Remodeling :)

The last week has been a whirlwind of activity around here. Besides our regular activities, we went to Springfield & our big remodeling project got started :). About 5 years ago, I first drew up some plans for creating a main floor laundry/mudroom, but there were other things we wanted to do around the house, etc, so the plans got put away. A month+ ago, I pulled the drawings back out and after Andrew and I talked it over, we contacted a realtor (thanks Andrea :) ) and contractor (thanks Chad :) ), and we decided to go for it! I'm so excited!!...and I'm not the only one - our kids keep telling everyone we see that our house is under construction :). The project won't be done for another 2 weeks or so, but I've been asked for pics, so without further adieu, here are some before pics and mid construction pics.
First, the back entry by the kitchen:

This area has bugged me for quite some time. During the winter we knock the coats off the walls when we go downstairs. And of course, since we take our shoes off when we walk in the door, all 6 of us trying to take our shoes off in this 3x3 space is a bit like a clown car scene, only with the added of challenge of making sure no one ends up getting knocked down the stairs.

The back entry now:

Eventually, after the currently gray wall is plastered and painted, lockers will line the first 4 ft, then the washer and dryer with cabinets above, then an L shaped countertop along the back wall with more cabinets above.

Now, of course, the space for this new laundry/mudroom had to come from somewhere, and that somewhere was the front living room. A room that I have always felt was mostly wasted space (since we also have a family room). So here is the living room before & after:

Yep, definitely smaller - can you tell the bay window was moved over...1 1/2 ft!

So, there you have it. Noah Herman and Sons is doing the work for us and thus far I've been extremely pleased with their professionalism and how they have worked so hard to contain the messes that have been made. The plaster guys come tomorrow and then I get to paint (I actually enjoy painting - it's a job around the house that actually stays done once I do it :) ). It's getting awfully exciting around here!