Downstairs Project Tour

Here goes the downstairs tour!   Welcome to Our Home!!!

Some of this is a bit rough, but, I think you've been fairly warned.
I'm going to start at the front door and make notes about what we've done and what we hope to do as I go. 

If you stick with me through this you deserve a glass of wine in the hot tub tonight!  (That's going to be my reward to myself for getting this done!)

I apologize to those of you who have been hanging around for a bit.  Sorry if some of this is repetitive.

We are so glad you came to visit.  You have just entered our front door...

I love the deep color of this wood and the black iron scroll work mimics the dining chandelier and the wine rack ;)

On the wall directly to the right is my plain ole cork board with our friends and family photo display. Eventually I will figure out how I want to cover this board. I wanted to wait until I had a clear picture of what the downstairs color scheme would be. (Ahem, that cork board would be project #2. Sorry if I've confused you but #1 comes later).

***Note to Builders that care...it is not attractive or convenient to walk directly into a stairwell when you enter the front door.***

Once inside the front door you take a left and you will be "in" our mudroom.  This feature was created when we put two tall vertical shelves along the wall and connected them with a board as a bench and added hooks.  There are also pull out bins at the bottom for our shoes.  Love this!!!

Because who wants to see everybodies shoes all over the floor?

Click on the photo above if you want to see the original post.

Do you see the open door to the left?  That's our downstairs half bath...we'll go there next...

These are white painted, oak shelves.  I have added four banana leaf baskets from Ikea ~ so each of us has a place for our miscellaneous belongings.

Not that we all put our things where we're supposed to!  Ha, that would be a dream...

The mirror leaning there came from an antique mall in Oregon City.  I don't believe it's actually antique, but it appears to be hand made.  I purchased it just for this spot but haven't hung it yet (project #3) because I'm not convinced it is "right" here.  Maybe it's just the predominance of white in this space.  Or the mirror might be too busy.  Maybe the color is just slightly off from the other white.  I still need to put wainscot wall paper on the back of those shelves (project #4) and maybe add some color via paint (project #5).  Once I have that done I can sew a cushion for the bench (project #6) and possibly those two little Ikea footstools that fit perfectly underneath (project #7).

When we have company there are plenty of seats!

Okay, off to check out the half bath...we've done a couple of updates in there already, but it's not easy to get a nice picture of such a tiny little room with no windows ~ don't expect a lot!

Let's see...
We replaced the builders' mirror with this beauty that we got from some friends.  Thanks Andrew and Gina, you are so awesome!  It came unfinished so I was able to stain it with the same stain I used on the lower sink cabinet.  I stained the builder grade oak cabinets a rich brown.  I didn't bother to take a before photo.  I wasn't blogging about DIY then, so it didn't seem so important.  ;)   Scott added the granite counter top.  It was a scrap piece that came from his boss.  We installed the wall shelves so we could add a few accessories.   We haven't really taken the time to do anything more in here.  It's used for my preschool during the day so it takes a lot of abuse.  You can't see in the picture, but we added some pale gray Italian ceramic tiles to the floor...the same tiles as in the laundry room and the upstairs bathrooms.  The tiles were donated to us very generously by Scott's Sister and Brother-In-Law when they had leftover from their remodel. It just needs a new light fixture and maybe more colorful accessories...that's it!  (project #8)

When you exit this bathroom you can take a left back into the main part of the house or a right into the laundry room.

We just finished redoing the laundry room too!  I love this space.  I haven't gotten backed up on the laundry yet.  Just click on the photo below if you want to read more about it:

I almost forgot to mention, Scott wants to replace the window with a glass door...this would lead right to the poolside :)
(That makes project #9)

Now let's go back past the "mudroom" and I'll show you where we put the new pantry...right under the stairs!  If you want to see more details on that pantry you can see that post by clicking on the photo below. 

(Oh holler!  I need to go shopping!)

This pantry is on the opposite wall from the "mudroom" space.

It took us about a month to completely finish this space.  Scott did the built in shelving really quickly, but I wanted to make sure we planned enough space and ORGANIZED everything well, so it wouldn't just end up another huge mess.  It's such a useful, organized space.  It really has simplified our lives.  We love the chalkboard grocery list and menu planner.  All the kids know right where to go to grab a snack.  I can check what ingredients I have with just a glance and know what I have to eat.  What a dream!!!  I hadn't realized how messed up our "pantry" space and storage situation had become.  I still want to do something more interesting with the door and maybe make a fun "Corner Market" sign.  (project #10)

Let's shut this door and just turn around...you'll find yourself in my craft room slash workspace.  This room is my baby.  (If you're getting tired ~ feel free to take a break.  After all this blogging I feel like I need one too.  Come back when you are ready...we'll still be here!

