Worn Cotton

Upstairs hallway, work in progress...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:08:00 +0000

On Tuesday, the skies over Tennessee decided to soak us. So, since I couldn't possibly enjoy the day doing any projects that required time spent outdoors, I painted on my stairway beadboard.

For the last month and a half I have been working on adding beadboard to our staircase walls. We had previously added new baseboards and beadboard in our upstairs hallway and I wanted to continue it down the stairs. It has been very slow going. Mainly because I have been working on it here and there - when I get extra time. Plus, I am notorious for starting about a million projects at once. When something pops into my head...I gotta get started on it. Finishing it...well that's another story. Anyway, now that I have it all up I have to paint it.

Here is what the staircase/upstairs hallway looked like when we moved in...

As you can see it was very dark. It gets hardly no natural light, so the lighter I can get it the better! When we created the opening at the bottom of the stairs, it did help bring in some light. You can read about that here.

Although I am not completely done painting/caulking/trimming, I thought I would show a few pictures of the progress. It is amazing how much lighter this whole area is. Paint is some amazing stuff!

We installed this light when we moved in. I got it from Overstock.com for a steal but hated the color so I spray painted it using Rustoleum's Oil Rubbed Bronze. I got the shade covers from Lowe's and I plan on getting some wax covers to replace the plastic ones.

I am slowly working on a gallery wall of old and new family photos in the hallway and I love seeing them displayed like this. We are also in the process of replacing all our old interior doors. So what you see here are the old ugly doors... but like everything else in our house, it is a work in progress.

Ace Hardware free paint tomorrow...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 05:27:00 +0000

Did you all know Ace Hardware is giving away free quarts of paint tomorrow, Saturday, March 10? I just found out tonight and thought I would pass this little tidbit along. You have to go here to print off the coupon. There are limited quanities and I am not sure all stores are participating, so you might want to call your store to check. Hooray for free paint!! Thanks Ace Hardware!

http://www.acehardware.com/coupon/index.jsp

Pining for Lilacs...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:03:00 +0000

The weather has been so wonderful here for the last few days. As a result, I have been pining for my lilac bushes to start blooming. I know it will be a while, but I adore the smell of lilacs. Fresh lilacs have the most amazing fragrance and always remind me of spring! Plus, they are lovely to look at. Last year was hard on our lilac bushes and they were very sparse. Hopefully, they will comeback nice and full this year! In the meantime, I have will put the pining on hold and instead start pinning...on Pinterest. Honestly, what did we all do before Pinterest?!

Here are a few of my faves...

Source: flickr.com on Pinterest

Source: google.com on Pinterest

Source: vignettedesign.blogspot.com on Pinterest

Source: gypsypurplehome.tumblr.com on Pinterest

Source: umla.tumblr.com on Pinterest

Source: triciawilson.tumblr.com on Pinterest

Source: yourcozyhome.blogspot.com on Pinterest

Source: margitta.no on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com on Pinterest

Source: frenchlarkspur.blogspot.com on Pinterest

Source: acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com on Pinterest

Source: adogsdream-goldenelf.blogspot.com on Pinterest

Source: ginghamandwatercolors.tumblr.com on Pinterest


midwestliving.com

Liebster Blog Award....

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:07:00 +0000

After enjoying this beautiful (Spring like) day, I came home to find Chris, from Freckle Face Girl, had chosen me to receive a Liebster Blog Award. How exciting! After Googleing (is that a certified word yet?) the award, I found the word Liebster to mean "darling" or "beloved"...isn't that sweet!

The award started as a way to spread some blog love to those with less than 200 followers. Chris' blog is amazing! She has some awesome style and an adorable family! If you haven't visited her blog...you should! Thanks again, Chris, for the Liebster!

On to the tough part..I had to pick blogs I think are deserving. There are so many great blogs out there!!

There are a few simple rules to follow. In order to accept the award, the recipient will:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.

2. Link back to that person's blog.

3. Copy and paste the award to your blog.

4. Present the award to 3-5 blogs of 200 followers or less that you feel deserve this recognition.

5. Let those blogs know by leaving them a comment.

Here are the blogs that I have chosen:

1. Becki @ Curious Details

2. Michele @ Summersoul

3. Ashlee @ A Prairie Cottage

Such great blogs that really inspire! Check them out! :)

I Just Wing'd it...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:02:00 +0000

The post title says it all-I reupholstered a wing back chair- by just winging it! Never have I ever reupholstered anything more difficult than a dining chair cushion. But I didn't want to spend money on hiring an upholsterer to recover 2 chairs. Plus, I have tons of DIY spirit I need to constantly channel into something.

