RUC – The Big Room
I’m still working on The Big Room in the RUC but I thought I’d share some before and after shots with you.
I’ve actually named them before and after, but upon reflection I’m thinking it’s probably pretty obvious (I hope!)
Kick off your shoes – enjoy a tea, coffee, wine or beer and come in and relax with me.
To do list
- rehang doors to bedrooms
- paint door architraves
- put in thresholds
- hang pictures on walls (and I’ve got a LOT of pictures – lucky I’ve got a lot of walls).
I’ve put a mud map below of the RUC so you can see where I’m working. I’m not very good at architectural drafting, so bear with me. A couple of people have asked me to do this because they can’t picture the entire place when I’m talking about the parts I’m working on.
So far I’ve put up before and after shots of the kitchen and writer’s nook. Now it’s time for…
…wait for the drum roll
The RUC is a perfect square (although, I’m not sure if my silly drawing looks like a perfect square, so just pretend). And The Big Room is slap bang in the middle (the white part in case you missed it) 😉
The front door faces due South.
Did you count the amount of doors I had to sand & paint/varnish and repair? Ick!
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the RUC you may be a little shocked at the before pictures. The RUC was an empty building for some years and was going to be demolished when we saved it and moved it to the farm. I even have a copy of the demolition order! Vagrants had lived in it for some time. There was a fair bit of ‘street art’ on the walls (I say street art, but there was no art to it) and I removed it before I took the before pictures because it was pretty disgusting, so you don’t have to worry about seeing amateur street art in this post. However, I did leave the painted feet on the floor for a while (even though those feet annoyed me for some time!)
We put fibre cement sheeting beneath the revamped floor. I would never have thought of this, but hubby has worked in the fire protection industry for so many years that this was the first thing he thought of. Fire safety is his number one concern and the sheeting now ensures if there is a fire in the man cave below it won’t spread to the floorboards above. The exterior cladding on the RUC is also made of the same material in the event of a bush fire that spreads to the sugar cane (God forbid). This is something I would never have thought of – so thanks hubby for keeping us safe!
The book shelves you see on the walls were the old Rugby Union Club trophy cabinets (Silky Oak). I removed the top curly bits and I’m going to make shelves out of them.
Check out the front door in the first photo. I scraped/burned/sanded nine coats of paint off that to discover it’s beautiful Silky Oak wood.
I hope you enjoyed your visit!
Now – I’d better get back to work 😀
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Wonderful pictures Dianne! Wow, the after picture are so nice! Amazing, you did a lot of the work yourself! You got muscles lady hahaha It looks huge too!
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It’s hard doing the work yourself, but in the end you feel the muscles, look at the product and say ‘WOW – I did it!’ YAY 😀
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Oh I think you may just have a future in architectural drafting 😀 I LOVE your big room! All that light and space! well done 🙂
ps. do you have a spare room? your home makes me want to visit!
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Yes – we have a spare room that used to be the ‘office’ in the RUC. It was incredibly dingy and had bars on the windows – I could feel the entire house breathe a sign of relief when we took the bars off, made the windows bigger and let the light shine in! 😀
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It is GORGEOUS. And I love your taste in furnishings. Just a class act from first to last. Well done.
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Thank you so much, Nancy. It was good to get all that furniture up out of storage in the dusty shed, clean it up and place it where it belonged! I’m so glad you like it 😀
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Beautiful work Dianne! And the floor looks fab too.
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Thanks, John! The floor took a while to fix, but boy was it worth it! 😀
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This is really incredible, Dianne. I’m so impressed with what you guys have done. Although I have no skills in renovating myself, I always loved watching those types of shows on TV. In fact, I’ve always loved touring homes–new, old, renovated–it doesn’t matter; I just love houses. Have you considered submitting your before and after pics to a magazine? I bet there would be real interest there in showing what you’ve done, especially considering the history behind the place.
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I’ve been thinking about putting these pics in a magazine lately, Carrie. I never thought I would before because I actually didn’t think it would come up as good as it has! Every time I do something I think, ‘that looks better than I thought it would!’ LOL 😀
Hubby cut the floorboards and I laid them (I’m banned from power tools because I’m so clumsy!) and then I released how many muscles I had in my glutes! OUCH, it was hard to walk for a few days…
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A beautiful house and firm buns to boot. Can’t beat that!
