We brainstormed ways to improve the area, and after months of pondering over what to do, we decided to get new tile. Because new tile really improves traffic flow, right?!
As most home improvement projects go, we got started on our new tile project, and the next thing we knew, Dan was knocking down a closet, and I was painting the trim in our laundry room white. In the midst of it all, we decided to re-do our laundry area as well! While that got started, it became clear that we were going to need to hire some professionals to help us finish this DIY project, which bumped up the price tag in a hurry. Soon we had hired painters, cabinet makers, sheetrock guys, and an electrician. Next thing we knew, we were adding outlets and moving light fixtures and getting a new sink and faucet, too.
Like all people who are out of their mind, we decided to do this project during the month of December, right during one of the busiest months of the year. Really, what were we thinking?
The night before the tile guys were set to come, Dan wheeled out our washer and dryer from the laundry room and set them in our front foyer so we were ready to go the next morning. Bedtime went as usual, and I decided to have "the talk" with Aaron that night about how he is a big boy and should really sleep in his own bed one of these days. (yes, we still struggle with sleep with our twins). I told him that if he slept in his own bed that night he would get 2 stickers. He was thrilled at that thought. He fell asleep and I snuck out to my own bed and called it a day.
At about 10:30pm that night, I heard footsteps and knew it was Aaron getting out of bed and coming in to our bedroom. I call out from my bed, "Aaron, don't you want to get your 2 stickers?! You should really get back in bed!!" Well, I didn't realize that Aaron was getting out of bed because his body decided that of all nights to throw up on his bedding and the carpet was the night that our washer and dryer made their temporary home in our front foyer, not hooked up in the laundry room.
I guess a child isn't too concerned about earning stickers when they need to throw up.
Was this really happening? So Dan got out of bed and wheeled the washer and dryer back into the laundry room and hooked things up so we could wash Aaron's sheets and bedding and all the clean-up towels.
The project went on as any project that involves waiting on contractors to do their part. Lots of waiting around, lots of things out of place, and just a gigantic mess. The tile guys had to come back 3 additional times due to the work not being done right, which put on hold the other contractors. Our house was a disaster for more weeks on end than I am typically comfortable with, and I'm pretty sure we celebrated Christmas with a Christmas tree and ornaments covered in sheetrock dust.
In the end, we couldn't be happier with how things turned out.
7 weeks later, we can finally call the project DONE! See the before/after pics below.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
