tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71951653993581784112024-03-13T16:59:18.140-07:00Homemaker RemodeledStephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-37260508439315997592011-03-10T07:20:00.000-08:002011-03-10T10:38:43.526-08:00STAGING to SELL!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qbqLtAasbs9-zufoQfXeDv3UQNA9vut8xxPztmo-J_lCASCFIYm746RwACYyNtWlbIxrASbamWjOqJAljEyymG2CXkZeb-Yl-M7KAa7rhmcY4xZPYxjZavQZm3KEWB2TXtSTTY7fiFU/s1600/IMG_0346.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 382px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qbqLtAasbs9-zufoQfXeDv3UQNA9vut8xxPztmo-J_lCASCFIYm746RwACYyNtWlbIxrASbamWjOqJAljEyymG2CXkZeb-Yl-M7KAa7rhmcY4xZPYxjZavQZm3KEWB2TXtSTTY7fiFU/s400/IMG_0346.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582521240454972482" /></a><br /><br /><br />Never has a project lived up to my vision... a common sadness for the artistically inclined. I'm a proficient stager, so it's pretty disappointing when I don't have the time or energy to properly stage my own house. However, it's all with a clear goal in mind. <br /><br />Move the sucker.<br /><br />Note to home stagers: <br /><br />Below, you'll find the first round of photos to go on the MLS website. The goal is to show off value-adding features and make every room look big and bright. <br /><br />My photographer friend, George Retelas, advised me and it made a HUGE difference in the impression potential walk-throughs will get when they see the pics on the MLS website. To learn about George as a photographer, cinematographer, and filmmaker, you can go to www.georgeretelas.com He's basically amazing, and I get free photography advise. Lucky me. I also had him do my dance promotional shots, which can be found on my dance website: www.stephaniebatista.com<br /><br />If you CANNOT get your hands on George, do the following when taking photos:<br /><br />Get your hands on a wide angle lens. <br /><br />Take shots from the corner of the room, from the ceiling-down or the ground-up. That room will look MASSIVE, in a really open, inviting, "BUY ME" way.<br /><br /><br />Here is the first round of photos, for your viewing pleasure. Happy staging!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HQBZHooHBnDBOa5poTeTQ-RMHNpX_LvTUjJkTqI7cnY6OO6_qCg6yRc6NcK8lzWGHhKEjBEmE4_3zjCuFCp2wqjYtVcqmzazw2SnPQdK3AZZ8zOV5zg00q4KgVFdJf2QV1X9qKUSoCM/s1600/DSCN0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HQBZHooHBnDBOa5poTeTQ-RMHNpX_LvTUjJkTqI7cnY6OO6_qCg6yRc6NcK8lzWGHhKEjBEmE4_3zjCuFCp2wqjYtVcqmzazw2SnPQdK3AZZ8zOV5zg00q4KgVFdJf2QV1X9qKUSoCM/s400/DSCN0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582520967982947698" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs1UQ91EwzrVIQRmVqyxIj8ts0xCQ78YqRO_NbRAqCB5sqHbnSXFH_DJlMePOp4mQtMi6tmo49Qy6JhDUR6q1FiMzxh35UH_D7qCOYGALGDmzUZZtGaID5UwmoCNSI_fQwOGcSttLS3w/s1600/DSCN0013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs1UQ91EwzrVIQRmVqyxIj8ts0xCQ78YqRO_NbRAqCB5sqHbnSXFH_DJlMePOp4mQtMi6tmo49Qy6JhDUR6q1FiMzxh35UH_D7qCOYGALGDmzUZZtGaID5UwmoCNSI_fQwOGcSttLS3w/s400/DSCN0013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582520960272338018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2d-BPojCaCwj2bHHe-LI-PTFBDkpBI5hY9a7fACo4kdHrgqfvTB1wDpMEt4WUbTUo6eJpUsHBFm3kOemekAThSGt2aCVAPrxnSHucGOb4d9G3RIUsGyHOB69jyNrGaz1X7b70ILq_3s/s1600/DSCN0025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2d-BPojCaCwj2bHHe-LI-PTFBDkpBI5hY9a7fACo4kdHrgqfvTB1wDpMEt4WUbTUo6eJpUsHBFm3kOemekAThSGt2aCVAPrxnSHucGOb4d9G3RIUsGyHOB69jyNrGaz1X7b70ILq_3s/s400/DSCN0025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582520962782346722" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_9QbSvjShp7mULLJTVbWCc8eGydOkoZrdij_xav9V88Jyi_NZn5p6QPfInYAlpFVvc1kFcg4ZdUnl4cRppl9guv4ziRkZeRzlltFTBxJd4RAQ5SXVmPvj4sZnkIBYBx89ud-FZPFkRI/s1600/DSCN0031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_9QbSvjShp7mULLJTVbWCc8eGydOkoZrdij_xav9V88Jyi_NZn5p6QPfInYAlpFVvc1kFcg4ZdUnl4cRppl9guv4ziRkZeRzlltFTBxJd4RAQ5SXVmPvj4sZnkIBYBx89ud-FZPFkRI/s400/DSCN0031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582520947970320290" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92n1n6DGKjzAgql2Gc1LtcKdISFmd6-d4D21aHnHq8B4FIHSnQ0utlyB1khfT10Z4YFbwuG51CfUHv9PMVWjP5VEG_UQ9g8x-VKd8woUL-O09tgx9pZaz6pCGjSTffuEU7AevtTGhVaM/s1600/DSCN0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92n1n6DGKjzAgql2Gc1LtcKdISFmd6-d4D21aHnHq8B4FIHSnQ0utlyB1khfT10Z4YFbwuG51CfUHv9PMVWjP5VEG_UQ9g8x-VKd8woUL-O09tgx9pZaz6pCGjSTffuEU7AevtTGhVaM/s400/DSCN0032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582520943562549154" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjJYpnxFJVYlo9fuB-zUXNmk3NuyF_BduWdmXzf30tD3HRvT4mZGizOsKM5sqGCzHu1pOvvk-HSXvN7EBs5AXFu_BiIa8DSjKxaKl3nOdvmBEFSpshEJSsyMYZi6wl1pknMTwvdQHKts/s1600/DSCN0044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjJYpnxFJVYlo9fuB-zUXNmk3NuyF_BduWdmXzf30tD3HRvT4mZGizOsKM5sqGCzHu1pOvvk-HSXvN7EBs5AXFu_BiIa8DSjKxaKl3nOdvmBEFSpshEJSsyMYZi6wl1pknMTwvdQHKts/s400/DSCN0044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582473233247571890" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tDlyIniY82Mqcoex23W84bgB0x9XfcNVYfU-2I6XKSZkm9r1AXHGronFK5IGeKCSJFwbjRgrunVNlpvZlH1FZng1h3P7ZLQaumHg6HFVBzWrppGuqbh-QQ1B1OdM977rUAvel7NOnOs/s1600/DSCN0045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tDlyIniY82Mqcoex23W84bgB0x9XfcNVYfU-2I6XKSZkm9r1AXHGronFK5IGeKCSJFwbjRgrunVNlpvZlH1FZng1h3P7ZLQaumHg6HFVBzWrppGuqbh-QQ1B1OdM977rUAvel7NOnOs/s400/DSCN0045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582473226988884978" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9-Hb_dSDJEB01UTPgPrZ1UIUf0RrVC4CksmHyBF4FRsqaYKE-RQxnXQgkrCXoZ2zLMamz7dTdqrGzz0NyXnVsoZkw2Z5uEuYM_4X8XDJr7yP-r-utv9_7r6FrtUSoV_fpK1Lm4wNDyY/s1600/DSCN0049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9-Hb_dSDJEB01UTPgPrZ1UIUf0RrVC4CksmHyBF4FRsqaYKE-RQxnXQgkrCXoZ2zLMamz7dTdqrGzz0NyXnVsoZkw2Z5uEuYM_4X8XDJr7yP-r-utv9_7r6FrtUSoV_fpK1Lm4wNDyY/s400/DSCN0049.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582473224249219042" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6twH16KR5h4xZFXPf4viKvFdYgymllA2ClfwNr1NPStUbLY3OsK4i9QdIv4qw3naA-Kr652d6-s6sUjsLblkMbh3jc2N6U6wGGtvGa8glybeIWZpsQbzhqXfbYhE94ubp2SJDzqGEuAs/s1600/DSCN0054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6twH16KR5h4xZFXPf4viKvFdYgymllA2ClfwNr1NPStUbLY3OsK4i9QdIv4qw3naA-Kr652d6-s6sUjsLblkMbh3jc2N6U6wGGtvGa8glybeIWZpsQbzhqXfbYhE94ubp2SJDzqGEuAs/s400/DSCN0054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582473217503514610" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5NvZzQjt-QHnsOW1eBwiVGCf9I4-8RvD4r7wOO884pVaoYi8sfi4Jgel6YkcoCYkEhe62hvTgYQKZRJ5vmY7zZqONsA1L-JGsJvNUqRKUfrYGL-kj5ALD7JhKJND_P1kBADPw7WscNU/s1600/DSCN0061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5NvZzQjt-QHnsOW1eBwiVGCf9I4-8RvD4r7wOO884pVaoYi8sfi4Jgel6YkcoCYkEhe62hvTgYQKZRJ5vmY7zZqONsA1L-JGsJvNUqRKUfrYGL-kj5ALD7JhKJND_P1kBADPw7WscNU/s400/DSCN0061.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582473214029070114" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-91437674543525067932011-01-19T20:25:00.000-08:002011-01-24T11:12:38.167-08:00Homemaker Remodeled 3D: A Divorce Response<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6me1RYsq_siN75jukUnCPj5LDRrYxZyOWDAES9Yn6ooc4kxZKk9buF5FM5Hpp12h8_sTUOGjMsdVH33PWAqJK0ltYKARxucWw1c0uUcZSxFjB4m8FTDypAbcdP59CDla40aJ3ncth57A/s1600/IMG_0216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6me1RYsq_siN75jukUnCPj5LDRrYxZyOWDAES9Yn6ooc4kxZKk9buF5FM5Hpp12h8_sTUOGjMsdVH33PWAqJK0ltYKARxucWw1c0uUcZSxFjB4m8FTDypAbcdP59CDla40aJ3ncth57A/s400/IMG_0216.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564131564837486562" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I chose the name "Homemaker Remodeled" because I liked the pun on the standard stay-at-home mom and redefining, or "remodeling", what that role in the home entails (ie: diy projects in addition to spit-up clean up and daily chores). I have recently discovered a third level to this pun.<br /><br />Divorce. <br /><br />Yup. <br /><br />Sparing everyone the details of why, I'll only briefly note that this is for the best and everyone is better off for this decision. We all deserve to be happy, and this decision will best lead us all there. I see that now.<br /><br />However, myself, my life - the roles I play, my time, my mental/emotional/physical investments - are already undergoing a drastic remodeling gut job. Some areas will keep the same blue print, while others won't.<br /><br />My plan: <br /><br />1. Give my sweet Hazel the availability, continuity, and emotional security she's accustomed to and depends on.<br /><br />2. Become super strong and self-sufficient by going back to school and getting an MBA in marketing.<br /><br />3. Master all selves.<br /><br />With regards to item 2, I'm excited to develop my talents in the area that is least developed, despite the entrepreneurial skills developed through owning and promoting my dance business the better part of the last decade. A Marketing focused MBA should marry my verbal/written skills, social acuity, and creativity with some sharpened business savvy and financial know-how. I will develop and expand all my most prevalent talents in doing this and aid my goal to grow exponentially through these recent choices and circumstances. Which leads me to item 3.<br /><br />You may laugh, but I've been feeling restless. Big surprise. I blog about it. It's in my personality to be restless, especially when sensing stagnation. I value growth immensely. This moment allows me a rare opportunity to grow at a highly accelerated rate, and I don't want to miss it. The pain from the cause of these sudden changes - namely the divorce - is there. I can see it and recognize it as mourning something that has died. But it feels more like the death of a relative long anticipated, and so most of the mourning is done before the final death, and despite the pain and shock of the final moment, there is mostly relief. What I mostly feel is joy.<br /><br />An aside: Joy and sorrow are inseparably connected. Just as one's capacity to embody pain expands with the confrontation of it, so too does one's capacity to embody joy expand. The heart broadens to hold it all. Any deep emotion, bright or dark, deepens our ability to feel. Period. And so, the lesson is not "I'll be happy later." The lesson, instead, is "I am happy now, even as I am in pain."<br /><br />So with this joy, mixed with the addiction to growth, I am excited for these new paths because it brings me the chance to master all my selves. This means that I am being tempered by the intensity of these experiences, and because of that, I can better harness, channel, and strengthen my mind, heart, spirit, and body.<br /><br />Just how am I doing that? How am I remodeling myself?<br /><br />First, an analogy.<br /><br />I recently hosted a bookgroup and we read "Housekeeping" by Marylin Robinson. They all hated it, which is always fun. What I love about it at this moment in my life is the redefinition of oneself as compared to a house. How do you keep your House? Is it orderly or chaotic? Do you welcome guests? Who? how far into the house do they get? The living room? The bedroom? What food and life and color is in your house? When do the lights go out for sleep? etc<br /><br />I want a house of mastery, order, and whimsy.<br /><br />So I joined a gym. Seems simple enough, but the daily habit of disciplining my body has had ripple effects into my study habits, organization, punctuality, ambition, etc.<br /><br />Instead of lounging on the couch, depressed, shoveling Ben and Jerry's (ooh...Fish Food...argh! focus), I am learning algebra for the GMAT required for MBA admissions. I can remember staying after school everyday in Mrs. Adam's Freshmen algebra class, not trusting myself to complete my homework alone at home, let alone find the right answer. 3 hours, everyday, all semester. My dad would bring my lunch and dinner while I sat there, teacher by my side, plugging away at it. Now, 15 years later, I'm learning the same algebra again, only this time my ability to provide for my daughter depends on my ability to find "x". But I'll tell you, the satisfaction of discovering that I am, in fact, good at math, and that I can take my least favorite subject - during this moment in my life - and conquer it, it's no small thrill.<br /><br />I'm journaling and reading a lot. I'm finding that keeps the emotions clean, unmuddled, and maintain a solid grip on reality, history. How did I get here? Why am I doing this? What are my goals? I think there is a clinical condition call DADD: Divorce Attention Defecit Disorder. I started forgetting stuff - big stuff - everywhere: wallet, passport, purse, luggage, kid in security line, etc etc etc. I got them all back, but still. I have to stay clear and paced. And it's working, I'm already almost all the way out of the fog.<br /><br />And most importantly, I'm busting my butt to give Hazel the same present, whimsical, attuned Mommy she's always had. <br /><br />I'm feeding my body the exercise, my mind Algebra, my spirit words and meditation. But my heart...my heart is on it's own abstract but driven trajectory towards expansion, an infinite capacity to embody my emotions, and become basically indestructible because of it. My love or self-image will never waiver again. I won't allow that anymore.<br /><br />And so, my last point.<br /><br />Whimsy, and all that this blog has espoused to until now, MUST live on. And it must live on now, not when the divorce is final, or I'm done with my MBA, or when Hazel starts Kindergarten, or when I remarry fifty bazillion years from now. Whimsy is required today, just like love is on the menu for me, Hazel, husband, and everyone in my vicinity.<br /><br />And I love home remodeling/decorating. That means that part of my divorce therapy is window treatments. My counselor: my favorite cookbook. My aroma therapy: the smell of thin set and paint. etc <br /><br />I may be rewriting the book on divorce, taking over corporate, and so on, but I still need to be me. And that means being fiercely loyal to a child-like joy in all things, even the seemingly superficial or frilly. Just cuz my brain is a no-frill zone right now, doesn't mean I can't wear them.<br /><br />And so, I will revamp this blog to fit this third dimension of remodeling - remodeling the house of Self. Perhaps I'll blog about staging my house for resale, or being a single mom in our own Hazel-Stephanie cottage at some point. Who knows. <br /><br />In the meantime, I'm happy.Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-40704447431193508032010-10-02T09:37:00.000-07:002010-10-02T14:50:56.481-07:00Fav new designer: Mary Bairstowhttp://www.marybairstowdesigns.com/interior+homeaccents/home_1.html<br /><br />I married into quite the hoity-toity family. So hoity-toity, and so different from me, I don't even know how to correctly spell hoity-toity. My father-in-law owns a house in the Hamptons, Sag Harbor specifically. Growing up middle class in California, one could joke about being rich in the Hamptons, but I always imagined it was a cluster of huge white mansions somewhere in the East Coast. To my surprise, it's a tiny series of beach towns, undiscovered by the Manhatten upper class for many years, then swarmed by those wanting to vacation away for east side ambition. The down side, it's now a rich beach town, with really expensive grocery stores.<br /><br />The appeal, however, is clear, and as long as we live off of pancakes and frozen pizzas, we can have a pretty fancy vacation there every summer.<br /><br />This year was year 4 or 5, going out for a week in the Summer. While there, my mother-in-law, Nancy, is there building her own house (father and mother in-law divorced), so she came out to play with us. She found a fantastic antique fair, complete with all the stuff I only see in magazines and could never afford myself. While at this fair, I encounter Mary Bairstow.<br /><br />It was industrial, farmhouse chic...presicely my personal style (though my house doesn't lend itself to this style, so I veer from it in my own home decor, opting for what works with the house instead of my own inclinations).<br /><br />I was so in love with the antique rice sack pillows, the vintage center islands with patina metal tops, the wire basket and bulb light fixtures, vintage corbels, etc.<br /><br />Enjoy.Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-24562445376516441692010-09-27T17:48:00.000-07:002010-09-27T18:08:59.367-07:00Update and survey: "Why haven't you finished doing that project yet?"The busy Summer travel season is coming to a close, but not before I spend most of October in California with my family. I always do a 2 week trip around a dance event called Boogie by the Bay in SF. While there, I inevitably eat my way through the bay area, completely abandoning my nutritional regimine in exchange for a nostalgic tour of the tastebuds. <br /><br />Update: In response to a previous post, I <span style="font-style:italic;">did</span> decide to partner up and dance a routine, putting baby #2 and design energies on hold, or at least in remission (yes, my design obsession is like a cancer, like a benign tumor that doesn't leave room for much else in life). And while I thought this would mean doing less decorating/remodeling, for some reason I'm doing to same amount, only for my house instead of others'.<br /><br />I took all of Hazel's toys and organized them in the basement, installing new shelving to get them up off the floor and visible. I'm so tired of having volumes of stuff for Hazel to play with, and she's only inspired to grab what she can find on the surface, just the tinker toys that litter the ocean surface. <br /><br />I also took all of my tools and began organizing them in the other half of our 2-car garage (we are a 1 car family anyway). I found an antique workbench, complete with old vise. I then hung peg board that I am determined to paint pink or purple at some point, simply to assert that a chick does the handy work around here - a joke between myself and I to laugh at together in animated congratulatory guffaws.