Renovation Part 1

On Saturday I went to check progress at the house. It doesn't look much different, but it's all ready for dry wall tape and texture upstairs TODAY (2/22), so there will be a huge, noticeable change in the next batch of pix. Great work, Mike, Dad & Rich!!! (and mom--she got the popcorn and glitter off the ceilings, bless her heart!) New doors downstairs

New soaking tub in new downstairs bathroom
(which used to be the stairwell)

The downstairs bathroom looking in from the family room doorway.

It will be good to say goodbye to this weathered old deck!

You can see the pavillion peeking out from behind the trees there, and a little bit of icy river still flowing.

I must admit, even WITH the old deck and railings, you just can't beat that view!

(and I love that one lonely tree in the south field there)

Heidi in the upstairs living room by the new sliding glass door.

Little helper James

Mike's beautiful tile work in the main bathroom upstairs...

...and the brand new throne!

The tile for the expanded bathroom off the laundry room.

The new tub in the laundry room bathroom (it's where the closet used to be).

Probably the most drastic change of all--the old stairwell entry is now our housekeeping closet. YAY!

More Old "Ranch-Rehab" Pix

"Before" Pictures from Spring and Summer 2005planting more fir trees along the windbreak
Cleaning up brush

Uncle Mike with TJay and Danny

More clean up by the highway

Jess pressing cider

Picking and rinsing apples for the cider press

(Grandma, Heidi, Summer, and Kelli)

Burning the brush

Demolition!

I came home from a week in Arizona to find all our plans in full-swing at the ranch house!Some of the brick on the dining room fireplace has been removed to make room for a cozy hutch

The main bathroom has been gutted (except for the beautiful walk-in shower that was put in 2 years ago). I need to update because I hear Mike has already installed elegant new tiles in both upstairs bathrooms!

A wider entry way with a lovely arch has been created between the front door and the dining room (that's Addie modeling for us) .

This is how the new stairway looks as it comes down into the large downstairs family room. That's Grandpa Tom finishing up some work there. I think they did a beautiful job on the landing!

Here's a shot from the front entry hall showing (a) the new sliding glass doors that replaced the bay window and (b) the new stairwell (the stairs were moved from the laundry room/garage area to the living room area).

The new stairwell ready for the last stair. I am so proud of Rich's handiwork!

Addie tested the new stairs--they're great and no squeaks!

Ranch Entrance Before & After

Two small fence posts and a cattle guard marked the entrance in 2004.

In 2008, Mike Melin built stone pillars to mark the entrance.

Now the entrance is wider, smoother, and clearly marked by Mike's elegant pillars.

Back in the Day

When we bought the ranch back in 2004, the inherent beauty was there, but it's amazing to see how much work there was to do...Ranch entrance in 2004
The view from JTs house, looking NW from the dirt road.

The boathouse

The house

The river view from the back yard

The road facing SE (the tree house now stands to the right-->)

The quonset & the yard

The yard shed
The river bank

("x" marks the foundation where the pavillion now stands)
Addie & TJay helping clean out the barn, Fall 2004

Grandpa sorting the junk in the barn.