ENTRY & GREAT ROOM: BEFORE
ENTRY & GREAT ROOM: AFTER
Outside of the flooring, this room was basically a face lift: white paint, $6 wall hanging (Chalone Vineyards), $8 Target lamp, recycled artificial greenery, chair & ottoman $200 American Furniture Warehouse (previously in my office), and $10 door wreath from Michaels.
More face lift: White paint, cream paint on stairs & accent wall, wall hanging (hidden behind the beam) given to me by my section chief when I first joined the LSU faculty. The biggest improvement to the room was the painting and preservation of the French doors.
I replaced the entry closet doors with hanging solar shades from Domestications ~ $100
Entry landing is sparsely furnished with white paint, a $400 upright piano that I've had for years, the stove, and a foyer table ($75 from Platte Furniture Consignment). Framed wall hanging $1.99, Uruguay key $.50, candle stick $1.00--all from Good Will. Maddie found the cool key. The foyer table holds the requisite candy dish (pewter gift) and welcoming book.
SOLARIUM: BEFORE
We got rid of the awful blue shades & brown accents that drew the eye instinctively to the ceiling.
We added the ceiling. Unfortunately, I have no photos of the room before the ceiling was added.
The previous home owner was an anthropologist--about as far from me (philosophically) as a person can be!
SOLARIUM: AFTER
We painted everything above the window frames one color.
The eye naturally stays in the intimate surroundings.
This room was the most expensive of the updating; we had to hire someone to take down the shades, paint, and build the ceiling. The furniture in this breakfast room is Rick's (except the cute little animals in the hutch; those are mine!)
Again, saving the "barn" doors by painting them really made a huge improvement in the room.
The doors required 2 coats of primer and 1 coat of paint (or 5 coats of paint). Furniture is Rick's.
This side of the solarium is furnished with things I've accumulated throughout my life.
We spray painted the wicker and just assembled things together that looked like they belonged.
One of the realtors really liked the giraffe.
The French doors, from the other view.
KITCHEN: BEFORE
Notice the stove and microwave are actually connected. Probably from the 70's era...
The kitchen, after I replaced the appliances (but not including my original stove--which lives with me currently, in my rent house). This black stove is a less expensive alternate, which I will sell with the home.
That is a 1980's trash compacter.
We found that make-shift laminate desk area to be entirely non-functional, so we tore it out.
The area in front of the back door was set up as a make-shift pantry, with the shelves pictured below.
Notice the awful orange laminate counters.
We tore out this shelving and made a mud room area.
The yucky goo dripping down the wall? I have no idea...
That isn't my mess...
KITCHEN: AFTER
Polyurethane clear satin applied to the cabinets.
Orange laminate counter tops were painted using the Giani Granite product $80.
Recycled greenery; fruit bowl $1 from Good Will; artificial fruit $10 Walmart
3 tea light copper candles in the window $4 Good Will
Tile mosaic table $75 World Market (on sale last summer)
Wall hanging in frame $6 Good Will
Close up of the counters
In the place of the previous built-in laminate desk and trash compacter, we moved the refrigerator and added this wine buffer $200 Craig's list (which will not sell with the house).
Recycled greenery
DOWNSTAIRS BATHROOM: BEFORE
Laminate flooring
Laminate counter and wooden mirror
DOWNSTAIRS BATHROOM: AFTER
Apricot paint for accent walls
Laminate counter and floors replaced with this Italian tile
Candelabra $2.99 Good Will; candles $1 Dollar Tree
Mirror $75 American Furniture Warehouse
White paint
White towels $8 Walmart
Wall hanging in frame $3 Good Will
Vase $.50 Good Will
Red poppies $1 Dollar Tree
The note is written by me, informing prospective buyers that the house has been winterized, and water is not available.
MASTER BATHROOM: BEFORE
On my facebook, I had a nice discussion with several people about whether to attempt to preserve, or get rid of, these blue sinks. I decided to go with a friend's idea to recreate a spa-like atmosphere. This is my attempt, anyway. I used the following photo (and others) as inspiration:
My inspiration photo... I liked the turquoise and white, although the Forest House bathroom is baby blue. |
The horrifying 1970's flower wall paper.
Running along side the wall paper is terrible white wood border.
The mirrors were entirely too large and not centered on the walls.
The light fixtures appear to have been brought into the house pre-1970's.
Prior to the wall paper, the walls were a lovely baby blue, presumably to match the sinks.
I pulled off the wall paper.
Oh, and the top layer of the dry wall, too. Oops.
MASTER BATHROOM: AFTER
We thought a spa-like atmosphere would take minimalist approach.
The mirrors are polished edges, and we used translucent lights in the fixtures.
We kept the blue sinks, which I think turned out just fine.
Soap dishes and candle holders ~ $ 3.50 Good Will
Hand towels $5.00 Walmart
Shower rod $1 Dollar Tree
Recycled shower curtain from my previous apt.
Replaced closet doors with solar shade from Domestications ~ $100
Multi-colored blue marbles in a glass candy dish: $3 Walmart + $1 Good Will
Candlestick $.50 Good Will
Plastic plant $10 Target
Stained glass "SPA" sign: $1.99 Good Will
FRONT PORCH: BEFORE
I don't have a true "before" photo. Prior to this, the porch was covered in paneling that warped from water damage, because the roof wasn't properly caulked.
PORCH: AFTER
Rick crawled up on there and properly caulked this awning with tar.
You can see the finished product peeking out from under the awning.
More of the porch ceiling peeking out...
Also, the new front walk (stones and pebbles), which replaced rotting deck boards.
Rick replacing the ceiling with tongue-in-groove wood from Lowe's ~ $100 (+ the nail gun, which was really more of a recreational product for Rick)
And, after we finished everything today (the only thing left to do is mop...), we saw these two lovely visitors in the front yard--a nice reminder that we are incredibly blessed to live in this beautiful place.
