Plumbing problems

Homeownership has been a huge blessing and for the most part, tons of fun. But I promised to share it all... Warning this is sorta a gross post, because in general plumbing is gross... Also I talk a lot in this post, with less photos {for somewhat obvious reasons}, so sorry.

Back in October, I glossed over a plumbing blockage we had were sewage backed up into our bathtub. Yuck. A wonderful neighbor/friend came over and set us to rights, but did say that the problem would happen again he just didn't know when. We had our fingers crossed that it wouldn't be for another 10 years. Whoa, dream big! Everything has worked like a charm, but then the last weekend of January, I heard the toilet start to "blub" during my shower. That was the first warning sign last time this went down, so I had an uneasy feeling. MLW called me later that day to report the shower "blubed" on him too. That was when we knew, our plumbing problems where back.

We immediately halted all major water usage, no dishwasher, no washing machine, and lightning fast showers. Luckily we have not experienced the massive backup like we did last time, although some did splash up through our shower. Thank goodness for bleach and every other chemical cleaner I could get my hands on.

So now we are patiently waiting to have our front yard dug up so a new drainage pipe can be installed. We are also getting an up to code cleanout. Its been a lot like camping... and I am not really into camping, "glamping" is more my style. Yay.  The city sent someone out this morning to mark where all the gas lines and water lines are so they don't get cut.

MLW went ahead and dug up the current clean out {which is buried? who does that? } and started to dig out the main drainage line to help lower costs. You pay plumbers by the hour and if we can cut out 1 or 2 because everything as already exposed, it is totally worth it. He quickly discovered the "root" of the problem when he found where the house line connects to the main drainage that leads to the city water. It had tons of roots {ha} through it and a huge crack.

MLW is basically the best man ever for digging it out. The plumber dude was impressed and cut us a deal since he had done so much work on his own. It still isn't going to be cheap though, tax refund be nice to me this year?

Here is hoping it gets resolved soon ....

*Update*
Our plumbing works!!! They showed up a day late because of snowmageden round 2 (which was not nearly as pretty as round1).  With the help of a backhoe, our front yard was ripped up, pipes laid, and filled back in within about 2 hours. And the best part, we can use our water again. Clean clothes, clean dishes, clean people. Feels pretty nice.

Our front yard is totally destroyed, but hoping to resolve that fairly soon. My neighbors must think we are nuts...

I have never been so glad to see a cleanout above ground. Better yet we have 2!

So there you have it. Anyone else ever experience a traumatic plumbing event?

-B

The List

A few weeks after we bought this house MLW and I made a master list of everything we wanted to change or do to 5054. I've shared the kitchen list in those updates, but figured it might be a good time to share the list for the rest of the house as well. Especially since I seem to have hit a little winter blues and I'm finding it harder and harder to keep crossing things off. So here is hoping sharing the list with ya'll will reenergize me and keep moving this house right along!
I'm going to do side by side of the first day they gave us a key and the most recent photo of the space. I tried to find similar point of views for each room to give the most dramatic impact. Here we go:

Entry Way: 

-Paint

-Paint "w" white

-Paint basket handles gold

-Touch up trim

-Add art (key holder, hey ya'll print)

-Make Pretty 

Like I've said before, the entry and hall are the most finished of all the spaces. Boom, Pow! 

The Kitchen:

-Paint chalk board wall on back wall

-Add shaker style detailing to flat bottom cabinets (see this tutorial)

-Add pantry and lower cabinets to random side of stove 

-Paint uppers "Decorator's White" by BM

-Paint lowers a blue/grey slate

-Replace all hardware with ballin' brass hardware (that I already purchased when it went on sale)

-New Countertops

-Subway tile backsplash with grey grout (dark grout=less dirty looking)

-Get a new dishwasher to match stove and fridge 

-Actually install hood above stove 

-Replace lighting 

-Style all those pretty glass uppers

-Cook something yummy when its all done

The least improved space, but kitchens are expensive and half of the fun is in the journey! 

Den (formally the man cave) 

-Paint 

-Blinds

-Curtains

-Ikea shelf

-Curtain Rods

-Wall light

-Celling lights 

-Floor lamp

-Desk lamp

-Desk chair for MLW

-Exercise/Dog area on right side of room (storage for free weights, yoga mats, dog toys, dog food, leashes ect)

-2nd rug to complete space

-Art 

-Fix air vent 

So in here, I'm about half way done. The right side of the room is just so cozy that I can pretend the other side doesn't look like the wild wild west. Also I had a sweet craigslist chair for MLW that I found for $20 and was going to recover, but then it broke. Its the risk you take, but hey it was only $20 bucks. I might splurge and get something like this from West Elm if it ever goes on sale...

Living Room/Dinning: 

-Paint 

-Refinish table

-Style Dinning Room

-New Light

-Dinning room rug?

-Art in Dinning room

-Chairs

-Art in living room 

-Hang Curtains 

-Style 

So there are some half finished projects in here. Also the "after" picture isn't the best representation of how finished the room is. This is from back in October, when I hadn't moved the new table in or styled the area a little more. I have my eye on a light fixture, and I'm still on the fence for an area rug specifically for the dinning. If you have been reading along, you'll know I have the rug from the kitchen in there now, but the more I think about the finished kitchen the more I think I will want it back in there. Thus the question of a rug or no rug? If I do get one, I'm kinda digging this one that is on sale at Anthro right now. 

