Front of House

Haven't posted in months...I know, I know, but just wanted to share some of my favorite curb-tastic curb appeal.  I hope to undertake this project for our house in 2013....just being realistic.  This project is not for the faint of heart.  It involves a massice paint project, installation, landscaping, bricklaying, etc....but I'm excited about it.

This is my favorite.  Loving the gas lanterns...that's a must.  I love the color of the paint....the overall look.

Very cute.  I love a front porch on a house.

I'm not a fan of the white wash brick but will admit it looks good when done right.



All I need is mosquito repellant...

If I had this thing in my backyard, I'd never leave.  My magazines, some lemonade, I'd be done!

These lovelies are made by Odd's, a London based company.

This would be me and Boudreaux...just leave us be.  We'll come inside when we're ready. Thank you.

Does the dog come with the chair?

There's a crazy little thrift store around the corner from house.  It operates during off hours and always has random but interesting stuff sitting outside.  So this Sunday, I passed and my eye caught a white and red wingback chair sitting in front, so I swerve my car over and hop out.  What I didn't see was a grey pitbull sitting in front of guarding the chair.

I proceeded slowly...very slowly.  I couldn't tell if he was emotionally attached to the chair but I dare not touch it so I sat next to it on a short concrete wall/flowerbed.

He walked over to me and started sniffing my pants.  I figured he must've been smelling my dog, Boudreaux.  His head was massive!  Completely massive but he had soft amber eyes and overall he was just a beautiful dog. 

We became friends.

Eventually I ventured inside and eventually someone came out from the back.  The owner's name is Carl and he was hoot.  After telling me he was closed that day, he asked if I wanted to buy anything.  I told him I was interested in the chair out front.  He said, "Me too, but I'll sell it."

After giving him the side-eye for a minute, we talked about alot of other things.  He said he collects things from houses he works on...he owns a "construction company"...of sorts.

I asked him if the dog came with the chair, he said no but it could be arranged.

Side-eye again.

I began to take pictures of the chair and the dog whose name is Blue/Happy would not budge and who was I to give him a nudge, so I just had to incorporate him in the shot.  Carl said the dog was "Blue" when he got him but now he's "Happy" to be there.

He was some handsome...the dog that is.  Carl had a cigarette pretty much fused to his bottom lip and it didn't matter what vowel came out his mouth, that cigarette stayed in place... and he sat with his legs crossed. Old school.

I'll probably go back for the chair.

WDYT?

Family Room: Before & After

This is definitely a work in progress.  This room has so much wrong with it.  This initial redo will help us get through the next year or so but eventually the ceiling(s) must be torn down, the paneled wall and probably just a new configuration of this room in conjunction with the front (dining) room needs to be done.

Yes, you are looking at THREE light fixtures includes TWO ceiling fans.

These drapes have to be circa 1980's.

Those are sliding glass doors at the opposite end of the room that lead out to the patio.  Still wondering how to make that transition down the road.





We decided to take down the "molding".  I use that term loosely since it didn't seem like much.



Then we got real ambitious and decided to scrape the ceiling to finally be rid of the sparkled popcorn.

Wow!  Is that another ceiling under the popcorn ceiling? Yes, it is.  After this revelation, Leonard, our handyman, told me to not waste my time with scraping over 400 sq. ft. of ceiling and just rip it out.  OKAY!  I was gung ho, so we planned on doing just that the next weekend, but Leonard got held up on another job he's working on so it didn't get done....this time.

Overall, it's a nice transformation...for now.  Alot easier on the eyes.  But a bigger transformation awaits!



Before & After Back Door

Our back door was a tragedy!  It was mean and awful.  Almost every morning on my out to work it's raggedy split wood would manage to catch my blouse or sweater and puncture a hole in it.  I could not wait to finally be rid of this jacked up monstrosity.

We purchased this screen door from Home Depot.  It came without hardware so I spent some time looking for a nice handle.  I ended up really liking the hardware normally used for fences so I grabbed this handle, spray painted it brass and bought gold hinges.  We love it.

Before & After Guest Bedroom 2

All of these rooms are a work in progress but here's the beginning of a finished product.

I still want to get some art work on the walls, new lamps, etc...

Dilemma: Is it country?

So until I can blow out this wall in our master bedroom so I can build walk in closets, I'm left to deal with this built in dresser.

It desperately needs some hardware because pulling these open without some kind of knob or pull is dreadful.  So I purchase the beautiful brass cabinet pulls that I told you guys about here. 

And I had the bright idea to paint the drawers, to make 'em stand out a bit.

I decided to go with Martha Stewart Interior Paint in Seal, a rich dark grey.  I love it.

Here's a whole room in Seal.  I'm not that bold but I still love it.

I did a test run tonight and found myself with a dilemma.

Should I paint the wood in between the cabinets or leave them white?  I plan on leaving the trim white at the top and bottom but I think if I leave the wood between the drawers white, it'll look more country than chic.

Case in point:

Country

Not Country

Well, I can't speak for whatever else in going in this pic...but just focus on the painted woodwork.

Do you see what I'm saying?

So...to paint or not to paint?

WDYT?

On another note... MY HALLWAY RUNNER CAME IN TODAY!!!!  WOOHOO!!!

More of that to come.