BEFORE & DURING (Six months in, are we halfway done?) Ep. 35

Six months into our project we filmed this "half-way" tour with before & after views of ten rooms in our house. Little did we know, that was not the half-way point of our renovation, as it has now been a year since we bought the house and we aren't done yet! (Which means we still have plenty of videos to share with you!) In this video we'll show you the progress we made in the first six months, from cleaning out the previous owners belongings, to making sure the guts of the house were all updated and safe. Join us as we walk room by room through our Spanish Bungalow and see all that we accomplished in the first six months, and all the work still left to do.

[@jodylyn6777]

She had the most lovely collection of items I've ever seen!

[@janicebritt8418]

You're making such great progress and I love how you're going above and beyond to keep the original features of the house. The original furniture was so beautiful, especially in the primary bedroom. It's looking more and more like a home! ❤

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you so much!

[@deestrawser2423]

I believe the ceiling light is original to the 1920s.

[@lindaroyal8161]

I agree, it's leaning more toward the 1920's than the 60's, for sure. Would be nice to have them restored and reuse them.

[@bdgies2721]

“This is NOT what I thought I was going to be doing today.” That about sums up the last 40-ish years of my life. 🤣🤣🤣

[@CicadaAndCo]

We have a feeling it’ll be the next 40 years of our lives 🤣🤣🤣

[@mkistach7115]

Wow 🤩 you two have done an amazing job keeping the original details when you can. Light fixture is definitely 1923 😊

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thanks so much! 😊 We thought it was original but weren’t quite sure since some things have been redone.

[@evamarie6090]

@@CicadaAndCo I have sold similar light fixtures on E-Bay, they are for sure 1920's. Hope you use them they are beautiful.,

[@lunita1167]

This is 6 months ago. I can't wait to see the progress since then. I know you guys are so busy and I really appreciate the extra time you take to document the changes. I still think it would make a nice movie. The house has an incredible amount of cozy charm. It will be so fantastic to finally move in!

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you! We’re still working so there will be plenty more videos 😊 Wow, a movie, that would be neat!

[@diannameyers8163]

TFS 🎉😂❤Love everything about the home. Have a wonderful week you two!

[@deborahfogel3689]

Love you guys and what you are doing to the home. Can't wait until your done and can move in.

[@charmainemanley]

I love this house. We had a house that was built in 1925 with a similar fixture so I'd say it is original to the house.

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you! That’s good to know!

[@cantocant2346]

So much work!! So glad you are keeping the original built-ins, I love them.

[@RobynCollis]

The house is going to be lovely and you are putting such a lot of thought and care into keeping elements of its original character. I know it wasn’t practical to keep too much, but what a museum of a house it was. A tribute to a stylish lady.

[@karenneumiiller7197]

I am so happy for the two of you❣🏡❣Maybe try barkeepers friend on the bathroom floor🤷‍♀

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you! I tried it 😅

[@JessieJ.Herrera]

Original 1923 overhead light.

[@susanparker2618]

Light fixture is definitely original

[@RobinLee-kb3xj]

I've been so excited to see you both. I can't wait to see what you're working on. I hope you make it your forever home.

[@CicadaAndCo]

Hi Robin! Hope you enjoyed the video. That’s our plan with the house 😊

[@janeimel7488]

Are you going to strip the nasty paint off the moldings?

[@CicadaAndCo]

Yes, we’re currently in the process!

[@bettestorm9950]

Love what you’re doing and with your optimism. Keep up the good work.👌

[@SideB1984]

Exciting! Love the medicine cabinet wall preservation idea. This place is incredible. 🙌🏽

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you! Can’t wait to share more!

[@bonniemcdaniel8]

Y'ALL WERE MEANT TO HAVE THIS HOUSE! YOU ARE DOING A BEAUTIFUL JOB IN THE RENOVATION. LOVE THE ARCH. FEATURES YOU ARE KEEPING. I AM SURE THE LADY WHO OWNED IT WOULD APPROVE OF EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING.

[@poodlegirl55]

That light is original. I had those in all the rooms of my 1900 house and everything was original.

[@CicadaAndCo]

Nice, thanks for sharing! We thought so but weren’t totally sure. That seems to be the consensus in the comments 😊

[@poodlegirl55]

Toilet bowl cleaner works great on old tiles and grout.

