Calling it done!

Looking into the living room from the deck.

We moved from Seattle to Anacortes on January 27th of this year. The plan was to live on Miss Miranda for a few weeks while we did some minor renovations on the condo that we own along with the boat slip. We bought the condo a few years ago, but always had it rented. We used the slip occasionally in the summer, but mostly rented it out as well. Our tenant’s lease ended on December 31st, so we were ready to begin work in the new year. Our initial plan… foolish in hindsight… was to limit the work to replacing the kitchen appliances and painting. Everything changed the moment Gwen walked into the place and really saw the tired, mid-70s decor.

The kitchen cabinets were hideous. OK, replace them. The new appliances wouldn’t fit the old cabinetry without surgery anyway. Disgusting carpet and 70’s tile – gone. In goes new laminate flooring except the bedroom, which would get new carpet. The place sure is dark. Well, lets put in some can lights. By the way, the downstairs neighbors took down the kitchen cabinets facing the living area, knocked out the wall next to the bar, and made it a peninsula. Fine idea, we’ll do that too. Very tacky bi-fold door to the laundry room. We could replace with a barn door… cool! What was one of the previous owners thinking installing a line of kitchen-like cabinets from the ceiling down 3-4 feet in the bedroom? Out they go. And while we are at it, lets add a built in closet and replace those mirrored doors. And finally, about half way through the project, we decided that the ancient, ugly insert shower-tub combo had to go. And the toilet. And the flooring. And the counter. And the lighting.

So here we are on April 28th, and we can finally call it… DONE!

Dining area and “office” over in the corner.

Actually, all of the work was completed earlier this week, including glass windscreens for the deck (forgot to mention that). And we actually moved in on March 18th, but with work travel and various other committments, it has taken us until now to get unpacked (but let’s not even look in the garage).

Looking at the kitchen. Before, there was a line of cabinets where the pendant lights are and a wall at the end of the peninsula.

We are very pleased with how it turned out. The condo is small, less that 800 square feet, but we find it very comfortable. Of course, we’re only here for another month before heading off to Alaska and then Mexico.