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LOL! It’s great exercise!
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Absolutely AMAZING and so beautiful Dianne! Wow, what a transformation!!! I thoroughly enjoyed visiting via your pictures, your wonderful place! Thanks for sharing the power of having a vision and seeing the wonderful results from perseverance, and determination. 🙂
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You’ve absolutely hit the nail on the head, Cathie. I had a vision and even though there were times that were very tough indeed, I never gave up and just stuck with it. It’s easy to think of big plans, but actually carrying them through to the end takes a load of perseverance and determination. I’ve learned a lot about myself and others through this experience (some good, some bad) and feel like I’ve really grown as a person.
Thank you so much for your comment – it’s really got me thinking (and that’s always a good thing) 😀
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I am so impressed and love what you have done with the place. It’s a true labor of love. 🙂
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Thank you, Ruth. I can’t say it was worth every second, but I’ve certainly learned a lot about building and renovating! Even I’m surprised sometimes when I look at the before and after photos 😀
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what great remodel – love that brown fan – and the writer’s nook just seems awesome – but great before and after shots – and I am now ready for some tea…. 🙂
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LOL! Tea is being served on the writer’s nook 😀
I’m so glad you like the place 😉
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I love Before and After pictures–and oh, the decisions and work that went in between.
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So many decisions, Joy! The beauty of doing something like this yourself is that you can change your mind every five minutes (like I do) and aren’t locked-in to a particular theme or design 😀
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Have the local paint and hardware suppliers booked their luxury holidays yet? They must have made a fortune 😉 I love that you don’t need window coverings, and also that you haven’t fitted them just because. Our old house has the traditonal smaller windows, and coverings and carpets so I really envy the space and light and timber floors of your big room. And you need it to display your lovely furniture. The RUC suits it perfectly. Clever re-purposing of the trophy cabinets. I can imagine the RUC showcased in a future edition of Australian Country Style Magazine 🙂
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LOL – so far we’ve only painted the inside, the hardware shop employees will be doing a round-the-world trip when we paint the outside!
The furniture was in storage in the dusty shed and I hated walking through there and seeing it looking so forlorn. I’m so glad it’s now in the house (hubby and I carried it all up the 18 tread steps btw!) oh, my back 😉 My M-I-L thinks I’m the strongest woman she’s ever met – bless her….
I rubbed clove oil on the wooden furniture and have not had any more issues with that dreaded mildew (YAY!)
Hmmm – Country Style Magazine, I wonder if they’d be interested in doing a story 😀
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So clove oil really works? Good to know.
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It certainly does 😉
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Wow! It’s hard to believe the before and after is the same space.
Stellar job! Does having done all the work make it feel even more like home?
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It certainly does, Guap! I could do what I pleased (and because I’m someone who has to sit and look at things for a while, make a decision and then change my mind, it was a lot easier that I did the work!) lol 😀
Hope you’re having a nice relaxing break 😉
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The transformation is amazing, Dianne. It’s absolutely lovely!
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I’m so glad you like it, Amy. It even looks better than I expected 😀
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Lovely, light-filled, warm and inviting. Quite the transformation. I am impressed. (Plus, I’d never heard of that use for clove oil–for me it’s only been a toothache remedy.)
We are currently remodeling a little apartment–where we’ll stay while we build our cabin this summer. Right now it’s just raw land and we’re impatiently awaiting the approvals to begin (the building permit process.) In a few months, I’ll have pictures to share.
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I can’t wait to see your pictures. One mistake I made was not taking pictures of the truly awful side of the RUC (the squalor), not that I would have shared it here, but just to remind myself about how bad it really was!
We had to go through a load of approvals for the RUC as well as having it cyclone upgraded (which I don’t mind at all!).
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Your place looks amazing! It would’ve been so overwhelming to begin such a big remodel project, but you must be proud of how it’s turned out! Thanks for sharing the photos 🙂
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I’m really glad you liked them, Janna. I’m surprised sometimes when I look back on the old photos! 😀
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Looks amazing! So cool what you can do with space when you’re a talent like yourself 😉
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Awwww – thank you, my dear! I never thought I had talent in this area, but I’m pretty proud of the outcome! I’m even shocked sometimes when I look at it 😀
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The changes are wondrous Dianne, you’ve both worked miracles. xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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Thank you so much, David. It’s been hard work, but the results are pretty amazing! 😀
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Beautiful work Di! I can’t wait to show these to mum on the weekend, she will be so impressed!