<br /><br />Now, I'm in the process of both 1) Setting up a design studio in the spare room on the 3rd floor, and 2) finishing the guest bathroom - finally. I'm tired of asking Aaron where I put something and having him respond with, "It's on the dining room sink." We don't have a sink in the dining room. That vanity I bought on clearance has been stored in there so long, we have come to refer to it as such. I've removed the old vanity in the guest bathroom, and now I need to paint the new one and install.<br /><br />Meanwhile, my body is so fatigued from dancing, teaching, judging, emceeing, and traveling in general that I find my chemically driven, supernatural motivation for remodeling is waining slightly.<br /><br />I've also taken over as housekeeper to save money. So when Hazel's at school, I'm scrubbing toilets instead of installing better ones. Why do I clean that which I hate? That which I will only replace as soon as I am able? At some undetermined point in time...<br /><br />Photos to come. But in the meantime, I thought it might be fun to share unfinished projects together, and laugh as one collectively busy, fatigued group. What are your unfinished projects? How long have they remained undone? What holds you back from completing that task at hand?Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-51587097310656266312010-08-20T11:22:00.000-07:002010-08-20T11:30:28.802-07:00Wendy's AtticA Butter yellow from the living room and a cobalt blue from the Dining room...do not a pretty attic make.<br /><br />To establish this as continued living space, like the living room, we continued the same color scheme. Repairing the window casing and painting it a fresh, semi-gloos "Greek Villa" white link it to the new trim color all over the house (trim was the most time consuming part of the project). "Softer Tan" covered the walls, and "Dapper Tan" with "Greek Villa" made a new runner for some really beat-up, chalky white stairs.<br /><br />I don't have before pictures, but imagine a yellow room with blue surrounding the architerural nooks, giving it a highly segmented look that emphasied the funky angles rather than blending them into one large bonus room.<br /><br />AFTER:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVoN9W4uUZzaKyGaBEnSe-VaseHV3bimy_4ipsxlxbI1VbwGXKs9GxvlBQv4FE1utxEw4HmFjvUmOdKUg6YtJqwBR_pcY9VcIIl7bzf9vd9jEvbJe6o7m6gEIEk3SHSsbeboZXeYXOY0/s1600/IMG_0070.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVoN9W4uUZzaKyGaBEnSe-VaseHV3bimy_4ipsxlxbI1VbwGXKs9GxvlBQv4FE1utxEw4HmFjvUmOdKUg6YtJqwBR_pcY9VcIIl7bzf9vd9jEvbJe6o7m6gEIEk3SHSsbeboZXeYXOY0/s400/IMG_0070.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507560715511870130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyruwqPLjR_pjef5gsfJ75aAG1n6JqgVi5Tc4LEg6I1Sh3Z9rpoljjWPAf_56N2v88xQhBQEm-afW_6_C1qoR5kDARLC6V5yIiRdqeVXHX-Q3kjaoMSPlc441SfD8VnL3aYVb8aAtDvj8/s1600/IMG_0072.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyruwqPLjR_pjef5gsfJ75aAG1n6JqgVi5Tc4LEg6I1Sh3Z9rpoljjWPAf_56N2v88xQhBQEm-afW_6_C1qoR5kDARLC6V5yIiRdqeVXHX-Q3kjaoMSPlc441SfD8VnL3aYVb8aAtDvj8/s400/IMG_0072.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507560708206717346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WxWaPDU5mq3-HSEGIpJqomnTi94hJO71eSdd6mnzdXKkzIBGW9ktKt9JsStiXMsn9kFD3kU02OZySSR8-99H8d7bPi37YpVeIOUknzm6e4fH16DCymF9c3bTBrUQY9vVhKcWTamjhyI/s1600/IMG_0069.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WxWaPDU5mq3-HSEGIpJqomnTi94hJO71eSdd6mnzdXKkzIBGW9ktKt9JsStiXMsn9kFD3kU02OZySSR8-99H8d7bPi37YpVeIOUknzm6e4fH16DCymF9c3bTBrUQY9vVhKcWTamjhyI/s400/IMG_0069.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507560702885864786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgbhGa_b_Ujji4ZzmFSQPz4teTvGFss6h8sf-2FjUsIA2Hp3vjhvefM87DpZ7YN-fRr5x79IbImU7G059hHTx36Y5bK0lYzCRX9vl2M8opnYuvEsWK587llqefdBgTJq0c7NwpXmm2mI/s1600/IMG_0067.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgbhGa_b_Ujji4ZzmFSQPz4teTvGFss6h8sf-2FjUsIA2Hp3vjhvefM87DpZ7YN-fRr5x79IbImU7G059hHTx36Y5bK0lYzCRX9vl2M8opnYuvEsWK587llqefdBgTJq0c7NwpXmm2mI/s400/IMG_0067.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507560693325947186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYObJWf7WIi7pJI2d-bLxKVH0mDafL6FL4qxzGE7Z1_ie1f-y1nSY_tcHI3ec57tgVEonLB-vEhzdBWBP1o26s6f46UBrlbVToeUqxVyNKRo59cJBdSxUYPeMKg6-PCx93YfimEE4Ezf4/s1600/IMG_0066.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYObJWf7WIi7pJI2d-bLxKVH0mDafL6FL4qxzGE7Z1_ie1f-y1nSY_tcHI3ec57tgVEonLB-vEhzdBWBP1o26s6f46UBrlbVToeUqxVyNKRo59cJBdSxUYPeMKg6-PCx93YfimEE4Ezf4/s400/IMG_0066.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507560685715372482" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-73238611325463585962010-08-20T11:05:00.001-07:002010-08-20T11:21:21.881-07:00Wendy's Entry way and Living RoomNeutral tones and floor plan were the focus here. The butter yellow was too saturated for the buyers' market. And we needed to distinguish the entry way from the living room, while making the fireplace the focal point for the room.<br /><br />We chose "Softer Tan" from Sherwin Williams, a pale taupe gray that I now want in my house. So sophisticated and refreshing. We replaced the minty green with "Dapper Tan" for the built-ins flanking the fireplace because it pulled a rich dark tone out of the stone work and expanded it onto the shelving. Some mirrors, neutral b/w photographs, and some "I have oodles of taste" orchids, and poof!<br /><br />I also positioned the couch in the way I did for two reasons:<br /><br />1. It faces the fireplace - the star of the room.<br /><br />2. It establishes to start of the living room and end of the entry way.<br /><br />The Entry got a console and mirror - a last-minute "check your make-up" moment next to the front door, not to mention a place to drop shooes, keys, and loose change, in a house with no first floor coat closet.<br /><br />Enjoy.<br /><br />Before:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYYQBkN7z6W_CF-oAofNwnOJWRm91fnvb8sZDjMncWz7BA8r4Zwrt0leusYCU5-XQDbEndWA09BMYnlUKsd0gfKJLrC1tpHFsUKMExI9IA3AF63Wn3G9_S8oQdaFPRW34SemcNiTIzuk/s1600/IMG_0424.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYYQBkN7z6W_CF-oAofNwnOJWRm91fnvb8sZDjMncWz7BA8r4Zwrt0leusYCU5-XQDbEndWA09BMYnlUKsd0gfKJLrC1tpHFsUKMExI9IA3AF63Wn3G9_S8oQdaFPRW34SemcNiTIzuk/s400/IMG_0424.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507557771098964626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6q1_p5-4rXsFN7qxJbEkf5_lPwk-lTwfVvUbiP5tCd-W0XCtORA8FI_JZCtrpIHTbbWNbsHBqM8tCoyP5dqoQW18cuqYJD2Zi0jV-_s4Q-75rC5kw5_047pEzsWxym3YuksTkbt1JMY/s1600/IMG_0422.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6q1_p5-4rXsFN7qxJbEkf5_lPwk-lTwfVvUbiP5tCd-W0XCtORA8FI_JZCtrpIHTbbWNbsHBqM8tCoyP5dqoQW18cuqYJD2Zi0jV-_s4Q-75rC5kw5_047pEzsWxym3YuksTkbt1JMY/s400/IMG_0422.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507557759710339458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1NcLlJm9Cq2NCn3Nz_kq8t9XQ0QZu35EZUn1zxKNkGssRrFdKOkySZPCyrJIiJPuTMnoDNgy6htdN1lJHnEW2HqSNWI9K8Rp7uK1FSjKIJkd9zHIaihr5TRUy7yQwN2t5q0SbpuikAc/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1NcLlJm9Cq2NCn3Nz_kq8t9XQ0QZu35EZUn1zxKNkGssRrFdKOkySZPCyrJIiJPuTMnoDNgy6htdN1lJHnEW2HqSNWI9K8Rp7uK1FSjKIJkd9zHIaihr5TRUy7yQwN2t5q0SbpuikAc/s400/IMG_0418.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507557753110169314" /></a><br /><br />After:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrlrG3da8bkMiS0jaZTMMs5dl3Z0xeZiggmt6drDRSNH2Iv-ahvrb-q0W0_1Fa5HUh1RLtS7SOuHimS9gHmVpEcItk0cdVzrAQ6F1s7tVn8l3dodkPTIILgeAZ2JVMVIh5Ey7XqDERz0/s1600/IMG_0041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrlrG3da8bkMiS0jaZTMMs5dl3Z0xeZiggmt6drDRSNH2Iv-ahvrb-q0W0_1Fa5HUh1RLtS7SOuHimS9gHmVpEcItk0cdVzrAQ6F1s7tVn8l3dodkPTIILgeAZ2JVMVIh5Ey7XqDERz0/s400/IMG_0041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507557775130537282" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhli4wjEuGcOWi6Oqp3WxjeypKG7pHaHs4s4RTzoy5LS_UkxYJNB3D9JNEgHDxio7VRK-OQu0ZWWj_Zrm4i0cacH4FpiTRd0x8BBJnI5Oha15_uJ8p5I6sxSoTITCIIyIiCQOwRiV5Y_fI/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhli4wjEuGcOWi6Oqp3WxjeypKG7pHaHs4s4RTzoy5LS_UkxYJNB3D9JNEgHDxio7VRK-OQu0ZWWj_Zrm4i0cacH4FpiTRd0x8BBJnI5Oha15_uJ8p5I6sxSoTITCIIyIiCQOwRiV5Y_fI/s400/IMG_0040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507558806667863266" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYVp9Vb3pBSvl-B_LHHGq8GHZSg_mG7FkgsoussiWCvEurQcY50Dtui9lL-XpPNnc5hHrdpscBOE0SYhhTRQhjG3xCn4AEYq1Hx-DHSLBZqhDKgB_WlXOo2mZxXAySEqyGj1rNEQ1D_Q/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYVp9Vb3pBSvl-B_LHHGq8GHZSg_mG7FkgsoussiWCvEurQcY50Dtui9lL-XpPNnc5hHrdpscBOE0SYhhTRQhjG3xCn4AEYq1Hx-DHSLBZqhDKgB_WlXOo2mZxXAySEqyGj1rNEQ1D_Q/s400/IMG_0039.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507558263697234498" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-74054883335441373662010-08-18T19:01:00.000-07:002010-10-01T12:55:15.789-07:00Wendy's Breakfast NookA lot of molding repair: scraping, sanding, caulking, painting, etc. We still need to add the curtains, so will add curtain pictures later. I wanted to off-dining room to be a special breakfast area where one could read the paper and sip coffee, while draped in clean fresh fabric that brought the "breakfast in bed" luxary to the first floor. Crispt, white linen on the table, seat cushions, and later curtains...ooh la la.<br /><br />But those tablecloths, table, and chairs had to go to San Diego. What's left are the soft cool glow of curtains wrapping the breakfast nook with purpose. Like a Genie in a bottle, but with light and pastries... kinda feel.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><br />BEFORE:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6_saUQItJASlRkvZMLlrOstYUnvvshLW5j53uJNucXHAOSMA9xUAVjW5likSz5-zU5sLrN4E7hfCPppugaTT5BJSc7gOzErnK4IcU1rL-erLtoBS4Lnmbz9O7RqeWH-16C2RUAFhxoo/s1600/IMG_0406.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6_saUQItJASlRkvZMLlrOstYUnvvshLW5j53uJNucXHAOSMA9xUAVjW5likSz5-zU5sLrN4E7hfCPppugaTT5BJSc7gOzErnK4IcU1rL-erLtoBS4Lnmbz9O7RqeWH-16C2RUAFhxoo/s400/IMG_0406.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523167522624806578" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_anMWasUBFJJgsngZawhOCwEsOytXzjFsRR-GFPUqymAylNL6o9iWi9Tkzq223zEj2ArInHiXpV477RWqScyGvVT9k8TcEkuepqOsXTvXSFYs-YgrzSsUbuJfTqw5LcOauNd4BJybkXg/s1600/IMG_0405.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_anMWasUBFJJgsngZawhOCwEsOytXzjFsRR-GFPUqymAylNL6o9iWi9Tkzq223zEj2ArInHiXpV477RWqScyGvVT9k8TcEkuepqOsXTvXSFYs-YgrzSsUbuJfTqw5LcOauNd4BJybkXg/s400/IMG_0405.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523167423279135826" /></a><br /><br />AFTER:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Xfkn3FI3PqsiU4LGmn2XmRxUD9bKuK1DMPdufkCLB2Cqv7jvBRBM8oVfJcT81Oa-lvjbdRqEXfCqrycsbB3ItrEMSeJfVTJpz3swt9PhEKeFAR1wwZYxJVYNJF96OVLRY7R0XjCDGg/s1600/IMG_0038.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Xfkn3FI3PqsiU4LGmn2XmRxUD9bKuK1DMPdufkCLB2Cqv7jvBRBM8oVfJcT81Oa-lvjbdRqEXfCqrycsbB3ItrEMSeJfVTJpz3swt9PhEKeFAR1wwZYxJVYNJF96OVLRY7R0XjCDGg/s400/IMG_0038.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523167419937532258" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsPTmB899HS7o9dxl6PpVRM2Sqgg_1at5xr6q7hYPY4TDgplsasAKw-3Mx0NPXEBjwUK1-2klMcJz0YpFnH0jVwGk9jwFJimjm_khLUG9MWdSnrmAN5eqSTpR7ATECYqc5ZLYiu4FEQ0/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsPTmB899HS7o9dxl6PpVRM2Sqgg_1at5xr6q7hYPY4TDgplsasAKw-3Mx0NPXEBjwUK1-2klMcJz0YpFnH0jVwGk9jwFJimjm_khLUG9MWdSnrmAN5eqSTpR7ATECYqc5ZLYiu4FEQ0/s400/IMG_0037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523167417272408914" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxX7EoBLSBDOSU6arybat5W_fRXAskyPLPiVw4qPdeHRs4j1VbBP20c2PVzDKpADCXZu-yJFETdWzerPdOjLwPwcYxoJ524mAPdiEBPLuBw2uUvnsPwNmRyfl8rTGv7HcWTT9HDBPxZY/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxX7EoBLSBDOSU6arybat5W_fRXAskyPLPiVw4qPdeHRs4j1VbBP20c2PVzDKpADCXZu-yJFETdWzerPdOjLwPwcYxoJ524mAPdiEBPLuBw2uUvnsPwNmRyfl8rTGv7HcWTT9HDBPxZY/s400/IMG_0032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523168024165687618" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdygqauFLhsge7fMwp-6r9VlbA7FxpL-2E0zDBXyx6Kv6X5N00oRJ9_Qk8TecMlKVxKHV6h_flnAKqMp9nVvTPzuwHgLLJE-8L4STTxqmSH-CzFypcv1awdtlRONvIKOD8r-f-r9_tN3Q/s1600/IMG_0446.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdygqauFLhsge7fMwp-6r9VlbA7FxpL-2E0zDBXyx6Kv6X5N00oRJ9_Qk8TecMlKVxKHV6h_flnAKqMp9nVvTPzuwHgLLJE-8L4STTxqmSH-CzFypcv1awdtlRONvIKOD8r-f-r9_tN3Q/s400/IMG_0446.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523167411707093234" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIEvrwZgV-gdLJLbjg6uGgNZIiiT-N_sRcib67HsBLxhO-CKUpNlD7YituoCr3EhjaPKLtJTVhY4p6lVLhHr8aYM_wHsAnGKVB1qR8dYCr-MNjGGqKpMnW3f7IG4l4lWNY7JdyYCWLcQ/s1600/IMG_0445.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIEvrwZgV-gdLJLbjg6uGgNZIiiT-N_sRcib67HsBLxhO-CKUpNlD7YituoCr3EhjaPKLtJTVhY4p6lVLhHr8aYM_wHsAnGKVB1qR8dYCr-MNjGGqKpMnW3f7IG4l4lWNY7JdyYCWLcQ/s400/IMG_0445.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523167401687756578" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-35906971444743602462010-08-18T18:51:00.000-07:002010-08-18T19:01:19.033-07:00Wendy's Dining RoomBye bye blue, complete with faded color surrounding the sillouhette of old frames from the countless paintings and photos taken by the amazing artists of the house. Unfortunately, buyers want to buy the house, not the artwork, so it had to go. In it's place, we did a white - one shade up from the living room color - to emphasize the contrast between walls and moldings. The woodwoork needs to be the star in this room.<br /><br />We continued certain finishes consistently through the eating areas: white, glass, and pewter. The mantle became a vinette for these finishes while black and white, neutral subject photos completed the room. This played off of the existing chandelier beautifully. They were hung between the plate rail and the top of the door casing, bringing them down to an arts and crafts flavored height.<br /><br />Before:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmIVdvRDaMy2R0pxriRAWWYix-mCgssbudWyu6pO-zbPQHk2M98iRDFZlXXOiGVJeqTdNWyV9tMiB7MkE4lsytHm2fPaAMR3KjxNR6RNwbw8NvLNSqjxwh-1x2XYdewFTCYZ9bH9irO4/s1600/IMG_0407.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmIVdvRDaMy2R0pxriRAWWYix-mCgssbudWyu6pO-zbPQHk2M98iRDFZlXXOiGVJeqTdNWyV9tMiB7MkE4lsytHm2fPaAMR3KjxNR6RNwbw8NvLNSqjxwh-1x2XYdewFTCYZ9bH9irO4/s400/IMG_0407.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934086638406738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvuKJRQ_Ci9pSuPC5gEhi6p7H_lkq_Jmi7GNe46YtaZ-DJyPbwoOkjQoZO2X9Ax18ftnEYdBHDyF0hrfOs5bDbSapkC_Z0rICeIgBj6l4DF4gXdUXDL_9YUdpX_ZYikksBhPTdOMsSUQ/s1600/IMG_0409.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvuKJRQ_Ci9pSuPC5gEhi6p7H_lkq_Jmi7GNe46YtaZ-DJyPbwoOkjQoZO2X9Ax18ftnEYdBHDyF0hrfOs5bDbSapkC_Z0rICeIgBj6l4DF4gXdUXDL_9YUdpX_ZYikksBhPTdOMsSUQ/s400/IMG_0409.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934075425407954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-FbqbwrFeJP1eI2HMISVm17Xsh012zqh0_V4Q-nAIUS9lgEISbgM0HxwFSoPghNoZQmx8I0jmfAZJ8VKwl9znuma6ThU3UcMtmLnmexsq8vQc3qU46n_UFDq8ZyTC3rmS9oOB4lokWs/s1600/IMG_0410.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-FbqbwrFeJP1eI2HMISVm17Xsh012zqh0_V4Q-nAIUS9lgEISbgM0HxwFSoPghNoZQmx8I0jmfAZJ8VKwl9znuma6ThU3UcMtmLnmexsq8vQc3qU46n_UFDq8ZyTC3rmS9oOB4lokWs/s400/IMG_0410.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934071779467442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUs-kttKAfGtnpYkX_PttpqR8sutacf3kmbKMI5nqtZp3U3ryXA2hq289hTe9ab66SFskXg_c0hO-16M3VCn_q_nXMWEy58RFKNA-7EL0U6Q4kWNQWedEECQtt0AM3CfX-3l-uVbWsf4/s1600/IMG_0412.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUs-kttKAfGtnpYkX_PttpqR8sutacf3kmbKMI5nqtZp3U3ryXA2hq289hTe9ab66SFskXg_c0hO-16M3VCn_q_nXMWEy58RFKNA-7EL0U6Q4kWNQWedEECQtt0AM3CfX-3l-uVbWsf4/s400/IMG_0412.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934068885228194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDX8Ik4MeYMvHOAEBTJCCJxLLoMA24226hRVwi2qiF6pJuQIclX1odVk5hjA7XCoOjUmWIM_5be27zSW-SwmA5cNy79nBAqkmMZq7hRNwvVANwQYe5WCuVQyJSbpqTxfi5pUc0mXcmfE/s1600/IMG_0411.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDX8Ik4MeYMvHOAEBTJCCJxLLoMA24226hRVwi2qiF6pJuQIclX1odVk5hjA7XCoOjUmWIM_5be27zSW-SwmA5cNy79nBAqkmMZq7hRNwvVANwQYe5WCuVQyJSbpqTxfi5pUc0mXcmfE/s400/IMG_0411.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934059244715874" /></a><br /><br />After:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_D4fo5XzaFU0hm4SG3zJAT4UCdV9Rr9XdytiGaSEdSzsSkOPl5CfuE_ADE4FfrK3EZyBDHJjx__R90JfleR718U8qcOYv9goK7B3a8pBcENuFV-02o4MZpBlo2_8qy6cfXWiYWk9ab0/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_D4fo5XzaFU0hm4SG3zJAT4UCdV9Rr9XdytiGaSEdSzsSkOPl5CfuE_ADE4FfrK3EZyBDHJjx__R90JfleR718U8qcOYv9goK7B3a8pBcENuFV-02o4MZpBlo2_8qy6cfXWiYWk9ab0/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934847724257650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2xIQnQT5JM5_fThW2A_xVRXffUzfaRWOvTp51qO18U-DZMZRJ2Ogpda4RfSrZRD_aVfFUKqVJoO9Ql9kc3lNT9kfI_pGcrDU-_WvTsmswbkbHgMC3z6opodRxL-QeFWMqi7MrP7O8rQ/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2xIQnQT5JM5_fThW2A_xVRXffUzfaRWOvTp51qO18U-DZMZRJ2Ogpda4RfSrZRD_aVfFUKqVJoO9Ql9kc3lNT9kfI_pGcrDU-_WvTsmswbkbHgMC3z6opodRxL-QeFWMqi7MrP7O8rQ/s400/IMG_0037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934869712219234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jOUoU9JpdrwcwMR0Z8nGz9QBZr6E4FPmKBRvJ6QLH4c-vuMHNM8MKCEexzr2w_nvxTSLdCHrTlbz73yfoCjFRs0A3QAS2cNMnw7AMpV4eORbHtwEh1RC9ChDL2-Dg6WngCJY_BE6_dM/s1600/IMG_0033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jOUoU9JpdrwcwMR0Z8nGz9QBZr6E4FPmKBRvJ6QLH4c-vuMHNM8MKCEexzr2w_nvxTSLdCHrTlbz73yfoCjFRs0A3QAS2cNMnw7AMpV4eORbHtwEh1RC9ChDL2-Dg6WngCJY_BE6_dM/s400/IMG_0033.