Entire Upstairs Repaired, Remodeled, FINISHED!

While the two older boys were gone for a few weeks over the summer, we decided to scramble and get their rooms, and really the entire upstairs, done while they were gone. We wanted to surprise them. They've been so good throughout this whole ordeal of the house fire, never complaining and always offering to help. They deserve to finally get their rooms back. 

We hung insulation as we hung the sheetrock. 

We'll soon be pros with all the practice we've had over the years!

The stairwell ceiling will have to have it's tongue and groove wood put back. 

There was so much blistered paint to scrape from walls and doors. 

The little guys helped paint Kilz on every surface. 

The smell of smoke was finally gone!

This wall had been burned out pretty badly and had to be repaired. 

A new access door into the "attic room" was also built. 

Oldest son's room is a dark blue. 

It's amazing how nice trim around windows makes the room look. 

Younger older son's (I guess I should come up with some better nicknames!) room still had a lot of salvaged items and debris left in his room. His room was the most damaged. 

Covering the ductwork. 

Looking good!

More blistered and peeling paint to remove. 

Repairing the ceiling in the stairwell. 

Younger older boy's room is green. 

All their old furniture, as well as some new furniture to replace what had been burned in the fire, got a fresh coat of paint. 

More Kilz. 

Look at the stark difference here!

Stairwell is looking good!

Finished!

Finished!

The stairs will get a beautiful fresh coat of paint too!

This is the closet that adjoins both bedrooms upstairs. 

Attic access. 

It all turned out so nicely! 

We made a video to show the boys' reactions. Here's the link to that if you'd like to check it out: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rVRKZTqBEM

Or watch it here:

The "Handy" Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree

Our family comes from entire generations of "can-do" people. And I'm proud to say, that make-do, reuse/recycle gene is showing up in our "middle" son, who is just turning 11. He's proving to be quite handy himself, by creating new items by reusing old pallets and scrap wood. 

Here are some examples of his handi-work:

This wonderful centerpiece box was made from scraps of tongue and groove wood from our house. 

I love it!

Here he is with the workbench he made for himself. 

This shelf was made from part of an old pallet. 

Learning how to use the different tools will be a lifelong treasure. 

He made this bed for Ammi and her puppy. They love it!

Family Room Nearing Completion

At the time of the fire, the kitchen shared a wall with what was our master bedroom. That particular wall, however, was burned out on the inside, from the fire in the room up above moving down into it, and would have had to been rebuilt. 

Upon opening the wall up to replace the burnt studs, we found a covered up window opening and door opening. So, there were a lot of patched together areas inside this wall. 

Here's the rest of the room, now naked, after removing the soggy drywall and soaked insulation. 

The view from inside the kitchen. With this wall being opened up to replace the burnt 2x4s, we realized how neat it would be to go ahead and leave it opened up and move our family room to this room, just off the kitchen. 

We added a new, strong header to replace the studs in the wall. 

A new step down into the family room was built out of the salvaged tongue and groove boards. 

The walls and ceiling are painted in greys and browns. All mis-tinted paint that we were fortunate to get. 

I have a lot more "family" pictures to hang, but this is a good start. 

Beautiful ceiling fan donated by a local lighting company. 

View from the kitchen. I love the flow of these two rooms now! Very family friendly!

Above: This is the "computer cubby" made out of salvaged tongue and groove boards. 

Two pictures above: We made a double sided bar, also out of our salvaged shiplap.

Another great place for kids to sit, eat, draw, etc.