Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

<em>(Note:  I’m about ½ done with this post and Nate Berkis came on the TV in the background - isn’t he doing “painting 101”!  Topic of the day I guess!)</em><br/><br/>I have to admit, painting is a pain in the proverbial.  But, it is a pretty inexpensive change to a room, with a big impact.  I am fortunate that my darlin’ likes cutting-in and edging.  Me - no patience for that!  He hates rolling, but I don’t mind it.  It’s a win-win.  Either way, it’s all gotta be done and there are a few tips to make a paint job look pretty darn good.  I’m not suggesting that you worry that your walls look like you've had a professional paint job.  On the contrary!  I believe in getting the paint up there! Of course you want it to look smooth and nice, but just like anything, any little defects or imperfections probably won’t ever be noticed by anyone you and your own critical eye.  So if you’ve got a wall, a room, or whole house to paint, just jump in.<br/><br/>We moved into our new modular with some painting "experience” (read: mishaps).  I lived in a very old home, built in the 1850’s and I’ve done my share of stripping old wallpaper, priming and painting.  I’ve also been so fed up with painting I’ve sold my own children to pay for a professional.  One of the beautiful things about moving into a modular home, is the walls and ceilings come perfectly smooth and primed!  Compared to stripping wallpaper, or sanding walls, painting a pristine wall is a wonderful feeling.<br/><br/>You may of course paint over a painted wall, and you may or may not need primer.  I judge how dark the existing paint is and decide if I need primer or not.   However, unless the existing color is white, light grey or cream, omitting primer may mean you need 2 or even 3 coats of paint to cover existing color, so in general I’d recommend a primer. I had a very light pink room (child’s) that I wanted to cover with a sort of chocolate brown (man cave), and thought for sure the brown would cover the pink.  <em>Au contraire!</em>  That pink came through 2 coats of the brown before the 3rd coat finally won.  Geesh!<br/><br/>Anyway, let’s assume we are ready to paint. First, make a list of all the things you are going to need and head to your local home store.<br/><br/>A Good Roller.  Cheap is sometimes good, but not for rollers.  Get a decent roller and you will <em>FEEL</em> the difference.  The paint will roll on much more smoothly, and if you wash the roller out correctly it will last you through many paint jobs.<br/><br/>(Note: store brushes and rollers in a plastic bag in the fridge if your going to re-use with the same color paint.)<br/><br/>Bucket and screen (for roller).  Recently I used the roller pan, it’s just a pain.  It’s hard to move, it is flimsy and doesn’t hold a lot of paint.   A large bucket with a screen hung on the edge of the bucket to wipe the roller is just easier.<br/><br/>Edging do-hicky.  Many hate these things.  I personally <em>LIKE</em> those nifty little edgers with the wheels.  You do have to be careful not to get paint on the wheels, but if you make a mistake, keep  a wet cloth nearby to wipe up errors.<br/><br/>Edging brush.  Check any paint store or home store for a 2” short handled angled brush.  They work amazing if you have a steady hand.  My husband loves these!  He holds it like a pen, and just goes sloooow and steady.<br/><br/>Masking tape/blue tape/frog tape.  I hate taping.  Just sayin'.  If you have a steady hand, ignore the tape, but I feel a lot safer when I have the tape down.  Just be very careful not to leave the tape on for more than a day or two or you will find the tape will pull up existing paint.<br/><br/>Drop cloth.  I fold these and move them along with me.  Just be very careful you don’t get any drops of paint on the underside - how that happens I don’t know, but it does, and then you run the risk of smearing paint all along with you.<br/><br/>Paint.  I have no loyalty to paint brands.  I pick a color and then I have Home Depot or Lowe’s match it.  If you can’t find a paint chip you like, just bring in an object of the color you like and the home store will match it.  Cool, huh?  Depending on the room you’re painting, you can use high gloss, semi gloss, satin or flat paint.  In a kitchen or bathroom I would use a semi gloss.  It’s just easier to wipe down.  For any other room I’d use a satin.  I’m just not big on flat.  But, maybe that’s just me...<br/><br/>Okay, so now you have all of the materials you need.  Here comes the b.o.r.i.n.g part - preparing the room you’re going to paint in.  I dislike this step.  When I’ve decided to do something, I’m not very patient, and I just want to get moving.  Tough beans.  You have to prepare the room, or you will regret it.  (That’s me, talking to me).<br/><br/>Clear the room out of all furniture, rugs, curtains, etc.  Remove any light fixtures, smoke detectors, light switches or outlet covers. Take a shop vac or your vacuum and vacuum down the walls.  You don’t want dust or cobwebs in your paint.  That’s not a good look.  When you’re done, take a microfiber dust rag and give the walls a wipe.<br/><br/>Now you can start taping.  Lots of people don’t bother with tape, but in the end it’s easier to peel the tape off than to try and paint over your ooopsies.  Also easier than using a razor blade to remove paint from windows.  Okay, if you have a super steady hand, go for it and eliminate the tape.  But if you’re like me and not too steady, plus tend to get distracted by, say, a bird flying by, or an annoying song on the radio, and you look away...  just tape.<br/><br/>Cover your floors with drop clothes or do as I do and move a folded drop cloth along with you.<br/><br/>Start painting - edges first!  (see above.)  But only edge the part of the room you are going to finish before you take a break, or say, go get a Big Mac.<br/><br/>Once you’ve edged the part of the room you’re going to paint, you can start rolling.  This is the most satisfying part of the job.  <em>SO</em> much color goes up so fast you can really see how your room is going to look.  I <em>LOVE</em> rolling!  I’ve seen there are a lot of complicated ways to “roll like a professional”.  Ugh.  Maybe my walls don’t look professional, but my edges are (fairly) even, and the walls are (pretty) smooth and even.  And, whatever imperfections are there, I choose to ignore, not obsess over!<br/><br/>Here’s how it goes on fast and how you get it smooth.  Roll up in a straight line then down a little bit to the left (or right - whichever direction you’re going), and get as close to the ceiling and floor as you can.  Just keep moving in one direction until you’re at the end of your edging.  Go back over your work and carefully roll over any lines or little bumps, etc.  It will look streaky,don't panic.  Go get lunch, and when you come back in... <em>VOILA</em>!  It’s pretty darn good when it dries!<br/><br/>You may (probably) decide you need a 2nd coat.  Once you’ve done that, let the paint dry overnight or for 24 hours.  That paint needs to “set” before you dare putting furniture near it, or put hinges or light switch covers back on, etc.<br/><br/>And you're done!  I know your shoulders hurt, and you’ve got paint stuck in your arm hairs... but wasn’t it worth it!? How awesome does it feel to have a freshly painted room!<br/><br/>So, as I’m about done with this post, I still have to paint my bathrooms.  I feel like I should perhaps do something about that, maybe I’ll think about it over lunch...

