Two Showers are Better than One

We finally have two functioning showers.

Actually, we started with two functioning showers but I messed that up by assuming I could quickly and easily replace a rusty shower arm in our master bath.  I watched a couple YouTube videos and set to work--only the old shower arm would not come off.  I tried WD-40; I had Tommie try; a handyman tried it and finally came to the conclusion that it was rusted in place.  He would have to cut out and repair a chunk of the wall to replace the entire unit.  He also found out it was leaking behind the wall--so in a way, it was a good thing I set out on this impossible task.

With the wall patched (now smoothed and new shower arm in place), I could install our new filtrated shower head.  There are so many options when it comes to shower heads I really didn't know where to start.  I recently read an article about health issues caused by breathing in too much chlorine and other toxins from our water which prompted me to look up filtrated shower heads.  I found this highly-rated one by Culligan on Amazon for only $25.  Seemed worth a shot for that price.  (Filters should be replaced every six months and they run about $11).

I also needed to replace the shower knob which was growing all kinds of black mold inside it (so gross!).  I hate these plastic pieces of crap, but until we do a big overhaul of the bathroom, it's best/cheapest to just replace the knob for $10.

(Nasty old knob.)

 (Easy new knob replacement costs about $10 at Lowes. Make sure the diamond or other shape matches up with your existing one.)

Feels good to get this project crossed off the list.  The next step in this room is paint (we're thinking mint and gray like this.)

Party On

Last night we hosted a birthday milestone masquerade party at our house.  It was our first gathering in the new place.  Part of the whole reason we bought our house is because we love the layout, which has a great flow to it even with a group of people inside.

Because I'm having some kind of crisis about turning 30, I basically threw myself a kid's party.

I set up a craft station in the dining room where guests could make their own masks.  I pre-made masks from colorful foam sheets using free templates online and got some glitter glue, rhinestones, and feathers at the craft store so people could personalize them.

I also set up a table in the eat-in kitchen for make your own cupcakes.  I baked a combo of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes, had a few different types of frosting, and some candy toppings.  Not only was it easier than frosting them myself, but it also gave people something else to do during the party.  I like to encourage creativity.

We put a small assortment of food on the kitchen island next to the eat-in area.  This is where most people gravitated during the night (always near the food).  But people also broke off into groups to make masks or sit in the living room and talk.  It's a good house for hosting and will hopefully be even better in the future when we get the kitchen and yard/porch in shape.

Mantel Makeover

We decided to paint the mantel over our fireplace white so that it better matches our newly painted white trim in the living room, and to help it stand out more as part of the focal point.  Before, the wood just blended in.

 (Wood trim, mantel & fireplace on day one.)

(After painting the trim and the wall, but it still blends in.)

(Making the mantel pop with white.)

The brackets under the mantel are an old-fashioned style that look like something a kid made in wood shop class, so instead of pronouncing them with white we painted them dark gray to blend in with the rock and shadows.  It gives the mantel more of a "floating shelf" effect.

(Ugly brackets blend in as dark gray.)

Now, we just have to figure out a way to modernize the face of the fireplace itself.

Banister Beautification

80's oak.  It's the gift that keeps on giving in here.  Our splotchy and dated entryway banister was just another part of the house in need of a makeover.

(Stairway before and after.)

Since it's the first thing you see when you come in the front door, we really wanted to freshen it up.  I didn't like the style of the spindles, but painting them white (with the same Valspar paint we used on our trim) made them look a hundred times better.  

(Spindles and outer stair border now in white.)

The rails recieved a couple coats of dark gray high gloss paint from Sherwin William's called Gray's Harbor.  Eventually, the trim on the other side will be white too, and we'll paint the walls the same light gray color that carries into the living room.  It will be nice to tie some of the rooms together in time.

It's Always Sunny in the Guest Room

At first glance, it might seem like we're trying to blind our guests when they walk into the room and are greeted by a bright and sunny yellow accent wall.  What can I say?  All this power of picking out whatever colors we want/like has created a of couple color crazed fools.

The yellow wall (Olympic Icon in Del Sol) even scared us at first but we're digging it now that the rest of the room is softened by a light lavender (Valspar Signature in Lavender Heather. Beware, Valspar's Signature paints offer great color choices but they are "low" VOC and "low" apparently means the room will stink for a month.  I wouldn't use this line of paint in a room you can't close off and leave a window open).

Hopefully our guests warm up to the space and don't go blind first.  It's still better than what my sister said we should do:  Pink glitter zebra print.

We have a small dresser tucked into the closet (where I took down the bi-fold doors) so it doesn't take up floor space.

(Bye bi-folds)

(New closet nook)

 (Notice that last time my mom visited she left us with a bin of "her things."  She's like a crazy girlfriend who is slowly trying to move in.)

We'll get some new curtains, art on the walls, and have it all cozy for company.  Don't forget your sunglasses!

(Guest room before and after.)

Fully Furnished

We've always lacked sufficient seating in past abodes.  Even though most of the time it's just me, Tommie, and the dog, it barely seems like there's enough comfortable seats for the three of us, let alone any one else we have over.  Mostly, I blame Maya, who for a small dog, uses her length to her advantage, stretches out, and takes up the space of three grown adults.

In our new house we found ourselves with more space than we've ever had before, which meant we could finally accommodate more seating.  Due to the narrow shape of our living room, we settled on this small-space sectional on sale at Macy's (called "Clark").  It's stylish, compact, and even has a chaise, which I've always wanted.

When the delivery men came to set up the couch Maya got scared of the truck and hid in a closet, but when the coast was clear she came downstairs and it's as if she thought, "Oh, that's nice, they got me a new couch." She jumped right on it and fell asleep--ignoring the old couch which we hoped could become "her's." 

Couches are one of the few things I don't look for on Craigslist.  Tommie has a fear of used upholstery, and I agree that a stained couch is worse than a dusty table.  So, while we splurged on the new sofa, we saved on this used dining room table.  I found this solid piece on Craigslist for $80.  

It's in great shape and will be perfect for holiday meals (we're rumored to be hosting some of those this year).  In the meantime, it serves as our home office with a pretty view out the front bay window.  

I also scored a set of four dining room chairs on Craigslist for $10 each.  You know I love a good deal.  Our homes have always been a mix of the old and the new and I love the challenge of putting it all together.

Going Gray

The orange in our living room really pops, so it made sense to go with a more subdued color for the alternating walls in there.  We're not actually trying to give our family and friends a heart attack when they see our living room.

With plans to paint the front foyer a silvery gray color, and with a 40% off sale going on a Sherwin Williams, we stocked up on a shade that we think will flow nicely from the foyer into the living room and that complements the orange.  It's Samovar Silver interior satin from the HGTV line of paint.  We love the color which came out perfect after two easy coats.  Pictures really don't do it justice.

 (Before and after: White to bright. Still need to arrange furniture and hang art.)

It's true that sometimes the simplest changes can alter a room the most.  The room does not even feel like the same place we first walked into a few months ago.

 (Before and after: Doorway from living room to kitchen.)

We're waiting on a small sectional we ordered and with some art on the walls, phase one of the living room redo will be complete. 

Long-term, the doors leading to the back yard will be replaced and (hopefully) lead out to an awesome screened-in porch.

 (Before and after: Door to back porch from living room.)