Office turned Pantry

I cleaned all of the stuff out of the pantry I was using as a home office.

We added a few shelves to be able to spread out a little more. The pantry is three feet deep, so the side shelves were a better use of space. And you can see that the tiling of the floor has started.

I finished up the tiling this evening and gave the shelves a coat of primer and paint.

After the painted dried, I loaded in some of the pantry stuff. I've moved the microwave into the pantry also, we don't use it much and this will free up counter space.  Ever notice how there is no such thing as a pretty microwave? 

Progress is good.  I have a bunch of freshly dyed fabric that is ready to iron and photograph, can't wait to show you all some of that, some fun pieces in there!  Can't wait to get my hands on it but this kitchen face lift project looks like it will take up my time for a while.  I do love seeing the transformation!  More photos coming.  Stay tuned!

Here's to a fresh coat of paint, nothing is quite like it!  Happy creating! 

Bathroom Makeover

Before (well... we'd already started making the mess at this point)Everything was vintage 1975! There were various colors of green in this bathroom, from the avocado tub, to the multicolored floor, to the moss green counter top… and then the gold walls. Mercy! Instead of remodeling, I decided to give it a face lift. No demolition, no tile work, no big mess or big bill. Just a new look.

After:

First of all, I covered this avocado tub...
...with this great new shower curtain from Marimekko.
And all the gold paint had to go! I chose a shade of green that would tie the other greens together and give an updated look.
I picked out a new faucet and hubby installed it for me. I picked up new hardware for the vanity. (Can you tell I have a thing for fleur de lis?!) We painted the vanity and all the trim in a lovely clean ultra white. I removed the hinges and rattle canned them white. Hubby installed new GFI outlets and changed the switches and recepts to white with white plates.
My hubby removed the old lighting and put in track lighting, with two pendants lights and some spots. I love how the glass shades echo the black lines in the shower curtain and the flexibility of track lighting spots.

I must admit to loving my new TP holder which is now on the end of the vanity to the right of the throne rather than on the wall to the left.
I like how the new towel holder works to cover up the intercom system a bit. Though I love having music from my ipod piped to every room in the house, I think the wall units are kind of ugly.
The "towel rack" is ready for towels, and that wall is ready for artwork! So I'd better get to work!
We were able to do all the work ourselves with help from my Mom & Dad who dropped by to help paint and re-hang the doors. It was far cheaper than a remodel job and we have a nice sense of accomplishment in the transformation.

Thanks for stopping by.

Transformations

Whew, I’m a weary one but we got a lot done today. Hubby had the day off of school thanks to the snow. We ran some errands this morning, and came home with a gallon of paint for the bedroom. We painted everything; the trim took a number of coats. So we started out with this blue from 1975 and natural wood trim.
And ended up with a pale lime green with white trim. I had given a fresh coat of black to an antique bed we’ve schlepped with us each time we moved though at least eight houses now. I bought it at a yard sale well over a decade ago. So we’ve got that moved in and a new mattress. Tomorrow the fun stuff: curtains, artwork, linens and who knows what else. The room needs to be ready for guests by Friday. We’re getting a few international students on Spring Break. Should be fun.

Three little ornaments for the blue kitchen. These little stars are made from shells from the last time I visited the Outer Banks. I look at these and think of waking up to the sounds of the ocean, sitting up in bed to watch the sunrise over the water. I met an artist while I was there who worked in sea shells and I found her work inspiring. So after an expensive trip to the sea shell store I came home with a few ornaments and a box full of possibilities.

A few days ago I finished stripping the top of the table. I'll hit it with some fine sand paper and put a new finish on it when I get a chance. Oh, and I'm going to darken the legs and skirt of the table. When I get a chance.

I love these little details where the woods meet. Those dowel dots are just plain COOL!
Well, I'm due for a cup of tea and a little snuggle with a pooch on the sofa in front of the tv.