Project Diary #11 – Living Room Before & After

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Roeshel

I know. I know! It’s about time I checked in with progress. It has been slow moving given it’s been just about exactly one year since we closed on this studio space. And it’s still a work in progress, especially upstairs in the apartment area but the commercial office/studio space on the main floor has just a few finishing touches left and I can call it done! Today, I just couldn’t help but share the living room transformation!

And this isn’t the true true reveal with amazing photography using my good camera but I have been wanting to get something posted so I figured I’d upload some photos of how it’s changing with the living room and how it looks compared to when I bought the place to how we’re enjoying it today. The workshop transformation, main bathroom updates and some holiday decorating coming in the following days. Stay tuned!

Okay, let’s get started!

I call this the living room. It’s where small gatherings, iTOVI scans, Aroma Freedom Technique sessions and one-on-one meetings are held. I’m including the before photos so you can get an idea of what has changed. Really, not too much in the way of DIY – paint and some new furnishings and decor make a huge difference. I worked in a few furniture and decorative items left by previous owner with the new and thrifted purchases. I love the eclectic mix.

Before this, this room was used as a waiting area for the law office by previous owner. Blue paint, library shelves and sparse on the furniture.

before:

now:

There was a reception type desk in this area as well.

Before

After: (ahhh! and a sneak peek of the workshop!)

Thrifted basket wall:

Before:

After:

Really all that this room needed was updated paint and still could use a whole lotta caulk. Someday I’ll refinish the original pine floors and perhaps swap out the ceiling light fixture and see about getting the fireplace working. But the power of paint is one of my favorite DIY tools to a beautiful transformation.

I love the the built-in bookcases for displaying products and organizing supplies in baskets.

And the fireplace! Isn’t it gorgeous? Painting above the fireplace was the previous owners. I’ve incorporated a few of the things left behind. I love it!

So, what do you think? Isn’t it cute? So cozy and comfy. C’mon over and we’ll catch up over a glass of wine! I could spend so much time curled up on that couch!

Next up:

The workshop transformation. It’s my favorite!

The building has so much historical charm. It’s about one block from our town’s Main Street. The bus stop is literally steps away. There’s a Bed & Breakfast across the street and an antique shop nearby. There are breweries, the YMCA, shops, restaurants, salons, florists, candy/coffee shop, holiday parades and festivals within walking distance. So fun! If renovation from blah to ahhhhh is your thing, stay tuned!

So subscribe and be reminded of updates as the renovations progress! I’ll share before and after photos, projects underway and updates, plans and design boards, sources and links as they relate as well as fun events going on in and around the downtown area. I’ll be using a specific hashtag on social media to keep things all neat and tidy and organized.

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary Entry #1 – Hello Red Reno!

Project Diary Entry #2 – Efficiency Apartment

Project Diary Entry #3 Color Passive Paint

Project Diary Entry #4 – Full Bathroom Demo Day

Project Diary Entry #5 – Sealing A Wood Plank / Shiplap Wall

Project Diary Entry #6: Bathroom Flooring

Project Diary Entry #7: Sealing Brick

Project Diary #8: Hardwood Floors

Project Diary #9: Carpeted Stairs

Project Diary #10 Vinyl Floor Tiles

Project Diary #11 – Living Room Before & After

Project Diary #10 Vinyl Floor Tiles

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Roeshel

Finally! I know. It’s been a while since the last update. Lots of work! There is something to report in the #helloredreno series, a bit of progress that includes beautiful new vinyl floor tiles and walls in a back entry and main floor restroom area for the workshop. I’m still working on final details like getting a sink/vanity installed, trim work, some fun DIY projects and decor but I just can’t wait to show you this beautiful flooring!

