A few before and after photos of the second floor.

 So! We took control of the second floor this week. That is quite a step. We are still missing some things (most notably, the mirrors in the primary bathroom, and some touch up work) but we are really quite pleased. 

I put together a Google Photo album with some of the photos of what we have done. You can see that here.

But because I know few people enjoy clicking through, here are some of them:

That's the small guest bath - known as Bath 201

Same

Maid's room bath. Known as Bath 209

Bath 209 again

Office

Another view of the office

Parlor. As you can imagine, we will be replacing the furniture. And probably getting some rugs. It is very echo-y in the house right now.

Another view of the Parlor.

Guest Bedroom (Maid's room)

Twin Bedroom.

Kitchen Countertops

 Finally! 

We get to see them.

These four very short videos are from the four corners of the kitchen.

The thing to note is that the countertop under the window is original to the house.

The island, and the countertop where the cooktop will go (the big hole) is new. The marble is from the same quarry (Tennessee Marble) and they did a great job matching.

Take a look!

Dining Room short video

Dining Room. 

This video is on YouTube because it is too big.

 

Short videos, with a month or so to go

 I am going to see if it makes more sense to do one video per post, or multiple videos.

Here is the Living Room:

Dining Room:

We moved in last night, my birthday eve.

 So, even with the construction still occurring around us, we are home again.

A kitchen that is starting to look like a kitchen

Remember this?

 

Now look at this:

The island (in the foreground) should be going in tomorrow.

The previous post has the finish (in the primary bath) that will be applied to these cabinets:

I think it looks great.

Some of you may ask, "Is that a window in your primary bathroom?" and I will say, "Why yes. Yes it is". But there will be a sliding panel over it just in case we want some privacy.

and this:

is becoming this:

I love it when a plan comes together.

Der mentsh trakht un got lakht

 Man plans, God laughs.

The plumbing was not ready for us to move in on Friday.

That is our lavatory. You can see that the water lines are capped off - there is a leak in the "historic" faucet. The plumbers are going to be working on this. Today, I hope.

But the floors look great!

Computer Room/Office

We have 1/2 of one room where we stored the furniture while the floors were being worked on. So we can see where the old and new meet. We will refinish the last part when we do the kitchen.

Finished, on the left, unfinished on the right

Primary Bedroom

Master bath cabinets, finished

Don't they look great?

Twin Bedroom

We might be in soon.

Rainbow over the Bogk

Moving back in

We moved out of the Bogk House on October 19th, 2025. (see this post)

Our very generous hosts are starting renovations of their own, and needed their carriage house by June 13th.

Doreen was in Houston and Austin from June 10th to the 16th, so after moving the final little bits and bobs (more than you can count) out of the apartment, we were able to hand it back to them on Friday, June 12th.

Texas State Capitol Building

I had a great time in Madison with The Bechles, Doreen had a great time in Houston with her momma, and in Austin with the City Parks Alliance, but then we had to come back to Milwaukee.

Wisconsin State Capitol Building

And the Bogk was not ready for us. The main issue blocking our return was the upstairs floor. We had elected to remove all the wall to wall carpet that had been laid on the quarter sawn oak floors over 60 years ago, and then have them gently finished.

This takes longer, and uses more noxious materials than you can imagine.

Our loquacious floor guy (Kenny) was on it as quickly as he could be. But that was not quickly enough to get us back into the House by June 16th.

Milwaukee, and specifically the East Side, takes care of its own. So we have moved (for a very short stay, we hope) into another neighbor's "Granny Flat" on their top floor. Again, very generous, especially since we know they can hear us going up and down the three flights of stairs, with our dog. Their house is across the street from the Bogk, so just as convenient from a geographic context.

Kenny told us the floors would be "move in ready", but not totally cured, by this Friday, June 19th, exactly nine months after we moved out. I like that coincidence.

Upstairs floors, protected for 60 years by wall-to-wall carpet

Staying in the Bogk will not be without its problems. The kitchen cabinets are also being delivered on Friday, and will be installed next week. The kitchen floor will need to be sanded and sealed after the appliances are installed, which will be after the countertops are cut and installed, which will be another couple of weeks. So we will be cooking on an induction cooktop in the basement for a while.

But this makes me very happy. It means that the end of the process is in sight, and really pretty close. I had hoped to be in by my birthday (July 6th) and we will make the date, but not with everything in place.

I am very happy.

Lots going on. Take a look.

The kitchen floor is in.

These are the installers. The one in front talks a lot, the one in the back does not talk at all.

I like both types.

In Process

Done. except for the final sanding and finishing. It should stay about this color.

Bathroom Cabinets are installed. This is the Primary. We are waiting for the kitchen countertops so the countertop folks only need to come out once

They look great

Back yard - framing and pouring the patio:

Doreen directing the pour:

Finishing:

Washing the top of the concrete off so you can see the aggregate. I think I was saying "Fascinating!"

Looks great!

Refinishing Tub and Finishing Bathroom:

These guys do a great job.

This window was painted. Now look at it!

The colors are not quite true, but this is the living room. I will get better photos later.

We uncovered the wood floors upstairs. They are in surprisingly good shape! This is the twin bedroom (the boy's room)

This is the Primary bedroom. A little polish and wax, and they will be done.

We saved a touch of the historic pink plaster. 

We are moving in in about a week and a half. The kitchen will not be done, but we will make do.

More soon.