ALMOST DONE

Rested and ready to complete our Huge Project--having determined to limit it to our great room, morning room, and study-dining room, reserving work on the master bedroom and bath for a later date.

So, we need our decorator's input for drapes and new wall-ceiling color to finish off the study-dining room.

 

And, a new t.v. and mounting bracket in the great room (yellow-painted chest moves to entry foyer and t.v. will be mounted just under shelf).

 

I've already ordered a rug for the great room (due to arrive in 3 weeks), but there's a bit of painting to be completed in this area, too. (red half-wall gets painted with the SW Blonde used in great room-morning room).

 

I'm curiously drawn to this fabric for the drapes, but will see what DV comes up with. 

www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8405-Kokka-Fabrics-Echino-Fall-2011

For a bit I thought I wanted the same linen we used on the chair backs, but decided I was playing it too safe. 

I absolutely love the way the morning room drapes dramatically changed the look of our French doors, so I'm not going to hold back in the study-dining room which is becoming my preferred writing room.

HUGE PROJECT: The World Cup

current great room

current dining area, soon-to-be morning room

Today is the first day I've actually begun to enjoy the redecorating process. Yep! Something I've dreamed of doing for years, scouring design books, magazines, furniture and decorator's stores, design blogs, etc. Now we've decided to go the whole nine-yards with our great room, bedroom, and study-dining room and I haven't been enjoying the process. Duh!

I started small, hiring a decorator for a consult on what to keep and what to ditch; what to reupholster and refinish; where to place things. We quickly progressed to my paying a retainer, and beginning the process of adding and refinishing all our hardwood floors (something I'd never come close to imagining) and reupholstering all the furniture pieces we're keeping (ditching 2 sofas and a 60" round dining table from the mix). That's seven, no 8 or 9 pieces. And, we're going to repaint the base of our 6-1/2 ft. harvest table (which becomes my new desk) and also (don't tell CA yet, 'cuz he'll freak) our 3-piece shelving-media unit that lives in the study-dining room.

HUGE PROJECT

I saw two French chairs at The Perfect Thing in Wheaton last week and went back to take photos today. I can't have them... They're pricey and still need re-upholstering, and I have a plethora of chairs that have potential for lovely already in my house. Still, they would be perfect for my morning room... Yes, that's right Morning Room. CA and I are making some changes over the next months and maybe even couple of years.

My friend's sister is a designer, and for over a year now we've been discussing DV coming to evaluate and reorganize our furniture and decor. It finally happened yesterday. We will be re-upholstering a couch, four chairs, and two ottomans--just to start. Eventually another couch will get new fabric and move to the loft. That leaves us with one FlexSteel 75" semi-detached cushioned sofa and one Ethan Allen Chippendale sofa up-for-grabs.

We'll add a window covering to our French deckside doors, and eventually change-out the Luminette sheers on the two large front-facing windows to something fresher. I hate that. They were so expensive and I've loved the look and function, but they are sadly drooping and fading to a not-so-fresh dingy white.

My first steps are to get the electrician here, as contracted previously, to add under and over-cabinet lighting, a recessed light over the stove, sconces on each side of the fireplace and replacing the one that's damaged on the first landing. He'll add a couple of dimmers, hang pendant lights over the breakfast bar, and switch-out the chandelier in the dining area with the ceiling fixture in the library. And, because he's willing to do some handyman stuff, he'll repair a couple of screens on the porch and repair the curtain rod in the front guest room. Eventually, he'll build-in a glass-fronted cabinet under the section of the breakfast bar that faces our great room.

DV is moving ahead with getting an estimate to remove the carpet in our great room to add hardwood that will be uniquely inset to match the hardwood that exists in the bordering hallway and dining area. At that point the dining area and great room will be one cohesive room where we can arrange extended seating areas. No more dining area = great room with a morning room seating area.

Confusing? Yes! My head is spinning and CA's has exploded. Well, I can understand because yesterday I felt like mine would explode, too. The good news is that I know what I have to do now and DV knows what she has to do; and so we can move forward with first baby steps. Then, we'll plan, adjust, and continue forward as $$$ and time allows.

