House Reno Archives | Leann Messina Photography | Baton Rouge Newborn Photographer

House Reno

House Renovation Project | Part 7 | Denham Springs, LA

May 16, 2020

We did it. We FINALLY [mostly] finished the house! Our first night in it was February 24th, with it being about 95% finished. There were still a few things to be completed like toilet paper holders and towel racks, missing cabinet doors in the laundry room, exterior door thresholds, and random things like that. My handy husband planned to complete these tasks, which he has mostly done. The Coronavirus Pandemic did slow some of the progress, but we have managed just fine.

We are still working on getting everything decorated just like we want it, but that is a work in progress! At this point, I’m so happy to be settled in with NO MORE BOXES to unpack!

I have to warn you: there are a lot of pictures. I hope you scroll through them all, but I understand if you don’t. I would love to hear any ideas you may have for the mantles in the master bedroom and the kitchen. The wall art that’s above the fireplace in the master bedroom will actually be mounted over the bed. I am definitely not an interior designer, but trying my best! I will take any advice!!

Thank you so much for following our journey with this project. We have definitely made this house our home, and we wouldn’t want to be quarantined anywhere else! The sunsets are gorgeous, the fish from the pond is fresh, and the space is plentiful! God is so good.

I would love to hear your thoughts and answer any of your questions in the comments section below.

***We have also started renovating our pool, expecting to finish this week. My husband is blogging that journey as well. You can find the link below if you are interested!

house renovation livingroom — The view never gets old!

house renovation kitchen — This. You need one of these. I’ve only ever cooked on electrical glass cook-tops before. I am LOVING this gas cook-top!

house renovation — French doors to the Laundry Room

house renovation laundry — We are still waiting on the cabinet doors to be installed in this room. (Thanks COVID)

When Randy and I were looking for a house, one of the requirements I had was to be able to see the sunset. Boy, did he deliver! You really can’t beat this incredible view.

So that’s it! Well, for the inside, anyway. We are still working on flowerbeds, and making out outdoor spaces comfortable. There is still a LOT we want to do, like replace the decking in the back, adding tile to the back patio area, maybe extending our patio cover, and invest in quite a bit of outdoor furniture! We spend SO much time outside, especially since we’ve been on lockdown for the last several weeks. We can’t wait for our pool to be finished. We just need it to stop raining!

Thanks again for reading! Now go tackle your own project!

Lighting and electrical by Ned Bordelon

Plumbing by Green’s Plumbing of LA https://www.facebook.com/greensplumbingoflouisiana/

Tile and Flooring by Todd Cosby @ Essential Flooring

Countertops by J&B Countertops https://jbcountertops.net/ https://www.facebook.com/jbcountertops/

Trimwork by Jimmy Bell Carpentry

Cabinets by Gerald Feucht facebook.com/feuchtscustomcabinets/

Paint Colors:

Cabinets and Trim: Sherwin Williams Oyster White
Walls: Sherwin Williams Alpaca
Walls in Master Suite: Sherwin Williams Grey Screen
Guest Bathroom Cabinets: Sherwin Williams Meditative
Laundry Room Bench & Pool bathroom cabinets: Sherwin Williams Sea Serpent

Recent Posts

House Reno

Pool Renovation | Part 1

April 25, 2020

Hello, my name is Randy, and I am Leann’s husband. I’m taking over her blog for our next project. One, I like to blog. Two, I’m bored and looking for things to do to keep me out of trouble. So, it’s time to renovate our old concrete swimming hole. If you’re considering a pool renovation and don’t know where to start, feel free to send us an email at contact@leannmessina.com

Pool before renovation — *She’s seen better days*

Pool Draining and Demo

It turns out it’s really deep, and after draining and inspection, the pool appears to be structurally sound. The pool is around 20 years old, and this is its first facelift. We are replacing the tile around the waterline, coping, plaster, lights, and a few other mechanical components. This is our first pool, so I have no idea what I’m doing.

Since this is only the 2nd layer of plaster for our pool, we do not have to chip out all of the original plaster. The contractor is using an ax to identify hollow spots due to delamination. This process is why you’ll notice dashes all over the pool surface, and it also allows the new plaster to bond to the old surface.

*Chipping away looking for bad spots in the old plaster*

Selecting Materials

Draining the pool and starting the demo process stressed me out, but the contractor finished in two days. We picked out our tile, coping, and spa material.

