Sunday, March 21, 2010

On this harvest moon: bathroom before & after

This is what the downstairs bathroom used to look like--green tile floor, white fixtures and that weird gold/silver combo that people do for hardware when they can't decide which will go better. My feelings? Neither one works, so knock it off already.The walls were a fetching shade of what I like to call "VA Hospital Green." Not sure if you can tell in this picture but the tub had slip-prevention sticky strips all over it and there was still a sticker on the side of tub from when it was installed too. The new tile we had installed really looked good but somehow managed to make the walls look even more sickly. The point is--none of this indicates actual, hard renovation work because the bathroom itself is brand-new. It was just ugly. So here's the before...And here's the after:Better, right? Just new paint and a couple other small changes. The paint is Benjamin Moore "Harvest Moon" in the Aura line, eggshell finish. The mirror is from IKEA--I tried to paint the one that was already in there black but it just looked bad. I'm not very careful around the edges apparently. Also the bathroom is tilted and a rectangular mirror just sort of made that more obvious. Phil said we should go round and I'm glad we did. I did end up painting the light fixture matte black--it was super shiny, reflective silver originally and just glared like crazy.
New shower curtain and all the hardware is just Target "oil-rubbed brass." It will oil-rub all over your hands while you install it, just FYI. And it requires the tiniest screwdrivers known to humankind to tighten it up. Poor Phil.The little plate above the toilet was something I found a couple years ago at an antique store. I wanted it for my scooter but it didn't fit so I just hung onto it...for this, I guess. Colette toilette!This bunny painting was actually the source of the bathroom color scheme--black, white, orange and cream. Also it looks like Mason Dixon so I had to get it.See?

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Animal

Someone set up his drums. The neighbors are gonna love this.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Mullet in the snow

How to light a fire

We didn't have much success with starting a fire until Rick said "just try to build a campfire!" Phil got it going like gangbusters once he wrapped his head around that concept.And Billie Jean loves it. She'll curl up on this chair next to the fireplace all day long.The best seat in the house for studying, reading or just mellowing out.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Boxes everywhere

I'd like to post more on improvements...but this is going on right now. Used to look a lot more empty.

Wood-ish blinds

Apparently IKEA has the best deal around on real wood blinds. They simulate a plantation blind (right? I'm telling myself this anyway) but plantation blinds are ruinously expensive so these are the go-to.Phil put them up and they really help out the living room. Here's the white vinyl before, so you can see why it was needed.

But what does the kitty think?

Emma has found her favorite spot.
Right in a nook by the stairwell.