This is what I started with...2 of these lovely chairs. The bones were in great shape-they just needed some new fabric and a little TLC.

I started out watching a couple of YouTube videos which were mildly helpful, and then I just went for it. I mean, I couldn't mess up that old green fabric. If it failed, it still would have looked better than it started out looking!

First, I removed all the fabric piece by piece, very carefully, so I could use it as a pattern of sorts for my new fabric. This was the most grueling part. I stabbed myself with my screwdriver and cut my hands on the staples a million times. Wearing gloves would have been smart. ;)

Just look at all those evil staples!!

I took pictures of how the fabric was stapled on in case I needed a reminder later on. It helps to also jot down what order you remove each piece. Then when you reupholster, just start with the last piece you took off. I basically learned as I went along.

I have to mention, I have a pneumatic staple gun and an air compressor. I don't think I could have tackled this project without one.

I decided to paint the legs. I used regular latex paint and finished them with a dark brown paste wax. I like them so much better!

(We are working on installing new base boards in here. Please ignore them in their unpainted, unfinished state.)

It was such a simple project-once I got all the old fabric off. Although not perfect, it exceeded my expectations by far. I still want to add some more jute trim along the front, but I need to order more. I got it at MJ Trim. Now, I just have to get motivated to finish the second one...I am still having nightmares about those staples! ;)

I also want some pretty pale yellow pillows to go in each chair but, I haven't found one I am in love with yet. Any suggestions?? :)

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Armoire Makeover with Antique Ceiling Tin...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:48:00 +0000

I rescued this antique armoire from my parents storage building. They originally bought this piece shortly after they got married and had plans to restore it. Unfortunately, in the process, it fell over and the original mirror and top section broke. It set unused for 30 or more years until I snapped it up! This is what is looked like when I brought it home (all except the ceramic knob...I was trying knobs out).

I wasn't sure at first what I wanted for the center where the mirror was. I pondered several options and at one point thought I might just leave it. I like rustic, but after starring at it for awhile, I decided it was a little too rustic. I love the detail in the carvings!

I eventually chose to use antique ceiling tin in place of a mirror. Here is what it looks like now...

(please ignore the curtain rod and curtains. They need to be raised up and hemmed.)

The centered measured 17" wide by 40" long. I found this antique tin piece on Ebay. It measured 24" wide by 40" long and knew I would have to cut it to fit. When looking for tin I had to find a pattern that would not look strange after I cut it. Some vintage tin is very intricate and would not work for my project. I paid around $30.00 (including s&h) for this piece.

I cut equal amounts off each side using tin snips. When handling tin and using tin snips make sure to wear thick work gloves and safety glasses. The the edges of the tin and the tin snips are sharp! I laid down a drop cloth to protect my floors. This was such a messy job!

After I slide in the cut tin, I reattached the top piece.

The original paint on the tin was a peachy orange color and didn't quite go with my color scheme. ;) So, I painted it a pale blue color. After the blue paint dried I painted the raised areas with creamy white paint to bring out the design.

And finally, I added some dark wax to age it and seal the paint. The wax makes the paint extra durable.

This was such a simple project that really made a ton of difference to the look of this piece. I liked it before but I adore it now!

I am still undecided on whether or not to paint the armoire. I am liking it now, but I am constantly changing my mind so who knows...I'll keep you posted. :)

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Cuckoo For Cuckoo Clock's...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:50:00 +0000

Lately, I have been inspired to hang a cuckoo clock in my home. So, when I saw Country Living's article about Lesley M.M. Blume's book, "Let's Bring Back", featured a cuckoo clock as one of the items that should make a comeback, I knew I need to find one ASAP.

Courtesy of Country Living

While visiting my parents, I came across this old cuckoo clock they had been storing for several years. Jackpot!

I loved everything about it, except its color. But, nothing a little paint couldn't cure! 

I painted the first coat using Benjamin Moore's edgecomb gray, and had planned on leaving it all that color.  It ended up looking a little drab and blended in with my wall too much.  