Back Story // Before:

Real quick: the “painted cardboard” walls were removed to reveal very dirty lathe? I’m not sure but it was filthy. Oh and the ceiling tiles are gone as well! We installed some insulation and my sweet Mr. DIY guy put up some fresh new drywall. Side note: It was a very verbally colorful experience since nothing is square in this 100 year old building but thank goodness it’s done! Now Let’s get the the before shots from when it just changed hands from the previous owner to us…

back entryway – everything was so dirty

back entryway looking into the main {half} bathroom area

back entryway and what we call the hobbit door (watch your head!) leading to the basement stairs, front door and staircase

bathroom before

bathroom before ownership

bathroom before – those cabinets were from the original kitchen over 100 years ago!

Okay, the floor before had blue industrial carpeting (in.a.bathroom!, you guys!). ::gag:: That definitely had to come out! Good bye flimsy walls. Good bye ceiling tiles. Good bye carpet! Good bye!

Demo day:

Behind those walls? SO much black sooty dirt. It was everywhere! Fingerprints for months!

We kept the original pine floors throughout the rest of the main floor.

Product Choice:

I chose these gorgeous grouted vinyl tiles for their durability, beauty and warmth – a perfect choice for this space. It’s a product from the Shaw Fairmount collection. Design is “Sweetbriar”.

Fairmount Sweetbriar

From the Shaw inspiration gallery:

Fairmount is a 12×24 rectangle vinyl tile. I love the color variation and that it’s super resilient! And boy can we ever attest to that!

Installation:

Mike, a subcontractor with A&S Carpet in Allison Park, PA utilized a glue-down installation in a brickwork pattern. The fun part? This product can be installed with or without grout! How cool is that? I went with the grouted installation.

See how the flooring was installed before the walls? When I say this floor is durable, I speak from experience! More on that below.

Progress // After:

Since it’s not fully completed, I don’t have true reveal photos just yet but here are some sneak peeks. This space is a back entryway which will also house a small beverage station, built in wine storage and a place to hang coats.

view through the back door

back room

And this is the main floor restroom for the studio/office/workshop. I love the durability and warmth of the vinyl tile, especially since we may be working with glass…a harder surface wouldn’t have been as forgiving or functional in that case so this softer surface was a pretty and wise choice.

So, what do you think? Isn’t it gorgeous? If you’re choosing a vinyl flooring for it’s warmth, durability and beauty, you’re going to want to add this to your list of options for sure!

Stay tuned for a completed reveal of these two spaces!

Care and Maintenance:

How do I know this floor is durable and the right choice? Because of timing, the flooring was installed prior to the walls, so you can just image the mess (drywall mud and dust, caulk, paint, dirty shoes, tools, renovation, etc.). It stood the test of time and workers! All of that grime and dirt, dragging ladders, tools, supplies and drywall, all that comes along with renovating, the behind the scenes not so pretty stuff. And despite my warnings, I didn’t see a drop cloth in sight!

No worries! When I reached out to Shaw, they provided me with some great vinyl floor cleaning tips:

Proper care will help protect and maintain the appearance and performance of your Shaw resilient floor!. A care program consists of key areas: 1) Preventive maintenance; 2) routine maintenance; and 3) spot and spill removal.

1) Preventative Maintenance

Always protect floors when moving heavy objects to prevent permanent scratches and tears.
Walk-off mats should be used at all externally facing entrances to absorb soil and moisture.

2) Routine Maintenance:

Daily removal of dirt and dust is important to prevent particles from abrading the surface of resilient floors.

Sweeping, dust mopping and vacuuming are recommendations to remove soil particles that can result in scratches and worn appearances. IMPORTANT: Do not use vacuums with rotating beater bars on hard surfaces.

Periodic wet cleaning will be necessary to help maintain the floors appearance.

3) Spot and Spill Removal

Absorb wet spills as quickly as possible by white paper or cloth towels.

Recommended by Shaw: Use Shaw’s R2X® Hard Surface cleaning products or products formulated for vinyl floor cleaning.

Remember: The most effective part of any floor maintenance program is the simplest: sweep, dust mop, or vacuum your Shaw resilient flooring daily, or more frequently if needed.

