Home Improvements: Built-in removal and painting!

Back in May, Robyn and I got the bright idea to remove some of the built-in shelving/cupboards in our TV/Computer room. The shelves appeared to be made of scrap wood and were somewhat flimsy; if you pulled on the bottom left corner, the unit pulled away from the wall.

Let's start with what they looked like originally:

[pe2-image src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmhyphenhyphena9X4rfxcqBdzQr3zLByQ0g4ID9wPZrQIBi-wW8asGpaJV1UMLQ9GWDONKzjdFaCJ3qdQu22fs-JihmNbeMsPqXgF4OLYg7qLyFuI0HpfeSnP_SZo4Zbjy8UkRom2NCRgY/s144-c-o/1290694135650.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105981302809309990752/HomeImprovements#5897311315979325810" caption="" type="image" alt="1290694135650.jpg" ]

Not the best picture, but you get the idea.

 

I thought that this would mean the shelves were sitting on top of the floor, and would be easy to remove...

Oh, how wrong I was...

The first thing I noticed, is that taking them apart was not easy; each piece was connected to the next piece by about 6-10 nails that did not exactly line up. I also made note that pieces that would have made sense as one piece were in fact several, and some pieces that would have made sense as multiple were one, oddly shaped piece.

I went about demolishing the shelves for the better part of an afternoon, when I made the discovery that changed my mood from optimistic to, "well, that is unexpected."

[pe2-image src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwpcOIkKFcy_NDiRwujMOlNmjJP4Kx7_-qeOCqllrvIqv9sD-XuFtxcgc3Qpot34yldy3Bt6gsKHukVRC5G8Howd74v9VXE70TwRMQmUNxKBvc0AwbHvT4wnP4kxMJQ8eFp-y/s144-c-o/20130527_132219.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105981302809309990752/HomeImprovements#5897308724102639730" caption="" type="image" alt="20130527_132219.jpg" ]

 I had just pulled the bottom of the lowest shelf, and was greeted by this. In case you can't tell, it is sub flooring, not the nice, hardwood floor I was expecting.

I had already removed 70% of the unit, there was no turning back. [pe2-image src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCJWQqpKSiD1rmWLGquMUmSGRNnhNE-3FICTrW5CxSoGOTyPy6UF6cEeYS5iL0S4uoxJkamZbOUrT1JGgkL49zG5JAlO0Nn2VXMF6LkewFkldpmyMEYrBPAXTGQNCtxqCTGUP/s144-c-o/20130527_132203.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105981302809309990752/HomeImprovements#5897308725721306866" caption="" type="image" alt="20130527_132203.jpg" ]

A slightly better picture of the shelves. This side, was not connected to the wall...

[pe2-image src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnyMs7UHYZmyzH6f6gfbXdZcBSWlR_gwts3C4uK8JEwMEXSKHXMBX_1WLhfk03ilqG-HaxOJN7CDCCM-EcWGY4mvCdB2KNaY7YnGz-9NhkPVhTEFuzeGbqSVZn-sUzvIl10MV/s144-c-o/20130527_132211%2525280%252529.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105981302809309990752/HomeImprovements#5897308726804055586" caption="" type="image" alt="20130527_132211(0).jpg" ]

The corner where the floor to ceiling cupboards used to live. I dig the avocado green!

[pe2-image src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpywJQuqr_M7KZ0daajV84i8rMRMd7F1oKtJJM-zfTt5M-aLyihWK-2SmZ1F7e4-XKZq5QLpqRQFf_mA7DcME19LEP39gDxr5mgNmJ3QM6pjLowFmNoSOnNYWOdNPOdYQO4Gw/s144-c-o/20130527_132242.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105981302809309990752/HomeImprovements#5897308724455755426" caption="" type="image" alt="20130527_132242.jpg" ]

Again, the floor was not where I wanted it.

Robyn and I racked our brains on what to do. We decided to not worry about that, and continue the removal, and think about it, since we weren't going  to clean up as nicely as we thought.

