Right Now

It is a world of construction below floors at 104 Commonwealth. We've embarked on a very speedy basement remodel to transform our unfathomably ugly, mildewy, pipe-laden basement into a playroom with a separate laundry area and finished bath.

The ceilings are low (no we're NOT digging) so this will never, ever be the Taj Mahal of anything. But with the help of a plumber, electrician and small construction crew, we're seeing magic every day. Much, much, much of the credit has and continues to go to Paul.

Together we looked at the estimates (yow!!) and he agreed to do half the work himself (all the demo - like removing a kohler tub circa 1942!, tearing down all the walls and rotted beams, single-handedly putting up 12-foot sister joists (so that we can remove the five metal floor-to-ceiling jacks that divide the room, and then framing out the whole bathroom with 2 X 4.)

Next he'll be installing new stair treads, and when the bathroom is done (thanks to Lee Rodriguez and his amazing crew -- think tiled shower with a recessed light, a beautiful new sink and a pretty tile floor...yea!), Paul will come back in to install a huge pocket door to close off our storage from the playroom.

I have an amazing husband. When Lee found out Paul was doing all this he said "oh I thought you worked for a living." Paul said, "yeah, I do," and Lee's mind was blown. "You mean you're doing this on the weekend?!?" So I'm pretty sure Lee think's I'm a total B, making my husband slave instead of enjoying the bounty of a contractor. This is when I remind Paul he made me knit a winter hat for Harry just hours before Charlotte was born. What comes around, goes around!

So, for your "enjoyment"....some before and during pictures of our basement adventure. [Harry in his safety glasses swinging a rubber mallet; the stripped bathroom (with a glimpse of the new black and white tile sample); Paul working on the framing. and all the rewiring in progress. You may be able to just spy our sign that reads "Beware of Dog"....which has pretty much summed-up the aesthetic value of our basement. I'm hopeful Paul and Lee can change that.