 The Hallway:
-Paint 
-Remove attic pull
-Anchor Linen closet door
-Light
-Touch up trim
-Art!
-Rug

Yeah! That rug makes my world go round. {other than MLW and the corgis, of course}

Guest Room 1 aka The Blue Room:
-Fix giant hole in wall
-Paint
-Hang blinds
-Hang curtains
-Re-paint furniture
-Put bed together
-Art
-Style 
-New light fixture

We have purchased the ceiling fan, but we haven't put it up yet. Tackling electrical takes a special kind of day.

Guest Bath:
-Hang shower curtain and liner
-Wallpaper
-Light Fixture
-Wallpaper
-Art (hedgehog print)
-Retile floor
-New toilet seat/toilet
-Fix wonky faucet

So this room is more of a part 1 and part 2 project. Part 1 is done and mostly cosmetic! Part 2 involves removing the toilet and pedestal sink to retile the floor that is slowly falling apart. Also I want a fresh toilet? Is that weird? I like old homes, but not old toilets...

Guest Room 2 aka the Green Room:
-Paint
-Buy Bed Frame 
-Hang Curtains
-Dresser
-Re-paint book shelf
-Nightstand
-Fabric for duck chairs
-Accessories
-Art

This room is definitely better than it was just a short while ago, but still has some ways to go. Like I've said before this is the room that we had to source the most furniture for. But we will get there, and it is a passable guest room, so come visit me!

 Master Room:
-Paint
-Hang Curtains
-New Headboard Fabric
-X benches
-Rug
-Art
-Storage basket
-Re-do nightstand/ new nightstand
-Bed skirt 
-New Fan
-New summer bedding

So not to much more to do in here, the fan works fine, but is loud! All summer I slept in earplugs. Also our summer bedding is basically the same color as the wall and I want a little more contrast. However, I will cross that bridge when we have too. Lastly, I've got to figure out what to do with the orange nightstand. I've actually been liking the idea of doing a fabric covered nightstand. I know some pretty talented ladies {savory homemaker, I'm looking at you} who I might be able to sweet talk into helping me.

Master Bath

-Paint

-Shower curtain

-New bath mats

-Accessories

-Art

-New lighting

-Paint bath ceiling 

-New Medicine cabinet

-New toilet seat/toilet 

-Retile? 

Similar to the guest bath, the master bath has a part 1 and a part 2. I'm hoping to tackle painting the ceiling pretty soon. We have leftover ceiling paint so the project will be essentially free and it needs to be done bad! 

Welp, there is the grand list. I do get a kick crossing items off and it feels nice to share everything with ya'll so you know where we are headed. Also I know there has been a lack of attention to the outside of the home, but I promise that is coming! I'm sorta at a total loss as to what to do in some areas, so I'm hoping ya'll can help me out.

Thank you so much for following along this journey with me, its been a trip! 

I love you all!

Betsy 

Snowmageden

It sorta snowed in Charleston! And I had a delightful snow day on the couch cozied up with a good book. All was well with the world. The house also looked super pretty all dusted with ice and snow. And of course the corgi's had a blast.

Crazy right? And sorry for the baby post, I follow up with something a little more exciting later this week!

Love ya'll,
Betsy

Dinning room

Things in the dinning room are moving right along after the table burst onto the scene! 

One again, I piled everything I might need in the room. There were some extra items as well, like all the dog's stuff, a dead plant and a few jackets. Life happens. 

A close up of the table to show you the chaos I started with. 

And the dead palm. May you rest in peace. Speaking of peace, check out the giant peace lily in the background. They are on several lists of "hard to kill plants" so I'm giving it a go and hoping for better 

success. 

The other side of the room, once I moved everything for the "photo shoot." 

Another reality check of the hot mess of outdoor accessories. Hopefully one day they will go outside.

And then it gets good. How amazing are these bamboo chairs? They made the move down with my Dad from his house and I'm so glad he let me adopt them. New chair cushions from Pier 1 and a pillow swap and I'm happy. I know I had discussed white end chairs for the table, but these were free and honestly I love them even more. I've got a couple more finishing touches for these, but I'm liking the direction we are going.

I also ended up pushing them in opposite corners. I tried to have all six around the table, and it was just too much. Felt off, but as soon as I pushed them back it felt perfect! And it is super easy to pull them up to the table when we need them. The Jennifer Moreman print was a One King's Lane purchased that adds the perfect touch to the dinning room wall.

The dinning table is also my art in waiting place. All the good art ends up here before heading to its final destination.

I had intended for this rug to stay in the kitchen, but I moved it to make room for when the lower cabinets got install and I kinda like where it is now? It looks really nice looking into the room from the kitchen. Who knows, it might switch back and forth between room depending on my mood.

I mentioned the pillow swap and here is the outcome. Nate Berkus for Target. Amazing. I wasn't sure about them on the couch, but seeing them in this picture convinces me. They are staying. 

The bar cart got a new decatur set for Christmas and is now very very happy. If only I could get a pretty picture to hang above it...

And finally, two more plants to keep alive with my peace lily. So far my house plant count is up to 6. Most are succulents or air plants. I'm really going to work on changing my brown thumb green. 

Thats all for now,

Betsy