A library...how fancy

We have a little nook upstairs and we weren't sure what to do with it. Office? Sitting area? Expand the bathroom? Then my friend Sylke suggested a library. Excellent idea! We have 8 billion kids books and now that the playroom is downstairs and bedrooms up I wasn't sure where to put them.

I'l thinking some wall display shelves like these, I will change out the displayed books each week. Like they do at the public library

via Anna White

Have you Been to Anna White's site before? AWE-SOME. I have a billion things I want to build. And by me I mean G.

Then we need a comfy place to sit and read. Loving any of these from ikea

Gonna need a plush rug for floor reading. These are all from overstock.com

I know everything's looking pretty neutral and grey but the BOOKS will be the colour and the art. There are so many beautifully illustrated children's books....

Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

The Balloon Tree by Phoebe Gilman

Anything by Eric Carle

Yellow Mellow

All the trim in my house is yellow. I think at one point in its life is was off-white or vintage white or some other fancy paint name. Now its more like dirty men's wifebeater armpit stain. My photo taking skills do not do it justice. I am slowly (as in one foot at a time whenever I can steal a minute away from my girls) painting it white.

Tonight I decided to start on the girls room. The upstairs rooms have carpet and I was unsure of how I was going to avoid getting paint on it. Not that I love the carpet, but its not going anywhere for a while so I couldn't be sloppy.

Tape on the carpet prevented drips but didn't flatted the carpet so I could get the bottom of the baseboard.

So I got a paper plate (mine was square, yeah we're fancy like that) and cut it in half. I used it to press down on the tape as I went.

 Looks pretty good!

Next step is to stencil the wall (that G paint "barely pink"). Stenciling on textured walls? Wish me luck!

Another mini makeover for my half-bathroom.

Side rant: I cant believe people still call them powder rooms.  That's so weirdly old school. "Excuse me I need to go powder my nose". I think it's extra gross because I KNOW your going in there to do your business and because you said powder now I am imagining you have some weird rash and you need to powder you butt. 

The existing light fixture was okay but didn't fit with our aesthetic. The silver tone was nice but the globes were too flowery.

Made a quick stop at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, spent $2 and spent 2 minutes at home to change them out.

Ahh much better. Although we need shorter bulbs. Gah those compact fluorescent bulbs are ugly. Function over form for sure.

Picture Towel Hook

I was featured! Woot Woot!

I don't really have time to do any decorating projects right now. Too busy ripping out wallpaper and making sure we have usable bathrooms. It was nice to take a break from troubleshooting sprinkler systems to do a little crafting.

So I dug out frame G got at a yard sale for a buck.

Spray painted it white. Realized my backyard is not good for spray paint. Bits of plants and bugs got stuck in the paint. So I distressed the frame to remove the flora and fauna. And added a hook I got at Ikea.

For the print I totally stole the idea was inspired by Three Men and a Lady

Three Men and a Lady

The final product!

I need to get some command strips. It's currently hung using the wire on the frame which is not sturdy and causes the frame to lean from the wall. Now I just need to find a way to add "MAKE SURE YOU USE SOAP" for my kids.



Oh I am a linking MACHINE!



Back from the dead

I'm back from my uplanned blog-vacation.. Moving and other things really kicked my butt. Got  a lot of projects planned this weekend so I will be doing updates soon!

To do List

Most boring post ever. This is more for my reference than your pleasure. Warning there is NO PICTURES. That's a blogging sin.

Unpacking has highlighted to me the millions of projects we need to do in our house. It’s become such a jumbled mess in my head I decided to make a lists just so we can keep track of it all.  This is a “live” list that I will be adding to over the next few days weeks months. Right now this is a reno list and does not include any of the decorating stuff I want to do. Uh yeah I just realized why people wanna buy move-in ready.

Master Bathroom

Remove wallpaper

Paint Walls

Tile around tub

Sand and Paint Trim

Frost film on widow

Remove Carpet

New flooring

Replace ugly builders mirror

New light fixtures

New toilet

New countertop/sinks

Paint inside nasty drawers

Replace gold accents on faucets

Paint Ceilings

Kitchen

Remove wallpaper

Paint walls

Sand/paint trim

Put hardware on cabinets

Change island top

Change countertops

Change green backsplash tiles

New lighting

New sink/faucet

New microwave/range hood

Paint/organize pantry

Paint Ceilings

Family Room

Paint walls

Remove Carpet

Install flooring

New ceiling fan

Sand and Paint Trim

Refinish fireplace

Paint Ceilings

Living room/Dining room

Paint walls

Remove Carpet

Install flooring

Paint chandelier

Sand and Paint Trim

Paint Ceilings

Half Bath

Remove wallpaper

Paint walls

Remove Carpet

Install flooring

New toilet

Sand and Paint Trim

Replace gold accents on faucets

Paint Ceilings

Girls Bathroom

Tear down/repair ceiling (water damage)

Remove wallpaper

Paint Walls

Sand and Paint Trim

New flooring

Replace ugly builders mirror

New vanity/sinks

New light fixtures

New toilet

Redo bathtub?

