Friends, it feels like an eternity since my last update back in July. While the gears of progress have been turning, nothing has manifested at lightning speed. For months, I found myself in a creative lull, feeling as though I had little noteworthy progress to share. The journey of transforming the Lodge has been a testament to patience, persistence, and a whole lot of elbow grease. I’ve been diligently chipping away at projects, and now, finally, several significant milestones are converging into complete narratives, offering a rich tapestry of beginnings, detailed ‘how-tos’, and satisfying conclusions – precisely the kind of content I love to share with you all.
Upon reviewing the vast collection of photos and video footage meticulously organized in my “for posts and videos” folder over the past couple of days, it became abundantly clear that I could have indeed provided an update much sooner, perhaps even in November. But as they say, better late than never, right? So, buckle up! Here’s a comprehensive recap of the past ten months, detailing the triumphs, the trials, and the valuable lessons learned along this incredible renovation journey.
Priming and Painting the New Drywall: A Major Milestone Achieved
Kicking off this extensive update, the first major hurdle I tackled was the priming and painting of all the newly installed drywall. This was, without a doubt, the most significant milestone mentioned in my previous Lodge update. It represented a huge leap forward, transforming raw construction into a canvas ready for the next stages of design. The sheer scale of the task was immense, covering vast expanses of walls and ceilings. Climbing up and down scaffolding, meticulously applying primer, and then a fresh coat of paint with an airless sprayer was a labor-intensive process, but the visual transformation was incredibly rewarding. Seeing those smooth, bright surfaces emerge from the dusty, unfinished state brought a sense of accomplishment that truly energized me for the subsequent phases of the Lodge’s evolution. It wasn’t just about applying paint; it was about laying the foundation for the aesthetic and atmosphere of the entire space, ensuring a flawless finish that would stand the test of time.
Unearthing Idaho Treasures: A Sentimental Salvage Operation
Following the painting marathon, my attention, along with Julie’s, shifted to Idaho. We embarked on a fascinating journey to assist my Dad in sorting through vast fields of old farm equipment and sheds brimming with what can only be described as a treasure trove of forgotten items. To us, these weren’t just old things; they were potential masterpieces waiting to be reimagined. We saw beauty and utility in every weathered piece of wood and rusty tool. The challenge, however, lay in logistics. Shipping everything back to Tennessee meant paying by the foot, so we had to make some tough choices. We capped ourselves at a 16-foot haul, ensuring we stacked every piece as high as humanly possible to maximize our space!
A significant portion of what we painstakingly loaded and shipped was sixty-year-old lumber, carefully preserved from the demolition of our old mangers and fences. This lumber is the one resource I have a crystal-clear vision for; its future use in the Lodge is already mapped out. The rest of the “treasures,” however, currently reside in a new storage space in Tennessee, having effectively been moved from one storage spot in Idaho for a considerable sum of money. Julie and I often joke about our shared “hoarding” tendencies, acknowledging it as a work in progress! But who can resist the charm and potential of truly vintage finds?
Madison’s New Adventure: Embracing Independence
August brought a bittersweet moment as Madison embarked on her own grand adventures. It was a momentous occasion for our family, marking a significant transition. We all rallied together to load up a rental truck, and then Madison and I hit the road for a fifteen-hour drive to her new life. Wes, ever the dedicated partner, stayed home to manage work and look after our beloved dogs. I spent a few days helping Madison settle into her new place, ensuring she was comfortable and well-equipped to start this exciting chapter. We are immensely proud of her independence and the courageous step she’s taken. While we understand this is the natural progression of a child growing into adulthood, we undoubtedly miss her presence at home. Fortunately, modern technology – constant texting, frequent phone calls, and regular video chats – makes it remarkably easy to stay connected and share in her new experiences, bridging the physical distance with heartwarming digital conversations.
Loft Guest Suites: The Unexpected Drywall Decision
In a surprising turn of events, we decided to add drywall to the ceilings in the three small loft rooms. This decision came after an initial plan to forgo professional installation, envisioning a super cool, industrial aesthetic. However, spending almost every day within the Lodge allowed me to develop a profound sense of the space that I hadn’t experienced previously. East Tennessee experiences frequent and often torrential rain, and the sound of that heavy downpour on our metal roof was, to put it mildly, quite loud. The loft spaces were just too small to justify the ongoing noise. While it wouldn’t have significantly increased the overall cost to have the professionals handle it initially, we ultimately took on the task ourselves, utilizing more than enough leftover drywall and mud.
With the invaluable help of my weekend assistants (sometimes one, sometimes two), we diligently installed the drywall. Then came the extensive mudding process – I mudded, and mudded, and mudded some more. I admit, I’m a rather messy mudder, and the loft presented unique challenges, requiring me to contort my body into uncomfortable hunches and crinkles to reach all the angles. Needless to say, this particular phase was punctuated by numerous cranky moments. And, to be completely transparent, I still haven’t finished the last room! But the progress in the others is visible and promising, moving us closer to creating serene guest retreats.
