{The Den} before and after

One week off due to one foot of snow means lots of rooms getting cleaned at my house.  And since several (as in 3) have asked to see more pics, here ya go!

When we bought the house, we felt like it had two wings.  His wing and her wing.  Can you guess who's side of the house this was?

 Nothing screams MAN like dark leather and dead animals on wood paneling.  The trim in this part of the house was all natural wood, but the trim in the rest of the house was painted white.  It was a split personality house.

The TV is in the spot where the original owners had a wood burning stove.  The second owners took that out.  We really debated painting the brick.  Well, white washing it.  I was very seriously considering it because it was just so very dark. 

We also considered painting the paneling.  But I was afraid of what type of job that would be and that it would end up not giving good coverage.  So down came the paneling!  Thanks to my daddy who took most of it down for us as a surprise (while we were at Labor Day Camp with friends.)  We are spoiled!

Jason has this grand idea that he will put it up in his man cave/basement. We will see about that...

We hired some drywall installers because we didn't have the time to do it ourselves.  Not that we could, neither of us have ever worked with drywall.  Nor do I ever want to after being around all of that dust.

Then it was time for paint and new wood floor!

Makeshift movies - the girls spent many nights watching here while we worked on the house

The floor we chose is a distressed engineered wood.  It is dark but has a matte finish.  We really love it.  We covered most of the downstairs with it and I wanted something that would be ok with kids and pets. We have lived here for a year now and I still love it.  I do have a Roomba that I run every day and I do notice dust bunnies sometimes but overall it looks good without much upkeep!  When I have company coming I use a microfiber mop with Bona cleaner. But I honestly don't do that often.

I took these pictures today so that is why I have Valentine's Day decorations up. 

Those cream vases are very special - I bought them in Chicago and they were in our wedding.  When Jason's Granny passed away my Granny gave us money to buy something special for the house that would remind us of her.  I took the vases to Trees N Trends and they did the arrangements for me.

Look how cute we were as kids!

I like Valentine's because I can put out some flowers we used in our wedding, even though the don't match a thing!

We painted the shelving white, along with all the windows and trim in the room

We try to collect coffee table books when we travel. Jason proposed in St. Louis, so we bought the snow globe as a souvenir.

Most of these things have special meaning - but I love the gold owls, they were in my parent's house for years (sorry Mom, I think I stole them!)

The rug and light fixture came from Lowes

Wall color is Benjamin Moore "James River Grey"

I took this picture at night so you could see the double curtains, which also came from Lowes.  I promise it wasn't some sort of Lowes decorating challenge...I just happened to find all of these things at different times from there!

We spend lots of time in our den.  If you asked Jason he would want a bigger TV and if you asked me I would want new couches, but those things will come.  We have room for all of us to sit together and that is what is most important!  I do love how it came together with the brick left unpainted.  And someday when I get tired of it like this I can always change it up.

PS- It is NEVER this clean...so don't assume we live like this!

{The Entry} before and after

I have been waiting to post this for over a year.  Why?  Well I wanted the space to be FINISHED.  Done.  Ready to show.  Well, that's never gonna happen.  Not with 2 kids and 3 dogs and 3 cats and a new (old) horse.  So I'll just go ahead and show you what we did and you can pretend it's ready!

When we bought the house here is what it looked like when you walked in.  I wish I had a better "before" shot but it is all I can find. 

We knew we wanted a two story entry way with pretty stairs in our DREAM home...but this was not it.  It was a 1 story entry with rickety honey oak stairs that honestly felt like they would give way at any moment.  Not what you want with 2 small children.  So we called out some contractors and asked what we could do.  Since we had to fix the stairs anyway, could we just go ahead and open it up to make it a two story entryway?  The upstairs had a "landing" of sorts with no usable space, so we were fine to lose that. I wish I had a picture of it but imagine a carpeted spot that leads to no where.

When you first walk in the door and look up, Lilli's huge closet is right above you.  If we wanted a TRUE two story entry, we would lose that.  So working with the contractor we compromised...we left her closet but opened up behind it.

