Demolition

If you know us, you know we have talked about moving for years.  We don't really like our house.  In fact, the first time we looked at our house we both vetoed it.  But after looking at many other houses, we saw that this house was a good price for its square footage and location.  And we both love bargains!  So we bought it and we moved in with the thought we would most definitely get another house in 5-7 years when we had a family.  But we also liked that this house was big enough for kids just in case we decided to stay awhile.  Fast forward 11 years and 2 kids later and we are still here.  And we still don't really like our house.  But we LOVE our elementary school and the fact that we can walk to it.  We love that we are within a mile of two really awesome parks and a third one is coming just a block from our house!  We love that we are only a couple of minutes from a grocery store, bank, gas station, restaurants, movie theater, frozen yogurt, and just about everything we need.  So after looking at houses for years, we decided to stay here.  At least until the girls are out of elementary school.

But we would like to fix this house so it works a little better for us in the meantime.  We have the smallest house of just about everyone we know.  Mostly because they are all on their second or even third houses and we are still on our first. :)  After much deliberation, we decided to add a dormer to our upstairs bedroom.  It won't add a bunch of square footage, but it will allow us to switch rooms to work better for our family.  Currently the upstairs bedroom functions as a guest bedroom, bathroom, and (let's be honest) junk room.  Adding a dormer will increase the size enough for us to put in a bigger closet and bathroom and turn it into our master bedroom.  Then our current master will become the guest room/toy room.  Guests will still have their own bathroom.  Plus the girls will have a play space that is right across from their bedrooms.  It will be great for having friends over because all the kids can play on the bedroom level and the adults can stay on the kitchen level.

We have hired a contractor to do most of the work, because I don't have the appetite for DIY that I had when we were first married.  I'd rather spend my weekends having fun with my kids than working on my house.  Although, demolition was both. :)  The girls thought it was super fun to swing a hammer into the wall, break it off, and throw it out the window.  Hannah called it the best day of her life!  She says that a lot though.

Without further ado, here are pictures of the space before and after we did demolition.

In the bedroom looking back at the bathroom with stairs and closet on the right.

I let the kids draw on the carpet before we took it out. :)

Hardwood floors underneath!

Tearing down walls!

looking back at the bathroom with stairs and closet on the right.

The new dormer will go here and the closet will be relocated.