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934866494898914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bn0qt_qIcQTzatvLsGPzCxUBjjkLgsYMF6A0iHn8NAJXpEJiMHK3ly-OVn4GQ2NDil-sc78F2TrOcSErnezei7_lA3FqDO3xz6-xRupHR3D-YbR4WRb4y7NKaWoMeGmsuRYbDw2PRMw/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bn0qt_qIcQTzatvLsGPzCxUBjjkLgsYMF6A0iHn8NAJXpEJiMHK3ly-OVn4GQ2NDil-sc78F2TrOcSErnezei7_lA3FqDO3xz6-xRupHR3D-YbR4WRb4y7NKaWoMeGmsuRYbDw2PRMw/s400/IMG_0030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934857146040146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F76m2AxmcY0yPI9ldl7thAw0aTO9Hd5lByULNhlXdjnsICQ6YB1zuf3Noo9V6-vjkxP6oIZ95GOIi22I0og9hYfioDREfnolYTeMcbRiyBhnPCQq1K0CxUMNzI1-BMPN8fF_LXIuS0M/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F76m2AxmcY0yPI9ldl7thAw0aTO9Hd5lByULNhlXdjnsICQ6YB1zuf3Noo9V6-vjkxP6oIZ95GOIi22I0og9hYfioDREfnolYTeMcbRiyBhnPCQq1K0CxUMNzI1-BMPN8fF_LXIuS0M/s400/IMG_0029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506934855217811906" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-51741811052184435982010-08-18T18:30:00.000-07:002010-08-18T18:51:10.455-07:00Wendy's Butler's PantryAfter 100+ hours of painting, caulking, spackling, scraping, priming, puddying, sanding, cleaning, organizing, purging, and staging... The Chapmans will leave us officially tomorrow when the movers come. We will miss you, Chapman clan! Thanks for your warmth, honesty, charity, and good humor.<br /><br />The schedule for the move was erratic, at best. They didn't have the relief of knowing whan they would move, who would move them, where they would move into, how long to stage for, etc. And in usual Chapman fashion, everything kinda serendipitously came together for them.<br /><br />The staging, however, was short-lived (maybe 2 weeks finished before movers came and took it all away). I didn't even get a chance to take pictures of some of the staging before it all had to be boxed up! Such a bummer, but that was the circumstances from the get-go. Unknown, and doing the best yuh could with what yuh knew.<br /><br />The plan was to repair/paint all four floors fo the house, change some light fixtures, add some curtains, organize, purge, and light and decorate for the buying market. We did most of that. Wendy and Claire even picking up a brush now and then and joined me in an effort to finish asap. The result was striking! <br /><br />We'll do this one blog at a time. Butler's Pantry:<br /><br />This was a random extra room (one of several on the first floor) that needed a purpose. It extended storage for the kitchen and ajoined the breakfast nook and dining room - hence "butler's pantry". <br /><br />The valance hangs from the ceiling to maximaze feeling of height. It runs across both windows to unify and expand them. And it distracts from the fact that there is no window casing.<br /><br />We added mason jars (which you know I love) and labeled them, conjuring up images for buyers of gourmet cooking and fancy, well-cared for ingredients. With the wine rack, we also added the buffet that was previously crowding the dining room and made it a buffet/drink serving station with some rich, sophisticated looking pewter dishware.<br /><br />Before:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmElcurf94SNqYfmemlwEYfAC68XI3MQMyfeoIbn2UB3reqXrf-gfA-e7vSIX8pGbUQRu4UO4MZOuB5PPBwSXnkkd5uGRmbzCudaZgbPwPOlouZWb1ambnNsQVmnd2p_5fGw1hoARUKRY/s1600/IMG_0436.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmElcurf94SNqYfmemlwEYfAC68XI3MQMyfeoIbn2UB3reqXrf-gfA-e7vSIX8pGbUQRu4UO4MZOuB5PPBwSXnkkd5uGRmbzCudaZgbPwPOlouZWb1ambnNsQVmnd2p_5fGw1hoARUKRY/s400/IMG_0436.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506930450730635362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_07SCN9Cs9m7ujWWVyC96Ym8lSW79A5FuxasLpgSuQHJK8n3UIUH7OZxn1YGjMk3rSYt_N6GYDqrflGJdJuycqRi5BDgfpJNRilYJCL74qpUilm3pJl8jMb-m2eP5HomKAxnIntLDrgM/s1600/IMG_0435.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_07SCN9Cs9m7ujWWVyC96Ym8lSW79A5FuxasLpgSuQHJK8n3UIUH7OZxn1YGjMk3rSYt_N6GYDqrflGJdJuycqRi5BDgfpJNRilYJCL74qpUilm3pJl8jMb-m2eP5HomKAxnIntLDrgM/s400/IMG_0435.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506930438373174242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAAoWVZN0oKIuGTm9MWlODFP1pR47TDiLHxlCXyC-Bt3Yo7aduqUjxYRdWc8TZ84UXpJikJE_AUT2g5-255cUPlWnHe37dQfFifq5V9yPjV0xhEWsdcRPEblSx8LcQgkymCc6YKGEmzg/s1600/IMG_0434.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAAoWVZN0oKIuGTm9MWlODFP1pR47TDiLHxlCXyC-Bt3Yo7aduqUjxYRdWc8TZ84UXpJikJE_AUT2g5-255cUPlWnHe37dQfFifq5V9yPjV0xhEWsdcRPEblSx8LcQgkymCc6YKGEmzg/s400/IMG_0434.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506932400022349746" /></a><br /><br />After:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_U0EtXPqzAzIjPq5gcbYV7d8qTlMixTbYJI8VwXtBdZDP_M_dfF7YrjYytvthR4UFhXpn3Ul2kjcMBEsDQki8Nm4kHVXaSl55XrBCVSIPXdECMNfdUxxL812sbuePI_k7uKXcvd6bAI/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_U0EtXPqzAzIjPq5gcbYV7d8qTlMixTbYJI8VwXtBdZDP_M_dfF7YrjYytvthR4UFhXpn3Ul2kjcMBEsDQki8Nm4kHVXaSl55XrBCVSIPXdECMNfdUxxL812sbuePI_k7uKXcvd6bAI/s400/IMG_0022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506930428429987794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCfZ8hV28mM-KOV_esKzJaq85DYm9HobtdlNHlGp7w4CyW-9O-eVwoP1xEgQZWJ9tXRG8tbhK7Ui8Ba0_QP_6eobKFlBcf7w47v0_f48HltjmKltDZVVr5U2F4JqIXhCHYNgeeyaz1LQ/s1600/IMG_0019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCfZ8hV28mM-KOV_esKzJaq85DYm9HobtdlNHlGp7w4CyW-9O-eVwoP1xEgQZWJ9tXRG8tbhK7Ui8Ba0_QP_6eobKFlBcf7w47v0_f48HltjmKltDZVVr5U2F4JqIXhCHYNgeeyaz1LQ/s400/IMG_0019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506930425253369266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVbzqfW7YZnvKdUf5WzCdR956M5-P5eBbyi8HB4ldLNDzdY5JUCYLSAEhoeyVj8zjhl3QxpRXxhiruWN-h7NQ87yYhFAATOBeenO0QNZwYaOJUvC7_Iq6ptbKJFzBbJZai1DpXxIGeDw/s1600/IMG_0023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVbzqfW7YZnvKdUf5WzCdR956M5-P5eBbyi8HB4ldLNDzdY5JUCYLSAEhoeyVj8zjhl3QxpRXxhiruWN-h7NQ87yYhFAATOBeenO0QNZwYaOJUvC7_Iq6ptbKJFzBbJZai1DpXxIGeDw/s400/IMG_0023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506930417281212418" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-78291609682239563732010-07-27T12:08:00.000-07:002010-09-27T17:44:00.556-07:00Ali's Kitchen - just about done!!!How does one execute a kitchen gut job for under $3000? <br /><br />You don't. You go over budget a bit, do it right, once, and finish up for just under $4000. BUT! For under $4000, the Olsen family have an enitrely renovated kitchen. WOW!<br /><br />Ask Ali about reusing some of her appliances. Then ask all the free/cheap labor she got (me, and uncle, and a contractor from church who took pity on her). Then ask the people on Craigslist she bought appliances from. Then ask the lady at Home Depot who gave her and inside scoop on clearance laminate countertops. Then ask about cheap materials, tricks with paint, borrowing tools, snagging flooring deals, and poof! A clean, beuatiful, functional kitchen on a shoe string budget.<br /><br />Next: decorating and staging. Perhaps a hanging pot rack for the wall right of the fridge. Ali's already working on curtains with Stephi-approved fabric. Light fixture for Dining nook is - I think - on order. Everything is finally falling into place...<br /><br />Here's the bones!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGbLTdxFbaEd1LKNOMpJuGYfgOSjJiNGhindXAFUr31IaoTAYZSwvyyHcNAdQPeOTQlzL_dATDM1dFWK0YxCaT1cSJnWMt15mL5tcTkgcCHnGkYTE4VLYXDWnNTafe2ijNe247QG9PdY/s1600/IMG_0671.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGbLTdxFbaEd1LKNOMpJuGYfgOSjJiNGhindXAFUr31IaoTAYZSwvyyHcNAdQPeOTQlzL_dATDM1dFWK0YxCaT1cSJnWMt15mL5tcTkgcCHnGkYTE4VLYXDWnNTafe2ijNe247QG9PdY/s400/IMG_0671.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521756830722682546" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQ3CE-0q3rVrOb59sg4FtwBCB27n7GtlrUDJsx0Bm87MMLri2jQiJgBb1PuPksdQ4hETYPkT13GWC7KXeI202ULXbYtBFYmR9eNMZhA46hXquOr8T7s5riJwcmzGr93yiRiyrG14KVm0/s1600/IMG_0661.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQ3CE-0q3rVrOb59sg4FtwBCB27n7GtlrUDJsx0Bm87MMLri2jQiJgBb1PuPksdQ4hETYPkT13GWC7KXeI202ULXbYtBFYmR9eNMZhA46hXquOr8T7s5riJwcmzGr93yiRiyrG14KVm0/s400/IMG_0661.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521756813700696434" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMla0d-CaxwJloR1Cy96w40jwK85xQT8n_g7JxQRhvJQ7UWObcYiGFsoESJ0rYtqDxFoAuwasazS-THtvD4DkDLUVPe6ZlCMoQhmsehmBZ07_0eIxlIVlmWZI2Fz0gjUeuOnWITWCgGk/s1600/IMG_0670.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMla0d-CaxwJloR1Cy96w40jwK85xQT8n_g7JxQRhvJQ7UWObcYiGFsoESJ0rYtqDxFoAuwasazS-THtvD4DkDLUVPe6ZlCMoQhmsehmBZ07_0eIxlIVlmWZI2Fz0gjUeuOnWITWCgGk/s400/IMG_0670.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521756817142448722" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHcJceW6VS01P2FViIzcsxG5xs2JS5s_zr_StmhlRQZ6OuMhy3yAmTpI2cCOazDvMcWwt9IWV8I1boALlsw339wA75MbJFk9rP8vFtyq1zpYEzR0P2LDJnhyphenhyphenoT_wWxgTOzn4bJZ1zikM/s1600/IMG_0667.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHcJceW6VS01P2FViIzcsxG5xs2JS5s_zr_StmhlRQZ6OuMhy3yAmTpI2cCOazDvMcWwt9IWV8I1boALlsw339wA75MbJFk9rP8vFtyq1zpYEzR0P2LDJnhyphenhyphenoT_wWxgTOzn4bJZ1zikM/s400/IMG_0667.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521756812734414274" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLD3CnGnAY3F8M9QMOFMGEgy5W09pTz-WItkXxAhOj82EXMPfz6VGXCx7rCDKtoS58hvr6m5qqhuu6AIRRUr2p293L81SKan14BM66fae47SbCOA8TAUWLl8GZYjSUY2bcS2HUCHPDW4/s1600/IMG_0660.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLD3CnGnAY3F8M9QMOFMGEgy5W09pTz-WItkXxAhOj82EXMPfz6VGXCx7rCDKtoS58hvr6m5qqhuu6AIRRUr2p293L81SKan14BM66fae47SbCOA8TAUWLl8GZYjSUY2bcS2HUCHPDW4/s400/IMG_0660.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521756798173090642" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrTVV5I8UKWFis9gTIEnHeIaNr8kjO4mYcMeZxrPcft6s0H72Sk3xYU1IlznyNPlqVljqtfbTPzUWUMgrZ4GOn3GzzF5OQogeq8kTOQzFO162ezEaY6uBMil1nrInxTJvvm654NMlpQw/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrTVV5I8UKWFis9gTIEnHeIaNr8kjO4mYcMeZxrPcft6s0H72Sk3xYU1IlznyNPlqVljqtfbTPzUWUMgrZ4GOn3GzzF5OQogeq8kTOQzFO162ezEaY6uBMil1nrInxTJvvm654NMlpQw/s400/IMG_0652.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521757610606300754" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEher53JztIzx9h9LgjpWBYlsU8nTPHfymN8eBsGy55mYV-VHr9WGlw3pbuzzSGG1hCQfZ_qwnGMuw2giSyPgbyqkCO9sF8DglxzQdXRMxrQlOJwRb9Aq213L-bpxWHzLYdla85obB9QTGQ/s1600/IMG_0663.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEher53JztIzx9h9LgjpWBYlsU8nTPHfymN8eBsGy55mYV-VHr9WGlw3pbuzzSGG1hCQfZ_qwnGMuw2giSyPgbyqkCO9sF8DglxzQdXRMxrQlOJwRb9Aq213L-bpxWHzLYdla85obB9QTGQ/s400/IMG_0663.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521757604955269442" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVM0GPeBcgrys96wo-fLsTQUD5IUW6NYi5avOEwfwQJLZcDuVssslmV4t64gVQALioyQUhRamO0VVlJl5BtJIgYh6KYITN12pL2t61q1YAdzx35ZrhpdDAcEt512ja5G6GCy_ObZnceRw/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVM0GPeBcgrys96wo-fLsTQUD5IUW6NYi5avOEwfwQJLZcDuVssslmV4t64gVQALioyQUhRamO0VVlJl5BtJIgYh6KYITN12pL2t61q1YAdzx35ZrhpdDAcEt512ja5G6GCy_ObZnceRw/s400/IMG_0682.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521757595926389538" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pDvbF-16Y_S33gN0xwo_AcJXlVdHFJYWAMAR57l7uzqBpP3sUWiM-J5knNK2NxCIMSDS6Wq-TCcnhegXKt2eoOsHyo6_-rpn8LKmdphyfDQAKZYIKrLPBPAlcjmJYFv9lWWBanjeIQc/s1600/IMG_0662.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pDvbF-16Y_S33gN0xwo_AcJXlVdHFJYWAMAR57l7uzqBpP3sUWiM-J5knNK2NxCIMSDS6Wq-TCcnhegXKt2eoOsHyo6_-rpn8LKmdphyfDQAKZYIKrLPBPAlcjmJYFv9lWWBanjeIQc/s400/IMG_0662.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521757593838312642" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywYFDJfqoMuZjcbQI0BYFvk-VxzxD5GcyChb3ec3WpODy4pUgy0EUE8rdWlzdAchMVEbxAux4WfV83F-LKEcD10IdfqomVR3zfx9QduTpFyvVpv9biYeMhuOeTXyu8lO-2RNJHkgtd_4/s1600/IMG_0677.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywYFDJfqoMuZjcbQI0BYFvk-VxzxD5GcyChb3ec3WpODy4pUgy0EUE8rdWlzdAchMVEbxAux4WfV83F-LKEcD10IdfqomVR3zfx9QduTpFyvVpv9biYeMhuOeTXyu8lO-2RNJHkgtd_4/s400/IMG_0677.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521757587922977426" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-37602949219884840212010-07-12T21:24:00.000-07:002010-07-20T07:26:33.552-07:00The Wendy Project - Progress ReportFirst floor is aaaaalmost done being painted - or as I accidentally said in character, "Some stuff still needs painted." Oy. I hope I can learn to turn down the theatrical side of me and adopt the contractor skills without the lingo.<br /><br />Take a look, buyers!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGvHTkij32zgbyKJzGzXEUswmounumNrB2ALZ1N_HzeTqKGb7DEbXrgW6FxC6HCm30K7IROGY2fFdEEfKWfFHqOlhjviqGtpeYC_7fr6RgGiZom0NN4Or5iyyVbGqGsDDToBxx5KO84g/s1600/IMG_0480.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGvHTkij32zgbyKJzGzXEUswmounumNrB2ALZ1N_HzeTqKGb7DEbXrgW6FxC6HCm30K7IROGY2fFdEEfKWfFHqOlhjviqGtpeYC_7fr6RgGiZom0NN4Or5iyyVbGqGsDDToBxx5KO84g/s400/IMG_0480.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493242915357975890" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ7OxtF_J0-QhehfmhiD3kdpTeaXAQWl6240JpuJ7Ky_7tcIBZ2DRkN7lT85Bd8RmXI04H839uyWkuI8GGv05n6UbBRCosLg3J7gFMCQ5aeyjBhnZKboZ79GcHXqwhET_WSmiU8Tjsyo/s1600/IMG_0560.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ7OxtF_J0-QhehfmhiD3kdpTeaXAQWl6240JpuJ7Ky_7tcIBZ2DRkN7lT85Bd8RmXI04H839uyWkuI8GGv05n6UbBRCosLg3J7gFMCQ5aeyjBhnZKboZ79GcHXqwhET_WSmiU8Tjsyo/s400/IMG_0560.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495993942289205698" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8CZjKsfko7TkyVPUEAUOWqXYHhzhM0yxc3lnvZG4py9cLRvgNWs4os1xDcL9lU3ZHJOpCogjNzOGGvL5l6e4aRS-S9zdm4mLJKTQtYdKdScCSqZouksqz9QocFCZQP8teAUcN_SWyJo/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8CZjKsfko7TkyVPUEAUOWqXYHhzhM0yxc3lnvZG4py9cLRvgNWs4os1xDcL9lU3ZHJOpCogjNzOGGvL5l6e4aRS-S9zdm4mLJKTQtYdKdScCSqZouksqz9QocFCZQP8teAUcN_SWyJo/s400/IMG_0488.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493242944038821010" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GdKFDzu8JcVJraZVS9mdADsjPozsKhvYAirMF_wkWjC4nimIb_s0mFJ6ICaNhyphenhyphenSYfQ09KeYMUVHw8twuCKtBFZ4iZzqU1BAey3kV8QhyeRv78vxcTmxw-FS8TrwYMF9L2fVF9WpBRHE/s1600/IMG_0458.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GdKFDzu8JcVJraZVS9mdADsjPozsKhvYAirMF_wkWjC4nimIb_s0mFJ6ICaNhyphenhyphenSYfQ09KeYMUVHw8twuCKtBFZ4iZzqU1BAey3kV8QhyeRv78vxcTmxw-FS8TrwYMF9L2fVF9WpBRHE/s400/IMG_0458.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493242935712057506" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAFJmCjTyNgSgSPbBpp70mhyphenhyphenqhpg8MtT_ZnVg0n5jmhXugMyHL1r26P88U2u4jtG-fR5vEjG-fgTqwlrPgtvuQRToCTHAYQVTOtjo5b33p6guJ3AEUa3u4iR7QvzCGkGutbe_xuBa-dI/s1600/IMG_0439.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAFJmCjTyNgSgSPbBpp70mhyphenhyphenqhpg8MtT_ZnVg0n5jmhXugMyHL1r26P88U2u4jtG-fR5vEjG-fgTqwlrPgtvuQRToCTHAYQVTOtjo5b33p6guJ3AEUa3u4iR7QvzCGkGutbe_xuBa-dI/s400/IMG_0439.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493242925131150354" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLitfIYRzpiIFOlIXT2-g4S54Rhd1CbgDoFYP3g9PE3Wf-vRQOcExTKmgJ5pI0iIC4382G3cclaTF2665V-u84730U2QdkEFSRHth9__Kez1bZG2GcTSooW9K1OdXc50Bga_LLg3s9CHk/s1600/IMG_0448.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLitfIYRzpiIFOlIXT2-g4S54Rhd1CbgDoFYP3g9PE3Wf-vRQOcExTKmgJ5pI0iIC4382G3cclaTF2665V-u84730U2QdkEFSRHth9__Kez1bZG2GcTSooW9K1OdXc50Bga_LLg3s9CHk/s400/IMG_0448.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493243229831246770" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldjhG1aEOjSlvKjPqqrxsmD57lbC-2AO6ZVW8jY5Nzlt_byi6ITWxuryiYToDapZtqd6kqOhIROTnY9MaBv9Yj3-xel4H7GJBNPqIUiEXc0tcnGcMVdgGAvabDB3s4B0jZvrvO0nZHxs/s1600/IMG_0446.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldjhG1aEOjSlvKjPqqrxsmD57lbC-2AO6ZVW8jY5Nzlt_byi6ITWxuryiYToDapZtqd6kqOhIROTnY9MaBv9Yj3-xel4H7GJBNPqIUiEXc0tcnGcMVdgGAvabDB3s4B0jZvrvO0nZHxs/s400/IMG_0446.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493242921315413058" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-91425793106724773792010-07-08T07:51:00.001-07:002010-07-08T19:19:37.892-07:00My Little Obsession and a Small Tribute to a SisterIt's the little things that remind me of being back in California, like fresh, warm from the sun, garden tomatoes. I pick some basil, and it snaps with moisture. It garnishes the succulent buffalo mozzarella I splurge on at the grocery store. Some salt, fresh-cracked pepper, EVOO, and balsamic vinegar, and poof! I have my favorite Summer snack.<br /><br />I also sometimes add thinly sliced bell pepper (any color but green - yuck), and sprinkle goat cheese instead of mozz, thyme sprigs instead of basil. Easy on the balsamic for this one. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirz7eectW-zOJoJ7VqOZBpmaAkvOhemrQNzWIWb1TqUm5hC9Wq_MEYFtBbP_QYX-miTP1va3oDg0tRp2uAUFTmFjW9BIjpNTKj0X8_fh8iG05FeLv5PQL18VcG1ze-UGtrLgfILar3uVs/s1600/IMG_0399.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirz7eectW-zOJoJ7VqOZBpmaAkvOhemrQNzWIWb1TqUm5hC9Wq_MEYFtBbP_QYX-miTP1va3oDg0tRp2uAUFTmFjW9BIjpNTKj0X8_fh8iG05FeLv5PQL18VcG1ze-UGtrLgfILar3uVs/s400/IMG_0399.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491548462740650402" /></a><br /><br />Admittedly, every time I pop one of these sugary, hot tomatoes in my mouth - not even bothering to wash them since I know exactly where they've been - I think of my little sister, Charlee, and my mouth turns sad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHDkxxTXmDzQB-u3T8OLKsJX8I9Z-ZLTU2u_MJmfJuVHb_ZHrYkHPBQFlDp-MOi9EdS5CpDum3cXweXDn8z2d6w0bzf9dX83ktwEHbr_fcNRExJ344SOEM5lQQlaUsCAiPQtX8DdFyTg/s1600/Grand+Cyn+%26+Thanksgiving+053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHDkxxTXmDzQB-u3T8OLKsJX8I9Z-ZLTU2u_MJmfJuVHb_ZHrYkHPBQFlDp-MOi9EdS5CpDum3cXweXDn8z2d6w0bzf9dX83ktwEHbr_fcNRExJ344SOEM5lQQlaUsCAiPQtX8DdFyTg/s400/Grand+Cyn+%26+Thanksgiving+053.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491552162946666578" /></a><br /><br />I miss my sisters, and when I eat garden fresh tomatoes, I think of Charlee - born to be a grandmother before anything else in life - and her millions of tomatoes in our Dad's side yard. I remember enjoying/resenting those massive bags of surplus tomatoes she'd bring me and I'd attempt not to waste. I miss her guilt trips if she saw the bag just sitting on my counter, days later. I miss her unnecessarily detailed stories - epic tales - about how each tomato has been doing, how the sun was treating them, etc. She never hesitates to pour her soul into everything she does. There is no such thing as pacing for her, nor withholding. She is a 20-something granny with the gusto of a freedom fighter, even in her vegetable garden.