Ah, summer. It pulls at us; tugs us away from all the work we should be doing. We have our big lists that seem so unimportant now that there are pools to be dove into, and warm breezes to be felt, and lakes to cozy up next to. My sweet husband mows the lawn weekly, and we kind of try to keep the house tidy-ish. But who wants to be in the house?!
So, our list is still there, but we choose to mostly ignore it. Until a rainy day...
Monday, June 27, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Mudroom: before & (almost) after
Yes, the mudroom is painted, but it's not finished. I need to do some thinking and some design, first! Right now, it's a blank slate. So... opinions are welcome (from my 2 readers)!
Here's the "before". This is one view, as you walk in the back door. (The closed door you see leads into the half bath.)
And the "after." Lighter and (hopefully) brighter!
I would like a couple things to be incorporated into the room: 1. Seating. 2. Possibly a few hooks for coats.
There IS a closet with 5 built-in shelves and a place to hang coats (the weird darker-looking wall to the right is actually the closet. SO, if there are no hooks, that's ok, too
.
Pictured below is the largest blank wall in the room (to the left, behind the door). We had hooks here, but it did tend to look cluttered. So far, I'm thinking of doing something more... pretty.
I like this because of all the details! I like the basket for wood, and the clear vases with sand and reeds. I actually like how "cluttery" the shelf is, and the pillows. For my room, I can't put a bench under a shelf. The shelves would have to be on the large blank wall, and the bench would have to go on the wall with all the windows.
I like the modern, clean lines of this room. Mostly, I just love the dramatic floral arrangement! I don't like coat racks. They're cute, but too busy looking with more than one coat hanging on it.
This simple design is much more ME. I like the little bench, and the simple shelf, and even the hooks. I know we're not really designing for ME. But I do like it!
This small room is taking me longer than I thought (no real shock there)! We have changed our overall "to-do" list in the house and have re-prioritized. We have three rooms to do for sure. And, if we get to it, we'll tackle more rooms after those are done! We really only have the summer to do most of the work. Jeremy goes back to school this fall WHILE working full-time. And baby is coming in October! So, we've got to try and finish a lot before then! (Saving the kitchen for spring.)
We can do it!
Here's the "before". This is one view, as you walk in the back door. (The closed door you see leads into the half bath.)And the "after." Lighter and (hopefully) brighter!
I would like a couple things to be incorporated into the room: 1. Seating. 2. Possibly a few hooks for coats.
There IS a closet with 5 built-in shelves and a place to hang coats (the weird darker-looking wall to the right is actually the closet. SO, if there are no hooks, that's ok, too
.
Pictured below is the largest blank wall in the room (to the left, behind the door). We had hooks here, but it did tend to look cluttered. So far, I'm thinking of doing something more... pretty.
Here is some (pretty varied) inspiration:
I like this because of all the details! I like the basket for wood, and the clear vases with sand and reeds. I actually like how "cluttery" the shelf is, and the pillows. For my room, I can't put a bench under a shelf. The shelves would have to be on the large blank wall, and the bench would have to go on the wall with all the windows.
I like the modern, clean lines of this room. Mostly, I just love the dramatic floral arrangement! I don't like coat racks. They're cute, but too busy looking with more than one coat hanging on it.
This simple design is much more ME. I like the little bench, and the simple shelf, and even the hooks. I know we're not really designing for ME. But I do like it!
This small room is taking me longer than I thought (no real shock there)! We have changed our overall "to-do" list in the house and have re-prioritized. We have three rooms to do for sure. And, if we get to it, we'll tackle more rooms after those are done! We really only have the summer to do most of the work. Jeremy goes back to school this fall WHILE working full-time. And baby is coming in October! So, we've got to try and finish a lot before then! (Saving the kitchen for spring.)
We can do it!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Feeling a little useless!
I've had a crazy restlessness about this home remodel stuff. And I realized that I just feel a little useless! Because I'm pregnant, I have to be careful about heavy lifting, painting...etc., and so I am limited in what I can actually DO. And, like I've mentioned before, it's hard to do much with a toddler (I am planning on getting a babysitter here and there).
I just want to get in there and get things going! I, like so many other people, don't like relying on other people to do it - and I really don't like continually sharing my lists with my husband. I just feel so bossy!
So, there's my little realization for the day. I'm just glad I finally figured out where my frustration is coming from!
I just want to get in there and get things going! I, like so many other people, don't like relying on other people to do it - and I really don't like continually sharing my lists with my husband. I just feel so bossy!
So, there's my little realization for the day. I'm just glad I finally figured out where my frustration is coming from!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Staring at cabinets
The mudroom is painted! I still have to take pics, but I have to "stage" it first. Right?
Weekend #1 is over. One room down, 11 rooms and a basement to go!
My job during the week is limited to what I can do during Ava's 2 hour nap, or what she can "help" me with. That means clean, organize, clean, and PLAN!
My lists are not exciting. Skip over them, if you like.
To do:
Renovate kitchen, possible new cabinets
Paint dining room, "parlor", living room. (All large rooms)
Paint all 4 bedrooms.