Next up on the renovation:

Baseboards and door trim, a fun door DIY to dress up the cheap hollow bathroom door, light fixtures, sealing brick, a wine cubby and beverage station, decorating and then the reveal! Then we’ll be back in business!

The building has so much historical charm. It’s about one block from our town’s Main Street. The bus stop is literally steps away. There are breweries, the YMCA, shops, restaurants, salons, florists, candy/coffee shop, holiday parades and festivals within walking distance. So fun! If renovation from blah to ahhhhh is your thing, stay tuned!

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary #9: Carpeted Stairs

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Roeshel

The #helloredreno series continues! The stairs at the studio needed some attention. We started with carpeted stairs and I knew that I wanted to go in the same direction. Choosing carpeting for the studio space from the entrance of the commercial area to the residual space upstairs makes a lot of sense.

My choice: Shaw Carpet Final Piece Coatbridge

The before:

A commercial grade glued down blue with no padding.

At our house, our stairs are noisy and the painted risers show a lot of scuffs so while I don’t anticipate daily use of the stairs at the studio, I wanted to soften the vibe, cut down on the noise, and add warmth to the space. I also wanted something more neutral than the original blue as well as something that contributed to adding a beautiful statement to the area.

The landing will be the entrance to the future studio apartment. So I want something warm and inviting.

My choice:

As a member of the Shaw Styleboard, I had the opportunity to choose from their carpet collection. I wanted something neutral but with texture, something durable but pretty. Read the description: Warm up rooms and reduce energy bills with the natural insulation and comfort of carpet. With many styles to choose from and the best stain-fighting technology in the industry, Shaw carpet brings color, texture and value to your floors. Create distinctively stylish looks when you play with texture, loop, pattern and twist options.

Shaw Carpet Final Piece Coatbridge

A perfect fit! I chose the color “coatbridge” from the “Final Piece” collection. It feels timeless and classic. I like to switch things up when it comes to design and decor so this option gives me the freedom to go any direction when it comes to decorating. It’s the perfect base palette and texture for any style.

Installation:

The same installer, Mike, who did worked with me on the Floorté vinyl floor planks in our home installed the carpeting. We had removed the former blue carpets to prepare for placing the new carpet.

The stairs before:

The landing at the top of the stairs before:

He set to work with the underlayment and prep work. Who knew that carpet padding is just as important as the carpet itself? I kind of assumed it wasn’t something really necessary but luscious, soft carpet padding minimizes noise, maximizes warmth and extends the life of your floor! I had no idea!

After:

You guys! IT IS GORGEOUS! I am in love with my choice! The texture and pattern add interest to the space, without an overpowering or super trendy style. It’s the perfect base for whatever I choose to do with wall paint and decorative accessories. It’ll work when I change my mind and swap out decor. It’ll work with seasonal decorating colors. It’s warm and inviting.

The stairs:

Shaw Final Piece Coatbridge carpet meets SanFrancisco hexagon tile.

The landing at the top of the stairs:

Shaw Final Piece Coatbridge carpet meets Monterrey Grandview rustic wide plank hardwood floors.

And that padding? Luxurious! Seriously. I don’t think I’d need an air mattress if I decided to camp out in this space! It’s that cushioned! Slumber party, anyone? Oh! And ever accidentally bounce down the stairs on your back side? This makes for a better ride and less painful experience. lol

More decisions:

I cannot wait to get started with decorating and to call this area complete. I’m still deciding how to finish it. Options:

To make it an entry space for the apartment with a bench, shoe storage, coat hooks, plants and a side table. (The apartment will not have a full time tenant. It’s for overnight/short term guests.)
To furnish it with a small writing desk in front of the window, book shelves on either side, plants, a lamp, curtains, a comfy chair, fun wallpaper on the back wall.
To suspend some swinging chairs or a bamboo-type porch swing, fun wallpaper, a coffee table, plants.
A small conversational area with a love seat or two comfy chairs.
A window seat and comfy reading nook, plants, diffuser, book cases.