This room's been stripped down to bare bones.  Tomorrow I'm going to be pushing that HUGE cabinet around.  I want to play with the layout in here before doing anything else.  Once I'm sure that cabinet is exactly where we want it ~ we will be doing some fun things to the wall above it (project #11). 

But I'm not spilling the beans!

Oh, check out the floor!  We scored this wood flooring when a family member was ripping it out of their home to be replaced with wide, dark, rough hewn plank.  Jealous!  We still had wall to wall carpeting from the front door to in here, so we jumped at the chance to bring this wood flooring home (nails and all) and install it.  Scott helped with their demo and installation so they were more than happy to pass it on.  We put it in ourselves using a pneumatic nail gun.  Scott is so good about doing these projects with me.  We started out removing the old nails.  Eventually we grew weary and ended up just pounding them flush into the bottoms. Needless to say,  it's a little bit squeaky.  At least we know when Sadie is being sneaky...

To the left you can see back to the front door from here. 
Oh, and Scott's temporary chalkboard wall is right there!

 See my Ikea espresso leather sofa?  I saved for that  puppy for so long!    I like that it's easily wiped down.  There are so many sticky little fingers around here.   I just wish the pillows didn't slip all over the place.  Haha.   And that little wooden end table, I have plans for that ~ it needs to be stained.  (Project # 12)

This cabinet is the coolest ever. It houses all of my crafting and home office supplies. It still needs some trim work at the bottom (project # 13) and I'm hoping someday we can put a stained wooden countertop...if not metal (project # 14)
If you are interested in reading about this cabinet makeover just click on the photo above.

You can see one of the chalkboards we are working on above.  You can special order these personalized from our ETSY SHOP.

And those lamps were a fun little project...I'll be putting some of those in our Etsy shop as well.  If you want to see how easy they are to make, so you can do it yourself, just go HERE.

That bare window in the corner is (project # 15) and the bench beneath is waiting for some new upholstery (project # 16)

Two of my favorite things:  White paint and the color green.

This is where the 1930's Vintage Radio Cabinet Mini Bar lives.  Plllllllfffth.  That was a mouth full. 
It still needs casters attached to the bottom (project #17)

Click the photo above if you are interested in seeing what Scott did to turn this cabinet into a mini bar.

I made these fully lined curtains (in ivory burlap) to hang in front of the sliding glass door. 
Otherwise, you can't see a thing if the sun is shining full force.  These windows face south so the craft room and kitchen get an abundance of sunshine (if the sun makes an appearance, that is). 
And the little green pie shelf can be found HERE. 

In my kitchen I want to add: back splash (project #18), and some form of color to the backs of these open cabinets (project #19)

We painted the cabinets white over a year ago. It's something I had wanted to do since moving in. One day, right before Thanksgiving at our place, Scott said,

"Are you ready to paint the cabinets white?"

Can you guess what I said?

"Heck, YES!"

 Now they need some touch up (project #20).

I seriously can hear the wine and hot tub calling my name now...

Also in this room we (read as I) want to paint over that "horrendous excuse for the color green" that is on the walls (project #21),

Refinish the counter tops (project # 22),

And add some type of decorative window treatment over the rolling blind (project #23).

Now pass through this opening into our little dining room.  It really is quite small.  Oh, the flooring in the kitchen and the dining room is peel and stick tiles.  These are very dimensional and realistic looking and can even be grouted.  We chose not to grout and just installed them flush with each other.  They have held up quite nicely for as inexpensive as they were. 

Our dining room:

The Chandelier was a hand me down and the shades were one of my favorite thrifty knockoff projects. 

Click the photo below if you want to read more about them!

Hmmm, lets see....

The table and chairs were free and became a family project.  We sanded, we sprayed, we painted we glazed, we poly'd and finally slip covered! 

Click the photo below if you want to see more about this fun filled project!

That huge mirror on the wall actually came from our dresser upstairs. I dare say it might be a later project. I'm not counting it!!!

Those curtains aren't really curtains...yet.  If you look closely you can see the raw edges and (sigh) strings.  Kristi from A2D taught me about a well dressed window, so I decided that my white, wood-look blinds needed some dressing up.  This is just a piece of fabric cut in half and clipped up there on some curtain rings.  I wanted to live with it for a bit before doing anything more.  I think I'll find a piece of coordinating fabric to make a wide band at the top or bottom so they run all the way to the floor?  Tell me what you think!  I haven't committed to anything yet and this fabric can be used for something else...say those ottomans under the bench in the entryway.  :)  (Oh yeah, that's project # 24)

Okay, turn around...we're almost done! 

