Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about the work that’s happening in the garden apartment but not many pictures.

That changes today, my friend.

This garden apartment has been a year+ in the works. Thought it could get rented out for September 2009 but that {obviously} didn’t happen. Trying again for September 2010 and – come hell or high water – it’s gonna happen. Now if the perfect tenant could just come knocking on my door, I’d be ever so grateful.

Because it’s been such a long time coming, I thought it might be good to see where we originally started, what was accomplished last year, and where things were picked back up this summer.

At the very VERY beginning, the garden apartment “kitchen” was one of the most foul things I have ever seen in my entire life.

This disgusting, brown, sticky goop that covered the ENTIRE kitchen gives me the same nauseous nightmarish feeling as the fly incident.

Luckily, one hefty family demo day and things were starting to look up.

Throughout the summer, we –

• We ripped out the kitchen drywall
• I agonized over what to do with the floors
• Then there was the sink situation
• Paint was purchased (and not used until 2 weeks ago)
• The mantel was redone, ripped off the old drywall, installed a new header to open things up, scrubbed up, redrywalled, and finally spackled & sanded {& repeat… 5 times… in summer 2010}

Clearly we can’t forget the garden apartment mascot! TROGDOR! THE BURNINATOR!

You can follow the entire garden apartment renovation here.

At this beginning of summer 2010, things pretty much looked like this –

Behind this grungy door is the bastion of the garden apartment.

This kitchen has come a long way. Long, LONG way.

From the kitchen, looking back out the front door –

What’s that list stuck to the wall say?

Oh that’s right! It’s the TO DO list from July 17 & 18. . . . 2009!

Time for paint!!! YAY!