Blind Frenzy

I was 100% set on white faux-wood plantation shutters for my first floor.  I KNOW that nice, white blinds would look good.  But then I saw some black blinds at Menards that piqued my interest, and then I found some cool Magic Blinds on Overstock.com that beckoned...and so now I have no idea what I want.  Something inexpensive... as I have 13 windows to cover.  I'm also drawn to the privacy and coziness that darker blinds would offer.

I picked up these options today from Lowes and Target.  I know that white would look crisp and would match.  But I wanted to try these ... I'm drawn to the naturalness of the colors and kind of have a South-Pacific thing in my head now after after seeing those black blinds.  Obviously, it was hard to get a good impression because I could only stick them in there at the halfway point... but tell me what you think.  And soon, because I need to make a decision by this weekend!!  The lighter color ones are "Honey-Maple" and were $23 per box.  The darker ones are Bali style and were $13 per box.  They are both 2inch slated blinds.

Lighter color #1

Lighter color #2

Darker color #1

Darker color #2

Both

 

I also picked up this picture last week (more Target), which I think is the perfect size to hang above the baker's rack in the kitchen.  Lurve the colors!  (PS click on this to enlarge the image.. it's kind of hard to see so small.  Make sure you hit backspace though, and don't exit out, otherwise it will close the entire page.)

Weekend Warrior

Worked alll dayyy on Saturday.  Both ceiling lights are replaced, the hood over the stove is removed, the wire in the wall is moved and a new plug is installed on the top of the cabinets, an over the range microwave is purchased, dimensions for the hole in the wall because of the heating and cooling change are cut and ready to go, the ceiling is put back together (the only bad thing is that it is still my ceiling ... :(...), the front room is cleared out, the front room has had all of the staples removed, front room is cleaned, clothes and shoes (or a small portion) are starting to be moved in, and I'm finally feeling like this joint will be livable by the coming weekend!

Also, I don't have a picture because it was kind of a pictureless kind of job, but I bought a plug from Menards and changed the cord on the stove from a 4-prong to a 3-prong and have a working stove now!!! (Part of me should be saying 'Darn' however, because I've lost a potential place to store shoes...).

This weekend was inclusive of many firsts, like: first time I've ever installed a receptacle for an outlet, first time I saw a living bug (and ew!  a spider!!) in my house (..and I was beginning to get worried, I mean, this house is HOW old and was abandoned (essentially) for a year and there weren't any bugs????), and first time I got in a fight with a married couple at Home Depot.  Explanation:  I bought the floor model microwave, thus it wasn't in a box.  After waiting a ZILLION years for a guy to come and help us (me and the nice lady who was helping me) take the microwave down from its display -- we decided to do it ourselves.  So, we lugged it down and balanced it across a cart.  While the lady went to find all of the installation parts, I went up to the front to pay for it; she told me to just leave it where it was and someone would bring it to the front and help me put it in my car.  After waiting for a few minutes, I went back to check on it and it was gone -- but the salespeople were there, baffled, because they thought I had come back to take it.  So what happened was a couple saw it in the cart (with no price tag mind you -- who just decides they want something with NO price tag on it??) and decided they wanted it.  I ran around the store until I found them to explain to them that I had already bought it, and they would NOT give it up.  I swear the guy was on steroids because he was about to rip me to shreds when I said, "Excuse me, hi, umm this is kind of awkward, but I actually already paid for that microwave ..."  Finally, a manager came over to my rescue and saved the day.

Here it is in all its glory.  I feel especially attached to this microwave now that I've had to fight for it.

Lights!  (PRETEND YOU CAN'T SEE THE DROPPED CEILING -- THANKYOUVERYMUCH!!!!)

Kitchen light -- got this from a garage sale on my way home from work last week for $5!

Free antique bed that I love and want to spray silver.

Bamboo buffet before.  Well, kind of before, I forgot to take one so I just quick snapped this while I was priming.  Btw, I used a can of Kilz spray primer (the odor covering one) and it was a breeze as I still can't feel the tip of my right forefinger.  Dang CO'SPS!! (Can-o-spray paint syndrome)

Hello closet!  Thank you for accommodating only 1/8 of my clothes!  Hello every single other closet in my house -- I'll be using you to house my wardrobe as well!! :)

 

Progress on Cabinets

My mom came out Friday to assist me with the finishing touches on the cabinets (the sides of them - you may have noticed that I hadn't painted the sides in past pictures).  She and my cousin and aunt have all successfully added wainscotting to the ends of the cabinets that adds to a custom feel.  I decided to do the same, but by using textured wallpaper.  The final, final touch will be add trim around the top.  Who knows when that will happen though -- I have much more 'pressing' issues to take care of (like blinds) before this weekend! (Move in weekend!)

Over spring break I bought a can of tester paint in a pretty light aqua color and have been dying to use it SOMEWHERE.  So, I figured since the front door needed to painted anyway, I'd try it there.  I really like it!  Then I found a cute welcome mat at Target for $10 that matches.  Target has the cutest stuff.

