Remodel Update

So yeah, the month of May is about gone and I swear the remodel house hasn't seen much accomplished. One big pain in the butt problem was the hardwood floors in the old original part of the structure. We had three separate hardwoods in there, so we found a great replacement, had it delivered and stored it for installation. But when they took it out of the boxes at the beginning of the month to let it get acclimatized, we were unhappy to discover there were huge variations in the stain. To the point where it looked as if it was something completely different from what we ordered, or two different dye colors. In addition, the boxes were labeled as a different type of wood than what we ordered.

However, none of that seemed to matter to the flooring company where we purchased it. We then spent the next ten days wrangling with Carlson Flooring that refused to stand behind their product and make sure the customer (ME!) was satisfied. Long story short, the company basically stole a 25% restocking fee from us when we attempted to have them right the problem with their manufacturer. There was lots of excuses and backpedaling and lying and acting as if they had no other choice but to charge us the 2K. And I was dealing with the owner's son and then the owner the entire time, not some flunky.

It was all super frustrating, as you can imagine. And losing almost $2K was crazy. I can't help but wonder if we're the first folks they pulled this my hands are tied routine with. Needless to say, we took the money they returned to us (minus that restocking fee they never mentioned in any of their paperwork) and now we're waiting on delivery of a different product from another building materials company that's even prettier than what we originally though we were purchasing with that other poorly run flooring company. Our new hardwoods are coming from the same place where we purchased all of the tile for our bathrooms. 

Hopefully we'll get back on track for a late July move-in. I'm getting tired of living like squatters in our rental and ready to get settled. Meanwhile... the search for furnishings continues. Some of the house will be outfitted with our current items, but we will need some new pieces to complete the transitional look we're aiming for with this remodel. 

Thus far the new high school junior has a tufted headboard, nightstands, and makeup table ordered. We're reupholstering her swivel barrel chair and have selected a dresser we'll order a bit closer to the move date. I'm happy her room is falling into place thanks to our amazing decorator. This woman works wonders with the teen. I suggested a custom tufted headboard, but all I got was disdain and the icky, ugly face. However, when the decorator suggested the exact same thing, the junior was all peachy keen and sounds great. Same with the dresser. The round pulls on the one I suggested were weird and ugly. When the decorator told her it was a cool and contemporary look, then she was all in with ordering it. I have to admit, I'm digging the teen's color scheme of gray and blush with navy accents.

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Deciding on decor

I've just about finished with the selection and purchase of all materials for the remodel. So I've recently moved on to considering decor. We don't need a whole house full, thank heavens, but we do need some key pieces in the entertaining spaces so we aren't lounging on plastic chairs from Walmart. 

I ordered a four cushion sofa for the family room, with a matching tufted bench and two swivel chairs that the husband loves. He really got into lounging in the swivel chair we had in our England house. With that done, I've switched my mental power and search efforts to a coffee table. Something sculptural with a glass top is what I have in mind. I found the cool one below and fell in love, but of course it's not longer manufactured. Thanks, Pinterest, for teasing me with that one.

This one is my runner up at the moment. Not as fabulous, but still visually interesting. And very affordable.