Millerton - Home Improvement

The little room is almost done....

UPDATE - Back to Fix’n Things

Or village home was built in 1919 and will be having her centennial birthday in less than 9 years. That doesn't leave me much time to get her ready - back to her original splendor but with some modern touches.

Here is the "short list" of what needed/needs to be done:

• Remove carpet in bedrooms and upstairs hallway DONE
• Refinish floors in bedrooms and upstairs hallway DONE
• Remove wall paper in living room (DONE), dining room, entry way (DONE), master bedroom
• Remove fake wood paneling in dining room, upstairs hallway and guest bedroom (DONE)
• Thin-coat walls in living room (DONE), dining room, entry way (DONE), master bedroom, upstairs hallway and guest bedroom (DONE)
• Remove drop ceiling in living room (DONE), dining room and guest bedroom (DONE)
• Thin-coat ceiling in living room (DONE), dining room and guest bedroom (DONE)
• Paint living room (DONE), dining room, entry, guest bedroom (DONE) and master bedroom
• Add ceiling light fixtures in living room and dining room
• Electrical/Rewire 80% of house
• Improve attic to include new windows (4), insulate ceiling, floor and walls, drywall ceiling, add built-ins for storage, install new light fixtures and carpet.
• Remodel kitchen to include a new lay out, new countertops, sink, new flooring and new appliances
• Remodel sunroom to include new flooring, new sliding door (DONE) and new windows
• Remodel upstairs bathroom to include new flooring, new sink, bathtub/shower and built-in storage
• Remodel master bedroom, specifically redesign closet and storage space and potentially re-open window and adding a deck
• Add 2^nd ¾ bath room on main floor
• Remove siding from home, paint and repair damaged wood
• New boiler (DONE)
• New roof
• Remodel basement

After a year I have redone the floors upstairs, removed most of the wallpaper, paneling and drop ceiling, had some electrical work done, installed a new boiler, and had a new sliding glass door installed. I’ve also thin-coated the living room, entry and small bedroom and painted the living room. It doesn’t seem like I’ve done much considering the sizeable list, but just the few improvements have helped considerably.

(As you can see from the first photo, the fake wood paneling and drop ceiling left a lot to be desired. The floor was also a disaster.)

Thanksgiving 2010 is just around the corner so this past weekend I focused on the guest bedroom which I really want to be special and welcoming. The room is small but has the best light and views (South and West facing windows). I was able to finish the floor which looks amazing and although the walls aren't exactly where I want them to be, they are a vast improvement from the fake paneling. Unfortunately I ran out of time and will need to finish the trim around the windows and wall.