Everyone warned me about remodels and renos. I knew it would be especially difficult when you are doing all the work yourselves, on a tight budget, in a house full of children, and within a short time frame. Throw in Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a 40th birthday, and we’ve got a well-rounded season of stretching and opportunity for patience-training. 
And so, here we are…week seven, and days before my sweet husband’s 40th birthday. Floors are done, counters are going in tomorrow, baseboards are in and caulked, ceilings and walls are tape, textured, and painted. There’s still much to go, but I thought I’d show you the progress…
Our front room/kitchen used to look like this:
Not anymore! We took out the wall dividing the front room and the kitchen, the archway, and the pantry that ran along another wall.
The planking on the floor is covering the section of the foundation we cut in order to move plumbing from upstairs. Yes…this was quite the project.
Everything was spiffed up in time to host a Thanksgiving celebration for families without families in town…
After Thanksgiving, we drywalled, textured, and began painting…the tile was busted out as well. Whew, busting out tile is a SERIOUS deal…
In between Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, we continued to school at home, eek out meals, and work on weekends. The progress was s.l.o.w.
Wood floors were glued down and an island constructed from stock cabinets and covered with beadboard-like wood paneling…
And just this week, cabinets are getting painted, and installed. We are going for a custom look with all stock cabinets…don’t you love them? The standard cabinets were raised and a floating shelf will be constructed where the cabinets used to be…
Have no fear…of course we’ll be ready for a party this Saturday.
Happy New Year, friends. Thanks for journeying with me here on GraceLaced. For reading, commenting, sharing, and being an encouragement to me as we find grace in both the glorious and the messy moments of real life.
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love it.
Thanks, Kerry!
Wowza! I always think I’d enjoy change, but I don’t think I could endure the transition. You are a brave woman and it looks like it’ll be worth it. Beautiful!
Thanks, Tereasa, I think I’ve been so thankful for the opportunity to do something like this, that I haven’t struggled as much as I thought I would with the chaos.
Love it this will one day be a memorial time
Thanks, Anna. I agree…families always remember projects and journeys like these!
Love it! And I like your style!
Thanks, Melissa!
Ruth…wow! My husband would have said, “NO!” But he’s also not handy or keen on projects like that! Its hard to tell from the pictures how the space changed the flow, but I would love to hear the thoughts behind taking down a wall. And I have a sneaky suspicion, there was great reason as you seem to always have intention behind what you do!
And did I see a shiny new refrigerator? Awesome. Its almost as though you have 6 guys in the house or something:) And soon to be 7! Cant wait to see the end result!
Hugs,
Jen
Yes, Jenny, the remodel was totally in an effort to make the square footage we have work better for our growing family. It is so much more open now! I will definitely update with photos once it’s completed and perhaps you can see the layout better then!
just beautiful! i love the cabinet color. do you mind sharing??
Do mean the name of the color, Kate? Sure–the cabinet color is Martha Stewart’s “Bedford Gray” matched in a Behr paint.
Looks awesome so far!!! My husband and I just finished our entire basement making a new bedroom, bathroom, playroom, office, and den… it was quite an undertaking because we did it all by ourselves! I can appreciate the amount of work you guys have put in and the type of stress that comes along with it! However, it will so be worth it in the end! Your open floor plan looks great!!! Good luck and God bless the rest of your reno!!!
Christina, I always wanted a basement…unfortunately you don’t find many of them in the SW. That sounds like quite an accomplishment!
Amazing! The difference and beauty of the floors, cabinets and open space AND the fact that you’ve lived to write about it all. Happy New Year, friends and Happy Birthday to Troy!
Thanks, Libby! I wish you could see it in person!
Ruth,
Looks amazing! The wood floors look great & I know you will love having them in your kitchen as much as I do!
This is one if the reasons I enjoy what Dominic does. I love to see the transformation! Glad your almost there!
Thanks, Joy. Stop by sometime and see it in person.
I absolutely love it…
AND…I don’t think I could handle a remodel right now
I wish you could see it in person, Kara!
I CAN SOOOOOOOOOOO APPRECIATE what you guys are doing as we have done EVERY project this way…but I never had more than two kids…so I CHEER you guys ON and say…you are almost there, it will be SOOOO worth it and you will LOVE LOVE it and you will almost forget the pain of the journey after it!!!!!!!!!!
It looks gorgeous!!!!!!! Love the color of the cabinets and I am certain the OPENing up of walls made a HUGE difference!!!!!!!
CHEER CHEER CHEER and HIP HIP HOORAY from Kansas City!
xox Bruce and Becky
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Becky! Love and hugs to you…
Beautiful! We used the white bead board for our island too! It makes short work of building islands! Our next project is tearing down the wall that separates our kitchen from the living area to make a great room of sorts. I want to be able to keep an eye on my special needs daughter at all times. It will make life a lot easier and safer! Nice to meet you!