Pottery Barn February 8, 2010

I remember the first time I heard those words I thought about a giant flea market with clay pots everywhere. Really? People are so interested in THAT?! After moving to the metro, I quickly was introduced to the store and its products. And the truth is, I like their style. It’s country meets modern in mass quantity, for a high price. We did buy a coffee table from there one time and were a little disappointed in the quality. It seemed to get banged up pretty quick and the drawer was on a plastic rail that broke almost immediately. I guess we could’ve tried to return it, but what a hastle to return furniture! So I reeled through the PB website today and picked out a few things that I would love to furnish my living room with.

The square arms on this couch would juxstapose with the curves of the antique French chairs I just bought. And I love the white slipcover because it is so fresh and breezy.

 

This gorgeous rug would grace the floor.

 

I don't know why this appeals to me so much, but I like the simplicity and natural materials. Maybe it's the airy quality?

 

I might have a country side table with some magazines stashed underneath.

I don’t know why that image was microsize….

Pretty curtains would be nice too.

 

Oh, and some big woven baskets hanging around to catch the kid's stuff that ends up in the living room.

 

Sometimes it’s just fun to daydream. Well, back to reality. I have been working on the staircase since we ripped off the carpet. Originally, I was thinking that I would stain the stairs the same dark floor stain, but gosh, doesn’t everyone do that? And there was no way the beat up pine treads were going to come close to resembling the new oak floors, so I got creative. I painted the treads dark grey and the risers a creamy white.

 

Rug Update February 7, 2010

Thanks for everyone’s feedback regarding the rugs. After some thought, I did not go with any of these options because they fell into the $500-700 price range. I found a more affordable option at a local store for $350 AND it is made of wool, so I didn’t have to compromise the quality. I also went with darker rather than lighter, because this is in a dining room with food falling on it. I want to be practical so that I am not hating the stained rug by next year.

 

 

 

And also the new paint color in the foyer, since it rivaled a cave.

As you can see, the freezing weather crept up on us too fast and we never stained the floors in here yet. When it warms up, we will resand these floors and finish them.

 

Another view. We also need to tackle all the trim work in the foyer, dining and living rooms.

Walk the Plank November 15, 2009

We will be walking the plank for the next few days as we work on the floors in the foyer. Right now, as I type, I hear the pounding of the hammer building the plank taht will go from the bottom stair into the dining room. Believe me, I know that in reality, there are still going to be footprints on the new finish. Anyway, the simple project has been turned into a Cubscout activity for #1. He likes sawing and measuring. Good thing, too. Because apparently, that is what we are all about.

 

 

 

I also realized that I never posted any pictures of our fall season! It is gorgeous here in the fall. About half of the leaves have already fallen, but it is still a beautiful display of God’s amazing art.

 

Putty (mispelled and corrected for my mom) October 23, 2009

That is some weird stuff. It’s sorta like sawdust foam, sorta like sand, sorta like play-doh. And then it dries to the crunchy, crusty stuff that trails all over the house. The kids and I had the job of filling nail holes today(which I sunk into the wood). #2 and #3 (yeah, can you believe it?) moved all the leftover wood from the living room to the kitchen for the time-being.

 

And for those of you who are wondering what possessed me to allow #2 to touch a bucket of puddy- it was over before it started. He was fired after the first two handfuls of puddy.

 

Here's what #3 was doing. That thing on the floor is a little clay dinosaur that #1 made in 1st grade. She is absolutely TERRIFIED of that thing and will scream bloody murder if you even think about putting it near her. I set it one the floor and she actually walked up to it. She thinks it is real.

 

A close up of the clay dinosaur. Not too scary.

 

And Husband finished laying wood the foyer the other night. It looks so awesome, especially next to the french doors.

 

 

 

Thought I would add this other pic of Husband and #3. It is so cute of them!

 

And also, #1 decided that I needed a break after this week of work, so he made dinner- french toast and eggs.