There are also plans to re-purpose our library into a study/dining room (it was originally designed to be a dining room but we added two French doors--from the entry hall and from the kitchen--so that we could have a library/t.v. room) where I will have a desk/dining table as my personal space. CA will continue to use the loft space. I virtually never work in the loft unless I want to print, paper cut, or spread things out on the floor for consideration. I'm so kitchen-oriented that I am thrilled to be able to perch next door.

At this time we plan to end up with two dining seats at the breakfast bar (already in place) and the possibility of seating six to eight in the study/dining room. CA and I virtually never use the existing dining table (Pottery Barn, 60" round--also up-for-grabs) for meals; preferring a seat at the breakfast bar or (embarrassingly) in front of the t.v. in the library. 30 - 40% of the time he's busy coaching or one or the other of us is out-of-town, so we either eat late or separately. No worries! Our relationship is intact (and thriving); each of us can happily eat alone, whether here at home or even in restaurants worldwide. We've been at this schedule for over 35 years and have weathered the necessary adjustments to develop this lifestyle that is uniquely our own.

So, we're making plans but we'll let real life guide, and re-adjust as needed. Experience has taught us that while we think we'll use spaces in our home one way, sometimes that never happens. And, sometimes what works for today (or did yesterday) changes going forward into an altogether different purpose. Stay tuned...

We're excited! CA actually gets the hardwood floor part and is cautiously optimistic about some (much?) of the rest.


(First post created on my new iPad II using a Logitech keyboard case by Zagg. This works! Can't use all of Bloggers tools with the iPad (yet), but it feels like the iPad II is going to be a wonderful traveling companion. We're off to the beach very soon. (The iPad does have a habit of pre-mature publishing. Seems somehow connected to the Caps Lock key.)

CLEANING MY HOUSE?

Monday the designer is coming. DV--LL's sister. We're going to assess and re-assess my great room, library, and master bedroom, and every other room will get viewed. My dust bunnies have dust bunnies. Yet, I've spent two hours on the Internet. My excuse is that most of that time was spent sending DV an email detailing where I am design-wise and where I want to go.

I'm over, If you love it, buy it. You'll find a place for it. Witness my current predicament. I have too much stuff and erratic style. I start projects I can never finish--due to time, skill, and withering inspiration. Half or more of the clutter I deal with around here is due to stalled projects.

You know, You have to stay home to get stuff done. Once I'm out the door I just keep moving. I love staying home and have disciplined myself to stay home on Mondays, but lately I just go-go-go. Today I'm at home.

Time to get cleaning!

IF IT'S EASTER, THIS MUST BE SPRING?

Just a few small traces of hope... And, Easter is late this year! Can't remember it ever being later--April 24th.

SMALL SPACES

Maybe from Martha Stewart site?...

Clever desk space. An area that might have been merely decorative. Love it.

DANGEROUS DAYDREAMS

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/design-gallery/index.jsp?link=designgallery_home&cm_re=DG-_-Category-_-Home&navAction=jump&navCount=2&categoryId=cat1699014

Loving the drop in temperature. Nothing better than shorts or capris with layers or a comfy sweater. Add sunglasses and flip flops and you have my perfect outfit. Without the flip flops. Because they kill my IT band and hence my right hip. I sometimes get by with flip flops for weeks on end, and then reality hits. Hard. My poor feet need arch support to keep everything in alignment. Boring. But true.

Sunshine and low 60s. Bliss. Invigorating. Gooses my need for creative outlet vs. the reality of economies necessary to ensure 5 glorious weeks in Europe later this Fall and Winter. Only a bit of slippage. One hallway rug, a few candles, and some serious Internet lust toward English rolled arm sofas, loveseats, and chairs.

I have to stay out of Restoration Hardware. Luscious. Impractical. Tempting. Expensive.

SOFA LOVE

This loveseat is from Williams Sonoma Home

I'm thinking English Roll Arm style is just right for new upholstry pieces when I get a chance--hopefully in 2011.

SHOPPING MY BASEMENT

Today I have lots of energy and set up the porch and the deck for summer--to a degree that I haven't in years. (Photos to come!) I have way too much stuff stored in our basement, so today I poked around and found lots of fun porch-type dinnerware and cute gardening stuff. Then, I move the twig rocker from one of our guest rooms to join the bright blue cafe table on our deck. And, I repurpose the giant twig basket from magazine rack to future flower basket--I'll wait until after vacation to add the plantings.