When last I posted, dear reader (if you are actually still out there — and i cannot blame you if you are not, as I have been quite remiss in posting ), we had closed chapters with our contractor, J-1 , realized that we indeed really HAD to replace the entire kitchen, and that the reality was that this was an enormous project–and, I am NOT going to lie… the more I thought of it, the more freaked out I got…..  like losing sleep freaked out.      Pretty much EVERY building project i have heard of anywhere  (and this is especially true in St John) runs well over budget.   Add to that that things that are more practical  ‘up here’  (e.g.: stainless steel finishes  or veneers) are not so practical ‘down there’ (i am sure i have made no end of mistakes despite the wonderful advice i have received ) .  In addition  to this, the long distance aspect of things and the time pressures to get this house on the rental market by high season.

This combination of realities practically derailed me in some of the decision making process….Really , it took me 6 months to decide on tile for a bathroom makeover in our stateside home !!! (and caused poor g-man no end of aggravation) …..

We desperately needed a new contractor… and talked to a few different persons — all of whom would have done a great job I am sure.   in the end we went with someone who had been on island a while, had impeccable recommendations and knew many of our subs already– we could not be happier….and since he is a J name as well. I will call him J-1.2.

So the Saga continues….chapter next…in which we reclaim the fourth bedroom…… and redo some baths…..

Originally the fourth bedroom was used as the utility area-we had planned on using it for our own storage and as the laundry/utility area.  But a number of folks on the job noted that the fourth bedroom would really add value and make the house perfect for two couples with kids or a larger family — we ran some quick numbers, choked and said , well, what the hell…   A LOT of plumbing needed to move, (remember we are also putting in a separate  hot water tank for the other side of the house ) but much of the plumbing and the laundry was relocated to under the pool deck.     I have to say J-1.2 works FAST and his crew does GREAT work!  kind of like moving from OS-6 to OS-10– much faster processing !

 

We decided to use travertine on the floor and for the shower because it was readily available, and reasonably priced…. and then since we did that bedroom in travertine, i figured i better do it’s mirror image (the other downstairs bed/bath) in travertine as well…. G-man rolled his eyes at that one…..

Since the bathroom in the ‘new room’  doesn’t get the same light  as the other bathrooms we decided to use glass block to make the shower enclosure — that would enable more light thru.  We also used a cypress ceiling in the bathroom that is light and, i think, really pretty  (though i only have a picture of it being installed…)

So….bathrooms…..for the past year and a half i have been up to my eyeballs in bathroom renovations. We redid the kids bathroom then  our master bath in our stateside home (that was the six-month deciding dilemma) then pretty much RIGHT when that was done… a  pipe burst and took out the first floor and basement powder-rooms…we were out of town at the time and it was a mess…. lost half the first floor and almost all of the basement.   ugh .  But as a result I sort of have the bathroom gig  pretty well down (or at least i’d like to think so…others might disagree…)  Unfortunately ….. i have never met a piece of porcelain tile that i truly liked (I take that back, i did and it was horrifically, crazily expensive and came only in a really large size (like 24″ by 36″)  — SO of course, I bought that and had it cut down-thus ADDING to the already batshit- crazy  expense and used it for  the basement bathroom…. But, hey, it was a really small bathroom!)

I debated buying tile on St Thomas (a special trip down) or buying up here and shipping first to Miami then to St John, or flying to Miami and buying tile there….  I opted to buy here and ship — OK OK, i see you …. you are shaking your head and saying ‘oh no she did not!’  — you know who you are…..   Sometimes a girl gots to do what a girl gots to do.

I wanted the bathrooms to each be unique but have some unifying themes… the toughest part of this was that the downstairs showers were already travertine and travertine comes in many different shades and pictures are sort of hard to judge…..

i also really wanted to keep everything very neutral.

so some of this was kind of seat of pants stuff.  picking tile blindfolded almost…  Each bath will have an accent wall where the vanity will be placed and that same accent will be run up the shower wall where the controls are

 

I chose to go with the folks who i bought most of my ‘here’ bathroom tile– Since I had reason to do so much business with this particular supplier  they gave me a contractors discount and because i was shipping out of state did not charge me tax (which more than covered the trucking to FLA) this particular mess o’ tile also got shipped in the same container as  our exterior doors — so all in all the shipping charges really were not bad! (but that is about the only time i will write those words….)   The upper baths are not quite complete (the last time i was there — which was a couple of weeks ago).

But here is a preview of one of them:   NO that right there is NOT IT!!!!

 

 

 

The new shower looks a bit cleaner, I think…. I hope you think so too.. I was going for something that sort of said nature/shore/beach.

