It is almost too hard to believe! We started our new adventure unburdening ourselves and getting down to just two suitcases each - mostly clothes and meds. Now first, we needed wheels. Transportation for the last 18 months has been walking, bicycles, and busses, but here as in most of the country we had to get back into the groove of having a CAR. On this first day of having a rental car the stars alined and we found a new Toyota Prius. Now I can tell you, driving at fifty-one MPG is soooo satisfying.
The first two weeks were filled with one errand after another in preparation for setting up housekeeping as well as for making choices for remodeling a 25-year old apartment. Then, on July 13th, the Dynamic Duo hit Honolulu. Suddenly, life took off like it was in a whirlwind. Their names are John and Terri. Ever watch one of those home makeover shows on the Home channel? John and Terri put them to shame.
We were greeted by this, our first rainbow, since arriving.
Here they are just before they went home to Atlanta. This is actually at the end of their stay. They are both a bit like Bat Man. They look like Bruce Wayne, but turn into the masked crusaders of apartment renovation. John designs and builds fantastic contemporary luxury homes in the Atlanta, Ga. area. Terri is at his side the entire way. They graciously offered to come in and help us do magic on our apartment.
Nope! This is not our place in Paradise! It's someone else's 6000 sqft. tease on the other side of the globe; it is an interior shot of one of John's works in Atlanta. He designs them right down to the ornate scrollwork on the bannister and front door. The next two photos were also taken in homes by John and Terri. What more can I say?
Every house they build has a uniquely designed swimming pool.
The wall-to-wall carpeting in the two bedrooms, living room, and dining room (seen here under the "wood pile") was torn out, cut into manageable rectangles, and disposed of. This stack of materials portends 5 to 7 days of hands and knees labor to put in the new flooring. Getting it early allows it to acclimatize for several days prior to installation.
The two Johns hard at work installing the floor.
He looks handsome even when wearing knee pads.
How do you do a complete apartment renovation when you have virtually no tools? You have to improvise! An upside down bucket becomes a workbench. A person becomes the counterweight needed to saw wood to the desired length. Have you ever seen a happier counterweight?
Terri paints like a pro. I tried to keep up with her, but it was difficult to impossible. The light fixture seen here is one of three new ones that John installed. They are all of the same design but large, medium and small.
The second bedroom is directly off the living room. When visitors come we plan to provide privacy via a pair of new sliding French doors (seen here). Terri spray painted the inside white and I stained the outside to match the new floor. A lot easier said than done. Terri also spray painted a new louver door for the bath as well as four bifold doors in all. She is amazing!
John routed cable through the walls then mounted two TVs - the one shown in the living room and the other in the master bedroom.
The early stages of the kitchen demolition. Those cabinets are in the first stage of "going, going, gone." We designed and ordered them while in NYC back in the spring.
The original tile in the foyer and kitchen. We believe it was installed in 1983.
After chipping out the white tile it took my sweetie and Terri 3 days to chisel all of the thinset off of the concrete floor. Then John began his installation of the new porcelain tile.
The new cabinets are maple. John installed them too!
We promise more photos as the apartment develops. Before she left Terri helped pick out furniture, lamps, accessories, etc. She has quite an eye!
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