Finally Over The Hump

Have you ever been working on a room, and had that one big, daunting project that stood in the way of further progress on the whole room? Well, that’s where I’ve been for the last week. I knew I couldn’t go forward much more on the bathroom or the back entry until the flooring was installed and finished. But the idea of tackling that project was so overwhelming that I just dragged my feet on it.

It wasn’t necessarily the hardwood flooring installation itself that felt daunting to me. It was the fact that after weeks of working on these areas — having a ceiling fan installed, buying an airless sprayer and painting the walls, building a vanity, building a countertop, installing hardwood flooring in the back areas, trimming the window, making custom wall tiles, and on, and on — the studio was a complete mess.

studio - before 2

In addition to the mess from all of my projects, I also had 18 4′ x 8′ sheets of OSB, as well as all of the original vinyl tile flooring that I purchased, that needed to be loaded into the truck for return to Home Depot.

studio - before 1

All of that added up to me procrastinating.

So I did as I often do when I’m feeling way too overwhelmed to tackle a project on my own. I called in reinforcements, and my brother came to my rescue. 🙂

We tackled the mess and got the room cleared out in about two hours, and then he stuck around and helped me install some flooring. Even with two people, it’s still a slow process, especially in a room this large. We worked a little over two hours, and got about four additional feet of flooring down. But the room is 20 feet wide, so that’s 80 square feet of flooring.

hardwood flooring installation progress - 2

It took us a while to get our system down. He selected the boards and placed them in order, and I tapped them into place and nailed them down. He was also in charge of cutting the end pieces to fit. Also, working on the rows that joined the breakfast room flooring went a bit slower because we had to be sure to get it right.

Since there used to be an exterior door into a garage in this opening, I ended up having to add to more rows of flooring to the breakfast room flooring in the doorway, so those will have to be sanded and stained to match the breakfast room. Then the direction transitions in the studio, and the studio flooring will be whitewashed.

hardwood flooring threshold transition from breakfast room to studio

So we have 15 more feet of flooring to be installed. 20 feet wide. 300 square feet.

hardwood flooring installation progress - 1

If we can work at the pace that we worked after we finally got our system down last time, I think we might be able to finish today. That would be very exciting! Having this flooring done will be a huge weight off of my shoulders, and will free me up to do all kinds of fun stuff, like building cabinets, installing trim, and painting my chevron pattern on the back entry floor.

I feel like things are back on track and will start happening relatively fast. Sometimes we all need a little support to give us the nudge forward that we need. 🙂

 

 

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35 Comments

  1. I’m so glad you have your brother, sounds like he also has skills like you do, all the better!

  2. a loud hurrah for your brother coming to the rescue 🙂 It’s already looking so good, it will be incredibly beautiful when finished (hopefully not too beautiful to use it as a working place, but then again you are not adverse to dirtying your floor… :))

  3. My brother came to my rescue over the winter, driving from half way across the country with his truck and tools and then leaving them with me until his second trip, when I was renovating a six bedroom house with only intermittent help. It’s one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me and I get teary just thinking about it.

    1. Beautiful comment. Please send him a copy of what you said here. It was kind of you to express it and it is always encouraging for the person to hear the thanks one more time. What a guy!

  4. “Sometimes we all need a little support to give us the nudge forward that we need. ” Yes, indeed! So exciting to get to this point!

  5. Your brother is a life saver! It’s great to know you have family to call on when you need them. I won’t lecture you ( well, just a little!) on the fact that it would be so much easier on you if you could learn to just clear out a bit each day before you start work. You wouldn’t have to get help cleaning if you did that. But I know you don’t operate that way, so you do what works for you. Hope you have a very productive day today, looks like the sun is shining there too! YAY! We all need a break from rain!

  6. Yay for your bro! Will be so great for you to be able to move past this point and onto some of those other builds that are “more interesting” – like your cabinetry, etc.

  7. I’m stuck at home with a broken ankle, so I am loving seeing you make progress on your much dreamed about and anticipated studio. Your activity reminds me of what I’m missing out on, but gives me something to look forward too. I have a bathroom and a family room to tackle when I’m up and about. Time to search for ideas! Keep going! The elephant gets eaten one bite at a time!

  8. Does anyone else get frustrated with the number of video ads opening on this website in desktop mode? I am wondering if I’m experiencing a problem with Chrome in particular, but every time I come here, my computer revs up to high speed to handle all the video or animated ads, or that incessant banner at the bottom. Every time I close one, another opens up somewhere else. I want Kristi to get paid for her content, but this feels like something she either doesn’t know is happening or something my browser is doing to me. It’s bad enough I have begun avoiding coming to this website on my desktop. It happens a little bit on my phone, but not as bad as the desktop. Just wondering if anyone else has this happen. (Yes, I know, I can install an ad blocker, but I don’t want to if I can avoid it because I believe people should be paid for their content.)