Through the arch is our living room.  This is where we HANG OUT.  Watch movies, play video games, do our homework and read.  This room is really just comfortable and can use many improvements.

(See those semi-naked windows back there?  They need some decorative treatments also.  They are project # 25)

See that tripod lamp in the front left of the photo?  If you want to see how it came to be, just click HERE.

That little camel sofa came from Craigslist...it's a sleeper.  (That's project #26)  It will be getting a new slipcover!  Just as soon as I get up the nerve!!!  Sheesh people...this stuff is nerve wracking!  Why do you think I'm always drinking coffee, eating chocolate and dreaming about wine in the hot tub?

That adorable young man, he's actually project #1.  He comes first!  He's so cool and so fun.  You'd love him!  But don't challenge him to soccer, basketball or football. 

  

(The carpet in this room is project # 27).  I cannot stand wall to wall carpet.  I can't be the only one.  I run a preschool in our home.  It gets a lot of traffic. 

That black wire thingy there between the sofa and orange chair is project # 28).  We found it on the side of the road.  It won't stay here in this spot though.  I'm going to spray it a fun color and use it for something...you'll have to wait.  (We have two end tables for this room but they are refinishing project # 29)!!!  Sheesh, I'm tired!

We hope you've had fun looking around Our Place.  Nothing fancy.  Just our home.  We're really very thrifty.  I'd say over 75% of our furnishings, and accessories come by way of Craigslist, thrifting, yard sales, hand-me-downs, curbside finds, or re-purposing.  This was helped define how far we have come and how far we still have to go.  It will always be a work in progress.  That I know!

We'd love to hear what you think.  Don't feel like you need to mention how many projects are on our ToDo list!  We're getting to them...one by one...

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs, Sherry 

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Craft Room Chaos

There is no garage space (it's been converted) or shop space here at Pondered Primed Perfected.  That might explain why my craft room looks like this right now:

Even the "Little Guy" loves to help paint!

The Boys are painting over that awful, bright blue color on those under-the-bed drawers.  We got them for free off of Craigslist, along with a whole pickup truck load of wonderful stuff.  So we won't run out of projects to makeover or upcycle any time soon.

The drawers will go up into the "Little Guy's" room once they are all done.  His bed sits on one of those metal mattress frames with wheels right now.   Not very fancy.  And there isn't much space for dressers or other storage type furniture in his room.  These cabinets will really help with his storage issues once they are done.

These two guys work so well together.  It warms my heart to see them bonding in this way and the little guy is learning so much from his Dad.  Okay, I'm gonna stop before I get all weepy.  Doesn't take much, really.

First coat of black is on and already they look so much better!

AND, while we had the black paint out I thought I would try out that homemade chalk paint recipe.  I'll fill you in on how it works out later...once it's had a chance to dry and I've had a chance to test it's worthiness.  Do you see what my boy does when I ask him to be careful not to get his food on my projects!?  Isn't he darling?  Little comedian is lucky he's so cute...


So many projects to finish!!!  We need a heated shop so I can have my craft room back.

Hope your weekend is filled with all that you enjoy!
Sherry

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Coffee Filter Christmas Wreaths

I have envy.  Seriously.  I try not to compare myself to others and let the green monster overtake me, but...I see all of the beautifully decorated Christmas pictures on Pinterest and all over the web and I am green with envy.  I want pretty wreaths and garlands all over my house.  Sparkly baubles adorning every surface.  A mantle perfectly arranged with Christmas bling and cheer.  And everything color coordinated and perfectly matched to my decor (and I use that term lightly in my case).  Yet, I have no mantle AND I have a budget of zero, zilch, zip, nada, diddly, insignificant, fly-speck, squat and that is okay.  There are so many more important things than filling my home with new and shiny Christmas decorations.  Like, say, feeding my bottomless-pit family.  :)  And, for some reason, they just keep coming back for more.  When will it be enough?  Are they ever satisfied???  Little chuckle here.  Seriously!  They don't seem bothered by the lack of a beautifully decorated mantle.  But they do seem to notice when dinner is not ready and waiting at exactly the moment their hunger strikes!  Reminds me of the laundry...oh don't ask me why.   I love the laundry!  I will never get enough of freeing our garments from the soils and toils of life.  It reminds me that we are trully living.  OK, I'm fibbing.  I soooo cannot find any part of laundry that I like.  But it has it's perks...like fresh smelling clothing!  Oh, and that nice feeling of pulling radiantly warm clothes out of the dryer on a cold day.  That's kinda nice too.  And that sense of accomplishment I get when I multi-task and fold everything while watching my favorite tv show.  I'm gifted that way!    Maybe I don't hate laundry as much as I thought. 