The vanities are teak and were sourced from signature hardware (who were super nice to deal with) and have marble or granite tops.. the lower baths will have round white porcelain sinks and the upper bathrooms oval sinks.    The bath hardware was sourced from Faucet direct — and the folks there are super. but if you are shipping to a consolidator BEWARE……  They made me fill out all sorts of attestations and crazy crap…it was nuts and i thought I would miss my shipping deadline (they also went down with the doors).

 

 

So that is what’s been happening at the house!  I have a LOT more to report (and hopefully you are not too bored!)……And promise not to be so lax in the future……  but right now i have to go pick up a bunch of teenaged boys from hockey practice!

 

 

 

 

I will leave you once again with this…..

So tomorrow we venture as a family to camp in the ‘manse’   — and my daughter has two friends along for the journey… should be interesting!  I am not sure what we will find when we arrive….J-1 asked me if i had someone coming in to clean up– i didn’t/don’t since the deep cleaning was done a bit ago…or so i thought?  — Hopefully it’s not complete chaos?   With everyone tripping over each other there — there are bound to be some bristled feathers — and, of course,  we have just that…. As i have said before, i am extremely lucky to have been able to engage the persons i have- to a T,  everyone has been terrific at what they do — and I really hope that whatever issues there are can be resolved.   More pictures soon come of whatever progress awaits.   That and and a rail-less pool deck ……  So, patient reader, can a cable rail possibly look good on this house?  or do we replace with the same look…..I am thinking that a cable rail might look out of place with the traditional rail on the rest of the house– also considerations of a vinyl rail versus aluminum ?  — thoughts (if anyone at all is actually reading this! )   oh….and i bought a car– might be the best or worst purchase ever (ok, probably not the worst– the used volvo that blew up in the driveway with my infant son inside– pretty much CANNOT top that….and yeah, that one the Gman never lets me forget…..-cannot say as i blame him!!)  For this trip a week — and i hope to actually get to the beach this time….  been three trips and no sand and no water…

 

 

If you don’t know the story ofDr. Seuss’s  Solla Sollew — it is about a being who encounters some challenges and then tries to deal with them by  escaping to a magical place where there are no troubles (at least very few) …….to many this might describe this venture…..or perhaps describes BEING in this venture……

seuss always captures things perfectly.

 

as it seems that when one problem is resolved….. another arises…..

to put it in Seussian  terms….

³⁸ But now I was safe

³⁹ Both in back and in front.

⁴⁰ Then New troubles came!

⁴¹ From above!

⁴² And below!

⁴³ And a Skritz at my neck!

⁴⁴ And a Skrink at my toe!

⁴⁵ And now I was really in trouble, you know.

⁴⁶ The rocks! And the Quail!

⁴⁷ And the Skritz! And the Skrink!

⁴⁸ I had so many troubles, I just couldn’t think!

(i know that there are many who are thinking….i wish i could have such troubles….yeah… i know……. and i am not bitching –least not that much)

SO while we were busy thinking about the rats and the tile and the wood….. (rats…gone-ish…..)  the tile has  been cleaned up  and re-grouted  and looks SO much better–I think i have the tile whisperer working…..

J-1’s crew is working miracles on the woodwork — The people working at the house are really a terrific bunch– i am VERY lucky.  Our electrician –has been great at untangling our electrical ‘issues’  has been assessing the wiring…. to paraphrase “most people would go a to b to c….they seemed to go a to n to d….” or words to that effect — i have in my possession an light that is ‘switchless’ (how about that!) and wiring that apparently is a bit crazy.

The electrician has been a godsend and is a really great guy–I was really worried about the wiring –knowing how corners were cut and things were put together- I am feeling much better now that he is working the system out and pulling it into some semblance of sensible.

We knew that there was a roof leak.  and there was some rot in the T-111 in the ceiling of the front porch deck– we thought it was a small issue…..but the leak in the corner turned into a maze of rotting wood that requires most of the roof to be redone

 

 

 

 

 
We have a lot of mystery drainage issues at this house… and funky sizes– in fact i spent a better part of a day running around St Thomas (actually DRAGGING my friends, my VERY PATIENT friends!–and in their car!) finding oddly sized PVC pipe, reducer bushings and unions…. (2.5inch pipe, 2.5-3 inch bushings, etc) I have got to say that if you EVER need oddly sized stuff (and you KNOW you will someday–ok, maybe not) that Plastic City in Bovoni is the place to go….and they give away cool swag too! (i got a keychain flashlight!) — i learned a lot though– the difference between schedule 40 and schedule 80 PVC and that 4 inch unions are HUGE (yeah a guy’s business for sure….) — Home Depot doesn’t carry most of this stuff and even the very good plumbing supply store up here said that most of this was a special order…. so…. Plastic City wins– and BONUS… steve is from New Hampshire….and sox fan…. ‘nuf said….if PVC is your thing, then this is the place to be.

