October 5 - We are solar!

We got hooked up today. It was so great to see our meter run backwards, as we sell power to PGE. And we're having great sunny weather, so we can generate full power even though we're not using it right now.

One of these days, we'll be hot-tubbing again

Christian and Chris working on exterior trim

While the drywall crew is working inside (and making a huge mess), Christian and his crew are getting exterior things done.

8/31 - What a difference walls make!

Insulation

8/15 - Invaders in the sunroom

Chris started tiling the sunroom. Friday he said, "whatever you do, don't walk on the tiles." But he left the door and windows open, and it looks like a mother and baby racoon came in and walked through the mortar! We're not sure where they made their exit. Hopefully they're not hanging out in the attic.

Not very exciting, but now we need a sump pump

8/16 - Solar installation begins; new front windows

Yay! New Wider Garage Door

Stone tiles

The shower in our master bath will be tiled all black to remind us of the black lava on the Big Island. These tiles are made of actual stones, and we had to treat them prior to tiling so they have a rich black color. We put them outside in the sun to dry.

8/3 - Windows and Doors

All the rear exterior windows and doors are now in, including the three skylights. The only ones remaining are the living room and dining room, and they will be installed next week. We really like the cobalt blue, which will look nice when the house gets painted green.

Floor tiles in the Greek bathroom

Greek bathroom gets tiled

The wall is an enclosure for our classic clawfoot tub. The bathroom will be done in dark blue and white, in a Greek rustic style.

7/29 Update

The deck and the balcony are getting built. Two more bathroom windows go in.

7/23 - Shower stall gets built

The good news is, the shower stall and the upstairs bathroom are just about ready for the tiling to begin. The bad news is, Chris, the main builder on our job, sawed off part of his index finger 7/19. He's a real trooper and continuing to work a little, but he's the tile guy too. It's going to be interesting to see how he manager with this serious injury.

Lots of wires

Sunroom soffit and skylights; wiring goes in

Euporbia in the kitchen skylight; waiting for the sunroom

First of the cobalt blue windows (bathroom)

6/29 - Stairs go in

Future upstairs deck

New concrete in future bedroom sitting area

Nice and smooth

6/25 - Pouring the new concrete pad

Windows are framed

Siding goes up - June 22

Blue sky, future skylights, Paula's tree

Los amigos

The lumbar yard and new hot tub

The sunroom will have a huge vaulted ceiling and plant shelf

The bobcat digging out the garage floor

Concrete in front gets demolished so garage door can be widened

Bathroom gets framed

Roof and deck beams

Carl & Michele 5/17/07

Second Floor Goes Up

View from the apartment

The trees block a lot of our view of the remodel, but of course, they are beautiful to look at.

Pouring the rat pad

Floor of the master bathroom

Crack in the foundation

Back of the house torn off

Demolition of back room

Carl in the chaos and packing it up

The apartment is history

Apartment kitchen

Destruction and demolition - May 1, 2007

Here are some pictures of the project which started May 1.

For almost 22 years we lived in our cozy little house. The upstairs where we lived was only 875 sq.ft. But it was big enough for us and our dog--first Carob, then Ripley, now Halle. We rented the downstairs apartment for short-term guests till we got sick of always having strangers around. That's when we decided to combine the upstairs and the downstairs and make a bigger house.