<br /><br />And you could taste those feelings in each of a million freaking tomatoes, osmosis transference of Charlee. Miss you, Tuggi.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOWtMLj3coo050njRlcphqA9J_8ftwCBUVDGNTxQT87EBC4Jpujld9J-YTV72jApR-E-yBXdSJWWfIWLNkwmL7c2CvU0UFfCEkIVdWA4tiWJSIAcTy91HXDF0hnvcOWmEyHXf_43m6qw/s1600/IMG_0401.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOWtMLj3coo050njRlcphqA9J_8ftwCBUVDGNTxQT87EBC4Jpujld9J-YTV72jApR-E-yBXdSJWWfIWLNkwmL7c2CvU0UFfCEkIVdWA4tiWJSIAcTy91HXDF0hnvcOWmEyHXf_43m6qw/s400/IMG_0401.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491548453162875730" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsxQfB9nW7nR8ymxnCgr1k28Nqzuz2PNADKOo43BGV5tK9G8GrHz9Xo0EQu7kgxv4hgV0Q_5vquQNMU6FbxbIqoM7RRcc0aMk6USVMNVY_vkEha57V4reVHLxTko0VTi84xZEqO6Ts4E/s1600/IMG_0402.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsxQfB9nW7nR8ymxnCgr1k28Nqzuz2PNADKOo43BGV5tK9G8GrHz9Xo0EQu7kgxv4hgV0Q_5vquQNMU6FbxbIqoM7RRcc0aMk6USVMNVY_vkEha57V4reVHLxTko0VTi84xZEqO6Ts4E/s400/IMG_0402.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491548440831592882" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iO0e3yxUS6xkm2RioLJHBGyjzp-vgv-lmiXcrQoiFKjeO7-l08OO0MJLa-gd1C_aIbT8BaJvz61BUJbZphklQ08ByUynCKqK1wwg4agz7E7B9cHRv6mlTOBoYJK4e_aVVjnQuuTdj18/s1600/P1001603.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iO0e3yxUS6xkm2RioLJHBGyjzp-vgv-lmiXcrQoiFKjeO7-l08OO0MJLa-gd1C_aIbT8BaJvz61BUJbZphklQ08ByUynCKqK1wwg4agz7E7B9cHRv6mlTOBoYJK4e_aVVjnQuuTdj18/s400/P1001603.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491551856867531666" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-41582265607468404792010-07-07T20:28:00.001-07:002010-07-08T07:50:18.715-07:00The Wendy Project: Staging and Painting for a San Diego Move<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDPnKjS5P0_byCTj8r3n1FnPMsiAhvulDITBfMVEX7KKlBx6VIJbIPixp30fPGQPDpXtQ4vQI8-ZLhLfeg5sD7V8q1b3MGYEbpACxpJ_uQfAdlwCLU2Yh8cm7blr3XcqXULMq2fz2vvo/s1600/IMG_0414.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDPnKjS5P0_byCTj8r3n1FnPMsiAhvulDITBfMVEX7KKlBx6VIJbIPixp30fPGQPDpXtQ4vQI8-ZLhLfeg5sD7V8q1b3MGYEbpACxpJ_uQfAdlwCLU2Yh8cm7blr3XcqXULMq2fz2vvo/s400/IMG_0414.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491547795649276882" /></a><br /><br />I'll be painting and staging their entire 4 floor house for their soon approaching move to beautiful San Diego. While I don't want to condone their leaving, I'm excited to take on such an ambitious project!<br /><br />Here's the first wave of befores, for your critique and enjoyment:<br /><br />Random room between kitchen and Breakie nook, just off dining (goal: purpose this room as a traditional butler's pantry using a buffet piece, paint, and lighting):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k4w-S1QX4nG6PTA-Dm1DU2xPIBHY-SuuBIWsiTuwXaY8hw1upn3tN9jALVIPd2QLIO2xdN9jcjzCIW1BQTfp7VxYBE-bagPRymNrxAJNUHHI_OEStvnFzn9xCryXTGNQ_wGHgKxYUbw/s1600/IMG_0434.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k4w-S1QX4nG6PTA-Dm1DU2xPIBHY-SuuBIWsiTuwXaY8hw1upn3tN9jALVIPd2QLIO2xdN9jcjzCIW1BQTfp7VxYBE-bagPRymNrxAJNUHHI_OEStvnFzn9xCryXTGNQ_wGHgKxYUbw/s400/IMG_0434.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491546740391788882" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW-5WaHBpoptOFypf7h2t-INeqe38QPyWkGlZyrPzH4xqdwJ3Om2lCROrqdIU7brdN-8IAkvFFI8vNxlxMn8v7NuNx43PZ-wm6c6I65IcJj-UxwinENDjpalP22Gqu_0hHjdF34pVpxs/s1600/IMG_0435.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW-5WaHBpoptOFypf7h2t-INeqe38QPyWkGlZyrPzH4xqdwJ3Om2lCROrqdIU7brdN-8IAkvFFI8vNxlxMn8v7NuNx43PZ-wm6c6I65IcJj-UxwinENDjpalP22Gqu_0hHjdF34pVpxs/s400/IMG_0435.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491546731437996562" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnydljPKi_uEYC4JF1B8yR6gvDfNOyxeYIE-P58FfkzM3xzwSlF2avb-dmUgnl_01T1cBUMCoUqNIIEZQhloKGnU7-90tSsydnN5DfW5dQMUQVnJWTyeIwbqUQqER8hA2e8ywxAvOHLo/s1600/IMG_0436.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnydljPKi_uEYC4JF1B8yR6gvDfNOyxeYIE-P58FfkzM3xzwSlF2avb-dmUgnl_01T1cBUMCoUqNIIEZQhloKGnU7-90tSsydnN5DfW5dQMUQVnJWTyeIwbqUQqER8hA2e8ywxAvOHLo/s400/IMG_0436.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491546723767270034" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiciC8AkJr2w1Jro7ajf5Hzho_j34ILJY6rpq6FQr3aNtDSHs5V_ZyDjTZh_DePQPM8LWybHdAttbh-nMyg_ovHIplafZkPgEogbzftuuOWAx9ESo9X4Op8gZFLuLZttpNkdnfT3NAcIc/s1600/IMG_0437.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiciC8AkJr2w1Jro7ajf5Hzho_j34ILJY6rpq6FQr3aNtDSHs5V_ZyDjTZh_DePQPM8LWybHdAttbh-nMyg_ovHIplafZkPgEogbzftuuOWAx9ESo9X4Op8gZFLuLZttpNkdnfT3NAcIc/s400/IMG_0437.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491546711744191426" /></a><br /><br /><br />The first of a trend - dark blue kitchen (goal: lighten and brighten with paint, light, and decluttering):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-jlKNz7O47vJXQ-Zkr5Xxxbb26CQEKcttKWwb8eOLFPUo3Qy4JcWg0pijMfaZK9zcOQFtwR1mVPOlFA19GnWGWNJbjegBUeXh_xTCXPCwEtjw-s1ikmcKcF5sj-pDTmD_Ux-9a5W8EA/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-jlKNz7O47vJXQ-Zkr5Xxxbb26CQEKcttKWwb8eOLFPUo3Qy4JcWg0pijMfaZK9zcOQFtwR1mVPOlFA19GnWGWNJbjegBUeXh_xTCXPCwEtjw-s1ikmcKcF5sj-pDTmD_Ux-9a5W8EA/s400/IMG_0426.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491546068768344706" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCISHN-C7Qc0-K1FMNeSmN1Bdpr_scxeY-4iccVD5M6LAxaD-7SsSegMY-tw2nWphVj2LBOo8SuEaHeaaIip44ch1_AJZVfupQ3hH6CtFbZROgxhCcgjloUJ2fQmh0YiaP8YzTFkd-bs/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCISHN-C7Qc0-K1FMNeSmN1Bdpr_scxeY-4iccVD5M6LAxaD-7SsSegMY-tw2nWphVj2LBOo8SuEaHeaaIip44ch1_AJZVfupQ3hH6CtFbZROgxhCcgjloUJ2fQmh0YiaP8YzTFkd-bs/s400/IMG_0427.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491546064417745074" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh9uIjDPMPV_7r5H7OZ3FzJHuV6lj77F6MwMC9PFa0MlclBz1y818O_J0ErfhzL60eBShHolGYEpzTUxaKiPkWLXuIA9rClhjSizkvS4NDaogYR-LpVggWylreCGzRHo-4RUOrYYaQSU/s1600/IMG_0428.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQh9uIjDPMPV_7r5H7OZ3FzJHuV6lj77F6MwMC9PFa0MlclBz1y818O_J0ErfhzL60eBShHolGYEpzTUxaKiPkWLXuIA9rClhjSizkvS4NDaogYR-LpVggWylreCGzRHo-4RUOrYYaQSU/s400/IMG_0428.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491546054975729890" /></a><br /><br /><br />The jersey cream yellow living room (goal: emphasize moldings, built-in's, entry way, and fireplace):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrSW8kK49wW3YvLQBPbMU_P3GFNAR0STwubB62A6hwWfK-Z-_ktKEc9yeYVGIS2dY2Q6ENv41W8FK7IN6l2jkYaRdwkmB0ZuYf1ANzmd0OEn_5CqDMqPEhGu6HAO2JukfWMgqhzVhgS8/s1600/IMG_0418.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrSW8kK49wW3YvLQBPbMU_P3GFNAR0STwubB62A6hwWfK-Z-_ktKEc9yeYVGIS2dY2Q6ENv41W8FK7IN6l2jkYaRdwkmB0ZuYf1ANzmd0OEn_5CqDMqPEhGu6HAO2JukfWMgqhzVhgS8/s400/IMG_0418.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491544337751746738" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMb1okBYjyk89DkoPOjE48GIAz7KRaBCaFzZO56vooPukKeOrcXvFyH5bHLE-dSM6KCh7Ozq0128J98inlvp2BjsEMGYAQGuFEy0h_p3Mup9tRS_k_BB-Ewx15Coryw-8z9KkEU6KUqw/s1600/IMG_0420.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMb1okBYjyk89DkoPOjE48GIAz7KRaBCaFzZO56vooPukKeOrcXvFyH5bHLE-dSM6KCh7Ozq0128J98inlvp2BjsEMGYAQGuFEy0h_p3Mup9tRS_k_BB-Ewx15Coryw-8z9KkEU6KUqw/s400/IMG_0420.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491544325930126130" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxV8i__WUbeRCP7DL76FXH1YMRRuT-ljk3x93QdC5GILk6v07lWPU2HX52Dn_XtItvAj08Oepa4zpd06_WFoUW6brhL0_1s-rnVcmm7HrzfxgQYc7GAYvRsE032mCw0FFwEQl5CCo09fc/s1600/IMG_0424.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxV8i__WUbeRCP7DL76FXH1YMRRuT-ljk3x93QdC5GILk6v07lWPU2HX52Dn_XtItvAj08Oepa4zpd06_WFoUW6brhL0_1s-rnVcmm7HrzfxgQYc7GAYvRsE032mCw0FFwEQl5CCo09fc/s400/IMG_0424.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491544318939309106" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMKZ4C5HimcxPeS9GOslvcKAuA8pbMsN_icU1H0KzB40VyeOh15zQcDTToDdFZcUngKIe1lJuFJPRUoiBq6-2wiN1dXgtGGTPxmjZupRdomAsd2awKGM5D2oH741TxS7mKByXDM-GZH0/s1600/IMG_0425.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMKZ4C5HimcxPeS9GOslvcKAuA8pbMsN_icU1H0KzB40VyeOh15zQcDTToDdFZcUngKIe1lJuFJPRUoiBq6-2wiN1dXgtGGTPxmjZupRdomAsd2awKGM5D2oH741TxS7mKByXDM-GZH0/s400/IMG_0425.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491544311524966402" /></a><br /><br /><br />The cobalt blue dining room (goal: emphasize moldings, built-ins, and chandelier):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwskZkn1HBXo-P1jPueshIBw20DLUceigVidq09pCD0ZWNmkq21ZjVrH7kF245pxfD1cTe1u2SUfZ4QvjlOUdBsdb1lhIYDioB0GVKAuPLY_12j0Kt72VSsSqnqYgr3QFBiiikmcCM4qo/s1600/IMG_0407.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwskZkn1HBXo-P1jPueshIBw20DLUceigVidq09pCD0ZWNmkq21ZjVrH7kF245pxfD1cTe1u2SUfZ4QvjlOUdBsdb1lhIYDioB0GVKAuPLY_12j0Kt72VSsSqnqYgr3QFBiiikmcCM4qo/s400/IMG_0407.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491542864682089794" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPavLDwVYFF75aYjpaV1-k9lEeGoHwhRlNKXufsicYK3hA5dh8eT68FY1tADH0uPhIsF1lMNy0RRMlQ20D4TB8Vpi6KFl9CcTR3qcbnuLGR37suWhIWa0hABf-QN5VA1EdXb9Ff3VQNs4/s1600/IMG_0409.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPavLDwVYFF75aYjpaV1-k9lEeGoHwhRlNKXufsicYK3hA5dh8eT68FY1tADH0uPhIsF1lMNy0RRMlQ20D4TB8Vpi6KFl9CcTR3qcbnuLGR37suWhIWa0hABf-QN5VA1EdXb9Ff3VQNs4/s400/IMG_0409.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491542859583171922" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-_jiJCWprUofMRtkw_exywsWBFPsLpELT1rvq0zG-tewv6ai5SdQ3uNwF2I6kBg-hLxjg2TIlZgLOoGzryC7ue310R5wBzpf7F-m2y16oLJ-mA3pU3x_cV0VRPmWoVtZUwNLv8fwmGo/s1600/IMG_0410.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-_jiJCWprUofMRtkw_exywsWBFPsLpELT1rvq0zG-tewv6ai5SdQ3uNwF2I6kBg-hLxjg2TIlZgLOoGzryC7ue310R5wBzpf7F-m2y16oLJ-mA3pU3x_cV0VRPmWoVtZUwNLv8fwmGo/s400/IMG_0410.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491542855261502754" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiman4PjVNfNqP3KrxsSPVFUZBK7gmOLYBFmP_NpdxhugvXJIdYR5m1RnAvOSHIFtKx6F7sxaUvg590GM14JFXex2xoIaaZImCpJ9JJv_O_Y8DlQ6v_TB9QlVk4go6ZXgH_n9IctmItJrk/s1600/IMG_0413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiman4PjVNfNqP3KrxsSPVFUZBK7gmOLYBFmP_NpdxhugvXJIdYR5m1RnAvOSHIFtKx6F7sxaUvg590GM14JFXex2xoIaaZImCpJ9JJv_O_Y8DlQ6v_TB9QlVk4go6ZXgH_n9IctmItJrk/s400/IMG_0413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491542850526780018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iYzk5ws150IJQj9hD8f0nsf8bWqX6KvK0k5Ad-fx32J2MnNn-56j1jnl5yDoUlcpAhNgihch0U8UxURUtLn3g20Ah8B4YXEJkQknpZUN8vxd05ugCzwEK4055PfZSh6G3pTTWhTk7aI/s1600/IMG_0412.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iYzk5ws150IJQj9hD8f0nsf8bWqX6KvK0k5Ad-fx32J2MnNn-56j1jnl5yDoUlcpAhNgihch0U8UxURUtLn3g20Ah8B4YXEJkQknpZUN8vxd05ugCzwEK4055PfZSh6G3pTTWhTk7aI/s400/IMG_0412.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491542841022496626" /></a><br /><br /><br />What has now been deemed the Breakfast Nook (goal: give purpose to blank canvas by adding family breakie room):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM_tVFIJIBRExBw1sFjvOGXOKs8B2nIcC6g8UYYesTzaEK7OsKgoH-ri2jzwTzHb-9-QIKXXq4vmRWly2frjt3vC_kNAtpsk_uo6ZaWRwXcYsQuPubqzPEbHK_Zg8jJdaPqmvZIe5WOM/s1600/IMG_0404.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM_tVFIJIBRExBw1sFjvOGXOKs8B2nIcC6g8UYYesTzaEK7OsKgoH-ri2jzwTzHb-9-QIKXXq4vmRWly2frjt3vC_kNAtpsk_uo6ZaWRwXcYsQuPubqzPEbHK_Zg8jJdaPqmvZIe5WOM/s400/IMG_0404.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491380115359794610" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAypEiJgEqXz47rAxr2HYQVvPJl_sVwu-FKamT-oE2mfbC8Uw9wHYrQrhjlNj6TNmlkSfY7Hzh6jF9W5coQBbzQuPJ172Lyhvy6__IsbwRSRs7fujYZiX2zYcUkHtbRsVHBwgVzGOPCU/s1600/IMG_0405.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAypEiJgEqXz47rAxr2HYQVvPJl_sVwu-FKamT-oE2mfbC8Uw9wHYrQrhjlNj6TNmlkSfY7Hzh6jF9W5coQBbzQuPJ172Lyhvy6__IsbwRSRs7fujYZiX2zYcUkHtbRsVHBwgVzGOPCU/s400/IMG_0405.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491380101967023298" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3jiGJPGN_s7fzUvLl3omMm09iQDQNqmhWf2cNLIBnwM-hist0PpHcXg-g9HucE368svdWVAJif_tcqwWhIsYXJqaUu_deW8XEfadVW65a37jIDlxszWhaPEWAYxTRoTvDnL-Q52gOA0/s1600/IMG_0406.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3jiGJPGN_s7fzUvLl3omMm09iQDQNqmhWf2cNLIBnwM-hist0PpHcXg-g9HucE368svdWVAJif_tcqwWhIsYXJqaUu_deW8XEfadVW65a37jIDlxszWhaPEWAYxTRoTvDnL-Q52gOA0/s400/IMG_0406.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491380092581099202" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-19414073497648120042010-07-05T21:08:00.000-07:002010-07-05T21:19:43.659-07:00Ali's Kitchen UpdateStuff's happening... or rather, "Steph's" happening. :D <br /><br />Check it out!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3DLQaiQS992FlqHPPnE0tIN2cqAehq4JFlE2Rhs1jhZVe895xwm_YgP7Lk3NsgYVJJhUVCQ0rk7ZxupfP72SSFmqO6M7x6NcB9ce5dcscW22ohOTW7chK_u5Cf7-4yan5bSLJWwmW-M/s1600/DSCN4964.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3DLQaiQS992FlqHPPnE0tIN2cqAehq4JFlE2Rhs1jhZVe895xwm_YgP7Lk3NsgYVJJhUVCQ0rk7ZxupfP72SSFmqO6M7x6NcB9ce5dcscW22ohOTW7chK_u5Cf7-4yan5bSLJWwmW-M/s400/DSCN4964.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490641544881643746" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHckW0j6MGHIKsr366r6JWNYNglQw-sIGwFeSWPsYrEhLRb6-N-UgmKWvG_cFB8_ce_FEu8HFUqvJXeQ5T-7HhnGHnzE-Ocn-lS37BNrK0RIUlfXB-wVSNXdzBef-u0IB5O4sraU2MTE/s1600/DSCN1949.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHckW0j6MGHIKsr366r6JWNYNglQw-sIGwFeSWPsYrEhLRb6-N-UgmKWvG_cFB8_ce_FEu8HFUqvJXeQ5T-7HhnGHnzE-Ocn-lS37BNrK0RIUlfXB-wVSNXdzBef-u0IB5O4sraU2MTE/s400/DSCN1949.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490642076945393474" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-YZ9Ih9EbD02VU99am2D7iLDufGCrSM3p8Y525ncnf4PX9IwslDS7FQ9LEZYJbt3XiScUCK6J5SlF4zI-EsRePDClGxjsTD5yIJB3D1gBxmsenegf2KtGhSx9wZEKQXSQSvQt4h0yyE/s1600/DSCN1958.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmp0acZLE06qD3YX1RFtdzuSje_ys8Pnur8O9Fpscb0o2V7EOrxCzGo2Otg_WGgf2d0bs5KQDPHY_IjMyU-TGDnZeYRyOZ49MoPhnb5g_A4hgMbixXaNySFx6zZTNqWWVpfP-AmZ8r0s/s400/DSCN4968.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490640777883846322" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmM6SeuxSl_wGFlbXuH9WxITD8VN5EcpuwcwWPTS4rfCjw6JnTUWVTh69N6eXvsHyPpE3IZVpgRpu-MumT_MfJT3vIbABb_od0L7NOkLBTyLHImQW-Xas5N1deP1tekkJ4l9kJAw_k5Ts/s1600/DSCN4976.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmM6SeuxSl_wGFlbXuH9WxITD8VN5EcpuwcwWPTS4rfCjw6JnTUWVTh69N6eXvsHyPpE3IZVpgRpu-MumT_MfJT3vIbABb_od0L7NOkLBTyLHImQW-Xas5N1deP1tekkJ4l9kJAw_k5Ts/s400/DSCN4976.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490640772922338786" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ0PAV6Z15jBCwD4iimDqsHFSYcYjUq2N8JbT8GT2KDKAp6_sT5l5kV4OWqcS7-X7l5FqW_JHgthMNIJGwQL46Zlg05FIvjQZwfB21mU8MemYamarDxCcEY8bs2nV6St-Aq_DLtHZxZw/s1600/DSCN4979.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ0PAV6Z15jBCwD4iimDqsHFSYcYjUq2N8JbT8GT2KDKAp6_sT5l5kV4OWqcS7-X7l5FqW_JHgthMNIJGwQL46Zlg05FIvjQZwfB21mU8MemYamarDxCcEY8bs2nV6St-Aq_DLtHZxZw/s400/DSCN4979.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490640768844241858" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-89818375164053182172010-06-08T11:21:00.000-07:002010-06-11T20:23:08.324-07:00Surprise! LEAD: A Catalyst for a Kitchen Remodel by Yours Truly<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNt0EI6hvNE-t2FdLO2I6Zxl_jtcTlJsA0Ik8sBjSVgUFTQSaBa4CsOd7fktJH1yDrKJQ346GaGeYrbWP0RCRIBtkxl3xMUu4HvDylCGLVmme1_8JsO-msIDhQIoyy3I44euHYIxiGuY/s1600/DSCN1944.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNt0EI6hvNE-t2FdLO2I6Zxl_jtcTlJsA0Ik8sBjSVgUFTQSaBa4CsOd7fktJH1yDrKJQ346GaGeYrbWP0RCRIBtkxl3xMUu4HvDylCGLVmme1_8JsO-msIDhQIoyy3I44euHYIxiGuY/s200/DSCN1944.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481719987282078162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaUO3e15WqASuOG_vYxcWLwx1aqfsvg_OnK01lpsjwfC5H8VhVLo9_nv2ivcK-8s1SzFNDHVLdiu9B-HQmVxwO0-ilkbu0Dee3QuvnmuKKMJMZi30eDxYu98t_WWOJaiEzuEEk3r_pqk/s1600/DSCN1955.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaUO3e15WqASuOG_vYxcWLwx1aqfsvg_OnK01lpsjwfC5H8VhVLo9_nv2ivcK-8s1SzFNDHVLdiu9B-HQmVxwO0-ilkbu0Dee3QuvnmuKKMJMZi30eDxYu98t_WWOJaiEzuEEk3r_pqk/s200/DSCN1955.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481719976260735234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iiByLdUprH45OmPPPWOiRWMHovRfbFpn3NBdEKiiuOdhUL1z26OScmqTbqRDRkQ7NDuv1t3CedQOxaTQYsa8gr1HnWNC_13ysn_PlfHNBIuGJy99lQZh6bjepTiTOFkCLnkdSmHpux8/s1600/DSCN1961.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iiByLdUprH45OmPPPWOiRWMHovRfbFpn3NBdEKiiuOdhUL1z26OScmqTbqRDRkQ7NDuv1t3CedQOxaTQYsa8gr1HnWNC_13ysn_PlfHNBIuGJy99lQZh6bjepTiTOFkCLnkdSmHpux8/s200/DSCN1961.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481719606195857890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3T-OnkQWAoB3wP9yw5JasA2_fS5-alytl77efrlN6OgaK_FcO0jaI0kA0Bkwn2i2I3T7GesgyZ3Z2YYVV43NYkRxK9VuGRXJ1pwqWMIrxsgMHE6eHNUwBdLR1RpqqhVk3OzaHCoBDdvk/s1600/DSCN1956.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3T-OnkQWAoB3wP9yw5JasA2_fS5-alytl77efrlN6OgaK_FcO0jaI0kA0Bkwn2i2I3T7GesgyZ3Z2YYVV43NYkRxK9VuGRXJ1pwqWMIrxsgMHE6eHNUwBdLR1RpqqhVk3OzaHCoBDdvk/s200/DSCN1956.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481719199310937074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqssJD3nBtYwMw_vaeTdRF7TkAYYqsoB0Y9SndKgbdjyluBVS23eJ2N5iqmNBE0KXCn2fXaJIZht2sIxB4HPMPZCEpe3h7O5bYoZozKwLk-FMUFtYdCR4PX4GTFZ3StuL0geWownLV3A/s1600/DSCN1953.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqssJD3nBtYwMw_vaeTdRF7TkAYYqsoB0Y9SndKgbdjyluBVS23eJ2N5iqmNBE0KXCn2fXaJIZht2sIxB4HPMPZCEpe3h7O5bYoZozKwLk-FMUFtYdCR4PX4GTFZ3StuL0geWownLV3A/s200/DSCN1953.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481719006948061282" /></a><br /><br />After a friend, Ali, came to me for advise on stripping the wallpaper in her kitchen, I neglected to ask when her house was built. The exterior looks very post 1960's, so I thought perhaps there were traces of lead but not super heavy.<br /><br />The house was built about 100 years ago. Crap. <br /><br />This means there is a dangerously high level of lead content in just about everything, but especially paint and moldings.