So, for this trip the last thing was the cabinets… did i already say how the rats had eaten thru a bunch of the cabinets? well they ate thru some pretty important structural stuff (at least in the sink/oven area) and the finish is falling apart and spending more time effort and energy and money trying to fix them seems like a waste of it all– SO the big bad news of this trip was the decision that we probably need to replace the cabinets…..ugh. This is a huge and unplanned expense and the G-man (while i think initially not a big fan) has been far more understanding than i had anticipated…. the question remains though– do we keep the current layout and only replace the cabinets on the sides (so keep the island and the cooktop in the island) OR do we revert back to the original layout where the island is simply an island and the stove/oven is placed next to the fridge– pro’s : easy to run a gas line to that location so i could do a gas stove! cons: all new counters……
We return to the island on the 13th this time with everyone (and more) in tow– we will camp out there — should be interesting…

so been in St John since monday…on Coral bay side of the island my phone (verizon) DOES NOT work…..  and no wireless except a bit at concordia….and so…… radio silence….  I was going to write a long post tonight with pictures….– but it is 11:45 pm — and I just got home…because i missed my direct flight to JFK — because basically the Airport at St Thomas is FUBAR.  if you have been there you know the drill– and i was a *bit* tardy– i was not THAT late…… and told the security people that i was REALLY late (after getting thru the 50 minute line for customs and then the 45 minute security line — or something to that effect….)   they did the following…:  shut down their second security line (the X-ray machine line) and looked at me and shrugged….. so racing thru after security and they are taking the steps away from dear old AA flight 936…… (and my chances of getting home for dinner) …..but the agent in st thomas for american immediately rebooked me on the miami flight then on to JFK..so i walked by flight 936 (scheduled for 1:05) at 1:15 or so (insert glare stare here)  and onto my Miami bound flight…. but in an exit row (score one for me!)  —  met a LOVELY woman from St Thomas who is a school counselor there– so that was a nice way to spend the flight….The house has been slowly (well – not so slowly) revealing itself and the project list grows all the longer……  the G-man reminds me that our last name isn’t Gates or Buffet..

But there are more big issues……and they have to be addressed…..  I remind myself that i am one lucky lady to have this opportunity…and a supportive (if slightly more jaded?) spouse….  

So, heading back on Monday to see what gives–i should be ecstatic…..but i am kind of just filled with foreboding…..More Rat nests were discovered and the damage from the rats is likely to lead to even more significant expenses (over what it already has– which is basically all new appliances…thank you R.O.U.S’s……) I still haven’t made a decision on french doors versus sliders (this will become a theme here i imagine…my deciding and committing to one thing or another……it took me a good 4 months to decide on tile for a bathroom once!  This is going to be a LONG process…..)–but the G-man wants the place on the market by late fall……so this means getting my act together.  For now, adding to the list the additional rat damage and another electrical connection that may not be up to  code.

The house needs to have some happy in it– so hoping that we can manage that….and next week i hope to infuse the house with happy (Without rats…..god , please! Without rats……not that i am against rats being happy– just not happy in my house) — In the meantime i since i am sort of paralyzed by the larger projects (committing to replacement doors, large furniture purchases, etc, etc) I thought i would buy a few things that might be nice in the house….. so in no particular order- coffee mugs. (a pair of each)  a small tray and a small box  for a bureau, a kettle, and a serving platter….  none of these things is particularly significant and will go in a box until we ship a container down…but starting the process of thinking what i want there makes it a bit less abstract and makes it a bit more happy……

J-1 called and said he was reconsidering his last assessment of the cabinets so they might be ok after a lovely and wonderful   cleaning faery scrubbed and beautified them…..and if he can find the serial number then I am told that Kraftmaid will have a record of them and can make replacement parts — so that is a WHOLE lot cheaper than a new kitchen….PHEW…….Pool is being taken care of (i know, i know….– a case of misguided priorities….but hey!   I have never had a pool! And besides we are going to ‘camp’ there over the kids spring break.)  But the list still seems to be getting longer rather than shorter…roof has (more) issues….areas are flat and need a bit of pitch so that the water runs off…, more rot in the wood (which i think will all need to be replaced eventually and there is a lot of it) a drainage issue , a septic issue…a water pump issue……

but small steps and so far, so good……i am impatient by nature– so this project will be a test for me for sure……..I am lucky to have many wonderful friends who are making the way a bit easier, by making introductions,  talking me down off of my panic “did we make a huge mistake?’  giving me good advice (even if i don’t necessarily want to hear it– you see i really do want those french doors…….and i might live to regret it).    And one friend in particular who has done so much…that i am not sure i can ever find a way to say thank you.

it’s late….. forgive me.