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Thanks so much, Deb! A lot of work has gone into it, but it’s really worth it! Give mum a big hug for me 😀
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Oh wow Dianne. It’s stunning!
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Thanks so much, Rebecca. It feels so much more like a ‘home’ now (and not a construction site) 😉
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Incredible! Obviously you have tremendous talent in this arena, Dianne. Perhaps in your “spare” time, you and your husband should start a remodeling business. 🙂 It looks fabulous and so welcoming! When’s the housewarming party? 🙂
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LOL – the housewarming party will be soon, Jill (I should also have a virtual housewarming party!) I’ve always thought I’d be pretty hopeless in the ‘renovation’ stakes, but I’ve never tried before. It’s amazing what you can do when you combine a vision with a load of determination! 😀
I’m so glad you like it – it’s hard to tell when you do it yourself and stand back and think ‘is it just me thinking I’ve done a good job? or does it really look as good as I think it does?’ 😉
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You did a fantastic job…it looks great! Pour a glass of wine, sit back and admire your workmanship…it’s awesome!
Oh yes, a virtual housewarming party would be great!
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Thank you darling, the high tea you served was simply devine, I shall come again soon 🙂 I can’t believe those floor boards were hidden, how appalling. Your hard work has paid off and still is I guess with the painting in store. Fantastic shots and your pretty damn good at the interior design caper too, then again it is YOU we are talking about, whose a clever girl 🙂 hugs and thanks for the invite xxx
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Strangely enough, I’ve always thought I didn’t have an interior design bone in my body, but for some reason this place just brings it out in me. Hubby is right into Feng Shui (don’t you love it when the tradesman’s feminine side appears!) and is going to do a ‘plan’ so I know where to place my pictures. It’s done with a compass and each area of the room is designated for each area of your life (children, ancestors, success, etc) so I’m really looking forward to that.
I’m so glad you popped in today! More high tea and a chat very soon 😀
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Looks like all your hard work has paid off… Soon you can relax and enjoy 😊
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So true, Maggie! With every accomplishment comes the ‘sitting back and enjoying’ part and it makes it so much sweeter when it’s something you’ve done yourself 😀
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Absolutely gorgeous, from floor to ceiling, Dianne. What a lot of hard work it’s taken, but so worthwhile. Even though the ‘Big Room’ is so large, you’ve managed to make each area look cosy and inviting. Well done indeed. I’m so impressed. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Sylvia. I’m looking forward to getting a few nice floor rugs and my pictures on the walls.
I wasn’t going to take photos of it in the beginning because it was so revolting, but I’m really glad I did now because I’ve got something to compare the ‘now’ shots with. I’m sure you’ll take photos of your place and I’m really excited about seeing your ‘before’ and ‘after’ pics as well 🙂
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Beautiful!
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Thank you, Betty! 😀
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Wow. I can’t believe what a difference it made just seeing the layout. Now I understand. A lesson to me as a teacher in explaining every topic multiple ways.
What a great veranda! We have one along the entire backside of our house. Now I wish I’d wrapped it around.
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The veranda here used to cover all four sides of the house (I guess that’s why the big room is SO big – it was the main house) but over the years rooms were built on the veranda (kitchen & bathroom). We needed a bedroom so we closed off the west facing veranda. It’s so interesting that this is how we can date the house. Before the first world war houses were built like this, after the first world war they became smaller and the verandas became smaller, after the second world war the verandas became a porch at the front of the house. It all had to do with the availability of materials.
Sorry about this history lesson – I got a bit carried away! I’m so glad you like it 😀
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Wow, if I didn’t know it, I’d swear those are two different places! Amazing work! 🙂
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Thanks, Lily. Sometime I find it hard to believe they are the same place! 😀
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Wow, wow and Wowzers! Your house is amazing! I love the before and after shots. You have got to be loving life now with all that hard work behind you.