<br /><br />Didn't know this when we began aggressively pulling down the wallpaper one spontaneous morning visit. I went home for the day and got a panicked call from Ali the next night, saying she had gotten a home lead test kit (smart girl) and it cam back really red (red is bad). I immediately came over to seal up the walls with caulking, joint compound, and 2 coats of heavy primer. We wore heavy duty ventilating masks and kept areas wet and clean, as is advisable. We also sealed off all doors with plastic covering so the kids wouldn't be exposed. But this is the hub of the home - and the kids are hungry, and restless, and easily entertained by pulling each other's hair. So we had to act fast.<br /><br />From Wednesday to Saturday, we stripped, panicked, sealed, and were safe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVnhlgWIe993nQPg5v_0yIw4JuiIMfUiO74iNxOtOUZ8SHqrPLVwlh-zRFILiuBdJg2t3LAU-1NEZl0PL69FWaYXFn9eYzyCwQGcs2f8v9quemz6pi2JtF7w-h098nkzIoSnWf81qpAU/s1600/DSCN1963.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVnhlgWIe993nQPg5v_0yIw4JuiIMfUiO74iNxOtOUZ8SHqrPLVwlh-zRFILiuBdJg2t3LAU-1NEZl0PL69FWaYXFn9eYzyCwQGcs2f8v9quemz6pi2JtF7w-h098nkzIoSnWf81qpAU/s320/DSCN1963.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481721502638500610" /></a><br /><br />Sigh. Rest. Breathe. Aaaaand hold onto your hammers, girls, cuz it's time to talk kitchen remodel...<br /><br />She had a hodge podge of leftover kitchen cabinets from about every decade except her own. Good points included vintage upper cabinets above the sink with antique hardware. I'm smelling a jumping off point.<br /><br />Vintage casual.<br /><br />We will bead board six feet up the walls. This will create a stylish, vintage casual backdrop for the walls and add architectural interest. Meanwhile, it will better seal up any of the lead behind it and won't reveal paint chips of bumped. Plus, nicks and scratches to the bead board will be enhanced patina, versus walls that will just look like they need repair. Character, safety, and durability. We will paint above the bead board - potentially all the way through the ceiling, unifying ceiling and walls - to add color in an area that won't be getting knocked and crashed into by running children.<br /><br />Here's the bullet-pointed color/material scheme for the budget-friendly, vintage-inspired remodel (all pics borrowed from Google):<br /><br />These floors:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpocCjG4_ERVXqCjRg4ExeXqFpz2whKVpXFU6laA5Y9uDmTnmDuv9GPIEbgj7ewd2cdG_EXu_0gnOGaDi6s4FQ94bvs9nh0RH0Z4zvn4MHXWyA5ptWOeyI9Ov0EG7bAOLRq3gFE29qG8/s1600/floor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 129px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpocCjG4_ERVXqCjRg4ExeXqFpz2whKVpXFU6laA5Y9uDmTnmDuv9GPIEbgj7ewd2cdG_EXu_0gnOGaDi6s4FQ94bvs9nh0RH0Z4zvn4MHXWyA5ptWOeyI9Ov0EG7bAOLRq3gFE29qG8/s320/floor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481682138414987218" /></a><br /><br />With these butcher block countertops:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOIuwRKY0SncIBzB7DnpBVyXFNdI6BIM5Yg8Um6KabyVk3dMkeX1371zvEKzJadPHRxW5zfs9armZX3pE60mk8MU0bP4u3iCjeasHaMp8k24B9RRt66TX6-VLPDLdenMkD4FBPkFLNNY/s1600/butcherblock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOIuwRKY0SncIBzB7DnpBVyXFNdI6BIM5Yg8Um6KabyVk3dMkeX1371zvEKzJadPHRxW5zfs9armZX3pE60mk8MU0bP4u3iCjeasHaMp8k24B9RRt66TX6-VLPDLdenMkD4FBPkFLNNY/s320/butcherblock.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481682132023105778" /></a><br /><br />With white subway tile backsplash behind sink, contrasted with Taupe grout, sort of like below but a lighter grout:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4xOVpeV-2ZLrA9d8KM7-yNTB_BLje1T3UJULHfHuJt5eVCm9cM0MHVyktK7Y_NW27v1I9G905wl1tFqaUdWE_Sc4vG0Qw07bv2BvpQ4xS3QfA8IHCJgDWUtpJ7evI4WzWX7kHS3Kjy8/s1600/white+subway+backsplash.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4xOVpeV-2ZLrA9d8KM7-yNTB_BLje1T3UJULHfHuJt5eVCm9cM0MHVyktK7Y_NW27v1I9G905wl1tFqaUdWE_Sc4vG0Qw07bv2BvpQ4xS3QfA8IHCJgDWUtpJ7evI4WzWX7kHS3Kjy8/s320/white+subway+backsplash.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481684287597916338" /></a><br /><br />With this beadboard going up the walls 6 ft (higher than wainscoting, lower than a plate rail):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlJsXGPdcLSDPyp6f7gWaG6KEM5NIzEyZvxKh7klukLHRUKKxK9JAKkx3i-sG7Gwdmz4Z5BT5hTceoWHjuUy1dWiDedVjA7cXN_f_-wAhs_Gz2LPEirgPtdgVXigCCgc3rGKRlYXg-tg/s1600/beadboard01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlJsXGPdcLSDPyp6f7gWaG6KEM5NIzEyZvxKh7klukLHRUKKxK9JAKkx3i-sG7Gwdmz4Z5BT5hTceoWHjuUy1dWiDedVjA7cXN_f_-wAhs_Gz2LPEirgPtdgVXigCCgc3rGKRlYXg-tg/s320/beadboard01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481682124821607282" /></a><br /><br />Something like these porcelain vintage knobs (bronze or polished chrome?) to pop against chocolate base cabs (maybe bronze or polished chrome on white upper cabs):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY-xEsD57rV32ZegeeEKT4ydX5W2xPPfLHLc6MEieeXf0Jn-8OBEGprPzgkxLYxUyZ4y5RRzNk81fWwbchD8B5RxMRxDfaUFx6ij-bvP7Ym3jMv5JHEeS5JyafQi2ZoazKMP622NBoIw/s1600/porcelainknobpic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY-xEsD57rV32ZegeeEKT4ydX5W2xPPfLHLc6MEieeXf0Jn-8OBEGprPzgkxLYxUyZ4y5RRzNk81fWwbchD8B5RxMRxDfaUFx6ij-bvP7Ym3jMv5JHEeS5JyafQi2ZoazKMP622NBoIw/s320/porcelainknobpic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481682114883194562" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI4yRWNywxsKHJx7MFTlOtugACvbR7VLgJDye0KjwzwAVjzrInp-0_CIa2-eTPI4Cue_UREoimiIQOOQPM3w2cg9OyW1Rb3LC9__AMBa5VA62_MZLcNcj7gnZOetjaG7kKnvTx-UFMkw/s1600/simpleporcelainknob.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI4yRWNywxsKHJx7MFTlOtugACvbR7VLgJDye0KjwzwAVjzrInp-0_CIa2-eTPI4Cue_UREoimiIQOOQPM3w2cg9OyW1Rb3LC9__AMBa5VA62_MZLcNcj7gnZOetjaG7kKnvTx-UFMkw/s320/simpleporcelainknob.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481718649826798322" /></a><br /><br />Wall sconce replacement - school house style to go with age of house:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00IlHzUN1jg6juvcHEQOctIRrItbh3qQkWm0Mj9ADs-umXI201y5GKHX0icXo6vWF3L0Yu1SQyfXDwFaq9lyxiP1lyl9RnEGMOJkFaoT5KmaIqDK0Vlttus_JM54bRTJQJX6VWLep4xc/s1600/schoolhousescoonce.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00IlHzUN1jg6juvcHEQOctIRrItbh3qQkWm0Mj9ADs-umXI201y5GKHX0icXo6vWF3L0Yu1SQyfXDwFaq9lyxiP1lyl9RnEGMOJkFaoT5KmaIqDK0Vlttus_JM54bRTJQJX6VWLep4xc/s320/schoolhousescoonce.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481718019510226386" /></a><br /><br />Fan replacement:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kRBttVnI9UZ6c5p6IB65jrq9EIWXkn__ZD29OPEARE_8bRVKT_7_TpPlBnQOAEJzNB0jdOKfC_IM_sf9-0Kk0Lp5NHDFPfqVuHRI_IEK2r-GcTCkaNQxwgnZAeEWWFFqgjjrQ_51VD8/s1600/fan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kRBttVnI9UZ6c5p6IB65jrq9EIWXkn__ZD29OPEARE_8bRVKT_7_TpPlBnQOAEJzNB0jdOKfC_IM_sf9-0Kk0Lp5NHDFPfqVuHRI_IEK2r-GcTCkaNQxwgnZAeEWWFFqgjjrQ_51VD8/s320/fan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481718496434945282" /></a><br /><br />And these base cabinets:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLdwgMMZNSwI0kpSxR69GMPBhzlR_JGeVhw1-cA3zD0QcCEbkkUiiiAcF_e5G6hlpQV_iAz-2Yatg_LxdEZn1DC3ooZ02sgRefsfKQnFSo1ZL1TKiWzJQriRHvFD8mfxnH7cN2bOALVw/s1600/ikealiljebase.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLdwgMMZNSwI0kpSxR69GMPBhzlR_JGeVhw1-cA3zD0QcCEbkkUiiiAcF_e5G6hlpQV_iAz-2Yatg_LxdEZn1DC3ooZ02sgRefsfKQnFSo1ZL1TKiWzJQriRHvFD8mfxnH7cN2bOALVw/s320/ikealiljebase.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481682114080786658" /></a><br /><br />New cabinets: These Ikea cabinets have the rich, dark, traditional feel Ali loves and will go nicely with the glossy white bead board.<br /><br />mid-tone wood laminate floor: clicks together and floats on top of vinyl tile and who know what lurking underneath. Super durable with kids and budget friendly. And they had already bought it! Good timing.<br /><br />Now I know what your thinking: "But the wood tones don't match! Shouldn't she get darker floors or lighter cabinets to <span style="font-style:italic;">match</span>?" Not necessarily. It creates more interest in a room, as long as it can be pulled off by repeating those colors somewhere else. It has to look deliberate. So we'll bring the brown of the cabinets into a bronze hardware and the tan of the floors in the grout of a white subway tile back splash, and perhaps in a tan paint color. <br /><br />So then our color scheme show up in the following way:<br /><br />Creamy White: vintage cabinets, bead board, trim, porcelain hardward<br />Tan: flooring, grout, paint color on walls<br />Chocolate: base cabinets, hardware<br /><br />As for layout, the kitchen maneuvers as a galley style right now, which is hugely limited in terms of functionality and storage. I'd like to move the gas line and wrap in a cooking peninsula to anchor a benched seating nook behind.<br /><br />(insert kitchen lay out here...teaser...)<br /><br />They also have a chimney in prime real estate, so a shallow depth pantry could create a seamless face from one side to the other and maximize storage.<br /><br />When you walk into the house, you're immediately in the kitchen. So the dead space behind the front door can act as a moment of entry way by adding coat hooks, and a shoe bench/trunk for storage and taking shoes/coat on and off. Perhaps I can put a wall mail sorter, key ring, etc there, too.<br /><br />More to come... Would love some feedback, sources, anything you can offer, as always! Thanks gang!Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-31890632709062496752010-05-27T15:54:00.001-07:002010-05-29T04:47:52.812-07:00Landscaping: How a Nasty Note and some Dog Poop Became a Wall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EDTeX7F-ie027cJBlZnfxblBFdZw4efEcXE7O4woanlgFgMwa-sxJCd5OjSC8lJBZImmiVJ7eIbaI_olVFHlYKJSEspiZJx5vJZZgTTUFuv1XYwD0cYyIcbe4xujeYfh8PFG0k-dMhk/s1600/DSCN1926.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EDTeX7F-ie027cJBlZnfxblBFdZw4efEcXE7O4woanlgFgMwa-sxJCd5OjSC8lJBZImmiVJ7eIbaI_olVFHlYKJSEspiZJx5vJZZgTTUFuv1XYwD0cYyIcbe4xujeYfh8PFG0k-dMhk/s320/DSCN1926.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476322087557020450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_9fWK7tQsUbb2jEQGyOjKov0UI_aAwUNwwTCO6syPeJHspxaa5vWj8cv7q-yHg3hPri0nZv9Nykzh0iEsVYXUpFLCrPQZn7H9UfBv4Z5Y_wgepi7VXm2Nl4Kjk_xlUKj5aBwR39ZcjQ/s1600/DSCN1925.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_9fWK7tQsUbb2jEQGyOjKov0UI_aAwUNwwTCO6syPeJHspxaa5vWj8cv7q-yHg3hPri0nZv9Nykzh0iEsVYXUpFLCrPQZn7H9UfBv4Z5Y_wgepi7VXm2Nl4Kjk_xlUKj5aBwR39ZcjQ/s320/DSCN1925.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476322083160744594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherTpEBnXrIgLSgdbEYxa4WVklGKKl44F7EAKWK_Xp3sTCUfZUd6e_p7-f0yg98xJEohvWQIYXi2XXKdCwTK-SNjPqBf5QEjvxnb1R3NTOqiURH8vpm_AwwPT_jw5jMljHmkg9jLhueLc/s1600/DSCN1932.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherTpEBnXrIgLSgdbEYxa4WVklGKKl44F7EAKWK_Xp3sTCUfZUd6e_p7-f0yg98xJEohvWQIYXi2XXKdCwTK-SNjPqBf5QEjvxnb1R3NTOqiURH8vpm_AwwPT_jw5jMljHmkg9jLhueLc/s320/DSCN1932.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476322076752463922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwdGJTOP_hvcgD17jeD6g5xlgO7jfSLnoqp2cLbZ_VnpVZN7vJ_mTcNR7HkWjbJSdwMJTnE0UTc16H_G2jAgK4ns3f8_k8Us35pQqt0vzPcPk-lAqXP_ZtS7im3VOBwyipDCzEIDqu4o/s1600/DSCN1928.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwdGJTOP_hvcgD17jeD6g5xlgO7jfSLnoqp2cLbZ_VnpVZN7vJ_mTcNR7HkWjbJSdwMJTnE0UTc16H_G2jAgK4ns3f8_k8Us35pQqt0vzPcPk-lAqXP_ZtS7im3VOBwyipDCzEIDqu4o/s320/DSCN1928.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476322069068709042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fi04zjVRw9BQKLEXGIk5baR2UbjZ9S9hsJyZDabpUpr1tZWP9kVb9nvXM5jw-eYb2XxZiAAnaD8preFqQl0Rp0l23iH5JFSIrW6rW8oifE07M7LpJSDZgnI0m309iMoV728r6Ut6LX8/s1600/DSCN1931.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fi04zjVRw9BQKLEXGIk5baR2UbjZ9S9hsJyZDabpUpr1tZWP9kVb9nvXM5jw-eYb2XxZiAAnaD8preFqQl0Rp0l23iH5JFSIrW6rW8oifE07M7LpJSDZgnI0m309iMoV728r6Ut6LX8/s320/DSCN1931.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476322065482478178" /></a><br />In every marriage, you have to determine one another's sensitivity toward public image. How long does it take to get ready enough to feel comfortable leaving the house? How candid are you with new people? Who gets how much of your time off - friends or spouse? <br /><br />Here's a scenario from our life:<br /><br />Upon moving into our 1922 home, we focused much of our repair/renovation energy on the interior. As previously blogged, the look and feel could be captured in a smell... formaldehyde, old cosmetics, and mildew. Limited means forced us to neglect our grass in the front yard.<br /><br />A quick word on grass. Grass is personal. If my grass is perfectly tailored, an even shade of blue-green, cut to a perfect 3" high, and sprawls out as far as the neighbors' eyes can see, then that means I care about my neighbors' feelings. That I value their opinion, the work they've invested in their grass, the hours they've spent fertlizing and mowing said grass, or going to work so they could pay someone else to nurture and care for their grass. If my grass is patchy, yellow, and long, that means I hate your guts and you suck.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Or so it would seem</span>, based on the note we received after letting our grass get too patchy and yellow-green.<br /><br />The note read:<br /><br />"To Whom It May Concern,<br /><br />I need to be repaired. I am ugly and messy and want to be pretty like all the other yards. Please fix me.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Your Grass"<br /><br />A second note, in the same handwriting sent on the same day:<br /><br />"Maybe it's time to try a different grass seed. Just plant, water, and cut. Thank you."<br /><br />Here's where the marital lesson comes in.<br /><br />My reaction:<br /><br />F*@& 'em. If they want to make my grass a personal offense to them, fine. If I fix it, the terrorists win.<br /><br />My husband's reaction:<br /><br />We aren't upholding our neightborly duties, not keeping up with everybody else, and someone doesn't approve. Let's scramble to find $2500 to do some really nice landscaping<br /><br />Then another gift was left for us, but it wasn't a note in our mail slot.<br /><br />Someone walking their dog bagged the poop, tied it, walked up onto our sloping lawn, identified the worst patch, and gently placed the poop on our lawn.<br /><br />You can imagine how our reactions were magnified by this neighborly gesture. Several heated but educational negotiations and poof!<br /><br />We have a wall.<br /><br />Admittedly, it would have cost between $5,000 - $10,000 if we hadn't found this amazing guy named Pat Rocks (yes, the actual name of the guy who installed our rocks was Pat <span style="font-style:italic;">Rocks</span>). The $2500 included some beautiful stone from Maryland that had lots of warm colors to play off of they yellow brick in the house. I learned a lot, but don't have the muscle to have done what he did. <br /><br />This is where I get frusrated. I know how to do so much, but I only have these wimpy girl biceps to do it with. When my designer/contractor career takes off someday, I might consider Steroids to remedy this problem. That or subcontract muscle.<br /><br />I did, however, have enough muscle to do all the planting, scoring Fall clearances on perennials at Lowe's, Home Depot, and the like.<br /><br />Plant list:<br /><br />Hybrid Tea Roses<br />Anise Hyssop<br />Sorbet Peonies<br />Bell Flower (mislabeled - thought it was mockorange, which has a phenominal fragrance)<br />Lemon Thyme<br />Ajuga<br />Hostas<br />Pink Daffodils<br />Pink Angelique Tulips<br />Veronica Speedwell<br />Burberry (or barberry? Whichone is the fashion label?)<br />Pink Azalea<br />Hydrangea<br />Silver Lace Vine<br />Toad Lillies<br />Pig Squeek<br />Lobelia<br />Cinnamon Fern<br />Coleus<br />Iris<br />Snow in Summer<br />FLowering Cherry Bush<br /><br /><br />And a million other little guys I can't remember.<br /><br />I hired babysitters to watch Hazel so I could watch Pat. I learned a ton about installing a retaining wall, and Pat and I worked together to arrange them in an aesthetically pleasing manner.<br /><br />Retaining wall info to come...<br /><br />While I love my garden, and love watching Hazel's eyes light up when a new flower has bloomed for her to pick, I still harbor resentment that somewhere, perhaps down the block, there is someone with a lot of time on her hands...snickering.<br /><br />The terrorists won and I got a garden. Call it a draw?Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-60571665021628516792010-05-22T15:56:00.001-07:002010-05-22T16:18:43.070-07:00News Flash! Hazel's UN-Birthday Party a Success!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5jiYNZ7yPKohioetnQz_Z6INaJkYEGmLCWCDJJ6m2GhzbtcVjaf38iyMbTjIgVSlPtOHVnR61DMXkLhkUSd5ofhOdynrA4x0HID4UNwLQKaxfYoh8utSsGcnII6o_4Bj0VpBYDyrcl4/s1600/DSCN1799.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5jiYNZ7yPKohioetnQz_Z6INaJkYEGmLCWCDJJ6m2GhzbtcVjaf38iyMbTjIgVSlPtOHVnR61DMXkLhkUSd5ofhOdynrA4x0HID4UNwLQKaxfYoh8utSsGcnII6o_4Bj0VpBYDyrcl4/s400/DSCN1799.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474233369204987218" /></a><br /><br />Between the "Gazillion" bubble machine, blow-up wading pool with ball pit, balloons, streamers, pink fairy princess cake on top of dirt cake covered in worms/eggs/green sprinkles, garden buckets with toys we later scooped dirt cake into and ate from, and Hazel's pile of dress up clothes...we had fun.<br /><br />I need a nap.<br /><br />Thank you everyone for all your fabulous suggestions! Our outdoor party became an indoor one and they didn't kill each other.<br /><br />Dirt cake:<br />3 box chocolate cakes<br />12 chocolate pudding cups<br />4 bags of chocolate oreos<br /><br />mash and mix. Adorn with Gummi Worms, maltball birds' eggs, green sprinkles. Optional: bugs, butterflies, fairies, green cotton cancy for moss, edible flowers, etc. I used a plastic storage bin for the troff.