Flooring Fiascos and Festivities: Racing Against Time
After reaching a natural stopping point at the doorway into the final loft room, I shifted gears. My immediate focus became sanding, priming, and painting the two rooms I had completed, followed by the installation of the floors. It’s worth noting that every single item delivered for “The Lodge” has to be painstakingly carried up by hand – a workout in itself!
With Christmas fast approaching and both Madison and my sister Bonnie planning to visit, I was fiercely determined to complete a guest suite for one of them. I meticulously selected these beautiful engineered wood floors for the main areas of the rooms, with plans to tile the bathrooms for a touch of elegance.
My vision for the bathroom included a stunning pebble stone tile for both the floor and the shower wall – I imagined it looking incredibly cool. However, reality quickly set in. After a frustrating struggle with a mere three-foot section of the floppy-backed tile atop the anti-fracture mat (which I had leftover from my Maryville Jack-N-Jill bathroom project), I made the difficult decision to scrap the floor tiling altogether. This was only after I had already redone the anti-fracture mat once because my mortar mix wasn’t quite right. I painstakingly tore out both the tile and the mat, scraped up all the hardened mortar, and ultimately installed the engineered wood flooring instead. The entire bathroom became a messy war zone of mortar and thinset, splattered across the walls and, of course, all over me. This particular project definitely added a few more “cranky days” to my renovation calendar, but sometimes, a change in direction is simply necessary for sanity and a better outcome.
I was truly pushing myself to the limit to get that guest suite ready for the holidays, and I believe I could have achieved it. However, as the timing approached a critical tipping point, it became glaringly obvious that even if I miraculously finished the guest bathroom, there would be no hot water for anyone to enjoy. The persistent difficulty in securing skilled labor (along with products and materials) has unfortunately not improved since my last blog post. Despite numerous attempts, I simply could not find anyone available to connect the gas lines to the tankless water heaters. This unforeseen obstacle, entirely beyond my control, ultimately dictated that the guest suite would not be fully functional for Christmas. It was a tough pill to swallow, but sometimes you just have to adapt to the circumstances.
Main Floor Progress: Tackling the Kitchen/Great Room
With the loft’s hot water dilemma temporarily sidelining its completion, I pivoted back to working on the main floor of the Lodge, dedicating my efforts to the expansive kitchen/great room area. A crucial first step here was to address the flooring. We had removed the old glue-down floors, leaving behind a stubborn layer of adhesive. To prepare the subfloor properly for its next iteration, I rented a heavy-duty flooring grinder. This powerful machine made quick work of stripping away all the remaining adhesive, providing a clean, smooth surface essential for a professional finish. It was a dusty but necessary task, marking yet another stride forward in transforming the heart of the Lodge.
A Wonderful Christmas in Our “Wonky House”
Despite the ongoing construction and minor setbacks, we thoroughly enjoyed a heartwarming Christmas with both Madison and Bonnie under the roof of our cozy, two-bedroom, affectionately named “wonky house.” Madison, who stayed for ten wonderful days, comfortably settled back into her old bedroom, a familiar haven. Bonnie, ever flexible, made herself at home on the couch and utilized the master bedroom’s bathroom, which offered a slightly more luxurious experience than the guest room’s facilities. We were incredibly fortunate to have Bonnie, a talented chiropractor from Revive in the Portland area, with us. We all indulged in some of the best chiropractic adjustments EVER, a true holiday treat! I’ve made a mental note to ensure Dad invests in one of these amazing massage tables so we can continue to benefit from these adjustments whenever we’re all together in Idaho. (I still have mine from when I underwent back surgery, a testament to its long-term utility.)
(On a humorous side note, one entire wall of my bedroom currently serves as my temporary closet. I possess a rather extensive wardrobe, which, as I openly admit, is part of that “hoarding issue” I’m diligently working on. Every journey has its little detours and self-improvement projects, right?)
Kitchen/Living Room Transformation: A Labor of Love
The Scandinavian Whitewashed Pine Ceiling
The main floor kitchen/living room is undergoing a dramatic transformation, starting from the top down. I embarked on an eight-hour round trip drive to Kentucky to procure beautiful tongue and groove, end-matched Pine car siding. This material was essential for achieving the Scandinavian, whitewashed aesthetic I envisioned. Before installation, I painstakingly finished each board by hand, ensuring a perfect, consistent look. Then, with the dedicated help of my weekend crew, we meticulously installed the ceiling. This project is so rich in detail and technique that I am currently creating a separate, comprehensive post and video tutorial to guide you through the process of creating these stunning, airy whitewashed pine ceilings.