Show tile and coping choices — *Picked this combo. Disregard the shadow version of me. Leann is the photographer, I’m just funny.*

We still need to pick out our plaster color. We’ll be using Quartzscape plaster, which is a quartz aggregate material. I am leaning towards a white or gray base to keep the pool a light blue color. The plaster distributor pointed something out that I didn’t consider; if you have kids, make sure to select a light color plaster so that you can maintain visibility at the deep end of the pool. Initially, I planned on replacing our old lighting fixtures with new LED units, but after doing some research, it appears they do not last. Instead of spending $1,200 on new LED fixtures, we’ll keep our existing lights and replace the bulbs with LED bulbs for around $260.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TZPKZZK/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07TZPKZZK&pd_rd_w=I3XVC&pf_rd_p=48d372c1-f7e1-4b8b-9d02-4bd86f5158c5&pd_rd_wg=BTGV6&pf_rd_r=J94MFH5923HQHGKYZ5GP&pd_rd_r=b3cbf544-73b9-4b32-8ede-7440b50c230a&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzTjhMWVNESkhURDRYJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODc3MjE5VFRHV0hSRFhWV0FXJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwMjUyNTdHQTNSSkNPNEFaRUImd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Ready for tile and coping

On Monday, they’ll start adding the new coping and tile, and our pool builder has been great so far. She is independent and does not work for a big box store. If you’re looking for a contractor to help out with your pool renovation, leave a comment below, and we’ll send over her contact information. Let us know if you have any questions or comments on the project.

Pool after the demo process. Ready for coping and tile. — *Clean slate*

Blog Categories

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House Reno

House Renovation Project | Part 6 | Denham Springs, LA

February 10, 2020

Most of our flooring is in, and boy does it dress the place up! We have also wired the house for security, replaced the in-wall central vacuum and AC units. Our tile has been grouted, and most of the lighting is in–looking fab!!

We are still waiting on the carpet in the kids’ rooms, and a few other things here and there like the ceiling fans, shower glass, and doorknobs. Those things should be completed by the end of this week as well as a final coat of paint. And then we will just need a good cleaning!!

Cabinets by Gerald Feucht facebook.com/feuchtscustomcabinets/

Trimwork by Jimmy Bell Carpentry

Countertops by J&B Countertops https://jbcountertops.net/ https://www.facebook.com/jbcountertops/

Tile and Flooring by Todd Cosby @ Essential Flooring

Plumbing by Green’s Plumbing of LA https://www.facebook.com/greensplumbingoflouisiana/

Lighting by Ned Bordelon

Paint Colors:

Cabinets and Trim: Sherwin Williams Oyster White
Walls: Sherwin Williams Alpaca
Guest Bathroom Cabinets: Sherwin Williams Meditative
Laundry Room Bench: Sherwin Williams Sea Serpent

Recent Posts

Newborn Photographer Baton Rouge, LA | Leann Messina Photography |EastonNovember 7, 2023
Laila | LSU Senior Graduate | Baton Rouge, LA | Baton Rouge Senior PhotographerMay 3, 2023
Newborn Photographer Baton Rouge, LA | Leann Messina Photography |GraysonFebruary 13, 2023
Welcome Ellie | Fresh48 | Woman’s Hospital Baton RougeJanuary 26, 2023
Jacob | 2023 Senior Graduate | Baton Rouge, LAJanuary 10, 2023

House Reno

House Renovation Project | Part 5 | Denham Springs, LA

February 5, 2020

We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Lots of pretty things are going in, and we are finally starting to feel like we are making this house our home. We have most of the tile completed, some plumbing fixtures, new toilets, and new lighting! Our quartzite countertops are in and look wonderful. Our wood floors are going in today, and I hear they are beautiful! I can’t wait to see them tomorrow.

It won’t be long now, guys. Won’t be long!

Cabinets by Gerald Feucht facebook.com/feuchtscustomcabinets/

Trimwork by Jimmy Bell Carpentry

Countertops by J&B Countertops https://jbcountertops.net/ https://www.facebook.com/jbcountertops/

Tile and Flooring by Todd Cosby @ Essential Flooring

Plumbing by Green’s Plumbing of LA https://www.facebook.com/greensplumbingoflouisiana/

Lighting and electrical by Ned Bordelon

Paint Colors:

Cabinets and Trim: Sherwin Williams Oyster White
Walls: Sherwin Williams Alpaca
Guest Bathroom Cabinets: Sherwin Williams Meditative
Laundry Room Bench: Sherwin Williams Sea Serpent (not pictured)

Shadow Storm Quartzite from Tuscan Stone

Recent Posts

Newborn Photographer Baton Rouge, LA | Leann Messina Photography |EastonNovember 7, 2023
Laila | LSU Senior Graduate | Baton Rouge, LA | Baton Rouge Senior PhotographerMay 3, 2023
Newborn Photographer Baton Rouge, LA | Leann Messina Photography |GraysonFebruary 13, 2023
Welcome Ellie | Fresh48 | Woman’s Hospital Baton RougeJanuary 26, 2023
Jacob | 2023 Senior Graduate | Baton Rouge, LAJanuary 10, 2023

House Reno

House Renovation Project | Part 4 | Denham Springs, LA

January 12, 2020

So much is happening! We have paint!! And boy, does it make a difference! I feel like this house is FINALLY starting to come together, y’all. We decided to paint most of the cypress trim. We considered sanding and restaining it, but it likely would not have turned the color we wanted. We did keep the natural beams in the kitchen, though.