Then, some time later, Robyn came up with a brilliant idea; Turn the 12' by 19" non-wood floor into an accent piece. Our current plan is to put down some white tile with a border of Robin's Egg blue tile, running up the sides and along the front. Then, we will take our two handmade bookcases, and use them to flank our Wall mounted TV. We will have to get some sort of cabinet for the wireless router/Media equipment, but we had a plan!

Along with the floor, we obviously needed to do something about the paint.

We decided to take a trip to Lowes on Independence Day and pick out our new wall color. We couldn't find an exact Robin's Egg blue, but we found one that was close.

A few dozen spackle patches later, and we were ready to prime the walls where the cabinets had been.

Before...

[pe2-image src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bvNhlIcVJ-Ci0FChS9P0xPmdk1dNcZ-wOQDrVutsEvIMDiKI3XEXZDqFluF4A9L0kK0LCKMcsymI7h5XQdvdU5WfmiXA43F2jeDGquBFerpfO99ONmwbFJFPJcRXEnDMS2-L/s144-c-o/20130704_125522.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105981302809309990752/HomeImprovements#5897308723875323602" caption="" type="image" alt="20130704_125522.jpg" ] [pe2-image src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohvyyTSA6NCCWveH0YEvzeDrTGdF5EmVSHFrdtO4gxqN8334gzz19_QG04z37Ip3BOsvJdqRUE1gJtu2iOrwyW67dwbDqJ1ZvxiEtwtXK4yF4V1j3zJAp5Eddut4nNqzet5U6/s144-c-o/20130704_125528.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105981302809309990752/HomeImprovements#5897308724982923794" caption="" type="image" alt="20130704_125528.jpg" ] [pe2-image src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCdBx-IJzmjt_ib2dloxfea1Fi97wAIO2t0EZQWGOVYvuPj4u6xIMAVf__tmwAydLbgF-KPG5oQqoE3oahsbI96p2-txGQiVE27MrlkcbzNk5G7sy_hFWy0WooDXJTI-X4v4W/s144-c-o/IMG_20130704_125542.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105981302809309990752/HomeImprovements#5897308725242977250" caption="" type="image" alt="IMG_20130704_125542.jpg" ]

I even had a helper!

[pe2-image src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wwz9sQMZp_hDMJhvOdVteM6YHNnhEdPXab-Ce9E5dg3d_P8BrrdduAE67cIfdg_6XiKNuQoGcglyIWPiTSsmN2HI6p04rNpFaMy0lKxQeGNZ-DKhyphenhyphenm6Pvm7-HjoSTKERifiY/s144-c-o/IMG_20130704_134722.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105981302809309990752/HomeImprovements#5897308725724076178" caption="" type="image" alt="IMG_20130704_134722.jpg" ]
[pe2-image src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCAuVzG1FA9hmRR1TW7oXHaARItYPc00OyBly2D5pb_OalpDLSC68x2a12XIA05At2l9Zz4ATLzpiPABjmVgaw2epPLyP20MlU2X1nbh4JSyOLtpVYP0ybXOK0V23ctuf2sIy/s144-c-o/20130704_134824.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105981302809309990752/HomeImprovements#5897308724552581106" caption="" type="image" alt="20130704_134824.jpg" ]

..or two!

[pe2-image src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JP0Nt_iIPutrFHQkJujv67H2kaSgUBWyqP533UJOreqrJE8zUms767TxUs051O2eFlMACplzh8j9mRYjipYyib4-SH-L1_G6XgrttVdtnZutC-r10lOIoqR_BDImw7arg64N/s144-c-o/20130704_134834.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/105981302809309990752/HomeImprovements#5897308724948849682" caption="" type="image" alt="20130704_134834.jpg" ]

 

 

While we couldn't paint over the primer that day, we did manage to paint about 50% of the room. I wasn't sure about the color before, but after it was on the walls, I really liked how it looked!

 

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 Those two pictures don't really do the color the justice, but you can start to see it.

Today, we went full steam ahead after I got home from work, and got the other walls painted. Two hours later, we had the walls done, and even were able to go back and touch up some of the painting from yesterday.