<br /><br />I made the fairy topper from an extra doll in craft storage. some feathers, silk flowers, dance rhinestones, and some hot glue, and poof! A fairy cake topper. She went on the top of the pink strawberry cake no one ate. Dirt cake is moist and tasty...<br /><br />In the $1 garden pails were stickers to decorate their pail, eggs full of puddy, and kazoos/harmonicas.<br /><br />Bubble machine was $15 at Toysrus. It was the 3rd and most expensive one I bought, and the first one that worked. And after watching to toddlers spas out for indoor bubbles, I would have paid 10 times that.<br /><br />You can get big bags of refill ballpit-balls at Target. Sucky thing is these stupid cheapo balls are $20 a bag. The wading pool was big, so I needed 2-3 bags. They probably cost $2 a bag. That part sucked. But what I really bought was $40 worth of serious 2-year-old fun.<br /><br /><br />Enjoy the pictures. Happy 2 1/2 UN-Birthday, Hazel my love!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TWZbBpbS_VH-pX4KpuqspP6xKNODS6PICN69M9psCBwF-KJRGStDszcZ_HRQQXQ5nJGuCGZhgSod1NwomLJaKS8LG1yxuTjT8WTvOgAINCjPtwPWASHzjuTkq-iZusUpnMq-P0ZQD-U/s1600/DSCN1826.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TWZbBpbS_VH-pX4KpuqspP6xKNODS6PICN69M9psCBwF-KJRGStDszcZ_HRQQXQ5nJGuCGZhgSod1NwomLJaKS8LG1yxuTjT8WTvOgAINCjPtwPWASHzjuTkq-iZusUpnMq-P0ZQD-U/s400/DSCN1826.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474233388967313730" /></a><br /><br />I love how her front tooth is blackened out by the dirt cake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO7Mg_AeGrF9FU5dordOgqdmy7y36zbKFigzTMD-Vf-yL3rLV-lLBga7M8i5fBVggUa4RSxSaR0-Ufpr5bIdPp5yPdah4TjEw0ZMezT9-zgtCV_groZv8_K5cchqLCkip5yGeO3jRn88/s1600/DSCN1811.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicO7Mg_AeGrF9FU5dordOgqdmy7y36zbKFigzTMD-Vf-yL3rLV-lLBga7M8i5fBVggUa4RSxSaR0-Ufpr5bIdPp5yPdah4TjEw0ZMezT9-zgtCV_groZv8_K5cchqLCkip5yGeO3jRn88/s400/DSCN1811.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474233386830127490" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oaitHrPqajIxrMzPnx3XI8y-0GYAyMAYisbjE1gTGNBYhIoEgqtxiVxykczdZOh2O9-QQot_BTb5mjYs0zJBgLzZ8YQum5L7cSWWy5i5DkPZURWMP7CznPEdGH0f1TEbi3pt36tU3AA/s1600/DSCN1807.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oaitHrPqajIxrMzPnx3XI8y-0GYAyMAYisbjE1gTGNBYhIoEgqtxiVxykczdZOh2O9-QQot_BTb5mjYs0zJBgLzZ8YQum5L7cSWWy5i5DkPZURWMP7CznPEdGH0f1TEbi3pt36tU3AA/s400/DSCN1807.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474233377508914898" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkGr9mhQuZXJ0T9Jq7OjbA3zoeq5kFs9rPEwWR0m4OdERZk2HuAd4jrhMZm-Iu63iUGD1zQHrgpj_M5YfS-jqgYy5CyGGaDi8UZ0HqVEZewHlQ-76PWHZvyr9bqxmAr9vfbROSrlahBw/s1600/DSCN1800.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkGr9mhQuZXJ0T9Jq7OjbA3zoeq5kFs9rPEwWR0m4OdERZk2HuAd4jrhMZm-Iu63iUGD1zQHrgpj_M5YfS-jqgYy5CyGGaDi8UZ0HqVEZewHlQ-76PWHZvyr9bqxmAr9vfbROSrlahBw/s400/DSCN1800.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474233372845088434" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuCK5ccI3vY_8kUVrECLYbf6eXqVPQl6tMh8VBp65uXn4KBnEWcov7WsG5OdGOfwS4oxBrv5Mthsv_8dZHbgvS7EfN4NomCd1qtNU4RDi4SYL7r9ChI3PDoOML8gXjEe3fc5aJvt2y0Y/s1600/DSCN1833.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuCK5ccI3vY_8kUVrECLYbf6eXqVPQl6tMh8VBp65uXn4KBnEWcov7WsG5OdGOfwS4oxBrv5Mthsv_8dZHbgvS7EfN4NomCd1qtNU4RDi4SYL7r9ChI3PDoOML8gXjEe3fc5aJvt2y0Y/s400/DSCN1833.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474234325002851058" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eEzr1gYT1YNpW2iMulGpz5aeSSsebC5IEk0aeRg-pRPds-0NOOlmsnwpcXRQQm4O_I1IjA7pONrdaIKgU5gvK88RDuac1hwIve0B-xzuIuV_W76FFYhuI3z28q7mz9V4sAEhIJq2aho/s1600/DSCN1830.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eEzr1gYT1YNpW2iMulGpz5aeSSsebC5IEk0aeRg-pRPds-0NOOlmsnwpcXRQQm4O_I1IjA7pONrdaIKgU5gvK88RDuac1hwIve0B-xzuIuV_W76FFYhuI3z28q7mz9V4sAEhIJq2aho/s400/DSCN1830.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474234318123368722" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW9TRz4lEugeTp2xyorgjPZXAMUXMnUipe89tb511mvU8j_zV5XHiL2Fru3EEY2YngfE-RNiDJ7uPoMyGwFtFJO_LXiHsPpOtpIMzFwEWb2You4FECYM0B3Pc9GylMH2T609KOIpUGqE/s1600/DSCN1829.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW9TRz4lEugeTp2xyorgjPZXAMUXMnUipe89tb511mvU8j_zV5XHiL2Fru3EEY2YngfE-RNiDJ7uPoMyGwFtFJO_LXiHsPpOtpIMzFwEWb2You4FECYM0B3Pc9GylMH2T609KOIpUGqE/s400/DSCN1829.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474234313821220738" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGTWhlhvxsy6hCZSxojxvDFjXoRc9JVmHjIcAB42kzFFdYqykXsTFGaRTfGE7Mg0aMGt1LvkJVO1Hi2IXmwL9DgsXNKI7O3u8qK3i0lGIrvj4ZhqgdK8_sOAQsYhgvapix4Pxq8ECYkg/s1600/DSCN1798.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGTWhlhvxsy6hCZSxojxvDFjXoRc9JVmHjIcAB42kzFFdYqykXsTFGaRTfGE7Mg0aMGt1LvkJVO1Hi2IXmwL9DgsXNKI7O3u8qK3i0lGIrvj4ZhqgdK8_sOAQsYhgvapix4Pxq8ECYkg/s400/DSCN1798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474234307957272434" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV8hEEfAlIea4ebctXXJIhLkkG-2ByyrS_z6p0W-ofstEVORl6dsOf4jS5QiElnVwVmb7a_xKoDUiEXMAXMLzqkaOko1KJWIYAJS6CQJL9thMQ_07WdqCBINB_x1A_osid5uNxkHDbcQ/s1600/DSCN1834.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV8hEEfAlIea4ebctXXJIhLkkG-2ByyrS_z6p0W-ofstEVORl6dsOf4jS5QiElnVwVmb7a_xKoDUiEXMAXMLzqkaOko1KJWIYAJS6CQJL9thMQ_07WdqCBINB_x1A_osid5uNxkHDbcQ/s400/DSCN1834.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474234329281994018" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-48749592502769573562010-05-19T10:10:00.000-07:002010-05-22T15:55:43.318-07:00Vegetable Gardening for City Living<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoNubLcEwUDhNgm9grU7x1Nvpec0rqkDZ-8Lav9gC2Km6o_Vl0a9r3WtgK3-uVTIKj8Gst2YyD8q4kPwEFrW3rFhjArP-7VZNH-hpPQv8drBg-cZSfG7llbFUwhKbbR-pLdu7VOhwi7Q/s1600/DSCN1795.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoNubLcEwUDhNgm9grU7x1Nvpec0rqkDZ-8Lav9gC2Km6o_Vl0a9r3WtgK3-uVTIKj8Gst2YyD8q4kPwEFrW3rFhjArP-7VZNH-hpPQv8drBg-cZSfG7llbFUwhKbbR-pLdu7VOhwi7Q/s400/DSCN1795.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474231627896676274" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiKqDvXADZTMs-jajW6XIamXvWnTDt8Bep6q5zY8dciUXsj02jsmFI4U_Bm0dU65n0tAPReSWmIvURmHQcw1TTartk9SbbMHQxhI3IzhtJgWba8JDKvMZWKy_76dHpgeqKgrPuplBFwA/s1600/DSCN1793.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiKqDvXADZTMs-jajW6XIamXvWnTDt8Bep6q5zY8dciUXsj02jsmFI4U_Bm0dU65n0tAPReSWmIvURmHQcw1TTartk9SbbMHQxhI3IzhtJgWba8JDKvMZWKy_76dHpgeqKgrPuplBFwA/s400/DSCN1793.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474231621967591458" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtG8PGBEv1GHUH8781T5sYe_VGra1Bpc_rNb-a583S7XXnVRNoJ0HJ02OIjeS7gtz-DWYIJ8dEeriSvpVbDFOAKjt6tm2zR9t0n3CNbRX529qc2JB1MwMrq12wo3-dnhxoApwTGZbn3M/s1600/DSCN1724.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtG8PGBEv1GHUH8781T5sYe_VGra1Bpc_rNb-a583S7XXnVRNoJ0HJ02OIjeS7gtz-DWYIJ8dEeriSvpVbDFOAKjt6tm2zR9t0n3CNbRX529qc2JB1MwMrq12wo3-dnhxoApwTGZbn3M/s400/DSCN1724.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473093899149223506" /></a><br /><br /><br />I miss California.<br /><br />Where the growing season is long, the veg variety is plentiful, and it is common place to have vegetable gardens in your <span style="font-style:italic;">front</span> yard. <br /><br />I have been drooling over the ease and aesthetic of doing a raised planting bed for a year or so. Finally, I had the weather and the sweat to do it. For about $2.40 a block (under $90 total), a shovel, some sand, and obsession, it's done.<br /><br />How To:<br /><br />Map out the general area you wish to excavate, using a tape measurer to determine the appropriate diameter of your circle. Mark a center point and mark the circle with spray paint, chalk dust, etc.<br /><br />Dig. Dig the circle a little deeper and longer than the block. Tamp down the dirt.<br /><br />Fill with about 2" of sand. Tamp and check for level.<br /><br />Lay first course (row) of blocks. You may need a hammer and chisel if the last piece doesn't fit perfectly. If so, hold chisel where you want to slice the stone, and hammer until it splits. Careful of the angle at which you hold the chisel as this will effect the direction fo the break.<br /><br />Using a rubber mallot, check level again and use mallot to adjust where needed.<br /><br />Lay remaining courses and fill with dirt to help support blocks as you go. As you lay each course, the blocks should be set back from the lower course about 1'2" - 1", receding toward to top. Makes it more stable. These blocks are already cut to fit together as a circle, but can probably be arrange one course high in a straight line.<br /><br />Fill with dirt to almost the top (almost - to prevent dirt spill over). Plant zone 6A friendly goodies. Watch you 2-year-old shake with glee as she drops the seeds into the dirt.<br /><br />Note about dirt: Potting soil should be replaced every year, but last year's potting soil is great for planting bed fill. So I dumped it in, added some organic fert, and saved. <br /><br />What I'm growing: For now? 4 kinds of tomatoes (including some heirlooms and some yellows), orange bell pepper, rhubarb (for all those summer pies!), strawberries, carrots, basil, thyme, and cilantro. What are you growing? What have you had luck with?Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-55022154749682163052010-05-19T04:29:00.000-07:002010-05-19T13:58:00.420-07:00Further Insight into my Insanity: a small note to my Mother<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiognj2EI-ZZzQRQJiA1tiFrQnL1dcIRkI0dkcV76eSt0GwK8lBQVuG6BWQjPfo_1SWlFQEXl1-lpiBkIr5bGnZq9F8hEpYsJRhiEo4zBTnTosR1XZKghn69HrP0rFO0izchTnSFLSnsG0/s1600/100_0667.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiognj2EI-ZZzQRQJiA1tiFrQnL1dcIRkI0dkcV76eSt0GwK8lBQVuG6BWQjPfo_1SWlFQEXl1-lpiBkIr5bGnZq9F8hEpYsJRhiEo4zBTnTosR1XZKghn69HrP0rFO0izchTnSFLSnsG0/s400/100_0667.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472970188577516770" /></a><br /><br />It's genetic.<br /><br />This is not to say that my sisters don't having serious nesting insticts, because they most certainly do. Charlee is a terrific cook, sewer, and gardener. Meredith also excels at cooking, decorating, fashion, and knitting. They both enjoy an attractive environment and have a good eye for it.<br /><br />But I can go for 36 hours on no sleep, food, and not really feel tired as long as I'm doing a creative project where I can impact my environment creatively. It's as though I am chemically, genetically, divinely compelled to do it.<br /><br />In this, only my mother can truly empathize.<br /><br />When she isn't on quilting retreats, she's doing glass mosiac art pieces in her barn studio. When not glass, she's a serious gardener. When not tending, she's building furniture - like the built in entertainment system or the redwood outdoor day bed. When she's not building furniture, she's attacking her bathroom tile, or playing with power tools, or knitting, or probably something completely incredible.<br /><br />And yes, she will have trouble falling asleep at night...12am...1am...2am... and up at 5am because an idea for tile layout has struck her and she needs to draw it so she can go back to sleep. <br /><br />Sounds painfully familiar.<br /><br />I also get many of my talents from her, the things I'm proud of and I lean on in my career: social acuity, charismatic joke telling and teaching, persuasion, extroversion, mentoring strength, etc. We've both made businesses out of our artistry, creativity, ingenuity, and overall "something extra-ness". She became a marketer/business model advisor and teacher. I became a dancer/teacher/coach. <br /><br />There is something that feels less lonely when I think about these things, when it's 11pm and I'm just dragging out my joint compound bucket. To know that it's not just a hobby, it's something physical that I can prove. It feels validating.<br /><br />So, to my mother, in a month I'm already thinking about mothers and legacies and this genetic pool we all swim, thanks for this chemical imbalance that deprives me of much needed sleep, keeps me injured, and brings immense joy into my life. Thanks, Mom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pbZDVHmBVJU8YdqyXN6eRPx_A_5FT4AS9evBrpLdNknzS7b6Je7h2rfI2EyCxGpGePFSK7HJcvVaYdbf5VCb8PrURw2pGDt5XINHAlGRULgfD2JFFXPgixoj4C6rG5Wb3vCAKUSVv9c/s1600/wedding+pics+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pbZDVHmBVJU8YdqyXN6eRPx_A_5FT4AS9evBrpLdNknzS7b6Je7h2rfI2EyCxGpGePFSK7HJcvVaYdbf5VCb8PrURw2pGDt5XINHAlGRULgfD2JFFXPgixoj4C6rG5Wb3vCAKUSVv9c/s400/wedding+pics+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472969866910422034" /></a>Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-78861993985793655332010-05-17T12:01:00.000-07:002010-05-17T12:10:03.529-07:00Birthday party panic! Help?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd_4mQyx_k-jGrZJmrHAj4Iu9D2ekY9fDC2z-vtN6pPRuVYgrUkGuPuzeVbj4NmV0QbHEIBeONjLouAW-N3XyEXn3KDqqpOpJT-PfXf3G6wjMiEZiu4z3E2yFa_NPOV3qJKCznQRkx4A/s1600/DSCN1747.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd_4mQyx_k-jGrZJmrHAj4Iu9D2ekY9fDC2z-vtN6pPRuVYgrUkGuPuzeVbj4NmV0QbHEIBeONjLouAW-N3XyEXn3KDqqpOpJT-PfXf3G6wjMiEZiu4z3E2yFa_NPOV3qJKCznQRkx4A/s400/DSCN1747.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472316879684269330" /></a><br />I had planned this brilliant half birthday party for Hazel, who will be celebrating turning 2 last December 2009. It was to be entirely outdoors with the most brilliant activities, favors, treats, etc. <br /><br />BUT it's going to be rain, thunder, and lightening on Saturday! <br /><br />So, I'm mildly scrambling for ideas on how to occupy 15 or so 2-year-olds indoors.<br /><br />I had planned on a gardening theme. Kids would pluck little pails hanging from our tree, write their name in permanent marker, and then decorate it with paint, markers, stamps, stickers, glitter, etc. Inside the pails would be toys like kazoos, bubbles, chalk, etc. When lunch had been served, I would bring out a troff for the kids to help me mix and shovel "dirt cake" into their pails, complete with gummi worms and maltball eggs, and they would eat directly from their pail.<br /><br />I can imagine a troff of "dirt cake" managing to escape it's container and end up all over my dining room...<br /><br />So, ideas? Please?Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-84789781555969173122010-05-15T20:23:00.000-07:002010-05-16T18:38:18.821-07:00DIY: Bathroom remodel proposal: audience survey?A couple days ago, I decided to take some stored up dance money/Christmas money from my Dad, and do a remodel to our guest bathroom.<br /><br />Yes, I'm bored. How can you tell?<br /><br />I am, however, torn about the floor and the tub.<br /><br />The tub was sprayed with a white acrylic and is now peeling in some places. It is otherwise a decent, heavy cast iron tub.<br /><br />The floor is well-installed, but the material choice is a 2" white ceramic square with dingy old grout.<br /><br />Here's the bathroom as is:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawG8hRIOgjqd42I9YeGaBZB9X4X7Te7JOURjMtp40nom9g1PpVVmKvLZ280EIhzJzzdNfGvYSFg7Hj7Kp5Gs0EEsG2GwnKZPOqdzkhsEOfkKVPt65cve50JACojJBbNDDXzWYq-chNa4/s1600/DSCN1784.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawG8hRIOgjqd42I9YeGaBZB9X4X7Te7JOURjMtp40nom9g1PpVVmKvLZ280EIhzJzzdNfGvYSFg7Hj7Kp5Gs0EEsG2GwnKZPOqdzkhsEOfkKVPt65cve50JACojJBbNDDXzWYq-chNa4/s400/DSCN1784.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471998053540369570" /></a><br /><br />1960's vanity mirror and Hollywood lighting is inspiring. It inspires a remodel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYoiKOs7sl4D-WCumopewLM8nen5eIFVDIl72ftm_O-VgWDfHHKhjNg5wGar_USvPOub2g1xJcwFEYRllhd3tyYJzMd31eCS8MntnPlbEoIY6eIPR1luEmtrd30PFbg8uYh-krETUgJQ/s1600/DSCN1789.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYoiKOs7sl4D-WCumopewLM8nen5eIFVDIl72ftm_O-VgWDfHHKhjNg5wGar_USvPOub2g1xJcwFEYRllhd3tyYJzMd31eCS8MntnPlbEoIY6eIPR1luEmtrd30PFbg8uYh-krETUgJQ/s400/DSCN1789.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471998049024518706" /></a><br /><br />Acrylic coat peel number 1.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6vmD_CQCpkLcKIjGdFREWwYd-SkIFtU_fZfekIhBpfFTrYsrofCKSHl1m3Iz9P1YZaRaR10MHNam_xduja3C4uvwOFl5Q74v5d-ZbVHo4ZfX_8b0Ri0CVsKi4dmA2Hpy41T23J-4g6c/s1600/DSCN1790.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6vmD_CQCpkLcKIjGdFREWwYd-SkIFtU_fZfekIhBpfFTrYsrofCKSHl1m3Iz9P1YZaRaR10MHNam_xduja3C4uvwOFl5Q74v5d-ZbVHo4ZfX_8b0Ri0CVsKi4dmA2Hpy41T23J-4g6c/s400/DSCN1790.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471998041382580034" /></a><br /><br />Peel number 2.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nZwFPNBThKBrUsQmIKeJXZo2oPtWLbixCnYj7sZlZZJeKYgGsewpTp9jBkKv4RQ00YR2N4YEqG7pBfhI0Mrcjt-nNh3f_MbfIueiqvarIonrlm2N5Q1dVYI7GaL70VJUGO0__gHl3JU/s1600/DSCN1782.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nZwFPNBThKBrUsQmIKeJXZo2oPtWLbixCnYj7sZlZZJeKYgGsewpTp9jBkKv4RQ00YR2N4YEqG7pBfhI0Mrcjt-nNh3f_MbfIueiqvarIonrlm2N5Q1dVYI7GaL70VJUGO0__gHl3JU/s400/DSCN1782.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471997062963296770" /></a><br /><br />Formica...my exhusband's obnoxious brother.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKFSMJ5NRMCTbfoUiZTbauo5n629MnuhXL8GGqojDYrcL__LDGWbgfxKxN7RckVWmHA6atEXbbtAtF-V212YgTgx-M8Ntwu8uOj0VwDG-OlIqqkr_WFTj7nJgT1ubnHFVedeUCBSE9AM/s1600/DSCN1781.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKFSMJ5NRMCTbfoUiZTbauo5n629MnuhXL8GGqojDYrcL__LDGWbgfxKxN7RckVWmHA6atEXbbtAtF-V212YgTgx-M8Ntwu8uOj0VwDG-OlIqqkr_WFTj7nJgT1ubnHFVedeUCBSE9AM/s400/DSCN1781.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471997061376601698" /></a><br /><br />The poorly chosen but well-installed tile floor.<br /><br /><br />Proposal?<br /><br />Floor: Do I keep this floor or dig it up and put down carerra marble to match vanity countertop? Or do I keep it because it's white and secure?<br /><br />Tub: Can I respray it? Leave it? Replace it? I really just wanted a face lift.<br /><br />The inspiration was a super clearance on a vanity - originally $480, marked down to $80. There were 3 in stock, and in a single 20 minute period, they were gone. I saw it, went to a different aisle to get help from an employee, came back, and it was gone! Luckily, they had 2 more in stock. I snagged it and someone took the third 10 minutes after me. Poof! Carpe diem!