bishop&holland

|checking up on the home reno|

pink hard hats // blue tank // white jeans // sneakers // jeans // white top // sneakers

It’s been about a month since we shared what we plan on updating in our home, so I thought I would give another quick update. Now that demo is complete, things are starting move quickly and I can’t wait to start seeing some of our finishes installed! Our kitchen and bathroom faucets won’t be delivered for 4-6 weeks, so those will be the final pieces installed before move-in. We’re crossing our fingers that we are moved in a month from now!

KITCHEN

The wallpaper is down, the island is gone and we are getting ready for our countertops to go in (which I finally made a decision on!). Our apron front sink was delivered last week and our contractor will start to work on the cabinetry to get it installed. I still need to choose a backsplash; I’ll decide once the counters are installed this week. I’m dying to see the progress once the counters go in and the cabinets are painted!

MASTER BATHROOM

The master bathroom is well on it’s way. They have reframed the shower, moved the plumbing, built our vanity, added new outlets for two sconces and we are ready for tile. I’ve selected our faucets, shower fixtures, bath tub and tub filler. The tub should go in soon, but we will be waiting 4-6 weeks for the faucets. Now that I’ve chosen countertops, I’ve made a decision on floor tile and have almost decided on shower wall tile!

BOYS’ BATHROOM

The boys’ bathroom is ready for tile and countertops! I’ve selected countertops for their bathroom and I’m working on finalizing the floor tile and shower wall tile. We’re also planning to do a wainscot of tile around the whole bathroom. I’m still looking for the perfect wallpaper to go above the wainscot! I want do something fun for the boys, but not cutesy. It may be hard to find, but I’ve actually seen a couple of patterns that almost fit the bill.

FLOORING

Our floors are in! This has made a huge difference in our house. We ended up going with a 5″ white oak and so far I am so glad we did! I still need to choose a stain – so let me know if you have any suggestions!

FAMILY ROOM

We had a very random half wall/window. We knew the wall needed to go, but thought we would have to leave one column. Our contractor was able to add enough reinforcement beams into the ceiling and now we have nothing there. It has opened up our entire house and we love it. We re-did the built-in, our tv will now be set up above the fireplace, we redid the fireplace surround and have fireplace tile picked out. This room is the focal of the house and we want it to be very cozy and comfortable. I can’t wait to see it painted and the tile in!

FAQS

Why did you choose nail down hardwoods vs. engineered?

We originally thought engineered floors would be the only thing that fit our budget. Our contractor’s floor sub gave us a great price on the nail down hardwoods and even though we aren’t planning to sell anytime in the near future, we have heard that nail down hardwoods are more valuable for resale. When we realized we had to replace our baseboards anyway, (which had to be done if we did nail down floors) it was an easy decision. I am so happy with our floors!

What color are your floors?

We went with white oak in a 5″ plank. I have yet to decide the stain. Will keep you posted!

What did Caleb care the most about in the renovation?

Our master bathroom shower was tiny. He wanted to enlarge it enough that his elbows wouldn’t hit the glass when he was washing his hair. Thankfully, that was an easy fix!

What has been the most stressful part of your renovation?

Bathroom tile. There are so many options and I have had the hardest time making a decision and sticking with it. I have lost sleep over it! Floor & Decor has been my go-to and I have been there grabbing samples the past week. I am so excited to see some of my selections installed this week!

Who is doing your bathroom reno?

Our general contractor is overseeing our entire project. If you’re local, I’d be happy to share his contact information. He’s been great to work with!

How did you figure out budget for reno vs house?

We had X amount of dollars to spend and whatever we had left after we bought the house we could spend on the reno.

What do William and Henry think?

Henry could care less. William is concerned why our house is so dirty. They both have been great sports throughout the whole process, but we all can’t wait to see our house done!

What was the most important part of the reno for you? Your must-do?

My must-do was removing the half wall/window. Taking it down has changed everything!

Why did you choose this house for reno?

It was in the right neighborhood, with the schools we would like our boys to attend. It also is .5 miles from my parents and I love that my boys will grow up in the same area that I did! It also hasn’t been updated in 25 years, so we aren’t redoing someone else’s updates.

Are you working with an interior designer?

I’m not. While at times it’s been hard, I know what I like and the look I’m going for. I’m just praying it all looks good together when all is said and done!

What paint colors did you choose?

I have yet to choose a single paint color for our house. Since this is the last thing we will be doing, I am going to wait for everything to be installed and then chose!

Cheers,

Stia, Jean and Katherine