Paint Ceilings

Playroom

Remove wallpaper

Paint walls

Remove Carpet

Install flooring

Sand and Paint Trim

Paint Ceilings

Master Bedroom

Paint walls

Remove Carpet

Install flooring

Sand and Paint Trim

Paint Ceilings

Girls Room

Paint walls

Sand and Paint Trim

Paint Ceilings

G’s Man Room

Paint walls

Sand and Paint Trim

Paint Ceilings

Spare Room

Paint walls

Sand and Paint Trim

Paint Ceilings

Craft/Spare Room

Paint walls

Sand and Paint Trim

Paint Ceilings

Garage

Epoxy floor

Paint walls

Add lights

Entry way

Paint walls

Remove Carpet

Install flooring

Sand and Paint Trim

Paint Ceilings

Replace light fixtures

Stairs

Paint banister

Front yard

Rake up leaves

Redo front Gardens

Fix trees

Grow some grass

Power wash the drive way

Back yard

Rake up leaves

Cut down oleander bush

Grow grass

Plant flowers on fence line

Refurbish play-set

Build patio

Add lights

Misc

Fix roof leaks

Clean gutters

Clean windows

Power wash house

Add gutters to the back

Refinish front door

Caulk “bug entry points”



Moving + renovating = no posts all wekened



This is me.



Toilet Saga

Our houses has nasty toilets. While vacant hard water, bugs, dirt sat there and baked on in the Houston heat. This is what they look like



The seat actually looks white in this picture. Its not. Its yellow splotchy scariness.


Nasty! So new toilets are in order before we move in. First step remove old toilet. Step 2, try to save $100 by testing out the squat toilet. Decide its not for you.

Install new toilet (following manufacturers instructions) Un-install and reinstall toilet after you realize the drain flange is crooked and needs to be moved. Un-install the toilet AGAIN because the actual drain is damaged and needs to be replaced. Realize that you should probably install new flooring first. Also realize that it would be easier to paint the walls before installing new floors. Spend too many hours smoothing drywall. Paint walls. Install flooring. Install new drain and toilet.

BEAUTIFUL!

I want to pee in you!

Now we need baseboards, new mirror and decor!

Wannabe Wednesday

Since there a bajillion blogs out there better than my own I decided to pay homage to them every Wednesday. These are the ladies who I give me inspiration. Who introduced me to ikat and chevron. Who spread the POWER OF PAINT message!

Dwellings by Devore

Can you believe she’s only 26 years old. This chick has more style in her little finger than I do in my entire body. Her house is GORGEOUS!

Décor Adventures

 

Another supertalented lady. Love her thrifty style!

Also Check out Better After

Lindsey posts all the great projects on the blogosphere. It’s a great way to find new blogs. My “follow” list grow larger everyday thanks to her. Plus her comments on them on are hilarious

“There's no reason you should go without a handy space to keep your water carafe and bifocals. At least, that's what I keep on my nightstand because I am secretly 89 years old. Ok, maybe not bifocals, but I do keep my focals there. Nobody calls them focals. Why not? It makes sense. Sort of.”



Dreaming

Have you been to fabrics.com? Unless you have cash to burn I would suggest AVOIDING IT AT ALL COSTS. I am a million light miles away from the "accent pillows" phase (we're at the "we don't have any toilets and our living room floor is concrete" phase) but I am wrought with indecision! What fabrics should I pick!? A mix of flowery and geometric for sure. But what colours to accent our grey/blue-grey walls? Can I convince the G man to go with yellow? What about apple green and Navy? Coral and Navy?Turquoise and  green? Swoon!


Amy Butler

 

Waverly

 

Premier Prints

Dwell (column 1-2) Vicki Payne (column 3-4)

Front Yard

Our front yard is basically a patchy weed garden. It has good bones: several trees and some good sized flower beds. But it looks like a balding dude who refusing to shave his head.



Human version of my yard
source

I haven’t finished my yard makeover yet but here is a sneak peak at one of my projects. Before (okay not a real before, I got excited and planted before taking the picture)

After

 

The plants will fill out and get about 8” high. Don’t ask me what they are because I TOTALLY FORGET, if you know please tell me! They look kind of like coleus but they are good for sun. They have pink and white variegated leaves. I’m loving this mini project because it has such a big impact for such a  low price.

Bedding plants: $5.99/24 pk  (8/tree)

Mulch: $3.33/bag (1/2 bag/tree)

Rocks: FREE

Total Cost/Tree: $3.66

Wallpaper

We were lucky that most of the wallpaper in our house is the strippable kind. Yes there were a few problem spots but the playroom, kitchen and half bath all came off fairly easy.

The master bath however is EVIL. The demonic gold griffins on the pattern should have been an indicator. The top layer peels of in tiny little pieces and is STRETCHY!!! The second layer was leaving a glue and paper residue behind. We were spraying water, using a steamer and scarping with razor blades. All we were remove was tiny shreds.

 Then a neighbor suggested a magical cure: Fabric Softener.

All you need is a spray bottle (mine is an empty KABOOM, which is the best product name ever), water, fabric softener and some scrapers.

Spray on the wall

Scrape

EVEN MORE AWESOME!!!

Of course there are still spots that are fused to the wall and require me to break out the razor but without the fabulous/stinky fabric softener I would be scrapping away with the razor at the same little patch.