Peculiar

Just a quick post:

Clearly, flooring has been on the fore-front of my mind.

While reading my regular blogs this evening I saw this rather peculiar floor.

What do you think?

The planks look unfinished and aren't staggered as they normally are.  I can't decide whether it's old world chic or DIY learning curve.

Re-wind, re-group, re-start

When I bought my house nearly two and half years ago, a dear friend told me "You will love it.  Decorating your house can be so much fun, just trust me - don't try to do it all at once."

As it is with most advice, I chose to go my own way and will now, re-wind and try to heed her advice.

After the flooring set back, I decided to really re-evaluate and truly just come up with a plan of attack.

WHEW - after a week's worth of thinking, searching, more thinking, and maybe even a little strategizing, I present:

Remove and repaint all door hinges, knobs, and handles with oil-rubbed bronze spray paint.

Paint (Benjamin Moore -Chalk White)

Replace Mini-blinds with Faux Wood blinds

Create "Canopy"

Make upholstered headboard

Replace Flooring (carpet/hardwood)

Repair soap dish

Re-caulk tub

Replace vanity

Replace faucets

Replace Mini-blinds with Faux Wood Blinds
Find fabric, & sew curtains
Add crown molding
Try to reupholster (or paint) green chair

Replace flooring (carpet/hardwood)

Paint (Benjamin Moore - wispy green)
Frame Mirror
Replace light fixture

Replace light fixture

Paint ceiling

Add crown molding

Replace flooring (carpet/hardwood)

Replace light fixtures
Make stripped purple curtains
Replace Mini-blinds with Faux Wood blinds
Add crown molding
Add trim around kitchen doorway 
Replace hardwoods?

Paint (Benjamin Moore - oystershell)
Add crown molding
Frost kitchen sliding glass doors
New backsplash
Tile countertops
New cabinet hardware
Prime & paint pantry & trash can
Replace Flooring (tile/hardwood)

Paint (Benjamin Moore - vintage taupe)
Create "office-in-closet"
Add crown molding
Re-hang closet doors
Paint desk, file cabinet
Create "built-in" craft storage
Replace flooring (carpet/hardwood)

New bench/hooks
Paint coat closet
Add shelving around washer & dryer to create mini-mudroom

Add crown molding

Replace flooring (carpet/hardwood)

Now I have a plan.  Let's just see if I can stick to it!

I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Back to Square One

After last night's post I was excited to get started on my new project. 

I immediately went down stairs, ready to rip up some carpet. 

I was disappointed, to say the least, at what I found.

Concrete, not wood, subfloors & as if to make matters worse, the concrete was not in good shape.

I simply put the carpet back in place and here I am.

Back to the drawing board - bummer.

Breaking the silence

I've had writer's block, maybe more appropriately described as designer's block.  Nothing has changed over the last few weeks.  No new living room plans, no progress on my kitchen, nothing painted, nothing bought (almost). It's all the same as the last time I spoke to you.

As with anything, the main obstacle is money, followed closely by time.  Due to these constraints, my inner designer struggles to find economical improvements I can realistically make to my house that I won't have to replace or redo in my more prosperous future.

As I continued my daily routine, (wake, coffee, daily blog reading, walk dog, work, check blog updates, sleep) I stumbled upon a solution to many of designer woes.  The simplest answer, PAINT.

Although it seems so simple - I don't mean on the walls. I few weeks ago I posted about painted floors.  Painting over hardwood floors certainly isn't for the faint of heart; however,  a painted sub-floor (hmmmm).

One of my DIY motto's is:  If I'm eventually going to have to pay someone to do it, I might as well try it myself.  How bad could I screw it up?

Enter adventure, painted subfloor.

I'm thinking about testing this method out in my office/craft room.  Since it's only a 10 x 10 room, if I mess it up it can only cost me so much to repair.  I found the complete instructions on Back to Domestics.

What do you think?

Have you completed an adventurous DIY project?

Ahhhh...

Today finally feels like Spring.

Not only the weather but it's officially baseball season. 

Opening day at Camden Yards.

It doesn't get better than this!

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