Thursday, December 20, 2012

The List, yikes!

Good day to you all!  We have finally moved into our dream home and now my ideas can become reality.  So, I have already told you about how this house has great bones, but it comes with the added and unwanted flavor of "I am stuck in autumn country living hell".  Maybe some people, well obviously some people, love their homes to be washed year round in the entire Fall spectrum.  We are NOT those people.  What you can take from this is PAINTING, lots of PAINTING, among other things.

Lets take a quick look at a growing list of interior projects and some visuals for perspective.  Keep in mind, we are of the Eclectic/Modern persuasion, so the list is long.... =/
  1. Modernize the family room:
    • Get rid of the pumpkin paint, yes PUMPKIN.  Paint a shade of gray.
    • Close off laundry and bathroom access from this room which will create a nice solid wall.
    • Make that solid wall beautiful by covering it in stacked stone.
    • Paint the fireplace a shade of gray, this will cover the existing crazy color slate tiles and black grout.
    • Figure out what to do with the sheet rock beam which separates the family room from the kitchen, maybe cover with wood & stain?
    • Hang our dark gray IKEA canvas-ish curtains...floor to ceiling =)
    • New central lighting fixture
  2. Modernize the eat-in kitchen:
    • Remove Wal-Mart style fluorescent lighting, install new fixture.
    • Remove country kitchen pendant light from eat-in portion, install new fixture.
    • Get rid of the "pumpkins laying the sun" paint colors. Paint a shade of gray. 
    • Remove soffits
    • Rearrange then raise wall cabinets to industry standard height, or higher!
    • Rearrange base cabinets (re-utilization & to get rid of wrap around peninsula).
    • Paint all cabinets black (welcome to the dark side).
    • Remove micro-vent combo, replace with new extractor hood.
    • Install new IKEA Numerar countertops in Oak (yay!).
    • Add new IKEA Kansli handles =)
    • Convert pantry into refrigerator encasement.
    • Build new pantry next to future coffee bar.
    • Paint country style Windsor table & chairs...black, silver, gray, turquoise shades?
    • Make some simple tie up or roman shades.
  3. Grand Staircase & Entry
  4. Downstairs Guest Bath Refresh
    • New toilet
    • Remove old cultured marble wrap around vanity
    • Remove tile on floors
    • Add new light fixture
    • Install new flooring
    • Install IKEA Lillangen/Talleviken vanity
    • New paint on walls
    • Art?
  5. Upstairs Guest Bath Refresh
    • New toilet
    • Install new flooring
    • New vanities (probably IKEA Lillangen/Talleviken)
    • New shower and sink faucets/fixtures
    • New paint on walls
    • Art?
  6. Master Bath Renovation
    • Remove closet door and entrance walls (open it up!)
    • Remove disgusting cultured marble walk-in shower stall
    • Remove jacuzzi tub and cultured marble surround 
    • Remove vanity, mirror, and light fixture
    • Make a new walk in shower (ideas to come)
    • Install IKEA Godmorgon/Odensvik vanities and tall cabinets
    • Install IKEA Dalskar faucets
    • New window coverings
    • Install IKEA Pax or Elga wardrobes (yay!)
  7. Master Bedroom
    • New paint
    • New window coverings
    • Ideas for balcony and balcony door....?
  8. Last Bit of Items
    • New paints for formal living and dining rooms
    • New or improved chandelier for formal living and dining rooms
    • New window coverings for formal living and dining rooms
    • New paint for office
    • New light fixtures for office
Seriously, I was not joking.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Photoshop Exterior!

Making a decision on paint and textures for a house is hard enough in a single room.  Because of a home's grand scale, I wanted to see what our ideas looked like on the house before purchasing.  In comes Photoshop!  So this took me quite a while to do, but I think it is totally worth it.  I mean, come on, realistically painting samples on the side of the house really doesn't do the trick.  That is of course my opinion =)  

I present to you our new home exterior, well Photoshop version for now =)


We think it is a 180 degree change!  

This look provides depth to show that the house has a ton of exterior features.  
  • 2 different paint colors
  • stone facades throughout
  • extended paved driveway
  • tone on tone garage doors (no longer a focal point)
  • black trim
  • black metal roof
What do you think?

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Exterior Ideas

My husband and I agree that one of the most important things we need to do to get this house moving towards Modern & Eclectic is to change the exterior.  Since the house is stucco it will be fairly cost effective to get a new paint job.  Another cost effective trend that we love is the stacked stone details.  I really love how stacked stone complements a house.  Finally, we want to give our house a new hat.  Off with the shingles and on with the Black Tin Roof!  Ok, so we realize that the roof is more than likely going to be the last thing we can do because it cost several arms and legs, whole bodies probably.  Now that you sort of know what we are going for, how about some visuals?

The exterior colors we love are blacks, grays, and off-whites or creamy grays...
Sherwin-Williams

Pleasse shuffle through our Exterior Ideabook as it is where I get most of my ideas  =)





Monday, November 19, 2012

so we bought our dream home

Yep, that's right!  So, you know I love fashion and you know I travel a lot, but who says that you can't find a place to plant roots?  My husband and I never thought we would find a place in the U.S. that would fit our needs.  We still plan on having more homes throughout this wonderful world, but now those homes can be smaller.  You know like a beach-side bungalow, or country-side cottage, or downtown loft.  =)

Anyhow, we found a house that is going to need a lot of work to turn it into what we want.  The good news is that the house is in perfect condition.  Basically, it's a country style home.  We want to change this to match our modern eclectic style.

I'm about to turn this new house into our forever home.  It will happen, and hopefully it will happen sooner than later!  So what do you say, join me in this virtual home renewal?

"If you don't mind, I will begin at the beginning..." =)