[@CicadaAndCo]

Good to know!

[@erinhogangalotta8300]

@@CicadaAndCo I think you can also scrape out a small top layer of grout and re-grout. Make sure you seal the tiles and grout when you are finished.

[@CicadaAndCo]

@@erinhogangalotta8300I’m actually at the point where I’ve started doing that. It’s just very difficult since the tiles are only 1” 😅 It’s sort of working if my back can hold out 😂

[@brendamccabe1020]

use dawn power spray on upstairs tile grout bathroom floor you guys are doing a great job!

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thanks for the tip!

[@Mrs.Silversmith]

I love the idea of tile by the front door. I saw a house with something similar and it looked really nice.

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you! Looking forward to sharing more design decisions when we get there 😊

[@judithhancock3764]

Hi you two. Its me again in the UK. Can I ask please, are there only two bedrooms in the house? Keep up the good work, I really enjoy watching you.

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you! Yes, there are 2 bedrooms.

[@flofudge8680]

Amazing lots of hard work there! Bravo she had a lot of lovely items. You will make it a lovely home. I enjoy watching your progress from Sussex, England!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@porkchop0711]

I love that house! You make me feel like we are on the adventure with you. Great editing. Here's to another 6 months.❤❤❤

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thanks so much for that compliment! We’ve been learning about video editing as we learn about renovations lol 😄

[@KellyG4729]

Thanks for the tour. Everything looks great. This house was meant for you two. Not to many people would renovate like you are. Most would demolish and rebuild new.

[@abbyiyer2011]

Once the room is done try using denture cleaning tablet to clean. It releases oxygen and cleans dentures so will not cause harm your tiles. If this works your tiles will look counch shell white and beautiful. Less than 10 dollars Canadian for a box .

[@CicadaAndCo]

We’ll give it a try! Thank you!

[@kathyschauer2114]

Wow. What amazing team work you have going on!!

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you so much!

[@janeimel7488]

I would say that your light fixture is original to the house. It is definitely older than 1960's.

[@carlclevenger9759]

Well, you should be proud. That was an excellent video. Flowed very nice and hit some interesting points. Anticipating next Sunday already. Thanks and I hope things are going good with you guys.

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thanks so much, we appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed it!😊 Looking forward to sharing more next week.

[@cgp1442]

Yes, ceiling light 1920s. Hopefully you can give it a good clean and rewire it 👍

[@littleone7404]

I'm kind of surprised you didn't extend your main bedroom.Wider are the little toothpaste bathroom wider as well

[@CicadaAndCo]

We’ve talked about doing exactly that. We’d love too 😊 maybe one day!

[@palace927]

Things are looking good. How much did the mild remediation end up costing you?

[@awendelgast]

I cant wait to see the tile selections you choose, the 20s had beautiful tile colors

[@anneallen4797]

I came across a tip to use hydrogen peroxide on white tile and grout to get it back to white. I haven't tried it yet though. I get is at greater than drugstore strength from Amazon. I know it will kill mold and gets stains out well. You might try that on the penny tile. Good luck! I hope it comes out as pretty as you hope!

[@CicadaAndCo]

I tried that and unfortunately this tile/grout is really tough! It doesn’t want to be white, I’m still scrubbing lol

[@Somewhereintime22]

You’ve made so much progress! Thanks for the tour. For some reason I was still a little confused about the downstairs layout…this helped clear that up. I love the fact that you’re going with the original 1920’s charm in your design and keeping the same footprint. I actually love the size of your kitchen…I’m sure you’ll make it beautiful and functional with the original size. The way you’re doing this will result in something timeless and valuable.

[@lindaroyal8161]

LOVE the front door - I've always been a fan of curved topped doors. How cool that you were able to recreate/save it to step back in time into your Casa! What a nice surprise to find the ceiling in the laundry room, perfect for that room. It's super nice that all the door knobs are there and original to the house, it's wonderful to have them and all match. I like the interior doors also, they will look so good in all the refinished rooms. I'm a fan of the hex tile from that era, nice yours in good enough shape to salvage it. I'm redoing my bathroom, later this year, and will be using that same tile. Of course, now days, it's on mesh sheets but I'll still have the same look. I'll be using bead board on the walls, bottom half. My house is a craftsman, 1945, I'm just north of Tampa. I'm glad you're keeping the built in medicine cabinet. What a great art feature to preserve all the layers of original paint in that corner of the bathroom, awesome idea. It was nice to revisit the rooms and compare them from day one till now.