    1. YES! I keep trying to close everything that pops up and another one just replaces it. I might have to turn ABP back on! I don’t always have access to strong wifi so I hate the videos that follow me down the page, eating up my speed. I can’t not come here to read all of Kristi’s posts though so I guess we’re stuck?

    2. I use Chrome and have no problems but I use Avast Adblock (free) and AdblockPlus (free) – you can d/l them from cnet’s d/l page to make sure you are getting safe d/loads. Hope this helps.

    3. I too use adblock plus! I can’t stand ads anywhere and since I only have a tablet or phone, I absolutely need it.

    4. Yes and I have very slow internet so it makes it very difficult to read the post ow which causes me to not read the blog as often which is really disappointing because I use to really look forward to seeing the posts as soon as possible

      1. I would rather have one add than the constant loading of different adds the whole time I’m trying to read the post.

  9. So happy you are finally getting the studio floors in and getting to the fun part of YOUR STUDIO!!!! I love following the progress!!! Yay for Brothers too!!!!! Mine is great too!!! Sending productive and supportive vibes your way!

  10. So kinda funny this was about getting needed help. I was already planning to ask how you stay motivated. I have projects i need to do and have no motivation to do them. I like DIY and these are things that must be done at some point in time. I’ve bought the needed supplies but every day i procrastinate. This question is open to everyone to answer. How do you get yourself started?

    1. I feel your pain! I bought supplies to build some simple wooden items and they still sit waiting! I have tried giving myself deadlines but that hasn’t worked. Let me know if you find the answer! 🙂

      1. Yea for your brother! You are one lucky sister! I was wondering about your father in-law. He was a regular helper when you first moved to your house. Have I missed a visit from him? I know he lives far away. Just wondering how he is doing.

        1. He’s dealt with some medical problems that have prevented him from coming for a while, but I think he’s planning a trip this year.

    2. A friend told me a long time ago “Action begets motivation” and I have found it to be true. If I just do something, it can get me started. I haven’t figured out how to always just do something – it can be tough. But I think another part of it is that maybe for some reason the timing isn’t right and if I can forgive myself for procrastinating, when it’s time I will be able to get started. Often one small thing will lead to the rest. Good luck!

    3. 5 second rule by Mel Robbins

      “If you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will kill it. ”

      It’s THE cure for procrastination.

  11. I so happy for you! Hooray for new floors! I’m in the process of moving from OH to FL and my partner is putting down oak throughout my new place so he’s tackling all those tricky angles so I have no transitions, just all one glorious floor. Meanwhile, I’m packing like a maniac so I can be out in time I have a month and too many Knick- knacks! 😁 I am the going to paint and decorate!!!! Woo hoo!

  12. I’m glad you have a super brother who can help you out from time to time. The floor is looking great and it will be awesome when it is completely put in.

  13. At the end of this project, the fun stuff remains. Hugs to you and your brother. You make a good team.

  14. Because of my husband’s job, all the different places we’ve lived (6 states and another country) have been far away from either of our families. It’s hard not having any help, and much more nowadays as I’m quite disabled and can’t help him. Bless your brother for always being there for you when the going gets especially rough and you need a helping hand. That sounds like the lyrics to a song! 😂 I can’t wait to see this room when it’s done—that wallpaper will be so striking!!

  15. I agree a brother can be heaven sent. I had someone contracted to put my vinyl tile down and he bombed out on me twice. The third time I said forget it. I wined to my contractor brother whom I hate to ask building favors because he works so hard, but I was so frustrated over that other guy. I had epoxied my counters and painted everything so I wanted to see it finished and the flooring was all that was left. I’m not quite as good as you, Kristi I can’t put the floor down. Well my brother came to the rescue. We worked together and finished in a weekend. It is so beautiful I’m so grateful to him.
    You do amazing work and are an inspiration to us all!

  16. The floor is looking great. Wow, probably by Memorial Day you will be finished with that room. I am glad you have some backup if you needed it.

  17. Please please stain the floor to match the rest of the house. You need some warmth in there! No white wash!

    1. Uhm… Perhaps you have not seen the gloriously colorful floral wallpaper she’s applying on the one wall? The vivid “Bird of Paradise” coral color she’s planning on painting the cabinets? The bold grass green of the back entryway (yes, a cool color, but so alive!)?
      There’s plenty of life and color going to happen in that space! I don’t think we need ever worry that Kristi will end up with a room with no warmth. (Unless that’s what she wants. Because it’s her house. Of course.)