Wren's Nest

More pics

We have paint up in the studio and family room!! (the rooms are really light and bright, but I took the pics at like 5pm, so they look a little dark). We went with Benjamin Moore Linen White for the walls and Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee for ceiling and trims. That will be the ceiling and trim color throughout the house (since now it would appear we are painting much of the interior including living room and dining room, hallway, Meg's room, boy's room and kid/guest bath (after the scary wallpaper comes down). Our room will wait since we may be redoing it and our bathroom later. (plus, we can paint it ourselves, John is actually a really good painter and has done all of our painting up to now - which was the whole house). The stuff in the middle of these rooms is our floor which will be laid on Thursday.

This is the newly added family room - the trim stands out nicely from the paint, not sure that shows here.

This is the new studio (next to the family room, separated with a little glass french door).

This is more of the kitchen, thought I'll have new pics later today after it's been painted (Benjamin Moore Prescott Green). This is the view coming in from the eating area - that's my super black pantry at the end. I LOVE it! Of course, I have more storage than I ever dreamed and now I have no idea where I'll be putting things - we may even have a couple of empty cabinets (though I doubt that will last long). My pantry was some shelves in the garage, so this will be really nice!

This is the wall most of the appliances will go on -

I apologize for the bad lighting - I really need to figure my camera out better. We're really excited - so bear with me for a little longer with remodel posts (hopefully I'm not boring you out of your minds!). After this is done I can get back to crafting and sewing and cooking and baking - I can't wait!!

Happy Wednesday!

5 Senses and Covered Wagons

I recently participated in Jen's fun 5 Senses Swap. I almost didn't do it - for some reason it seemed hard, but I pulled together a few fun things for my partner Brenda - I did blue and green since I checked out her blog and it seemed like those were some colors she likes. I got my swap package from Kara and it was lovely!

She sent a sweet little bird mini quilt, a lovely beaded bookmark (with tiny bells for sound), tea for taste, potpourri and rose  bath petals for smell and some lovely earrings (she made the earrings and bookmark). All really sweet.

Then Jen sent a thank you for being in the swap - how wonderful is this?? It's a candy bar and a little matchbox wrapped up with lavender inside. SO cute! Thanks Jen!

It's been busy around here finishing projects for the end of school - we had open house last week and some class parties planned for next week. (School ends on the 8th - both a blessing and a curse - glad to have some relaxing time, but panicked about what to do with 3 kids all summer - lots of pool time is my guess). For my little guy Collin's 1st grade - we made a giant rainforest for open house. It was amazing - I'll share some pics when I get them (from someone else since I forgot my camera).  In Meg's 4th grade they're doing California history and had to make a project reflecting something from that time period (the Gold Rush). Here is the covered wagon that she our family made (she and John did the wagon, I did the cover part). It's pretty cute. The 4th grade classes are doing a play tonight called Gold Rush or Bust. 

I'll have more remodel pics later this week. They're painting some today - family room and studio I think, floor goes in on Thursday and appliances at some point. Can't wait! Have a great week!

Cabinets!

We have cabinets!! Last Friday was probably one of the most exciting days in this whole remodel process. (Which started in like November - to be fair - we had some bad weather, so things took a little longer). They started setting cabinets in the kitchen, so now it actually looks like a real room with a purpose. They set about half the cabinets, the ones on the opposite wall where the appliances will be are not in yet (maybe today). The far wall at the end of the kitchen is bead board (I don't think you can tell from the picture). It will be painted white (Swiss Coffee - Kelly Moore to be exact) as will the ceiling and the trims. The main walls will (I'm 90% sure) be a color called Prescott Green from Benjamin Moore (Pottery Barn colors). I don't want to darken the kitchen, so they're making me yet another sample board of the color so I can double (triple, quadruple) check that it's not too dark.  It's funny - I've been really decisive during the whole process - knew just what I wanted, cabinets, doors, trims, windows, no problem, but I've completely lost it on the paint and the kitchen lighting (specifically the light that will go over the table). I'm really hung up on these two things. At least paint is inexpensive and pretty easy to change! Happy Monday - have a great week!

 

Pretty surprise!

I get so excited when I win something - it doesn't happen very often, but sometimes I luck out and I REALLY lucked out this time. I entered a drawing over at the lovely Violets are Blue blog and I won this amazing little nest box. It's so beautiful with lovely paper, bead and glitter art on the lid and inside - the best - a little nestie with beautiful eggs nestled inside. Perfect for a Wren's Nest! Thank you Carrie - I love it!

I was blog visiting yesterday and came across on of my favorites - Buzzville. Kelly had been to quilt market with her Superbuzzy partner Mariko and she posted this amazing fabric. Oh my - I'm in love! I can't wait for this line to be in shops. These are definitely colors I'm using in the addition and I'm so inspired and excited by these designs. Thanks for sharing Joel's work Kelly!

Hoping it's not quite as hot today as it's been (I'm melting!). Have a lovely Wednesday!

It's a Flippin' Door, People!!

We have decided as part of the remodel to repaint the outside of our house. This, of course leads to many issues - colors, shutters or no, waiting or not to put in new windows, etc. The thing that is a no-brainer is a new front door. I have wanted a new front door for YEARS! Ours is nice-enough looking, but it has gaps between it and the part it hangs on (technical term) and I always joke about how there's always a breeze coming through the front door.

OK, so, I just want a nice, craftsman-y door, panels on the bottom and a 4 or 6 light window on the top. No big deal, paint grade, blah, blah, blah. So I head down to the place where we've been getting all of our windows and a couple of interior doors and meet with the door guy (who is so nice). We start to look at doors and I say, actually, I know EXACTLY what I want. OK, so we go look through some catalogs and he hops on the computer and the door I want, pre-hung with the oil-rubbed bronze hinges - yep, that's a $1300 door. WHAT?? It's a flippin' door, people - a paint grade wood (or mdf - I don't remember) door with a stinkin' window. YIKES!! This has been the story of my life on this project - we haven't compromised too much, but sometimes things come along and just seem to cost way more than you expected. We found some doors that I am fine with for less money, but they're still pricey (and this is without hardware!).

Here's one of the more reasonable doors - probably the one we'll get.

So there - I just had to vent. One of those mornings...Thanks for listening!