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Sorry for the lack of posts this past week or so.
I was here...
...as well as some other places. And everything is kind of a blur.
Find out more at http://forjapanwithlove.com Also you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation that will be added to your phone bill. So easy and takes a few seconds!Every little bit helps.
Wherein I obsess about all I couldn't accomplish in the past few months...
Remember way back a few months ago, I set all these crazy goals with the hopes that everything would be done by this spring (as in 3 days from today)?
Well, this is where we stand:
1) Closet Messes:
Coat closet:
X Toss old coats
X Buy new hangers
__ Paint inside closet, inside door, etc
__ Buy new baskets and organize hats, gloves, etc
__ Buy new shoe rack or boot tray for winter boots
Linen closet:
__ Toss old products
__ Buy new baskets
__ Organize new baskets
__ Paint inside closet
Score: 2/9
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2) Finish Living Room:
X Paint bookshelf and mantle
X Paint staircase wall
X Hire someone to paint stairwell wall
X Stain banister
__ Polyurethane banister
__ Finish painting posts (after poly dries)
__ Paint stair risers
__ Hire someone to refinish stair treads
__ Someday install a runner
Score: 4/9
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3) Lighting:
__ New sconce in vestibule
__ New light on porch
__ New dining room chandelier
__ New living room sconces
__ New upstairs hallway light
Score: 0/4
---
4) Window Treatments:
__ Dining room drapes
X Sunroom/office shades front wall
__ Sunroom/office shades side walls (on backorder)
Score: 1/3
---
5) Furniture:
__ Coffee table
__ Rug
__ Dining room table
__ Dining room chairs
__ Office desk
Score: 0/5
---
6) Future projects (to do in case I have extra time this winter - HA!)
__ Paint the third bedroom
__ Tree and shrubbery removal
X New car (yes!)
__ New driveway
Score: 1/5
---
Final score: 8/35 - I lose!
In actuality I was able to accomplish a couple of major time-sucking projects - like the living room side of the staircase and the built-in shelves. Each project took about a week to complete, including long hours on the weekend.
On the flip side, we would have put some more money into new furniture, lighting, etc if it wasn't for this little beauty instead:
It's all about balance. And having fun. And having some lazy weekends.
And we have one more thing to add to the list... All the snow and ice we had this winter did a number on our front stairs. Of course we want to start thinking about curb appeal. We don't want to be known as the messy neighbors on the block (at this moment there is actually a rubber tire on our curb waiting to be picked up - so it may be a little late for that). But between the scraggly trees and driveway and now this, we certainly have our work cut out for us.
The good news is, I'm setting a new goal this spring to keep on plugging away at as much of the list as possible. Will check back in this June.
I've been researching lighting options for the dining room and pulled out my favorites from Circa Lighting here:
The thing is... after looking at these for the amount of time it took me to put this post together, I'm already sick of them. That isn't good, right?
I'm realizing that maybe the candle bulbs and little shades just aren't my thing.
Here are some of my neurotic thoughts:
- They remind me of Scarlett Johansson's chandeliers.
- Are candle bulbs boring and tedious?
- The "Vendome" and "Reed" are kind of country kitchen. That isn't the look we're going for here.
- The "Mykonos" is too much of the Mediterranean style. Also not the look we are going for.
- The "Venetian" looks and sounds like a Home Depot fixture. (Is that snotty?)
- The "Double Twist" is wacky and starting to remind me of Miss Havisham.
- The "Bryant" is not bothering me at the moment. But not exactly wooing me either.
We also: NEED CURTAINS. Top of the list right now.
After many, many, many months of consideration...
(this would be the point of no return)
This photo is real, un-photoshopped
It is kind of a relief to be this far along, because it's something I have gotten a little obsessive about (as the staircase is visible from the couch, and my eye always rests on things that bother me). I did want to finish completely before posting photos, but I became anxious.
Dad, I'm sorry for disrespecting the wood.
The hardware is all from Restoration Hardware - the Dakota Chestnut collection. There was a pretty decent sale (!) a couple of weeks ago on hardware.
I originally wanted one long rod over the entire length of the above wall. Too bad RH hardware only comes in a maximum length of 126". What the eff?? We needed around 140-145" to get the right look. This is absolutely puzzling considering the insanely large scale of nearly every single item at Restoration.
The single window is getting two curtain panels. Now I need more hook thingies. And tie-back thingies. The RH hole is not an easy one to climb out of.
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