A Special Gift for Grandma: A Fresh Start for Her Room
We wanted to give our beloved grandmother a special gift for her 80th birthday—renovating the room she had shared with our grandfather. She lives in a standard two-room apartment, 45 square meters, in a five-story panel building. This room used to belong to our grandfather, and since his passing nearly four years ago, it had remained untouched.
Grandma’s Energy Knows No Bounds
Our grandmother is the embodiment of an active lifestyle.
Every morning and evening, she enjoys Nordic walking, does her exercises, and helps her friends with daily tasks, from shopping to healthcare support. In summer, she spends time at her dacha, where she always finds something to do. It’s hard to believe that on January 1, 2025, she will turn 80!
Starting the Renovation
The last cosmetic renovation in this room was done about ten years ago since our grandfather was not fond of major changes.
However, we had previously renovated the kitchen, bathroom, and toilet about five years ago. This time, we finally convinced Grandma to refresh her room.
We barely persuaded her to replace the radiator, but she refused to install a stretch ceiling or change the old linoleum. This is how the room looked before the renovation.
Preparation and Demolition
We started by removing the old wall and ceiling coverings, which took nearly three days.
Peeling off multiple layers of wallpaper was quite a challenge! Our grandfather had always insisted on keeping the old wallpaper, so the previous renovation had been a quick, one-day job.
On the third day, we completed surface preparation, priming the walls and ceilings and removing all debris.
Transforming the Space
The next day, we moved on to plastering. We applied a layer of gypsum plaster to the walls and ceiling. My husband relocated the outlets and switches to more convenient spots for Grandma. Then, we applied two layers of gypsum-based putty to the walls and three layers of polymer-based finishing putty to the ceiling. The room was finally beginning to transform.
One of the biggest challenges was replacing the radiator, which we eventually convinced Grandma to agree to, despite some difficulties with the neighbors.
Final Touches
After completing the major work, we installed a decorative ceiling molding and painted it along with the ceiling in two coats. Then, we moved on to wallpapering—one wall with a decorative pattern and the others with plain, foam vinyl wallpaper.
Preserving Memories
Despite our best efforts, Grandma was adamant about keeping her old cabinets, as they held sentimental value from when she and Grandfather bought them together. She also refused to replace her worn-out carpet, which she lovingly calls “mahorka” and had custom-cut to fit under the cabinets. However, we did manage to give her a brand-new sofa, which she had been eagerly waiting for.
The Final Result and Grandma’s Reaction
The room is now refreshed, though not drastically changed. It’s bright, clean, and cozy, perfectly suited to Grandma’s needs. Most importantly, she loves it. For us, that was the best reward.
What do you think of our renovation?