So many options. I’m all set with a beautiful blank slate, gorgeous cushion-y textured patterned floor that I love! I’m leaning towards the window seat and a hanging chair with a shelf for plants and a small accent table for a cup of tea or a good book…a little escape and restful spot for meditation with the vibe of a private porch area only indoor and then creating a small entry area inside of the apartment right inside the door instead. What do you think? What would feel more welcoming to you as a guest?

As we keep checking projects off of the ‘to-do’ list, I’m getting so excited for fun parts – decorating and furnishing! I can’t wait!

Next up on the remodel:

Clean up the railing and banister, paint, baseboards, installing doors, light fixtures, fun feature wall, possibly creating a kitchenette then furnishing, decorating and then the reveal! Then moving in! Okay, not that last part but I do plan to extend the invitation and welcome you to visit!

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary #8: Hardwood Floors

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Roeshel

Project Diary #8: Hardwood Floors! Finally! The day I’ve been waiting for!

Moving right along! As a member of the Shaw Styleboard, I had the opportunity to choose flooring for the studio renovation. There are so many beautiful flooring options to choose from! After viewing a lot of samples and going over my options, I decided on Monterrey Grandview which is a solid hardwood in wide distressed planks. Hickory is classic, right?! It has a variation of earthy gray and brown tones, not too dark, not too light and an 8 inch width making it it more of an eye catcher. Plus, you guys! It has a hand scraped look! Bonus! AND stunning beveled edge! All the things you’d choose if you were creating a drop-dead-gorgeous flooring product. #mine

Shaw Hardwood Floors – Monterrey Grandview

Old meets new…

Before:

The original floors were covered by an industrial type blue carpeting which was glued over the original pine floor which was in poor condition. Here are some before photos:

And after removing the carpet:

Follow the #helloredreno series for the entire renovation diary.

The subcontractor, Tim and his team, installed the floors in the basement in our home and this subcontractor from A&S had his work cut out for him with this project!

Remember the hexagon tile floor from the adjoining bathroom and how I wanted it to transition to the hardwood floors?

After:

Tricky! But Tim and his team got the job done!

And it’s beautiful! I’d go as far as saying ‘stunning’! I love the flow of the transition from the San Francisco hexagon tiles to the hardwood…

Look again:

Shaw San Francisco hexagon tiles Presidio // Lombard

Can’t get enough? Me either! How about from this angle…

OoOoOoOhhhh! Isn’t she lovely? I love.love.love that I can be more creative than ever with this design! It’s exactly the look I wanted. You know how good it feels to get what you want! hehe

It takes some serious skills to be able to work with that and thankfully Tim was up for the challenge! I would have looked at it and cried. Just the measurements and math of it! I like puzzles and all, but this required master skills!

The rest of the hardwoods were installed without a hitch. Because of the original floor and working with the height of the tile, each room got it’s own direction and I think that actually adds to the charm, a break in the pattern. Love it!

And now the floor is not only gorgeous, it’s durable and sturdy and will be here, admired and adored for all time, the beautiful base for what’s going to be a gorgeous comfortable get-away living space!

I cannot wait for the full reveal!

Next up on the remodel:

Replacing carpet on the stairs and landing, paint, baseboards, installing doors, light fixtures, fun feature wall (wallpaper or shiplap … what say you?), possibly creating a kitchenette then furnishing, decorating and then the reveal! Then moving in! Okay, not that last part but I do plan to extend the invitation and welcome you to visit!

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary Entry #7: Sealing Brick

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Roeshel

Project Diary Entry #7: The bathroom makeover continues! We’re sealing an old original ‘decorative’ vintage brick chimney today!

The full bathroom at the studio property I’m working on was completely covered in paneling or what my husband refers to painted cardboard. For real. What is that stuff?! Even the claw foot tub and pedestal sink was boxed in with the same material! Why?!

