Pole Barn 13: Nice Christmas Present

As Randy and I were making plans for visiting family over Christmas/NewYear's, we decided to try to finish the pole barn (as originally prospected) before Christmas. We were originally planning on moving in by Christmas, but that's not the case anymore, as we have a more ideal living situation for now. But we can still finish it, and then USE the space for our wide variety of creative and not-so-creative projects for the next few months, until we move in and start building a house this spring.

We started the mudding process a couple weeks ago and after finishing all the existing walls early last week and started painting, then decided to install the dividing wall between the kids' room/powdercoating room and the utility room, which was always in the final plans but Randy was unsure of when to put it up. That wall is now UP, and we had to dig out the mudding tools again and have a second "we're-done-mudding!" celebration this week.

Just the first half of the wall below. Then a 10-inch jog into the utility room (right) and continue away from the window. This is because if it went straight, it would run into the doorway. AND Randy (already) installed some shelves on this side of the wall, which has greatly improved the organization of the workplace!

There's the bathroom (without lights yet, but... after Christmas), all painted CONCRETE GRAY. I know, exciting. It was "oops paint" from the hardware store in town, the only one in semi-gloss and beggars can't be choosers. But it already looks nicer than I thought and pairs well with the counter we got from the ReStore, and looks good with the white tub surround and will look even better with white trim around the top.

The office was also primed and painted, with help of course. :) Another "oops paint" color, which will also look nice with white trim. Speaking of trim, we're using torn-down cedar-tone treated 1x6 fence boards for trim, (painted white and) ripped in half. Our friend and "landlord" had installed a cedar-tone treated fence for a client about a year ago, and then more recently had to un-install it for them, due to neighbor complaints and association rules, or something, in spite of his following all the rules and obtaining permits. It was good for him and us, though; he got paid for both jobs and got to keep all the lumber, and there's so much of it he is sharing it with us!

Below is the little space between the door coming into the office and the door going into the bathroom. Teddy is unsurprisingly good at painting walls.

Randy is priming the south wall and giving the hired hands a well-deserved break to play tic-tac-toe on a scrap piece of sheetrock. :)

He looks like he knows what he's doing. 

He doesn't, but it's awful cute.

Bridget is looking helpful, and very nice in pink. 

The afterthought-divider-wall going up.

And the "oops paint" color for the "great room," haha! Great room. It's a garage bay. But it'll serve as our LR, kitchen, and dining room. And entry. Randy says, "I've never in my life worked in a shop that has this good of light."

It's hard to see because of all the light coming in the window, but this window is the first thing to be trimmed-out, and it looks great!! I'm definitely doing all white trim in the house, when we get to it. It's so clean and sharp-looking. And affordable. I'll need to add a little white to the bare wood here, exposed from cutting.

And finally, below is a space that has, believe it or not, been organized and cleaned a lot! White trim that dried on the ladder, still a clothing dryer in the middle that we probably won't hook up in here, and that white box further back is an air exchanger.

There's our new fridge waiting for us, and a "monstrosity" entertainment center from the Habitat Restore that will work splendidly for an office/school/craft center that can be closed up and hidden.

There's that afterthought wall, all done!

The kids and I put up white icicle lights for an upcoming birthday/skating party (or parties) in January.