The wife said this job was too gross to post in reality so she made me a cartoon. If you’re Gen X you’ll get the joke. Anyway, one of the first projects on our fixer in Spirit Lake ID was leveling the entire house. It was way more than I wanted to TAKE ON but when you find the right house on the acreage and with the shops you always wanted, you’ll do what it takes to make it right. In this case, that included Shawshank-ing under the house 40 concrete piers (40lbs each) and dragging them on the radon barrier on an upside-down piece of carpet (no rolling possible, too much plumbing in the way), then leveling with 140 linear feet of 4x6s.
#dirtyjobs #remodeling #remodel #renovation #homerenovation #idahome #northidaho #construction #generalcontractor
What we started with was a drab water-damaged room with filthy carpet. Repairs were needed to the ceiling from years of neglect and water making it’s way in from above and down the wood accent wall. Drywall work and repairs were completed then the sanding began to brighten up the wood accent wall which we surely wanted to keep. Some repairs were done to the wood windows. Then mud, sanding and painting, and then new premium carpet and fan upgrade to match the master suite. Lighting was also changed and wood closets removed and repaired and reinstalled. Now we have a guest bedroom to make anyone who visits feel warm, comfortable and at-home, and that’s all we ever hear!
#remodel #renovation #residential #idahome #homerenovation #homeremodel #homesweethome
Living Room
The Living Room needed a lot of work. It was covered in over-done resawn wood designs and there were no walls behind those, just insulation. The walls that did exist had not been painted in 40 years and were oil-based. There was also a misplaced closet and old oak wainscot that needed removing. The walls required new dry wall, and 13 boxes of mud to float, and even begin to paint. Now it’s fresh and bright, and the design is symmetrical for a much cleaner, more modern look but still holds the charm of a ‘78 rancher—best of both worlds. The fireplace will be next but we’re taking our time now, enjoying the cozy feel of our woodsy lodge.
#remodel #remodeling #renovation #residential #residentialconstruction #residentialdesign #idahome
Then, right around Christmas 2021, we found our fixer in Spirit Lake, ID. It was a lot more work than we expected to take on but it checked every box. I’ll share that renovation next (our second in a year).
Once we were settled into our rental in town, and the kid started his senior year, our home search became a full-time job. From Sandpoint and Sagle to Harrison and St. Marie’s to Priest River and all the way to Bonner’s Ferry, we looked at every fixer with a little land that we could find in our price range. We put in a few offers but it didn’t work out in our favor.
As soon as our home went into escrow, we piled in the Jeep, and drove to our dream location of Coeur d’Alene.
We had dreamt of moving to northern Idaho for over a decade and had plans to relocate as soon as our son graduated high school in June of 2022. We had it in our sights since he was in kindergarten.
Then, covid hit, and everything changed.
Our timeline moved up a year and the kid agreed to start at a new high school for his senior year. Everything would need to come together on this initial trip for it to happen.
We had one week to register for school by deadline, but first, we had to secure a rental to establish residency, and it came down to the last day.
Rather than drive back as a family to pack the garage, and tie-up loose ends, we decided to leave the wife and dog to hold down the fort in Hayden while the kid and I would fly back to wrap-up CA, and drive the remaining truck back up with everything else a week later to arrive in time for school to start in CDA.
What a wild ride that was.
Just a few before + after shots.
#remodel #residentialremodel #renovation
Living wall to create some interest outside.
#outdoorliving #outdoorlivingroom #outdoorlivingspaces #livingwall #succulents #beachtheme #woodpalettes
New sump pumps, French drains, rock + landscaping were done in prep for the home we had outgrown to be listed.
