Surviving the Chaos: Our Journey Through Gutting and Adding onto Our Home
If you’ve ever thought home renovations were stressful, imagine doing them while pregnant! That’s exactly what my family tackled as we gutted and added onto our house right before welcoming baby number two. Spoiler alert: it was a rollercoaster ride!
Why We Decided to Renovate
Our growing family was the driving force behind our big decision. With baby number two on the way, our tiny home simply wasn’t cutting it anymore. We needed:
- More space for toys and chaos.
- Breathing room for everyone.
- A forever home tailored to our needs.
The excitement of designing a space for our family outweighed our fears—most of the time. But let’s be honest: the financial impact, inconvenience, and unknowns of a renovation can feel overwhelming.
The Real Chaos: Living Through a Renovation
Juggling Life in Three Locations
During the renovation, our lives were scattered:
- Our gutted house – The construction zone.
- A rental house – Two hours from home to be near my husband’s work.
- My parents’ house – Our final stop before the baby arrived.
This arrangement meant:
- Constant weekend travel between the rental and hometown.
- Belongings spread across three locations.
- A dust-covered unfinished basement (a big mistake to store things there during construction!).
Lessons Learned: Timing is Everything
Amidst this chaos, we decided to transition our two-year-old from her crib to a toddler bed. Cue 4:00 a.m. wake-ups and a lot of regrets. Pro tip: save big changes for less chaotic times!
Managing the Renovation Stress
The Challenges
- Living Apart: Traveling every weekend and living away from home was exhausting.
- Parenting on the Go: Long car rides with a toddler and a dog were… interesting.
- Limited Time with My Husband: He juggled a full-time job and managed the renovation, leaving little room for family time.
The Silver Lining
Despite the challenges, there were bright spots:
- Family Support: Living with my parents before the baby arrived was a lifesaver. They helped with our oldest and newborn, giving us much-needed breathing room.
- Shared Excitement: Our daughter loved watching the house come together and proudly showed visitors the progress.
Lessons Learned: Communication is Key
If I could give one piece of advice to families going through a renovation, it’s this: communication is everything.
- Acknowledge frustrations: Both partners are feeling the stress—talking about it helps.
- Share decisions: Agreeing on design choices can ease tension and make the process smoother.
- Seek support: Don’t be afraid to lean on family or friends for help.
Life in Our New Home
Fast forward to now: we’ve been in our renovated home for almost a year, and it’s amazing!
The Best Parts of the New Space
- The Kitchen: Our new, open kitchen is a dream—perfect for cooking, eating, and spending time together.
- Room to Play: The girls have space to run, play, and grow.
- The Perfect Land: Staying on our property gave us the best of both worlds—space for our kids to thrive and the home of our dreams.
Looking back, the stress and chaos feel like a distant memory compared to the joy of living in a space that works perfectly for our family.
A Message to Renovating Families
If you’re in the middle of a renovation or considering one, hang in there! The chaos is temporary, and the reward is worth every challenge.
Share Your Story
Have you survived a renovation, or are you currently in the trenches? I’d love to hear your:
- Tips for surviving the chaos.
- Funny or frustrating renovation stories.
- Best lessons learned.
Drop a comment below and let’s connect—we’re all in this together!
Stay Connected
If you enjoyed reading about our renovation journey, be sure to:
Share this post with anyone considering or enduring a renovation—they’ll appreciate knowing they’re not alone!
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