Curbly House Renovation: Our Journey Begins!

It’s official! Jon and I finalized the paperwork last week and are now the proud owners of the new Curbly House! The real fun begins now as we dive into the transformation process. Our to-do list is ambitious: a brand-new kitchen, renovated bathrooms, a new back door for easier access, an upgraded HVAC system for ultimate comfort, a finished basement to maximize living space, improved landscaping to enhance curb appeal, and, perhaps the most challenging, figuring out how to integrate a parking space into the backyard. Sounds like a lot, right? We’re ready for the challenge!

A critical aspect of this project is the timeline. We aim to have the house ready for sale this fall, avoiding the slower winter market. This means we’re operating on a tight schedule with a significant amount of work to accomplish in a short period. Our commitment is to quality and detail. No cutting corners – we are determined to deliver a beautifully renovated home that future owners will cherish. With a dedicated team working together, we are confident we can meet this challenge head-on and create something truly special.

First Floor Transformation: Our Preliminary Plan

Our primary focus for the first floor involves expanding and modernizing the kitchen, creating an open and inviting space. As you can see from the blueprint, we are essentially doubling the kitchen’s size and seamlessly integrating it with a new informal dining and family room area – maybe a “great room”? We’re still debating the perfect name! This open concept will create a fantastic hub for everyday living and entertaining.

Additionally, we’re converting an existing closet in the back room into a new exterior entrance and foyer. This will provide convenient access to the house from the new parking space we’re adding in the backyard. For Minnesota families, a dedicated space to store snowy boots, coats, and groceries is essential. Even a small “mudroom” significantly enhances the home’s functionality and appeal.

Where We Started: A Glimpse of the “Before”

In case you missed it on the blueprint, let’s highlight the initial layout:

The first step? Demolition! This week, Jon and I tackled the old kitchen, removing appliances, cabinets, countertops, and tearing down most of the walls that needed to be relocated. It was a satisfying, albeit messy, start to the project.

Demolition Day: A Visual Journey

Kitchen renovation in progress — The old kitchen awaits transformation.

A small kitchen with a window above the sink — Saying goodbye to the outdated features.

Carpentry work during the kitchen demolition — Removing the old cabinets and fixtures.

A countertop in a white room — Clearing the space for a fresh start.

Construction work in progress — The demolition phase is underway!

A room under construction with a ladder and broom — Preparing for the next stage of renovation.

Having not done a proper demolition job in a while, I was quickly reminded of a few critical lessons:

Safety First: Always Wear Your Safety Gear

Seriously! Eye protection is non-negotiable. When tearing things apart, debris will inevitably fly around, and your eyes are vulnerable. It’s tempting to remove safety glasses when they fog up or become annoying, but resist the urge. The same applies to gloves. You might think you won’t hurt your hands, but it’s highly likely. Protect your body; it’s well worth the extra effort.

Embrace the Mess: Demolition is Inherently Messy

This seems obvious, but I always have this urge to keep the demolition process neat and tidy. It’s simply not possible! Accept the mess and focus on cleaning up afterward. You’ll complete the demolition faster without wasting time trying to maintain a spotless environment.

Demolition is Fun!

This isn’t a lesson, just a statement of fact! There’s a certain satisfaction in tearing down the old to make way for the new.

Priming for Perfection: The Power of Paint

After completing the demolition, we began priming most of the rooms for painting. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Sherwin-Williams again. You may remember they provided all the paint for the first Curbly House. This time, we’re using their super-low-VOC Emerald latex paint. This ensures that the future homeowners won’t have to worry about harmful chemicals or odors emitting from the walls. It’s a commitment to creating a healthy and comfortable living environment.

Paint Selection: A Sneak Peek

A can of Sherwin Williams Emerald interior acrylic latex paint — Sherwin-Williams Emerald paint: Quality and safety.

Blue paint lines on the floor — Testing colors and envisioning the final look.

What’s Next on the Agenda?

Painting will be an ongoing task. We estimate it will take around two weeks to repaint most of the rooms. However, certain areas like the kitchen, bathrooms, and mudroom will have to wait until other construction work is completed first. The sequence of tasks is critical to ensure efficiency and minimize rework.

Simultaneously, we’re finalizing our kitchen plans, including the layout and cabinet styles. We are also diligently sourcing appliances and fixtures to complete the kitchen design. These decisions will significantly impact the overall look and functionality of the space.

Here is some living room inspiration from Hayneedle.

Alicia has been collaborating with our friends at Hayneedle to select what feels like a massive collection of furnishings for the house. Remember, we’re fully designing and furnishing this property, and the buyer will have the option to keep all the beautiful items inside! For a reminder of Alicia’s design vision, check out this previous post.