I know what you're thinking- but there wasn't any Windex in the toast that I know of.

Step it up October 15, 2009

Some more demo happened this week. This time it was the stairs. Actually, it wasn’t too bad. I just ripped the carpet and tacks off of one step at a time and cut back the carpet with a utility knife. Each day the kids would come home from school to see another two or three steps exposed. Even with nail holes and tack marks- they already look a whole lot better than the dirty carpet.

It is totally acceptable to work in your pajamas. Any contracter would agree.

 

BEFORE

 

AFTER

 

On another note- this week is Red Ribbon week at the school. The kids “say no to drugs” and dress up with a different theme each day to support the cause. A couple of days ago they had to dress up in the career they wanted to follow. Well, #2 has wanted to be a chef for about 3 years now, but declined the dress-up day. #1 changes his mind every day, but that day he wanted to be a rockstar. So we gave him a mohawk and he cut out a posterboard rock guitar. What a ham.

Lots of hairspray

 

#3 was totally confused about the rockstar hair. She kept asking "wha' happened to his head??" Well, I guess we dropped him alot when he was little....

Wilkommen October 7, 2009

That’s what a foyer should say. Our’s doesn’t. And we are working on it. I thought it would be neat to post some before pictures so that when I show a spectacular reveal photo (one day), you will be astonished at the transformation. You know, like on of those home shows, but without a gay designer…

Standing in the family room looking towards the front door

 

Standing in the dining room looking towards the formal living room

 

Standing at the front door looking towards the family room

 

Yeah, I know this looks like the Blair Witch Project, and if you look closely, there actually are like a hundred dirty handprints on the walls. This is sort of a hazard, but I just try not to think about it.

 

Husband decided to rip up some carpet on the stairs to see what was under it. Boy, am I rubbing off on him or what?!!

 

YAY!!!!! There are actual wooden treads under there. So here's the plan...Paint the rises the same creamy white as the woodwork and the treads will be stained the dark brown. And I want to stencil something on each rise. I know, I have to make it complicated, right?

 

Oh, and if you want to see why it is taking so long to get this floor going in the foyer…The subfloor had to be reinforced from underneath the crawlspace.

Don't worry. We didn't move to West Virginia and become miners. Although it certainly looks to be so...

 

Mom- if we find any copper or iron ore, we will be sure to put it in a ziplock bag so that you can use it for one of your silly 17 step projects....

Labor Day happenings September 7, 2009

I’m sure there are plenty of families basking in the Florida sun right now, but we are on a staycation at the Miller Homestead. #1 is playing with all the neighbors on bikes, #2 is sick with fever putting together a puzzle, and #3 is very busy following me around and making little messes. It has been an eventful weekend already.

Friday night, we had some neighbors over for dinner. Their daughter is #2′s newest love interest, and also happens to be in his kindergarten class this year. #1 went to a neighbor’s swim party that same night and didn’t return until 9PM.  (I guess this is the start of waiting up for our kid to get home…)

Saturday, husband worked under the crawl space of our house, reinforcing the beams in the foyer. Soon he will be able to lay the floors in there. The dining room floors are done and look fantastic. So check! Two rooms done and two more to go (the foyer and front office).

Looking into the dining room from the kitchen doorway

 

Looking into the dining room from the foyer

Last Sunday we joined the church we have been attending all summer. This was a very big decision for us! I, personally, have not been a formal “member” of a church since we lived in Lousiana. Yesterday, I sang a solo in front of the whole early service congregation and during the invitation, #1 walked up front and asked to be baptized. When the pastor talked to him after the service, he commented on how well #1 knew his stuff. So he will be baptized next Sunday morning. We are so excited! Then when we got home from church we noticed that #2 was burning up with fever.

