Saturday, October 13, 2012

Renovations

We're moving in a month and renovating our new place at the same time which is one of many reasons why I've been slow in blogging recently. Finding an apartment to buy wasn't that easy--the parameters were limited due to respective commutes, size needs, costs and preference for a prewar building. With little on the market, others were looking for the same thing as us. Fortunately, we got a big place in a well maintained building we liked, but it looked like it hadn't been decorated since 1972. So, we went for pretty much a gut rehab and the demolition is now pretty much completed (bathroom down to the studs, kitchen cabinets entirely removed, no baseboards left and the lighting/electrics almost entirely redone.

I'm amazed at how much work is involved. I knew we needed a new kitchen and bathroom (from floor to ceiling), that the place needed to be entirely repainted white (every room was a different colour, none of them nice), the floors refinished and the baseboards replaced. That's not minor work. Thankfully the contractor is great and our architect is really helpful. Even the little details--replacing all the light fixtures, deciding on medicine cabinets, storage, etc--can take a long while, but we want this all done in a month. Today was kitchen day--we worked on the drawings and selected cabinets--and hopefully all will be ordered next week. Meanwhile I have revisions due on a paper, the book files will soon arrive so I'll have to look over the copyediting, and there is teaching.

With all the distractions, clothes have not been on my mind of late. I've shopped my closet. I can't fit into much of what I have but I'm making do for the time being. When it gets cold, I'm going to have to do some tactical shopping. Just two more months to go.

7 comments:

joyce said...

How exciting! Isn't home renovation sort of a crazy process? I have the will, but making all those decisions is hard.

Moya said...

It is exciting--I'm amazed at how much time it takes, though, even with contractors doing everything. Today's search was for sinks, taps and bathroom shelves. Lighting comes next and then we're almost there. How are your renovations going, Joyce?

joyce said...

We took a break over the summer and are just now thinking of what we'd like to do next. Probably the floors or the upstairs bathroom. But there are some exterior improvements that also need to be addressed. All in good time.

Christina said...

congratulations on your new home!

Moya said...

Thank you Christina!

Joyce, at least with an apartment we only have to worry about interiors. It takes on a whole new life with exteriors. How much have you completed?

Marti said...

So happy that you found something that you love. Even the most minor renovation can take ages. It took 6 weeks to have Max's room built and that was just a wall being built and then a sliding door/transom.

The good thing is its YOURS!!!

Moya said...

Thanks Marti and Christina! It's not really real yet--other than the spending of tons of money on sinks, light fittings, taps, tiles, kitchen cupboards etc. I really hope it looks good and that we've made the right choices. I had no idea bath taps were so expensive or that my favourite fixtures would be the most expensive ones. Of course, I can't have everything I want.