pretty fly DIY

I am not dead! I didn't break my typing fingers! And I did actually complete a project or two during my hiatus. This has only been on my To Do List for about 4 years now, so I would like to pat myself on the back for actually ever getting around to it. I know my neighbors never thought it would happen. I had doubts myself. So, I would like to officially apologize for my house looking like this in September.

Then in October...

And now finally, this...

Please excuse the peeling paint on the stairs. Also on my 17 mile long to do list.

In my defense, I did start this the day before I left for vacation. I also had a bit of a cob-webby brain that day, so standing on a 10 foot ladder didn't feel like the best place for me. My sweet and very productive little friend, Whitney, tricked me into thinking this was something I could knock out in an hour and it would look great. The problem is, my favorite thing in the world to do is start one project, work on it for a few minutes, and then start several others--all without finishing any of them. I am really, really good at it! Like I could co-captain an Olympic team if there were ever a need. So, in keeping true to old habits, that is what I did here. I am also not really sure why I felt the need to hand paint the numbers when I am sure there are very nice, precisely printed number stickers at Ace, but it's a little late for that now. Finding the right gold paint is honestly what took me so long, so I am happy to provide tips for any of you starving artists that want to do this after my glowing reviews. 

In a rare, outdoor update, there is also news to tell. We have been fighting a losing battle with grass in the front yard. There is this hateful tree that has been straight murdering our grass on that side of the yard for years. Case in point: this is not a split screen photo. This was actually taken at one time, in one frame. The mean, hateful tree obviously lives on the right side of the yard. 

We just recently decided to throw in the towel and live a grass free life in the front yard, which as it turns out is quite ironic. We thought, if you can't beat the dead patches, join them. I was pretty pleased with the initial progress and results. 

Que the irony. We have contacted the city about this lawsuit of a tree waiting to happen numerous times and had gotten nowhere. It looks so bad I was afraid it was going to squash me on my walk to work any day now.  Two weeks after we decided to rip up all of the grass (and paid a pretty penny for new plants), we heard from the city. They were finalllly convinced the decaying dying DEAD tree needed to go. They basically swooped in and cremated it in a matter of minutes and left us with a stump, all of its leaves, and 38 pounds of saw dust to remember it by. 

You have got to be kidding me. Well, now we are living the grass free life also sans dead tree. Our front yard almost looks like we moved into a cul de sac in Agrestic. I barely recognize it. Now we only have ourselves to blame if we can't keep these plants alive. 

Stay tuned. I might actually find the motivation to do a final before and after post on the kitchen. AH. 

a quick ear stain about floor stain

Picking out a floor stain can be quite the tedious process. You don't want to go too dark, you don't want to go too light, you don't want it to be too red, blah blah blah. I have had stain on the brain for quite some time now. I am kind of at that trippy place in life where if you say a word a few times too many that it gets to the point where it sounds so weird it can't possibly be a real word. Stain. stain. stain. Tell me that doesn't sound crazy to you too. I promise I have not been huffing polyurethane. Moving on. That was weird. 

I am having a dilemma picking out a stain. Here is a quick reminder of what the floors used to look like:

And a quick update on the sanding progress:

It's hard to believe after just a day of sanding, what once looked like this...

Now looks like this...

And another before:

And another after:

Initially I was really worried about this part ever getting back to normal...

Now the boards that had to be replaced don't look as out of place as they did earlier...

And I was really sad to think about losing my white floor, that I HAND painted all by myself, but the maintenance is killer. I did it almost 4 years ago, and it was probably time to do it again. The scuffs and scratches were getting a little OOC. 

White floor no more:

You probably think I am a lunatic for ever painting the floor in the first place, but I assure you I am not. Some of you (more like none) might remember from here the floor was covered in a lovely puke green colored carpet, and underneath there was yet another charming shade of blue paint on the floors (and walls). OMG I am not kidding. I just found an old picture and I have to just share it. AHHH. Point proven. I was not crazy for painting the floors white.

And now to my actual dilemma. Floor stain decisions...

I am a lover of dark floors. Realllly dark floors. And our floors prior to sanding were already really dark. I know there is more upkeep involved with dark floors. And yes, we have dogs. I know the downsides, but you know I like to be hardheaded. I always thought I would end up staining the floors really dark again. Here are some stain options:

Clockwise from top: Early American, Mahogany, Clear

Top: Clear, Bottom: Mahogany 

Can you believe that is just a clear stain? Crazy, right? Knowing how much I love to pine and toil in agony over decisions like this, you would think I would have put down about 15 more colors. Thank God I didn't have access to more colors because clearly I would have. And I would have mixed and diluted and given myself about a million too many options to chose from. 

While the crazy person in me really wants to lean towards the darkest stain, there is some bit of sanity sneaking in that is telling me to let the natural beauty of the floors speak for themselves. I don't have to do the speaking for everyone. 

