Bones to Beauty

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Chad and I never originally set out thinking doing home improvement (or rather in our case, tear it down and build it back up) would be our thing. Other couples do movies, nature trails, sports, well, for us, we just destroy and build it all back up. We have done this many times over and upon many requests from family and friends, have decided to chronical what I’m calling our “forever home”. We recently bought this home in Victoria, Texas and for me, this is our last project home. Chad laughs, our daughter laughs and pretty much anyone I tell this to laughs as no one believes this to be our last project home, maybe forever “home” city, but not the house. We will see! Come along and join us on our journey of remodeling every aspect of this this home from the outside in. This is one house that there isn’t a single thing we are keeping the same, that is a first! I’ll try to make sure to include tips and tricks as we go and if you have any questions of us, just ask!

Happy Remodeling!

Kellie

Organized bathroom chaos

First, there is a method to our madness… so as you start to read about the bathroom remodel, we do have a plan but so many things depend on something else being done that it will seem like chaos to anyone not hearing all of our side conversations. Trust me, there is a plan so stick with us as the ultimate vision (at least in my head) is absolutely gorgeous.

The new tub is here (not in) but so that we knew where to move the drainage from the side wall (under what was the big window) to the center, we had to get the tub (it is a middle drain). We were hoping there would be a template on one of the cardboard sides and unfortunately there was not. We were not super thrilled about this knowing we could be off an inch one way or another (from side to side) we are good with longways. You will see in the picture then that we have the actual drainpipe buried but we put a 4″ pipe around it which will allow us to move the drainpipe from side to side as needed. Genius! (the only reason Chad keeps me around as I like to think outside of the box).

Since that needs to cure AND we have to tile the floor and still need to move the plumbing to the back wall, we could not sit idle. Ok, really, we had to move to the next step as we need to run electrical and cannot move the plumbing for the shower until electrical is ran so we can close the ceiling…otherwise that area of the house would be HOT. We installed the shower fan/vent and happy to say, it has an automatic dehumidifier in it so that will be super nice as long as being able to change the color, brightness and will play music. Super fancy, lol! We also got the back wall all insulated and the cement board up. We did go with the jean insulation as it has worked really well in the kitchen expansion.

I did have to chuckle this weekend as Elise, and I were talking about shower heads and I did admit that is one thing that is stressing me out. I don’t know what I want so I end up just not looking. I did tell her I won’t worry about it until Chad tells me or rather asks…where is it. Well…that happened this weekend as he wants to start prepping in his head. I guess that is on my to-do list for this week (figuring out what I want). Suggestions? Let me know!

Busy couple of weekends!

We have been back at it and feels like we got some good accomplishments done this weekend. That kitchen and all the tile were a killer, but that is behind us, we had a couple weekends of wedding stuff, but a couple weekends of great progress. To catch you up, we are now ready for the master bedroom, master bath and naturally, that means we need to move walls. Make sure to stay tuned as it is gonna get exciting!

Where the shower is going to be, we tore down all of the siding and opened up the ceiling. We also pulled out the old swan window and were able to take the old tub out that window opening. Since that all got taken out/down, we got all of the outside new siding up and new windows in. Chad is taking a couple days off the first week of June to paint, so the outside will be complete and then we can spend the summer months inside.

This is going to be the new shower area – so before

We will be removing these windows as this will become a shower wall.

I couldn’t find my pic of the tub area before…. this was when they had it on the market and trust me, this is photo shopped as it NEVER looked like this!

This is where a swan picture window was – it needed to go as well as the tub and all the floor around it.

No more tile…at least for few months!

I can say, I’m happy to report all of the tile in the kitchen, hallways, atrium and entryway is DONE! We have some grouting left, but it is finally all down. The grouting won’t take long and then we can do the finishing touches. Then we will be onto the master bedroom and bath. We have water lines to move again but should not be as bad as the kitchen. There will be some walls getting moved and we plan to do some unique things with the front windows, but all in all, we don’t think it should take that long. The kitchen was definitely a killer!