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

(Note:  I’m about ½ done with this post and Nate Berkis came on the TV in the background - isn’t he doing “painting 101”!  Topic of the day ...

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Picking out (basement) paint colors

<p>Hey there! How the heck are ya?</p> <p>I’ve been really excited to tell you about the paint colors in the basement – <em>really</em> excited. I don’t know why exactly, I guess maybe because it’s a whole new floor to decorate. (About the best. thing. ever. for someone like me.) But it’s also that I’m going a direction with colors that I’ve never gone before. And it’s got me giddy. </p> <p>I finally finished the painting of the main/family room in the basement just tonight. Remember when I said it was <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/05/update-on-basement.html">going really fast</a>? Yeahhhh. Well, that was a week ago and I worked on it pretty much every night. Not “really fast.” </p> <p>It took forever, and at times I wondered why I didn’t just pay to have it done. But most of the time, I kind of enjoyed it. And at the risk of sounding hokey, I feel fortunate that we have a basement to paint, that we’ve been able to finish our basement and that I’m able-bodied to paint it myself. Cheesy I know, but true. </p> <p>And I am IN LOVE with the result. But first, I want to share my paint plan for the whole lower level. </p> <p>I’m taking every color from one paint swatch:</p> <p align="center">  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZORGAIlE31M/T8bpj8ENKEI/AAAAAAAAVU4/BqX3WX0j6cM/s1600-h/benjamin%252520moore%252520grays%25255B17%25255D.jpg"><img alt="benjamin moore grays" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-65GXCpGuQ4k/T8bpkW5PJ6I/AAAAAAAAVU8/CQzN4TZz3QI/benjamin%252520moore%252520grays_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="benjamin moore grays" width="320" /></a> </p> <p>They are Benjamin Moore colors that I’m having mixed at Sherwin Williams (they go on sale all the time so are cheaper and I’m just plain in love with it now). Did you know they have the BM formulas? (Or at least they say they do.) Home Depot has Lowe’s colors as well (and vise versa I believe). </p> <p>I’ve never done this anywhere else in our house, but I’m using the different tones of the colors throughout the spaces. </p> <p>The lightest color, Pebble Beach, will be the laundry room:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VKis2CXZW4Y/T8bgRRD2yZI/AAAAAAAAVSM/EU0CRBB263E/s1600-h/pebble%252520beach%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pebble beach, benjamin moore" border="0" height="401" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-r42UOMO8Qho/T8bgRoVPhrI/AAAAAAAAVSU/xazuusssZU0/pebble%252520beach_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="pebble beach, benjamin moore" width="425" /></a></p> <p>The lighter colors on the swatch show up darker on the computer screen, and the darker colors show up lighter. What the? Oh well. </p> <p>I tried to examples of each of the colors and it was hard! But <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Guest%20Bedroom">Dear Lillie</a> had two rooms painted in Pebble Beach, and they are gorgeous!:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZDyHQ008lHo/T8bgR3xjnaI/AAAAAAAAVSc/DX0jtzVHz5k/s1600-h/pebble%252520beach%252520bathroom%252520dear%252520lillie%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pebble beach bathroom dear lillie" border="0" height="417" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MDwbbM3oVYY/T8bgSenXafI/AAAAAAAAVSk/ZCO9mdt_vMU/pebble%252520beach%252520bathroom%252520dear%252520lillie_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="pebble beach bathroom dear lillie" width="280" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GvSI4bBciuM/T8bgShBuLjI/AAAAAAAAVSs/Ve3X1eMWpM8/s1600-h/pebble%252520beach%252520bedroom%252520dear%252520lillie%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pebble beach bedroom dear lillie" border="0" height="387" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-f8pALn5hRl4/T8bgTGbAf-I/AAAAAAAAVS0/hfRZRrMmvak/pebble%252520beach%252520bedroom%252520dear%252520lillie_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="pebble beach bedroom dear lillie" width="290" /></a> </p> <p>OH my gah. Beautiful! </p> <p>Isn’t that a lovely color? </p> <p>The next color is Silver Lake and it will go in the bathroom:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4AoM85ycrp0/T8bgTYVceAI/AAAAAAAAVS8/l3NVpkd4uI0/s1600-h/silver%252520lake%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="silver lake, benjamin moore" border="0" height="425" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5-dnAPd9-fc/T8bgTzwSXFI/AAAAAAAAVTE/2qmbcXrMsD8/silver%252520lake_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="silver lake, benjamin moore" width="425" /></a></p> <p>I couldn’t find anything “in real life” in this color, surprisingly. I’m really excited about the tile I hope to use in the bathroom and I think this will go with it beautifully!</p> <p>I showed you a bit of the next one last week – it’s the one I used in the large family room space:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9DAt2AiRkbI/T8bgUMvLdUI/AAAAAAAAVTM/_ujsJnTCzEY/s1600-h/marina%252520gray%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="marina gray, benjamin moore" border="0" height="425" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mfcBJuKO1QE/T8bgUoTqduI/AAAAAAAAVTU/NmSsutH--4w/marina%252520gray_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="marina gray, benjamin moore" width="425" /></a></p> <p>I had it lightened 25 percent because I was concerned it would get a little too dark. I’m so glad I did – it’s perfect! </p> <p>We LOVE it. Love love love. Every time hubby walks down there he comments on it. (So does the Bub, which cracks me up every time.)</p> <p>It’s a very warm gray – so cozy, but cool:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mCTIGm9kpoE/T8bgU1p3l0I/AAAAAAAAVTc/XF1OPWJCXlY/s1600-h/IMG_1543%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="marina gray benjamin moore" border="0" height="441" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DqeYhfNDDEk/T8bgVLAjlGI/AAAAAAAAVTk/6ELm9QPad0Y/IMG_1543_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="marina gray benjamin moore" width="290" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LXQEtDnntpA/T8bgVo_t63I/AAAAAAAAVVA/SC9n2zxboIQ/s1600-h/IMG_1555%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="moon chairs" border="0" height="443" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KNVB6Rvn7X0/T8bgWuWr4AI/AAAAAAAAVVE/69Moy6qKh2U/IMG_1555_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="moon chairs" width="290" /></a></p> <p>Doesn’t it look great with the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/03/moon-chairs.html">moon chairs</a>? Awesome!</p> <p>I’m not using the next two colors on the swatch (Timber Wolf and Hearthstone). I have a BIG accent wall in mind for the Gunmetal color:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TuvmAqizZLo/T8bgYEYyUYI/AAAAAAAAVT8/TezJqRruTjs/s1600-h/gunmetal%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gunmetal, benjamin moore" border="0" height="425" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--3L81MvUCZQ/T8bgYYNV8OI/AAAAAAAAVUE/iyxrf6Gph7k/gunmetal_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="gunmetal, benjamin moore" width="425" /></a></p> <p>I’ve been hashing out ideas for that wall in my head for months now. I want to do something <strong>fun</strong> and a little different. I love that I get to stretch a little bit in the basement and do things I may not do in the rest of the house. </p> <p>The final color is the one I’m most excited about. Like REALLY FREAKIN’ EXCITED:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sN8rF1QE3mc/T8bgYjKp8HI/AAAAAAAAVUM/7dX4C_mWMWQ/s1600-h/graphite%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="graphite, benjamin moore" border="0" height="425" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dJjxwqvh3Jw/T8bgY1eoGGI/AAAAAAAAVUU/4YDH3eBZ3QA/graphite_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="graphite, benjamin moore" width="425" /></a></p> <p>This color is actually a bit lighter on the screen then it is on the paint chip – it’s dark. And I love it. </p> <p>Here it is on a bathroom vanity:</p> <p><a href="http://www.amydmorris.com/amydmorris.entry.1.html"><img alt="graphite vanity" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2n4-Ag3BxQk/T8bgZET9pVI/AAAAAAAAVUc/jTUCmfNAWt0/graphite%252520vanity%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="graphite vanity" width="365" /></a></p> <p align="center">(<a href="http://www.amydmorris.com/amydmorris.entry.1.html">source</a>)</p> <p>It’s going on the walls (<em>yes</em>, the walls) in hubby’s office. There will be a white treatment around the bottom of the walls, and this will go above. I saw a black room with white trim on a TV show a year ago and I’ve been planning to do this ever since. </p> <p>It was wicked cool. :)</p> <p>This color isn’t black, but it’s dark. I’ll do more of a matte finish with this one to keep it from getting shiny. </p> <p>I can’t wait!! And hubby is all in – it’s gonna be awesome. (In my head anyway.)</p> <p>This is a different way of picking out paint colors for me, and I gotta say, it’s the easiest yet. :) Seriously, it took all of five minutes. I especially love these grays because they really act as a neutral – pretty much every accent color works with them. (I’ve tried quite a few.)</p> <p>So how do you pick out paint colors? Go room by room or plan it out and match? Go tonal or every color in the rainbow? Do you like the calming feel of the similar colors or do you need more spice? </p>

