We are really getting near the end. Jim worked his butt off this weekend and it really shows! So, here's where are now. All trimmed, holes fills, and primed. Paint going on very soon. Hope to be mostly done by the end of the week!
Sorry for the lame-o, picture-less update! I want to keep you in the loop so if you plan a project like this you'll know the time it takes to make the whole thing work - while we both do our day jobs as well! I'll try to post a few pictures tonight.
2.08.2011
2.07.2011
Living Room Art and a CSN GIVEAWAY!
Hope everyone had a great weekend! Our was busy and we made lots of progress on our built-ins. I'll have an update post in the next day or two so stay tuned. Last week I updated you on our new living room furniture - we love it. I need to figure out some art issues in there, and I stole some pillows from other rooms for now. If you are having similar accessory and wall decor issues, check out the CSN giveaway below!
Here's what I have going on right now.
First over the fireplace, I have this pastel original which I LOVE and is not going anywhere. Fun story about how we came to own this one. Not too long after we moved into the house, I first saw this piece at a local cafe where they have a rotating display of local artists. (Cassatt's on Lee Highway for those who are local). I loved and admired it on several visits after that. Then, it rotated out and I kept thinking about it, but I remembered the artist's name, Cynthia Gilmour so I found her information online and I called her. She still had the piece and it was still for sale. I think I paid about $300 framed... for an original pastel work of art. Yes please. I picked it up from her at the cafe a week later. I was elated and it was perfect over our living room fireplace and still is.
Across the room, I have this piece which I bought an annual Boardwalk art show in Ocean City, New Jersey (where we vacation every summer). I still really like it although I'm not sure this will continue to be its permanent home. We'll see though.
This is a little map print that we bought on our honeymoon in Bermuda. I like it but I am fairly certain it's going to move on out of here and maybe head upstairs to the guest room. With a new mat, it could work in our room too. So, I'll need something new for this corner... but this whole corner is going to get a little make-over stay tuned on that front.
What better way to start a Monday, than with a CSN Stores Giveaway! What's so awesome about CSN Stores? 200+ online stores where you can find pretty much anything. Personally, I'll be checking out their wall art and decor over the next few days for art and throw pillows for my newly redesigned living room, and one piece left in the dining room (over the bar in case you're curious). Fortunately for you, CSN is giving one lucky HOUSEography reader a $35 credit towards anything in ANY of their stores!
Here's how to enter!
Rules: You must be at least 18 years old and have a US or Canadian mailing address. Drawing will be made using random.org. All entries must be posted by Thursday, February 10th at 11:59 p.m.
Good luck!
Here's what I have going on right now.
First over the fireplace, I have this pastel original which I LOVE and is not going anywhere. Fun story about how we came to own this one. Not too long after we moved into the house, I first saw this piece at a local cafe where they have a rotating display of local artists. (Cassatt's on Lee Highway for those who are local). I loved and admired it on several visits after that. Then, it rotated out and I kept thinking about it, but I remembered the artist's name, Cynthia Gilmour so I found her information online and I called her. She still had the piece and it was still for sale. I think I paid about $300 framed... for an original pastel work of art. Yes please. I picked it up from her at the cafe a week later. I was elated and it was perfect over our living room fireplace and still is.
This is a little map print that we bought on our honeymoon in Bermuda. I like it but I am fairly certain it's going to move on out of here and maybe head upstairs to the guest room. With a new mat, it could work in our room too. So, I'll need something new for this corner... but this whole corner is going to get a little make-over stay tuned on that front.
What better way to start a Monday, than with a CSN Stores Giveaway! What's so awesome about CSN Stores? 200+ online stores where you can find pretty much anything. Personally, I'll be checking out their wall art and decor over the next few days for art and throw pillows for my newly redesigned living room, and one piece left in the dining room (over the bar in case you're curious). Fortunately for you, CSN is giving one lucky HOUSEography reader a $35 credit towards anything in ANY of their stores!
Here's how to enter!
- First entry - you must be a HOUSEography follower! Let me know how you follow HOUSEography.
- For extra entries (please leave a comment for each one of these that you do):
- Become a Facebook follower (or let me know if you already are) - click here
- Tweet about this giveaway
- Post about this giveaway on your Facebook wall or fan page
- Vote for HOUSEography on Picket Fence Blogs by clicking here (just click the link and you're done - the easiest online voting you can ever do!)
Rules: You must be at least 18 years old and have a US or Canadian mailing address. Drawing will be made using random.org. All entries must be posted by Thursday, February 10th at 11:59 p.m.
Good luck!
2.03.2011
On the shopping list...
It's Friday... well, almost. It has been a long week. I have several things on my shopping list for this weekend but not sure I'll get any of them done. In the mean time, I'm also thinking about new bar stools from the kitchen island. I really HATE the stools that are there - the style, the swiveling, and the size. Just all wrong for what I want in there. We moved them to the basement for Jim's party last weekend and everything felt so much lighter. So, I think I need something smaller scale and that doesn't swivel. Other than that, I am at a total loss for which direction I want to go in. I am scouring Craigslist daily but haven't stumbled on the right thing but I'm not losing hope just yet.
So, here are some options I'm considering (yes, I'm all over the place on this one!):
See? Told you I was all over the place on this! I was kind of hoping that someone will just show up with stools like with the console table!!!
I really do like the backless options (black wood or stainless) but will the kids have problems sitting on them? I like that people can sit on them easily and face the kitchen or the family (and the TV) without having to swivel or pull them out or anything.
Do you have backless bar stools? Do your kids have any issues with them?