Touch-up paint in upstairs hallway.
New vanity in upstairs bath, re-coat the porcelain tub, paint, new mirror.
Paint downstairs bath.
Hardcore clean basement, paint basement. New cabinet in laundry area.
"Stage" and organize everywhere.
Done:
New paint in 4-seasons room.
New paint in mudroom.
Newer paint in upstairs hallway.
Today, I sat and went over a price list I did on Friday at Menards for a new kitchen. It was too much fun sitting down with the cabinet girl and her nifty computer. Grand total to redesign with custom cabinets came to: 5500 bucks. This doesn't include counter tops. Our budget for the ENTIRE kitchen is about 4000-5000 bucks (which will be about what we get on our next tax return).
Today, for at least the fourth time, I sat and priced out off-the-shelf cabinets. I've looked at Ikea, Lowes, and Menards so far. And so far, I can do the entire kitchen - countertops and all - for about 2500. I really don't want the cabinets to look cheap, though! I'm sure I'll be in the stores eye-balling all the cabinets MANY times.
There is also some electrical to do in the kitchen, and I have to move the dishwasher to the other side of the sink. And, from watching DIY Network and HGTV, I know that there will be amazing snags. Especially because it's a super old kitchen. So, who knows what we'll find! I'm tempted to just paint the cabinets, get new counter tops and then leave it alone. It would work ok. But I would like to be able to say the kitchen is totally remodeled.
Soon, when I get some "before pics" posted, I would love some advice and tips and opinions!
Weekend #1 is over. One room down, 11 rooms and a basement to go!
My job during the week is limited to what I can do during Ava's 2 hour nap, or what she can "help" me with. That means clean, organize, clean, and PLAN!
My lists are not exciting. Skip over them, if you like.
To do:
Renovate kitchen, possible new cabinets
Paint dining room, "parlor", living room. (All large rooms)
Paint all 4 bedrooms.
Touch-up paint in upstairs hallway.
New vanity in upstairs bath, re-coat the porcelain tub, paint, new mirror.
Paint downstairs bath.
Hardcore clean basement, paint basement. New cabinet in laundry area.
"Stage" and organize everywhere.
Done:
New paint in 4-seasons room.
New paint in mudroom.
Newer paint in upstairs hallway.
Today, I sat and went over a price list I did on Friday at Menards for a new kitchen. It was too much fun sitting down with the cabinet girl and her nifty computer. Grand total to redesign with custom cabinets came to: 5500 bucks. This doesn't include counter tops. Our budget for the ENTIRE kitchen is about 4000-5000 bucks (which will be about what we get on our next tax return).
Today, for at least the fourth time, I sat and priced out off-the-shelf cabinets. I've looked at Ikea, Lowes, and Menards so far. And so far, I can do the entire kitchen - countertops and all - for about 2500. I really don't want the cabinets to look cheap, though! I'm sure I'll be in the stores eye-balling all the cabinets MANY times.
There is also some electrical to do in the kitchen, and I have to move the dishwasher to the other side of the sink. And, from watching DIY Network and HGTV, I know that there will be amazing snags. Especially because it's a super old kitchen. So, who knows what we'll find! I'm tempted to just paint the cabinets, get new counter tops and then leave it alone. It would work ok. But I would like to be able to say the kitchen is totally remodeled.
Soon, when I get some "before pics" posted, I would love some advice and tips and opinions!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Day 1: the mudroom
Ok, so here's the (short as possible) story...
We bought this big old house from my parents, who were having financial troubles. Five years later, many room-renters later, one baby (and now another baby on the way) later, we are more than ready to be rid of this place. It really is a unique and beautiful place. The bottom line is: it's too expensive for our growing family!
So begins our frugal journey to update the house in the next 12 months, and then... well... sell it.
Today, I browsed colors for project #1: The back entry/mudroom. I like COLOR. So it was hard to pick a more neutral color for OTHER people - for the potential buyers that will walk through our house. This room is being transformed from bright yellow, into VERY light yellow. My sweet husband prepped and painted, while I took my baby girl swimming. I think I got the better deal on that one.
While this baby in my belly grows stronger, the clock ticks toward next spring. In between painting and demo-ing, there will be a summer, fall, and winter filled with family memories. And my two-year-old will become a three-year-old big sister.
We bought this big old house from my parents, who were having financial troubles. Five years later, many room-renters later, one baby (and now another baby on the way) later, we are more than ready to be rid of this place. It really is a unique and beautiful place. The bottom line is: it's too expensive for our growing family!
So begins our frugal journey to update the house in the next 12 months, and then... well... sell it.
Today, I browsed colors for project #1: The back entry/mudroom. I like COLOR. So it was hard to pick a more neutral color for OTHER people - for the potential buyers that will walk through our house. This room is being transformed from bright yellow, into VERY light yellow. My sweet husband prepped and painted, while I took my baby girl swimming. I think I got the better deal on that one.
While this baby in my belly grows stronger, the clock ticks toward next spring. In between painting and demo-ing, there will be a summer, fall, and winter filled with family memories. And my two-year-old will become a three-year-old big sister.
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