After the Storm....

Much has happened in the past few months. To be totally honest I feel as though I have weathered a storm.  A kitchen renovation is a lot to endure with a family. Despite careful planning and consideration things just seem to go wrong.  Appliances and cabinets re-ordered, sinks returned and changed, tile repairs,  pot lights that just won't click in (darn you god of lights!!). But here I am now with a fully functional, shiny new, pretty kitchen.  There are just a few small jobs remaining.  We made it.  We survived. And we still love each other. Just in time for Christmas.

I managed to solve my busy-body needs by working on our dining room while we waited on kitchen re-orders and Mike worked on all the ensuite jobs that would allow us to replace our living room ceiling below (disaster described in a previous post).  I primed and painted walls, crown and trim, added a chair rail, scraped more popcorn ceilings and voila..... a lovely little dining room remained. I am seriously contemplating adding some stencilling to the upper walls like they did in the Young House Love blog.  Great blog. Love it. It's right up there with Cozy Cottage Cute.

Lastly, I am currently sitting in my sitting room which now has a ceiling and painted walls and trim (imagine that!).  It also has one pot light that just won't click in (ahhhrg). I am looking at my Christmas tree in the the front window- the very same one I imagined in my head about 8 months ago before we moved in. I imagined right. I love it. And this cozy room gives me a place of my own to sit and relax, google, shop on-line, blog, etc.

I'm working on finding and posting before and after pics of my house. They are at about #10 on my massive list of things to do.  You know that list that never ends?  I'm sure you have one too.

What happened?

How have I fallen off the blog wagon so quickly?  I just started...seriously.....geesh. Well I guess all this kitchen planning has consumed all my energy.  We finally ordered the cabinets last week. Woohoo!

So I settled on mission style creamy white uppers and taupey grey lowers- all from the Martha Stewart line at Home Depot. All those details... selecting trim and crown and pull outs, where to put the drawers, etc.  It took longer and more thought than I would have ever guessed but with such a big purchase and commitment it seemed essential to get it RIGHT. Can't wait to see them.

We found a great and inexpensive floor (12x24 porcelain) that I plan to lay in a herringbone pattern (a la Sarah Richardson- genius- love her). Bulk heads are coming out, pot lights going in, new appliances all ordered- we are in good shape.

Since I'm so fidgety I asked Mike to put in some potlights for me in our formal living room. It was supposed to be simple and I dreamed of having one pretty room all neat and tidy and shiny new while we wait to start the kitchen reno. I scraped the popcorn ceilings (MESS), carefully plastered and sanded and picked out wall paint. I came home from work on a Friday excited to see my new potlights and found the ceiling ripped out and my hardwoods looking a bit soggy.
Here's what I learned:
Retrofit pot lights + extra long drill bit through joists + plumbing drain in the way  = potential disaster.

So let's just say my living room is not looking too formal... and we are now working on the ensuite bathroom directly above said ripped out ceiling. Maybe things happen for a reason- I do LOVE the tub I found.  Check it out- google MAAX Lounge freestanding tub. Spa-licious!

Camouflage

The verdict is in folks... the first paint colour chosen for my home on Willowbrook is... Camouflage by Benjamin Moore. I feel a little guilty that I had it colour matched with Behr flat enamel but I really LOVE Behr paint. It handles so well, not sticky or greasy, and I feel like I'm giving my walls a facial every time I use it. I do love you Benjamin Moore, you have such great style, but lets be practical.
This was one of the worst rooms in that it needed the most work. I have scraped and plastered the ceilings, painted them, sanded and painted all the trim except for the wooden window trim, which surprises me to say, I kinda like.
Every time I do it, I remember that I really hate painting ceilings. Is there a way not to get completely covered in plaster dust while sanding? I think not.
I painted the edging last night with a piece of a paint brush, yes, a piece. I have these enviro paint brushes from Home Depot - you can switch the brush and wash them easily, so yesterday I bought a new one knowing I'd be using three different paints. Well, the darn thing didn't fit. Apparently they have changed sizes or brands recently. How "enviro" is that? Now I have to buy another handle and throw out my old one when the brushes wear out. Irritating.
So off I go to my weekend life of drinking coffee and painting. See ya.

One room down.....

Tonight I scraped 22 year old popcorn ceilings- yuck. But.... What a difference a smooth ceiling makes- suddenly the ceiling seems higher. It was messy and tomorrow I need to do some touch up plastering and sanding but then on to paint! My favorite- nothing is more gratifying than turning ugly old walls into something fresh and great looking. Actually I haven't picked the paint yet but I am one step closer to my first before and after pics. Loving the new house though there are still boxes everywhere. Stay tuned!

Two more sleeps

Two more sleeps in this house. I'm not fully packed but almost there. Props to my mom for taking my daughter for the weekend for us. I'm planning some serious carpet cleaning and organizing. I'll feel better when we're all settled with beds made.
Walked through the pretty yard again yesterday- can't wait.
Sea grass paint, you're my new best friend.

Excuse me... I said sunshine

Why oh why when I finally felt motivated to get out and finish my two Aberfoyle chairs is the weather not cooperating? I think it's a sign. I was thinking of painting them cloud white but maybe I should reconsider something like that retro aqua color of all kitchens in 1950. I'm not joking, I love that color. I just don't think it will do in my dining room that I plan to paint in Tiffany blue, like Peter Fallico's Home to Flip. Love love love that little house. I plan to steal shamelessly from his ideas. I just hope HGTV on demand does not stop playing the final episode anytime soon. I may need it as a reference in the next few months.
I guess I'll do some packing- boo.

TGIF

Its been a long week!
Stopped at Home Sense on my way home from work and purchased 4 new towels for the new house and a cream colored quilted bed skirt (been looking forever!) and the big find- 4 Denby ramekins for our discontinued set at $5 each- woohoo, score!
Looking forward to moving next week, one last weekend of packing. All the summer yard furniture is out in stores now- need to find some so we can fully enjoy our new backyard with flagstone patio and all. Can't wait.
One more week of visioning before I can get to work cleaning up our new place. Maybe I should think about finishing some of my painted furniture projects this weekend if the weather stays nice- maybe some sanding in the sunshine is a good idea.
Did you know there is a wait list for pinterest- what's up with that?