Picking out (basement) paint colors

Hey there! How the heck are ya? I’ve been really excited to tell you about the paint colors in the basement – really excited. I don’t kno...

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Painting

When you build your new modular home, your dealer will be back in one year to check on your home, and because of the house settling, they will fill in any cracks in the walls or ceiling.  They will ask you to wait that year before you paint, so that you don't have to re-paint where the cracks have been filled.  Houses settle, and new houses settle a lot.<br/><br/>I was sitting in our living room one day, about a month after living in our home I noticed a big line across the ceiling. Of course being all house proud and surrounded with the comfort and bliss of my new home, I was shocked and horrified!  But no need to worry, the builders will fill that.  However, this exactly why they suggest you don't paint.  You're gonna have to paint over the filled in cracks.<br/><br/>We couldn't live without any color on the walls for a year, so we decided it would be worth it to paint before we moved in, and just touch up after the inevitable settling.  It's really no big deal - we've had to touch up the paint around the house all of our lives. Paint gets dingy and scratched and cracks appear all the time.  All it takes is a little fresh paint and about 15 minutes of your time to touch up.  Just remember to save your left over paint, and save the paint chips, and label which room they belong to so that you can always get a (nearly) perfect match for patching up.   I have a kitchen drawer that has all of my paintchips, labeled, and neatly stored.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0001.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-175" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0001-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0001" width="300" /></a>Okay so I exaggerated when I said "neatly stored", but I know where they are if I need them!  See them there on the left?  I just write on them which room they belong to, and keep them there in a pile, next to the binoculars and Christmas ribbon!<br/><br/>Personally, I want, need, loooove color on my walls.  If you want all white or monochrome, I think that looks awesome too, but it's not for me.<br/><br/>I specifically have a thing for yellows, golds, and brown, with hints of maroon.  I love sunsets.  Think about the colors you wear, think about a favorite curtain pattern or throw pillow.  What are the colors you gravitate towards?  Of course, you need to go light if you don't have a lot of natural light, and you want it bright.  Go warm if you have tons of light and want your home to seem more cozy.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00081.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-177" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00081-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0008" width="300" /></a><br/><br/>Sunset picture inspires my color choices.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>And here are two pillows - I'm not particularly fond of the patterns, but the colors are my colors.  I wanted my wall colors to match these pillows.  It sounds goofy, but it's true -  go for colors that you love having around you.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00061.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-178" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00061-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0006" width="300" /></a><br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0005.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-179" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0005-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0005" width="300" /></a><br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Next, armed with your favorite color pillow, shirt, painting, etc... go to your home store of choice.  When it comes to picking paint, you'll no doubt be advised to look at the color wheel. Is it me, or is that thing totally overwhelming?  Doesn't it seem too much like hard work?  Well, it does to me.  So rather than tangle with the color wheel, just grab the paint chips that tickle your fancy (those little pieces of cardboard with all the examples of color on them) and stuff 'em in your purse.  They're free!  I like to choose the larger square pieces with one color, rather than the strips with 5 colors per strip.<br/><br/>I usually choose chips that match my colors, then grab lots of the same color, although in slightly different shades.  Take them home and carry them around to each room, because those small variances in shade and hue, look different in all rooms, and at different times of the day.  I once chose a beautiful medium gray for my old dining room and painted the whole room before I waited for the light to change or really let the color grow on me.  It was a lovely gray, until the light changed in that room, and then the paint (and my whole dining room) was no longer grey, it was purple!  Not quite ugly, but definitely NOT what I'd had in mind!<br/><br/>So once you've looked at all the colors in each room, you'll definitely have narrowed it down.<br/><br/>If I'm selecting different colors for each room, I want my colors to <em>flow</em> from one room to the next.  You want the color in the kitchen to go with the color in the dining room, and with the color in the halls... Think about this:  take the colors you like for your various rooms and put them all together on a white piece of paper, would they make a nice color combination for a curtain or a throw pillow? If they all go together nicely, your rooms will flow.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00091.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-181" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00091-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0009" width="300" /></a><br/><br/>(In the above picture, you can see I have two gold/yellow tones. That white strip of ceiling where you can see a recessed light, will be a reddish/maroon color eventually.)<br/><br/>* Note: kids bedrooms are different.  I believe in letting them have their own space and choosing their own colors, no matter how awful you think those colors are.  As I mentioned my affinity for sunset colors, my kids have completely different tastes. Our kids have bedrooms in electric blue, frog green, denim blue...  Our only rule was the flooring had to be our choice (a neutral gray carpet), and they could choose any paint they wanted.  After all, it's their space, and walls are easy enough to change.  While their rooms are now electric hews, with Eminem and David Beckham posters, I just close their bedroom doors and go to my happy place.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0011.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-180" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0011-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0011" width="199" /></a>This is a happy place...<br/><br/> 

Painting

When you build your new modular home, your dealer will be back in one year to check on your home, and because of the house settling, they wi...