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It has been a little more relaxing lately, Char 😀
I’m so glad you like it – some mornings I wake up, stumble in there and then get a shock when I see it LOL 🙂
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Char ^^ took all my exclamations, just wow! I hope your husband allows you a cleaner so it can be kept in that condition while you get on with writing. I did wonder why the verandah faced north and east until I remembered…:-)
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I really want one of those ‘robot’ vacuum cleaners, Roy 😉 But I think I’ll be waiting years for that unless the kids read this and decide I should be spoiled for my birthday 😉
I’m so glad you like it – it’s been a heap of work but all worth it 😀
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Every time you post about this house I am amazed anew by your vitality and dedication. You must have a great ability to see beyond all the yuck parts and visualise what the house could look like. It’s simply stunning.
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Awww – thank you! I did visualise it but it actually looks better than I thought it would. It was so nice to drag all my furniture out of the shed where it’s been sitting for about 12 months! I’m just so relieved it’s done now 😀
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I bet you are!
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😀
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I bow to the artistry, effort, perseverance, grit, determination and beauty created in the RUC, Dianne!! Honestly, I don’t know how you guys have made this incredible home, but I really admire you for what’s you’ve accomplished!!
I’m trying to decide where I would’ve quit if I’d been you – hm.
I hope you enjoy your home for many years…keep writing, too. 🙂
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LOL – I think I did quit once, but I got back into it again a few months later so lets not talk about that 😉
It was a big effort and well worth the results. If I had the chance to do it again? Absolutely not, but I’m glad it’s done now 😉
I’m so very happy that you like it and I’m hoping I can kick back now and enjoy it for many years to come 😀
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Wow, indeed! You’ve done an amazing transformation with the RUC! The before and after is as impressive as any I’ve seen on home improvement shows. You and your husband should be proud of your efforts!
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I’m so glad it’s done now, JM. Sometimes I walk in there and get a shock because I’ve forgotten it’s finished (but I’m quickly getting used to it) 😀
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This is really quite amazing. My wife and I are currently trying to figure out how to resurface our deck and add a little to it; and we are nearly undone by this teeny task. Good on you!
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These projects can certainly test relationships, sanity and patience – but it’s all worth it in the end.
Best of luck with your deck – maybe some before and after pics are in order 😀
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What an amazing transformation Dianne. How do you find time to fit so much into your life? Do you ever sleep?
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Funny you should say that – I usually get up at 4am 😉
I’m so glad you like the transformation. I’m loving it! 😀
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It looks almost finished. Have you much more to do?
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Not much left now and it will be completed (according to the council). Just the steps and the bathroom (yikes) 😉
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I can imagine the bathroom will be a major undertaking. Reminds me of the TV reality shows maybe after all your experience with RUC you should put your hand up for the next show….
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The bathroom will be painful because one of the walls isn’t very straight, so we have to straighten it because otherwise the tiles won’t fit – argh 😦
Now I wish I’d got a camera crew in at the very beginning because the whole deal and all the ups and downs would have made for great reality TV (LOL) 😉
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Would certainly be good ratings for them too…
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😀
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I want to come and be a lounge lizard 🙂
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That looks beyond amazing…. when are you coming to do my house? :p
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LOL! Thanks for the invite my dear – I’ll be there tomorrow 😉
I’m really glad you like it 😀
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Dianne, those picture are amazing! It truly looks like a home, and if I’m not mistaken, living in the Southern Hemisphere, being north-facing actually what you want for the best light exposure, yes?
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Absolutely, Janna! I’m so glad you like the pics, it IS feeling like a real home now. Phew! 😀
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It looks fab – what a project!! xx
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Thanks, EJ – huge project, but really worth it (now) 😉
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Wow. Impressive.
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Thank you so much 😀
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We’d have to agree with the dozens of commenters and tell you, ABSOLUTELYFREAKING GORGEOUS, Dianne! 😉 xoxo ❤ sharing now! 😉
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Awww thank you my sweethearts! 😀
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Where are you getting all the energy? Beautiful shots!
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Thanks Billy Ray – the energy comes and goes! (LOL) 😉
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Looking good!!
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Thanks Dawn! 😀
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Have your lizard critters discovered your new environs?!
What fun to watch this dream reno take shape for you. You get to do it, and I (we) get to be a part of it via your posts+photos.
peace
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Not too many lizard critters (yet), Laura 😀
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the changes and feel as if you’re part of it! That’s just wonderful 😀
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AMAZING! I think you should make a before/after collage and hang THAT up on one of those walls!