Here is another picture of particularly low quality, but I was trying to capture a bit of what the old stain looked like (in the far left corner) next to what the floors will look like with just the clear stain. I think the clear stain might be the clear winner. Yes, I get cheesier by the day. 

It is such a drastic change from what the floors were like before, but I think it is the right decision. Au naturale is always in style, right?  Anyone have any opinions they are brave enough to share?

no beams about it

One of the struggles of this project has been taking down a wall and finding a way to reconcile the new opening with the ceiling heights. In a normal world it wouldn't be that difficult, but I am dealing with a geriatric of a house that was not all built at the same time. The ceiling height in the back hallway is a good two feet below the ceiling in the middle hall because it was an addition added after the original structure was completed. And, the ceiling in the kitchen was probably a foot below that, but we didn't know for sure it was a dropped ceiling until we knocked a hole in the ceiling. I have always LOVED exposed beams, and really wanted to incorporate them in our kitchen. Since the ceilings are now 12' I thought it would also help to add some interest to all that space up thurr. Finding a way for it to work with the different ceiling heights though, has presented its own challenges. 

I knew we would likely need a new structural beam anyway with the removal of the wall, so I wanted to add back as much character as possible. To take out that wall, we had to bid farewell to a transom, which was pretty devastating for Jack. Even though it has absolutely zero functionality, he of course saved it in hopes we can add it above another door that doesn't already have a transom. This is along the lines of what I had envisioned...

via Hooked on Houses

When we took out the wall, we did find out we needed to add a support beam. I was kind of excited thinking of the possibilities. I was hoping for some hipster chic rustic looking beam, but this is what we got instead. Screw practicality.

Please notice the difference in ceiling heights from the third picture. It is like a fun house. Except people live here. And we don't travel around setting up at State Fairs.

Clearly, we can't leave that beam exposed, so I began my search for the perfect ceiling/beam solution. 

Where do I sign up for this next situation? Perfection.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

That girl, Jessica Helgerson, can do no wrong. Remember her from here? Jessica, if you're out there, I want to be your BFF. You are everything.

Ceiling beams + La Cornue. Be still my heart.

via Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

Jill Sharp

This next picture served triple, maybe quadruple duty for me, or whatever comes after that. I used it for inspiration for brass hardware, butcher block counter tops, ceiling beams, open shelving, navy cabinetry for the bar, the list goes on. and on.

Blair Harris Interior Design

L. Kae Interiors

So many unreal options, so little time (and money) at this point. I was really hoping my dad would have some old beams I could use out of a dilapidated farm house on one of his farms, but so far, I don't think I am going to be that lucky.

However, after I had already typed up this post, and in a rare stroke of good luck, my brother in law recently informed me that he might be able to come through for me! He has a weathered and worn beam that he reclaimed from his family's old farmhouse, and he and my sister used some of the wood for a mantle in their new house. He has one beam left over that they weren't planning to use. I think the tides might be turning for me!

jacob's ladder

OK, this post might seem a little crazy on my part. But I can't help it. At this point I am convinced this ladder is a necessity and I am a perpetual over-sharer, so I will just continue on over-sharing until this little project is over. 

Let me get straight to the point: The ceilings. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to have the extra space, but those bastards have caused me a lot of anxiety. From the lights (which we all remember that debacle), to the tile, to the range hood, to the cabinets--the change in ceiling height has literally affected every design decision I had made prior to starting the renovation. So much for planning ahead. Every item I had picked out had to be revamped or changed entirely. 

There was long discussion about the cabinets. I love to cook and entertain, and with that comes lots of dishes, appliances, and other things I should probably rid myself of with a yard sale, but I digress. That being said, Jack was actually the main advocate for ensuring that we had enough cabinet space. Mr. Practicality. Our kitchen is small enough as it is, so aesthetically, I was thinking the more blank space and open shelving the better. But Mr. Practicality is over there like "cabinets to the ceiling" and "the more storage the better". He was allowed have his voice heard in this decision. Also, our old kitchen had a little over a foot of dead space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling, and all it did was collect dust. And grease. And stuff you don't want to hear about. Sooo, we knew we didn't want that again. So, what to do, what to do? Mr. Practicality's response was cabinets to the ceiling without question. 

Who can reach the top 6' of cabinets I ask you? Not this 5'5" (that's stretching it) chef boyardee. So what is my solution? A rolling library/kitchen ladder of course! 

Tell me you don't want this in your kitchen. I die. I am literally dead. Well not literally, but temporarily without breath. I am breathless. 

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Jessica Helgerson, you are my everything.

