Andrew and I will be leaving Tucson for Wisconsin by car, with two cats and a dog in tow, on Sunday, June 23rd. After a quick stopover in Pewaukee to see Mom and Dad, we’ll head to Madison to begin renovating our little fixer-upper on the Near East Side. The house needs a bit of everything, and we’ll be recording our progress here on theyoungestsnowbirds.com. Please check in from time to time and leave comments in the form of recommendations, encouragement, anecdotes, and knock-knock jokes. We want to hear it all.

For my first post, a before-and-after (my favorite) and a big THANK YOU to my parents for footing the bill and coordinating this transformation.

The Staircase
This staircase leads to the attic, which also happens to be the only bedroom. Therefore, it will get lots of traffic.

Above Left: Before
Steep with a low doorway and generally unsafe, each step measured 6″ deep. We found out from the contractor Dad hired that current code is 9″ deep. Even my heels hung off the back, and I have pretty small feet.

Above Right: After
Much safer, and built of really nice, solid wood. Ready to be stained and fitted out with trim.

And as the newer, safer stairs extend farther out, we have the opportunity to install a stretch of bannister, which I think will be look really neat. And we just missed that window. Phew!

I’m more than ready to get out of Tucson for a bit, and I can’t wait to see friends and family.

More soon!