Welcome to the home renovation segment of the hinrichsexperience blog! In October of 2000, my wife Caroline and I moved to a picturesque street in the District 66 area of Omaha, NE. We love our home…a 1949 cottage. It has suffered, however, from a bit of functional obsolescence. That’s Realtor speak for goofy-ass layout.

The biggest burr in our saddle has been the main floor bathroom situation. The home is a 1.5 story with the master bedroom on the main. It currently has only 1 bathroom on the main floor…which is our master bath…which has no access directly from our room…which needs to be used periodically by guests…which can’t fit my wife and me in there at once. Not good. Ask Caroline about the lighting sometime.

Phase I: Master Suite Addition

After saving and planning for 4.5 years, we’ve finally pulled the trigger on Phase I. The objective: turn Caroline’s existing office into master bedroom closet, as well as build on an additional spacious bathroom (featuring double vanity, throne room & dreamy shower) and new master bedroom.

We dreaded the first order of business. We had to cut down a large, beautiful, old red oak tree. It was standing in the way of progress.

It was important to us that it would not just end up in the woodchipper & become mulch. Our friend Dan Sundermeier with American Arborist took down the tree in large chunks & had his father Mark bring their portable mill to our backyard. They were able to cut thirteen 4′ X 12′  slabs of premium wood, each 2″-3″ thick. Knowing that this wood will become something beautiful (tables, chairs, artwork, etc) gives us some solace. Side note: keep your eyes peeled for next year’s landscaping blog. You will be replaced 10 fold, Mr. Red Oak!

8/27/15

The Real Phase I: New Flooring

So, while we wait for the City of Omaha to green light the permit to break ground, we decided to rid ourselves of the heinous tile that covers most of our main floor. Lord have mercy on the poorly sighted individual that installed that blue/gray tile that’s covered our foyer, living room, hallway and dining room. That shit was awful.

The new oak floors will be installed over the course of this week. Right now, we are left with open, dusty rooms and other rooms crammed with living/dining room furniture. No complaining. The juice will be worth the squeeze!