done for 09!

The dining room is done!

Rad come through and we killed ourselves painting this weekend (thanks, mom for the help!) but it is DONE! and even better, that means SO ARE WE! We decided, after the dining room- we were putting the renovations on hold for the rest of 2009.

My dad and step-mother came over for the steelers game (more on that later :-( ) so we had an extra "deadline" which helped us get out of bed when the alarm went off at 8 this morning after working til 1230 last night.

I guess this is what happens to your weekend when you're a homeowner of a home in desperate need of some TLC- your social life is limited to a paintbrush and episodes of "this american life" downloaded to itunes.

Unfortunately, I dont have many pre-photos, but if words help, it was crumbling plaster, covered in panelling and/or wall board, covered in wallpaper, covered in high gloss beige paint. Oh, and there was, at one time, a lovely drop ceiling in there, which the previous owners took down and put (thank you!) a real drywall ceiling- however, instead of drywalling the walls, they just put wallpaper up to make up for the 18 inches left when the drop ceiling came down. really? ew.

the pre-photos I can find:

these are of the house when we first saw it with the previous owner's furniture. It should be noted that as we sanded off the high-gloss, there was navy blue paint. meaning the previous owners had the entire room painted blue before they put it on the market. Including the 90 year-old built in cabinets.

The casings around the door had been plastered over so many times that they were nearly flush with the wall and in desperate shape, so we had those replaced as well as the chair rail. The plan is to put crown mouldings in the living room and dining room in the future.

note Oscar on the buffet under the window ;-)

oh, for those who keep track (as I do)- the back wall is rusty red, the trim is rice drink, and the walls are oat cake. The walls look nearly white in these photos, but are actually a pinky-beige, and the trim, rice drink, is a really rich white.

Now we need something for the windows- curtains won't really work, maybe shades? blinds? something translucent would work fine- just need some privacy, no need to block out light. hmmmm.....thoughts??

On a related note, it is my birthday week! :-) Im famous (as my bday cards so far have reminded me), of celebrating all week. Ok, all month. ;-). If my 28th year will be anything like my 27th, things are looking wonderful. Just this weekend I am reminded of the wonderful people in my life- especially my parents and husband. Little things, like how Reg painted with me til the early morning hours, ignoring the college football games that could have been on, just a small room and big TV away, and despite working as hard (harder really) as I did on our latest home improvement project this weekend, would still stop and give me a cure-all back rub if I asked. And to my large extended-immediate family who know exactly what I need when I needed and whose thoughtfulness always amazes and humbles me. I hope I am/can be the wife, daughter, friend that they deserve.

On a "lighter" note- unfortunately, the Steelers did not realize that it is my birthday and lost to the Chicago Bears, making Jay Cutler look like a superbowl qb and Big Ben, well, not. Jeff Reed misses 2 field goals? what? Luckily Reg made his amazing pesto in our homemade shrimp-pesto pizza, and the parents brought almond tort, wine, and veggies (and new toys for Oscar- yaye!), so the food coma kinda makes up for it. ;-)

The major projects may be done for 09, but I have my eye on a few little fixer-ups, so Im sure Ill be able to keep adding to these posts!

Goodnight!