Part 2: July 2025 to July 2026 was an adventure for Studio29...

2024: A Year of Loss and Home

2024 was the year my house and heart were breaking. My mom had her 90th birthday, and we knew it would be her last as her health had taken a steep decline the previous 12 months. Meanwhile, our house kept breaking: old copper pipes developed tiny leaks, which led to a big problem 2with our living room ceiling—three times! We also had deck problems, toilet issues, basement plumbing issues, a garage door that bent but still opened and closed, and more.

About seven months after my mom's 90th birthday, she passed from this world into heaven to meet the One she glorified her whole life since her salvation during her college years. I was heartbroken and always will be. On top of that, since my Dad was already in heaven, it was time to sell their home. At 52 years old in April of 2025, I permanently closed a chapter of my life that I had enjoyed since I was 14. So many things changed.

In May '25, funds became available because of the sale, so we addressed the problems at our house. The biggest eyesore was the basement entrance and storage room.

The Basement Before

The basement door and window had always been a problem since we moved in in 2016. We just made do, but we didn't let anyone use that entrance because of all the problems in the basement and the storage room with cinderblock walls, ugly stained blue carpet, exposed insulation, no ceiling, and overall neglect. We were able to use the basement bonus room for homeschooling for four years. It served us well, but it was so dark! Just a little light came through the one door, and the overhead lights were minimal. I often had all the outlets full of lamp plugs. The window had an air conditioning unit in it and wasn't even sealed properly. I kept a makeshift curtain over it to try to hide the ugliness. But we just did the best we could in the space, and I cleaned often!

That room also had my faithful treadmill! It helped me finish my half marathon in 2017 and provided "no excuses" for my exercise during the cold, rainy weeks of January and February.

The Plan Begins

The decision was made to replace the door and remodel the basement area.

June: How do we replace it? Who can do it? Who do we trust?

Through several conversations, thoughtful considerations, and many prayers, I settled on a sliding glass door because it would bring in the most light and make the most impact for the studio space. I thought I could pick out a door from the local big box store, but I really needed a contractor first to make sure I got the right kind. One man couldn't get to our project until January. Another said November, so we went with him. Then my sister recommended Pella, but their doors didn't arrive for 10 weeks, so we ordered as soon as possible!

What I thought could be done in a few weeks took much longer.

September: The white sliding glass door was ordered from Pella (other companies were much more expensive or lower quality).

Meanwhile, we hired a man to fix our living room ceiling after the pipes leaked. I was also going to have him smooth out my basement ceiling because of the recessed lights that were recently installed. I knew I couldn't do any work in my basement studio with sanding going on, so I moved into the studio space at The Simpsonville Art Gallery. I already had my artwork on display, but now I had a space to work in and hold classes as well.

We waited week after week for the ceiling guy—he said he was busy, but then he just never came back to finish the living room job or to do my basement ceiling. I had moved out and incurred a monthly studio fee for no reason when I could have just stayed home. But I had already committed to teaching, so I stayed. Looking at the timeline and budget, I realized I needed to move home at the beginning of March. Plans were made with my contractor to install the door in December, and the rest of the studio could be finished in February in time for me to move home from The Simpsonville Art Gallery in March of 2026.

January: Winter Weather

The glass door finally arrived about January 5th. I ended up paying an extra fee for delivery so the contractor would have it at the house with no delays since he was coming the next week. Then came the winter storms of 2026. Two weekends of ice and snow meant no door installation and delays with all contractors on other projects. Just part of the process. Was I ever disappointed!

Meanwhile, Thursdays became my day to unplug and paint at the studio. No distractions. It was really a great experience. I spent all January preparing for my February art exhibit featuring birds in various media: oil, watercolor, pen and ink.

I also taught online to several homeschooled families. My in-person classes were: watercolor, elementary, and upper grades with an emphasis on principles of art and design.

The February opening on First Friday had low attendance, but the highlight was hosting a lunch for my friends from church to come and enjoy my new paintings at the gallery.

At home, there were no changes to my studio. Weather, sickness, and obligations kept my contractor busy other places.

March: Construction Began!

I moved home the first week of March. The sliding glass door installation began the week of March 9th, and the door went in on March 13th and was finished by March 14th.

What could I do with no access to my studio? See my next blog...

*A previous blog post talks about getting canned lights installed. https://christinaheffernan.com/blogs/news/studio29-construction-october-2025

Here’s a quick reference guide to the men and women who did the work:

Pella Windows & Doors: Dale Snodgrass (864) 979-5081

Tetras Construction: Eric Dorias (864) 201-8917

Electrical: Chris Kerr (843) 530-4426

Paint: Painted Edge Team: Sherrie Waters (864) 275-7895 and daughter Leighanna Waters

Floor & Stairway Board & Batten: Joel Gould (864) 594-2510