So, to brighten it up, I used Benjamin Moore's wedgewood gray as a top coat and left the center part painted the edgecomb gray. Then to age it, I brushed on some dark brown wax.  Much better! 

I love having this clock so much that I would be thrilled to find another one.  I like the larger all wood clocks but I am kinda thinking I need a tiny clock to hang above this one.    

Linking up at:

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Replacing Rusty Nails On Vintage Picture Frames...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:27:00 +0000

I LOVE vintage/antique picture frames. I do not however, love the old rusty nails that come with them. I feel like I need a tetanus shot just looking at them. Plus, I hate having to break a sweat prying them up just to change out a photo.

Most of the frames I buy for our house are vintage. Sometimes, they have no glass or back at all. Sometimes, they do. Either way, if I love the frame I don't let little issues stop me from purchasing it. This could also come in handy if you build your own picture frames too.

This is my solution to getting rid of those pesky rusty nails...

A Dual-drive point driver! It has changed my life. Okay, that might be an overstatement but it is pretty awesome!

It shoots those little brads into the back of your frame. You can get rigid points or flexible points. I personally, like the flexible. They allow me the option to change my mind. I can easily bend them up to change out pictures or even clean the inside of the glass. But, whatever you chose this little gadget is amazing. I got mine on Ebay for around $25.00 including s&h.

First, remove all those nasty nails. No brainer, right?

Then get out this guy and get to work!

The point driver works just like a staple gun. The only difference is the brads come out the front of the gun instead of underneath. Just hold it flush to the edge of the frame and fire away.

*One precaution. If your frame is very fragile, you might not want to use this. Or at least reinforce your frame first. This has some power behind it and I would hate for it to damage your frame.

You are left with secure brads holding everything in place. Well worth the investment if you scour flea markets and antique stores for vintage frames like I do.

*Another tip: This frame had some green paint splattered on the side. I rubbed some "Goof off" on it and it came right off. It is another product I use a lot of for several types of things.

*I am not compensated by this company in any way. I personally use this product and wanted to share.

Dining Room Sign...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:42:00 +0000

I finally got the sign I made hung up in our dining room. It was super simple to make...not as simple to hang. I hung it by myself. Someone would have helped me, but I am impatient like that. I am just glad no one was around to watch...not pretty. ;) Oh well, a few bruises later and I have some new DIY art on my wall.

I found the ginormous wooden spoon while out thrifting. It was stained brown and was kinda neat like it was, but I had something else in mind.

We have tons of scrap wood lying around, so I went on a search and found the perfect piece of 1x8 pine to mount it on. I just used my nail gun to nail them together but a good ole hammer and nails would have worked too.

I framed it out with a furring strip and then painted them all at once using Rustoleum's Heirloom White. I distressed it all over and added some dark brown wax.

I used these hook and eye loops on each board. You just screw them in. Super easy. This allows me to take the chalk board off and lay it on a flat surface to write messages.

I attached these black gate hinges to the back of the sign with wood screws and screwed the top directly into the wall. I bought the hinges at Lowes. I think they were the 5" hinges (sorry I didn't save the packages) but they were around 5.00 a piece. I would love to find some antique ones but I might just rough these up. I made sure to screw the hinges into studs so the sign won't come crashing down. It is a pretty heavy duty piece.

For the bottom chalk board, I used a little wall sign I wasn't really crazy about anymore and painted it with homemade chalkboard paint. I have done this before and it works really well for small projects. I posted a link to the recipe here before. I attached a little piece of chalk to some twine and tied it to the hook eye. Otherwise, it would get carried off by a 4 year old. They do things like that, ya know. ;)

I am linking up here:

A Little Dining Room Update...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:23:00 +0000

We have been very busy with house projects, as always! We have slowly added more furniture to our dining room and it is beginning to look somewhat complete. We still need to paint the crown molding and replace it on one wall.

I am still working on styling the buffet. I haven't quite decided what I want it to look like yet. I did paint some blue to the drawer fronts though. I think it helps break up the white. Although, the blue is light, it adds some dimension to the piece. This buffet was given to me by my parents. It was actually in my room when I was a baby. It has been with me every place I have ever lived (except Germany). :)

I framed a piece of a vintage, crocheted table cloth and hung it above the buffet. I love it there. Although, not hers, it reminds me of my grandmother for some reason.