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Dining room turned library progress

<p>Hope you’ve had a fantastic weekend! I almost started five different projects over the three days but decided I just needed to <em>FOCUS SARAH</em>. </p> <p>Remember my list? Well the end of the month is quickly approaching and I’m not even half way through the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-to-do-list.html">to do list</a> I wanted to complete by the 31st. So I decided to tackle a couple of the items and I didn’t touch anything else all weekend. I need to get a least half of the list marked off, I mean really. That’s just sad.</p> <p>Last time you saw the dining room, it was kind of a mess:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nz8GGZnbfp4/T8Qq4s6FH9I/AAAAAAAAVPc/HQS99Tk7lHU/s1600-h/IMG_1502%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="282" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dgHItRghXEE/T8Qq5LvgvKI/AAAAAAAAVPk/pH1wRfJ0vw4/IMG_1502_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>OK, it’s been a mess for three months. :)</p> <p>When we had the basement dry walled they patched up the spots in here for free. (They needed to be fixed because I used Liquid Nails to put up the trim in here years ago. Don’t do that if you think you’ll <em>EVER</em> take it down. Ahem.)</p> <p>Anyhoo! This wall is the first thing you see when you walk in our house and I was tired of it being a mess. So I pulled out the primer and got busy:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tsn08bgmZUI/T8Qq5ZYXT8I/AAAAAAAAVPs/Ygkh6u8Utx4/s1600-h/IMG_1506%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="primed walls" border="0" height="315" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6SueDHthvQc/T8Qq59-ttdI/AAAAAAAAVP0/byHhSpis4p8/IMG_1506_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="primed walls" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Already sooo much better! </p> <p>The thing about paint – I always procrastinate it to no end, but when I get going with it, I actually find it quite enjoyable. I think it has a lot to do with the instant gratification thing. </p> <p>And the fact that I didn’t have to cut in around much this time helped too. ;)</p> <p>So while I had the primer out, I got the cabinets started:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uaF_5T34hw0/T8Qq6Jy0ALI/AAAAAAAAVP8/C_5EbPaGMVU/s1600-h/IMG_1513%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="primed cabinets" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bhdQ1PatzNk/T8Qq6ebZwrI/AAAAAAAAVQE/An9dvhYnLJQ/IMG_1513_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="primed cabinets" width="400" /></a></p> <p>And today I got paint for the walls and got that going:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Zmg2T4-0aDg/T8Qq6kV_ooI/AAAAAAAAVQM/wlITdAPeWQk/s1600-h/IMG_1515%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="275" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-t0Z9dw7Cs6E/T8Qq6zD9R1I/AAAAAAAAVQU/qHPdpU2d99A/IMG_1515_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>It’s a very light color called Abalone and it’s SO pretty. Maybe a little too pretty though –I was really happy with it till the sun started setting and the whole room looked pink. </p> <p>You can’t really tell in the pics, but it’s definitely pinky. UGH. I’m trying to get rid of the pink undertones in our front rooms, not keep them. </p> <p>So that is <strong>awesome</strong>. :) I’m going to look for a different color tomorrow.  It’s rare that a color I pick doesn’t work out, but when it happens you just gotta role with it – and this time I didn’t follow my own advice of painting it on poster board and leaving it in the room. :) The area above those cabinets will be bookcases and the background on that wall will be different anyway. For now I just wanted to get it looking decent and uniform.</p> <p>By the way, this color would be divine in a baby girl nursery. <em>Divine.</em> It’s really a lovely color!</p> <p>I got some trim work taken care of this weekend as well – I picked up a side panel for the end of the cabinets and attached it, then primed:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-X5ABJPj8SDg/T8Qq7IJS7AI/AAAAAAAAVQc/HCBDOEXnd7w/s1600-h/IMG_1509%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-491mtwwaOBs/T8Qq7VtQQVI/AAAAAAAAVQk/CcNpFwmpfRA/IMG_1509_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xL7GWNOWxZU/T8Qq8YJWw2I/AAAAAAAAVQs/56h2jLvEmBM/s1600-h/IMG_1524%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="435" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mQY64XAPRY4/T8Qq88DucsI/AAAAAAAAVQ0/lqOJaN9u7QY/IMG_1524_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> </p> <p>You can see on the pics above that I also got the cabinets trimmed out on bottom – baseboards and then most of the quarter round. I used scraps of what I had but I need to get more. :)</p> <p>Priming the cabs really brought out the grain, which I knew was going to happen – I gave it a good sanding which helped a bit. I’m using a semi gloss white paint on them and between coats I’ll sand again. </p> <p>But here’s a good idea of how it will look with hardware and the butcher block:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wKNfnUR7T7M/T8Qq9KUNc1I/AAAAAAAAVQ8/BRTo2txhhmU/s1600-h/IMG_1518%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mUcvMiiCRoE/T8Qq9sg8o1I/AAAAAAAAVRE/qh7cxRR2dqc/IMG_1518_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I’m getting really excited at how it’s coming together! Next up – finish the trim, at least two coats on the cabs, paint the walls (AGAIN), and then sand down, stain and install the butcher. </p> <p>Then we can get going on the bookcases! (I’m almost ready Dad! Want to come over this weekend?)  :)</p> <p>Here’s a review of what the room looked like at the start of this year:</p> <p><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9WB8i4EaM4s/Tw0FRJOd2UI/AAAAAAAARwM/GcrQIqi5Jck/IMG_9634_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" title="" width="322" /></p> <p>It was a lovely room (albeit dark!), but we just didn’t use it. I was tired of that, so we’re going to make it work better for us.</p> <p>And in the process it’s getting a little update. ;)</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MODuW7Y2YfM/T8Qq9-rYTsI/AAAAAAAAVRM/J87fRCsBZT0/s1600-h/IMG_1512%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7NHtuCLRByU/T8Qq-aDCZrI/AAAAAAAAVRU/vcfQ_3vkjgw/IMG_1512_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I’m SO psyched to get this moving along and have a comfy “library” to hang out in. We may have some awesome bookcases for a while and no furniture though. I’ll be scouring Craigslist for sure. ;)</p> <p>So, do you see my vision for this room?</p> <p>Hope your Memorial Day was wonderful! A huge thank you to our past and present military (and families)! We appreciate you so very much. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-la4j36BWd64/T8Qq-ngYRJI/AAAAAAAAVRc/cbWLSQb2UJM/s1600-h/IMG_1526%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CV_GMV0kuaw/T8Qq-60sw1I/AAAAAAAAVRk/rIp5gOl2rlA/IMG_1526_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>P.S. One more day of the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/05/canon-rebel-giveaway.html">Canon Rebel Giveaway</a>! </p>

Dining room turned library progress

Hope you’ve had a fantastic weekend! I almost started five different projects over the three days but decided I just needed to FOCUS SARAH ....

