There has been a lot of progress on the basement over the last week. After some heavy rains we had some water which was totally unrelated to the flood in the summer caused by a loose valve. Luckily we had not put the floor down yet before this latest bit of water. We decided to avoid this situation in the future by installing a sump pump. A hole was dug in the corner where water always seems to be a problem. The three foot deep basin was then installed. The next morning when our contractor went to work on it again there was already 9 inches of water inside! The sump pump has a backup battery just in case our power goes out so we feel pretty covered. The floor was then put down which right away made it feel like a lived in space again. Everything was covered and…
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After our basement flooded we lost everything down there. We were able to salvage some photo albums and our Christmas ornaments, which were really the only things I was concerned about. Some sentimental toys were lost but everything else is just stuff that either won’t be missed or can easily be replaced. One item we really need to replace is the sofa. While work is still ongoing down there I’ve started shopping for some comfortable seating and find myself going back and forth between a sectional and a sofa. via Pottery Barn Sectionals look so cozy and comfortable. We are a family of five so all of us could fit on one. Movie nights would not mean a mad dash to the basement to claim a seat! The only problem with sectionals is that they are huge and not very versatile. You pick your configuration based on your room and…
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After painting over my kitchen I was left with a blank wall next to the back door. My kids love to draw and are always hanging things up on the side of the fridge. We have a stainless steel fridge that is not magnetic which is fine with me. The only problem is you can’t see their work on the side of the fridge and it always falls off as someone brushes by it. I wanted to create a magnetic board so they could show off their latest accomplishments from artwork, to good grades to swimming awards. I contemplated using magnetic paint but read too many reviews where it just didn’t seem to work. I settled on galvanized steel but wasn’t too thrilled with the look of it. I didn’t want the new magnetic board to scream cold hard metal. First I thought I’d cover the steel in fabric but…
Read MoreWith the holidays just around the corner it is time to start thinking about guests. Whether someone is staying overnight, for a party, or even just for five minutes you want your home ready. With some help from Wayfair I am highlighting some items that keeps your guests happy and your parties hopping! 1. Starting at the front door, greet your guests with a gorgeous wreath. Add your own personal touches with ribbon or ornaments to show your style. 2. Decorate your mantle or tabletops with anything from candles to bells. Get some more great decorating ideas here. 3. Add a tabletop tree to your front entryway, your buffet or anywhere it can be admired. 4. Don’t forget the big tree! Select some new decorations and blend them in with your old ones. 5. Festive throw pillows are an easy addition to any chair or sofa. 6. Of course,…
Read MoreI might not have plans to finish my kitchen anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think about how I will do it. Besides the kitchen I’m hoping to finish off our three season porch and make it part of the kitchen by extension. In my head it is a multifunctional room. It would have a work area with computer and storage as well as a sitting area. You could easily chat with the person at the sink, curl up and read a book, or access the back yard. This new room even has its’ own Pinterest board. The sunroom is currently raised off the ground with no foundation underneath. I’d love to rebuild it closer to the ground since we will probably need to add a foundation and insulation. This would then mean that you’d have to take three or four steps down from the kitchen to…
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So I stated a while back that my basement would be done by Thanksgiving. I was wrong and I jinxed myself. It still looks like this… As I wait for a visit from my contractor to finish up the flooring and some minor details I have made some behind the scenes progress. A sofa has been selected along with an ottoman. Pillows are on the way as well. I’m going with the gray for the sofa, the striped teal fabric for the ottoman and the pattern for the pillows. Much more information on that to come. In addition to the furniture this rug is currently rolled up in my dining room… So I’m chomping at the bit to put it all together. I’m not giving out any more completion dates although I have one in my head. I just won’t say it out loud. Ho, ho, ho.
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The basement is still not done (yes, I jinxed myself) but I am planning ahead. I get to start all over with the loss of all the furniture we had in that room. For now this means a new rug and sofa. I’m starting to pull together ideas for what I’d like it to look like. I don’t want a sofa that dictates the room and I want to make sure the rug follows those rules as well. I’m leaning towards a gray sofa on a gray rug. Sounds boring, right? With the addition of accent pillows, accent furniture and other accessories, you can keep that combination from looking too bland. Here are some of the rooms that I’ve been looking at for inspiration… via bassett furniture via bdg style via decor pad via houzz via my home ideas via the every girl via white house black shutters
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I’m blogging over at the Hooker Furniture blog today with a visual roundup of some bedroom styles. I’m sharing some Modern, Traditional and Eclectic moodboards to get you started! Follow the link to take a look…
Read MoreMy new project to make a large kitchen table all began with this… via Lorimer Workshop I did a search for tables with metal bases, found this and was hooked. My version will be DIY and hopeful stay within a realistic budget. My end result might not be exactly that table but in the general area. I was doing some shopping with my sister in law this weekend and saw this… It is the Rialto Table from Boston Interiors and is perfect for the look I’m going for. Rustic wood top with an Industrial black metal base. They wouldn’t just sell me the base. I asked. Rialto Table via Boston Interiors Then there is the Wayfair version… Stone County Ironworks Ranch Dining Table or the World Market version of what I’d like… World Market Jefferson Table West Elm has one too. A little more geometric than what I’m looking for…
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After I painted my entire kitchen over with a nice refreshing shade of white I had another addition to make to the walls. Since removing the kitchen cabinets in order to create a family command center I had some walls in need of baseboard molding. I started by removing some additional molding at the outer corner. With the help of a chisel, a hammer and a crowbar this was a quick and easy job. There was some messy crumbling of cement and plaster but with some new tall baseboard it would be easy to hide. I bought some 4 inch primed baseboard to cover all those little holes and measured out my cuts. I needed three separate pieces so I measured each making sure to mark where the 45 degree angles for the corners would be. Then I used a tool. That’s right, I now own a tool. Black + Decker…
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