Friday, May 29, 2015

My house is smiling: Curb Appeal

Every house should have a smile on its facade.

The face of this house used to look like this:

In fact, the first week that we lived here almost ten years ago, a friend named Beth tripped on that cement step. It was a horrible, uninviting entry that we avoided at all costs.

Last week our house started smiling:

This is my inspiration picture. Soon, the facade will look similar to this: 


and here it is!









Bedrooms: New and Renewed

In decorating each bedroom (my daughters did their own) I considered each person's hobbies or needs, restrictions that come with kids sharing rooms, and natural light.


Master Bedroom Renewed


Those of you who have followed this renovation know that the major reason we did this was because we needed another bedroom. After four years on a buyer's market, the house didn't sell and my husband and the two wonderful boys (kids no. 5 and 6) that I got pregnant with were sharing our bedroom.

Now, they are out and moved into their own bedroom, (pics to come) and we now have the relaxing romantic suite that makes us feel like we are always on vacation.


Years ago, I fell in love with the color combination of grays and browns. I'm a neutral girl all the way, but if you look closely then you'll see a royal blue accent color. It'll be fun to change out the accent colors depending on the time of year.

Remembering the rules of designing for a husband and wife from an old show called Designing For The Sexes, I made sure the geometric patterns balanced out flowery decor.



Websites like Pinterest and Houzz and stores like Home Goods, Michaels, TJMaxx, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, World Market and Tuesday Morning (pant, pant) helped me to design this 23 x 14 master bedroom.

The colors go perfectly with our newly renovated master bath.






Daughter's Bedrooms

Artfully practical are the words that come to my mind when it comes to my daughter's new rooms located in the 2nd floor of our new addition.









 All that will complete her stylish look is bookshelves and wall hangings.



Older Sons' Bedrooms

My teen and adult sons got a renewed bedroom also. 
The perfect guy pad. A queen bed for my 6'4 1/2 son. A futon for the college grad when he is at home. He can take it with him when he moves into his first place if he wants to.







Little Boys Room


 

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Out of the Wilderness

We give a big applause to our architect, Louis DeLaura, Mike Sadler and Jefferson Area Builders, my parents and grandfather, Countryside Construction  and a great group of sub contractors, some of whom I'll mention below. Besides the snow delays of a long winter, the process was relatively easy...even all of us sharing one bathroom for 5 weeks!

The other night some of us gathered on the upper deck to hang out and enjoy the spring evening. A couple of us were reading, and one of my daughters had her guitar and was strumming. What a wonderful atmosphere! 

So check out the various tabs on this blog to see what has been added, renovated, and a few personal DIY projects that will continue throughout the summer.




A great design...




meets great craftmanship.




A great canvas on which to decorate.















Next post will feature bedrooms, the decks and the expanded kitchen!




Sub Contractors/Venders

Advent Painting: adventconst@aol.com

Cogswell Stone: http://cogswellstone.com/





Special Thanks to my daughter, Maria, for these photographs.