<br /><br />But now, I have a huge 37" cherry stained vanity sitting in my dining room, complete with a carerra marble counter top, pre-installed undermount sink, vintage style faucet...you get the picture.<br /><br />Here's the new vanity:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu72vqtsy8kvC0DW5SpAN5s1xSBEfmvs11HYpsTRmVespThdqoZj_hc7QM0kROp3otkBjTXO1FLKMRqlhNzEc_4D_cuGt4UQjFUdee8-1Ud2Gt4tcTjBY_gEsMsDcouXH-32_wcgf03Yg/s1600/DSCN1780.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu72vqtsy8kvC0DW5SpAN5s1xSBEfmvs11HYpsTRmVespThdqoZj_hc7QM0kROp3otkBjTXO1FLKMRqlhNzEc_4D_cuGt4UQjFUdee8-1Ud2Gt4tcTjBY_gEsMsDcouXH-32_wcgf03Yg/s400/DSCN1780.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471997054091320882" /></a><br /><br />Sigh...vintage style faucet in brushed chrome, complete with H and C on handles to nod better days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3dm8hFXJjt41Nhz3MhyphenhyphenUJzUU-BjjuZhM_Bpdh3VRUrD_p8DW5pNRdjPy5s0Q6vDywmfTIH4LWMABm3-OdCHqpGHwPtGcaz8PmBPP3aZroL4ZlrEES4-3GCZCtqiqX7Xbwp7IdjIwbDw/s1600/DSCN1778.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3dm8hFXJjt41Nhz3MhyphenhyphenUJzUU-BjjuZhM_Bpdh3VRUrD_p8DW5pNRdjPy5s0Q6vDywmfTIH4LWMABm3-OdCHqpGHwPtGcaz8PmBPP3aZroL4ZlrEES4-3GCZCtqiqX7Xbwp7IdjIwbDw/s400/DSCN1778.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471997048502765650" /></a><br /><br />Carerra marble top with pre-installed undermount sink. Carerra... a good name for my next daughter?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQBaFe9joPCqq0H6poC6LW-eGr3iEH_JcRxiFXsEZa7Sp0yrTb6Y2RnMr8kYHSAMlGIuApSq9qFc_LGXwvUaH4a3BiS0rhMK2J70lFUF5QlgTvdMCjiRZHGKfWUYzUDhwltBFYH-xL2g/s1600/DSCN1773.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQBaFe9joPCqq0H6poC6LW-eGr3iEH_JcRxiFXsEZa7Sp0yrTb6Y2RnMr8kYHSAMlGIuApSq9qFc_LGXwvUaH4a3BiS0rhMK2J70lFUF5QlgTvdMCjiRZHGKfWUYzUDhwltBFYH-xL2g/s400/DSCN1773.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471997041121929778" /></a><br /><br />Solid wood, cherry stain (probably will paint white and change handles to glass knobs), with hidden storage drawers inside and blowdryer/curling iron hooks on door. This kind of sophistication and organization in the morning...I might even feel prettier!<br /><br /><br />So I'm committed now. It's no longer a whim or passing remodeler's fantasy. I now have to decide on at least the floor before installing the new vanity combo.<br /><br />To frustrate my efforts, today I fell down the stairs and mildly sprained my knee <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> threw my back out. Ugh. This is also when I'm supposed to be getting stong and limber to do a routine with my potential new dance partner.<br /><br />Is my body telling me to slow down? Does it know something I don't? I think I have Alien Design Syndrome (vs Alien Hand Syndrome). Parts of my body run away from me and I can't control the fact that I'm suddenly tiling and I don't quite know how I got there or how to stop it...<br /><br />Truth is, I can't sleep well unless I've done something projecty and designy that day. Hours of HGTV doesn't cut it anymore. I need to move and create (hence my inability to resist a good vanity and postpone a bathroom remodel). Maybe I can just create storyboard design ideas for my house, a dozen plans for each space, and that will scratch the itch and prevent my implusive remodeling tendancies. I truly just go about my day, thinking dreaming, and then poof! I'm tiling and I'm confused. Like sleep walking.<br /><br />Sleep tiling.<br /><br />Help.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfmojwm05t1OUjXJYhO4l5bxmXXqq_-2QvKXX_IZ3lIXF0DXZEefiKugxhycmr3y3xPM6TbInZ3rYhQo0KUusAravcEuv1hnS-LExtJICFFIDXrqsbEoLQOnA-rSYjxJcjfC-yVVjZCY/s1600/DSCN1792.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfmojwm05t1OUjXJYhO4l5bxmXXqq_-2QvKXX_IZ3lIXF0DXZEefiKugxhycmr3y3xPM6TbInZ3rYhQo0KUusAravcEuv1hnS-LExtJICFFIDXrqsbEoLQOnA-rSYjxJcjfC-yVVjZCY/s400/DSCN1792.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471998055161513826" /></a><br /><br />Me when it's midnight and I'm not sleeping because I'm dreaming about my unborn daughter Carerra...<br /><br />(PS - no, I'm not pregnant.)Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-76549747630599313472010-04-27T09:50:00.000-07:002010-04-27T16:15:59.215-07:00TP: Throw Pillows, Custom but CheapThis all started with a serious sale at Joann's on designer sample fabrics. Just the squares of sample fabric that one special orders from. The fabric line was discontinued, so we scored 17" x 17" squares of fabric to make the perfect throw pillows, puling colors from the area rug.<br /><br />What made them special were a couple things:<br /><br />1. How we paired the fabrics<br />2. How we overlapped some fabrics<br />3. How we added button details<br /><br />Note: I am an amateur sewer by any definition! Any improvements you amazing sewers out there can offer, I would LOVE to hear!<br /><br />I could barely thread my sewing machine when I started this project, but I kept my owner's manual and my mother's phone number handy. I learned all these neat tricks and settings to best utilize my digital sewing machine Aaron bought for me at least 4 Christmases ago. And they turned out great!<br /><br />Added note: I added zippers to every pillow case so Tania could take out the pillow and throw the cases in the washing machine, if needed. Not all are machine washable, but in case of grape juice, she has a back-up plan. The only one that doesn't work for is the dimpled pillow. But, that one also has fabric that blends dirt the best. There's a method to my madness...<br /><br />Pillow #1: Silk Plaid and Chocolate Chenille<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqz0AF3tWvS4XC2RT2PLB9qj5JUZBAHlEInO01BSoe1OuhV8N91yWxj1CJXBx9Jme0ZWm10FMTwJHMWglUYBwBzu-SA-7DtFEFDHQHJWbt4OB7jQ91B0gQh1_tR5B0mwKXnABz4zFZlvU/s1600/pillow4a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqz0AF3tWvS4XC2RT2PLB9qj5JUZBAHlEInO01BSoe1OuhV8N91yWxj1CJXBx9Jme0ZWm10FMTwJHMWglUYBwBzu-SA-7DtFEFDHQHJWbt4OB7jQ91B0gQh1_tR5B0mwKXnABz4zFZlvU/s400/pillow4a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464870557972371954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEcAnfeWOOKpr-SjMJgU9_qyusqdwJmxnrFjSLid3NgmBcMYMX-PHklGUKO9XU3A8qylhyphenhyphenyqhDHr7aZoGeqQ8wNA8kajPZzS4z2lEJRNaVen4mgBPSgVA49LBo7zXZsmqZKU00srOK-E/s1600/pillow4b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEcAnfeWOOKpr-SjMJgU9_qyusqdwJmxnrFjSLid3NgmBcMYMX-PHklGUKO9XU3A8qylhyphenhyphenyqhDHr7aZoGeqQ8wNA8kajPZzS4z2lEJRNaVen4mgBPSgVA49LBo7zXZsmqZKU00srOK-E/s400/pillow4b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464870550212743618" /></a><br /><br />I bought 16" x 16" pillows from Joann's for cheap ($5 each?), leaving me 2" of extra fabric on either side. With 17" squares of fabric, I need to keep my margins tight to not over stuff these pillow cases.<br /><br />1. Pin fabrics together with the nice side inside, being sure to leave the desired length of fabric along the seam (ie: 1" of extra fabric beyond the sewing seam would have taken away much needed fabric for the large pillow fillers).<br /><br />2. Must do zipper first. Many ways to do it. Directions for each zipper style are on the zipper package. Just make sure you leave the zipper UN-zipped as you sew the remaining edges, since the zipper handle will be inside after sewing edges and you'll need it to open and turn it right side out.<br /><br />Reader: Please offer any tips you might have for sewing zippers, as I really fudged my way through this one.<br /><br />3. Sew all sides, being sure to double up seams on corners for adds strength.<br /><br />4. Turn inside out and stuff with pillow. Zip, and cuddle.<br /><br />Pillow #2: Knubby chenille and Chocolate Stripe with Leather Button Dimple<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjXwcjiEXIIWdtNb_16xrNdYtQL1Sg5fpalKz-j9dxM2QUm9HoDYWT6T0amEfUhmOmOVNN4zq-9CxkBYolN7dFsneBMX5kNonQ08O7APLGXkfA-Fr6dz-nEmQcgNWi-s1bxFRIPI3fG0/s1600/pillow5a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjXwcjiEXIIWdtNb_16xrNdYtQL1Sg5fpalKz-j9dxM2QUm9HoDYWT6T0amEfUhmOmOVNN4zq-9CxkBYolN7dFsneBMX5kNonQ08O7APLGXkfA-Fr6dz-nEmQcgNWi-s1bxFRIPI3fG0/s400/pillow5a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464946363804633490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KZoJtg_zZbxfGCzPVMVEg7NEn_Wd3sxIbCpiqObYYEMw9KiqFkhZn1kzqBC58G9qwkAgY1FMtmu2hMreVExWdZUDPGNOnivkQuXWkzy9K1Pu3gP98gzFDc-hkRATYkbMjdI7afx8Yzs/s1600/pillow5b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KZoJtg_zZbxfGCzPVMVEg7NEn_Wd3sxIbCpiqObYYEMw9KiqFkhZn1kzqBC58G9qwkAgY1FMtmu2hMreVExWdZUDPGNOnivkQuXWkzy9K1Pu3gP98gzFDc-hkRATYkbMjdI7afx8Yzs/s400/pillow5b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464946357314900914" /></a><br /><br />How To:<br /><br />1. Follow all steps of pillow #1<br /><br />2. With needle and thread, pierce center of pillow and loop a button on both sides. Sneak behind the buttons to do several loops, pulling tight with each loop. Knot it and cut short to hide behind button. Sit back, and admire your handy work.<br /><br />Pillow #3: Velvet Honey Stripe and Honey Branch Inside of Silk<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguniPFmK7_kfkHGEadNLKYtNtQq2Zo-__9einmMYvnYAGZL78q-veqGS4fwqroP3I5nHQSC3QAp0eQjtfca3fRSCc7pAxMIy0qyuCg7isQVMOXmkZFkdOR5pnQomYuMWishJbR9XFeNbw/s1600/pillow1b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguniPFmK7_kfkHGEadNLKYtNtQq2Zo-__9einmMYvnYAGZL78q-veqGS4fwqroP3I5nHQSC3QAp0eQjtfca3fRSCc7pAxMIy0qyuCg7isQVMOXmkZFkdOR5pnQomYuMWishJbR9XFeNbw/s400/pillow1b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464947522531581474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrW6_0FbIONnH5bRfPPsTWrFHyBRR_KBaTE_ig0Q_5iIGg0zlsfEvmSnnbFFiX-z03N6u4mCo5N5kf3EEM2IxtqLIpib4kAy_1VSpiOwBCAuFYJ0LYJR6eqI9ceWAqfggqDxSi77Taa3k/s1600/pillow1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrW6_0FbIONnH5bRfPPsTWrFHyBRR_KBaTE_ig0Q_5iIGg0zlsfEvmSnnbFFiX-z03N6u4mCo5N5kf3EEM2IxtqLIpib4kAy_1VSpiOwBCAuFYJ0LYJR6eqI9ceWAqfggqDxSi77Taa3k/s400/pillow1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464947512048070338" /></a><br /><br />Note: With the casual feel in the room, we didn't want a lot fo shine and shimmer. So we found silk we liked , but used the inside of the fabric. It ended up having a slight glow and reflection rather than a full on shiny sheen.<br /><br />How To:<br /><br />Follow steps from Pillow #1<br /><br />Pillow #4: Geometric Ivory Chenille and French Provincial Green Silk with Ceramic Tile Button Overlap<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRA5gfXZtSOuvk6bDxYF378Ei6DbtGZ0NsbS9tozJUD2QCf7RttbEnvlF4goMAQ2wJrpCTkKOqhcs2fDgyCG91gcM3g1kFNKifgvWwRT12RdKXAFf2THJ7M_VDwvbWPyxDQhsonQ2lcs/s1600/pillow3a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRA5gfXZtSOuvk6bDxYF378Ei6DbtGZ0NsbS9tozJUD2QCf7RttbEnvlF4goMAQ2wJrpCTkKOqhcs2fDgyCG91gcM3g1kFNKifgvWwRT12RdKXAFf2THJ7M_VDwvbWPyxDQhsonQ2lcs/s400/pillow3a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464948891067450658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOP7AZhjS2HsE2AAgBfqZVLdKUaCF_0J2Wv8AL1A3egmfuLbK-6LEyrDooF9hob8H8kDx0gF_OH_eXp1jOVQM3bQjEp6HNbAnFrq8IInD5RkodF-3ZGeLZGVVJkn6GGlGuIjz8qYUceKA/s1600/pillow3b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOP7AZhjS2HsE2AAgBfqZVLdKUaCF_0J2Wv8AL1A3egmfuLbK-6LEyrDooF9hob8H8kDx0gF_OH_eXp1jOVQM3bQjEp6HNbAnFrq8IInD5RkodF-3ZGeLZGVVJkn6GGlGuIjz8qYUceKA/s400/pillow3b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464948883252232002" /></a><br /><br />This silk wasn't too shiny, and it had bumble bees on it. I'm a sucker for bumble bees <br /><br />How To:<br /><br />In addition to following steps from Pillow #1, one must note that we had to use a smaller, rectangular pillow to get the same 17" square of fabric to overlap the next. So I got a rectangular pillow (12" x 16"), also on the cheap from Joann's. <br /><br />When pinning the fabrics, I just cut the green silk 4" shorter than the other pillows and sewed a edge before pinning it to the other fabric. To sew and edge, just fold over the edge of the fabric and run the sewing needle along that fold as close to the edge as is comfortable.<br /><br />No need for a zipper on this one, since it closes with a button. But the button was to big for my sewing machine to do a button hole for. So I sewed it directly on top of the overlapping fabric and used an old bra hook to close the fabrics inside.<br /><br />Pillow #5: Muslin whimsy overlapping linen-looking tweed with knotty wooden buttons; Lattice chenille<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJvCpVchkO9c_49J_6jU8QgTBA3fpkI0oJ_O_Sob1QUsARoywb4bY_au4IFglH83kNjdZ4vckCW3tpU9zaMEF6r8ZFQJ1m9W3S1N5zJMGnE77JhpI9L24ZeFFcx6MJk4YVkop6e0OzTA/s1600/pillow2a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJvCpVchkO9c_49J_6jU8QgTBA3fpkI0oJ_O_Sob1QUsARoywb4bY_au4IFglH83kNjdZ4vckCW3tpU9zaMEF6r8ZFQJ1m9W3S1N5zJMGnE77JhpI9L24ZeFFcx6MJk4YVkop6e0OzTA/s400/pillow2a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464950485365376738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuISUJQt2VS2TTvcCWYs32YP68PBoj2EZeL04NjJ7I1SQb5y1hcER-KtTkr9ReSfCLsXUGUHfOYhnQpAEstAdGljVBWiOGyyx14oHTd5utiAnCwVmHKYHH051NGl3p-bhIuaaxmgTalI/s1600/pillow2b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuISUJQt2VS2TTvcCWYs32YP68PBoj2EZeL04NjJ7I1SQb5y1hcER-KtTkr9ReSfCLsXUGUHfOYhnQpAEstAdGljVBWiOGyyx14oHTd5utiAnCwVmHKYHH051NGl3p-bhIuaaxmgTalI/s400/pillow2b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464950478387249682" /></a><br /><br />This one was the trickiest and, in my opinion, the prettiest.<br /><br />Hot To:<br /><br />1. Same thing as pillow #1, except this time I had to also pin the muslin to the inside so when flipped right side out, there would be half a sheet of muslin sticking out of one edge of the pillow. I still do the zipper first, I just do all the careful pinning beforehand.<br /><br />2a. I finished the pillow like the others, and then added the buttons and button holes.<br /><br />2b. I have a setting and a special foot for sewing buttons. I measured the diameter of the button, clicked the footer to match that measurement, and then attached it to the machine and sewed directly onto the muslin. <br /><br />2c. I used my stick remover to cut a hole inbetween the button hole stitching.<br /><br />2d. I sewed the button onto the teed beneath the muslin to line up with the hold. Button and cuddle.Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-34003465512847198022010-04-27T09:33:00.001-07:002010-04-27T09:49:50.291-07:00TP: Old Chair, New Life<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9wPOovWew40TXxCuyaEVIx9UeMf2rk-RuD8ub8EwErQFwlYkr48INP9NeF_OVahfmYGVI_JDw5NMlkk3S1aZjSQVmwWC8eX26lZ2RM5VktTyLdpmV091R8ktLP5-DRaHqTZMPg1zkS8/s1600/chair2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9wPOovWew40TXxCuyaEVIx9UeMf2rk-RuD8ub8EwErQFwlYkr48INP9NeF_OVahfmYGVI_JDw5NMlkk3S1aZjSQVmwWC8eX26lZ2RM5VktTyLdpmV091R8ktLP5-DRaHqTZMPg1zkS8/s400/chair2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464856933339760978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yKcmb1qxHhqjLwgs8WPaYYhCRBXvKWPpiw2XUkOJJO3z8J2iCFSOW8pIJS-j6VSBaM2Aamo03ztG3D4WslUo8uRVIfl9awFXHNMZN7CxQ4Q7yu9DhOnWaODkE3Tvhi_zD8UNGbiO4nQ/s1600/chair3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yKcmb1qxHhqjLwgs8WPaYYhCRBXvKWPpiw2XUkOJJO3z8J2iCFSOW8pIJS-j6VSBaM2Aamo03ztG3D4WslUo8uRVIfl9awFXHNMZN7CxQ4Q7yu9DhOnWaODkE3Tvhi_zD8UNGbiO4nQ/s400/chair3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464856929955423458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iRlHpGUjtjgDl2U_wzkmBBneB9nC-cB00GwwDMcJft51BYMjJnVZt0Hjm0XxCgNeZr4V36oGmEgqUSqKsBr1ShSy0h2goITEprz-Vvqi-_emvEmSDv7_Y-op1FDvaVzDYVsW08QVSDc/s1600/desk4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iRlHpGUjtjgDl2U_wzkmBBneB9nC-cB00GwwDMcJft51BYMjJnVZt0Hjm0XxCgNeZr4V36oGmEgqUSqKsBr1ShSy0h2goITEprz-Vvqi-_emvEmSDv7_Y-op1FDvaVzDYVsW08QVSDc/s400/desk4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464856938096604562" /></a><br /><br />Why buy a new chair for the activity desk when you have a crumby, beaten down, old chair with red faux leather upholstery to enjoy?<br /><br />And Stephanie to reupholster and paint it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00ttm6Zweh62hO90aqGPYFgI9gBjwyP4MZmL4i8OjuDOqP0Ztjq_so7bPfyuWSWeA1GvdLKwti9WMRQf-bMTrM-kbxZpW86yb4_GMZysKvbKXOQi5zmVAYN7mZmmFi42nH8aQ4_RB27Y/s1600/DSCN1646.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00ttm6Zweh62hO90aqGPYFgI9gBjwyP4MZmL4i8OjuDOqP0Ztjq_so7bPfyuWSWeA1GvdLKwti9WMRQf-bMTrM-kbxZpW86yb4_GMZysKvbKXOQi5zmVAYN7mZmmFi42nH8aQ4_RB27Y/s400/DSCN1646.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464857872187287490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEf6yJWEqHPF2cOOxsI7dSHkOvhukvmKscwt8dO8Vut77Fvboxq3sW_txqocyHgOpBGCODB835pLLE6jgmZFhaGF_S4JRcZ-k0YzIbGvUupiL9ugUWff6DyAgZt2ao8ts2vEf6q3J0NY/s1600/DSCN1652.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEf6yJWEqHPF2cOOxsI7dSHkOvhukvmKscwt8dO8Vut77Fvboxq3sW_txqocyHgOpBGCODB835pLLE6jgmZFhaGF_S4JRcZ-k0YzIbGvUupiL9ugUWff6DyAgZt2ao8ts2vEf6q3J0NY/s400/DSCN1652.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464857581191403522" /></a><br /><br />How To:<br /><br />Paint:<br /><br />1. Sand with fine grit sand paper until it is rough to touch, or at least the shine is dulled.<br /><br />2. Prime.<br /><br />3. Paint with Living Room trim paint - 2 coats.<br /><br />Note: In areas, like the flower carving in chair back, the "stipple" method is best. Stippling basically means using your brusk to poke and push the paint into the nooks. It's a "get it into there however you can" method. It just happens to have a fancy name for it.<br /><br />Upholstery:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJO8VIBE7WCRQnIdl-e5RpWMf-VkAJoQ57jTaBlnhOSZY23VbaU99fQP50noiLGGSAei8C8VQxyvyBzcITmpyTIW48Bk73jON5GsPcUZ8U-EAVSF8wxCvRPmcPGqrqZtz4YliHZ9M-xs/s1600/DSCN1674.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJO8VIBE7WCRQnIdl-e5RpWMf-VkAJoQ57jTaBlnhOSZY23VbaU99fQP50noiLGGSAei8C8VQxyvyBzcITmpyTIW48Bk73jON5GsPcUZ8U-EAVSF8wxCvRPmcPGqrqZtz4YliHZ9M-xs/s400/DSCN1674.