Home Sweet Home

It has only taken me two years, but I've finally found the time to update my blog! I wanted to share the final pictures of my completely redone apartment with you.

It was a lot of work renovating, but mom, dad and I really enjoy the apartment -- and I love to run around playing with my toys and sliding on the wood floors!


We hope you come visit soon!

Unpacking...

It feels like forever since my last post! Mom and Dad have been busy unpacking and haven't yet had time to take final pictures of the furnished apartment to post. They promise me that they will do so in the near future.

The contractor came back to the apartment today to take measurements in order to make custom kitchen drawer dividers. Since the dividers will help Mom cook more and serve food faster, I'm on board.

In other news, Dad ordered a new bookcase on Sunday from Room & Board, his favorite furniture store, for the living room. Here's a picture of what it will look like:


Check back next week (hopefully) for the photos of the completely unpacked apartment!

First Weekend in the Apartment!

Sorry for the lack of updates last week, but Mom and Dad were busy moving me into the apartment! All of my stuff that was in storage was delivered on Wednesday and Mom and Grandma unpacked Thursday and Friday. This weekend Mom and Dad unpacked some more, and this morning Dad cooked me my first meal on the new stove (eggs).

After breakfast, we all went over to my former East Village home and cleaned up and put Dan's stuff back where it came from before we moved in nine weeks ago. Thanks for letting me crash at your place, Dan! I really enjoyed my East Village home.

When we got home, something terrible happened-- Mom and Dad gave me a bath in the new kitchen sink! They thought that I fit quite well and that it made bathing me much easier. I disagree and hope that I never get another bath.

After Mom and Dad are finished unpacking they'll help me put together some before and after apartment pictures. Until then, rest assured that I'll be enjoying my home!

Week Eight, Day Two

The apartment is finished!

After 36 days of construction, Mom, Dad and I have a beautiful new kitchen and bathroom and new floors and baseboards. We could not be happier with how everything turned out!

A few small details are left -- bathroom towel bars, vanity pulls, the sink base cabinet pull and kitchen light fixture need to be installed because the materials haven't arrived -- but there isn't anything that will hold up tomorrow's move back into the apartment.

We'll post some before and after pictures later this week, but here's a taste of the completed apartment. I can't wait to move back in, sniff out the new apartment and make sure all of my stuff is back, and for Mom to cook me a steak!

Week Eight, Day One

The living room walls and trim were painted today and Mom and Dad sent the contractor a list of finishing details to take care of tomorrow. We're still all set to move back in on Wednesday!

Week Seven, Day Five

Our renovation is almost done!!! On Friday the stove, refrigerator and cabinet door pulls were installed.


I can't wait to use my new kitchen!

Today my grandparents and Sasha had a tour of the apartment and liked it very much. I also showed it to my Aunt Jodi last night. I can't wait to show it to the rest of my family and friends. As long as they don't try and steal my bones, pigs ears, leftovers, etc., I am happy to have everyone over!

The butler's pantry area is finished as well.

The roll out has been installed in the base cabinet, and the hidden drawer below it is fully functional.

In the bathroom, the shower doors are in. All that's left in the bathroom is to hang the medicine cabinet doors and the vanity doors, and to install the towel bars and vanity handles.

We also decided on Friday to have the contractor repaint the living room, and they started preparing the walls. Since so much in my apartment is going to be brand new, I thought it deserved a new paint job to match. The painting and a few other details should be finished by end of day Monday, and we will be all set to move in on Wednesday!

Week Seven, Day Four

Lots of progress again at the apartment! (And good thing, because we're moving back in in less than a week!)The Virginia Mist granite countertops were delivered and installed today, and they look fantastic. I now have a nice long countertop to mooch from.

The stove and refrigerator haven't been put in yet, but I figure they have to be installed tomorrow. I am waiting anxiously for these two and may have to go supervise tomorrow.

The sink, faucet, soap dispenser, water filter and dishwasher were also installed. Mom and Dad say that the sink is definitely deep enough to give me a bath. It's over 10" deep counting the thickness of the countertop, and my legs are pretty short. Not good news.

The chandelier, which I've written about often, was installed over the dining area. Mom and Dad are very happy with the placement. I'm not sure what the big deal was, but I like when they are happy because it often means I get more play time and food.

In the bathroom, the plumber installed the shower head and tub spout, and the contractors finished assembling the shower door frame. They also painted the door and trim in the bathroom. Tomorrow the glass for the shower doors should be installed. Everything is looking great and I can't wait to move back in!

Week Seven, Day Three

Today was a very exciting day at the apartment -- the bathroom is almost finished! The plumber installed the bathroom vanity, sink, faucet, toilet and shower controls and the contractor installed the track for the sliding glass shower doors. No more baths for me in the tub!

The vanity doors are wood with a frosted glass panel, and should be installed tomorrow, along with the medicine cabinet doors. Mom and Dad are going to take me to pick out door handles this weekend.

Here are the shower controls. The tub spout and shower head still need to go in.

The contractors also put on the cabinet doors in the kitchen and pantry, painted a second coat in the kitchen, and painted the entrance hallway and blue living room wall.

And here's Dad's favorite part- the hidden baseboard drawer is now complete! Dad thinks my coats will fit in there, but I think my wardrobe is too big for that drawer.

The granite countertops are finished and will be installed tomorrow. The plumber will also start work on the kitchen plumbing, and the chandelier, which was picked up today, will be installed in the dining area. We ordered a light for the kitchen which sits flush with the ceiling and so will solve the problem we were having with the cabinets possibly hitting a light fixture. It will be here early next week. More exciting news to come tomorrow, but now it's late and time for bed!

Week Seven, Day Two

The electrician came to the apartment today and hooked up most of the undercabinet lighting, installed new outlets and light switches in the kitchen, and put in the bathroom light fixture.

The replacement refrigerator (the original one was damaged) was delivered and checked for damage, and the dishwasher unboxed. We hope that the dishwasher will be superior to the old under-sink dishwasher that we had prior to the renovation. Easier dish cleaning = more cooking = more food for me!

Tomorrow the plumber is coming, so there should be lots to report! We are hoping the rest of the appliances get installed so the living room will be cleared up for me to run around soon!

Week Seven, Day One

Another day with lots of progress! I was still exhausted from my weekend trip to NH, so Dad drove out alone to College Point, Queens to meet with the granite fabricator and approve the layout of the templates on the granite slab. The counter tops should be delivered to the apartment for installation by Friday.

I can already picture a steak sitting on the counter top, calling my name.

In the apartment, the backsplash was completely finished, the microwave installed and the first coat of paint in the kitchen painted. The contractor also built a support for the granite countertop that will go in back of the stove. It looks great and I can't wait to use my new kitchen!

In the bathroom, there had been several marble tiles that came from a different lot of marble and didn't match the rest perfectly. The contractor agreed to remove these tiles and replace them with ones that blend in. They look great now and just need to be grouted and then the marble sealed.

Tomorrow the electrician is coming to install the undercounter lighting, hook up the microwave and install new outlets and switches. The electrician will also let us know what sort of light fixture we can use in the kitchen and confirm that we can install the chandelier over the dining area. On Wednesday, the plumber is coming to hook up the stove, kitchen sink, dishwasher, shower controls, bathroom sink and toilet.

Mom and Dad also set a date to move everything back into the apartment. Wednesday the 24th is the big day, and the contractor says that we're on track to be finished before then! Mom and Dad are going to move everything in before I arrive, so by the time I get to the apartment everything will be set up for me. When you are as cute as I am, it's easy to get other people to do the work for you!