Small Wins and Contractors

Hello, and welcome back to another update on Wallpaper Acres!

This week has seen a lot of progress and I hope you will be able to see that throughout the post. Last week's post was one where we had feelings of defeat and this week our feelings are almost opposite!

We left off with the tape peeling off the crown molding after spending hours prepping for paint. When John and I returned to the house on Wednesday night, we discovered a happy surprise...we got one coat coverage with the downstairs paint in the front rooms and we would ultimately not have to re-tape the crown molding. Thus, we started on removing all the tape and plastic from the ceiling and walls. We found a couple of spots that require touchup when removing the tape and we will also need to go back with a steady hand and cut in with a brush up against the crown molding.

Let's talk about carpet! Carpet was scheduled for install on Tuesday. We got the call on Monday that the installer had hurt his knee so they would try to get us in on Friday...oh the joys of working with contractors. So Thursday came around and we got the call that the installer would be at the house Friday from 8-8:30am to install our carpet. On Friday, I got to the house and setup my remote workstation and got to working. 8:30 rolled around...9:00 rolled around...9:15 rolled around...John texted me and said that the installers were 25 minutes out. Once they arrived (at 9:45am), I walked them through the upstairs and showed them the scope of the project and it seemed to match up with the blueprint that they had until he said that they were not told they had to remove the laminate flooring from our landing. I told him that we had been very specific with the carpet company that the laminate would need to be removed and they had told us that it was just floating so it would take 5 minutes and would not be an issue. Well, the installers had not been told this and it was not in their bid so they were not going to do work that they were not going to be paid for...which I understand but it still needed to be done. I called the carpet company and left a voicemail to discuss the issue and in the meantime told them to rip up the laminate and we would figure out the payment. Ultimately, the job needed to be done right. Well now the installers were saying that they did not have enough of the carpet padding to do the job. Around lunchtime, the carpet company called back and we sorted out the issue and it was resolved, laminate had been removed...the installers said they were going to take their lunch.

About this time, the installation manager from the carpet company showed up and said that the carpet installers were done for the day as they did not have the right materials and were leaving. He asked what time they could come back on Saturday...a one-day project now turned into 2 days...how fun! I expressed that I was not satisfied so far and that I was confused on why they were leaving but at this point they had left and also left all the torn out carpet in our front yard...I told the manager that that was unacceptable and would need to be picked up. So the crew returned and picked it up and they were scheduled to return on Saturday at 8:30am...

They did return on time Saturday and worked on the carpet install until 2:15pm...but ran out of carpet. Everything was finished minus the master closet...we spoke with the sales guy at the carpet company and he was very confused on how they ran out of carpet but ensured that he would get more ordered right away and a discount was in our future. So here we are, 94% complete with carpet. It is what it is...we are very happy with the carpet that we picked out and it matches everything very nicely! We also splurged on the carpet pad and we are very happy with that decision as it is a very nice carpet to walk on!

While the carpet install was happening, John and I worked on small projects that needed to be done but would be annoying any other time if we had access to work on other things so this rainy Saturday was perfect. The list is below:

• Painted the bottom half of the formal dining room for chair rail install and accent wall trim

• Primed the walls and ceiling for paint in the laundry room/downstairs bathroom

• Removed the kitchen cabinet hardware and cabinet doors

• Removed the lovely gold/copper penny tile stick-on backsplash in the kitchen

• Touchup paint throughout

• Painted the downstairs hall closet

• Installed a handful of new light switch paddles and switch plate covers in some of the rooms as we will be converting all switches to paddles

John was also able to install the foyer light fixture and two fans in what is now my office and the guest bedroom. Here are some before and after photos of our completed rooms thus far.

(Left photo: before in formal living room; Right photo: after with a fresh coat of paint)

(Left photo: A trip to Italy; Right photo: new paint and carpet in Katie's office)

(Left photo: a beach oasis; Right photo: guest bedroom is a lot more calmer now)

(Left photo: blue jean walls covering up a venetian getaway; Right photo: John's new office)

(Left photo: exterior orange paint on interior walls in the master bedroom; Right photo: accent wall and my favorite room so far in this house)

Sunday was another productive day and we began the install of the accent trim in the formal dining room. My brother came over and he and John got going. They were able to work quicker than I and I was grateful for my brother's help. We also had a visit from my sister-in-law and niece and nephew as they wanted to see the updates and the new carpet upstairs. It is all starting to come together and we are taking small steps forward!