Follow the before and after makeover journey —> #helloredreno

Before:

Yikes! (And no worries, we did repair the roof. It was top priority and the very first project.) But seriously. That paneling. What the….?!

Recap:

We tore it all away! Oh my! You guys…I know it’s dirty but do you see the potential?

Included was this bump out beside a built in cabinet (another feature I love!)…

which revealed an original brick chimney…

Rustic! Texture! A buried treasure! And just like making one of the gorgeous wood plank walls a feature of the bathroom by leaving it exposed…

I couldn’t bear to cover up all that gorgeous old brick. Know what I mean? It’s completely decorative and not functional but the texture and pretty color variations! Oh man! The old gas register is staying as well.

But it did have a dirty dull finish. Blah!

What I did:

We gave it a good scrubbing with a wire brush to remove all of the filth and crumbles.
And after talking with the professionals at Rust-Oleum, I used the RockSolid Natural Look Concrete Sealer (low gloss clear).
I simply applied it with a brush, making sure to get into all of the nooks and crannies. And watching for drips. I gave it one thorough coat and plan to do another. It’ll have dried several days by the time I get around to the second coat. It goes on white but dries clear.
This product sealed it all in and provided a beautiful low gloss finish (nothing TOO shiny, not a high gloss or lacquered finish) that brought out the various vibrant colors and gave it a clean surface. It reminds me of an eggshell or satin finish.

Conclusion:

So, this 114 square foot bathroom has a lot going on but I am in LOVE with all of the original charm.

That floor though too! ::drool:: ::heart eyes::

More on that here—> Shaw SanFrancisco Hexagon Tile Flooring.

What are your thoughts?

Do you embrace and work with the original old character or prefer removing or covering it for a clean slate?

Next up on the bathroom remodel:

Paint, baseboards, {possible} vintage cast iron tub re-finishing, installing the toilet, vanity, sconce lights and my favorite part…decorating and the reveal! Oh. And probably cutting down 6 doors since re-doing the floors raised them. Not looking forward to that part but things are moving along. Stay tuned!

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary Entry #6: Bathroom Flooring

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Roeshel

It feels as if it’s been a while since I shared an update on the studio renovation. Most recent progress is the beautiful tile floors have been installed in the upstairs bathroom. As a member of the Shaw StyleBoard, I had the opportunity to choose some flooring for the studio.

My Choice:

For the upstairs bathroom, I chose Presidio (whites) and Lombard (grays) from the same San Francisco design style. It’s a rustic and beautiful hexagon glazed porcelain tile from Shaw Floors with a reclaimed brick texture. And it’s absolutely gorgeous! My most favorite flooring to date!

You guys, it was love at first sight! The kind where you see it then continue to shop but always go back to it. Nothing compares. Nothing else will work. It’s this or nothing. I love when that happens! The alternative is so many choices and a hard time narrowing it down to one but this time around, I knew “THIS IS IT”! And for the record, this tile is versaTILE and can be used on floors, showers, patios, backslashes…just about anywhere. Since this is that the studio, it may show up somewhere in my house as well.

Let’s revisit the scary “before” picture. It’s a good thing I can see potential past the nasty, right?

Before:

The original old hardwood floors had to be removed.

A plywood subfloor was installed and leveled to prepare a base for the cement board which then is the base for the actual mortar and tile.

The seems were taped and sealed.

Flooring was installed by Rege, Mike and Tyler, subcontractors from A&S Carpet in Allison Park, PA. They did a beautiful job!

Installation:

The white and gray hexagon tiles were placed randomly. I usually do prefer the symmetry of a planned and arranged design – stripes or checkerboard and even considered a flower-type design but this time because of the transition of flowing over into the hardwood, I really liked the random placement.

