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All the Action Happens On the Second Floor.

This coming weekend, we’ll be moving into the new house – and OMG, there is so, so much to do before then! While the entryway, ceiling and room partitions will be corrected by contractors, we’ve been pouring all of our free time into making the home liveable before we fill it with boxes. (We did find a teensy moment to escape the dust and yuck on Saturday morning though; there’s a lot to do, yes, but it’s just as important for us to enjoy summer in the city, too.)

This morning, I found myself cracking up over Daniel’s description of what the movies make you think buying an old home is like. Many, many times this weekend, Scott and I asked each other, is this our 80s flick montage moment? Should we have a paint fight right now, then roll on the floor laughing? (Huey Lewis plays in the background, naturally.) The not so funny part is when I wouldn’t let go of the idea that we were in our very own Money Pit.

It’s not all bad though – rather, we made huge progress over the last couple of days. While we wait for the contractors to come in and do their thing (which, fingers crossed, should happen at the end of this week), we spent our time getting the second floor up to snuff. It is/was by far the most out of sorts of all the building’s units; the lingering smells are headache inducing, the wall splatters are sticky and gooey, and bugs (I refuse to say roaches; I won’t do it) scurried across the floor and ceilings. (We’ve since killed ’em off. Mostly.)

At several points, I started to lose faith (nope, I’m not going to lie!) that anything remaining on that floor should be banished to the dumpsters (i.e., the entire bathroom, all light fixtures and random tchotchkes left behind), but money is one of the biggest factors to consider right now, and so, crooked vanity, you stay. Old toilet, you stay, too. Guest and laundry room with subfloor? Well, we’ll hide you by closing the door for now.

Anything we could do (that wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg), we did do. We scrubbed the walls with disinfectant, we coated every surface with clean, white primer (to help eliminate odors), and we pulled out the second floor kitchen. With all the cabinets and fixtures attached with nothing more than a few screws, the whole get-up was out in 30 minutes.

We removed the old, filthy shower doors from the bathroom, took down the medicine cabinet, and scrubbed every inch of every surface. Scott primed the walls in there, too, and while we’re not excited to shower in there (we held a mini pow-wow to discuss our near future, and we both decided the first floor bathroom would be a safer, more sanitary choice), it’s already looking much better.

Ripping up the carpet in the two smaller rooms and scraping up the stained (and slightly damp) pad lifted out odors almost instantly, but these rooms are still waiting for their scrub down – which will have to happen this week.

But through all the mess, we reminded each other to have fun! It seemed we were never quite on the same page – while I gritted my teeth and cursed the dirt and grime, Scott would be humming his happy tune, and vice versa. At one point (during a moment of panic: are we crazy?), I straight up asked Scott, what are you so smiley about?! (I can be moody, FYI.) His answer lifted me right out of my funk – We’re building our home, and I’m here with you.

By Sunday night, we were straight-up beat. It’s a good exhaustion though; we sleep like rocks, and to be quite honest, the sense of accomplishment is rewarding in ways we couldn’t imagine. And of course, Scott’s right. Together, we’re building this home for our little family.

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  • Cait @ Hernando House7.15.13 - 12:27 PM

    Wow, so much progress! You two are amazing!

    I totally understand feeling moody, but it’s going to be so worth it! Glad you guys are balancing each other out and lifting each other up through the rough patches!ReplyCancel

    • Kim7.15.13 - 12:34 PM

      Thanks, Cait! Yes, Scott definitely balances me out, that’s for sure!ReplyCancel

  • Tina S.7.15.13 - 12:38 PM

    “We’re building our home, and I’m here with you.”

    THERE is your 80s movie moment. Look outside and imagine John Cusack holding the boombox above his head…

    “In your eyes….the light, the heat, in your eyes….I am complete”

    /endsceneReplyCancel

  • Emily @ Our Waldo Bungie7.15.13 - 12:40 PM

    You guys are rockstars! I cannot WAIT to see what you do with your new place!ReplyCancel

  • Kim Horn7.15.13 - 1:01 PM

    Sounds like Scott is an amazingly awesome and sweet husband! I can’t wait to see all the things you do to your new house. I’ve been reading your updates faithfully!ReplyCancel

  • It will all be worth it! We have yet to actually finish one space, but it’s still very rewarding to look back at the ‘before’ shots of the studio and compare it to where we are now. You guys have already made massive progress and hopefully at least your noses are noticing a difference (bye bye smelly rooms!)ReplyCancel

  • Laura at Rather Square7.15.13 - 1:28 PM

    Truly amazing progress! It seems like you are doing everything right – getting surfaces clean and prepped (the boring part) before doing any painting or building (the fun part). Did the priming help with the odors?ReplyCancel

  • I love this, “We’re building our home, and I’m here with you.” That’s so cute!ReplyCancel

  • Jill7.15.13 - 1:41 PM

    Besides the unmentionable pests, this was my FAVORITE new home post yet! SO CUTE!ReplyCancel

    • Kim7.15.13 - 2:04 PM

      Tina, too funny. Now that we have a second floor, we could re-enact the scene accurately!

      Laura, Scott swears that the priming helped, and I’m on the fence. I can still smell the scent of that “unit” ever-so-slightly, but Scott thinks it’s just because it was burned into my nostrils (and now the smallest whiff of it drudges up the memory). We’ll be back at the house almost every night this week, so hopefully more time will tell… It was a pretty big improvement overall though!ReplyCancel

  • Kiira7.15.13 - 2:02 PM

    That last picture is perfection.ReplyCancel

    • Kim7.15.13 - 2:05 PM

      Kiira, to think I almost didn’t include it because it’s a little cheesy :) But I love some cheese.ReplyCancel

  • Amanda7.15.13 - 2:03 PM

    “we’re building our home, and i’m here with you” has just become my new mantra for keeping calm and happy in the midst of rage-inducing home improvement projects. thank you Scott!ReplyCancel

  • Hannah K.7.15.13 - 2:15 PM

    Keep your heads up! You’re going to do great work — and it will ALL be worth it!ReplyCancel

  • Nina7.15.13 - 2:45 PM

    You two seem to be moving at reality show speed! Great job. I love Scott’s reply to you. I’m sure you can make a cute print of it to frame on your newly prined & painted walls. :)ReplyCancel

  • Kim7.15.13 - 4:22 PM

    Nina, we FEEL like we’re moving at reality show speed! With the upcoming move, there’s still so much more to do…ReplyCancel

  • Jane @ The Borrowed Abode7.15.13 - 6:15 PM

    This is so wonderful! I am beyond excited for you guys, and I can’t wait for all that is to come. Woohoo!!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Michelle DuPuis7.15.13 - 9:02 PM

    You guys are too cute. I hope you frame that last photo and hang it in your NEW house! :-)ReplyCancel

  • Helen7.16.13 - 1:20 AM

    Scott is so sweet. Hate to admit, sometimes men are just more rational, sometimes. :-)ReplyCancel

  • Carrie @DreamGreenDIY7.16.13 - 9:14 AM

    That last photo – Perfection!ReplyCancel

  • Giuliana7.16.13 - 10:19 AM

    You guys are Adorable!! I remember dismantling the kitchen in our new home before we moved in as well and now 10 years later, we sit at our kitchen island and reminisce about those great crazy renovation days and we smile and laugh. As overwhelming as it can get sometimes, they were awesome days too. Last pic-LOVE IT!!! Good Luck!!ReplyCancel

  • Nicole7.18.13 - 9:49 PM

    That last picture! Adorable!ReplyCancel

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