Final big project complete!

The final big project on the interior was completed last night and I could not be any more giddy. Well, at least until major renovation that may or may not happen years down the road. The carpet was installed on the stairs and the railing put back up. It truly helps make the space look finished and is much safer. These are just quick iphone photos so it is hard to tell, but there is a pattern throughout on the light gray carpeting. It makes leading up to the kids space a bit more fun without being over the top since technically this is not my house and only a rental. I will be sure to grab better photos once I start pulling the space together more.

Now I am contemplating making the railing black or staining them a deeper color. I think it would make it feel a tad more modern and clean. Here are a couple images that have my head spinning...

Thomas O'Brien via Poppy Talk | Tonya Olsen via pinterest

The Den {in process}

The den/movie room is some what improved from when these photos were actually taken. This is also the room we find ourselves in most of the time. The TV does not even have to be on. Guests seem to linger here and the view isn't too shabby. The stairs lead up to the kids space and the room is housed between the kitchen and the hall that leads to the office and main bath. Today carpet is getting installed on the stairs and the railing goes back up. Yes, our kids have been living with a floor full of tack strips for the last month. Furniture can't go up and down the narrow case unless the railing is down and the carpet guys would not install till the railing was up. It really was quite the catch 22.

We ended up using two of our ikea bookcases that used to live in our old office as a tv console. It works for now and gives me a space to display my design books. To the left of the door I want to hang two photos of the kiddos in frames that we already own. The TV needs some balance. I am also thinking roman shades for the windows. Old windows are odd sizes and custom is not cheap so alas they sit empty. The alley way is directly behind us with other homes so it would be nice to have the choice of shutting them when I am hanging in my pj's.

Everything in the view is the same from the other house. This tall lamp is gone and I found her twin at Homegoods for the fraction of the cost and I could not have been more excited. The bucket seat seems to float from room to room and currently I have our linen living room chair here as a place holder. What I really would like is a petite yet comfortable swivel chair. I am on the hunt! Over the sofa I want to hang a big piece of art. I can't decide between an abstract piece like this  or this. I have also leaned toward a drawing of sorts. I also love this and think this is kind of a hoot. As you can see I may need some more time before pulling the trigger. 

kids chairs

coffee table antique

sofa: restoration hardware in charcoal

The Kitchen in Progress

It's a mess. That's all there is to it. HA. I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel though! What we did thus far is paint the cabinets. Added a new working fridge, new faucet, new knobs, and cleaned like crazy. We also changed the lights, but I am ready to move them to another part of the house. They just do not provide enough light for the kitchen although the Mr loves it. I tried regular bulbs, but the glare was too much. I then used these and they work great just not for here. They will move to the office and upstairs hallway. Now I am on the hunt for new lighting. The ceiling is lower in here so with the Mr's tall height I can only get something that is 12" max. I am thinking something with brass maybe and they have to be relatively cheap since this is a rental. Have you seen anything??? I really am stumped.

In a moment of needing to feel "finished" we hung the botanicals that once hung in the master. I am not sure if they will stay here or not. We also came to a conclusion that a small table with chairs just won't fit here. Boo. For now a bench that I bought in Atlanta while out with Tiffany and Marianne lives here.

This built in piece may be my favorite. I became all teary eyed putting my grandmothers ironstone away. Just thinking the year of the house matches her life made me melt. I obviously need to install the door magnet closer doohickies so the cabinets actually stay shut.

This may make me most happy. As you walk into the back door the floor rotted out. It was pulled out and we were left with quite a hole. We then discovered this 20 something year old tile is no longer in existence at 12.5". One day we hope to remove the whole floor and rebuild, but that's not a nearby project. In the meantime we needed a solution. After much thought I decided that this 1931 house at one time could have had a vestibule of sorts so I tried to create that feel. Kind of as if the walls had just been removed and this was what we were left with. The up side is that the pattern helps distract from the rest of the not so fabulous floor. HA.

bottom cabinets: Seal by Martha Stewart {mixed by Benjamin Moore}

top cabinets: talc by Martha Stewart {mixed by Benjamin Moore}

walls: talc by Martha Stewart from Home Depot mixed with Behr paint and primer in one

Knobs: Lowes

Faucet: Delta {bought on sale}

washer and dryer: LG

stool: serena and lily

* where it all began.