This is the view into the front entryway. I am working on a sign that will hang on the blank wall next to the kitchen. It is currently leaning against the wall...

Here is a little glimpse of the kitchen. We are still working on it. I added a beadboard blacksplash, but still want to beadboard the entire kitchen, floor to ceiling. I really wish we had stainless steel appliances but these were brand new when we bought the house, and we just can't justify replacing them right now.

I would love to paint our cabinets, but my husband is totally against it. He doesn't request much, so I figure, he wins on this one...for now. ;)

This is looking down the hallway. Our living room is at the end. We still have quit a bit to do in there, so more on that later. I still need to paint that closet door so ignore that....while your at it, ignore the mess in the living room.

Just a reminder of what these spaces looked like when we moved in...

This is actually after I painted the stairs, but it's the only before photo I have of the hallway.

Thanks for looking!

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Jennifer Rizzo's Refresh Your Room

Den table and chairs...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 22:13:00 +0000

Recently, I "made over" this table and chairs for our den. We have a dining room we use to eat dinner in everyday, but I purchased this table to use when we have larger gatherings and need extra eating spaces. Of course I forgot to take pictures of them before I started painting. ooops...I promise they were pretty dang bad though.

The previous owner had painted the table green and it was very dirty. I completely sanded it down and repainted the legs. I left the top natural but I did cover it with several coats of satin poly. The chairs were pretty rough when I found them. I sanded them smooth and then dry brushed them the same color I used to paint the table legs. I lightly hand sanded to finish.

We are getting ready to add crown molding to our den. Hopefully, it will be done soon so I can post pictures of all our progress. :)

Dining Room Makeover-Part Two: Walls...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:19:00 +0000

Okay I'm a day late posting this but I wanted to get one final coat of paint on the beadboard before I posted pics.

Here is the before once again.

The previous owners had stained the center beam and surrounding trim a shade of orange, that didn't match anything. We primed it using an oil base primer so the stain wouldn't bleed through the white paint. The primer also allowed us to use a latex paint over an oil based stain.

I found some antique corbels at a flea market and knew immediately I wanted to use them on our beam. I left them in the original state. I love their rustic look. I wish I knew where they had been used before.

After we hung the beadboard in the hallway, I knew I wanted to continue it into the dining room and kitchen. But this time we needed to replace baseboards. I love the look of chunky baseboards. In fact, we have already replaced the baseboards in our den and used 1x6's (that's another post ;). We loved how that turned out and decided to go that route.


Sorry for the horrible night time picture!

We added a 1x4 to the top and then added smaller trim to both the top and the base boards. Twice Remembered Cottage gives a great tutorial on installing beadboard this way. It was such a great help to us!

We still have so much to do. The crown molding needs to be replaced badly. We plan on getting some antique chairs for the table and I am going to build a hutch for the buffet. I probably will make some new curtains for the window as well and of course we need something on the walls. I am having a hard time putting holes in my new walls until I am absolutely certain where and what I want as art. Is anyone else that way?

Dining Room Makover- Part One: Lighting...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 03:40:00 +0000

This is how our Dining room looked the day we moved in. By far not the worst looking room in the house but nonetheless, I had pictured a little something different. Notice how high the chandelier is hung?? That drove me crazzzzy!

My impatience once again got the best of me, and I decided to rip down the chair rail and paint the upper portion of the wall. And, we have lived with this mess for almost seven months. Luckily, my husband and I recently moved it to the top of our to-do-list and got busy.

Overstock Old World Chandelier

Pottery Barn Weathervane Chandelier

I found this chandelier at Overstock.com and knew it was exactly what I was looking for. I loved the Pottery Barn Weathervane Chandelier but it was out of our price range so I thought we could achieve a similar look with the Overstock light.

When it arrived the "candle" color just didn't appeal to me so I turned to my trusty can of spray paint to help me out.

I purchased some small shades at Lowe's and I think the final result makes such a statement. With the chandelier hanging at the appropriate height the room is much better lit. I am still thinking about a project for the shades to make them look a little more like the Pottery Barn version, but for now they'll do. ;)

We have done so much more to the room, but this post is getting a tad long. I'll post more tomorrow....hopefully!

