Why pitch it just because it's ugly?

I know it's not yet February, so I am doing more than 1 post this month.  Wow - that's huge for me.  Especially, since I am known as the woman without 1 room in the entire house finished.  Everything is in the state of oh let's see....maybe 50% done.  It will be cocktail time when I finally get 1 flippin room actually to 100%.  It might even be champagne time.

Since I am feeling like any sort of real progress is really not taking place (despite the fact we are actually making slow progress), I decided to repurpose an ugly.  I am slowly but surely removing every ugly thing in the house that the ex-wife left.  Perhaps I should have more politely said every thing that's not my cup of tea, but let's be real - these were ugly:

So, I find some cool Ralph Lauren plates at HomeGoods on the clearance shelf for $6.50 each.  Come home, take the frames apart, spray the frame and paint the matt and background and I come up with this:

There are 2 of them, so it has a "twin", because everyone knows I like twins :)  I often think about how thankful I am that my twins weren't triplets.  Just can't imagine throwing another 10 year old into the mix.

So, as the room is pulled together and if it's EVER finished, you just may see these twins in a future post.  For $13. (I had the paint) they make me happy.  Some things should just not be hauled off to Goodwill.  I figure with just a little bit of work, I can put my own little mark on them and be pleased to have them more look like "me".  And yes, I am still into that pop of orange, although I fully understand that's last year's color and everyone is now into green.  I'm sticking with my orange groove.  Here's a newsflash - I did that green a really long time ago, so for me it's old news.

2013: The Year of the Big Merge

So I have spent the last week trying to recover from the entire holiday season.  I have also spent some time reading what I should say are some the very inspiring blogs, listing the zillion things they plan to accomplish in 2013.  The truth is, several made me think that many bloggers try a bit too hard to make their lives look perfect.  Really? My world is so far from that, it makes me laugh.  There are a few who keep it real and that I feel like I can relate to - mentioning panic attacks, kid's meltdowns, mommy meltdowns (smile), work/life balance, drinking a few glasses of wine or a few margaritas AND trying to work in DIY projects.  Yep, those are the bloggers I relate to and most enjoy.

While I do have a list for 2013 and it may be every bit as long as many others, I feel no need to stick my neck out there and commit to getting it all done.  In fact, when I woke up the 1st day of the year - miraculously without a hangover from the vodka martinis the night before - my first thought for 2013 was simply to be happy and make this "the year of the big merge".  Merging 2 households, some would think far too many children between us (we can't send them back now!) and 2 worlds.  That sounds like enough of a challenge to me. 

Stay tuned.  I'll do my best to keep you posted and try to get something accomplished to actually post....like maybe a room that's actually finished or finding the time to make my blog a bit more lovely. :) 

Another step closer - we now have a chandelier for the DR

Please don't die from shock, but since I had time off last week and was able to get some things actually done, I thought I would send out some news before I am knee deep into the holiday scene.

so, a sneak peek of a few elements of the DR will follow over the next few posts.  I would hate to have anyone think I am sitting on my ass doing absolutely nothing (as a few have suggested I might be doing!).

I absolutely hated this.  Just not my thing and reminded me of Key West, with a bad light kit:

So.....I dug around 1 of my storage bins and found a chandelier that I purchased some time ago at an auction.  One of those auctions where they serve alcohol to keep you bidding, which both my friend and I did.  I left with a chandelier, but she left with a chandelier, a beautiful rug and a VERY large gorgeous mirror. 

I had originally installed this in my last DR and when I sold the house, I had it taken down and stored thinking that someday I might just have a need for it.  So here is the before:



 

 

Looking in very sad shape after being stored and ignored for such a long time.

 

 

and now......ready for her close up!

 

 

At some point during this rub and buff project from hell, I started referring to it as "the bitch".  I think it was day 2 of 3 , when I decided I was losing brain cells due to the fumes.

 

But once hung and despite the fact that I had not had time to yet order some new gray shades, I could tell that I was liking it in the room that it was helping to morph it into a DR.

 

So sad that I had to put on the tattered old silk shades that also had been far too long in the storage bin.  The good news is that I found lovely gray dupioni silk shades at Ballards.  The bad news is they are priced at $21 each and I need a dozen.  Decided I would search online for something that might not be quite as expensive. Until then, the gross old ones stay put.

As luck would have it, I found some pretty gray shades at Tuesday Morning on a close out sale, for $2.20 per shade.  Now I did have to go to 3 different stores to get the quantity I needed - but I was a woman on a mission! I mean really $2.20 vs. $21. each.  They are not dupioni, but I am totally ok with that because I'm very happy with the savings, as well as the  overall look.  So......voila, it's done and I'm no longer referring to is as "the bitch".

 

Each step puts us a bit closer to actually having a DR we can enjoy.  Yipee!!



The DR wall treatment - the 1st step to a new room

My big goal for the month was to get the kitchen installed by Thanksgiving - done!  Now if I can just find time to put all the dishes back in the cupboards.  I decided while I had taken some time off the week of Thanksgiving, I would see how much I could do in the DR.  Mind you it was a pool table room, which was never used and looked like this:

There was a chair rail in the room, but it was just plain underneath.  The room has great proportions, it is big and has a lovely window seat.  So, after being inspired by so many blogs that show inexpensive wood treatments that look great once painted - I thought, what the heck, let's give it a try.  In progress, the cheapo wood treatment goes up:

We left the chair rail and the base trim and just added the thin 3" flat wood stripes in between the two.  It made the project go fast and fairly easy, that is after I did my math on each wall to determine what spacing would work on all of the walls.  And because I am on a stripe kick these days - some gray and white vertical stripes were added above the new wood treatment.

