June 2022.
I'm standing in the remains of my old kitchen.
My girlfriend and I had bought our house in December 2021 and set about renovating it with zero loans.
Now, only one thought crossed my mind....
'What have we gotten ourselves into...?'
I'm standing in the remains of my old kitchen.
My girlfriend and I had bought our house in December 2021 and set about renovating it with zero loans.
Now, only one thought crossed my mind....
'What have we gotten ourselves into...?'
We bought our house from a 94-year-old gentleman.
He built this house with a small team 50 years ago, and couldn't maintain it at his age any longer...
My eyes lit up like two burning barrels.
He built this house with a small team 50 years ago, and couldn't maintain it at his age any longer...
My eyes lit up like two burning barrels.
My girlfriend and I have always been capable with handywork, and we had a vision...
A place we could strip down and stamp as our own.
We knew the size of the task at hand, but we felt invincible.
It didn't take long for the proverbial wind to be knocked out of our sails...
A place we could strip down and stamp as our own.
We knew the size of the task at hand, but we felt invincible.
It didn't take long for the proverbial wind to be knocked out of our sails...
Portuguese houses can be a little strange in design.
In some, they create a central room to keep coolest in the summer, then build other rooms around the border.
And our house was one of these...
So we set about knocking down walls to get a better floorplan.
But then...
In some, they create a central room to keep coolest in the summer, then build other rooms around the border.
And our house was one of these...
So we set about knocking down walls to get a better floorplan.
But then...
We'd knocked a wall down that was supporting some beams left out of the original house plans.
We faced the prospect of our ceiling collapsing on top of us at any time.
There was only one solution...
We faced the prospect of our ceiling collapsing on top of us at any time.
There was only one solution...
We had to install a 6-metre steel beam... without any equipment.
So, we rallied 10 of my girlfriend's family.
Let's just say the next thing we did was stupidly dangerous beyond belief.. but we had to get that beam up come hell or high water.
So, we rallied 10 of my girlfriend's family.
Let's just say the next thing we did was stupidly dangerous beyond belief.. but we had to get that beam up come hell or high water.
So, with 10 people up ladders, we hoisted the beam...
I bruised my shoulder. We couldn't fit it in at the right angle. We had 10 people with dwindling strength as each second flew by...
But we did it.
I bruised my shoulder. We couldn't fit it in at the right angle. We had 10 people with dwindling strength as each second flew by...
But we did it.
There was no time for rest.
We had more jobs piling up by the second.
We stripped our kitchen down to the sand below the original tile, as seen in the first tweet.
It would stay this way for another month due to budgeting issues...
We had more jobs piling up by the second.
We stripped our kitchen down to the sand below the original tile, as seen in the first tweet.
It would stay this way for another month due to budgeting issues...
But, all too gradually, it was coming together...
We changed the plumbing, stripped down the pantry to the side and knocked through an old wall to create a larger entrance to the sun room.
But other rooms were calling...
We changed the plumbing, stripped down the pantry to the side and knocked through an old wall to create a larger entrance to the sun room.
But other rooms were calling...
With the leftover space from the old central zone, we set about creating a storage room...
We were redoing all the floors in the house...
It was a mess.
I was doing all this inbetween transitioning to online work.
My partner and I were tired 24/7.
Work. Renovation.
Work. Renovation.
Work. Renovation.
It seemed like it would never end...
I was doing all this inbetween transitioning to online work.
My partner and I were tired 24/7.
Work. Renovation.
Work. Renovation.
Work. Renovation.
It seemed like it would never end...
And good news...
It hasn't!
We're still to this day continuing with our little project.
We probably won't be done for at least another year.
But here's the thing...
It hasn't!
We're still to this day continuing with our little project.
We probably won't be done for at least another year.
But here's the thing...
In doing this, my girlfriend and I have proven we're capable of so much more than we thought.
We pushed through countless barriers that presented themselves.
And we've poured (quite literally) our blood, sweat and tears into this house.
We pushed through countless barriers that presented themselves.
And we've poured (quite literally) our blood, sweat and tears into this house.
I couldn't be prouder of what we've achieved.
We chose the unconventional route...
Because we desired an unconventional outcome.
And that's the biggest lesson I'll take from all of this...
We chose the unconventional route...
Because we desired an unconventional outcome.
And that's the biggest lesson I'll take from all of this...
Don't be afraid to do things that make people shout at you like you're running naked through Times Square.
Lord knows certain friends and family gave us weird looks when we bought this place...
But we knew the fire we had inside of us.
Lord knows certain friends and family gave us weird looks when we bought this place...
But we knew the fire we had inside of us.
And while a bit is still under works...
At least I can now get a cup of coffee without the secret ingredient of dust.
At least I can now get a cup of coffee without the secret ingredient of dust.
If you enjoyed this one, you can follow me @ItsWillMyles
If you want to help the thread along, RT the first tweet below
Also let me know if you've had any similar hectic reno projects in the comments below!
Until we ride again, gang.
If you want to help the thread along, RT the first tweet below
Also let me know if you've had any similar hectic reno projects in the comments below!
Until we ride again, gang.
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