Finishing touches to expect over the next couple of weeks: install and paint the trim, build the atrium benches, scrape the hallways popcorn ceiling and re-texture and paint. Then onto the FINAL room!!!

Remember from a LONG time ago where we found that one side of the atrium had an interior flowerbed? This was the same on the opposite side, so getting this removed and re-concreted.

Atrium tile – both sides look like this.

Little bit of life and a little bit of tile..

I think this year is going to be full of go-go-go with the continued house remodel and Ciera & Dylan’s wedding, there isn’t going to be much down time. I’m not complaining, just being honest that things are going to seem like it is slow, but that is because life is more important than the house at the moment. Please be patient and I’ll make sure to update the blog as much as I can, just know it is going to be at a much slower pace right now.

The last you all knew tile was down in most of the kitchen, it is now grouted, one of the hallways are completed and we tore out where the original ‘bar’ was and have it framed. We did not put up the walls as we can do that later and have kept the old sink in there to use for all of the remodel clean up. However, we needed to get this framed so we knew where the tile should ‘sit’. This is going to become a closet and wine storage, so walls and a door were needed.

I’m also adding a picture of a gator. This gator resides in the creek that backs up to our neighborhood. The city tries to relocate them, so it is special when you actually get to see one this big. Starting in April they will be replacing the bridge that we saw him by, so I’m sure they will find him and relocate him. Sad, just because he is cool to see from afar.

You can see in this picture where we framed the old bar area

picture a full wall and frame around the door – this will become a closet and wine storage

Normally doors are pretty easy to hang. This door was not pre-hung so took a little more time (more than we like to admit) as we had to router where the hinges would be, etc. I do have a really cool door handle but that is still sitting here. Chad is putting it off as he is not wanting to mess it up (have to drill/cut out all of that) and with it being glass… I think he will put it off until as long as I let him.

Happy 2026!

Hi all! We are back, holidays are over, so we must get back to work (reality). We spent this first weekend in January starting to lay the tile in the kitchen. This tile will end up being in all of the kitchen/pantry, main-level hallways and as you enter the front door, meaning there is a TON of tile to get laid. Since you are to stay off the floor for 48 hours to let it set and no grouting for 72 hours, we are having to be strategic on what is getting laid and when. The extended kitchen area, main part of the kitchen and part of the pantry are tiled and drying. Next weekend we will at a minimum get the grout under where the refrigerator sits so it can get back to its normal ‘home’ vs by the laundry room. LOL! Soon the kitchen will really be complete. In the one picture you will see what I think I’m going to use as my backsplash. I have 4 more samples coming. Once I get that decided, then we can get the backsplash done and FINALLY get the pot filler installed. I cannot wait!

Ciera did “book” us for this coming Saturday as they need some electrical work done at their house, so next weekend, is going to be limited, but as long as we can get the fridge back in its rightful place, I’ll be happy. Happy New Year All!

We have countertops!

Happy Holidays to all! Like I mentioned in earlier posts, we were going to slow down and not do a lot until first of the year. However, I’m happy to report that the countertops are in! When you look at the pictures, you will see the faucet (both sink and pot filler) are still missing and doing those tonight. Also, I know the TV is not centered – that is where it originally hung and going to see if I can cash in on a Black Friday deal for a little bit bigger TV. The pantry picture, the shelf looks CRAMMED – it is as the installers did not want us to put the 2nd shelf up until they installed the countertop, so yes, there will be a 2nd shelf AND it will look much better.

I hope you all enjoy the holiday season and take a moment or two to just breathe and take it all in. Even with the chaos the season brings, remember it is the little things that mean the most. Love to all!

