Mankini Banned

Pool rules:
1) Proper bathing suits must be worn at all times.
2) No expelling of body fluids into pool. (this includes but is not limited to...pee, poop, saliva, or any otherwise spontaneous or provoked emissions)
(and yes I did buy that special pool chemical that turns green when you pee in the pool...so I will know)

(this is an example of mankini...this does NOT constitute proper bathing attire)

How We Killed Disco

We’re just about complete with the kitchen. (yes pictures to come in a week or so) However, adjacent to the kitchen is the family room so we decided that it was best to complete both the kitchen and family room floors at one time. The family room presented a separate challenge. Painted in a lovely bright yellow, the family room epitomized the 70’s. Instead of an emblematic disco ball we inherited a funky mirrored chimney with brass trimming. Can you dig it?
(Family room before)


(First step...remove mirrors)


(Second step...remove bricks)


(Third step...remove more mirror and mirror under the mirror)


(Fourth step...remove remaining bricks, remove base boards, remove carpet, patch/sand walls, re-texture walls)


(Fifth step...wait for the texture to dry and go buy the paint)

(Sixth step...remove remaining brick and paint wall)


(Seventh step...in near future...FLOORS!)

Boozers Wanted!

Granite has been installed. Although we're still working on some minor touches...here are the pictures of the evolution...

• newly textured and painted walls
• door handles
• interior lights

When Bees and Ants have Sex

Every weekend that I've had to clean the pool I've found some very interesting looking creepy critters...YIKES!

The Art of Multi-tasking

(Binh sanding, drilling, doing the running man and solving complex quadratic equations.)

This is how we get it done!!!

(cabinets assembled and mounted)


(wetbar before) (wetbar with cabinets removed)


(wetbar now with new cabinets/mini installed)

Dig Doug

Shout out to Doug for all the advice. We appreciate your help!

How King Kong Conquered Poo-Poo Brown

The previous owner had some very unusual color choices. The master bedroom was two toned in a vomit lime green and vomit forest green. We were actually excited about having our first official renovation project. I started with laying down the plastic and lining the base molding with painter's tape. Glenn in his excitement wanted to rip out the chair rails (molding along the middle of the wall). And that's exactly what he did. In a very king-kong like style masculine testosterone filled maneuver, he pulled the chair molding with his bare hands...grrrrrr! Of course pieces of the paint along with pieces of the wall went with the display of manliness. So after all the patching, two coats of primer, and texturing we have a soothing Scandinavian Blue.


After all the work in the master bedroom we decided that painting wasn't so fun. So although the living room is painted in a hideous two toned poo-poo brown we've grown to like -not painting it. So here you have it...our beautiful living room.

The Middle and Thinking Green

Kitchen Renovation

It starts with demolition and I encourage all of you future renovators to think green. Glenn and I were careful and dissembled the cabinets so that they could be recycled. An option is to donate to Habitat for Humanity. Another option is to post the cabinets on Craig's List. Within 10 minutes of our post we receive numerous calls and the cabinets were picked up that afternoon by a very deserving family.

Kitchen Renovation timeline...
The Beginning -> stare at the ugly yellow outdated kitchen
The Middle -> demolition of cabinets & floors
-> patch/repair/prime walls
-> order cabinets and appliances
-> assemble and mount cabinets
-> order and install granite countertop
The End -> stare at beautiful sophisticated kitchen

-----------------------------------------------------

(Glenn patching wall)

(Upon pulling the cabinets we discover treasure...a few holes, mold and a fancy rat's nest)

(Pulling up the flooring was fun...tile upon a layer of brick printed lament upon another layer of yellow floral lament)

(Kitchen seconds away from beautiful)

16 Inches is NOT Big Enough

The granite installer, a handsome man in his own right, declared to Glenn that his 16 inches was not big enough to do the job. He then proceeded to pull out all 72 inches and demonstrate how much more effective it was. I was convinced ;)

Advice for future renovators:
(A level kitchen is extremely important. For an accurate measurement buy at least a 6 foot level.)

Help! Addicted to Crack

The process of home renovations can be very draining, frustrating, and stressful...especially kitchens. So yes I have succumb to getting some relief. It's analogous to Pavlov's dogs. Over a few weeks time I learned ->
crack = = good things happening = = anxiety about the house instantly lifted.

For example,
= =

crack = = gas plumbing in kitchen = = being able to finally cook on a gas stove

I LOVE CRACK! CRACK makes me salivate! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
*(special thanks to Casey, Bob, and Pat)
**(a special thanks to Casey because he loved to share his crack)

The Beginning

So this begins our story of how an uninspiring pale yellow kitchen turned into a beautiful and sophisticated chef's dream.

The before pictures of our out-dated kitchen.


Our plans:
1) new cabinets
2) new countertops
3) new floors
4) new appliances (especially a gas stove)
5) new light fixtures

Hmmm, some potential issues:
1) not plumbed for gas (i.e. it is an electric stove)
2) don't know the first thing about renovating...anything
3) small budget

Just minor issues;)

First Message from the Renovating Phenoms

So I decided it would be much easier to keep a blog of our renovating adventures then to individually email and send pix to all that have requested an update. I hope to keep all of you informed and entertained as you bear witness to our wonderful mishaps and triumphs.

We purchased a beautiful 4 bedroom 2.5 bathroom home early November 2007. In addition, we have an awesome pool and a backyard adjacent to an open canyon. We are excited and eager to start with our renovations!