Laundry Room Wall Progress

It is coming along slowly, but surely.

Here was the right side of the wall when we started:


There was this huge crack by the window. It had been repaired before.


Close up:



(I've decided my husband's blog name will be Daedalus.)

So, Daedalus cut away the stuff sticking out and re-did it.


He used 2x4's my Mom had left over from a deck project: but we purchased new expressly for framing the window.



The right side is going more slowly. There's all sorts of cutting and fitting to do.

Here's the area in question:



For example: here's a section of the kitchen sink drain Daedalus has fitted into the wall:


Usually kitchen sink drains run under the basement floor. Ours, however, likely made of clay, collapsed several years ago. Daedalus and a plumber friend rigged this up instead. It has never given us a problem.

I've marked all the bits that will go behind the new wall in blue. The pink bits will be in front of the wall.

The big silver ducting pipe that serves as the drier exhaust obviously isn't pictured.

Please don't mind the scary head swallowing lamp.

Day 21: So Fast!

I am amazed how quickly I got through most of today's tasks (and some of yesterday's too!)

I think it's because there's already a basically clean floor--for example, so, I'm really just swiping the mop over a few spots. I really noticed it in the bathroom where I cleaned so thoroughly last week: I didn't spend even a quarter of the effort to get it as clean again today.

I was expecting someone at 11:00, so I challenged myself to get right to it. I took the liberty to ignore the second floor, however.

So, I started with a quick pick up and then folded some laundry in the living room. (Yep, leftover from last week, but I did discover some fresh cleaning cloths.)

Then, I did a quick swish and swipe in the bathroom. There wasn't any standing water in the sink--but there was a bunch of sludge--it wiped right up, though!

After taking my daughter to school, I came home and scrubbed out a brown stain on the carpet in the living room. Then, I washed the bathroom floor with my new mop head, washed the breakfast dishes, mopped the kitchen floor and quickly vacuumed the stairs (which I had done two days ago, but hubby accidentally tracked a bunch of sawdust up the stairs when he took the laundry basket up for me.) Then, I gave the living room carpet and the entry way carpet a quick once-over and by 10:30 it was all done!

If you had told me a month ago that my house could be company ready in about two hours, I would not have believed you.

Day 20: Almost Forgot: Routine Report!

A day well out of routine for me.

There were two bodies in my bed when I jumped out of it, so I didn't make the bed or pick up the room or even swish and swipe the upstairs bathroom. I just took myself down the stairs as quietly as possible.

The sink in the downstairs bathroom is clogged--but I swished and swiped anyway--even though I think I used my last clean cloth (the laundry room is still under siege from wall building).

I picked up the main rooms a bit: but I didn't wash any dishes. I figured with the whole family home for the day, there'd be plenty to do later. I was right--though it was mostly all of our bowls as the kids soothed their sore throats with ice cream all day.

So, that's it; a day where I did practically nothing on my list. My husband asked me to ride shotgun today while he searched for toys on my son's list for his 14th birthday tomorrow (and which we aren't celebrating until Sunday.)

I feel as though I did nothing today. I don't like it.

Day 19: Hooray! Back on Track.

After yesterday's sick day, I woke up to this:

Kitchen.

(Please forgive the lighting in all of these. As you can see, it was dark!)

I know. Pizza left out from last night.


The back hallway:



The front hallway:


The Dining Room:

yeah. I was on the computer a long time last night!


I started by cleaning out my purse while my daughter was eating her breakfast about five minutes after these were taken. So, at about 8:00am, I started. I:

picked up the house. (great way to gather up the dishes scattered about.)
started a load of dishes.
swished and swiped the downstairs bathroom
reviewed the calendar. I did not make a to do list: just looked at the list I already have!
vacuumed the front entry, the living room, the back entry.
washed another load of dishes.
vacuumed the stairs.
made my bed and picked up the master bedroom.
swished and swiped the upstairs bathroom.
washed the third load of dishes, wiped out the microwave and cleaned the crumb tray in the toaster (I don't know what possessed me).
Wiped down the counters, the stove and the mirrors in the kitchen.