Mom working on the cabinets.

A picture from the side (sorry the lighting is so poor, that's kind of what happens when you depend on your phone as a camera!)

Setting up the furniture so that it looks like a room that could be lived in!  (Thank you to Nina for the lovely candle and picture frame!)

Front door in the breezeway (Don't mind the empty boxes, unpainted trim, etc...)

Mat

With the cute mat.

I Love Lamp

This lamp was a STEAL that I just couldn't pass up.  I bought it, took it home, and immediately put it together (just to make sure it wasn't too good to be true) and love it.

Sunday

Dad came out today and rehung the front door -- so the front door is no longer screwed shut and now locks.  I cleaned the appliances and floors for a bit, but we didn't stay at the house very long.  Instead, we headed over to my condo to enjoy white chicken chili for dinner - yummo.  Feeling a little concerned that there are a lot of small things to do before I move in ... all of those things on top of all of my grading and the next couple of weeks seems impossible.

Here's to a new week!  Plans for this week: purchase and hang blinds, finish painting trim on first floor, find vanity situation for bathroom, hook up plumbing in kitchen, research stove plugs to see if I can find an adapter for mine, research microwaves.

Ta-ta!

New (well, new to me) baker's rack in kitchen.

Dad rehanging the steel door.

All Trimmed Up

Sspent the afternoon painting the trim and cleaning/lining the cabinets.  It's really starting to pull together!  I do believe it will be livable (the first floor at least) in 12 days!  We stopped back over to the house after dinner because Mike cut and nailed the trim up this evening -- the lighting was dim and it's hard for me to take pictures on my phone in bad lighting, but I did my best.  Here's at least one side of the room, but you can get the idea.  This trim, but everywhere.  I used "Decorator White" semi-gloss against flat "Natural Linen" wall color.  I really like the contrast in person.

Appliances In

Yesterday after school my mom and Jon came out in a Budget truck (thank you again!) with my stove, fridge, and various other household/furniture items.  It's so exciting to see the appliances in the kitchen -- it's starting to feel like a real house :)  Unloading appliances into house??  What a task.  We had to take off the back door, hack off the door prop, cut the water line of the fridge in order to shimmy the fridge into the house.  The stove was easy compared to that -- but turns out my 100 old house doesn't have the updated stove plug-in hookup.  Go figure.  So I'll have to wait and fix that before I make any elaborate and gourmet dinners.

We left the furniture sitting all haphazard in the living room because trim is going in today.  The couch is still in GR because it's being fitted for a slipcover.  Have to buy the fabric for that still -- Duck fabric was recommended because it's thick (and I want a white silpcover to cover up bright yellow) and inexpensive. 

Feels like it's getting close!

Doors off of the fridge for move in purposes.

 Attaching the doors back onto the fridge.

Hello fridge!

Hello stove!

Weekly Visit #1

Hello blogworld!  I'm sorry to keep my followers waiting (eh eh Amy eh eh :) but I was out sick early this week (I even missed work!) with a sinus infection and haven't paid much attention to the house.  I did stop by on my way home tonight, however, because I picked up a set of lamps from a consignment shop and wanted to spray them white immediately :)  I also wiped down the bathroom tiles and took some beauteous pictures of the bathroom now WITH grout!

My brother really went out of his way on Monday, along with my mom, to help me secure a beautiful stainless steel fridge that I found on craigslist for a STEEL!  (Pun intended, of course.)  I'm hoping to get the appliances and big furniture (aka couch) out here this weekend.

Also, my friend Katie is preggers and turning her office into a nursery, and her old guest bedroom into a nursery -- so that means that I'll be able to snag her mattress and have a place to sleep!  Now we'll have to wait and see about the carpet ... I did talk with a friend after school today (he owns a carpet and flooring company) so he's now on the lookout for remnant pieces that will fit my space.  Fingers crossed.

Here are the lamps BEFORE:

And here they are after: (by the way my right pointer finger is actually still numb (not joking) from this intense spray painting process.  They could use one more coat to finish them off, but I ran out of paint.  I think with modern lampshades they will be really cool!

Here is my new firepit!  Perfect for the summer.  I bought it from a coworker :)  Thank you!

    *note to self: move new item that you are taking a picture of for your blog away from side of house and trash bin..


And here is the lovely, lovely, grouted bathroom.  Hello, toilet!

A close up of the accent tiles (I wish I could capture their true color: a very soothing, soft, milky aqua.

And a shot of the floor.  I guess I took this at a very strange angle!

Weekend

I didn't really have much time to work on the house this weekend.  I am so behind in my grading (although I figure it's only fair because I didn't assign any homework for my students over break!) and spent a large part of Saturday working on work stuff.  Cabinet doors are up ... and my dad picked up my steel door to see if he can't make it fit on Saturday ... and Mike was back to work on Sunday to grout the bathroom.  Counter-top is now attached and the toilet is hooked up.  Here's the one picture I have of the kitchen with some of the cabinets.  Progress will be slower from now on!  But I do have to be living here in about 2 1/2 weeks -- so it won't slow completely!

