Sheet Rock is up on 1st floor - we have a defined living space

So we are moving forward...sheet rock went up and we now have true walls.  It was a longer process than normal (did we expect otherwise on MY project?) because of the LAYERS of mud required to get the sheet rock flush to the existing plaster.

Next step is to re-plaster all of the new walls, patch existing walls and "tidy" things up to make the first floor look like it is all new. The cost to do this ranges from a few dollars to MANY - do we go with the artist type of plasterer or the fix it up type of guy??  We want it done right but there is a HUGE price difference. I went to look at a $5 million home the plaster artist just completed...WOW. Are we worth it??

For now, take a look at our space - this should help you "visualize" our final interior layout...

 This is the open kitchen/den (computer room for us).  That knee wall will house the base cabinets with cooktop and stove.

 These cabinets will get pushed against the right wall and the fridge will go there as well.

This is the NEW pantry that will offer lots of storage for things PLUS Tilo's sterio equipment.  The hall leads to the family room - no doors there any more.

 This is the other end of the hallway. Below is the closet that is in the hallway.

 Here is the powder room - it will have a raised ceiling for a chandelier..

And here is the family room with the 2 openings that got raised to the ceiling.  We will have 9 ft barn doors slide to the center of the FR wall to keep the room "open".  We are also installing a new frosted glass front door to keep the light in the room.

 And finally the sunroom with the newly exposed brick above the windows. 

Tomorrow is the WORST day - they will sand all of this mud to create smooth ceilings and walls.  It will create a dust that is deadly!!  I have our upstairs securely taped off but the basement is a free for all for dust collection.  I will be cleaning the next days to try to work through the disaster. After tomorrow things should settle down and we should be able to take down our zipper separation and live somewhat "normally" upstairs.  

For NOW however, this is the wall that separates us from the rest of the world and yes our fridge which sits down stairs in the dust bowl....

 Doesnt it look like fun???  More pics to come this week....