Rather than the traditional ‘hump’ or straight cut line in the threshold where tile meets hardwood, we continued the tile across the threshold and into the next room. It reminds me of a glacier…moving/reaching into the bedroom. It’s SO cool and so different and it’s amazing! You can see the links to inspiration for this idea on my studio Pinterest board.

Transition:

Just wait until you see the hardwood next to it! You’ll drool!

You may remember me asking about grout colors. I originally chose “Iron” at the store but after some thought changed my mind to “Charcoal”. Frank at A&S was very accommodating with my request! No problem!

Grout:

Perfection!

Reveal:

What do you think? Do you prefer the standard transition piece dividing tile and hardwood in the doorway or would you consider a smooth transition and design feature?

A BIG thanks to A&S for the installation. I’m THRILLED with the end result!

Here’s a sneak peek of the vanity with the floor…I can’t wait for the finishing touches!

So pretty! And all three features: that gorgeous floor, the beautiful vanity against that original wood plank wall…

Next up on the bathroom remodel:

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno!

Project Diary Entry #4 – Full Bathroom Demo Day

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Roeshel

Bathroom DIY Demo

The rooms at the new studio are coming along – soooooo slowly – but getting there. It’s never as fast as I plan or as smooth! Right? Hiccups and unforeseen projects and unplanned expenses. But let’s take a look at the upstairs full bath and how things are coming along! It’s the room with the biggest expense and progress to date.

Here are some before pictures. YIKES! What a mess, what a lot of work. Yea, I under-estimated the work needed in here. Okay, let’s get started.

What would ever lead someone to box in a pedestal sink? That’s one way to hide exposed plumbing. ??? I do love that mirror though. Gotta re-use that somewhere. It’s got the vintage wear and tear that I love!

Oops. The roof had a leak and that’s been fixed. And it’s a great reason to tear down those ceiling tiles. And why yes, they’ve boxed in the claw foot tub too! What the…? Why?!

There’s even a back door out of the bathroom. One into a bedroom and this one out to the staircase. And carpet. In the bathroom. ::gag::

I love all the little built-ins. Aren’t they charming? That little glass door, the hardware! ::swoon:: So cute! That grate too! I have no idea…is it gas? There’s an old capped gas pipe right there to the left of it. But it’s right in the chimney where maybe the original stove from the main floor below stood. There’s a decent sized closet behind the door there too. So nice!

Can’t wait to reveal the cast iron claw foot tub! I love sconce lighting in the bathroom but will repurpose these cuties somewhere else some day. These old faucets! You either get hot or you get cold. There is no “warm” unless you fill the sink. lol

Demo day! Oh man! Here we go! Hold my hand!

Out with the old, that’s for sure! Out with that nasty carpet that’s been glued down to the original hardwood floors. What a mess! Because I want Shaw tile floors in the new bathroom, our installer at A&S Carpet has recommended we remove the old squeaky hardwood and screw down plywood to prepare the base for ceramic tiles. You can see the bathroom vent that was installed too. And there was quite a bit of work to be updated. Ugh. Not what I wanted to hear! It’s so hard when money goes into things we can’t see. But more importantly, it’s lifelong peace of mind. Isn’t it looking so much better all ripped out and ready for reno? I’m hoping to be able to re-use this gorgeous tub! I think it may have already been re-glazed once so we’ll see. Budgets have a way of making decisions for us sometimes, especially when un-foreseen expenses arise.

We’ve got some new drywall and sub flooring…

And look how light and airy it’s looking! So happy! Did I mention that I just can’t cover up all of that old original ship lap? I just can’t! So this wall and all of her rustic charm and pretty colors is staying. It’ll get a good scrub down and be sealed. More on that coming up! The floor is all prepped for NEW flooring! I’ll share my choice and some other ideas I have in a design board later this week. I’m also going to clean and seal the exposed brick. I just can’t bring myself to cover up all of the rustic beauty!

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno !

