First Day Planning

My first day off after getting the key (to the padlock on the front door, but the key none the less) I drove down to the house specifically to take photos and measurements of everything.  I wanted to start making a plan of attack.  I asked my dad from work the day before if I could borrow his truck to bring an 8ft ladder so I could take a look in the attic.  He said he wasn't sure since the truck needed to be cleaned out and he wasn't sure he had time.  I told him not to worry about it, I had plenty of things to do to occupy my time, I could just bring a ladder another time.  So naturally, by the time I got home the truck was cleaned out, backed into the garage with two bags of tools and an eight foot ladder and three foot step ladder strapped into the bed.  The video camera was on the front seat (to get before video for the grandparents) and the keys were in the ignition.  That's my dad, when he get's into something, he really get's into it (not a complaint, just a statement).

With the truck all ready, I loaded up a few things into another bag--music, a new front door padlock, water, soda, a clip board, a pencil and lots of paper--and headed to the house.  When I arrived, I set up my music and got to measuring every dimension I could think of for each room, recording it all.

Let me just say, the laser measurement tool is one of the most amazing things ever.  I tried to focus on one thing at a time, but at times I failed.

This is what it looks like trying to do everything at once, measurements, demo, decorating...  I may have gotten slightly ahead of myself.  I did measure out some furniture dimensions, to see how/if my couch would fit.

It appears it will fit (particularly if I get rid of the built in), but there won't be much room for anything else.  The step ladder in the corner is helping to measure out a chair.  At least it shouldn't cost too much to furnish this tiny room.

 I took a look up in the attic (I had the ladder after all) and found a lot of dust, an old hand saw, and some potential design ideas.

 

Martha and Oprah have descended from on high to assist me in my home renovation and design.  And they appear to have either brought some small child's craft projects... or squished a small rooster (my neighbor does keep chickens and that box was really heavy).

Now I tried to resist, but I just couldn't.

I did some demo.  Really I just scraped up a bit of the kitchen linoleum floor.  I peeled up a few chips, just because I could.

 

Then, while I was taking pics of the bathroom, I noticed that the ugly shower doors looked like they were only held up with some easily removable screws, so I went for it.  One side was easy to remove, but the other and the bottom took a bit of prying and several passes with a utility knife before finally yielding.

 

While not really changing what needs to be done in the bathroom, it was still quite satisfying to remove it.  Of course, I managed to get some of the sticky caulking stuck to my shoe, so I had to walk around in socks for the rest of the time I was there or run the risk of tracking the stuff all over my floors.  In all it was a productive visit.  I got most of the measurements I needed, and even came up with a possible layout for my new kitchen.  Now I just need a toilet so I can stay there all day and work.