 

It looks really good and has completely transformed the room from a bit plain to something a bit more finished looking.  Confessions: 1) I was super motivated to get this room done because I had ordered DR furniture that arrived ahead of schedule and 2) I had the trim installed and the stripes painted by a pro.  No DIY on my part other than telling him what I wanted and walking in to see the finished end result....which I loved.  While I love the projects I do myself, my time is now extremely limited (aka kids, job, laundry and life!), it was very nice to walk into the room and just have the project done in a matter of a few days. 

 

My thought was - hmmmm, I wonder how many other bloggers have pros come in and poof - post the finished product.  I'll bet there are a few out there :)  At least I admit it.

Woo-hoo ...Progress on my Kitchen and DR goals!

When I look and see that my posts seem to be once a month, vs. several times a week or even daily, I always smile and think to myself, well that's pretty pathetic.  Then again, some bloggers post 1 event in the room at a time, like "I painted a door".  To each his/her own, but for some reason I want to post major progress.  So, I now actually have something to finally share.  My goal was to have the major work in the kitchen reno done by Thanksgiving and with a little luck, also some progress in the former man cave that will morph into a DR.

Kitchen progress first, however not remotely complete. Let me remind you of the slightly boring before shots:

And now some afters, right after the workers cleared out and before being styled.

 

 

Still missing a couple doors and without island finished or new sink installed.

 

 

 

And not that I had time to really style the room before Thanksgiving, I did at least throw a few things in the room....most importantly wine in the wine rack.

 

 

 

Dining Room progress tomorrow - feeling the need to pace myself.

 



Sometimes it's the little things in life

Ok, to my sister and a BFF who have heard me bitch about this since Sunday, you should be happy to hear that I am no longer super Target-pissed.  For all others - here's the story.  I had been waiting for Target to launch the Nate Berkus collection, because I wanted a pair of the black and white chevron ginger jars I had seen in the ads/hype.  All online information from Target said that the launch of items would be in stores on Oct 21st.  Fearing that they might quickly sell out - or crash their online system like their last big designer launch - I got up early on Sunday morning to hit Target when they opened.  Mind you, I also had to drag the twins, who had absolutely no interest in getting up early to go hit a Target so I could buy two "jars" (as they called them).  But I think I lured them out of bed and into the car by promising donuts :) and off we went.  I chose not to go to the closest Target because it's a small one, so I drove further to hit a Target Super Store.  I get to Target super early only to find that there was not a single Nate item in the store.  The employees barely knew about the launching of the line.  I even showed them on my Iphone the Target press release saying "in stores on Oct 21", which did me absolutely no good.   Grrrrrr!  I left the store with nothing and still had to get the promised donuts.  Let's just say I was not my typical Target loving self early Sunday morning.

Then I'm reading a blog on Monday and see them in the post.  More grrrrr!  They obviously launched the line as promised in some locations.

So, yesterday on my lunch break - I ran into my closest dinky Target to pick something up and guess what I happened to see? 

Ta-da:

 

 

Not in their permanent home yet - just plopped in the entry way for now.

 

 

And get this - there were only 2, which I took as a sign that God must have saved them just for me.  Or perhaps, it was meant to be a sign for me to remember that sometimes it's the little things in life that can indeed make you happy.

 



New Beginnings = New Projects

Since most recently I have had a few "what's up with your blog" comments - I thought I should send an update.  Yes, the summer flew by with twins out of school, summer travels, summer company, summer martinis and summer FUN.  I also started a new job (long overdue after all my long hiatus of fun and adventures) and between all of that, who in the hell has the time to blog?  Oh yeh, the hundreds and hundreds of bloggers, that I call Pro Bloggers, who somehow find the time to manage kids, houses, DIY projects and still find time to post!   Obviously I do NOT fall into that category, I am definitely a baby blogger.

Onward....to my decision/s on "new beginnings".  My work here on my current ugly duckling has come to a halt.  Jobs we decided to tackle are for the most part done.  Probably a good thing, since I have taken a new job and all new jobs seem to take a bit of extra time.  Then there's the whole working solo mom, how do I get it all done syndrome that I am still getting used to again.  Let's just say my house just isn't nearly as clean.  In fact, I don't even care and that's huge for me. 

But....drum roll please....there is a new ugly duckling waiting for me. Well it certainly isn't a baby ugly duckling, more of a teen-age duck that needs some TLC.  It could also be called a large man cave that needs the eye/touch of a woman. The Fabulous Mr. S proposed to me and it didn't take me long to say yes!  Mind you, we are the same 2 people who said we never planned to marry again. Hmmmmmm.....enough said.

So, with the proposal, he also gave his blessing to "do whatever you want to the house".  So, fabulous and BRAVE is he!  First up will be the kitchen which currently looks like this:

 

 

Good footprint but definitely drab.  Not that it matters to the Fab Mr S, as he never ever

cooks a meal in it. He merely passes through the room as he comes through the garage.

He eats every meal out.  So, let's say his specialty in the kitchen is making reservations.

Cabinetry and appliances are ordered and this renovation will begin in October. 

Can't wait to get started and see the completed project.

 

Next up after the kitchen:

 

 

The man cave pool room will morph into a DR.

Yep, after 3 martinis the Fab Mr S agreed to let the pool room go.

I'm not above pushing martinis to have someone see the light :)

 

The list of projects is long, but the bones in the home are great.  Good flow, good sized rooms and hey, a man that has given his blessing to make it something that makes me happy.  I'ld say you can't beat that offer.....I'm "all in".

 

So people, stay tuned for the new projects to begin. 

Cheers to new beginnings, new projects and a new life to share with someone FABULOUS!