So, here are some options I'm considering (yes, I'm all over the place on this one!):
 |
| Overstock - $89 for the pair |
 |
| Ebay - $255 for the pair |
 |
| Ebay - $200 for the pairs |
 |
| Bar Stool Super Center - $249 each |
I really do like the backless options (black wood or stainless) but will the kids have problems sitting on them? I like that people can sit on them easily and face the kitchen or the family (and the TV) without having to swivel or pull them out or anything.
Do you have backless bar stools? Do your kids have any issues with them?
Living Room Re-Do Reveal (Sort of!)
Well, I'm finally ready to reveal our new living room furniture. Here is where I started a few months back.
The living room was basically unused except as a toy room and no one had much of a desire to hang out in there. The furniture is a mishmash of stuff that we have had for a while. Well, except for the red chair which was my grandfather's so we inherited that about a year ago. I wanted to keep the rug but the rest had to go. Fortunately I think I have space for everything in other rooms in the house at least in the short-term.
First I got a new coffee table from Pottery Barn which I think set the stage for the rest of the room. It's round - something I have always wanted. It was $300 so not super cheap but I had some coupons and credits.
Then I started thinking about the upholstered furniture. I considered getting two loveseats and various combinations of couches, chairs and loveseats. Finally, I decided I wanted a totally different look than what I already have in our family room ( a large loveseat and 2 chairs) because the rooms are interconnected. So, I decided to try four chairs. It was going to be an investment because I knew there was almost no chance that I would be able to find 4 chairs in good condition used. And, I am always wary about used upholstered furniture because I have horrible allergies.
So, I went to loads of furniture stores and sat in loads of chairs. I have always loved English roll arm furniture so this was my opportunity to introduce this style into our house. Good. Style settled on but where to get it from. I have always liked Rowe furniture and I know the quality is good. I found the Caldwell chair and liked the look and it wasn't too large which is always an issue when buying new furniture in an old house! I started pricing it out at stores around Northern Virginia. Of course no one carried the Caldwell line on the floor so I couldn't sit in it! I have no idea why because it's gorgeous! I was prepared to buy it sight unseen... again. I was really close to ordering from a store nearby when I decided to call a few stores in North Carolina to get a price. All of them were cheaper but Town & Country Furniture came through with the best price and service. I ended up saving more than 30% even with the shipping cost (less than $200 for an unlimited amount of furniture).
Once the new stuff arrived, our living room looked like a furniture warehouse! I thought I took some pictures of that stage but cannot find them! The kids loved it though.
I also picked up the console table from my friend Amie. It's absolutely perfect with the coffee table and will be part of our living room for many years to come. Don't worry - I told Amie she could visit!
So, now here are the "after" pictures.
I'm still playing around with the side tables, throw pillows, grandmother clock, and the exact location of the console table and other smaller details, but overall, I love the change!
I'm really hoping this room will be a great place for games, reading, and enjoying the fireplace.
First I got a new coffee table from Pottery Barn which I think set the stage for the rest of the room. It's round - something I have always wanted. It was $300 so not super cheap but I had some coupons and credits.
So, I went to loads of furniture stores and sat in loads of chairs. I have always loved English roll arm furniture so this was my opportunity to introduce this style into our house. Good. Style settled on but where to get it from. I have always liked Rowe furniture and I know the quality is good. I found the Caldwell chair and liked the look and it wasn't too large which is always an issue when buying new furniture in an old house! I started pricing it out at stores around Northern Virginia. Of course no one carried the Caldwell line on the floor so I couldn't sit in it! I have no idea why because it's gorgeous! I was prepared to buy it sight unseen... again. I was really close to ordering from a store nearby when I decided to call a few stores in North Carolina to get a price. All of them were cheaper but Town & Country Furniture came through with the best price and service. I ended up saving more than 30% even with the shipping cost (less than $200 for an unlimited amount of furniture).
Once the new stuff arrived, our living room looked like a furniture warehouse! I thought I took some pictures of that stage but cannot find them! The kids loved it though.
I also picked up the console table from my friend Amie. It's absolutely perfect with the coffee table and will be part of our living room for many years to come. Don't worry - I told Amie she could visit!
So, now here are the "after" pictures.
I'm really hoping this room will be a great place for games, reading, and enjoying the fireplace.
2.01.2011
Built-in Bookshelves (Update 5)
Progress on our basement built-in bookshelves was a bit slow over the past week although we have been doing some things to move the process along. I put a coat of primer on most of the bookcases and cabinets late last week. Painting is generally my job in these things but I am not a great painter by any means! We did one coat of primer on most of it so we'll have to finish that this week. Then we'll sand the whole thing this week. Finally, we'll add 2 coats of white paint which matches our trim. I considered doing a color but I think I want to keep it white since the room is fairly small to begin with.
Jim has also been working on putting in the face frames. One hiccup was that our usual crown molding won't fit with the can lights so, we'll have to use something smaller. I'm actually fine with that because I want the basement to have a more casual feeling - thus the bead board backing.
Jim still needs to finish the pull-out shelves and the cabinet doors. Hopefully those will be done by the end of the weekend so it will be all painting from there on out!
Did you work on any projects over the weekend? Planning any built-ins in your house?
Jim has also been working on putting in the face frames. One hiccup was that our usual crown molding won't fit with the can lights so, we'll have to use something smaller. I'm actually fine with that because I want the basement to have a more casual feeling - thus the bead board backing.
Jim still needs to finish the pull-out shelves and the cabinet doors. Hopefully those will be done by the end of the weekend so it will be all painting from there on out!
Did you work on any projects over the weekend? Planning any built-ins in your house?
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