|
|
05-07-2017, 10:22 AM
|
#101
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,746
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by FIREd
Isn't home ownership swell? Renting a condo was fun, but I sometimes missed the tinkering.
|
If you ever end up with the renter lifestyle again and find yourself missing the tinkering, I have a near-endless list of opportunities around the house that you can have fun with.
__________________
Retired in 2013 at age 33. Keeping busy reading, blogging, relaxing, gaming, and enjoying the outdoors with my wife and 3 kids (8, 13, and 15).
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
05-07-2017, 10:32 AM
|
#102
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,472
|
That's so interesting. I only have one thing on my "tinkering list" right now, a broken handrail. Maybe I am not searching for these opportunities enough.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
|
|
|
05-07-2017, 10:44 AM
|
#103
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,528
|
Thanks for keeping us updated. You and your DW have been extremely busy the last month. We had our house renovated in 2014 and it was costly. It would have been much cheaper to do it ourselves, but did not want to do it at our ages. It sure would be nice to have those dollars back in our checking account though.
Good luck with your future renovations and exploring AL. I am sure that your DMIL is happy to have you back in AL.
|
|
|
05-07-2017, 03:04 PM
|
#104
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: The Bay Area
Posts: 2,736
|
FIREd my Friend!
Just saw your update & happy to know things are going well for you & DW.
I think that, regardless of whether you remain in AL, you will look back on this time with MIL fondly.
All the best & pls keep us updated.
__________________
You may be whatever you resolve to be.
100% x 10% > 10% x 100%
Small pensions & SS cover essentials
|
|
|
05-12-2017, 01:20 PM
|
#105
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,894
|
The hardwood floors are coming along nicely. I also cut down a couple of trees and overgrown bushes that blocked some of the light coming through the windows. Finally, I used white marble rocks to mulch the flower bed in front of the house. They reflect the sunlight back into the front rooms. Overall, the brightness in the house has vastly improved (because of the trees all around the house, the interior is darkest from late Spring through early Fall because the trees have a full canopy).
|
|
|
05-12-2017, 03:39 PM
|
#106
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,472
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by FIREd
The hardwood floors are coming along nicely. I also cut down a couple of trees and overgrown bushes that blocked some of the light coming through the windows. Finally, I used white marble rocks to mulch the flower bed in front of the house. They reflect the sunlight back into the front rooms. Overall, the brightness in the house has vastly improved (because of the trees all around the house, the interior is darkest from late Spring through early Fall because the trees have a full canopy).
|
Beautiful!!! Those floors are very attractive. I love how light and bright your house is, too.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
|
|
|
05-12-2017, 04:21 PM
|
#107
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,922
|
Count me in as another fan of light hardwood floors - we had natural maple in our last house and put pecan in this house (both engineered wood). Your floors look great, FIREd!
__________________
"One of the funny things about the stock market is that every time one person buys, another sells, and both think they are astute." William Feather
----------------------------------
ER'd Oct. 2010 at 53. Life is good.
|
|
|
05-12-2017, 07:08 PM
|
#108
|
Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
|
Fired ,Your house looks great . I remember when you used to live in it and really enjoyed it so I hope you can enjoy it again.
|
|
|
06-01-2017, 11:47 AM
|
#109
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,894
|
Update:
We have been very busy for the past 2 months with the house renovation. We are 90% done.
So far we have:
- Replaced the wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors
- Repainted the walls, ceilings, trims, doors, windows in the bedrooms, living room, den, and dining room (we decided to keep the popcorn ceiling and just repaint it bright white, it looks good enough)- We painted everything white to increase the brightness inside the house. It looks super clean.
- Removed the wall paneling and "decorative" ceiling beams in the living room (bye bye 1970's)
- Changed one storm door and repaired the hardware on another one
- Changed the countertops and backsplashes in the kitchen and bathrooms (that, we contracted out). We decided to go with quartz countertops based on suggestions earlier in this thread. It looks fantastic.
- Changed all the faucets, sinks, and garbage disposal.
- Installed custom wardrobes in the master walk-in closet
The house looks so much brighter now.
What we have left to do (after a short break because our bodies are getting really sore):
- Replace the bathtubs (we will contract that out)
- Retile the kitchens and bathrooms
- Repaint the kitchen and bathrooms (including the cabinets)
- Reinstall blinds in windows facing the street.
So far we are ahead of schedule (I had given myself until Christmas to complete the renovation!) and under budget (by doing most if the work ourselves). .
|
|
|
06-01-2017, 12:05 PM
|
#110
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,003
|
Wow. After reading all the work you've done yourself I need some ibuprofen!
__________________
Numbers is hard
|
|
|
06-01-2017, 01:15 PM
|
#111
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,472
|
That's a lot of work, FIREd!! Soon you will be done.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
|
|
|
06-01-2017, 01:50 PM
|
#112
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,894
|
It was a lot of work, but we are very happy with the results.
|
|
|
06-01-2017, 02:14 PM
|
#113
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 17,773
|
Bet you could sell it for a nice return when you're done, as it sounds lovely!
__________________
“Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
|
|
|
08-20-2017, 11:59 PM
|
#114
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,894
|
Update:
The kitchen cabinets, doors, and drawers were still in good shape (despite being 40 years old), so we decided to just repaint them, inside and out, in white. We just finished this tedious job and I am pleased with the results. We updated the cabinet hardware, changed the countertop, sink and faucet, and we purchased a new range and hood. We still need to change the flooring - we are thinking about larger rectangular tiles in grey to break the white on white look and pick up some of the grey tones in the quartz countertop. The living room update has been even more remarkable IMO (replacing the carpet with HW floors, removing the wall paneling and the ceiling beams, repainting everything except the brick fireplace, replacing the fireplace mantel). We put in a lot of sweat equity in this remodel and haven't had to spend a lot of coin so far (we bought all the materials and paid for the countertop installation).
|
|
|
08-21-2017, 06:06 AM
|
#115
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,003
|
Looks great!
Had to be a ton of work!
__________________
Numbers is hard
|
|
|
08-21-2017, 07:32 AM
|
#116
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Leeward Oahu
Posts: 17,793
|
FIREd needs to be on one of the remodeling shows! Looks fantastic!
__________________
Ko'olau's Law -
Anything which can be used can be misused. Anything which can be misused will be.
|
|
|
08-21-2017, 07:37 AM
|
#117
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: The Bay Area
Posts: 2,736
|
Well done!
A once in a lifetime job. Time to have APosteclipse party!
__________________
You may be whatever you resolve to be.
100% x 10% > 10% x 100%
Small pensions & SS cover essentials
|
|
|
08-21-2017, 07:37 AM
|
#118
|
Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,580
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by REWahoo
Looks great!
Had to be a ton of work!
|
+1
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koolau
FIREd needs to be on one of the remodeling shows! Looks fantastic!
|
+1
Very nice choice of colors - really brightens things up.
|
|
|
08-21-2017, 07:46 AM
|
#119
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,951
|
Looks great..JMO but I think the kitchen floor looks fine..are you doing that just to improve the looks?
|
|
|
08-21-2017, 07:49 AM
|
#120
|
Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
|
Looks great !
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|