First we had to rip up the REAL hardwoods.  Hurt.my.heart.  This was the only place in the entire house that had real wood...and they were covered up with laminate.  But we couldn't make it work with the rest of the wood we wanted to put in the house.  So out it went...

Nothing says kid-friendly like this!

We had to hire a carpenter to come in and take the stairs apart and re-do all of the railings.  It was not an easy job but he was very skilled and worth every penny.  If you are local and need his name, message me.

Notice he left about every third stair there so we can get up and down.  THAT was fun...not.

The landing was to the right of this - we just didn't need it or want it.

No more landing now!

Scarlett's room is on the top left, their bathroom is on right

We kept that hall closet and added a light.

 Time for drywall and stairs...

Fresh coat of paint (Benjamin Moore Cabot Trail, my favorite neutral) and picture molding...

My mom, in all her genius staining ability that I do not have, stripped and stained the banisters.  Together we painted the spindles and toe kicks (because that involved spray paint and I can manage that!).  We were able to use some of what we had but we did have to buy some new spindles to fill in.  My mom matched the stain to our new hardwoods on the steps.  I could have never done it but she is the master.  No lie.

Around this time we moved in so I don't have any more "in progress" pics - just some finished stairs!

The ceiling light is original and we plan to replace it...it needs to be a bit bigger for the space.

Room on left is Lilli's room, on the right is Scarlett's.  I don't have anything on this table because Scarlett will destroy it. 

You can see here where Lilli's closet is.  We didn't want to lose that valuable space!

Without the landing - I need to decorate this wall...

Painted the front door black.

I bought these frames in a pack at Michaels - these are 5x5 Instagram prints. Super easy way to fill up wall space!

I made this using these keys that I found out in the shop when we moved in.  I have no idea what they unlock...

There are two sets of French doors that lead to the dining room and formal living room - but neither of those rooms are furnished (or shared on the blog!)

Well friends, there ya go.  It only took me about 4 hours to post this...which is why I post so rarely these days!

Scarlett's 3rd Birthday - A Ballerina Bash

Scarlett has been interested in dance lately - so I thought she would love to have a ballerina themed birthday party.  I was right!  A few days before the party I let her try on the ballet outfit so I could take some photos.  She then refused to take it off.  Stinker.

I know she is mine, but isn't she pretty!?

 

Used etsy for the invites, as usual:

I had pink and gray party decor from a baby shower I threw a year ago, so I just reused that.  Turned out really cute!

Notice the shoes hanging from the chandelier - that is so no one would bump their heads on it!  This is our dining room minus the furniture.

16 of these!

 Started out jumping on the trampoline with pink balloons.  Scarlett could do this for days. Cheap, easy fun.

Then it was time to hand out the tutus and learn a real dance!

I am fortunate to know some actual dancers that were so gracious with their Friday night to come and teach the girls!  Aren't they beautiful!?

I 

Showing off their moves

Even the boys had fun!

Listening to Miss Garlynn, Miss Abby and Miss Erin

Stretching

I  love this of Garlynn looking at Scarlett!

Lilli is SERIOUS when it comes to anything she does, dancing is no exception.

Trying to get a good group shot = impossible!

Happy birthday, Scarlett!

Wouldn't have been the same without these three dancers - they were so patient and thoughtful with the little ones.

It was a wonderful  night! I know that Scarlett loved it, as she is still talking about it.  And Lilli loved it, too.  Every party I throw I get lots of compliments - but I promise I don't do it alone!  Jason was the one bringing in the tables, nailing up fishing line and hanging each of those tutus, helping me make decorating decisions and overall being a good sport!  Then he cleaned up after the party while I crashed!  My mom ALWAYS does so much of the work behind the scenes.  She brought the cake, helped me make some of the crafts, and cleaned my house before the big day!  And my friend Beth is my go-to party girl who always comes early to cut up a pineapple because she knows I can't. (Among other things I can't do!)  She's a dancer - even brought the shoes and tried them out for me. 

Still got it, girl!

Another birthday party in the books!  I know I will look back and miss throwing these parties.  Some day they will want to spend the night with a friend and want nothing to do with me.  So while we still can, we party hard!