Changes in the Dining Room

The weather these last few weeks has been crazy.  We braced for a snowpocalypse last weekend, but instead got a sugar dusting.  In my desire to make the best of being trapped inside, I stocked up with bread, milk, and paint.  One thing led to another, and we started on about four different paint projects which I will have to tell you about later.  GB also asked me to find a replacement chandelier for our dining room.  He hung it up for me last week and I love it!   

I had also made a few more changes to the dining room since I last took pictures.  The blinds were hung and my beloved Memphis map found a home.

Just to remind you...this is from the listing.

After moving in, and removing the drapes,

And painting,

And now replacing the lighting and adding blinds, the room feels nearly complete!

 

When we moved here, we said that most rooms in the house needed paint, flooring, and new lighting.  So far this room is proof that our formula was correct.  The original floors were refinished shortly after we moved in.  GB has been in charge of electrical-- changing out the dated light fixture, and almond colored switches and outlets.  And I have been in charge of paint/décor.  I can still see adding drapes, and changing out the frame on the map, and perhaps changing or painting the black chairs.  But I like the way it is coming together.  Now to spread the formula to some other rooms.  Since the weather will be in the 70s for the next week, I am planning on spraying the bathroom vanity.  So I have been prepping the cabinets this past week and hope to be able to take pics by the end of the week.

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Still Setting Up House-{The Master Bedroom}

In my defense, this room was 'set-up' within the first week.  It was also fortunate that the existing wall color was close to the color of my previous master bedroom.   What I did do recently was put the bed together properly, instead of leaving the panels leaning against the wall, staring at me daily.  I put it together myself last year, but was thinking that without the instructions I would run into problems.  Thankfully I labeled all of the screws when we took it apart, and it went back together pretty smoothly.  I will say, after a year I still love this bed.

Most pieces from the other house work in this new space.  We have the same bed and bedding, and I am still loving my Ikea-hacked nightstands.  The two white chairs that were in the window, at the other house, are downstairs in the living room.

But the smaller white chair that was previously in the playroom has made its way in here.  I was also able to reuse the white drapes and curtain rods.

This corner situation could use some work.  The black dresser just barely cleared the door.  The bird prints that were around the TV are still unhung here.  I still want to paint, especially the trim to a much lighter cream or white.

One thing I do love in this space is the light.  The room faces south and gets beautiful natural light for most of the day.  With our lack of rain over the last few months, it has meant a sun-filled room most days.  In the midst of life, the beauty of light and nature is so amazing.

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To Fall, With Love

The year's final performance is here

The leaves rustle in the breeze as if in applause

The garden puts on its final show 

Before saying goodbye and goodnight

Red, gold, and coral brilliance
As far as the eye can see

I open my eyes wide...wider
To take it all in, to remember all of its beauty

But my eyes can't seem to open wide enough 

So we gather souvenirs and keepsakes of this season's show

As reminders of its splendor
Until its arrives again.

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Change of Pace

I've been on a purging spree the last few weeks.  It started with a yard-sale that didn't go as I planned.  (The first yard sale I ever had netted me $350+ dollars, so now every other sale has to measure up!) Halfway thru the day, I found myself so irritated by the lack of traffic that I packed everything in my car and donated it.  I did give the kid clothes to a friend who could use them.  But I have been thinking about stuff and how I don't want it sitting in my basement serving no purpose when someone else could get some use out of it. 

Speaking of which, I cleaned up our basement which had things strewn across every section of it with our move-in a few months ago.  I can't tell you how happy it makes me to be able to walk down there and see order now.  I was able to make use of the shelving we previously had in our garage.

I have also been making an effort to go ahead and decorate rooms and not wait for getting everything just right.  And just that idea alone has helped me pull a couple of rooms together.  I am seeing that clearing out the unnecessary and unused items in a space, and repurposing things I already own  have helped the rooms feel like home. Like the foyer...I like the way this feels, even though it is a bit forward to announce to guests that we love them to the moon and back. :)  

 But hey, everybody needs love, and for now it feels welcoming.

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Oak House Reno- {The Dining Room}

I can't believe we've been here nearly two months.  On one hand, I think I thought we would have a lot more done.  On the other hand, that's life, right.  This room, so far, is simply a power of paint transformation.  It's amazing how colors can be so time-specific. 

This is a picture from before we moved in.  The one thing I did within the first week of moving in was remove the old curtains.  I should also include that we did refinish the floors that first week too.

This was shortly after we moved in, just placing the furniture in the room.

I started by patching and sanding all the nail holes and priming the walls.  Then I got to the dentil molding and almost called for professional help.  All of those little grooves are a beast to paint!

But I saw a quote that said the hardest part of DIY is getting started.  So I rolled up my sleeves and decided to just get to it.  I ended up forgoing priming the dentil molding.  After experimenting with different brushes, I settled on using a 1" foam brush to squish paint in between each dentil(?) and then used an angle brush to follow behind on the smooth parts of the trim.  I still had to go back and catch drips/runs from each groove, but this technique got the job done.  I debated trying to mask off the entire room and spray the trim, but I thought it would take the same amount of time and I was afraid I would have overspray.  I have three more rooms with this trim, so I may give the spray a try next time.

As far as color goes, I  was torn between a neutral light greige, and a deep navy or gray.  Needless to say, deep grey won.  One thing that sold me on this home was the natural light.  I love that there is this huge opening between the living room and dining room where light can flow between them.   Plus with the wide openings, the large bay window on the back, and the light paint below the chair rail, I was able to get away with a darker paint color without making the room super dark.  That's a win in my book!

The walls are Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray, and the trim work is Benjamin Moore Simply White.  

I stole the table that was behind the sofa in our previous home to use in here for now.  The chalkboard is a smaller version of a DIY knockoff  I  shared a while back.  I would love for it to be a bit shorter and wider for better scale, so that could be my excuse to build a new one!

One other small thing we are doing, or I should say GB is doing, is changing out the almond colored outlets and light switch to a fresh white.  The wall sockets are literally like two bucks.  The light switch was a bit more, but with his handyman skills, it's a very inexpensive way to also help update the room.

There are still a few touch ups needed (the painted seeped under the tape to my wood floors--evidently you aren't supposed to use blue tape on wood  floors--why did no one tell me this?!), and the blinds and potential curtain fabric need to be hung.  But this is one space that now feels like us.

Which only highlights even more the need to cover over this wallpaper in the kitchen, yikes!  I mean, I do find it a bit charming, but ultimately it's got to go!

All in due time.  Right now, I'm busy ripping out ivy in the front yard.  Send help, please!

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Design Plans-{Laundry Room Redo}

Yesterday I shared some inspiring laundry room makeovers.  Today, I'm back with design plans for my own laundry room makeover.  I think I've incorporated something from all three makovers.  They were all so good!

The laundry room at the new house is not that big--more like a galley space.  But that doesn't mean I can't squeeze out as much functionality as possible.

I love that here I have both a utility sink and the 42" cabinets.  They just need a bit of updating.  First up will be to paint the cabinets either gray or white and add new hardware.  I love the idea of gray cabinetry, but also don't want the space to be too dark.  Adding a skirt to the utility sink will help disguise it and allow for hidden storage underneath.  I will probably also add a plywood countertop over the washer and dryer to allow space for folding.

I would also love to also replace the faucet on the sink, like was seen in one of the makeovers from yesterday.  I plan to add hooks and maybe baskets above on the side that the door opens up onto.  I would also love to replace the flooring with a new laminate, and replace the shelving over the utility sink with brackets and a wooden shelf.  

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