Day 8 - Are We Done Yet????

After such a long night last night, I didn't want to believe my phone when my alarm was going off.  But of course, it wasn't wrong.  So, got up and went to get coffee directly (and I'm not even a coffee drinker!) and get to work.  Heating and cooling people finished up today (this morning) which is wonderful because it no longer sounds like a plane is landing in my living room every time the furnace is on.  Before, the loud noise of the return air vent prohibited things like: talking, hearing phone ring, thinking, etc.  But now, all is well and it sounds like a normal house.  Is that what this week was all about?  Turning this odd little dwelling into something normal or livable?

True to form, the walls and ceiling are slightly uneven in the bathroom.  Making the tile job that much more difficult for me, my dad, and Mike.  Even though it was harder and takes more time, they did concede and tile the floor of the bathroom on an angle -- yay!!!! :)  The bathroom looks SO good -- I'm so happy with it.  I kept stepping back and looking at it during the day.  My phone simply doesn't do the colors justice.  Of course, the grout work isn't in yet (save that for Sunday funday) but I chose a really light grout (almost white) to keep the bathroom light... fresh... and bathroomy.  I can't wait to see the final product.

I was terrible at taking pictures today.  I didn't get any of the work in progress or my dad outside on the tile cutter. (Worst day for using a tile cutter in cold water outside .. there was snow on my car this morning.)

Cabinets are coated and sanded twice with Polycrylic -- I will probably do one final coat when they are hanging.  I'm still worried that they are too 'soft'.  We'll see.  I suppose the fact that I desired a weathered look will aid in the event of a nick or scratch.

Another plus today was that I got to take back extra flooring and underlay --- it's always nice to get some money back!  The BEST part was that by the time I returned the floor they went on sale even more than what I paid -- so they price adjusted my entire purchase.  Ballin'....

Lots of work left -- like screwing all of the cabinets to the walls (although my dad did some of those) and trim etc ... but I am starting to feel like moving in and being able to live on the first floor in two weeks isn't a crazy idea.  We got a lot of the big stuff done over break.

Materials for tiling? Check.

Mike relaxing in the tub.

Shower!

Puuuurrrrrrdy bathroom.  You can still see the spacers ... remember it's not grouted yet.

I also took pictures of the floor because I didn't really get any good ones from the day before.
Kitchen:

Living room.

Day 7 - Hello Beautiful Hardwood Floors! Don't Mind If I Do!

Today was LOOONNGG.  The longest workday yet.  Mike and I stayed until 11:30 to get the floors completed.  So, that's why I didn't post last night.  Mom and Luke came out again to help which I was again grateful for.  More coats of paint on the cabinets and practice with the gel-stain on spare cabinet doors and I was ready to make the plunge.  I'm worried still that the paint isn't going to be as durable because it isn't oil-based.  They don't make oil-based anymore!  Ugh!  Top coats of Polycrylic on Friday.

And the floors look fabulous!  I'm so happy with them!  I accidentally bought the uber-expensive underlay (which we kept in the kitchen) so it was nice to get to the store and actually return something to HD for less money.  It's usually the opposite.  So the kitchen feels like you're walking on a pillow :)

The only glitch of the day (besides working all day) was that when we laid the new flooring down, the front door, made of steel, wouldn't close (and risked scratching my beautiful new floor!).  You can't cut steel down to size, so we were off to HD to price out exterior doors made of wood.  Turns out they don't carry them anymore, but I had the option of ordering one for the affordable price of $280!  We then zipped over to Habitat for Humanity Re-store and got one with 3 window panes for a whopping $18.  Love that place.

We wanted to get started on the tiling today, but the furnace was off all night and the drywall didn't dry.  On that note, the heating and cooling people worked all day (almost done) which is great because they won't have to cut through the floors later.  They've laid the new vents so we could cut around them.  Cutting a zillion times on the table saw isn't in my top ten favorite things of all time to do...

I have bruises on my hips from carrying these bad boys up the steps at Becky and Mike's and into the truck for transport.  They are HEAVY!

Classy subfloor in the kitchen.

Laying down the first pieces!

Me making the cuts for the wood floor.  This got tedious, but I got really good at it!

Taking measurements.  (Read: I learned how to read a tape measure.)

Here's a shot of the kitchen!  By the time we were done, it was too dark for my camera phone to work :(  But you get the idea.  This, but everywhere!

Don't mind me, just keeping the toilet in the kitchen.  Hey, better than the front yard!

Luke adjusting the space to fit my $18 door.  Bringing this door home from the store was hilarious.  The store is only 2 minutes away, so we shoved it in the back of my little car and bungee cord/mom hangs on to it the whole way home to keep it from slipping out.  It was arguably the windiest day of 2010 in GH and I hit about 3 curbs on our way out of the parking lot!!! (So uncharacteristic of me -- those of you who are aware of my superb driving skills!)

Cabinets are getting close!  It's funny how much time and effort one can put into making something look antiqued and abused.