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Happy Memorial Day!

<a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0004.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-171" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0004-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0004" width="199" /></a>

Happy Memorial Day!

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Patio Installation - am I nuts?

This is how I roll:  (Okay, I don't roll, I usually stumble, but anyway...) I'm walking through Home Depot with my man.  We are there specifically to get the stain for the front and side porches.  As we enter Home Depot, there's an easel with a sign announcing that there's a "How to Make a Patio" class on Saturday.<br/><br/><em>Light Bulb moment! </em> My mind is racing... We want to expand our porch and add a large deck, but our rather meager budget isn't going to allow this any time in the near future.  So how about I install my own patio?  I'm giddy at the idea, but my husband is looking like a puppy dog left out in the rain.  And I know that look.  He's not thrilled with the idea.  Not because it isn't a <em>brilliant</em> idea - it's because it means <em><strong>he</strong></em> is inevitably going to have to help me, and by "help", I mean "do all of the back breaking labor in his free time".<br/><br/>Now, I feel bad about this.  <em>BUT</em>, it means we can make better use of our back yard for BBQ's, for fires in the fire pit, for coffee with the birds, and lunches with the kids.  And we don't have to wait until we can afford the deck!  And I promise, I will make it up to my hubby - back rubs for a month!<br/><br/>If my handsome, charming, kind husband will agree to help me... The process itself looks fairly easy, although very labor intensive.  I did voice my reservations about how difficult this would be, but the guys at Home Depot assured me that I could do this project myself, without help!  (And I'm a 5'3", 120 lb weakling, with a bad back).  Some of those pavers weigh 40lbs, each!  Okay, so I'm not fool enough to try this by myself, but I believe the HD guys that it's do-able.<br/><br/>So with that belief firmly planted in my (pea) brain, this is a general idea of what the project looks like.  I'm planning on this taking a weekend!<br/><br/>I looked all over and there are all kinds of pavers and bricks you can use for the patio.  Home Depot had them, I know Lowe's has millions, and lots of the local farm stands even have them.  I haven't decided on one yet, but when I do, I will get a square foot size of patio and buy the amount of pavers I need.<br/><br/>Then the fun begins.<br/><br/>1.  Measure and mark the area for our patio dimensions.  You can do this with string and stakes, but the HD guys said to use spraypaint.  <em>Smart!</em><br/><br/>2. Dig up the ground (call utility companies to be sure there are no underground lines). Edge around your perimeter, and then dig out the entire patio area, 6" deep.  Use plastic edging around the edges.<br/><br/>3. Make sure this shallow hole is level, with, well, a level.<br/><br/>4. Fill the patio hole with 2" of gravel and use a hand tamper to compact it.  Then put in 2" more of the gravel and compact that.<br/><br/>5. Add 1" paver sand and tamp down.<br/><br/>6. Arrange your paver stones or brick in the pattern you want... drop them straight down, don't slide them into place.<br/><br/>7. After laying the paver stones, sweep the paver sand all over the top, filling in the cracks with the sand.<br/><br/><em><strong>THAT'S IT!!!</strong></em>  Sit down and enjoy the view!  Well, in theory, that's how easy it is.  I'm gonna try it anyway.  What could go wrong?<br/><br/>Don't answer that.<br/><br/>(Details, pictures, and possible swear words to follow... )

Patio Installation - am I nuts?

This is how I roll:  (Okay, I don't roll, I usually stumble, but anyway...) I'm walking through Home Depot with my man.  We are ther...

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Avocado banana ice cream

<p>OK, bear with me here. When I first heard about this dessert I was pretty cynical. I like bananas. I LOVE avocados. But together? Frozen? Um, not exactly appetizing. </p> <p>But because I have been known to eat an entire vat of guacamole all by myself, and I have been known to do this often, I just <em>had</em> to try it. </p> <p>A friend told me about it earlier this week and was raving. She said she couldn’t believe how good it was. I was so curious I didn’t waste much time making it myself. </p> <p>My friend found it on Pinterest, then I got home and searched and found it immediately as well. We both used the recipe found here at <a href="http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2011/05/vanilla-avocado-banana-ice-cream.html">Averie Cooks</a>.  </p> <p>I had everything but the avocado, so I picked up a ripe one today. It took minutes to make. And did I mention the best part? You do not need an ice cream machine! </p> <p>There are only six ingredients:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-s9KsMs02bkc/T8Ajx_fl8sI/AAAAAAAAVNA/AKzTwv39zXw/s1600-h/IMG_14823.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vhl1mYgAM8w/T8AjyKqipcI/AAAAAAAAVNI/CsdyYnVZKAI/IMG_1482_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="318" /></a></p> <p><strong>Avocado Banana Ice Cream:</strong></p> <p>1 ripe avocado <br />1 medium banana <br />1/2 cup milk <br />1 cup ice (optional but I think it helps give it a frozen consistency) <br />1/2 cup sugar (I think you could do a little less. I may try 1/4 next time.) <br />tsp vanilla </p> <p>The only time in this recipe is the freezing – cut up the banana and freeze it beforehand:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RKpIQTHOjiI/T8Ajy9aoHVI/AAAAAAAAVNQ/BiVRA4BZOts/s1600-h/IMG_14773.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FnLxoNvKJyI/T8AjzCLeoYI/AAAAAAAAVNY/-tbVlM_vYDE/IMG_1477_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="317" /></a></p> <p>Mine was mostly frozen when I made it, but not completely. I was a little anxious to try it. :)</p> <p>You just dump everything in the blender:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ooQGVF4hY7U/T8Ajz0PVznI/AAAAAAAAVNg/9PNV7jsiic0/s1600-h/IMG_14843.jpg"><img alt="blender ice cream" border="0" height="460" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Yf643w-jguY/T8Aj0d6Z-lI/AAAAAAAAVNo/s3T8JbHQbAo/IMG_1484_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="blender ice cream" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Looks SO appetizing, I know. ;) <strong>Just WAIT.</strong> </p> <p>Blend till smooth. </p> <p>This is when I noticed a tiny bit of avocado on the sides of the blender and while pushing them in to the mixture I gave it at quick taste. Even drawing the spoon up to my mouth, I didn’t believe it was going to be good. </p> <p>But let. me. tell. you. <strong>IT IS GOOD.</strong> I quite literally said out loud, “NO way.” And then I tasted it again to make sure. </p> <p>Um, I’m not kidding you, this is <em>amazing</em>. I tried it again. And again. </p> <p>Mine wasn’t quite frozen enough, (frosty, but not frozen) so I poured it into a container, tasted it some more. Put it in the freezer, couldn’t stop thinking about it, went back 20 minutes later to check on it (duh, not frozen), tried it again. </p> <p>Still GOOD.</p> <p>About 90 minutes later I gave up and got it out:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6M961bkr3aU/T8Aj0nICB3I/AAAAAAAAVNw/KZvKriXpxwc/s1600-h/IMG_1498%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="600" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ArTIX7IG9IA/T8Aj1FRTgnI/AAAAAAAAVN0/LqfXyLCmg4Q/IMG_1498_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a> No I didn’t eat the whole bowl. I wanted to. </p> <p>OK seriously, it’s scrumptious. Smooth and creamy and sweet. It would have been just as good as a smoothie too (just don’t freeze afterwards). I’ve also heard that it does <em>not</em> get brown with time. </p> <p>I am going to play with adding a little less sugar next time and maybe just a tad less vanilla. I think it would be just as flavorful with a little less. </p> <p>It’s been smokin’ hot today and will be this weekend, so I’m going to <em>try</em> and make it last. ;) </p> <p>I mentioned it on Facebook earlier this week and some were talking about avocado and chocolate? A pudding I think? I’ll believe anything after trying this. Have you tried this ice cream? Tried a weird food combo that was surprisingly good? Two of mine – ranch dressing on pizza and Wendy’s fries dipped in a chocolate frosty. ;) YUM.</p> <p>Hope you have a <strong>LOVELY </strong>Memorial Day weekend! </p>