[@fireheart0913]

hope you kept the bed!

[@CicadaAndCo]

The bed found a new home 😊 but we kept a few favorite things

[@desireestonebraker4824]

You're moving along. The bathroom floor looks good. Love the accent wall idea.

[@paulacole6437]

I am loving your renovation ! I can hardly wait to see finished home! I anticipate every new episode! God bless you !

[@sarahprice1375]

Everything she had was just SOooo beautiful 😍

[@barbfrank917]

Can't believe all the work you did? So exciting ❤❤❤❤

[@CicadaAndCo]

Yes! Thank you!

[@turawolfe2841]

I love your house and Love everything you are doing to make yourselves a wonderful historical restored forever home! Have you ever watched a website called Old House Dreams? I have been looking at the site for more than 15 years and have learned so much from the amazing people that comment after viewing the homes. Kelly posts 5 days a week. My old home of the last 24 years was built in 1917. It has been a labor of love to be the current caretaker of my special bungalow with double curved front doors and living in a historical neighborhood. I enjoy and look forward to your videos! Thanks!!

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you! We haven’t been to that website, we’ll look it up 😊 You’re house sounds lovely!

[@dorimiller4325]

Did you change the name of your home? Casa Marie to Casa 1923? I don’t know why but I feel an affinity to Marie. What happened to her could happen to any of us. I love that you are restoring the home to its 1923 bones.

[@CicadaAndCo]

Yes, we decided to change the name of the house as it started to feel more like our own home 😊 We feel the same way about Marie and we’re glad she was able to move to a safer residence due to the sale of her house. The casa wasn’t a place anyone should have been living, full of mold and rats 😔

[@kamicrum4408]

Hmmm, I wobder if the blue dawn & vinegar miricle shower cleaner would work on the hextike floor? Worth s try?😊

[@CicadaAndCo]

I’ll try anything at this point, thanks! 😄

[@heatherjohn9757]

You two are amazing!! I love watching this journey of yours. This video is also really well edited to show us the before and now. Can’t wait to see the final product. Cheering you on from the north.

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you!! We really appreciate that and glad you’re enjoying watching our progress 😄 We’ve learned a lot about renovations and editing this year 😊

[@donnamariemiller9993]

Did you keep any of the furniture? I really liked the head and foot board on the bed in the master bedroom. Thanks for the awesome update!!!!

[@CicadaAndCo]

We kept a few favorites 😊 A lot of it was not salvageable, but we saved what we could and found new homes for a lot of it.

[@Nan-u4f]

how many square feet in the house, love watching you both bring it back to life… can’t wait to see it finished

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you! It’s 1800 square feet.

[@gdbreon8300]

Thank you for the tour. You are doing a great job! You have your work cut out for you but you still have a sense of humor. Take care & be safe. Love following along on this journey with you. The house & contents is unbelievable!

[@CicadaAndCo]

We appreciate that! Thank you!😊

[@marthaboggs6986]

Looking good. 👍🏻

[@Fleetsuper]

If you haven’t already tried it, steam for the floor grout, works wonders

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you! I tried 😅 it’s very stubborn grout.

[@yeahisaidthat3008]

Oh what an amazing tour from day one to now and oh wow what a transformation already! Always look forward to seeing the progress! Thanks for sharing!

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@jThorSF]

You’ve really come a long way! I’m so glad you’re finally able to be inside without respirators. Every time you show the old primary bedroom I covet that amazing bed frame. Always looking forward to the steady progress as you tackle one issue after another!

[@CicadaAndCo]

Being able to breathe without respirators was a huge game changer!!

[@annamarierogers2358]

🤗

[@mjs.2000]

Exciting!

[@Debbie-m7f]

Looking good… you’ve done a lot👍🏻

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thanks! 👍

[@louisepanton7344]

Your house is going to be fabulous 🤩

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you!! 😊

[@geralyncurtis1533]

It is looking good!!!

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you!

[@tarynkriebel319]

Us there an attic?

[@CicadaAndCo]

Yes

[@loispolley6339]

great job!

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thanks!

[@robinscott1455]

Good job!

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you!

