6.27.2011

Demolition: The Final Chapter



If you're wondering what's more satisfying than taking out aggressions by tearing down walls and smashing up tile, then I have your answer: finishing demolition. When you're done breaking down, then you can start building up and putting together. Check out the final state of the house before we started making it pretty. (Please excuse the blurry photos. Our camera was having issues.)




Remember when I told you that I didn't have any "before" pictures of the bathroom. This is as close as we're going to get. If you see the lighter spots on the floor, that's where walls used to be. You can see how narrow the bathroom used to be. We decided that we wanted a bigger bathroom, so we decided we could sacrifice a little closet space in the adjacent bedroom/office.




6.16.2011

Close Calls - Storm Damage



A crazy storm blew through the OKC metro on Tuesday. In our area we had 70 mph wind and golf-ball sized hail. There were roofs blown off, trees snapped in half, downed power lines, etc. We weren't home during the storm, but upon return we were greeted with a large limb that had fallen from the neighbor's tree, and a shattered screen door and storm window. Roof damage is yet to be determined. I thought this would be a good opportunity to give some tips on dealing with storm damage.

How to Deal with Storm Damage
  • Take pictures of all damage, large or small.
  • Immediately cover up damaged areas to protect from further damage. (Insurance companies will usually reimburse you for this expense.)
  • If you're unsure of the extent of your damage, get an estimate from a couple of contractors before filing a claim. You don't want to file unnecessary claims with your insurance, because your rates will go up.
  • For non-DIY repairs, get quotes from at least 3 reputable, local contractors. Never trust companies that are from out of town, and be leery of those traveling door-to-door after a storm.
  • Be safe! Wait until the storm is over before attempting inspection/repair. Be careful of power lines, tree limbs, etc. that may poised to fall. 
Do you have any tips that we missed? Let us know in the comments!



6.08.2011

Demolition



We wasted no time when it came to starting demolition. As soon as we had the keys in our hands, we promptly went on a Home Depot shopping spree for tools and then headed to our new home to destroy it.




There was a pesky wall separating the kitchen area from the living room. You can see the old gas line hanging down. (We hired a plumber to move that. We don't like explosions.) You can also see some electrical wire up top that I would later electrocute myself on while trying to measure something. I'm talented. We also decided to flip the location of the kitchen and dining room. It gave us more room for cabinets and made a more open feel.








We like to use the carport as storage for unwanted house junk because it makes our neighbors happy. (We were waiting for the dumpster to arrive.)

6.07.2011

Today I Like: Brendan Ravenhill


Recently my eyes have been drawn to the more simple/industrial. I like objects that showcase the way they're put together. That's why I was happy to run across the work of Brendan Ravenhill. His light fixtures are beautiful and minimal. Stop by his site and see his other work!


all photos via brendanravenhill.com