Avocado banana ice cream

OK, bear with me here. When I first heard about this dessert I was pretty cynical. I like bananas. I LOVE avocados. But together? Frozen? Um...

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Porch Railings...

Day two of staining the porch railings on our new modular home, and it is coming along.  After two full days of work, with the stain scented wind in my hair, and bees around my ankles, I think I have finally cracked the code to painting quickly and efficiently.<br/><br/>I had to cover the composite decking, because I do not want to have to deal with cleaning stain droplets off of the deck floor.  So I bought 4 large plastic sheets from Home Depot, which set me back all of $4.  I taped the plastic down and got to work.<br/><br/><em>Not so fast!</em>  It was windy and the plastic was paper thin.  You can probably imagine the wind blew the flimsy plastic, slapping it into the wet stain, and then wrapping it around my bare calves, thus staining my legs.  <em>Not</em> what I call a good look for summer. And not my finest hour.<br/><br/>To add insult to injury, I inevitably dripped stain on the plastic, and managed to step in it every time.  Then worried about tracking it around and had to constantly check the bottom of my flip-flop. This clearly wasn't gonna work.<br/><br/>So I rummaged around in the basement and found a large piece of cloth.  My first thought was the stain will bleed right though it to the flooring. Despite my worry, I folded the cloth into a 3 ft long square and placed it under the railing where I was working, moving it as I went.  This worked much better.  It was heavy enough that it didn't blow in the wind, and there were not wet drip marks to step in!<br/><br/>So, my advice is: save yourself $4.  Wahoo!  Just enough for a RedBull! (I hate them, but you're gonna need one!)<br/><br/>Regardless of your drop cloth, staining is sloooow going.  If you have wooden balusters and they're turned, as opposed to smooth, I feel for you!  Here's my advice:  choose smooth balusters if you're going to end up staining them.  Better yet, choose plastic so you don't have to stain them at all!  Only joking!  But for two days I can tell you I was thinking "<em>Curse choosing the turned spindles!</em>", only the version in my head had some more colorful words in it...<br/><br/>Here's what I advise for staining, provided you have turned balusters:<br/><br/>The porch posts are the easy part.  The surface is larger and smoother. The porch posts or columns extend from the porch ceiling to the floor of the porch and support the porch roof.  To stain the porch posts I used a 2" foam brush.  This seemed to work well, and foam brushes are so cheap you can use as many as you need.<br/><br/>The turned balusters are a serious snore-fest to stain. Balusters are usually 36 inches tall and are offered in different widths and styles. We have a <em>turned</em> baluster, which means more nooks and crannies than an English muffin, to paint in.  Balusters are placed between top railings and the bottom rail and are usually spaced 4 inches apart.  What that means is: even if you have a small porch, you'll still <em>LOTS</em> off balusters to stain!  *Caution: May cause marked drowsiness and irritability.<br/><br/>So, the posts go pretty quickly.  But if you get stuck, I mean, volunteer to stain the balusters, like I did, here's the fastest way I found to get it done:<br/><br/>Start by using a 1" foam brush.  Get the brush wet in the stain, but not dripping wet.  Squish it into all of the nooks in the turns first.  Don't worry if it's a little thick, you can even it out after.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00031.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-162" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00031-199x300.jpg" title="DSC_0003" width="199" /></a>Then slather the stain from the top down, like you're slathering on BBQ sauce, and even out any drips.  Just make sure you get a <em>good cover</em>.  But within reason...<br/><br/>It's really easy to be a perfectionist and get caught up in going over every little tiny weeny crack and bump on the wood.  Don't bother!  Just put the stain on fairly thick, even it out and keep moving.  I did an experiment and stained several of the balustrads really, really carefully, and a couple the fast, efficient way. Guess what?   Can't tell the difference when they're dry!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Well that's it for staining the porch railings.  And one thing off my "to do list".  Only 19 to go!

Porch Railings...

Day two of staining the porch railings on our new modular home, and it is coming along.  After two full days of work, with the stain scented...

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Staining the front porch railings, finally!

There's no getting around it.  We've complained and procrastinated - our front porch railings still need to be stained.  Here it is (almost) Memorial Day Weekend and we have 20 people coming over for a clam bake on Monday.  So, it's gonna be done.<br/><br/>Yesterday we went to Home Depot and spoke with the "paint guy with a very deep voice and lots of tattoos" (pretty sure that's his official title). He was very helpful and advised us to go with a semi-transparent stain in California Redwood.  I've seen a lot of houses where people have used a similar color on their porches and decks, and I hope/think/pray it goes well with our siding, because we ended up buying a 5 gallon bucket of the stuff!   (We don't like to mess around.)<br/><br/>Mr. Deep Voice told us that the stain is water based, so we'd better hurry up and get the wood stained before the rain hits Saturday and washes our hard work away.  Great!  Now we only have until Saturday, if we want it done for our party on Monday.<br/><br/>So, here we are at noon on Thursday, and there's a <em>LOT</em> to go.  (At least it shows some progress, and I'm very pleased with the color.)<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0008.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-158" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0008-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0008" width="300" /></a>Bummer for me, the H is off to work, I have a toddler who needs a nap, and two tweens who need to be picked up from school!<br/><br/>How am I going to get this done?  I'll tell you how!  I'm gonna get off my computer, suck it up, and get out there!<br/><br/>Pix of the finished railings tomorrow! (okay, realistically, Monday.)

Staining the front porch railings, finally!

There's no getting around it.  We've complained and procrastinated - our front porch railings still need to be stained.  Here it is ...

