small projects

(aka: finishing ones in the wings) These two projects involved upgrading from cheap, brassing fixtures to period lighting. The attic fixture was one that i purchased from the Rebuilding Center as rusted out and without shades. A couple coats of primer and paint, a tassle piece (thanks Chris!) and some shades later... viola! A fixture for under $50! The other light was from Nanny Faye. The age is unknown, and the shades are a little frilly, but it works in a quirky way. Unfortunately we are on the hunt for a matching shade or two new ones as one shattered while hanging in the air. Sad...



Attic Bedroom Light

Nanny Faye's light
(big bummer, one of the shades shattered!)

 

flashbacks

Joe and I have just a few finishing touches on the Master Suite before we take a BIG {financial} BREAK on things... for me to part with all the work (my eyes see so many more projects to do!) I am the type that has to justify it. I started looking back on our journey over the past two years and thought I would share some of the befores/ durings to inspire anyone who is also in the midst of a big project.

Whenever I get overwhelmed with the state of affairs or frustrated with progress (I work on a jobsite so I easily forget that DIY at home is much slower and different than building big things at work). I also find it interesting how I so easily block things from my mind, it's too easy to block out the "befores" and lost focus on the progress.

What were we thinking!?

wall repair in the dining room

poorly installed old windows that had major gaps

(it's built in ventilation, right?)

our temporary kitchen that froze in the winter ice storms...


and how could i forget the pink, mauve bathroom
with the gurgling sink (not properly vented) and
toilet waste line held together by duct tape (disgusting!)

our working "ninja turtle green" bathroom

(future project)

the master bedroom (before)

after we had taken out the louvered windows

the attic bedroom (before)

Update

We've been busy enjoying life and paying not much attention to the house - much needed! Between the recent downpours we've spent some time reorganizing the plants outside and joe has a few things started in the garden in the back.

this afternoon we went wild on an existing "desk" that took up half the room in the attic. after about 1000 screws (varying in length from 1/2" to 8"!!, buried under glue, nails, newspaper for caulk and paint we got it destructed, down the stairs (3 stories down) and in pieces in the garage... i would love to show the previous homeowners how to build things simply, more efficietly and much CHEAPER! oh yes, and there was electrical wiring tucked throughout this bad boy - so you could plug things in every you might think of! - did we mention it was built on top of the old carpet?

before photo

with the doors and drawers missing
(you could hide a twin size bed under there, and then some!)

opposite side

gone!
(need to patch the holes from the lag bolts)

apart in the hallway