The Grand Faux Beam Installation
Another significant, and somewhat challenging, element of the kitchen/living room is the custom-built, faux beam. This “bigass beam,” as I affectionately call it, took several months to complete. My initial miscalculation of its length meant I didn’t build enough sections from the outset. Furthermore, my invaluable weekend helper has been incredibly busy with his day job, limiting his availability. We literally just installed the final section this past Saturday, a testament to perseverance and teamwork. The process of designing, constructing, and installing such a large decorative feature is quite involved, and I am definitely working on a dedicated post and video tutorial detailing how to make and install a convincing, substantial faux beam.
The Grid Floor Experiment: Learning by Doing
I’ve been immersed in what feels like an endless battle with the main floor’s “grid floor experiment.” This particular beast of a project has taken far longer than anticipated. While I won’t delve into the specifics of my ambitious vision or the multitude of things that went awry just yet – as I truly need the triumphant conclusion to share the full narrative – rest assured, the end is in sight. I *think* I finally completed it last week, but I’m giving it some time to “sit” before I revisit it with fresh eyes and make a definitive judgment. Once I’m absolutely sure, I will undoubtedly share a comprehensive post on how *not* to replicate my process, offering valuable lessons from my experimental journey!
Bathroom Floor Experiment: Concrete Conundrums
In another chapter of experimental projects, I regrettably ended up tearing out part of the floor I had installed in the powder room. This was yet another concrete experiment that, unfortunately, didn’t meet my aesthetic or practical standards. I decided I simply couldn’t live with the outcome. More detailed “what not to do” insights will follow once I’ve successfully completed a concrete project I am genuinely happy with. It’s difficult to make excuses for a project that simply doesn’t resonate. All I’m prepared to confess about these particular “fails” is that my journey into concrete experimentation has been, shall we say, a learning curve.
Concrete Backsplash: A Success Story!
Thankfully, not all my concrete adventures have ended in demolition! The only concrete experiment I’ve undertaken so far that has resulted in complete satisfaction is with vertical surfaces. This project, creating a stunning concrete backsplash, certainly took a few failed attempts and a good deal of troubleshooting. However, through persistence, I’ve managed to figure out a reliable technique, and I am absolutely thrilled with the results. This successful venture has ignited a passion for exploring more applications of concrete on vertical planes. Rest assured, I will definitely be creating a detailed tutorial on this process later, so you can learn from my breakthroughs (and avoid my earlier missteps!). 🙂
The Elusive Front Entrance: A Test of Patience
The construction of a proper front entrance to the second floor of the Lodge has proven to be a particularly frustrating and drawn-out process, spanning nearly a year. The prevailing “everyone is slammed” state of the world has severely impacted our timeline, leading to agonizingly long waits for everything from contractors to engineers. In the interim, while endlessly awaiting the perpetually busy engineer, the cost of materials and services has skyrocketed to frankly ridiculous levels. It’s a complex puzzle we’re trying to solve. I don’t yet have a definitive solution for this particular challenge, but I am confident that a viable and sensible path forward will emerge. We will continue to adapt and figure things out as we go, much as we have throughout this entire renovation. The initial plan for this entrance has evolved through so many iterations that I can hardly recall all of them. All I know for certain is that I am committed to building a permanent, truly amazing kitchen and great room. For now, the remainder of the main floor will serve as “our house,” and the loft will be reserved for special “Build Guests.” The big question remains: When will it all truly come together?
Introducing “Build & Breakfast”: An Authentic Lodge Experience
Let’s be honest, the Lodge is still quite a distance from offering a luxurious suite experience. However, if you’re keen to immerse yourself in a completely authentic “Day in Sandra’s Life” adventure, I am absolutely ready to host you! This unique “Build & Breakfast” experience will be entirely catered around the specific projects you’re eager to learn and get hands-on with. Forget traditional B&Bs this is about getting dirty, learning new skills, and truly experiencing the DIY spirit.
- Lodgings: Your choice will be a rustic tent pitched comfortably in the yard under the stars, or Madison’s former room, where turning on the cold water requires a trusty wrench (a true test of ingenuity!).
- Food: After a day of hard work and tangible progress, even simple bread and water can taste exquisite. (Just kidding – Wes’s cooking is genuinely delicious and will certainly be a highlight!)
- Evening Entertainment: Bring your own beverage (BYOB) to an evening campfire party, where we’ll unwind, share stories, and put our tired feet up under the vast East Tennessee sky.
If this truly sounds like an unforgettable experience you simply don’t want to miss, don’t hesitate to email me directly! For everyone else eagerly anticipating the full, polished Lodge experience, the answer remains, “Soon-ish.” More exciting updates and detailed project tutorials are on the horizon. I promise!