Our New Old House

One Project Closer is hosting another round of their Before & After contest in support of Habitat for Humanity. The entries are all in and all that’s left now is for you to vote for the best one!

There are some great entries this time around and each project is very inspiring and motivational.  So give them some love and help support a great cause at the same time!

For those of who you don’t know, Habitat for Humanity doesn’t just build new houses from scratch. They also run places called “ReStores” where gently used and excess building materials are re-sold like at a thrift store. These are great resources for people fixing up older homes. You never know what you’re going to find there. If you have a ReStore in your area, be sure to stop in regularly and let the good folks there know you appreciate the facility.  Also, remember to donate your leftover materials! Someone else will get good use out of them.

Ok ok, I exaggerate. But it still felt cool.

See, we’ve got these bookcases on either side of our fireplace and they’re not quite deep enough for the stereo components and other electronic gadgets we want to put in them. The bookcases had a false back but I could tell there was a good 10 inches of additional space behind them.  What was behind that back wall?  Bare lath? Rats nests? TREASURE?!!!  I had to find out.  I cast a sideways glance at Brandon, grinned mischeviously, and POW!  I kicked out the bottom.  Then POW! POW! I kicked the rest of the nails loose!  I was masterful in my kicking.

What’s behind that wallboard? I must know!

Nothing. Oh good.

So I took out the wallboard and took some pictures inside this hidden part of my house that hadn’t been open since the house was built!

Ooh! I wonder where that hole goes! Oh, right. The basement.

Here’s the underside of the mantle. Don’t be alarmed by the water stains. We did that when we washed the wallpaper residue off the walls.

So, with the shelves back in we have room for the electronic wires behind the shelves. I’m going to clean up the inside and paint and make the whole thing presentable. But I’ve got some other projects pending first. And while I can close the cabinet doors and hide this mess, I’ll do it.