Lincoln Park Home

Jana Happel Design 

Cochrane Design

Domaine Home

Edenali Construction

Remodelista

Gianetti Home

These pictures completely convinced/brainwashed me that a library ladder would not only be practical in my kitchen, but was 100% necessary. A mandate. So much so that I called my cabinet guy and asked to halt production so we could talk library ladders. I am sure he was thrilled. 

According to Putnam Ladders, everyone from George Bush to Yoko Ono to Diane von Furstenberg has one in their house. You had me at DVF. I knew we were kindred spirits. And, I knew I remembered seeing her library, and once again, dying. I die a lot. 

I am pretty sure I tore this out of Elle Decor about 7 years ago in the pre-Pinterest days. I have always some major feelings for that library.

Putnam Ladders turned out to be too expensive to even get depressed about. So, not being one to let a great love die, I even called another company to get a quote. I was all excited, and then bam. OUCH. I could buy 20, maybe more, 10' ladders at Ace for that. OUCH.

If you want to tell me the cons, go ahead, I dare you. It will be in the way. Blah, You'll rarely ever use it. Blah blah. It will be hazardous if you ever have kids. Blah blah blah. 

If I told you I was over getting a library ladder, I would be lying. I am not. I still think about them a lot. A whole lot. In the daytime, in the nighttime, at the gym and at work. 

Jack, my love, my darling, my angel, this has 30th birthday present written ALL over it. Or anniversary gift. Or a thanks for being you, April, gift. It could be a gift for any occasion really, and it is the gift that keeps on giving. Way better than the jelly of the month club. I would never have to ask you to reach anything. I knew you would see it my way...

TRAGEDY STRIKES

Is there anything in the world worse than the phrase "SOLD OUT"? Actually, there is, and it is sold out's bitchier sister known as "DISCONTINUED". I hate her. I hate her. Why must this happen every time??

I have the insanely useful quality of becoming helplessly fixated on random items I catch a glimpse of, and then I spend countless hours trying to maybe track down a breadcrumb about the manufacturer or style name. Then, per usual, as soon as I might be able to locate the item, I learn it is sold out or has been discontinued. 

Take, for instance, this recent tragedy:

via Terracotta Design Build Co. 

Lovely enough kitchen, right? And how about those light fixtures. Of course I became obsessed and knew I would not be happy unless they were hanging from my newly hoisted ceilings. Everything about this situation was perfect. They were showcased in a square kitchen (my layout) with every feature I love: carrera marble subway tiles, mixed metals, brass, amazing natural light, the list goes on. 

I knew I needed something that wouldn't completely cut off the line of sight, the brass was on point, the price was amazing ($198!!!), and they were actually long enough for the 12' ceilings at 57"!). As a side note, do you know how difficult it is to find brass glass globe pendant fixtures with rods (not just chain extensions) to go above and island for 12' ceilings that don't cost as much as a mortgage payment? Well, if you don't, now you do. The struggle is real. 

Annnnd insert scary music here. Not only did I spend about 60 hours and two months of my life attempting to track this specific item down, I became so fixated that literally nothing else would suffice. 

Well, spoiler alert for anyone else recently taken with these beauties... They are SOLD OUT and DISCONTINUED. The horror. I am not even too embarrassed to say that I may have a new pen pal at the original manufacturer. We went back and forth several times, and sadly, there is nothing they can do to help me. I guess I thought they would just have a few remnants lying around waiting for me to discover and request them two years after production ceased. Total tragedy. 

via Top Home Shops

Everyone pour out one for the Gabby Morgan pendant tonight. I know I will. 

More on lights later this week. It will never be the same, but a replacement has been chosen. I know everyone is on the edge of their seat. 

I will never forget you, Gabby Morgan pendant. One love. 

Raise the Roof

A few weeks ago, to Jack's overwhelming delight, we found out we had dropped ceilings in the back guest bedroom and the kitchen. I do not understand why people ever did this. Were the savings in heating/cooling ever really worth losing 3.5 feet of ceiling space? Definitely not. Also to add some fun to the mix, all of the light fixtures I picked out were definitely not made for 12' ceilings. Major freak out ensued. 

Apparently, according to our contractor, the ceilings were really easy to tear out and there were no animals, pots of gold, or leprechauns hiding in the insulation. Drats.

What was really cool though was the remnants, if you can even call it that, of old wallpaper left behind in the back bedroom. 

At this point, it basically looks like hieroglyphics, but I cannot imagine how old it is. It was past the point of any restoring, as the original plaster behind it had some pretty significant water damage, but it was pretty cool to find nonetheless. I could make out a vague coat of arms and a few other details, but other than that, not much. Great image quality, I know. 

Here are a few full shots of the two dropped ceilings before & after removal so you can tell some of the difference in height. 

Kitchen before:

Kitchen after:

Bedroom before:

Bedroom after:

Raise the roof. The roof is on fire. The roof is on fleek. All jokes aside though, I don't even know what that means. Fleek is not a word.