My husband and I have wanted to live in the South for at least the last 23 years. In 2011, we again began to seriously discuss the possibility of relocating. After a three year search for employment, we have moved! Yep, I now live where it's not only acceptable, but necessary for the word "y'all" to be in your everyday vocabulary. And, you don't say, "Hi," it's "Hey, how y'all doin'?"
It's been an anxious whirlwind for the last 3/4 of a year! Leaving family! Paperwork! Looking for that house that had our name on it! Paperwork! Packing! Selling a home! Paperwork! Buying a home! Paperwork! You get the idea.
We bought a fixer-upper in a semi-rural area. We've started putting our fingerprints on it so it's starting to feel more like home. And, anyway, if you have a creative bone in your body, you KNOW you can't call a space home until you've changed some things, right?
We haven't been updating much furniture lately. It's been rooms, walls and floors. Here are some pics of what we've been up to:
Then came the mess of sanding them flush with the rest of the paneling. What a mess! But, it was cheaper and less expensive than putting up drywall. We updated the lighting, the wall color, the floor...I should also say that the wall on the left of the first picture is no longer there. It was a wall that encased the basement steps. We took it out and put in a wrought iron and wood railing. (my daughter's dog photobombed the raling pic.) We still have some minor tasks like dressing out the newel posts, restaining the steps and quarter round on the base, but what an improvement!
Here are a few more before and afters:
Shutters removed, a fresh coat of paint and LOTS of overgrown bushes removed! It's amazing what a little elbow grease and some time can do!
We thought the door was solid wood until we started sanding it to refinish it. It was terribly faded on the bottom half from the sun. When we started sanding, the door started turning white. It was vinyl. Bring out the latex paint and gel stains. Some stained hands later, it looks like real wood.
That's it for now. We probably won't be updating much furniture in the near future, but we'll be updating. If you have questions about techniques, experiences, pros or cons with what we've done here or in another post, please ask away. \
I promise to be back sooner this time!
Paula it is beautiful but I would expect no less - you truly are gifted - hope sometime to be able to actually see it in person.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barb. I hope you can see it in person too. <3
DeleteThe floors make such a difference, and that door! It is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer. The floor was very easy. The hardest part was figuring out the first row. After that it was click it in place and lock it. SIMPLE!
DeleteThe door was a labor of love. I wish I had taken a before, but I always get so eager to go that I forget. I primed it, basecoated it in a light golden tan color, wood grained it in a dark hickory color and then gave it a light glazing of a reddish gel stain, followed with 2 coats of spar varnish.