Recently 'Round Here

Progress isn't always pretty, but it's usually incredibly satisfying. The last few weekends have been spent 'round here getting dirty and dusty in the name of homeownership. We are loving every minute of it. It certainly isn't happening quickly, but we're already enjoying the fruits of our labor. 

Last weekend, Adam and I had a go at removing the acoustical tiles, the wooden boards that ran across the wall holding the tiles, and very dated scallop crown molding in our den. When we moved in, the room looked like this (from the original MLS listing):

Our house was previously owned for over fifty years by a psychiatrist and our den was once his at-home office. Acoustical tiles were likely added to the ceiling to muffle the many private doctor-patient conversations that happened in this room, but for our use they had to go!

The demolition revealed cracked plaster and blue wallpaper (interesting choice, huh?).

Adam, his dad, uncle and cousin spent a few short hours this Saturday hanging 3/8" sheet rock to the ceiling, which will then get taped, spackled and painted soon! At that point, I can get to realizing my original plan for the room which I shared a few months back:

Having sampled the delicious taste of destruction, Adam and I spent Sunday morning taking our aggression out on the "window to nowhere" in our foyer. I'm sorry you're seeing this eyesore again, but soon you (and I) will never have to see it again because it's getting closed up.

(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)

The "window to nowhere" is getting covered up with drywall and 2x4s, which will add a sense of formality to the living room. That room is bathed in light, so there really is no actual purpose for this opening except its current function (to annoy the crap out of me).

As a blog reader, I always love seeing completed projects in my daily reads; but now that I'm a homeowner, I have a new-found understanding of the complexities of taking on renovation projects: budgets, time, skills-- to name just a few. We aren't at the point where we can hire out all of our projects to professionals just yet and have a big, whole house reveal in the blink of an eye. So, all of that is to say this: be prepared for many, many more progress posts like this before my home is anywhere near "done". 

I hope that excites you as much as it excites me.
Happy Monday, friends!