I love a good list. So does The Husband.
Just the other day we had a really good list going for our 2012 house projects:
Phase One: Finish the Upstairs
1-Master Bath
New Vanity
Paint room
Paint cabinet
Organize cabinets/drawers
Build towel storage
Build small shelf for TV
Master Bath re-do HERE
2-Guest Bath
Install new cabinet & vanity
Paint
New shower curtain
Build towel storage
3-Grand’s Bed/Playroom
*Build closet playhouse
*Make tiny ‘built-in’ kitchen for playhouse
*Build small wall of cubbies
*Paint room
*Get twin bed
*New comforter/curtains/tiny bean-bag chair
*Find 2 small wooden chairs
Phase Two-Den Project
*Mr. Max (the contractor) :
*Remove walls-insert steel beams
*Install recessed lighting
*Install new H Vac vents
*Add walnut inlay to flooring
While Max does this we will:
*Install new internet jack
*Get wall ready to install TV
*Paint existing shelves
*Paint walls and trim
*Start built-in bookshelves around the fireplace
*Get furniture
*Organize everything
***
What a great plan! And we were right on schedule until…
last Monday, our contractor Max called, and wanted to start the den project 2 weeks early!
While I was shouting: “What about THE LIST??? “, The Husband called him and told him to come on over!
This has been very exciting but it’s left our list unfinished and all out of order.
We had to leave the bedroom/playroom undone…
This is how we left it:
sigh…unfinished. But we’ll get back to the upstairs as SOOOOON as possible! (We’re kinda under the gun with the playhouse because Ellie’s seen it and she’s ready to play in the new playhouse!)
*****
Back to the downstairs…
In an effort to regain control, I made a few executive decisions like having the electrician do some of the small projects that The Husband was going to do. And The Husband made a few executive decisions like getting Max to build the shelving around the fireplace instead of doing it himself!
He and I have got to decide which one of us is the actual executive around here! 
*****
Have you ever thought about taking out a wall and making 1 big room out of 2 smaller rooms?
I’m told it’s not hard, unless of course the wall is load-bearing…
Then you have to build supports first…
Two steel beams, weighing roughly 600 lbs. went up last Thursday…
Mr. Max, who prays with his crew every morning before he starts work, turned to me while the guys were holding the beams in place, grinning from ear to ear he said: “are you praying?”
“Well if I wasn’t, I am now!”
All went well and we now have an open space!
Saturday was a busy day…
The Husband primed and painted the bookshelves that will go back up and blend in with the built-in bookshelves around the fireplace and I painted the trim and walls in the new side of the room, I’ll have to touch up when the job is finished but I wanted to get a head start.
(The pups are about to pack their tiny suitcases and move out!)
When you do projects do you make a list and stick to it?
Stay tuned…I’m certain that organization will reign very soon but in the mean-time I’m learning a lot about my one-word for 2012…
Simplicity…hummmmmmmm.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
If Ellie is the taskmaster on this project I would get a move on!
In other news, this looks gorgeous and I will be needing to come over to drink coffee and ice skate in your new downstairs.
Also I love you.
I make lists about EVERYTHING!!!! I am a crazy list maker. Now, sticking to that list is sometomes not too good:):) But I LOOOOOVE to CROSS THINGS OFF MY LISTS!!!! I have had lists going all month of January getting ready for the “kids” to move in. It is happening this coming weekend so I hope I am ready!!!! Your BIG room is gonna be fabulous! I LOL’d about the pups packing their tiny suitcases:):):) XO, Pinky
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Sure does look like a BIG JOB!! I know it will be awesome when you two get finished~
You and Mike are the most energetic and organized people I have EVER met. I totally admire that! Keep the photos coming…….Love to you both!
Look at that list with so many projects “lined” through!!! Take a deep breath – it will all get done. Can’t wait to see the finished projects!
Jane Carter´s last [type] ..The Daily Routine….
Everything is beautiful, Robin. Wish I lived closer because my grandchildren have outgrown three in perfect condition distressed white Pottery Barn Kids chairs and you could have two. We are keeping one and the table because my local granddaughter wants to start work on a doll house we never finished for her mother. I can’t wait to start work on this project and hope it is in good shape since it has been sitting in a huge box in our garage since we moved to AZ almost sixteen years ago. I also have all of the delicate furniture from my own doll house so we should have fun! Anyway, check out Pottery Barn Kids for beautifully made chairs.
Oh my goodness, those puppies are so cute. I love how in the one picture the puppy is all curled up in it’s bed (: I also LOVE that your contractor prays with his crew before work. Oh if only, the rest of the world would take the time to pray before work, we’d all be in a better place!
Wow! It already looks great and sooo open!! Love how you opened the wall at your entry too. I am a list maker too but I never finish my lists. =P I don’t know how folks can do anything without a list.
Things may not symbolize “simplicity” now but once your done it will be much simpler to have one room in place of two and fit your lifestyle and family so much better. 
Sounds like a great contractor and I love the fur babies!! 
that looks GREAT, honey! progress is so satisfying and nerve-calming, isn’t it?
i’m curious whether the bookshelves are repurposed from one of the walls that came out, or if they are from somewhere else in the house. i’m sure the primer you love will help transform them into white shelves, right? {insert skepticism here}
hang in there, and have some fun with the shop-vac after mr. max leaves for the day. it’ll make you feel a little better.
Just showing this to Mike’s BFF. We think it looks amazing!
Okay, you guys are ambitious. To say I’m impressed is an understatement, and it’s going to look a.may.ZING when you’re done!!!!
I do make lists, but I am not always good about completing everything on them. Right now, most of my lists involve getting the ball rolling on house-hunting, which we started to do in earnest this past weekend! So exciting, but more daunting this time around than in the past. Your list has inspired me to get a little more organized about the process, so thank you!!!! xoxo Gigi
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