Imagination Land

We have actually made good progress on the kitchen and the pictures will give you an idea of what the finish product will look like. I titled this one as Imagination Land, as you do have to do some imagining to visualize the final product. Why? Because what you will see is a temporary sink and countertops (plywood with dry erase board on top). You will see concrete floors as that cannot be laid until the countertops are in (you cannot get quotes for the countertops until all of the cabinets are in). We still have one wall (by the fridge) that we have to put in upper cabinets, but I’m 1 short…so yeah that is gonna be a week or two out. When you look at the pictures, think of very glossy black granite countertops with a sliver back tile backsplash where the stove is and a beautiful black stainless-steel sink. The pantry is ready to be stocked! YES!! but you will see the toaster there – giving you an idea of what should be on those countertops. I think I want to add a shelf above the cabinets (about halfway up) and put those snacks (that we all know I love – thank you Little Debbie) in baskets.

Enjoy going back to your childhood and using your imagination. It will be hit and miss for postings for the rest of the year as I don’t know what time schedule the countertop folks will have and then the tile, toe kicks would follow. I did promise Chad we would just stop and enjoy life for the rest of the year…so just know we are on a break (so to speak). We will definitely be back at it hard first of the year as we will have 1 room left and I so want that pool to start to be in April – May 2026!

If you look to the right, you can see one cabinet and that is where the “bar” area will be – again imagine

Water lines are moved!

Talk about an ass-killing Saturday to move the water lines. The plus, it is done, all of the lines are moved, and new concrete is laid. The refrigerator is in its new permanent spot – progress! Now we should really be able to kick the rest out. I’m so super excited (I know, I keep saying that). The range hood came in this weekend, so I think (fingers crossed) outside of the countertops, we have everything to put this kitchen back together. Thank goodness!

Lines are cut so the jackhammering can begin

Thank you Dylan! We actually had 2 jackhammers – the one above that Dylan was running and Chad had one. (it was NOISY)!

Pot filler waterline is done too! I had to put up a sign as Chad kept forgetting we needed that.

Progress and some set backs

Chad did have this past week off but was on call for everything after 5pm until 7am the next day and then on call all of this weekend. He did great but this weekend was not so friendly to us. He basically worked all weekend, and then chaos on what should have been an easy water line move. I swear I live in Mayberry – I love this little town, but if you want anything “modern” or “out of the box thinking” this is not the town! Let’s just say, Chad had to educate the plumber on how you could run a sink and dishwasher to the middle of the room without having the venting run into the attic/outside wall. I’m just glad I was working at that time, or I would have “mansplained” to the MAN. Needless to say, we received the quote for what would be half-ass work, and I said…absolutely NOT, I have a Chad, and we will just do it ourselves, and we are!

So, we have all of the walls up for the pantry, all walls in the pantry and expansion area have been mudded, textured and painted! In the main part of the kitchen, all of the lights are up/wiring where it needs to be and we started on the hole in the middle of the kitchen. We did find the hot water line and had to wait for my Amazon driver (adding days to the work deliverable) to deliver the tool to find the drainage line. That did show up, and now we know where we need to cut the rest of the way to move the lines. All good – but as I said at the beginning, Chad worked most of this weekend and although he lets me run the jackhammer, not the saw (see picture below); therefore, that will be next weekend’s work!

little more ceiling demolition for the can lights in that section of the room

main kitchen area with all the lights/new ceiling up

this now has a hole, and I’ll share that next week, but the hot water line is between where the cut is and the saw.

A little demolition, building and cleaning.

We seemed to do a little bit of everything this weekend but feel like we didn’t get a thing done all at the same time. I hate weekends like this because it is the little things that you have to do to move the project forward, but then you stop and ask yourself what you actually got accomplished. It is what it is, and next week we will have 3 full days and then Chad is taking that first week off in September….so good vibes in the universe that by the end of that week, A LOT will be done and I’ll be feeling good about the progress.

This weekend, we needed to get the dust down as every time you walk on the old floor, I swear a bucket of dust went in the air. We purchased a cheesy carpet cleaner (knowing we would ruin it) and cleaned the floors, that has helped. I have decided I’m going to get some remnants and put those down to help as well as the tile is the LAST thing to get done and I going a little crazy with this dust. We did get the rest of the ceiling down in the one part of the kitchen, started moving wiring, put in the extended AC duct work, demolished the walls of the old pantry and put up the walls to the new pantry! Here is to a fast work week so we can hammer a lot out next week!