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Now, all that's left to do is pick out the tiles, order the tiles, remount the TV, find a cabinet, and put the room back together!

We're practically done! :)

Anya and Quinn

What a great big sister!

I love my daughter..

Should I be scared?

Anya watching Dora

Tiring, but fantastic Day!

Today, really tired me out.

Robyn and I threw a pumpkin carving party at our house.  To prepare for the event, we prepared a mighty feast: Apple cake, Banana Bread, Garlic Toast, and Homemade Meatball Sauce. Robyn and I took turns prepping and watching Anya.  I was going to bake a traditional loaf for the garlic, but Robyn knew there wouldn't be time, so she picked up a couple of crusty loaves at Wegmans yesterday.

 

We had 5 people (Brendan, Jack, Stacey, Brett, and Andy)show up, which was great and helped make our house feel small :)  Brendan brought two delicous pies; Sweet potato Pecan, and Traditional pumpkin to add to our feast.  There was so much good food!  I tried to convince Andy he needed to eat more than one slice of pie, but it didn't work...plus, combined with the 78 degree house (thank you stove for working!) I'm pretty sure it would have put him in a coma, or at least a really nice nap. :)

It was an amazing time, just sitting, talking, eating, and enjoying time with friends.  The kids were quite entertaining.  At one point, all the adults were in the computer room carving, and the two little ones took off for the kitchen.  I went in to see what mischief they were getting into.  I walk in, and Jack was on the table, with half a loaf of banana bread in his hand, while Anya, more than likely, was directing him where to go.  I simply said "HELLO!  I see you would like some more bread."

Jack's face was priceless.  Just a quick glance around, as if he was saying "what?  me?  Oh sure."  Anya looked concerned like she was about to get scolded, but then realized that it was ok, and threw on her telltale grin.

Here are a few quick pictures from the carving:

 

From Oct 2011

Side note: both my Droid X and our Camera take HORRIBLE low light pictures.  I'm not sure if any Mobile phone camera can take a good low light photo, but I think might be time to retire the Konica Minolta DeImage A200.

After everyone left, Robyn made the point that if we do this again next year with just the same set of people, there will be three more kids.  I then realized that Robyn, Stacey, and Rabia are all due within a couple months of each other.

Awesome.

Day one of Stove use

So far, the stove is working wonderfully.  The vent system is doing what it should: Venting the smoke out of the house!

The Stove is current set on HR-1, or Low heat.  Current temperature outside: 51 degrees.  Current temp inside: 82 downstairs, 78 upstairs.  At these temperatures in the spring/fall last year, we were struggling to keep the downstairs at 67 and the upstairs at 68.  Even then, the Boiler was running pretty much non-stop.

I plan to keep a log of when I add a bag to the stove, and the temperature range for the day, and Stove heat setting to help track of usage to plan for next year and see how we do.

We spent Just under $975 on Pellets.  The stove, heat board and pipe work was about $1375, and another $55 for caulk and drywall.  We just purchased a gate for $43.  That puts the total cost of the Stove installation at around $2448.

According to NYSERDA, the current cost of Fuel oil is $3.65 per gallon, up from $2.79 last year.  That puts us at around $730 to fill our tank.  Last year, we went through around 800 gallons. ( I'll have to check that number...).

If the prices stay at $3.65, that would mean a cost of $2920 to to heat our house at the 67/68 degree mark through winter. That means, this year we'll spend about $472 LESS than we would have just using Fuel Oil, and have a house that will be warmer.  I'll keep an eye on the price of Fuel Oil, and at the end of the month, I'll take the average price and compare to our usage last year.  We went through almost a tank a month during December, January, February, and March.  November and April were partial, so we'll say another tank.  that's a Total of around 4 Fills.  I'm not expecting this installation to pay for itself in one year, but it just might.

Here's a link to the picture gallery:

Pellet Stove

 

 

we own...

JENGA!!

Enough said...

Totally staged, but no less bad a$$

Our decorated tree!

Here is our first decorated tree in our house!!

Almost looking like home...

It is almost there...

Uhhhh...

I have no idea...

Pretty cake!

Now who to eat it with? :)