my boudoir

BEFORE:

Let's remember the pink. Also, there were two dead birds stuck in that window with the AC.




DURING:




SOLID GOLD, BABY! This is a shiny metallic paint... I believe from Home Depot, (but don't quote me) that only needs the special roller for application. (FYI- other metallic paints require the special roller and a separate base & top coat. Which means more work. And more expensive. This isn't exactly rocket science. Or even freakin ecology for that matter.)

So, 1) cleaned the floor & applied floor shiner/protector; 2) removed AC unit; 3) removed about 85 stupid glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling; 4) painted ceiling; 5) painted room walls; 6) removed ugly vinyl accordion closet door; 7) install closet shelving (below); 8) move in!

Oh aren't they pretty?? And guess what? They are filled with shoes! And purses! And and and... SCARVES and stuff!!! And (teaser) I am so awesome at shelving, you better believe I continued my groove on into the living room closet, too.


AFTER:


And by "After," I mean "done for now, but there's still more to go," but that doesn't roll off the tongue so well. Got me an orange-red bedspread with gold threading (though this isn't really reflected by my award-winning photography) and gold curtains.



Eventually, that closet will be closed off. I don't know if that means a basic sliding closet door (which would require installing the tracks, too) or curtains? Crazy, yes. But it's a gold bedroom.

The furniture is an antique set I have had since I was about 14 yrs old. I dream about darker wood and something more along the lines of a sleigh bed... but I have doubts about what my teeny tiny room can hold. Size-wise. I also have doubts on what my bank account can hold. Money-wise.

This was the first room done in (mostly) whole. I started sleeping in my brand new place the first Sunday, and stayed completely about a week after I closed. Wow, I am exhausted just remembering this.

Next up, rec room!

let me tell you a story.....

It's about a girl. Who was thirsty. So she filled up her water bottle on her way out the door & tossed it into her purse. No more than 2 minutes later did she reach to get the bottle & noticed it wasn't as heavy as before.... this was because 26oz of the water had emptied into our innocent heroine's purse. (Moral of the story: do NOT "toss" water)

A purse with her MP3 player inside.

Stupid flip-lid that flips open.

Our heroine pulls over as soon as she could to dump her purse. There was, I kid you not, a waterfall, coming out of my purse. Purse, in all of its beautiful green leather glory, is fine. I stuck that puppy inside-out beneath the vent in the car & blasted the heat. The MP3? Different story. I, er... the heroine, proceeded to fling & drain water from the device. FML. This does not look good. Not good at all.

doomsday

Doomsday, otherwise known as "move-in day." 98% of the moving was done by my mom & I with her pick-up truck and my Forrester. U-Hauls? We don't need no stinkin' U-Hauls! Men? We don't need no... ok, so we did have some help when unsuspecting uncles/brother/dad were lurking about.



Here's the front & backyard on move-in day. Notice how we decided to move with snow on the ground? Well, that's not just any snow. Oh no. That has a thick layer of slippery ice on top of it. Seeing this made me think "I'll carry heavy & awkward objects across it!" Long story short, we got most of my junk moved this weekend. I would drive into work with a full load & drop it off afterwards. Also, my mom would pack up her truck & meet me at the house after work a couple times to unload.

I figure I'll show renovations room by room....

most wanted: one tea kettle

These one Tea Kettles from Vessel Ideation, Inc. ONLY shows it's awesome design when filled with hot liquid! How cool is that?!?!? AND you put it's little magnetically attaching trivet that allows you to safely place it on the table once heated.....
...... now, if only someone can tell me where to buy & assure me it costs less than my kidney, I'd be much obliged.

most wanted: hemp pendant globes

DIY Project - I think these would be AWESOME in my dark, unlit stairwell! Will solve the whole "need to run electricity to ceiling" and "how to get up to 2nd floor ceiling above stairwell" minor issues later.

it's virtually a tour

Here are pictures of the house as posted by the selling agent for the virtual tour. I smartly forgot my camera on settlement. And then I trusted my mom* and her camera on move-in day #1. So, these are the closest to true "Before" pictures you're gonna get. This hurts me more than it hurts you.

DOWNSTAIRS:

This is the room you enter into. Welcome home!!! Oh, and that smaller window? Only 1/2 there. Linoleum floor with some industrial carpet remnant. Drop ceiling. Paneling. From that upper left corner, there's a doorway into a dark & dingy kitchenette. With old appliances, a broken egg in the fridge, and a cherub border. For some reason, I did not document this. Shut up. Behind this photo's vantage point are two bedrooms, a utility room, and a bathroom... read on to see more!

Front downstairs bedroom. 1/2 Wallpaper... with border. Drop ceiling. Linoleum floor.

Back downstairs bedroom. More of the same. PLUS dark blue trim and doors! And part of the ceiling (where the air duct ran) is dark blue too!


UPSTAIRS:

I forgot about the louver door.... complete with hook-lock used to separate the two levels into separate living spaces. This is the living room. I know, I have to explain these things.

Dining Room. Which, as you can see, is the logical place to stick a refrigerator. Also, WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND LAYS FREAKIN STICK-ON TILES OVER 50 YEAR OLD HARD WOOD?!??!? My heart can't take this.

Sadly, this kitchen was a big-time selling point. Much bigger & better design than many other houses I viewed (which were typical of 1950s building.) I would like to point out that there is a gas stovetop built into the left-hand side counter. This isn't hooked up, but I am not letting that stop me! (Rant #2: Who's genius idea was it to buy & hook up an electric flat-top range and leave the gas stove as decoration??) The dishwasher didn't work. But it came with 2 plates and a bowl, so I'm callin' it even.

This is the front bedroom upstairs. It was painted a weird mauve-taupe color*. With kid sponges (?) glued to the walls. Those were fun.

*You'll have to take my word for this... and crucify someone else for the shoddy lighting.

My Room!! Isn't it beautiful? With one of the worst sponge jobs I have ever seen.... and guess what? It was done in high gloss. If you don't know what that means, it translates into "hell to re-paint" because new paint won't stick to it well. This room has two closets,* which meant I was aaaalllllll over it! And, the icing on the cake that sealed the deal? Two dead birds trapped in the window above the AC unit.

*More on the closets to come! Excitement! Can you stand it??!


There you have it. This is how you advertise and sell a house. Gross, dirty, house in disrepair? Check. Sucker buyer? Check check. Settlement? No? How bout 30 days after planned? TRIPLE CHECK!!! Now for the fun & renovations.........

the original

This is the posted Virtual Tour outside of my house. Looks good, no? Serene, no problems... it's like the Bate's Motel.