What do you mean it's not a two flat?

If you remember, we almost didn't get this place because it was listed as a two flat when in fact it was zoned as a single family home. This second upstairs kitchen was a thorn in our side when it came to switching our mortgage to a single family. The lender was worried about us renting the upstairs when it was illegal so they insisted that the sellers remove the appliances and cap the water and gas lines in the wall. Above is the photo for craigslist. We were able to sell the cabinets to a young Mexican family for $25. A pretty good deal for both of us. We avoided dumping in a land fill and they get some sturdy solid wood cabinets.

What is left behind is old 50s plastic tile. The tile came off pretty easy but the mastic was a pain in the ass to remove. The mastic smelled like 50 dead horses were used to make it. I was able to save about half of the tiles. (Anybody need faux white marble tiles?) We spent a good two weeks in December knocking off the old tiles and mastic. I know we could have ripped the walls out and installed drywall. However, the plaster is in good shape and drywall costs money. Our labor is cheap.

Here I am in my "uniform"; khaki pants, gross White Sox hat, and respirator (more comfortable than a dust mask). The walls have been skim-coated and are ready to be primed. Now if we just knew what we were going to do with this room. Another bedroom, giant walk in closet, sauna (now I'm dreaming).

Boy in the bubble

Time to tackle the dining room. The last room in the house to have that dank, moldy smell. This time we thought we would install a zipper door to "try" to keep the construction dust out of the rest of the house. It did work to some degree.

The previous owners had installed faux tin ceiling tiles made out of paper. Not quite the pretty patina tin ceiling that we used to have in the storefront. A few weeks ago, I had removed one tile near the bay window to reveal some old water damage in the plaster ceiling. Of course we have to do it right so down comes the ugly paper tiles.

The tiles came down fairly easy. Leaving behind 80 or so brackets that were screwed into the ceiling. Which then left behind some good size holes, oh about 80 or so. The front (to the left in the photo) had some old water damage that we were able to knock off. It came off so well that we knocked off the two layers of old plaster down to the concrete base. We then spent last week building up the losses and skim-coating the entire ceiling. Two coats of primer, two coats of paint and the ceiling is done! The walls will follow in a few days. No more stinky smell. "After" photos to come soon!

p.s. bonus..reflected in the mirror is Heather at 30 weeks, ten weeks to go.