so on too of things… These were the first changes I’ve made that I wasn’t necessarily excited about! I’m rethinking the fixtures:

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To me they are too small in scale and I wanted something with more pizazz.

The light switches also leave me less than impressed:

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I was trying to be thrift and not spend another $150 on stainless looking switches, but the grey just isn’t cutting it! Thoughts?

Recently I’ve rethought my decision to wallpaper as well… I’m actually considering one giant stripe along my long (currently stark white) wall with storage, my spoon canvas from Ikea and these AMAZE stools:

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But then I discovered the new wallpaper collection at Target… And boy do I love a graphic print!

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Decisions, decisions!

550 views and counting!

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2013 has been an amazing year for a number of different reasons, and the purchase of my first home is at the top of that list!  Thank you to my longtime creative genius friend Tina (read her blog, she’s amazing!) I started this blog mainly to document my renovation for the few friends and family who might be interested in my first foray into home ownership.  Since I started the blog 4 months ago I have had over 550 views!  Not only are these views from my awesome friends and family, but I have had views from the UK, Canada, Australia and most recently even India!  Never in a million years would I have expected this little blog to turn into something that people would WANT to read!  Mind officially blown!

This renovation has tested my patience on more than once occasion but I’ve loved seeing the transformation come to life, and I get to spend time with the coolest guy I know, HandyDad.  It has reminded me of all the years as a kid driving to LumberJack on the weekends and watching his every move in his shop. Thank you, HandyDad, for the memories and the ability to build new ones as an adult!

Cheers to making new memories, and thank you for your support through this fun adventure!

-The Renolista

While I’m away, the tile guy came to play!

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You read that correctly!  This girl is finally the owner of a kitchen with backsplash!!!  While in the South picking up some Southern hospitality, Matt the amazing tile guy was hard at work putting in the last of the big installations in the kitchen!  It’s amazing how great it looks, and how much it now looks like an actual kitchen!!  Not only was the tile installed but HandyDad also installed the over the range microwave!  It’s all starting to come together… 🙂

The finished product
Finished product
close up of the AMAZING tile job
HandyDad and my microwave… where it belongs!
Installation day!
Installation day!

You may notice a few things… namely the GIANT power strip oddly hanging from the cabinet above the microwave!  In 1972 when they installed double ovens they didn’t have much of a need for an additional outlet for over the range microwaves!  A few month back HandyDad and I pulled the line for the power but have yet to connect it to the box.  In the meantime it’s installed and working, albeit in a crude, unattractive way.  That should be fixed ASAP!

In addition there aren’t any outlet covers or many receptacles installed.  While researching  options I noticed that there are a few companies that make not only stainless steel covers but also stainless finish receptacles, so I think I will head in that direction!

In other exciting news, I am taking delivery of my Restoration Hardware light fixtures and my new blinds tomorrow!!  I’m hoping to have those up this weekend which will bring my to-do list to just a few finishing touches!  This Renolista can barely contain her excitement!!!!

 

 

Ch-ch-changes!

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It may seem like I’ve fallen off the renovation planet, but in fact I have been hard at work putting some finishing touches together to wrap up my kitchen project!  The biggest change was the installation of drywall on the walls where formerly stood nothing but studs!

With the installation of the drywall that means I am ready for BACKSPLASH!!!  In fact I am having them installed on Thursday with the supervision of DesignMom!  I am so so so excited!  Behold:

kitchen close up backsplash white subway tiles dark grey grout open shelving shelves marble countertops white cabinets

I think it should look AMAZING when it is done!  I love the simplicity of the white subway tile.  It’s classic, clean and most importantly it is timeless.  I don’t want someone to be able to walk into this project a few years from now and be able to pin the date of the remodel based on my finishes.  Talk about a Renolista’s worst nightmare!

In addition I also spent some time ordering window coverings which I blogged about earlier in the process.  I finally decided on a color combination I think will fit in nicely…

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The last bit of my shopping spree included a rather…. spendy purchase.  This Renolista is the proud owner of some new Restoration Hardware light fixtures!  Not only did I purchase a few for the kitchen, but I also picked up a fixture for my patio.  If I’m already spending the money on shipping I may as well indulge, right??  I LOVE the look of exposed filament bulbs and the industrial minimal look will fit right in with the rest of the design (according to DesignMom that is… )

For the kitchen:

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And for the backyard:

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Once the backsplash is up I will finally be able to install the over the range microwave and the project will be close to completion!  This reno has been so much fun, so much work but overall the most rewarding part of my home buying experience!  I can’t wait to see the end product!!  My updated list of things to complete after the installation of my recent purchases, backsplash and microwave:

  1. finish the toe kick
  2. install new base
  3. finish patio door surround
  4. replace cabinet pulls
  5. refinish cabinets with wear
  6. paint and decorate!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder!

