New here? Here’s what you missed? Week 1

Two weeks in and, per usual, I am scratching my head wondering is this is even feasible. And when you think about it, I don’t know that it ever was! LOL. 

It’s a renovation. 

It’s across the country. 

It’s A RENOVATION!

But here we are, so let me catch you up on where we are. 

If you read my week 1 introduction to this project, then you know that we’re renovating a basement and converting a one car garage to create, in essence, a single, split level apartment. And when I say “split level” it’s because as you would find in a split level home, there will be a short flight of stairs separating the areas — there was no way on God’s green earth we were fixing to take on the task of raising a whole basement to ground level. Just no!

Last week, I showed you some before photos and the floor plan, but what is the design plan? So glad you asked…

Each area has its own plan but it is one streamlined aesthetic. I’ve mentioned that for this project, I was keeping everything super simple because while having it look good is obviously important, the priority is making it livable, functional, and comfortable. So while a reno may seem like the perfect opportunity for me to go balls-to-the-wall creative with the design, here I really kept it super simple, focusing on keeping it feeling cozy and effortless. 

The Garage

For the conversion, here’s what needs to happen: 

• remove the garage door (and all its mechanisms)

• install brick to match existing exterior

• install new exterior door & window

• put up drywall, insulate, and paint

• install new flooring throughout

• add recessed lighting

And of course, furnish and style! No big deal right?

At the time of these post so much progress has already been done on the 192 sq. ft. area, I can’t even believe that it was ever a garage! 

There is one (superbly heavy) metal door that leads out of the garage, with a step down before you get to the foyer where the bathroom and boiler closet are.

It’s still TBD if that metal door is coming out because man is it heavy! Ideally it’ll be removed and frame left completely open; but worst case scenario, there is currently a latch already installed behind the door to keep it open during the day. 

The Basement

Many many moons ago — pre-Hurricane Sandy — the basement was finished and totally livable. While not designed to the nines, it was definitely functional with a full step in closet, kitchen area, bedroom area (with closet!) and the remaining open space became a living room of sorts. 

After the flood, and cleanup, all that was left was the studs — the flooring and drywall has to all be removed because of the water damage, not to mention the destroyed furnishings and appliances. Again I say…thank God no one was hurt!

The basement will be getting done, kind of, back to the previous floor plan but with some definitely upgrades: 

• the dreadful popcorn ceiling is getting scrapped

• flooring will be installed throughout — from the garage, through the foyer, into the basement

• a kitchenette will be built out with a small peninsula

• storage under the stairs will be converted into pantry storage

• the step in closet will be restored

And the remaining opening space, in lue of rebuilding a walled off bedroom, will remain open a la a studio apartment. And since there’s already a small existing window, that will remain as is. 

There are a few things, while part of the plan, that still haven’t been fleshed out and that won’t be finalized until the work is further along — like whether or not the washer & dryer will go downstairs…but there WILL be a washer & dryer! 

As of right now everything has already been cleared out and prepped for new dry wall, insulation, and flooring, which is such a comfort to see.

And because the space had already been fitted for a kitchen, even with the flood damage, a lot of that pre-existing work came in handy this go around, in terms of placing electrical, etc. even though it will be outfitted for additional recessed lighting. 

If you’ve been following along over on my instagram stories then you know we’re actually nearly at the end of finaliing the cabinetry design choices for the kitchen, with the actual cabinets and countertops already being chosen, and hardware is being finalized. On my stories, majority of the votes went to brass (versus the flat black) but really, both are winners in my book!

Now you know the design plans, but like most laid out plans, I am also very prepared for everything to go array! I am not married to any of these ideas because I know #lifehappens but we are definitely all in agreement on what the overall objective aesthetic will be for the transformation.  

Be sure to keep following along here on the blog with weekly updates and over on my instagram stories, and keep sending in those prayers!

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