Today, #2 woke up with a little bit of fever, but not as much as yesterday. He’s seems to be fine now, and husband bought him a new puzzle to work on.  On another note, this is the third day we have not had air conditioner downstairs. However, it really hasn’t been a big deal because the weather has been crispy cool. Windows have been open since Thursday morning. But the air conditioner guy came over this morning, armed with twisties and duct tape, ready to fix the problem. Turns out, the motor in the fan is caput, so he will bring another one by tomorrow and install it. Whew! Thank goodness this didn’t happen in the middle of July. We are expecting this ac to die soon, considering it is about 22 yrs old.

We’ve also spent most of this morning working on the yard. Husband just pruned the peach tree. I’m really hoping this thing will actually produce something other than yellow golfballs. They don’t make for good eating… And I transplanted the blueberry bushes to the front yard so they would get the sun they are desperately crying for. All the fruit trees and bushes got some plant food spikes for added nutrition. This is the time of year where I start getting excited about the upcoming weather, and all the things I want to plant in the spring. I will start making sketches and lists. We never had a chance to take out the trees this summer. It will have to wait for the when the money comes. But it is the next project on the que after finishing the the floors. After the trees are taken down, we will begin saving for a complete gutter and siding overhaul. Yay! Now doesn’t that sound fun?!

Pruning the peach tree in the backyard

 

Husband with his new pruning weapon. And I should mention how ridiculusly predatory the mosquitoes are in our backyard!

 

New location for the two blueberry bushes- now next to the fig and apple tree

The Longest Summer That Ever Was July 25, 2009

Well, there has been a whole lot of nothing going on around here. We didn’t go on a beach vacation. We didn’t spend a week in NY. We didn’t visit relatives out in LA (because we don’t have any relatives in LA…). You get the point. So our whole summer has been scrounging for cheap things to do. Thought you might like to see.

Popsicle stick houses! Remember those? This one was designed AND built by #1 and #2 working together for days.

 

Artwork by #3. This is very avant garde. She really likes drawing circles.

 

#1 and #2 and the neighbor's grandson playing some Gameboy. Wow, fun...three kids gathered around a 2 inch screen...

 

Now if you are really bored, you can always go pick bugs off the plants...

 

Or you could watch a movie on a travel size tv- naked. (well, that's what #3 was doing, anyway)

 

Or create a masterpiece from 100's of scrapbooking stickers...

 

If none of those ideas have you jumping with excitement, then why don't you just rip up a floor. That's what we do. This was the foyer floor.

 

Happy summer days. There are only a few left. The kids go back to school in early August so I’m savoring the moments.

My inner Martha February 20, 2009

I have been feeling very crafty lately and needing to express my creativity in a hands-on way. So I called my neighbor over yesterday for some chatting and crafting. This is what we came up with.

kitchen handtowel made of muslin

Earlier this week, I was in the problem-solving mood. I need a way to store things in my kitchen. I wanted to add a piece of furniture on the little wall opposite the cabinetry to put pots and pans and some linens in. After scouring Craigslist ads, I discovered that the perfect item was already in my foyer. It’s an antique armoire with some small drawers and a big cabinet. I think I saw two of them on Craigslist and then a lightbulb went off in my head. Oh, I already have one of those! So I thought about what would then take it’s place in the foyer, since now that room would be empty (and we have a pretty good-sized foyer). Alas! I have a useless item in my garage closet that would be perfect. The armoire had been housing my calligraphy and craft supplies, but this dresser would be better suited since it was all drawers. However, it is pretty damaged because of all the missing veneer. For a quick fix, I decided to take off the veneer on the most damaged parts and paint the whole thing cottage white. I figure if I ever wanted to really invest in the piece, I could strip the paint and have it re-veneered later. Well, that is all my crafting for the time-being, as calligraphy season is ramping up this month and soon I will be burning the midnight oil writing out endless envelopes. I plan to post some of my latest invitation designs for those of you who are interested in where my business has been headed. I actually have a nice little thing going now!

A before picture

 

Some up-close ugliness.

 

Fresh and clean, ready for a new home in the foyer:)