Old Bones, New Skin: The Bionic Finish Line (Kitchen, Insulation, and a Black Granite Exclamation Point)
Old Bones, New Skin: The Bionic Finish Line
Kitchen finals. Mudroom next. Insulation upgrades. And a black granite countertop that shows up like punctuation.
Where we are right now (the “tiny stuff” era)
We’re in that late-stage renovation zone where the big surgeries are mostly over… and the “little” details start acting like they have their own union contract.
- ~90% of the molding is done — the house finally has its face.
- ~90% of the painting is done — the house finally has its skin.
- Now it’s kitchen end details, then the mudroom, then the “and also…” list that appears at the end like an unsolicited group chat.
The bionic phase (kitchen edition)
Because of code (because of course), we’re hardwiring the kitchen to meet modern requirements and modern reality:
- Hardwired smoke alarm + CO₂ sensor (real safety, not vibes)
- Always-connected Wi-Fi camera (eyes that don’t blink)
- Two smart lights (light as a tool, not decoration)
A 1950 house can be sturdy and honest and still be… a little under-informed. We’re giving it reflexes.
Insulation: the invisible upgrade that changes everything
Here’s the part nobody brags about on Instagram: comfort is mostly invisible. It’s not the shiny finish—it's the way the house behaves when winter shows up uninvited.
- We’ve already added insulation (and yes, you feel it immediately).
- We’re planning another pass of foam insulation—because the second pass is where “pretty good” turns into “quiet, stable, and consistent.”
Why this matters (the proof, not the poetry)
It’s not just temperature. It’s drafts, noise, humidity, and the daily background stress of a house that can’t hold its own comfort. The goal is simple: fewer “why is this corner cold?” moments and fewer times the furnace behaves like it’s running for student council.
The countertop: a black granite exclamation point
And now we’re adding the show-stopper: a granite gloss textured black countertop in the kitchen.
Not “nice.” Not “fine.” This is the piece that walks into the room and politely clears its throat.
- Gloss + texture means it catches light like it has opinions.
- Black granite makes the whole kitchen feel sharper, cleaner, and more deliberate.
- It’s the kind of finish that says: we’re not experimenting anymore—we’re arriving.
This leg of the story: stronger, quieter, more capable
Standing here—trim mostly done, paint mostly finished, insulation upgraded with another foam pass coming, and the countertop on deck—this doesn’t feel like “end of a project.”
It feels like the end of rehab and the beginning of a house that can keep up.
- Not a museum. Not a flip. Not a Pinterest performance.
- A home that can hold a life that got bigger than it used to be.
- 1950 framing… with 2026 systems and 2026 expectations.
Team Jellie didn’t just go to the Dominican Republic. We came back… and the house came back with us. Just upgraded.
Soft next-step checklist (so Future Us doesn’t panic)
- Finish kitchen end details (the “tiny stuff” that isn’t tiny).
- Install the black granite countertop (aka: the exclamation point).
- Do the next foam insulation pass (quiet comfort, locked in).
- Move to the mudroom (the zone where shoes go to testify).
Read the full series (start to finish)
If you want the whole arc—from “good bones” to “new skin,” plus the side quests—we’ve linked the full run below.
- New Skin for Old Bones
- New Skin for Old Bones — Surgical Consult (Phase Two: Non-Invasive Edition)
- Kellie’s Hearth, Finally — Building the Life You Dream
- Doozer Prep Day — New Skin for Old Bones
- The Mullion Question: Smart Shades, Old Bones, and the Light We Live In
- Giving an Old Track Photo a Second Wind with AI
- Old Bones, New Skin — Update
- Old Bones, New Skin: The One-Tread Test That Saved Our Stairs (and Our Sanity)
- Flooring Complete: The House Graduates from “Hospital Stay” to “Outpatient Rehab”
- Old Bones, New Skin: The People Who Held the House Together
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