2 Teachers still learning & chasing their dream
Returning to the cabin this week felt different. It was our first time back since losing Suzi, and the silence in the places she used to roam was heavy. We knew we couldn't just throw ourselves into non-stop renovation work and pretend everything was normal. Instead, we decided to honor her memory by taking things… Continue reading Quiet Waters, Mystery Colors, and Progress in the Loft
It’s been a hot minute since I wrote about our kitchen (no, it’s still not finished, but maybe this week…). Back in January, I wrote about how we saved the kitchen cabinets from the original cabin instead of buying new. But other than that, I’ve only mentioned parts of the kitchen in passing. It’s been… Continue reading We Chose Butcher Block Counters & How it’s Going
One year of demo dust, sweat, and endless decisions. As we look at our new home standing here today, we are reflecting on the biggest lessons learned in cabin demo and build projects like this one. It’s easy to think a brand-new house means problem-free. Many assume that because it's new, there are zero mistakes,… Continue reading Lessons Learned in Cabin Demo and Build: Our 1-Year Demo-versary (Part 3)
Last week, we celebrated our one-year demolition anniversary by sharing our before and after floor plans — and all the reasons we made such dramatic changes to a cabin that was, in theory, just supposed to be a fixer upper. (If you missed Part 1, start there — it sets the scene for everything that… Continue reading Demo-versary Part 2: What We Salvaged Before the Wrecking Ball (And the Permit Chaos)
It’s hard to believe, but it has officially been one year since Demo Day. Original cabin We had no idea when we bought our fixer upper that it would need to be torn down. We are learning many lessons as we bring this former camp cabin back to life. Finished front If you've been following… Continue reading 1 Year Cabin Demo Anniversary (part 1)
Two teachers figuring out how to cut a church pew in order to make a custom banquette for their former church camp cabin
Many teachers and families head to the beach for spring break. We did, too—the frozen lake at the beach near our cabin. We drove up with our 14-year-old rescue dog, Suzi, who sometimes gets scared when we travel (she did this time). But we know how much she loves the cabin once we get there,… Continue reading Spring Break at the Cabin: Supply Runs, a Frozen Lake, and One Tired Old Dog
The "Live-In" Renovation Reality Check If you read a construction manual, they’ll tell you to hang drywall first, then install the lights. We did the exact opposite. Because we are actually living in this cabin while we renovate (and we like being able to see in the dark), the lights had to go up early.… Continue reading Drywall & Dates: Our DIY Valentine’s Day Disaster (The Reality of Living in a Renovation & a Bathroom Update!)
To be fair, in that year we literally knocked the cabin down and had it rebuilt. We didn’t even have a structure to start the "actual" renovation until July. So, while we’ve owned the property for a year, the house is technically only seven months old. When you’re living in a construction zone and working… Continue reading One Year and ZERO Finished Rooms (part 1)
In Year One of our cabin renovation journey, we embraced challenges and developed new skills. Major milestones included installing in-floor heating, siding the house, and electrical work, guided by a supportive community. Our experiences transformed our approach to home improvement, and we're excited for the next phase of our adventure.