But I digress.  All that envy is not good for me.  So, last night as I laid in bed..then on the couch..then in bed again, wishing I hadn't had that triple-shot mocha in the afternoon, I had an idea!  Yes, a lightbulb moment!!!  So today, as the children were coloring and napping and playing legos, I got out my glue gun and a bunch of un-bleached coffee filters from the kitchen cabinet.  I grabbed a couple of fun edging scissors and went to town folding and cutting and glueing and this is what I came up with.  Not very sparkly, or fancy, or intricate but still...they are color coordinated!  I have created a tiny little corner of Christmas in my home with the simple supplies I had hanging around.  I hope you like them!!!

Just some coffee filters!  Some folding, cutting and hot glueing and they become mini wreaths!

I added some buttons and a little hanging ribbon and called it good.  :)   SIMPLE.

I pulled the red ribbons out of those ceramic ornaments and added some twine.  I just can't do the red everywhere.  Sorry Santa...I kinda like green...

This "HAPPY" print was found on Pinterest...I'll look it up and add a link if it's there.  I just love it.  I'm sure that's what happens all the time...that or people wonder if I'm a little...you know...(go ahead and inject here cuz I'm not saying it!).

I suppose I could really go for it and add a bunch more of the coffee filters for fullness. 
Nah, I'm happy with these just the way they are.

The big white buttons kinda remind me of sea shells.  Buttons are cool.

I pulled this green fabric out of a box of remnants my mom had in her closet ~ thanks for sharing mom!!!   

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest projects!!!  Don't forget to click on that follow button you see on the sidebar...it really makes me feel awesome when I get new followers...REALLY!

Sherry

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Welcome! Craft Room Storage Cabinets

Welcome to  PONDERED PRIMED PERFECTED !  We are a forty-ish couple with two kids, a dog and a mortgage.  This blog will chronicle our PROJECTS together.  Big or small.  Success or Failure.  Laughter AND tears.  We won't always agree on how things should be done but in the end we make a darn good team and accomplish a lot.  We are not EXPERTS...  We both know a little about a lot of different things.  Come by to catch us improving, updating, replacing, re purposing, recovering, and refinishing whatever we can get our hands on. 

Mostly we just want to satisfy that creative voice inside of us that is just crying out to be heard...

We hope you will find something interesting, helpful or even humorous here!

Post #1!!!
This is my home office and crafting space:

My Creative Space

This room used to be our family room but we moved our television to the living room and now that's where the family hangs out. Go figure. ;) This room is a perpetual work-in-progress. It is where I humor the part of me that craves rearranging and staging.   It has become a multi-functional room ~ housing my home office and my craft supplies in those amazing louvred cabinets.  And NO, They are not finished!!!   I cannot wait to post about those cabinets being finished, believe me.  But for now...

Here is what they looked like when we brought them home from a friends garage ~FREE~:

And here they are after we (*most of the credit to my Honey) had added a nice fresh coat of creamy white paint:

(See that whtie desk?  That used to be our dining table until I had The Handy Man cut it down to desk size for my office/craft space...wait 'til you see what we did with the piece we cut off!  Future post alert!!)

They don't have doors on them yet because Stud Muffin kept having issues with brown bleeding through even after several coats of paint and primer.

What!?  Are you serious, Honey?  Let me try!!!

After a little eye rolling and a couple of chuckles from The Handy Man, I worked my magic.  Not with his fancy commercial sprayer, mind you.  I pulled out my trusty can of ivory spray paint and went to town. 

What!?  No more yucky brown smudges bleeding through? 

The doors are an entirely different color than the cabinet base but who cares?  We still have some trimming to do, some holes to fill and then I think another coat of paint to even out the color.  But for now I have filled them with all of my scrapping, crafting, drawing, painting, bill paying goodness. 

What do you think?

Finally, to show you just a glimpse of why we have so much fun together on our projects.  Check out what my Darling Hubby looked like when he came to tell me he had finished spraying the cabinets:

And here he is again after I told him what was so unbelievably funny:

Do you think he needed a bit more ventilation in that spray booth he rigged up out back?

(Sorry it's blurry.  I was just laughing so hard I couldn't hold the camera steady!)

Enjoy your projects,

Sherry

***Updated Cabinet***

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