Since I’m up to my eyeballs in apartment renovations, you’ll be seeing quite a few posts of our progress leading up to the reveal. Please bear with me until I get to the fun/creative/decorating stuff…I can’t wait for that part myself! It’s the reward for the dirty work, isn’t it? I shared the first project yesterday {sanding floors} and here is the apartment “before-before” and after cleaning/’in progress’ but before paint. Got that? lol It’s just the before pictures before and after cleaning, before and after sanding hardwood floors.
Everything got a bath. E.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g! It went from disgusting to clean. As you can tell, someone was a heavy indoor cigarette smoker. Thankfully with washing/scrubbing everything, sanding floors and primer+paint, airing out and sitting empty for quite a while, the smell will diminish. I apologize in advance for these ‘before’ cleaning pictures. I did spare you worse ones, I promise!
Okay, ready?
Dirty kitchen ‘before’ and before cleaning…{gag…what is the brown stuff all over the walls? Tobacco? Cooking grease? Coke explosion? Maybe we don’t want to know!}
All cleaned up and in progress…ready to move forward
- paint ceiling {done!}
- paint walls
- paint trim
- paint cabinets
- redo countertop
- storage and organizing solutions
- thrifty furnishings
- decorate!
There’s a paint fest going on! Envious, aren’t ya?
Pantry under the stairs – before
Apartment before then ‘after’ cleaned/sanded…
wall 1
wall 2
wall 3 – dirty before
in progress…
{You just turned 360 degrees and saw the entire first floor!}
Stairs are so narrow with a bend…we’ll have to get creative with upstairs furniture/getting furniture up!
before:
- clean (done as of yesterday)
- sanded (done as of yesterday)
- stain stair treads
- fun paint technique on the risers
- paint trim and ceiling
- patch ceiling/trim
Someone obviously wasn’t too careful with moving furniture out {it’s a super tight squeeze and odd angle for furniture} and tore off the trim and part of the ceiling on the way down…uh oh!
I love the vintage light fixture hanging in the hallway upstairs…
- patch and paint ceiling
- fun idea for the small wall space coming up!
Bathroom needs a complete overhaul, but we’ll see what’s in the budget. Hate.hate.hate the faux tile walls and yellowed tub surround. Actually, I hate it all! I may be able to get away with a new floor, vanity and lighting but that’s probably all we can manage financially for right now. Those walls and tub surround have to stay for now. Wahhhh!
- new flooring
- new baseboard trim
- new vanity
- new mirror/medicine cabinet
- storage solutions
- new lighting
- paint
- caulking
- decorating!
This bathroom is so tiny, the sink/vanity only leaves a small entrance…
Bedroom before…
who paints half a room and walks away?
After will turn this small room into 3 areas:
- office/study area
- bedroom for one
- dressing room
Improving with every little bit of TLC and elbow grease. Ah, progress. Still a ways to go, but getting started is always the tough part for me and we’ve passed that goal! 😉
Oh wow, that’s a lot of work. I can sympathize…our little farmhouse was disgusting too from many years of neglect. I was fortunate in that no one had smoked inside though. I just finished painting the kitchen – lots of hours – and it’s amazing what paint and cleaning do. Can’t wait to see what else you do! What a fun project (especially when you get to the decorating part!)
Oh- I hear you, Roeshel…you have done a wonderful job. We are doing the same thing here but dealing with floors after the person had lost bladder control. NOT good- We had put newer hardwood flooring in and now it has to be ripped up as there is no way to get to the subbase where the urine remains. AWFUL!!! I’ll trade you smoke stains for pee! xo Diana
I can definitely sympathize with the small bathroom. The best thing I ever did was to install a pedestal sink in mine. I fought with myself for awhile on losing the storage space, but I’ve been able to use a nearby linen closet for cleaning supplies. I’ve seen other small bathroom bloggers (http://housetweaking.com/?s=bathroom) where they’ve used vanities that float so as to appear like there’s more floor space.
Good luck! It’s a lot of work but it’s definitely rewarding in the end!
YIKES! Beautiful bones but holy, what a lot of work… It will be so gorgeous when you’re finished. Can’t wait to see the afters!!
What an adorable apartment! I cannot wait to see it all prettied up : o )
Okay is it weird that I’m just itching to get in there and help you!? I think it’s because I’m stuck on auto-pilot at my own house right now since it’s on the market. I just want to head over there and get to work with you. Wouldn’t that be fun?! I know you are going to make it fabulous!
HEather
I can appreciate a huge job like this one—-did the same thing for my MIL’s condo after she passed away. And, for what it’s worth, there is a product called Krud Kutter (I found it at Walmart in the paint section) that works wonders on walls/ceilings where a heavy-indoor-smoker has lived.
The good thing is that this is a beautiful place. The bad thing is that it had an awful start in life – no care. I’m sure you’ll do it proud. It’s really exciting – a lot of work – but exciting to see what it can turn out to be.
You are so right … getting started is the hardest part. Just keep the fun part in your sights … you’re making such great progress!!
Wow, I know it probably sometimes seems like the fun stuff will never get there, but just knowing the place is CLEAN has to be a huge sanity saver! The half finished paint job is funny/sad- maybe there was only one gallon of oops paint and it just wasn’t quite enough…?
Yep–getting started is the worst part. 🙁 cleaning so that you feel comfortable working in there is so important!
it’s going to be fabulous when you get done, even if you can’t replace all that you want to at this point.
gail
Well I know it’s going to look great because you are good at this! I can’t wait to see it all done.
After you are done with the big construction/dusty work, you should get the ducts cleaned/cleared out. It isnt that expensive, but it make a huge impact in reducing continued smoke smell and air quality,
Thanks, Kim! That’s a great idea! This place has hot water/radiator heat so not an option but your suggestion is a great one!
Holy Moly – Roeshel that is CRAZY INSANE cleaning you guys are doing. Yeah – paint half a wall and walk away? Even I am not that bad – lol. I know when you are done we won’t even recognize this place. I live in a very small house and always looking for ideas of what to do when you don’t have alot of space. Can’t wait to see this unfold under your creative genius!!!
Wow, what an exciting project to start (although some may say daunting)! I can’t wait to watch the progress. Just remember, cleaning is the worst part!
It’s too bad we can’t all descend on it and help!! Can you imagine? That would be knocked out so fast. I know, it’s so much work, and so overwhelming when doing it alone 🙁
HUGS to ya!!!!
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Cleaning is truly the hardest part. You have to keep yourself motivated to clean someone else’s lack of cleanliness! Bleh!
I do the the little black and cream light fixture. So art deco and cool. I hope it is worth salvaging. But it is looking good and it is going to be so cute for your daughter!
Remember to call em if you need any help! I mean it!
This does look like a lot of work, but it looks like fun work! The kind of work that doesn’t seem so unmanageable before you start and once you’re finished, makes such a huge impact. I can’t wait to follow the progress!
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The kitchen is the most important part of the house and it should be kept clean and tidy.