I've decided that if we end up staying in this house I'd like to do a kitchen renovation similar to this one off of Urban Grace Interiors. I'm seriously inspired by it! And I especially love that she was able to use the same cabinetry in relatively the same place to achieve her makeover. In our own kitchen, we would also knock down the wall between the kitchen and the dining room and extend the counter space and cabinetry where the wall used to be to form an L-shape design, or what I like to call a "peninsula".
A girl can dream, right?
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Still Making Changes
With our house on the market, we've been cleaning, finishing up projects and trying to get used to living in a depersonalized house. At least this is only temporary whether we end up moving or staying.
The other day we decided that the black dishwasher amidst the white appliances and cabinetry in the kitchen was a huge eye sore. It only took us 2 years to change things! So, I picked up a white dishwasher (Craig's List!) and Daniel installed it a couple of days ago. I think it made a big difference and we now have a better dishwasher to use!
BEFORE
AFTER
As you can see, the white dishwasher doesn't quite match the color of our kitchen cabinets, and because I love to paint and our cabinets needed a little refreshing anyway...I decided to paint them!
I first painted the trim Benjamin Moore's White Dove. Then I painted the cabinets Dover White by Pratt & Lambert, which I got it at Pleasant's Hardware.
AFTER
AFTER
I don't like the way the second picture turned out-- it's really dark-- but you get the idea!
I almost went with different paint colors for the uppers and lowers, but since we're trying to depersonalize the house I ended up going with a look most people would like. Because I had to take off all the hardware to paint the cabinets, doors, and drawers, I took the opportunity to replace the hinges (before they were an antique brass/bronze) so they matched the bin pulls. Along with that, I moved the bin pulls by using wood filler and then making new holes so that they would be perfectly centered in the middle. It was definitely extra work, but I'm glad I did it.
The other day we decided that the black dishwasher amidst the white appliances and cabinetry in the kitchen was a huge eye sore. It only took us 2 years to change things! So, I picked up a white dishwasher (Craig's List!) and Daniel installed it a couple of days ago. I think it made a big difference and we now have a better dishwasher to use!
BEFORE
AFTER
As you can see, the white dishwasher doesn't quite match the color of our kitchen cabinets, and because I love to paint and our cabinets needed a little refreshing anyway...I decided to paint them!
I first painted the trim Benjamin Moore's White Dove. Then I painted the cabinets Dover White by Pratt & Lambert, which I got it at Pleasant's Hardware.
AFTER
AFTER
I don't like the way the second picture turned out-- it's really dark-- but you get the idea!
I almost went with different paint colors for the uppers and lowers, but since we're trying to depersonalize the house I ended up going with a look most people would like. Because I had to take off all the hardware to paint the cabinets, doors, and drawers, I took the opportunity to replace the hinges (before they were an antique brass/bronze) so they matched the bin pulls. Along with that, I moved the bin pulls by using wood filler and then making new holes so that they would be perfectly centered in the middle. It was definitely extra work, but I'm glad I did it.
Monday, July 20, 2009
On the Move
We're moving...or at least attempting to move! The "for sale" sign is out in the yard, and we're waiting for that one special buyer (if he/she exists right now). Three weeks ago, we had no intention of moving from this home, but we found a house in the Fan area of Richmond that we love.
The Fan is an area within the city of Richmond just north of the James River. Nearly all the houses are row houses (including the one we're looking at) and built in the early 1900s. This Fan home is a great deal, but does need some work so there will be lots of blogging going on if we move! We're now just waiting to see what happens with our house as to how we should proceed.
The name "The Fan" comes from the the way the streets "fan" off one another (off Park Avenue). The house we're looking at is close to the corner of Strawberry Street and Park Avenue.
If you know anyone looking for a home, please send them our way!
We'll keep you updated!
The Fan is an area within the city of Richmond just north of the James River. Nearly all the houses are row houses (including the one we're looking at) and built in the early 1900s. This Fan home is a great deal, but does need some work so there will be lots of blogging going on if we move! We're now just waiting to see what happens with our house as to how we should proceed.
The name "The Fan" comes from the the way the streets "fan" off one another (off Park Avenue). The house we're looking at is close to the corner of Strawberry Street and Park Avenue.
If you know anyone looking for a home, please send them our way!
We'll keep you updated!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Progress in the Attic
So, I've decided I'm not the best blogger. I tend to completely finish a project before I post instead of giving you the daily/weekly update as we're working. Regardless, we've finished the attic and we're ready to show you the finished product!
New window seat
Ready to paint...
There's a new coat of paint on the window seat, but now we've made a mess on the floor.
We decided that the bathroom floor looked pretty bad, so we started by moving the claw foot tub to pull the tiles up behind it...
And when we did, we realized that the 3 boards closest to the wall were rotted. We pulled them up (with our bare hands-- that's how rotted they were) and replaced them.
Pulling the old vinyl tiles up was a mess. They were laid in the 60s when there was no such thing as adhesive vinyl tile, so the folks put down tar paper and stuck them to that! This is a picture of the floor after the tile was pulled up. Any remaining tar had to be scraped up in order to put new tile down. Yuck!
So...here it is! We'll start from the bottom of the stairs and go up...
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
This is a little curtain I made to divide the living area from the storage since there's no door there currently.