We have ordered tile, floors, and plumbing fixtures. They should be coming in sometime in the next week or two, and our granite will be installed later this week. I am currently shopping for lighting fixtures, which happens to be a lot of fun! Yay for pretty things!

Cabinets by Gerald Feucht facebook.com/feuchtscustomcabinets/

Trimwork by Jimmy Bell Carpentry

Paint Colors:

Cabinets and Trim: Sherwin Williams Oyster White
Walls: Sherwin Williams Alpaca
Guest Bathroom Cabinets: Sherwin Williams Meditative
Laundry Room Bench: Sherwin Williams Sea Serpent (not pictured)

Recent Posts

Newborn Photographer Baton Rouge, LA | Leann Messina Photography |EastonNovember 7, 2023
Laila | LSU Senior Graduate | Baton Rouge, LA | Baton Rouge Senior PhotographerMay 3, 2023
Newborn Photographer Baton Rouge, LA | Leann Messina Photography |GraysonFebruary 13, 2023
Welcome Ellie | Fresh48 | Woman’s Hospital Baton RougeJanuary 26, 2023
Jacob | 2023 Senior Graduate | Baton Rouge, LAJanuary 10, 2023

House Reno

House Renovation Project | Part 3 | Denham Springs, LA

December 26, 2019

We are finally getting somewhere! In the last several weeks we have put up the sheetrock, cabinets, and most of the trim work. I was so excited to see WALLS! There are still a few loose ends here and there, but they should be completed soon. Our painter will be there next week getting started with sanding and priming. We expect that to take a little while since there is so much to paint! And then on to countertops, tile in bathrooms, flooring and new lighting! Yay! I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel, y’all! Hopefully, my next post showing our progress will be really soon!! (I just realized that it’s been exactly two months since my last blog post. 👀)

Cabinets by Gerald Feucht facebook.com/feuchtscustomcabinets/

Trimwork by Jimmy Bell Carpentry

Recent Posts

House Reno

House Renovation Project | Part 2 | Denham Springs, LA

October 26, 2019

I was finally able to get a few photos of the exterior, and we’re making progress on the interior, too! We have already started trimming some of this wild landscaping, but a LOT of work needs to be done in that department! We have several trees that need some TLC or cut down completely. Let me know if you have any recommendations in that department! Most of the other stuff we plan to do ourselves.

We have already replaced all of the windows on the front, so what you see here is new. Our fireplaces and sheetrock will be going in on Tuesday of next week!

Stay tuned for more updates!!

This is our kitchen. The bricks are being stripped and will be refinished with a tinted sealant. I can’t wait to see how this turns out!

Master Shower | We extended the space upward and deeper into the closet area.

Master Bathroom | Took out the giant arch

Master Tub | Framework complete for our 6ft double slope drop-in tub

House Reno

House Renovation Project |Part 1 | Denham Springs, LA |

October 18, 2019

So, we bought a fixer-upper! After looking at houses for over two years, we finally decided to get this gem of a home, that is perfectly situated right in the town my husband and I grew up in. We are excited to be close to our helping hands (our dear mothers), and have our children attend the same schools that we did. Mostly, we are excited to have MORE SPACE! Coming from a three-bedroom garden home, we are thrilled to have large bedrooms and plenty of space to stretch out! And I can’t leave out the amazing VIEW we are going to have! One of my snobby requirements for our new house (which I was completely willing to sacrifice if I needed to) was to have a nice sunset view. This house will give us really gorgeous sunsets over a lake. I’m pretty pumped about it!!

The renovation was initially projected to be completed in early January, but it’s actually looking like December might be our move-in month! I’m doing everything I can to get these guys ROLLING because our baby girl will be here at the end of November! The sooner we can get into this thing, the less stressed out Mama will be. 🙂

I’ve snapped a few BEFORE photos just in case anyone wants to follow along on our journey. It’s quite the mess. I haven’t been able to get a good photo of the front of the house just yet because there are always a ton of trucks in the driveway! But you’ll see that soon. For now, this is what I’ve got!

Let me know any ideas you may have!!!