J1 called tonight and his words were basically …..’well, after looking behind the appliances…..i think that maybe my initial take on the cabinets might be wrong……maybe they do need to be replaced…..whoever put them in…well, they weren’t very careful…..’  <<cue downward slide whistle>>   G-man is more against dealing with cabinets than he is french doors…….call this the cabinet revolt….– but really only the center island revolt– so maybe we annex that part of the kitchen to russia?  or norman island?  Bear with me .  Like i said, it is late.   1F-1 is studying for a Bio test and I am trying to keep 2f-1 from annoying her while she studies…….it’s late and everyone’s tired and tempers are not what they should be…so i am a bit punchy and there is snow in the forecast . …    After the 30 K estimate for tile work that was delivered today (much that is necessary and has to be done ….and then some — a big ticket  outdoor shower–that is desired, but not critical) staring a complete kitchen redo in the face is really not what we wanted…

but as a friend says   ‘2 live kids at the end of the day?  I win’  (and wow, with their issues tonight that was almost not the case!)

So…this is probably the only (ha! SO FAR!) pretty firm disagreement  the G-man (aka the husband) and i have had about this house- is whether we are replacing the existing french doors with new french doors or with sliders– either way the doors will be replaced and  made with impact resistant glass–but the argument against french doors is that they will not wear well in a rental and that they will get banged around by the wind and people not being careful.

The argument for them is really pretty much aesthetics…….I LOVE the look of the french doors and that is what really sold me when i first entered the room with R.A.E. (but might forego the paned glass since that seems like a cleaning nightmare…) — but the french doors really go with the character of the house– and I am afraid that sliders will just not look right–also i love that you can open them both right up– a limitation with sliders since only one side opens at a time………Many of our friends and acquaintances and such have already weighed in on this and the deck is firmly stacked against my french doors…..(although not everyone thinks it is a crazy idea–and some long time residents think it would be fine).    The G-man  is even willing to entertain a compromise with one set of french doors in middle and sliders elsewhere…..i am not sure that would look right though…..SO ye  dwellers on the inter webs,  what say you?  Do I start the next french revolution, storm the bastille (or get seriously close to couples therapy) and go with the french doors (design is important!) or do i lay down my arms and  surrender to the slider……OR do we compromise (would that look strange??????) OR is there some alternative that we haven’t thought of??????? I am all ears…….(or eyes in this case)

So a short trip to try to sort out a few things… and try to get a handle on what needs to be done….and the list is LONG……most things we knew about…some (rather large ones) we did not know about….when we closed and took possession the house was a crazy mess.  J-1 got a crew in there and really cleaned out a lot of stuff and got the major stuff taken care of –for example, cleaning out the fridge…..where a rat had eaten thru the back panel of the freezer and peed in the freezer (ummmm buh bye Fridge…….), hauling a couple of truckloads to the dump, starting to power wash the exterior,  removing the evidence of rodent infestation and their dogs (which i think weren’t out very often….?) so a large list still remains,  a deep cleaning of all the rooms (which are filthy) re-grouting or simply grouting tile that was never grouted , cleaning up stone and tile (and trying to fix areas that are in serious disrepair, painting………LOTS OF PAINTING…….to try to stave off the need to replace the rails immediately……repair of the roof. New windows and doors….or replace some, repair others….. The pool is a mess– but might be able to be brought back to life– but is on a circuit that is a bit sketchy….. (yep, the electrician, who i will call J-2 was there and he just shook his head a lot…….)–Pretty much all the appliances have to go….(signs of rat infestation in the oven and probably the dishwasher and obviously the fridge) and wondering if the cabinets can be cleaned up– they are decent quality cabinets (kraftmaid) and fairly new — though they are pretty beat in certain areas  –but a total kitchen overhaul was NOT in the budget ….. <<sigh>>–   I brought down two big bags of stuff, but couldn’t really leave them at the house since there was no secure area to leave them and the place just will have too much going on — so unfortunately imposing on a friend to hang onto them until i can get someone in to change out a lock… So some pictures so you get an idea of the place …  Bonus of the trip was that J-1 said he would act as the point person/fore person for us and so that is great– someone in charge who we really like.   met also with solar people, tile person, cleaning person, and talked to the exterminator…..as much as i don’t like to exterminate, i think this calls for it……visit to STJ hardware and pardise lumber to set up an account and then the Paint Depot in St Thomas where we dropped just over 800 on painting and roofing materials….. reality is beginning to sink in…..

very small bathrooms all are like this — will change out the sinks and try to upgrade it a bit with new tile (again,,,probably not immediately?)