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464857572984522802" /></a><br /><br />This sucker had two layers of nasty fabric, the first of which is the faux red lather, and the second was a turquoise vinyl grasscloth pattern I've never seen and won't find in nature.<br /><br />1. Unscrew seat from chair (flip it over, there will be screws from the wood frame of the seat into the base of the chair).<br /><br />2. Carefully remove nails with a hammer. Recycle nails for new upholstery.<br /><br />3. I reused the foam padding. Cut new fabric (a chocolate colored, staing resistant micro suede) with at least 3" extra around perimeter of seat.<br /><br />4. Pulling from opposite ends of fabric at a time, nail to wood base of seat. For example, if we imagine a NSEW compass on the seat, nail from North and South simultaneously and start from middle out. Then do the same between East and West. Finish at the corners, folding over fabric as needed for a tight finish.<br /><br />5. Rescrew seat onto chair base in the same holes. <br /><br />6. Sit on it and finger paint.Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-31195393544500356602010-04-25T13:28:00.000-07:002010-04-27T09:49:40.203-07:00TP: Refurbishing an Old, Broken Typewriter Desk into a Computer/Craft Station<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAgp_N3JQ0j4N0ZPx6vwmlWQUuElz6hjexpjygRmTmYJ7fqkg_ilFZ00Y4wu114c7OyK2L4pshKPahLIXaHLBOcbd_3i0fdsr1UMhyphenhyphenhu9a0X4RPvhkahRFnOiP2dyd_MLVe61-lngLOM/s1600/desk3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAgp_N3JQ0j4N0ZPx6vwmlWQUuElz6hjexpjygRmTmYJ7fqkg_ilFZ00Y4wu114c7OyK2L4pshKPahLIXaHLBOcbd_3i0fdsr1UMhyphenhyphenhu9a0X4RPvhkahRFnOiP2dyd_MLVe61-lngLOM/s400/desk3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464855365323944370" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wIQ8MaTHz4E7PYY-6vXtp2KAC5XAPSZjpxAcplJrXUowwuVTiex8Av7-x1BaOo3VLSiF1qbz08-b_Kiuo1wfFXU_hbqlHPplBC4mh2Iw4ovWoN1pX6MIoGCvxJJZ83FeMhMPfUt67bE/s1600/DSCN1629.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wIQ8MaTHz4E7PYY-6vXtp2KAC5XAPSZjpxAcplJrXUowwuVTiex8Av7-x1BaOo3VLSiF1qbz08-b_Kiuo1wfFXU_hbqlHPplBC4mh2Iw4ovWoN1pX6MIoGCvxJJZ83FeMhMPfUt67bE/s400/DSCN1629.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464183836831896322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD_mTaNTwAiTC6nD1S2hXM6iE5JhA1gjX-3RC9aum8yhHIhqTKNY2RmQG5rTk9yjw6WjugTR-rrc5F1kjuK8tCZMb9bD9L-61IA-QTYBfrqhkcfgXmLIqj56U9TqA85zCnNifPSgSwAg/s1600/DSCN1627.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD_mTaNTwAiTC6nD1S2hXM6iE5JhA1gjX-3RC9aum8yhHIhqTKNY2RmQG5rTk9yjw6WjugTR-rrc5F1kjuK8tCZMb9bD9L-61IA-QTYBfrqhkcfgXmLIqj56U9TqA85zCnNifPSgSwAg/s400/DSCN1627.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464183831919752418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCKo5v5P5UNsYjT-fhkH08eLAYG_jtSaJK4lqR6PEK6RGydySAz6J9jweEjluZryw0ATqXNbsSVsBUT6hKXB18DFyVpmJGLO8HiGp1aBzi6i1cQmrT-M3d18N7aeQno5noAZT3OFDSdc/s1600/DSCN1638.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCKo5v5P5UNsYjT-fhkH08eLAYG_jtSaJK4lqR6PEK6RGydySAz6J9jweEjluZryw0ATqXNbsSVsBUT6hKXB18DFyVpmJGLO8HiGp1aBzi6i1cQmrT-M3d18N7aeQno5noAZT3OFDSdc/s400/DSCN1638.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464183821200222274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlXnDKsrHUtPJnyMEErEehIhd-A1MyFpzEsfn5cDq_bASoEwGx2GLJXc0ZIr8eEtyV2F2oMXJ9LUlzyGvTQab6orITCAj1h0N2KxquvcZfakG34_RX-ECxLtUyFh405m6pEqsxjjSEtY/s1600/DSCN1636.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlXnDKsrHUtPJnyMEErEehIhd-A1MyFpzEsfn5cDq_bASoEwGx2GLJXc0ZIr8eEtyV2F2oMXJ9LUlzyGvTQab6orITCAj1h0N2KxquvcZfakG34_RX-ECxLtUyFh405m6pEqsxjjSEtY/s400/DSCN1636.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464183812893707490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGbCJNpjQxGCJRa9rFzPCnVYL6D4CMTYYoWtwWIRsZmtkJzTM_u39GGJYnCuBD7F2qtAZTWLIbHKbt5dsDKa_so6xgoYOWzJyGTTMYvI82xp3g2RxF4CQkKWA1ibXWTLNXKxKob9RHMk/s1600/DSCN1624.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGbCJNpjQxGCJRa9rFzPCnVYL6D4CMTYYoWtwWIRsZmtkJzTM_u39GGJYnCuBD7F2qtAZTWLIbHKbt5dsDKa_so6xgoYOWzJyGTTMYvI82xp3g2RxF4CQkKWA1ibXWTLNXKxKob9RHMk/s400/DSCN1624.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464183809396441906" /></a><br />The story behind this desk has changed from the following:<br /><br />"It was my (John's) grandfather's desk. I used it in college and would love to restore it for the kids to use."<br /><br />to...<br /><br />"I got it from a buddy in college. It was broken then, too. Anything you do it it can only improve it. Have at it."<br /><br />So, I have'd at it.<br /><br />I went online and found the same make and model typewriter desk - Jackson something or other: "Built Like a Stone Wall". The ghostly hinges inside were intened to support a fold open tray upon which one's typerwriter would sit. When not in use, the tray would fold to a diagonal, hiding the typewriter in a hidden tray inside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1SRZyRpuqDkm_5FQ5Rxzan1dU16Fym9nDdnLGOcfKBmiEb4If4jUbWYNBQjXQNQuthHtOkKnsGxUOR5Ny8mm_zyRKLQEGaOmkF3_IdkrBazEuniRE7mERpDeVXGtPSSO4VXIDvQwdeg/s1600/desk2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1SRZyRpuqDkm_5FQ5Rxzan1dU16Fym9nDdnLGOcfKBmiEb4If4jUbWYNBQjXQNQuthHtOkKnsGxUOR5Ny8mm_zyRKLQEGaOmkF3_IdkrBazEuniRE7mERpDeVXGtPSSO4VXIDvQwdeg/s400/desk2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464853957597718290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiTk02G0cNHUhePm2Ij299rBOtUKyKVJ11Q_B-a2IWSFMlF1jWsNyWzjL6ODjCdQy9cvLy-Bwn7AQGAAJEDb4dLGmB2qpXWkrMEFNoypCchwTsxIKAPguyh8Pr-FpUPskOuuUg0CZDbg/s1600/desk5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiTk02G0cNHUhePm2Ij299rBOtUKyKVJ11Q_B-a2IWSFMlF1jWsNyWzjL6ODjCdQy9cvLy-Bwn7AQGAAJEDb4dLGmB2qpXWkrMEFNoypCchwTsxIKAPguyh8Pr-FpUPskOuuUg0CZDbg/s400/desk5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464853953777749474" /></a><br /><br />Perfect for a laptop in a family of computer game officionados - or at least one - Naomi. Though, Both she and Sophy enjoyed crafting and painting.<br /><br />But they had no real space to do it. They had a tiny table with undersized chairs, and the supplies scattered here and there across the living room and the house.<br /><br />Wouldn't it be great if my dear friend, Tania, lived in a world in which there was one designated area for crafts and computer games that, when in use, enchanted and organized the kids and, when dormant, was an attractive storage console for the living room?<br /><br />Wouldn't it be even better if it had inlaid wallpaper on the drawers (leftover from the fireplace accent wall), repainted surfaces, repaired tray for computer, rods and containters on side to hold crayons and paint brushes, oil-rubbed bronze knobs and pulls, and perhaps a collage of family photos printed in sepis tones hidden underneath the desktop to be revealed only when the desk is open and being used for campy fun family activities?!?!?!<br /><br />Yes, I thought that would be better, too.<br /><br />How To:<br /><br />1. The rods: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMapB1BvpWALYYSEqLonMcsk4o1nLYxc1oFWEtpWocRAKHBVPIi0ninF9SacDWWwMotNbKsJCj0ck5BnboUd58oDb2a6E1RW7IH_GLVsmFJjz0FHXVAigWHCWs9hd4rTezndkdSe8LD4/s1600/desk1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMapB1BvpWALYYSEqLonMcsk4o1nLYxc1oFWEtpWocRAKHBVPIi0ninF9SacDWWwMotNbKsJCj0ck5BnboUd58oDb2a6E1RW7IH_GLVsmFJjz0FHXVAigWHCWs9hd4rTezndkdSe8LD4/s400/desk1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464854425975945954" /></a><br /><br /><br />A Lowe's find intended to go on magnetic surfaces. Some double sided sticky pads and poof, they attached to the side without any screws that would impede the movement of the drawers adjacent to them.<br /><br />The purple containers have a lip that hooks easily on the small rod. Only $1 each! I wish they came in white, brown, or clear to do with the desk's color scheme. For about $7 each, there were kitchen containers in white and stainless steel. Not cheap enough and no stainless amongst my oil-rubbed bronze finishes. They can also be washed easily in the dishwasher.<br /><br />2. Paint:<br /><br />Simple enough. Sand until rough to touch and dull to shine. One coat of primer. Two coats of color paint. We used the leftover trim paint fromt he living room. I wanted to keep the piece light since it would have so much volume and scale in the space.<br /><br />3. Repairing the tray:<br /><br />Tinkering around with a piece of cardboard at first helped me determine the correct alignment for the hinges to fold and unfold appropriately.<br /><br />I used screws and washers: Where the hinge attaches to the inside wall, I used screws that had thread on the tip and were smooth toward the head. Threads secured into wall and smooth part was frictionless where the hinges pivoted. Washers kept everything from bumping and scarping the wood.<br /><br />Attaching the tray to the hinges:<br /><br />Flat tipped screw and a nut did the trick. However, I wish there was a cap to put over the nut to smooth out the look. Oh well.<br /><br />Tray material:<br /><br />Another steal. Instead of using a nice wood, or even paint-grad birch plywood, I used MDF (medium density fiberboard) and painted it to match. It's cheap and durab;e to begin with. But I saw a scrap at Lowe's that was close to the right size and they gave it to me for free since it was such a small piece of leftover material. They even cut it for me, though I hit it with a jigsaw later for measurement corrections.<br /><br />FYI: A Jigsaw is a great DIY starter power tool. It easy to handle, light, and is pretty versatile. I think mine was only $30 or so.<br /><br />4. Countertop dilemma:<br /><br />I wanted to use an epoxy coat, which it the stuff that gives wooden bars a water-proof, glass-like finish. Turns out it needs to go on bare wood. Darn. The wood was too damaged and ugly not to paint, and it wouldn't go on a painted surface. Double darn. And we couldn't do a whole new counter top because a section needed to unfold from the rest of the countertop. <br /><br />Wallpaper to match the inlay on the drawers, you say?<br /><br />Would have been brilliant if we had wnough leftover and another $200 to splurgle on another double roll. Ouch. It was also washable, which would have been perfect for a painting station.<br /><br />Triple darn.<br /><br />A little chocolate colored paint did the trick, and gave Tania the hits of chocolate she was craving.<br /><br />5. The luscious legs:<br /><br />Left 'em the same weathered self they already were. It's showed where it's been. The feet of a stranger trying to tell us where he's been, but mute. They were beautiful. And they spoke to the dark bronze finish.<br /><br />6. The family collage:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRM1OEUKbMQ6TwwvUKKFjwXPawABzQzzic7duwLO5EJFheA0g7SfCGZ26HiMvINcb37aorNp8FkUXQiZZB-5-Pic62rvdVp0sbA9YZM3jI4bM02NxT-zCu7ylYS0FsQi3x82-BjyBDoQ/s1600/desk3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRM1OEUKbMQ6TwwvUKKFjwXPawABzQzzic7duwLO5EJFheA0g7SfCGZ26HiMvINcb37aorNp8FkUXQiZZB-5-Pic62rvdVp0sbA9YZM3jI4bM02NxT-zCu7ylYS0FsQi3x82-BjyBDoQ/s400/desk3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464854428286760834" /></a><br /><br />We had some leftover sample wallpaper that made for a scrapbook background. Remaining wallpaper paste and an exacto suffice application. I had Tania email me family photos and I used my Mac to retouch and sepia tint them. Printed them on my printer. Deco Paged them onto the wallpaper background. Follow the instruction on the deco page you get from Michael's. Use a sponge brush.Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195165399358178411.post-40296399206033804252010-04-08T15:17:00.001-07:002010-04-27T16:16:24.300-07:00The Tania Project (TP): Phase 1 AFTER Preview<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplgFadgEZ5APyYsJeGsFw9O_Joy88Bm4iL26iW7ShrjtSeaIPvIhV_iFux1mgsjANTJRFjS__p9-N9msB9EUTu9Cap5nU-Tq9T5e2AAOG4GVYCZwqep7eagXvsLZxZfhQiKsI7iwCDhY/s1600/living-room-after6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplgFadgEZ5APyYsJeGsFw9O_Joy88Bm4iL26iW7ShrjtSeaIPvIhV_iFux1mgsjANTJRFjS__p9-N9msB9EUTu9Cap5nU-Tq9T5e2AAOG4GVYCZwqep7eagXvsLZxZfhQiKsI7iwCDhY/s400/living-room-after6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457894978754573842" /></a><br /><br />After avalanches, monsoons, traveling, colds, boo boos, and more, phase 1 of Tania's living room is winding up. We did:<br /><br />1. Caulking, spackling, and painting the walls and aaaaaaall the trim (reviving that beautiful mantle, too!)<br />2. Wallpapering the fireplace wall with a creamy linen patterned, washable/stain resistant, designer wallpaper.<br />3. Hanging the bronze curtain rods in brick and other stubborn stone products.<br />4. Rewiring the original, dingy, black outlets (complete with knob and tube wiring - eek)<br />5. Replacing the brass on white 1980's fan with a frosted globe and bronze fixture - revealing the ceiling medallion behind it.<br />6. Cleaning and organizing!<br />7. Arranging the books and accesories to tempt the local readers and cover purusers. <br />8. Sewing new throw pillows from designer sample fabrics in interesting, button and dimpled designs. <br />9. Refinishing and reupholstering an old chair.<br />10. Refurbishing an antique type-writer's desk for an activity/computer station.<br /><br />What's next?<br /><br />Probably more details, hangings, better organizing, a couple bronze lamps (bye bye 80's floor lamp). <br /><br />But perhaps... an audience vote!!! ...we could do:<br /><br />- Trimming out the bookshelves to look like on seemless piece. Like molded built-ins.<br />- Tiling the Fireplace in maybe a creamy, rustic travertine to echo the color scheme. Or slate? Or marble?<br />- Wainscoting all around the room. Crown molding anyone?<br />- New blinds?<br /><br />Details of each project and more detailed pictures will come shortly. This is just the appetizer! Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtZhqiDDz6EEsVK2zuH84Zr5PAiz5s6jAErhZttSGndakjaBmuzTdDDv2nQLrAsDo-v3JG0CGDA9FCgVW4GaXTeBRKhMSZGqtCAOmg1PcEUoW-KjTWq38GmLa2HOfMbwIsFrFDczFEhQ/s1600/living-room-after1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtZhqiDDz6EEsVK2zuH84Zr5PAiz5s6jAErhZttSGndakjaBmuzTdDDv2nQLrAsDo-v3JG0CGDA9FCgVW4GaXTeBRKhMSZGqtCAOmg1PcEUoW-KjTWq38GmLa2HOfMbwIsFrFDczFEhQ/s400/living-room-after1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457894871418687634" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHX6xXdXbOjbEzvXqmLluUwS2WS1GHeqn4Dn2Tq2pDiLzUpO3n000yQgXPCzQupU3sROV3H2wjNjcLKDIV8bxIB4kJxBXl5iCzmuCGvjLZTLKp4FPN2F8bl0Quc9e0dvzIrXLyxe3nbgw/s1600/living-room-after7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHX6xXdXbOjbEzvXqmLluUwS2WS1GHeqn4Dn2Tq2pDiLzUpO3n000yQgXPCzQupU3sROV3H2wjNjcLKDIV8bxIB4kJxBXl5iCzmuCGvjLZTLKp4FPN2F8bl0Quc9e0dvzIrXLyxe3nbgw/s400/living-room-after7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457894860267204130" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhOt7k4VCzAoLBSZFHNf-BH9JKH-0YduG5JZ799EmbRNl23qwoHb2d1k5XT9oS8yE4emAeKXkenc8lpWdr-4C8A_5x6k48NSLB8HnKrgm1cEGdCiEWsJ6_9_Vcs53PyPsA5eyCEQzzAc/s1600/living-room-after8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhOt7k4VCzAoLBSZFHNf-BH9JKH-0YduG5JZ799EmbRNl23qwoHb2d1k5XT9oS8yE4emAeKXkenc8lpWdr-4C8A_5x6k48NSLB8HnKrgm1cEGdCiEWsJ6_9_Vcs53PyPsA5eyCEQzzAc/s400/living-room-after8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457894857330781330" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MI6K8cutmvOobWksk0SkDA7xFqMbFbOsmqCds7G-tsEfFaxSJo3lQSkbpP3Y80pV-FFGf7-p7RBDk68xb3AwY2YilooXHuScGL-Lyc1ulc8FB4TdGMScCRbGh_SqOQqOnYwrIkKApGs/s1600/living-room-after4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MI6K8cutmvOobWksk0SkDA7xFqMbFbOsmqCds7G-tsEfFaxSJo3lQSkbpP3Y80pV-FFGf7-p7RBDk68xb3AwY2YilooXHuScGL-Lyc1ulc8FB4TdGMScCRbGh_SqOQqOnYwrIkKApGs/s400/living-room-after4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457894845048877890" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplgFadgEZ5APyYsJeGsFw9O_Joy88Bm4iL26iW7ShrjtSeaIPvIhV_iFux1mgsjANTJRFjS__p9-N9msB9EUTu9Cap5nU-Tq9T5e2AAOG4GVYCZwqep7eagXvsLZxZfhQiKsI7iwCDhY/s1600/living-room-after6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplgFadgEZ5APyYsJeGsFw9O_Joy88Bm4iL26iW7ShrjtSeaIPvIhV_iFux1mgsjANTJRFjS__p9-N9msB9EUTu9Cap5nU-Tq9T5e2AAOG4GVYCZwqep7eagXvsLZxZfhQiKsI7iwCDhY/s400/living-room-after6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457894978754573842" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmMDxvNkeBIpg1wFRLhaMymArPzhT14nyEJHUo_y_40ZMf1p9fbjimbQv4Q0FpnqzxgouxRH2lLElmPMilrIVPCEpaOzKU1GTSxrinz7bzHDHanCmFU8Zjfwtm9NwMB5ICl2eM2QTuqU/s1600/steph1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmMDxvNkeBIpg1wFRLhaMymArPzhT14nyEJHUo_y_40ZMf1p9fbjimbQv4Q0FpnqzxgouxRH2lLElmPMilrIVPCEpaOzKU1GTSxrinz7bzHDHanCmFU8Zjfwtm9NwMB5ICl2eM2QTuqU/s400/steph1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457895314858669746" /></a><br /><br />I'm a super tough contractor!!! GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOeFmPpta2_sD1bNifqtuA0VVvxezTVoRZ13yXg9H_Uu_XvwS71vLvfnNzPPbgpsTtGRuKT-Sqj2ls2FG3AnMhRc6ssrx5UrpKxxpEb2HLEQXD5MztrR66Z4ujBQSifjNvVpLxwrNBbg/s1600/steph5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 359px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOeFmPpta2_sD1bNifqtuA0VVvxezTVoRZ13yXg9H_Uu_XvwS71vLvfnNzPPbgpsTtGRuKT-Sqj2ls2FG3AnMhRc6ssrx5UrpKxxpEb2HLEQXD5MztrR66Z4ujBQSifjNvVpLxwrNBbg/s400/steph5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457895330952171634" /></a><br /><br />I fudged the drill hole. I am ashamed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSVAHy8r_ljd1qRZpoHAuL29m_qHOXzneEnf3Tu4l6UXEHV4Lzp91vzNs5lr9EfaLYymOW19HL7ld0doK8kelPUN4IYL8c6SSbY0AJT4DaBqvNVdQOph0_otg6hL8-rCJIYErE7B1J9o/s1600/Steph+%26+Sophie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSVAHy8r_ljd1qRZpoHAuL29m_qHOXzneEnf3Tu4l6UXEHV4Lzp91vzNs5lr9EfaLYymOW19HL7ld0doK8kelPUN4IYL8c6SSbY0AJT4DaBqvNVdQOph0_otg6hL8-rCJIYErE7B1J9o/s400/Steph+%26+Sophie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457895307927222642" /></a><br /><br />Sophy saves me from my graceless misery and becomes my amazingly helpful helper!Stephanie Batistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17349316548937414918noreply@blogger.com4