BEFORE
AFTER; Finished window seat; newly painted ceiling, walls and floor; and a seating area to play games to the right.
BEFORE
AFTER; My sewing machine and shelving are on the other side of the room.
BEFORE
AFTER; New flooring in the bathroom!
New window seat
Ready to paint...
There's a new coat of paint on the window seat, but now we've made a mess on the floor.
We decided that the bathroom floor looked pretty bad, so we started by moving the claw foot tub to pull the tiles up behind it...
And when we did, we realized that the 3 boards closest to the wall were rotted. We pulled them up (with our bare hands-- that's how rotted they were) and replaced them.
Pulling the old vinyl tiles up was a mess. They were laid in the 60s when there was no such thing as adhesive vinyl tile, so the folks put down tar paper and stuck them to that! This is a picture of the floor after the tile was pulled up. Any remaining tar had to be scraped up in order to put new tile down. Yuck!
So...here it is! We'll start from the bottom of the stairs and go up...
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
This is a little curtain I made to divide the living area from the storage since there's no door there currently.
BEFORE
AFTER; Finished window seat; newly painted ceiling, walls and floor; and a seating area to play games to the right.
BEFORE
AFTER; My sewing machine and shelving are on the other side of the room.
BEFORE
AFTER; New flooring in the bathroom!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Icing on the Cake
Curtains finish a room like icing on a cake.
My mom made window treatments for our kitchen, living room and master bedroom-- the last rooms that needed curtains in our house. My parents were in town this past weekend, so they brought and hung the treatments for us and they look amazing! My mom is really talented.
The Living Room
Before
After
The fabric is Kauffman's Slubby Linen in "Wheat".
The hardware is wood with a bronze color finish.
The Master Bedroom
Before
After; chocolate brown, green and ivory stripes. I would still like to add drapery panels to the windows, but we could also leave it just like this with Roman shades.
The Breakfast Nook & Kitchen
Before
After
After
My mom made window treatments for our kitchen, living room and master bedroom-- the last rooms that needed curtains in our house. My parents were in town this past weekend, so they brought and hung the treatments for us and they look amazing! My mom is really talented.
The Living Room
Before
After
The fabric is Kauffman's Slubby Linen in "Wheat".
The hardware is wood with a bronze color finish.
The Master Bedroom
Before
After; chocolate brown, green and ivory stripes. I would still like to add drapery panels to the windows, but we could also leave it just like this with Roman shades.
The Breakfast Nook & Kitchen
Before
After
After
Attic Update #1
The attic is coming along nicely, but more slowly than I imagined. It's been a lot of work, and it's been so hot here lately that I can't stay up there all afternoon because I'm too hot.
We did make some great progress this past weekend while my parents were in town. Daniel and my dad built a window seat around the duct work on the far side of the room in the attic. It took them nearly all of Saturday, but it looks awesome!
Here's a quick tour of our updates:
Going up the stairs...
I painted the left side of the wall Benjamin Moore's Linen White (my fav) and the vertical risers on the steps white to match the trim.
New window seat; I still need to sand, paint and add trim to give it a more finished look.
It's about 16" high and 24" deep. My mom is making a window seat cushion that will cover the top and make it more comfortable.
"To Do" List in the Attic:
1. Finish painting trim
2. Hang bamboo shades
3. Finish window seat
4. Make a curtain for the adjoining room
5. Prime and paint the floor
We did make some great progress this past weekend while my parents were in town. Daniel and my dad built a window seat around the duct work on the far side of the room in the attic. It took them nearly all of Saturday, but it looks awesome!
Here's a quick tour of our updates:
Going up the stairs...
I painted the left side of the wall Benjamin Moore's Linen White (my fav) and the vertical risers on the steps white to match the trim.
New window seat; I still need to sand, paint and add trim to give it a more finished look.
It's about 16" high and 24" deep. My mom is making a window seat cushion that will cover the top and make it more comfortable.
"To Do" List in the Attic:
1. Finish painting trim
2. Hang bamboo shades
3. Finish window seat
4. Make a curtain for the adjoining room
5. Prime and paint the floor
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Gardening
I just love being out in the yard. One day I was telling Daniel how much I like spending time outside doing yard work, and he said, "I know; you've already told me that several times today!" Well, my hard work in the fall is starting to pay off as tulips, hyacinth, daffadils, and hostas begin coming up. I'm so excited about my hydrangea bushes. We didn't have any when we moved in the summer of 2007, and thanks to some cuttings from a neighbor, a clearance at Lowe's and two splurges, I now have 12 plants. They're small, but I'm hoping in a few years I'll have some beautiful bushes with lots of blooms!
Tomato and pepper plants, raspberry plant, pot of herbs (cilantro, parsley and basil)
Cherry tomato plant
Hydrangeas
I was hoping for more vibrant blue, pink and green hues, but I guess I'll have to work on that!
I had to put a fence around the plants because Shiloh has a tendency to just plow right into them!
Hydrangea, purple cone flower, yellow wildflowers
Tomato and pepper plants, raspberry plant, pot of herbs (cilantro, parsley and basil)
Cherry tomato plant
Hydrangeas
I was hoping for more vibrant blue, pink and green hues, but I guess I'll have to work on that!
I had to put a fence around the plants because Shiloh has a tendency to just plow right into them!
Hydrangea, purple cone flower, yellow wildflowers
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