Hallway Table Switcheroo...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:35:00 +0000

My mom and dad had this antique washstand in storage, that at one time they were going to use. Lucky for me, they never got around to it and it became mine.

It needed some major TLC. So after nailing and gluing everything back into it's original location, I lightly sanded it and dry brushed on a coat of Benjamin Moore's "Edgecomb Gray". The paint was no cost because I had a coupon for a free sample color. I hardly used any of it to coat the entire thing! After the paint dried, I brushed wood stain over the entire piece and then quickly wiped it off, leaving it with more of an aged look.

I had the original drawer handles, but the knobs to the cabinet doors were missing and had to be replaced. The table I originally had in the entry hallway wasn't really working for me so the washstand took its place.

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Historic Home, Historic Charm: Ploger-Moneymaker Home, Lebanon, MO....

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:53:00 +0000

While home visiting my parents, I had the opportunity to view a beautiful home listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was originally built for Milan W. Serl by a contractor named Walters in 1870. Walters reportedly named the house "Aambler". The Plogers moved in about 1903, renting the house until they could purchase it in 1910.

The Lebanon Historical Society hosted an ice cream social with a tour of the Ploger-Moneymaker Place. For years this home has set empty and no tours were allowed to the public. Story goes when the daughter of Mr Ploger died, she stated no tours were to be given and the house remain in it's original, untouched state. But as funds for upkeep and repair begin to dwindle, the city has decided to now allow tours in the best interest of the property. They are hosted annually and this year they presented the first floor only. Next year, they hope to have the second floor open. It is such a treasure that places like this still exist. I think as Americans we need to take more pride in preserving our architectural history and heritage.

Patch Pillows...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:26:00 +0000

I thought I would share a couple of pictures of some pillows I made a few months back. I stitched on some fabric samples I got from Ballard and stamped the background using some fabric ink. Super simple and inexpensive.

Hallway beadboard...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:23:00 +0000

This is how out entryway/hallway looked when we purchased our home. Very dark, and in my opinion, not very inviting.

We decided to install bead board paneling all throughout the hallway. We are thinking we might take it all the way up the stairs as well. Home Depot cut them to the exact height we needed and we even had them cut some of the widths as well. If I remember correctly, we had the the bead board cut to 60" tall and the base boards add another 2" to the overall height. I absolutely love tall bead board and this came out exactly how I was hoping! Now I am dying to do an entire wall of the stuff in our kitchen!! ;)

We got these light fixtures at Lowe's and installed them ourselves. This was easier than I thought it would be! We just made sure all electricity was shut off to the wires and tested them with an electrical tester.

Our doorbell was very old, shiny gold sparkle. So, I painted it the same color as the wall and replaced the old fabric with some cream color cotton I already had.

We still need to paint the ceiling but otherwise we are super pleased with our new hallway. And it's so gratifying knowing we did all the work ourselves!

Bar Stool Redo...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 18:38:00 +0000

A couple of years ago, my husband and I got 2 of these stools as a gift. They are nicely made stools, but still nonetheless, pretty plain Jane, run of the mill, everybody has them, stools. So, one day, I decided to change them up a bit and make them a little more original.

This shows it stained too

First thing I did was sand them down with my electric sander until there was no trace of their original finish. (Sorry, I don't have pics of this step...I'm still learning.) Then, I painted the legs using Valspars "Natural" in a satin finish. After they dried I applied a little bit of brown glaze to give it more of an aged look.

I used screwdrivers, nails, and a hammer to distress the top. I then stained the top a darker color than it was originally. I painted the sides of the top with the same paint I used for the legs. This time, I used my block sander to get most of the paint off the sides. A little tip for projects like this, is don't let the paint dry too long and it will be easier to sand.

I used a rubber stamp with script writing to stamp the tops of the stools.

I used a fantastic ink called StazOn in Timber Brown. It is sold at most major craft stores and comes in a wide range of colors. Here is a description of the ink.

"StazOn is Tsukineko's only solvent-based stamp pad, designed for decorating non-porous surfaces such as glass, metal, shrink plastic, cellophane, aluminum foil, leather and acrylic. With StazOn, you'll achieve a beautiful stained glass appearance, due to the transparent nature of the ink. Thanks to its mild smell, StazOn is much safer to use than other permanent inks."

