Another major reno… uh, what?

It feels like we just finished cleaning up the dust from renovating the entrance. My relief was so deep, I swear I could taste it. I was so happy with the result… but almost happier about reclaiming my home and being able to “put things where they go” (instead of simply “wherever”) ESPECIALLY with Christmas just around the corner.

Yesterday afternoon I stepped in a small puddle in the basement workshop/storage area. Well that puddle kept growing and started smelling… and about 24 hours later, there is a team packing up half the contents of my basement, preparing for another team… who will be ripping out all my floors down there!

Bye-Bye any notions of holiday entertaining that I had buzzing around in my head… no brunch, no game night… sorry friends!

Welcome home!

With just under 2 weeks to go to Christmas, my home is finally coming out of the state of chaos and disorganization that it has been in since we decided to start a seemingly simple renovation of our front and main entrance – three and half weeks ago.

Brandon always laughs at me when I say things like “we’ll just knock this wall down, patch and paint…” Sigh. He laughs with reason because when I say it, I sincerely believe that whatever it is I want to do, it will be simple and fast. After living with the contents of my front entrance (which is A LOT at this time of the year) sprawled all over the house for the last few weeks, I’ll admit that maybe it wasn’t quite as simple, nor as fast as I thought it would be. HOWEVER, I’m also really happy with how it has come together… now that it’s done (!)

So, we went from a tiny little entrance that was 4′ x 3′ of floor room plus a built in closet to this wide open space… that slowly became both beautiful and functional. And now that the coats and hats, snowpants, boots, bags, etc… are no longer finding a place to “be” in my bedroom, livingroom and kitchen (!) and our Christmas tree is up and sparkling in the livingroom, I feel like I can breathe a little, do some christmas baking and finish up the other little things I want to get done this month.

But first… let me show you what we’ve done…

Busy (without) B

We’ve known for months that Brandon would be away this week for a school trip (4 days… 3 little monkeys… 1 mom…). To be honest, I wasn’t particularly worried about flying solo for a few days. Not that I’m THAT GOOD or anything, but our girls ARE good (most of the time) and we don’t have that many things on the go, making 0ur lives/schedules still simple enough to manage (for the most part).

And yet, right before Brandon left, we had our front hall demolished and one of the walls extended. Needless to say the house is a little messy and unorganized (and dusty from all the gyprock sanding)… but more than that, my brain has been spinning trying to decide how I’m going to organize the space!

This is my “drawing board”, so to speak…

While browsing google images and pinterest for ideas for the entrance I was able to figure out what elements I really want in this space:

(1) A bench (which must also be useful and serve as storage for hats/mits/etc.)

(2) Hooks (both high and low, for adults and children)

(3) A small table/shelf or “higher” surface where we can put our keys, mails, etc.

(4) A boot tray (in the winter only)

This list helped me to narrow down my ideas a little. For starters, we opened up the space because it was feeling cramped, so that last thing that I want to do is add a big wardrobe or storage unit that is just going to crowd the entrance. So despite not having a mudroom and the fact that this is our main entrance, I’m going more for a “mudroom” feel here.

This sketch helped even more:

http://www.ikeafans.com

Um… doesn’t this sketch look like it was made just for me? 🙂

The main idea is to use the Ikea Expedit bookcase on its side as a (1) bench (maybe we’ll even add some legs) and (2) as a wall-mounted shelf with cubbies/baskets for storage.

While searching on pinterest, I found a lot examples of the expedit unit being used as a bench… and a great idea for a “table” that could also serve as storage.

With the help of pinterest, I found this picture over at “Centsational Girl”

Also found on pinterest – an awesome idea for shoes (or whatever!)

Now that the walls are almost ready (they still need one more sanding), I am getting very anxious to pull thisall together. With Brandon back home I have big (probably TOO big) hopes of getting the painting done and floor installed this week.

Lots of fun (work) to come!

 

My “grown-up” bedroom

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about how I was obsessing over decoration ideas for my new improved living room and master bedroom. Since then things have really started coming together – though we have yet to receive the chest dresser that goes in our bedroom and the beige chaise for our livingroom, not to mention the exchanges we’re waiting for on items already delivered. It’s not a quick process, but there has definitely been signigicant progress.

Although we started with the livingroom,  our Master bedroom (MBR) is the currently the most “defined” in terms of decor/completion.

Obsessing…

It’s official. I’m obsessed.

Since B gave me the “go-ahead” to purchase some new furniture a few weeks ago, I have spent a ridiculous amount of time with a measuring tape in hand, looking on furniture store web sites and playing with different room layouts on the Brick’s icovia room planner… and of course, thinking about colours.

I don’t know why I get so crazy – wanting my decisions to be so absolutely perfect (cost-effective, good quality and nice… not to mention good options for kids, and considering the pets, etc.) and lasting. But my mind jumps from one option to the next and even when I think I’ve made a “final” decision – I have a hard time turning it OFF.

The living room is actually starting to come together…