After purchasing our retirement home in the West Neck Villages golf community in Virginia Beach, Va., in late February, we spent three months renovating the 10-year-old house.
Getting from the start to finish line is like rolling a giant snowball downhill _ the project keeps getting bigger and bigger. Like many houses, it looks like a move-in dream in the real estate marketing photos. In reality, it's like most 10-year-old houses _ in need of TLC and personalized updates.
The rancher features a master suite of two closets, full bath and laundry on one side of the floor plan, and a suite of two bedrooms, office and full bath on the other side. Much of the downstairs square footage is devoted to a no-wall area that encompasses kitchen, dining, living room and soon-to-be sunroom. An oversized foyer welcomes guests; and a room over the garage is used for a pool table and storage cabinets.
The two-car garage house with covered front porch is built on a bricked raised slab, something we have never lived with before. The exterior is a brick front with foam-backed vinyl siding on the other three walls.
LESS BECOMES MORE
At first glance, our new home looks like it needs only paint and flooring. Those needs, however, quickly evolve into bigger projects meant for the long haul. We knew the HVAC, gas hot water heater and appliances are 10 years old with little life left in them. The light fixtures are outdated, the bathrooms are tired and the closets are inefficient. The garage is dirty from top to bottom, and the attic needs more insulation.
While living temporarily in a furnished condo and all our belongings in storage, we decide to redo the house from top to bottom instead of stringing it out over months, maybe years, while living in it.
We had three months to change as much as we can, so we focus only on the interior, knowing the exterior can be done after we move in. Ken and I divvy up responsibilities _ I research and line up contractor appointments for estimates while Ken supervises tear-outs and installs at the house, and helps the painter. Strangers to contractors in Virginia Beach, I often turn to Facebook, asking for recommendations; I also find www.NextDoor.com to be useful for asking nearby neighbors for referrals. I spend hours emailing contractors with questions and requests, and shop online for best prices and quick shipment to the house.
Our first and smartest hire is a one-man remodeler with a graphic arts background that proves helpful when we are making design decisions. After assessing the house and its condition, we make a to-do list for him. He removes miles of ventilated wire shelving and doors in four closets, takes down all light fixtures and repairs minor wall imperfections. He finds a reliable electrician, preps lumber for custom shelving in the pantry and linen closets and puts up crown molding in several rooms. Throughout the entire process, LaJesse does odds and ends that make the project move along.
SCREENED PORCH REDO
Between minor jobs around the house, the remodeler transforms a covered screened porch into a sunroom. Three windows between the dining room and porch are removed and a larger archway framed in. Four oversized Pella windows custom ordered through Lowe's create a back wall of glass. LaJesse hangs a beaded board ceiling, one board at a time, and installs chair rail with beaded boarding below; the exterior is done in a white wainscoting style that complements the house.
FLOORING
Because our house is on a concrete slab, we first do a moisture test to ensure there are no issues there _ and there are none. Outside, newly-installed underground drains for the gutter downspouts ensure rainwater is carried away from the foundation.
After ripping out old wood flooring and carpeting, we have a flooring vendor found through Costco install moisture-blocking padding under a tweedy-brown Berber in the living area and bedrooms. Vinyl locking planks in a hardwood look cover the foyer, sunroom and dining area; a floating tile floor that resembles marble goes in the kitchen and breakfast nook. Hardwood is not our choice because we don't want anything glued or nailed, making it easier to change flooring in the future.
COLOR CHOICES
One Sunday, we drive 100 miles back and forth to a Sherwin-Williams store, picking up paint samples as we try to agree on a wall color. It's an important but not easy task because the entire house will be painted the same color, and we only want to paint one time, for at least 10 years! We choose bright white in a satin finish for all trim.
After putting paint samples on the wall and asking Facebook friends to choose, we settle on Eggwhite, a pale, creamy yellow, that is restful and relaxing.
Outdoors, we changed the red garage door to a taupe that blends with vinyl siding and shades on the house. The front door went from red to Sherwin-Williams Honeycomb gold.
COMFORT STUFF
Selecting an HVAC brand and contractor is a time-consuming, sometimes frustrating, process. Goodman is the house's original equipment, and it's very much outdated in efficiency and SEER rating. We interview seven HVAC contractors, and cross off companies that want us to sign on the spot, dazzle us with high-pressure talk or seem weak in the maintenance area
Finally, we decide on a 96 percent efficienct, two-speed gas-powered Lennox furnace with a 21 SEER, two-stage AC, Harmony zones for downstairs and upstairs, humidifier, healthy climate filter, new PVC flue, drain pan, outdoor AC pad and thermostats.
To enhance comfort and efficiency, we hire an insulation specialist to remove what's in the attic and blow in cellulose, along with a thermal foil-insulating backing to the door that leads into the attic.
KITCHEN
Fortunately, the maple kitchen cabinets by Kraft Maid are in good shape, and equipped with pull-out shelves and other niceties. Granite counters were put in recently. A new Delta kitchen faucet complements the deep, wide stainless steel sink. Appliances, however, are bought new, and yellowed recessed light canisters are replaced with all-in-one LED units. In fact, we found long-life, easy-install, all-in-one LED units (never change the light bulbs) for the laundry, closets and garage at Home Depot, where we also purchased ceiling fans, chandeliers and exterior lights in bronze finishes.
BATHROOMS
The guest bathroom gets an update with new granite counter and sink, Delta faucet and three-sided mirror. Solid-surface shelves replace the ventilated ones. In the master bathroom, we still plan to take out the garden tub and small shower stall, and instead put in a larger walk-in shower.
CLOSETS
I've always dreamed of custom closets with built-in dressers, cubbies, shelves and enough hanging space for all my year-round clothes. So, we splurge this time, turning to Closet Factory, which is a Costco vendor giving extra discounts. Entry doors on all closets are removed, giving you easy access to whatever you need and allowing you to use every inch of space. Two walk-in master closets each feature double dressers with beveled, Thermofoil doors and shelves above, 150 inches of linear hanging space, 14- and 16-inch deep shelves and a valet rod. The grandkids' and guest closets are done the same, except on a smaller scale; toys and small items are stored in white baskets that look neat and tidy on the white shelves.
MOVE-IN DAY
In early June, we finally move into the house with minor tweaks still to do. Thankfully, the paver patio and new landscape are outdoors projects for fall.
If we had a redo on the house makeover, we would do it the same, and are grateful for the caring contractors who made it possible.
