Starting at the Top!

In other words, we've decided that our next project is finishing one of the attic rooms!

Here's what it looked like during the home inspection before we moved in...

Some good things...

-The framing for the knee wall was already in place. 

-Half of the big old floor boards were already pulled up (we're saving these for use in the new kitchen!)  If you remember, underneath that floor insulation is where all of those corn cobs are located!

"Storage" side of attic

But, there's lots of work to be done...

-You can't tell by the above photos, but we had to clear it out.  After moving in, it has accumulated quite a bit!  We've moved everything over to the other side of the attic- it's a disaster over there!  But I'll sort that out later... and I have a pile ready for a yard sale this summer.  

-Mike started by pulling down the horizontal boards that were nailed up on each end.  They were kind of a hodge podge up there.

-He checked all of the roof framing, and bolstered where it was needed. 

I'm hoping it will be done by January, but as we found out with the bathroom renovation timeline, I really can't tell until we get a master list going and assign deadlines (taking into account family commitments, activites, etc!)

But, I think we're off to a pretty good start!

Upstairs Hallway Artwork

Back in May, I posted about the little sillhouttes we had done at the Magic Kingdom.  I finally got around to painting the frames and hanging them up!
I put them in the upstairs hallway at the top of the stairs...

But then it seemed weird that the rest of the hallway didn't have anything on the walls!  I've been wanting a couple of those frames that are on hinges, making it easy to display and swap kids' school work in & out.  When I saw them at Christmas Tree Shop, I couldn't resist and got four of them...

Yes- the vine stencils were here when we moved in... no, they aren't staying!

The walls in this hallway are in pretty bad shape.  

There's wallpaper under the paint, and the plaster under the paper isn't smooth.  So, once we rip the paper down, we'll need to get someone in to do a skim coat (after the foyer & bathroom projects, Mike's had enough with the DIY skim coats... just easier & quicker to have the professionals handle!)

Here's the artwork we currently have hanging- but I'm planning to swap them out seasonally.  I designated one vertical & one horizontal frame to each boy...

It's nice to have a place to hang the school art work.  And since their bedrooms are right off this hallway, it seems like an appropriate place to display it!

I also like that the frames are deep, so I can use them for their 3D artwork (like the glue & purple sand project on the bottom left) that usual frames would smoosh.

I might label the bottom of each frame with the kids' names.  I'll see what I can find the next time I'm in a craft store!

Light Fixture Deals!

Recently we made a run to the ReStore.

(Details on a new project will be coming next week!)

While we were there, we also checked out the lighting fixtures.

I had been eyeing this one when my mom & I were here about a month ago.  

I even took this picture to show Mike...

It was marked at $175- which we thought was a great deal.

Similar 12-bulb candle chandeliers like this and this were in the $500-$800 range.

Mike wasn't quite as convinced.  He wanted to see it in person.

Lucky for us, it was still there!

And even better... It was marked down to $75!!!!  Woohoo!

I didn't even have to convince Mike!

We plan to use it in the new dining room (after the kitchen extension is built), 

so for now it's up in storage.  

I love that it goes so well with the real antique candelabra that we have hanging in the family room...

Here's the second fixture we bought... another great price at $25!

I was searching for one to put in the attic hallway.

Here's what we have now- a dinky, modern, brass flush mounted light... 

This new light fixture we'd like centered over the stair well 

(approx. where that big chipped paint area is on the left of the photo!)   

I think that'll look much better, as well as provide more light on the stairs.

We had the electrician in on Sunday and he's working on the estimates.

It will probably be a while until the light gets installed, since there are several electrical projects we'd like to have done all at once...  Mostly related to that new project I was talking about!

Kitchen Refresh

With our kitchen renovation plans on hold, I couldn't take it any longer... I decided we would rip down the old wallpaper & paint the kitchen.  I figured it would be a quick & cheap way to refresh the room while we're waiting to start the real renovation!

Mom took down the wallpaper on her last visit (Yup- the woman travels with her own steamer!)  Then I spent the next weekend spackling & painting.  I must say, it all came together pretty quickly (took me longer to get arount to snapping the photos than it did for the whole project!)

Here are the Befores & Afters...

The Eating Area:

Prior to us moving in

Holding pattern

AFTER

We had the tan paint left over from the Dining Room.  I was considering the gray we used in the foyer & hallway, but my mom suggested the DR paint color instead- since the linoleum floor is a creamy tan.  She was right!

 

The tulip print we got on our honeymoon in Australia.  The colors tied in nicely, & the frame matches the corner seat.

On the right is a wrapped canvas. I took the pic  of us in our rain boots at last year's Easter Egg Hunt & added our last name to the center.  It will eventually go in our back entryway.

From the Dining Room doorway:

Prior to move in

Holding Pattern

AFTER

The curtains I got on sale for $5!  The window facing the backyard is very narrow & caused the curtain to look frilly.  So, I trimmed it, for a more tailored look.

<-- The flower hook hanging next to the window holds aprons.  I love the blue accent it provides.

From the Hall Doorway:

Prior to moving in

AFTER

Painting the bottom of the peninsula made a huge difference & lightened up the whole room!

AFTER

View from the table-->

I didn't paint the bottom cabinets on the far side of the kitchen... taking off the doors & everything would be more work than I could get done in a weekend!  

But I might do that next... I'm also thinking I may paint the fan blades... not sure yet!

The Fridge Corner:

Prior to move in

Holding Pattern

AFTER

We got the new fridge last July, but had an ugly cabinet next to it for food storage.  I rearranged the other kitchen cabinets and decided to move our bakers rack in from the back porch. It's another oldie but goodie (we got it for our first apartment back in 2001!)








I was a little hesitant about the open shelves concept for our dishes, but now am loving it.  It makes emptying the dishwasher a breeze!

The baskets look nice AND are functional (great for hiding chips and cookies... shh!)

The top of the fridge got some too!









Stove/Sink area:

AFTER

I didn't do too much over here.  Just painted the little bit of exposed wall, the moulding, the radiator cover, and added the curtain.

I still need to get some new screening for the radiator cover.

My favorite new accessory over here is the glug jug...








So, that's where the kitchen is now!
It's far (very far) from perfect... but feels so much more fresh & clean.

One more side-by-side...

Got our Goats!

Today was the big day- our baby goats (introduced here) were ready to come home!

We brought them home... the leashes/collars are way still big, but we figured they'd give us a little control!

They were introduced to our old goat... luckily he doesn't seem to mind them too much!

Showed them into their new yard... they were kind of intrigued by their neighbors!

 The boys played with them all day, to make sure they were doing okay...

They are so funny how the prance & jump around!

They seem to be happy, and are steering pretty clear of our old goat.  

Which I think is a good thing, while they get to know each other!