After the ink dried I gave each stool two coats of sealer using Minwax Wipe-On Poly in semi gloss. I did this to lock in the ink and so the stools would wipe down better when they need to be cleaned.

I did this project over a year ago and these stools are holding up wonderfully! We love them!

Country Living: Renovating an Old House

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:55:00 +0000


Before (Country Living)

After (Country Living)

Staircase Before (Country Living)

Staircase After (Country Living)

One day I hope to find a similar house, in similar condition, on a similar piece of land and just start from scratch. What a beautiful transformation! To see more pictures and read about this homes transformation, click the link below.

Country Living:Renovating an Old House in Upstate New York

Chalk Board Children's Desk and Chair...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 23:33:00 +0000

It all started with this old child's desk and school chair. My wonderful mom picked up the chair at a garage sale for 25 cents. I thought for that price I would give it a go, and try to spiffy it up with a fresh coat of paint. I found the desk at a flea market for 10 bucks. I could have probably found a better price somewhere, but I got a little impatient.

The chair back and seat are plastic and the legs are metal. I couldn't find any plastic spray paint I liked so, I primed the plastic parts of the chair with "American Traditions plastic primer" I already had. After the primer had time to dry, I used Krylon "Bright Idea" in gloss for the chair and Rustoleum Painters Touch "Green Apple" in satin for the desk legs. I know a lot of bloggers love them some Krylon, but in my opinion, NOTHING compares to Rustoleum Painters Touch. It hardly drips at all and sprays so evenly and smooth. I can't rave enough!! I always get mine at Home Depot.

Already an improvement, right! Now for the chalkboard top.

I don't have any pics of this step, because it was hot and I had a two year old getting too close for comfort. I found the directions for this on Martha Stewart's website. You can get directions here.

I used some flat brown Valspar paint from a sample pot I had lying around. I could have gone out and purchased chalkboard paint, but for such a small job, I didn't need that much. Also, this gave me the option to pick an exact color for my project. After it dried really well, I rubbed a piece of chalk over the whole piece to season it. It's ready for business. ;)

We put it in my daughter's walk in closet. It holds her coloring books, crayons, pencils, and other art supplies. She loves it and I couldn't ask for more!!

Stairway debacle...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:36:00 +0000

Here is our stairway when we purchased the house. It was dark and tight. Even when we did our walk through I said to my husband, it felt a little small. So skip to move in day, and wouldn't ya know..."sorry ma'am, but this bedroom furniture isn't going to fit up THOSE stairs." AGH!! A full sized box spring wouldn't even make the turn. I was a mess. What were we gonna do??

Needless to say after a month of sleeping in the living room, I had enough. So we called a general contractor and got to business. I knew the side wall was load bearing and since we weren't about to tackle that kinda mess ourselves, it had to be done.

I painted the staircase and rail and we hung bead board down the hallway. Please ignore the ugliness of the staircase wall, we plan on painting the wall and adding bead board here too.

Entrance from living room side.

We ended up removing the side wall, raising the header beam, and adding two new stairs. We discussed other options with our contractor and in the end this was the best choice for us. I painted the stair risers and the railing using Benjamin Moore's "Simply White" in semi gloss. It's my favorite white and we have used it on all the trim and bead board we have installed in our home.

Now, we can take things directly up the stairs instead of trying to make that small 90 degree turn. Finally, our family can enjoy the upstairs of our home too! I still have no idea what the previous owners did...it baffled our contractor as well. ;)

New Home...

noreply@blogger.com (Worn Cotton) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 03:53:00 +0000

In March of this year my Husband and I made a move to a new town and purchased a new home. It has already been a busy 4 months, implementing a plan to make this house our HOME! When we first saw this house, we fell in love with it. We were initially looking for a old farmhouse in the country. But as usual, time to look was limited and houses with everything we wanted just weren't available in our price range. Plus, we wanted something we could really put our stamp on. So, when we stumbled upon this house, that was built in 1966, it had some character and charm we really loved and just couldn't get in a newer home.

I decided to start this blog so my husband and I could document all of our hard work! I love a farmhouse style with some cottage touches, and that's really what I'm going for when we update our home. I love to go antiquing and thrift shopping. Gotta LOVE a good deal, right! So many things inspire me and I hope to share some of those things with anyone who will listen! ;)