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An update on the basement

<p>Hey hey! It’s been awhile since I’ve updated on the basement progress because…well, there hasn’t been much progress. ;)</p> <p>It kind of pooped out because…WELL. Money doesn’t grow on trees. Drats. </p> <p>About seven weeks ago we had the drywall put up and mudded. That felt like a HUGE accomplishment. It obviously transformed the space into real rooms. Pretty awesome. </p> <p>Since then the guys have primed every surface and painted the ceiling. I thought I would be able to do it but really? It would have taken months. They got it done in two days. </p> <p>When the walls were installed, we had to go ahead with the shower because there was some drywall that had to be installed around it:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-R7sQdzGuedk/T72xmCGRZOI/AAAAAAAAVKM/xxuSrHVxI7A/s1600-h/IMG_1448%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="basement shower" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mgYukCGaIHM/T72xm9fOOcI/AAAAAAAAVKU/p309uP-UoKY/IMG_1448_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="basement shower" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Originally I had planned on tiling the whole thing, but an insert was so. much. easier. For <strong>me</strong>. Because they did installed the insert, and <em>I</em> was going to do the tile. ;) That little area to the right of the shower will be open shelving, so that will be a nice little detail. </p> <p>The guys came a few weeks ago and installed the trim around the basement steps, which had to be done before carpet:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eWef9uRhQZA/T72xniJxPiI/AAAAAAAAVKc/sVO9UhTt0HM/s1600-h/IMG_1466%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="trim on stairway" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lolDnXfGfJc/T72xoEcw6fI/AAAAAAAAVKk/zBMLASE3Ldc/IMG_1466_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="trim on stairway" width="320" /></a></p> <p>It was pretty straightforward – just some boards trimmed out on top with quarter round, then baseboards around the landing. (On that wall they had to notch out the board to fit around the steps, but on the other walls the board just fit in next to the steps – much easier.)</p> <p>A cement wall went up the wall on the stairway and created a little ledge, so the guys did a really nice job of trimming that out:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_uvnbD0CbiU/T72xo8hVpBI/AAAAAAAAVKs/URYFWMNAjH0/s1600-h/IMG_1471%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y0uRK_AsKdo/T72xp88pkjI/AAAAAAAAVK0/fKmKPvCYuCc/IMG_1471_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I hang extra frames for projects in this stairway so they free up storage space. That’s why some of them are empty. :)</p> <p>The recessed lights have been finished out with their cans, and it made a HUGE difference! I love how much light we have down there, and that everything is on different switches:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9tMfLyN0l90/T72xqW3OyUI/AAAAAAAAVK8/PZcR9V6DQtw/s1600-h/IMG_1450%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="recessed lights basement" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZM_CPqp_26Q/T72xrcZ-tZI/AAAAAAAAVLE/8KcH3_lv9aU/IMG_1450_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="recessed lights basement" width="400" /></a></p> <p>We went with a lightly textured ceiling just like upstairs. I love the look of flat ceilings, but especially in the basement where there may be a need to repair it eventually (to get to wiring, plumbing, etc.), I wanted to go with something that would be easily patched and textured again. </p> <p>We’ve only purchased a couple light fixtures so far, and the guys installed them for free:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/---qeLl6oh-Y/T72xrlfQHrI/AAAAAAAAVLM/T_15K5-b_yk/s1600-h/IMG_1444%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="lowes industrial pendant light" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gxxqBR2FI9k/T72xs3fy9II/AAAAAAAAVLU/XA4rkerTe6k/IMG_1444_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="lowes industrial pendant light" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I showed you some of the options <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/03/we-have-basement-lights.html">here</a> and I actually went with what was my third choice for this spot! When I went back to purchase the lights I just loved the industrial look of these <em>and</em> the price tag. I got them at Lowe’s – I’m not sure what they’re called but I’ve seen them at every Lowe’s I’ve looked. (Hold the phone, I found them online <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_351053-1811-CPM150LPN_4294796693+5003698__?productId=3367510&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_25%2B50_4294796693%2B5003698__%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=$25%20-%20$50">here</a>.)</p> <p>This spot will eventually have cabinets below with a sink:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OVpfeWRNIGo/T72xtH9TpvI/AAAAAAAAVLc/pnk7sITyn3M/s1600-h/IMG_1446%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gUlLWqu8QE4/T72xtohtSaI/AAAAAAAAVLk/s8BzLDm77n0/IMG_1446_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>That area will probably be the last thing we do in the basement, as far as finishing it goes. But I have <strong>big</strong> plans for this wall! </p> <p>I envision a wall of tile, something like this maybe:</p> <p><img alt="tile wall" src="http://media-cache5.pinterest.com/upload/218706125623795161_9t2xmSw2_f.jpg" title="tile wall" /></p> <p align="center">(<a href="http://www.designinthewoods.blogspot.com/">source</a>)</p> <p>Or this. I looove this:</p> <p><img alt="quatrefoil tile" src="http://media-cache3.pinterest.com/upload/130322982936622633_Z1WhJdTF_f.jpg" title="quatrefoil tile" /></p> <p>I’m bummed because this had no source when I pinned it. Any idea where I can get it? I’m sure it’s mad expensive. </p> <p>There won’t be any upper cabinets on that wall, just lowers. But I may do some floating shelves. I’ll just have to see how it comes together and what kind of storage we need. It will be just be a very small snack/drink area, so eventually we hope to have a small fridge and maybe a microwave down there too. </p> <p>So FUN!</p> <p>But like I said, that’s WAY down the line. I just like to plan ahead. ;)</p> <p>I had hoped to have carpet installed next, and then have everything trimmed out after that – I figured we could live without trim and doors for quite a while. And I was going to wait to do the tile in two rooms later as well. But then the guys told me the tile and the trim should really be done before the carpet so that basically shot my entire plan. </p> <p>Sooo now, we are hoping to get at least the trim done next month, and the carpet done by July. And here a couple months ago I thought we’d be done early – the original plan was to be done by July, and then I thought it may be June. Now it will probably be August. Or later. Probably later. <em>Dangah</em>. </p> <p>But there is still <em>plenty</em> that I can do and I started tonight. At 9 p.m. No better time, right? I’ve had the paint for the basement for awhile, and I finally bit the bullet and started painting. </p> <p>I put on my paint shirt:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SKdVmW7GGsE/T72xuf4BzsI/AAAAAAAAVLs/Is_x94WhGzo/s1600-h/IMG_1463%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="252" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2b8OElRQDww/T72xvPu1MLI/AAAAAAAAVL0/oSq69RShIz0/IMG_1463_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I don’t wipe my hands on rags or paper towels, I use this shirt. ;) It has every paint color in our house on it. I’ve had it since the day we moved in. I will never get rid of it. Someday it will be framed. ;)</p> <p>So anyhoo, I went after it and because there is no trim and no carpet, it’s going REALLY fast. I only stopped to write this post and it was hard to walk away. I could have easily gotten the half of the whole family/playroom area done tonight. </p> <p>I’ll talk to you more about the paint soon, but for now I’ll tell you that it’s a Benjamin Moore color called Marina Gray that I had mixed at Sherwin Williams:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8Jhaqg5PZGo/T72xviu_3kI/AAAAAAAAVL8/-2q45DK_5qc/s1600-h/IMG_1475%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="benjamin moor marina gray" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rrAgyXli8Wc/T72xwfbnBxI/AAAAAAAAVME/7SBjGn5NxL8/IMG_1475_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="benjamin moor marina gray" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I had it lightened 25 percent because I was worried it would be too dark. And up till I painted I was still worried about that, but I <strong>LOVE </strong>IT. It is a lovely color and I’m really excited about it. It went on like buttah too. </p> <p>I’m also excited that I got it during a sale, with a coupon so I spent less on SW paint than I would have at the hardware store. Boo.<em> yah.</em> </p> <p>So there you go, the latest basement update. I know you’ve been waiting, practically beside yourself because you were so anxious to hear more about it. You can relax now that you know. ;)</p> <p>The plan now is to finish painting then install baseboards in the whole basement. I’ll bring the saw down there and that should go pretty quick. (Famous last words.) I figure by the time I’m done with all that (I am not putting baseboards up near doorways till they install those), we’ll be able to afford to inch forward a little more. </p> <p>It’s so hard to be patient, but at least I’ve got plenty to keep me busy while I wait. That's a good thing. Right?!</p> <p>So have you seen any cool tile that would look good on the bar/kitchenette wall? Any idea where I can find that awesome quatrefoil tile? </p>

