Family Room Makeover (Part 4)

The window is in!

Let's back up...

This is where it all began...Part 1

This is where we left off last week.

Let's start with the window

If you look closely you will see the holes around the framed in window that Cory drilled.  That was to give us reference marks so we could go on the outside to draw the lines of where we were going to cut the stucco.

We left a two inch border around the hole, so the stucco guy could come and replace the stucco and put the same trim around the windows that our other windows have. That is why there is two lines drawn.

We got rid of the fireplace piece, and then it was time to saw. 

Cory bought a new saw blade to do this but it wasn't enough.  We had to call our neighbor to come over with his saws-all to help us get through all the layers of the house.

I left to do carpool and some errands and came home to success! A big hole in my house!

Here you can see Cory installing the fireplace flu thingy.

 

A couple of screws and some caulking and it was ready for stucco.

 I thought this was a fun view of the outside and inside of my house all in one shot.

Here is the view with hole cut. So much light! I love it.

Before the window:

 

View from the hall by my front door pre-window

 

View after.

My goal of an open flowing space is coming together.

One step at a time.

Stay tuned for the outside stucco repair and more sheetrock pictures coming soon. (maybe this week if I can get to it)

Loves,

Jill

Family Room Makeover (Part 3)

Lots of progress this week, which makes me oh so happy!!

This is where we ended up.

Sheetrock off, 2x4's exposed.  Those white pipes to the left are the hot and cold pipes from the bathroom directly upstairs.  We didn't open the wall any further so we wouldn't have to pay or mess with those white pipes.  If you see to the left of the white pipes a dark black pipe.  That was actually the pipe we thought we were going to find in the middle of the wall, so when we got the sheetrock off and there was no black pipe we were SOOOOO HAPPPPPPPY!  It all worked our perfect because our barn doors are each going to be 3 ft wide (= 6ft wide opening) and so we didn't need to move those white pipes. PHEW                     (move any pipes = $$$$)

This is the other wall where the fireplace is going to go.

We ripped off the sheetrock, and right away I got to taping what my mantel would look like on the wall.  To my hubbie's dismay, I am ALL Visual.  If I can't see it, I can't give it the final approval.  It's really hard to look at a blank wall and visualize 3-D objects that aren't really there. With me?  

So this is what I did.

 

Doesn't that help?

Here's another.

Can't you just visualize where the other window on the left is going to be? Good it was already framed in so I could visualize it ;)

Before the framer could come we had to move the gas line.  I hired out someone to do the actual cutting and moving of the pipe, but Cory and I decided to cut the subfloor and get it ready to reroute to save $$. 

This picture still freaks me out.

I think I was slightly freaked out because I could see the beams, insulation from the floor and the whole idea of compromising the sub-floor made me have to leave the room for a sec.  But like always it didn't stop us from DIourselves and we moved on!

The framer came and framed in the fireplace and installed the beam in about 5 hours.  He was fast and did a great job.  If you need a framer lmk and I'll give you his info.

And here is the room from the soon to be living room.

There is the framed in fireplace!

Can't wait for the window to be in, that's coming next week!

Have an amazing Thanksgiving and hug and kiss all those you care about.

That's my plan.

So look out to all my family that I love!

Loves,

Jill

Family Room Makeover (Part 2)

This week we decided to open up the wall from family room to living room...if you remember this is what it looked like.

The blue line is where the wall will be open and eventual barn doors will reside.  We took the fireplace out last week and now we are ready to open up the wall.

This is the wall view from the other room, and from the hall looking in the living room.

It looked kinda freaky when Cory started sawing from the other room.  A saw moving all by itself was enough to keep Bensen entertained.

Yes at this moment I did start to think we are crazy and slightly over ambitious...

That slight weak moment didn't stop us of course.

And here is the wall, fully exposed, and open!

Now for this wall...

The blue line is where the fireplace and new mantel and surround will be.  

Remember this?

 The road is looking long until we get this beauty built. One step at a time, I keep reminding myself.

Next time we will be:

Installing a beam between the two rooms and cutting down the 2x4's the are supporting the ceiling.

Framing in the mantel and surround.

And wiring, wiring, wiring for the ceiling speakers, the tv, and moving all the outlets that need to be moved.

Stay Tuned!!

Loves,

Jill

Family Room Makeover (Part1) Fireplace removal

In my last post found here it was all about my Halloween burlap banner that I made for my fireplace mantel.  Well things have slightly changed for that fireplace since then.  I have been planning this Family Room Makeover for about 5 years now, and the time has come to get movin!


I am so excited to have started this big' ol project.  It's messy, its big and it is going to take us awhile...but it is going to be sooooo worth it.  This is just a little glimpse into what I have in store for our family room....

This is where we started.

The line is the opening we are going to cut in the wall to create a bigger space from family to living room (also where the barn doors will be)

Corner fireplace is leaving (thank goodness, it wasn't ever supposed to be there anyway. Love builders)

 Demo begins.

btw I have the best husband. Takes my crazy, wakko ideas and gets just as excited about them as I do. I love him.

Asher getting in on the action.  It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be to get the stone off.  It actually all came off together in a big piece that we cut up into smaller pieces.

Exposed Fireplace.

Bensen wanted to get in on the fun too.

And if he wasn't helping demo he was patiently waiting to help anyway he could.

After all the framing was taken down, the fireplace was ready to be taken out.  Cory had already turned off the gas, unscrewed the gas line from the unit, and pulled out the vents from the wall that led to the outside.  It was all pretty easy, and something we were fine doing ourselves.

With the fireplace out and moved to the garage, it was time to start on the wall.

And here it is all cleaned up and ready to live in, since its back to life for the next couple of days. Demo gets put on hold for real life.

Next Saturday we'll get to do more!  That's the life of DIY'ers.

Good thing I started an "Avoid the Holiday 5 (or 10)" Bootcamp that wakes me up early and gets me to bed early.  Otherwise my excitedness to finish this project just might keep me up at night.  I am loving this bootcamp session so far. 8 fabulous ladies all in my basement at 6:00am MWF morning.  I feel so lucky to be able to do what I do.  These 8 ladies are inspiring me more right now then I'm helping them I'm sure of it.

Loves,

Jill