Then, I came into the dining room and cleared off the desk, dusted and wiped it down. And then, I went over the hardwood floors with my mop.

By 11:30, I had this:

Kitchen:






Back Hallway:



Front Hallway:


Dining Room:





It is in large part due to the wonderful encouragement I got from Carol-Anne at Use the Good Dishes and Leena from Onshore. Thank you so much! Your words kept echoing through my head. My poor coffee was reheated until it was practically undrinkable! I'd stick it in the microwave as I thought to myself, I'll just do this and then take a break. By the time I'd think to take that break, the coffee would be cold--and I'd re-heat it. Then, I'd think, I'll just do this while it re-heats....and so on. It was a most satisfying morning and I am enjoying that coffee now!

You may notice what's missing from this list. Yes, laundry. That's because my laundry room looks like this:


Oh, it is almost embarrassing how proud I am of myself. Something in my waspish up-bringing is telling me not to cheer quite so loudly!

I don't care.

I'm going to tackle a half finished project, now. But I'm not sure which one!

Day 18: Fail

Completely and utterly--even including not doing last night's dishes.

I made my bed this morning--and then promptly unmade it climbing back in this afternoon with stomach pain so bad I finally had to give in and send my husband out for some Eno. It may or may not have been related to the blinding headache I had this morning which contributed to my sleeping in.

And so it goes.

I'm moving slowly, carefully. I may try a bit of the soup I made in the crock pot the brief hour I felt like standing in between driving my son to two dental appointments today. (One to get his braces removed, the other to have his teeth cleaned and polished.)

I don't know what to think, if anything. Tomorrow will be the test. Will I bemoan the fact that I'll never catch up so it isn't worth even trying? or, will I not know when to stop and push myself too far and then give up because it really is impossible to keep up? Or will I just blow it off and say no one helps, I feel awful, I'm taking a vacation?

Inspiration: Kitchen Cabinets.

My eye is catching something out there in blogland these days.

Just a glimpse.

source: 33 Shades of Green

I have no idea how long it has been out there.

source: The Lettered Cottage

But it seems new to me.

source: The indefatigable folks at Domestic Imperfection.

(her inspiration):

Source unknown.

And I love it.

Two toned cabinets. Differently coloured uppers from lowers.

In a way, the idea has been around since, like, forever:

source: Retro Renovation (Look at those fabulous red countertops and utterly gorgeous blue walls and floor).

They can be bold, shiny, modern:

source: Style at Home

Or old fashioned, gentled, laid back

source:redoux

Is there a reason the lower cabinets are darker? I think so, actually. Upper cabinets take up an extraordinary amount of visual space. They wouldn't be adequately anchored by a light coloured cabinet. The two exceptions? Well, the Kem-Glo ad has those red counter tops: that certainly adds balance. The blue and white IKEA kitchen? All I can say is that there's an extraordinary amount of white in that kitchen. And light.

Old-fashioned, retro, modern.
What's not to love?

Day 17: Report

Routine Report:
Last night:
Did dishes.

Morning Routine:
Wow. So much done by 9:30 am!

Weighed myself.

Picked up the house.

Started a load of laundry.

Made the bed, picked up the Master bedroom, put away a basket of laundry.

Swished and swiped both bathrooms and actually started cleaning the upstairs toilet. (My daughter never did clean the bathroom. Not sure exactly what to do about that--she won't have time again until Wednesday. oh, wait, maybe just finish cleaning it? --Why is that a thought that has to occur to me? It's not automatic yet, is it.)

Went ahead and washed the dishes even though I wasn't sure if my husband was finished breakfast yet. (He wasn't. He's like a Hobbit on holiday--likes his second breakfast.)

Swept the kitchen floor. (gasp).

Now, I'm off to do my One Essential Task for today. Ok, it's not essential, but it will be fun!
I'm excited. I'm going to run to Sherwin Williams and get the paint swatches in this mood board:

Source: RoomRX

Isn't that fabulous? It just may give me the direction I need for the living room since I've kind of lost my way with the season change!

The green just isn't working with the blue for me.