remodelling this weblog home...

and i've made it back. sadly, there isn't anything to report on the training side of things lately. i've made it to the gym fairly regularly, but no races to set goals for (except for the race for the cure in a month - but you can't really have a goal when you're running with 50,000 other people). which is all just fine with me, since i've got another little project that will be taking the bulk of my time and energy over the coming months...

a few weeks ago, i closed on my new house. this was a necessary step in moving things in my life along for many reasons. selling my former house got me out of the financial burden that remained in the settlement of my split with k - a major relief. but the ensuing renting experience made the summer a rough one emotionally. luckily, after just a few months i was able to find a house in a great neighborhood with friends closeby, and for a really good deal...

the house, though. the house is old (built in 1911) and has great bones. but it's going to require some work to get to the point that it feels like it's "my house." the kitchen is amazingly small. the walls and trim have seen their share of wear. the former owner made some questionable painting decisions. and the bathroom - oh... the bathroom. the only room in the house that has a ceiling fan. in the bathroom, you ask? yes - in the bathroom...

i've got big plans in place, starting with the kitchen and easing into the public rooms of the house. before i moved in, i ordered new cabinets and appliances for the kitchen, knowing that if i had the goods i'd be more inclined to start the work right away. i've also ordered new wood floors for the whole house to replace the tired hardwoods that are in today. it's going to be some work for some time, but i'm certainly not afraid of a little sweat equity - and i can't wait to make this place feel like home.

last weekend, my brothers and i began the demolition with the destruction of the kitchen...


(pre-move-in and post destruction photos above)

tomorrow, a contractor begins work on several projects, including:

the demolition of lathe and plaster walls in the living and dining rooms and replacement with drywall

moving the wall dividing the kitchen and dining room to make the kitchen a usable space

reframing the archway between the living and dining rooms to better reflect the bungalow style of the house

and some plumbing and electrical work to bring the three rooms into the 21st century

(the living room and dining room today)

once the contractor has moved on, i'll begin the dozens of finish-work tasks - beginning with the new floors and hanging the kitchen cabinets. eventually, i'll be doing my typical landscape and garden work, will probably build a new garage, and maybe - just maybe - i'll expand upward into the already-roomy attic space. but that's for later... for now, it's all about preparing for the mess that begins tomorrow. and, in lieu of real training news for the next several months, i plan to use this site to track the progress in the house. hope the transformtion is an interesting one to watch...