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Well, well, well. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I have not abandoned my efforts to share my renovations with the masses, but in fact I have been busy touring the country on a work whirlwind of fun. In the last month I’ve spent time in Oakland, Chicago, Dallas, and will be headed to San Jose next week… The tour, while AMAZING, has left me little time to do much in terms of renovations… In fact I can count on one hand how many nights this Renolista has spent in my bed!

By far the highlight of my travel has been Chicago. The most amazing city I could even imagine! Don’t believe me? Take a look at the beauty that this Midwestern city has to offer!

The L blue line into the loop!
Chicago River! Only slightly polluted… but beautiful nonetheless!
Skyline with the bean
Nighttime over the Chicago Theater
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Skuline
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My view from the spa tub with a glass of cab.
The merchandise mart
Navy Pier
Navy Pier
Skyline
Skyline (and Handydad!)
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Flags
Skyline
Skyline (and Handydad’s cell phone!)
Modern architecture
The merchandise mart
The Chicago Tribune building. Once won most beautiful building in the world!
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Skyline
Skyline
My home 😉
Chagall windows
Chagall windows
Chicago stock exchange
Art Institute
In front of the Art Institute
Art Institute
The bean
Pritzker auditorium
RPM Italian
Skyline
Chase Tower
Skyline
Chase Tower
Mon Ami Gabi
A storm brewing…
It’s getting dark!
Coming in…
There are the storm clouds
Light rain
Medium rain
Heavy rain
Torrential rain!
Skyline
Skyline
Cloudy post-storm day
Skyline
Field Museum
Field Museum and Soldier Field where the Bears play
Field Museum
Chicago Theater and Joffrey Ballet

 

I literally cannot WAIT to go back! It was my first time and I spent the majority of the trip in awe of the architecture that this city has to offer! It got my creative juices flowing and now I’m chomping at the bit get back in the kitchen and finish the renovation! My travel schedule should slow down soon and I can get back to making changes and blogging away!

A local reno, and a huge win for Sacramento!

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I had the opportunity to support not only the Firefighter Burn Institute but also check out a recent Sacramento renovation at the long unoccupied Black Angus building which has been brought back to life as Farrell’s!  This old and dilapidated building had set vacant for more than 5 years and was quite the eyesore in my neighborhood.  I was more than excited to see the renovations taking place over the last few months taking the building from drab to fab!  I was there on the opening night and was able to snap a few pics!

The old Black Angus!
The vision!
The reno…
More renovations…
The finished product!
The finished product!
The finished product!
Americana interior
Red, white and blue
Custom fixtures

The business has been open for about a month now and is going strong!  Sacramento is happy to welcome Farrell’s back and we thank them immensely for the beautiful renovation which now graces a somewhat lackluster street corner!

Sometimes it’s the little things

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As the title suggests, sometimes it’s the little things that aren’t so obvious that can make a large impact. Recently I’ve made quite a few big changes to my kitchen however this is one is more for me than anything else! This weekend’s project with HandyDad and HandyBro included changing the cable hookups in my living room, master bedroom, and the kitchen. This allowed me to change around the furniture in the living room and bedroom to better the flow, but the one I’m MOST excited about is the kitchen! You see, I’ve ALWAYS wanted a tv in my kitchen. My mom has had one for as long as I can remember and it has always made my hours and hours of cooking pass by in an instant! I vowed the minute I bought a house I would give myself the same luxury. And this weekend it was mission accomplished!! On a recent trip to Best buy I found an open box flat screen tv coupled with a $40 reward zone certificate compliments of all my new appliances, and a $50 gift card for a dent on the side of the range the naked eye will never see, and I was able to walk away with a new tv for under $50. Clearly this Renolista likes a good deal, and this wasn’t one I could pass up! I spent 4.5 hours in the kitchen this past Sunday and was able to have my trusty Bravo on keeping me company the entire time! So. Exciting.

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