Monday, June 13, 2011

Almost there! Final big house project before the move!

C getting cozy in the new library.


Remember how we've been supposedly moving for like five months? Well, the time has almost come: this Saturday is moving day!! After ten years, we have sold our little yellow cottage -- the first house I've ever owned -- and we are moving on. The new house (new old house; it's 126 years old!), I hope, is "it." Our house. Forever. The one we will be wobbly old coots in some day.

And you know who hopes even more than me that this house is "it"? Jim. Jim's life has been a purgatory of caulking and painting and floor-refinishing for months now. My god. The previous owners did not leave him an easy task. Layers of paint and lino tiles and adhesives covering the hardwood floors ... not to mention glued-down and decaying carpet pad. Hours on his knees. Days with the sanders. So much sandpaper. And sawdust. And tedium. Nay, misery.

But oh so worth it! So beautiful, so beautiful, so beautiful! Here, my hero (with the hideous "before" hallway after the carpet was yanked up):




As usual, I only have befores and durings rather than befores and afters:

Master bedroom, BEFORE, three layers of paint on the floor:





DURING (so pretty!!! Can you believe it was painted brown?):





The landing, BEFORE (*covering my eyes*):





The horror of that! And below, a glimpse of possibility.

DURING:





An angle of the living room, carpeted and wallpapered BEFORE:





And now -- DURING -- a texted photo with 2 coats of varnish (this is dry; it's that shiny!) as I haven't actually seen it myself yet. Maybe tomorrow? Oh my stars how I love it!
Does it make you want to sock-slide or WHAT?





Life has been weird and exhausting lately, with Jim at the new house working away, me at the old house packing, with Clementine's oh-so-helpful helpfulness. I tell you, we aren't loving all these evenings apart. It's the suck, and after next week we will be done with that malarkey, halleluja, and back to normal routine of being together all the time, just how we like it! Phew. 

And then, in spare moments: NESTING. Oh how I love to nest. But it will take us a long time to get settled in, I can tell you that, because I must write my heart out for the rest of the summer and then, in the fall: BOOK TOUR! My first book tour! Yeeeee! So exciting! 

Nesting will be an ongoing project. But oh, I have so many ideas. A few more today after a trip to IKEA than I did yesterday too. (How glad am I that IKEA is five minutes away? So glad.)

If I am absent for a few days, you know why. I'm all about the cardboard boxes right now. Joy joy!



15 comments:

Camille said...

Congrats on the progress of the new house. I know this is probably not the right time but I was wondering if you can answer a few questions that have made me curious. I know they are pretty basic but still I wanted to ask them before and never did. So here I go: First how do you work with two editors? : The English one and the AMerican one. Do both help you edit your book or only one?
And secondly If I understood correctly you got the Book Deal for Daughter of SMoke and Bone before you completed the book, right? How does that work exactly? On a side ntoe this really makes me eager to read it since the beginning must be amazing. ALthout that's not a surprise since all your books are. Good luck with the change of house.

Jeanne said...

The new house looks AMAZING! I want those bookshelves! Good job Jim!!

Sophia said...

Bless Jim for doing all that hard work, it definitely shows! Can't wait to see what it looks like with *stuff* inside. I love how much brighter the rooms look with the white walls and super shiny floors.
- Sophia.

Johari said...

Can't wait to see pictures of the "after". It's already looking so beautiful. Hope your move starts with yummy coffee + pastries and ends with chocolate. :)

Cynthia Lee said...

That is truly a beautiful house. Your husband is awesome!

Chelsea said...

That's so exciting! Your house is looking wonderfully beautiful. All of that floor work must have taken a lot of effort, so kudos, Jim! Can't wait to see the "after" pictures. ^_^

LinWash said...

Your house is gorgeous!

tone almhjell said...

Oh, Jim. What a hero! The house is going to be fantastic. All that light and shine. You deserve it, all three of you!

Jane said...

Wow I am so jealous of that house! I want one!

J said...

Oh Laini, your house is going to be so beautiful! I can't wait to see the after photos with all your bright colorful things set up. :) Congrats on the move!

Unknown said...

Your house will be so, so, so beautiful!
First time I left a comment here, but I visit your blog every single day - I LOVE IT! :) (But please don't think I'm a stalker. I'm not! =) )
And Clementine, let me tell you something, she is such a cute baby girl!
Good luck on Saturday! :)

Melanie said...

Laini, you absolutely MUST show us the "after" pics of every single room in your beautiful new home! I truly hope you and Jim enjoy raising your family and being "wobbly old coots" there.

TeresaD said...

That house is GORGEOUS! I can't wait to see the afters!!

Anonymous said...

And the pics of Clementine. Also "During." : )

I'm so looking forward to how everything (and everyone) turns out.

Amber said...

I love that you two could see that old house, and know what it could be again. Only creative people can do that. Lovely!

;)

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