Updating the light fixtures was a given when we bought this house. The style fit the Tuscan theme the previous owners had going but not the light and contemporary open look we want. The kitchen pendants are one of the first things you see no matter where you enter the living area so they are front and center. Change was due! It was fairly easy to decide the basics. Like how many pendants and how they were spaced. The current three pendants were well balanced for good task lighting. One is directly above the deep sink and the other two are equally spaced on either side and light the center of the counter below. Keep that. But we needed to change the height at which the pendants were hung. They measured 40 inches from the countertop to the bottom of the light base. ... [Read More]
makeovers
New Home — Week 40 Update
It's been quite a while since I've shared a peek of the projects going on as we make this house our home. Here's just a few of the things we've been doing. . . * means a tutorial will follow. Eventually :-) While there was still snow on the ground, we added some rugs to the tile floor. This one is in dining room and looks like the one in the back entry. It's a fun contemporary pattern. The big front entry rug uses the same colors but in a more traditional pattern. I've had a difficult time finding curtains. These lined tab top curtains* are made from tablecloths! We also began a big project in the fully finished basement, adding a wall of built-ins* to the game room and a bigger one in the media room. This one in the game room is almost finished and the storage is in ... [Read More]
Garage Entry Reveal
We’ve spent quite a bit of time on the garage entry. Why?? Well . . . . .the garage entry is visible from the living room and several other places in the house. It is the place we most often use to enter our home, the passage way to storage and trash disposal and most importantly, Wheels kingdom in the garage. Our coats and outdoor gear are stored in the closet on one side and the other side has a drop zone cupboard and bench. It’s multifunctional and gets used a lot! For such an itty bitty space, it has a big impact. As we made first one change and then another, I realized they fit into three inter-related categories. We wanted this space to be 1) Functional 2) Good looking 3) A supporting player that does not draw attention to itself. Since we are making this house “ours”, this ... [Read More]
New Home Update: Painter’s Progress Week 19
This time last year, I was finishing the design for the new home we were going to build. We loved the design and the details, but other important things – like the builder and the right land -- just weren’t coming together. A few months later, we found this house on the third “shopping trip” 1000 miles from our Ohio home. (Thanks so much to my patient, hospitable and helpful sisters and families for their help and support!!!!) It was quite similar to the design we had planned -- except we wanted a big front porch. Instead of building a new house, we’ve been painting this one. Probably could have built a new house in the same amount of time :-) But we are done with the big paint projects. Happy dance! Here's what we've done most recently: Wheels is putting a coat of primer on the ... [Read More]
New Home Update: Week 11
New Home updates: Changing colors Solar tubes Painting Progress Home Update Week 7 Home Update Week 11 Week 19 Painter’s Progress New Home Update Week 22 There have been a number of pictures tested here in the front hallway-- just to see if they "sing". This one has lasted the longest. The colors are very intense, but remind us of a particular wooded path we liked to walk in the Ohio fall. Maybe it's the piece for this spot -- maybe not. The house hasn't "sung" yet -- just nodded. :-) Choirs sang when we added the demilune table, though! (Love that word - French for half moon!) It was our first purchase from Wayfair. As soon as we saw the picture on line, we both said "perfect" and it is. The grandfather clock was cramped everywhere else we put ... [Read More]
House update – week 7
We’ve been concentrating on covering the walls with paint. And being able to find the things we need daily. Like clothes, food and important papers. This bit of wall décor managed to escape from its box. As soon as I saw it lying on the basement floor, I knew where it belonged. Above the dining room door to the deck! It makes me happy, happy, happy. Our big accomplishment this past week has been to finish this two story wall along the steps to the lower level. Almost. The niche needs another coat of SW Biscuit. Fun contortions - especially painting the sides with a roller on a five foot long handle. See that line of terra cotta at the top next the white ceiling? No idea how we are going to paint the ceiling and that strip of wall above the steps themselves. If only we could ... [Read More]
