Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Home Improvements FINISHED!

Joe and I recently decided to take on some home improvement projects. Once we finally decided what we were going to take on I thought to myself, "wow, this is going to be a lot of work and I am going to have to invoke my (rarely used) patience." Guess what? It has proven to be true it is a lot and we are only finished with Phase 1 and Phase 2 with Phase 3 and Phase 4 to be started this week. Below are pictures of Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 1 was replacing the tile that surrounded our fireplace with stone. We are very pleased with the results. Phase 2: consisted of Joe tearing out the kitchen floor and literally pulling 5,000 staples from the floor one at a time. We hated the kitchen floor but we could never decide on a tile. We finally decided on tile and after a long long long weekend and some help from some people who know how to put down tile the job is complete! Phase 3 will be replacing all oak trim (baseboards and casing) with white trim. Phase 4 is new carpet in the upstairs and stairway. Hopefully by end of February I will have my house back. Right now, it is a MESS!!

You can see the old flooring in this picture.

New floor!!

Keenan wanted to help. We are also replacing the tile in the front entry way. The picture with Keenan shows the old tile that we are tearing up. (and when I say we I mean Joe although I did grout the kitchen tile). I didn't get a picture of the fireplace with the blue/gray tile that was on it. This is the best before picture I had.