[@jackmead6166]

It is very important to continue to look back to see all of your Progress. Having done this as well.........a good perspective is very important. Keep having fun. 😁😁😁😁😁 Thank you!!!!

[@CicadaAndCo]

Absolutely! It’s great to have perspective by looking back and seeing how much we’ve done! It’s now been a year since we closed on the house and while it’s not finished yet, it’s completely different than the day we got the keys 😊

[@barbaradavis7400]

I enjoy your videos. Thanks for keeping the house as real as you can...love the door knows. Love you all for fixing it up. It shows your love

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thanks so much!

[@sarahprice1375]

It will be a beautiful family home xx

[@lisanowakow3688]

I think I would have expanded the bathroom onto the porch and into a full bathroom, then putting the washer and dryer in toward the middle of the current room.

[@CicadaAndCo]

We discussed that. That’s a supporting wall so would have been quite extensive and our budget was better spent elsewhere 😊

[@BobbyRomeo]

Hi there! Love that you are keeping so many of the original features. Great job! Cannot wait to see the end result!

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@karenhanley3912]

What a great video 👍It is Wonderful to see all the before and after pics ! Great job with all the progress in your new home 🏡

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thanks so much, glad you liked it! It was fun for us to see the before and afters too 😄

[@lpfeifer6709]

Been enjoying your videos 😀 don’t know if you have already answered this but how did you get rid of all the critters in your house??

[@CicadaAndCo]

We actually had a large snake that took care of most of the rodents and then she moved outside! We used ray traps for the few that were left. We were lucky it wasn’t a huge infestation like we originally thought it might be.

[@rosaleezeier2559]

I am pretty sure that the light fixture is original to the house. My grandma had one like that in her house almost identical to that..

[@CicadaAndCo]

Good to know, that’s what we keep hearing in the comments 😃 thank you!

[@B.L.Creations]

For the bathroom floor , have you tried putting baking soda and then white vinegar ? When the fuzz is gone then scrub it a little . I hope it helps .

[@CicadaAndCo]

I did try that! 😅 It didn’t do much, this tile and grout is DIRTY lol

[@B.L.Creations]

@@CicadaAndCo The only thing I can think of is called 30 seconds and you can get it from Lowe’s .

[@CicadaAndCo]

@@B.L.Creations thank you! It’s worth a try!

[@santamonicajane]

Those jalousie or louver windows are a real security risk.

[@CicadaAndCo]

That’s why we have two large dogs 🐶🐶 Also, like we said we plan to replace them when we can.

[@PamelaRoll]

Have the rats completely gone away?

[@CicadaAndCo]

Yes! Thanks to a large snake and a few rat traps.

[@deleabutler8095]

You have made fantastic progress! Curious if Hal found employment or waiting for renovation to be completed?

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you! Yes, he did! We shared a Q&A video last week and he talks about it a bit in that one 😊

[@deleabutler8095]

@@CicadaAndCo OMG!! I missed that video. I will go back & watch it. Congrats Hal!

[@CicadaAndCo]

@@deleabutler8095thank you!!

[@margaretlynch1494]

🙋‍♀️❤️

[@ericalbany]

How did that grand piano survive the Florida climate?

[@CicadaAndCo]

It didn’t 😢 Because the house had not been climate controlled for who knows how long, it was full of mold and was not salvageable.

[@ericalbany]

@@CicadaAndCo Unfortunate

[@CicadaAndCo]

@@ericalbanyyah I couldn’t even watch it be removed

[@ericalbany]

@@CicadaAndCo Fortunately small grand pianos aren't that expensive to buy- no one wants them now. Of course moving & regulating is another matter...

[@CicadaAndCo]

@@ericalbanyyah moving them is always the expensive/difficult part. I actually have a piano though so one day it will make it’s way into the house 😊

[@judychapman1868]

I have enjoyed your home renovation and like most of your ideas for restoring it as close as you can to the original, but please rethink the wall with the medicine cabinet and all the colors of paint….

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you! Haha I knew someone wasn’t going to like that idea. The nice thing is that it’s a very small piece of the wall, and if we end up not liking it then we can just paint it 🤷‍♀️ So why not try it out 😊

[@ericalbany]

It's a 20's light fixture, but you can do better

[@gregharden9963]

Definitely 1923!

[@karenklucas923]

Fun!! Looking great . 😊 of work..

[@CicadaAndCo]

Thank you!