Project Diary Entry #2 – Efficiency Apartment

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Roeshel

Hello DIY friends! Happy hump day! Half way through the week! Remember last week when I shared the main floor of the #helloredreno series? Today, I’m sharing the rest of the building. It’s the staircase and upstairs area which now consists of a landing, two bedrooms and a full bathroom.

I’m not really interested in having a full time tenant and landlord responsibilities so my plan is to turn the two bedrooms upstairs into a one bedroom airbnb type rental or efficiency apartment space with a living space and kitchenette.

The stair case…go ahead, drool over it’s beautiful walnut railing, spindles and banister. I do! I love the split staircase, the curves and original charm, don’t you?

The landing…this will be the entry way into what will be an efficiency apartment. All of the stuff was left by previous owner. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Sometimes. I’m the proud new owner of like four vacuum cleaners. lol

Bedroom 1 will become the living room area / kitchenette…

Bedroom 2 will remain a bedroom…

And the bathroom before was quite odd. They framed in the pedestal sink and claw foot tub. What the……? And as you can see, first up is some roof repair.

Peek after some bathroom demo…more on that next week.

…so lots of renovation to be completed upstairs to turn the 2 bedrooms and bathroom into a 1 bedroom efficiency.

As I mentioned, the building has so much historical charm! It’s just so adorable. AND It’s about one block from our town’s Main Street. The bus stop is literally steps away. There are breweries, the YMCA, shops, restaurants, salons, florists, candy/coffee shop, holiday parades and festivals within walking distance. So fun!

If renovation from blah to ahhhhh is your thing, subscribe and be reminded of updates as the renovations progress! I’ll share before and after photos, projects underway and updates, plans and design boards, sources and links as they relate as well as fun events going on in and around the downtown area. I’ll be using a specific hashtag on social media to keep things all neat and tidy and organized.

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision!

Follow the #helloredreno series:

Project Diary Entry #1

Project Diary Entry #2

Project Diary Entry #1 – Hello Red Reno!

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Roeshel

Project Diary Entry #1 – Hello Red Reno!

A couple of months ago I shared that I’m the proud new owner of this charming property…

I love it. Just looking at that cute exterior makes my heart beat faster. I still can’t believe it’s all mine!

I decided that rather than post JUST before pictures and hold off for the after until all projects were complete, that I’d begin posting more here at DIYShowOff more often – sharing a series of updates in real time, as projects are started or in progress, ideas and plans and thoughts. This post serves as the introduction to the series. #1 – the before as I walked in the door the first time as the new owner.

So join me on this tour of the first floor. The before photos:

The entry way…

It’s going to get a little cleaning up. The original pine hardwood floors stay. Isn’t that walnut banister and railing gorgeous? Oh! And lucky me, that’s wallpaper. Several layers. Topped with paint. Lovely. lol I’ll share more about the plan for each individual space in the near future. But can you see the potential?

The building is functional but outdated. From what I can tell, the building was built sometime in the late 1890s. For the past 45 years, it served as an attorney’s office. And when I met him? We had so much in common. I could sense HIS sense of pride in the place and his love for it’s character and we just seemed to be on the same frequency right from the start. Ever experience that? I believe that even played a part in his accepting my offer.

This first room was his law library/waiting area…

This next room, his office:

You know that barn wood on the walls is going to stay. I LOVE it!

A restroom…(original 1890s kitchen area)

and a back entryway (other half of the original 1890s kitchen area/back door/hobbit door to the front entry/staircase)…

Now the first floor will be a Connect & Create, Makery + Meeting Space … I’m still pondering the official name. For now I refer to it as “the studio”. It’s small but zoned to accommodate 49 but I feel like that’d be way too sardine-packed tight. For real. That must include the upstairs as well be cause I’ve had nearly 20 people on the first floor and it was jam-packed. For the future, I will limit gatherings to intimate meetings and parties of up to 15-20 people.

#helloredreno

I welcome your thoughts and ideas! And as always, thanks for your encouragement and support and for sharing in my joy and vision! Watch for #helloredreno !