That Wall

This week has been a little insane.  After the flea incident, we wanted to let things die down a bit, literally.  I am also planning my ten year high school reunion that is taking place this weekend which means a lot of last minute details and running around.  We made it over to Marsh three nights and got some major tasks started. First off: the wall separating the kitchen from the living room.  Sean started pulling down the dry wall (one small area of our house has drywall- the rest is lath and plaster, which i just learned is basically slats of wood with concrete between them.  Much messier to tear down than drywall).  Anyways, at one point the previous owner tore out original fireplace and brick chimney and put drywall up where he tore out.  Here are a couple pictures:

[Insert plug for Pacific Builders of San Luis Obispo: The only Company you will need for your Custom Home Building and Remodeling Needs! (Sean's company)- they really, truly are an amazing company and have completed some amazing houses on the central coast]

 As you can see on the other side of the framing is lath and plaster.  The other side of the wall is that beautiful original wainscoting.  Don't worry!  While we are taking this wall down, Sean is preserving all this beauty so we can use it elsewhere in the house! 

The next night we got a late start, but knew we needed to get really accurate measurements for our CAD drawing of our house so we spent a good hour and half making sure everything was exact.  Sean basically walked around to each and every wall and angle with his tape measure and shouted out lengths and I wrote as fast as possible trying to keep up. 

Last night, we debated whether we should take the dump truck over to the house and decided against it.  Little did we know how much we were going to accomplish!  I set out working on the pulling up the carpet staples and glue (yes they used both- I'm not sure if this is standard practice when laying carpet but seems redundant.  And not fun to clean up)

The left is a picture of what the floor looks like with staples (notice the carpet padding stuck to it) and the pictures below are after.  So clean!  Well sort of.  Interesting paint job, huh? I also did the entry way

Meanwhile, Sean was doing big things in the bathroom.  No, not that!  More lath and plaster coming down. He eventually had to move out of the bathroom because he no longer had a place to put his ladder (note earlier mention of choosing not to bring the dump truck...)

Which was fine because he started working on that kitchen/ living room wall!  Now, I am very excited for this because I love to entertain and have people over.  Having a kitchen that opens up to an entertaining space is a dream for me.  One that I see is taking shape!

 We left some of the structural framing up for now. To the left is the view from the kitchen looking out to the living room and entry way.  Imagine a breakfast bar jutting out from the left of this picture (or from the right of the picture below).  That is what I really want.  Below is looking the other way, into the kitchen.  The kitchen that might have beautiful white cabinets with a farmhouse sink and subway tiles back splash, maybe?

This is where we ended things last night.  Obviously in need of a good clean up.  My parents are coming to town and will be helping us out a lot during the day while we are at work.  I am looking forward to seeing them and so thankful they are coming to work.  Only 24 more days until we move in!