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What a brilliant idea! I’m going to get one of those electronic picture frames and put all the photos on there as well! It’s been an amazing journey 😀
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Exactly – oh how I like it when I have brilliant ideas!
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😀
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Holy Moley Dianne! You guys have done an absolutely beautiful job. It seriously looks like pure magic! I love the transformation and wish you luck with all the things left to do.
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Thank so much, Tiffany! Sometimes I can’t even believe it myself when I walk in there. I absolutely love it 😀
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Wow! What a difference! The work really paid off big. You should be so proud. Just beautiful!
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I just love it 😀 There were times when I wanted to give up – but I’m so glad I didn’t now 😀
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What a masterful job of recycling this building into a beautiful new home. I’m a carpenter, so I know what a feat this is. By the way, Diane. . . I’m Fran Guenette’s hubby, and I came over here from a recent comment you made over on Disappearing in Plain Sight. Good work here and cheers, to you and your husband,
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Thank you so much, Bruce – I’m very flattered you really like the job. If anyone would know how much work has gone into this it would be you as a carpenter 😀
I’m so glad you took the time to come over and have a look 😀
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Haha, I loved that you included the words “before” and “after”! As you pointed out, the difference, thank goodness, is quite clear 🙂 It’s so great to see how you’ve transformed the RUC. I love how you’ve been able to keep the great original features, highlighting them in your new beautiful space. Uhm… what’s with the footprints? 🙂
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Thanks so much, Letizia 😀 I’m so glad you could see the difference (lol) 😉
Squatters or vagrants must have painted their own feet on the floor at some stage. Those footprints were such an annoyance to me. Every time I looked at them I’d just think ‘Arghhhhgrrrr’. I did a little happy dance when we finally finished the floor 😀
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How fascinating! I thought you might have painted your own feet for laughs, haha!
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LOL – no, I’m not that artistic 😉
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I love these pics. You must feel such an amazing sense of accomplishment. I am not handy like that at all, and my hubs wishes he were handy, so you can imagine we don’t tend to do a lot of house renovations. 🙂
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I think my ‘handiness’ has been borne of necessity. Hubby is naturally handy which is great. But he’s like one of those kids at school who you know is really smart but just doesn’t try – when he puts his mind to it he’s amazing (so I carry a big whip!) LOL 😀
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Looks amazing. You can absolutely tell which is the before and after–but wouldn’t it be funny if someone wanted the house to go in reverse?
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I’m glad you like it, Kourtney 😀 It would be funny if they wanted it to go in reverse! 😉
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Oh wow this has turned out to be one brilliantly beautiful home… you’re quite clever…
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Thank you so much! It’s been a load of work and sometimes even I’m surprised when I look back at those pictures 😉
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Wow, Dianne! The RUC looks fantastic. I love the before and after shots, so we could fully understand the transformation. Looks like you have a beautiful space to live (and write) in. You go, girl!
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I’m so glad you like it, Britt. What a big job it was! 😀
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Wow! The after pictures are amazing! Nicely done. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Dex – it’s been a lot of worth, but well worth the effort 😀
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I want to see the before and after of your biceps after all the scraping, sanding, and painting, Dianne. 🙂 Beautiful, just beautiful. {{{Hugs}}} kozo
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LOL! Great point! It’s been a lot of ‘muscle building’ work 😀
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It’s good you took the “before” pictures because no one would believe it’s the same place! The work you’ve done is amazing. Wish I were half as talented and motivated.
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Even I didn’t recognise the ‘before’ pictures Barb! And sometimes I still get a shock when I walk into the big room and think, ‘Did I do this?’ LOL 😀
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Oh, you have come such a long way. It is gorgeous. You (and your hub) have done an amazing job. Now, drink that wine!!
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I’m so glad you like it! It was a lot of work, but really worth it in the end 😉
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That is so beautiful. I’ve been waiting ages to see pics. SO very jealous and SO very impressed with what you have done, Well done.
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It was a HUGE job – but so worth the effort 😀
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Looks wonderful. Interesting to read about the fire prevention measures built in to the home.
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I somehow missed this post and I am loving the before and after photos you shared here! What a super special space!! Beautiful Dianne!
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Thanks, Bonnie! My daughter was really shocked when she saw it in ‘real life’. She can’t stop taking photos. We’ve come a long way 😀
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