Whenever I feel the need to start a project (or twelve), I get sort of obsessed with it and everything else falls apart around me. Such is our life right now. We're scrounging every night for dinner and I haven't done the laundry in a while, but I've got a bee in my bonnet, as Todd likes to accuse me, and I want to complete all these ideas I have floating around in my head while I have the motivation to do it. I haven't completed all of them, but here are some before and afters of my plans, photoshopped with my limited skills to give me an idea of what it'll look like, and so I can sell the idea to my husband who would kind of prefer I leave everything alone so I have more time for him :) I'll post pictures of the finished projects if they don't turn out crappy and if I ever actually get them done.
Garage door as is:
Garage door makeover with contrast trim and gate hardware for the "carriage door" look. It's a trick finding hardware, particularly hinges, that will work since the door still needs to bend to go up and down. I'm thinking I may have to fake it with thin pieces of wood painted glossy black cut to the size I need. I hope it works!
Outdoor curb appeal: here is the house as is:
Outdoor makeover: Besides the garage door, we added window boxes, will need to replace the tree that died this summer and will need to do some minor landscaping.
or maybe with black doors? any opinions?
Bathroom (one step past "before" as I had already started to re-do the countertop before I took the picture)
Bathroom black and white makeover with black paint (I know, BLACK?! - but it's just paint, and I think I really like it), a chair rail with white on bottom and a zebra print rug which I plan on taking back from Todd's office.
Dining room as is:
Bathroom black and white makeover with black paint (I know, BLACK?! - but it's just paint, and I think I really like it), a chair rail with white on bottom and a zebra print rug which I plan on taking back from Todd's office.
Dining room as is: I've decided it's time to lighten things up a little with a chair rail and frame moulding on the bottom of the wall and a light aqua color on the top. If I can find a salvage chandelier I can fix up I'd like to do that, and I have some orange-ish chair cushions I'm coveting right now, although they probably won't become a reality for a while as they don't fit into the super-cheap redo category.
This is a little project I did last week since I already had all the stuff I needed on hand and I was antsy to get something done. No before picture, but it was just a plain white door out to our garage, which just so happens to be where we keep our food storage, so it made sense to do this pantry chalkboard here:
and a close up:
In addition, we've been shampooing carpets, touching up trim throughout the house, repairing little things that happen with a pile of kids, and rearranging rooms (we kicked Claire out of the office, so it could just be an office again, and we gave her daybed to Sophie and turned Sophie's into a trundle bed for Claire.) Phew!
I don't really love the wood wall or the brick hearth (or the mess, but you have to look past that) paint or don't paint....what to do???
This is a little project I did last week since I already had all the stuff I needed on hand and I was antsy to get something done. No before picture, but it was just a plain white door out to our garage, which just so happens to be where we keep our food storage, so it made sense to do this pantry chalkboard here:
and a close up:
In addition, we've been shampooing carpets, touching up trim throughout the house, repairing little things that happen with a pile of kids, and rearranging rooms (we kicked Claire out of the office, so it could just be an office again, and we gave her daybed to Sophie and turned Sophie's into a trundle bed for Claire.) Phew!
What I really need though, are some good ideas for this room:
I don't really love the wood wall or the brick hearth (or the mess, but you have to look past that) paint or don't paint....what to do???
7 comments:
don't look past the brick or wood...just don't paint over them. If you want to dress up the wood paneling, get 2x2 strips and put up a fake wall with the 2x2's and drywall or particle board and then paint over it. that way if you ever decide that you want the wall back, you've just got to take down the wall and you're back to wood.
the other thing that isn't hard to do is take out the fireplace. if you don't use it ... if you're using it of course that is a problem.
Mount the t.v. in the corner of the room opposite the fireplace and get rid of the t.v. stand or move it somewhere else...
Convert your garage to a "t.v. room" turn the room off the kitchen into a "reading/comfort" room.
By convert the garage, I mean put a t.v. and a chair for todd to sit in out amongst the "stuff" and voilå you have a t.v. room
As far as the wall and tearing out the fireplace, if you pay for my gas, I'll be glad to come and help.
I like the garage door, but I would put hinges on your middle joints too facing both ways so it looks like a bi-folding carriage door. More realistic that way. No way a door that big would open on two hinges. I would stay away from the black unless you're going to change the color of the trim all the way around the house.
Bathroom looks great with the chair rail. I would think about putting the t.p. on a little stand and filling the hole but with kids, it's probably not practical, but would look nice. Nothing wrong with black and white especially in such a small space. The dining room looks good, I like the lighter color on the walls. I especially like the wainscoting. As far as the cushions on the chair go, it would be really easy to get foam and fabric and make your own at about 1/4 the price of the ones you want to buy. My mom knows a foam place at which to get the foam...talk to her at church. Fabric you just need to wait for a sale at JoAnns or Michaels or go online to http://www.distinctivefabric.com/ and get a good deal on a fabric that looks like the pattern you want. If you're uncomfortable with sewing, I'm sure that there are plenty of women in the ward who would be glad to teach or help you with it.
I would paint over it. The brick and the wood. I know it's a big decision. I am a big fan of bright and white. I like all of your changes. Very modern.
First of all, I'm pretty sure you stole your dining room idea from my Provo dining room (remember? Sky blue, off-white trim, window seat, black table, orange chairs, etc.) Just admit it. TOTALLY my idea. jk. Second of all, I say paint it. If you're anything like me--which you obviously are (see above)--you'll never want wood paneling.
Kristin - yes there is a lot of inspiration from your old house! Wish I could have the window seat and I secretly covet your orange chairs. I probably would've not thought orange chairs on my own though, except I was browsing some dining room pictures and chose three that I loved and took what they had in common and what I liked the best about each, and one of them had a little orange in that color room. Hope mine looks as good when I'm done! (although I'm running out of steam a little, and now that two are done, I'm kind of sitting back and enjoying them for a moment)
Alli, it's very big of you to admit that you get your ideas from your little sis. P.S. I probably wouldn't have thought of orange chairs either, but we were serendipitously given them and they just worked really well in a room that color. Oh! and I don't know where you get your paint, but if you want, I think I still remember the color of my chip from ColorPlace (wal-mart's brand--$7/gal). I think it was freemont green, or something like that. It's not really green though, so I don't know why they call it that. But anyways, when that bee gets back in your bonnet, you can look it up if you want.
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