An update on the basement

Hey hey! It’s been awhile since I’ve updated on the basement progress because…well, there hasn’t been much progress. ;) It kind of pooped ...

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Modular Home Extensions or Additions

No hair extensions here, only house extensions!  In the housing world, you may have the option of building a modular addition to your existing house.   I had a couple of comments recently about additions and garages, and there are modular home dealers that offer additions.  Waaaaaay cool!<br/><br/>In-law suites<br/><br/>Master bedrooms with bathrooms<br/><br/>Dining rooms<br/><br/>Garages<br/><br/>Garages with bonus rooms<br/><br/>Full second storys<br/><br/>From what I can see, the modular extension is just like a modular home.  It’s well-built, green, less expensive.  But the real, true, obvious beauty of the modular addition is the <strong><em>time</em></strong> savings.  Assuming you want to stay in your home while renovations are completed, the modular addition will take only days to set!  While renovations done the “stick-built” traditional way could take months.<br/><br/>Years ago I had a large addition put on my old house.  The addition was a full kitchen renovation, with the addition of a dining room/sun room combination.  It was beautiful when it was finished, BUT getting to that point was a long and arduous journey!  While the addition was being stick built, we had several weeks with no access to our kitchen.  Furthermore, construction took place in late winter (our thought was it would be done by Spring), and we had days that our only wall on that side of the house was heavy plastic sheeting.  In mid-winter in Central NY, with two young children, that was not comfortable. In the end, the entire process took about 6 months to complete.  We were cold, we were tired of noise and dust, we were sick of the invasion of privacy, and we just wanted our house back!<br/><br/>With a modular addition, just like a modular home, you are meeting with the builder and designing your addition.  The modular addition dealer will help you with all permits you will need, and checking your existing house before the addition project.  You will be advised along the way, and will order your addition and all the fixin’s.<br/><br/>Obviously your new addition will need siding, which will usually be left off the module and assembled at your property.  The module itself will be built in a factory and delivered to your house on a flat bed, and set with a crane.  The builders will handle all of the finishing touches, with the roof and walls all doing their jobs, so a freak storm can’t rain on  your parade!  Just like a modular home.  There will be minimal disruption to your life. How amazing is that?  It makes me want one!<br/><br/>If you actually need an addition and are looking into the process, I suggest you call various dealers in your area, or visit the following sites for a dealer in your neck of the woods:<br/><br/><a href="http://www.nahb.org/">www.nahb.org</a>  or <a href="http://www.modularhousing.com/">www.modularhousing.com</a><br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/module.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-153" height="150" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/module-150x150.jpg" title="module" width="150" /></a><br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>(Module in the factory, ready to be delivered.)<br/><br/>Information or pictures are always welcome!  I would love to share more about modular additions!

Modular Home Extensions or Additions

No hair extensions here, only house extensions!  In the housing world, you may have the option of building a modular addition to your existi...

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Air Conditioning

Yesterday I was sitting in my office writing about how I’m not particularly fond of Air Conditioning.  I like the windows open and the smell of the cut grass!  As I sat here, the breeze was blowing in the windows, and my husband was out mowing.  It was lovely, except...<br/><br/>I couldn’t stop sneezing!  I confess, it occurred to me: if the windows were all closed and I had AC, I probably wouldn’t be suffering from allergies as badly.  Because of all the sneezing, and the itchy, watery eyes, this is my second week without mascara (<em>I know!</em>).  And they say it’s going to be a long allergy season, since our winter was so mild.  And the weatherman says it’s going to be <em>HOT</em> too!  Perhaps I should have given the whole house AC a little more thought...<br/><br/>Seriously, besides keeping us cool, and me grumbling about my allergies, there are some definite health benefits to Air Conditioning.  In hot climates, or on scorching hot summer days here in Central NY, we’ve all worried about our elderly or very young family members and neighbors during heat waves.  Excessive heat can cause fatigue and dehydration, which are both dangerous.  It goes without saying that an air conditioning system can reduce symptoms of fatigue as well as the risk of dehydration.  A <em>CLEAN</em> air conditioning system can help with external allergens (ie. pollen!) and can help with your overall air quality too.<br/><br/>Also, let’s not forget the importance of a good night’s sleep.  I feel for my kids when it’s really hot.  They have to sleep with covers on them at night (<em>it’s a known fact that bad guys can’t get you if your under covers</em>).  Of course that gets hot, and sleeping is a lot easier when you’re cool.<br/><br/>Air conditioning systems are expensive, and often need repairs - so depending on the systems your builder offers, it’s a good idea to check out Consumer Reports for the most reliable brands.  If you do end up putting in an air conditioning system, there are ways to reduce your monthly bills and to keep your house cooler in general:<br/><ul><br/> <li>Keep blinds and shades closed in the windows that get the most sun.  This really, really keeps the temperature down in your house.</li><br/> <li>Use a ceiling fan to circulate the cool air around you.  This way you can turn your AC thermostat up a few degrees, and still feel just as cool.</li><br/> <li>The new Energy Star light bulbs produce less heat, so there’s less hot air to cool down, thus reducing your cost.</li><br/> <li>AC units have programmable timers so that you can set cooling times around your schedule.  Just set the AC to come on about an hour before you get home, rather than cooling an empty house.</li><br/> <li>Cook on your grill.  And if you get sick of grilled food like I do by the end of summer, can you plug-in your crock pot outside?  Do anything but use the oven, which adds tons of heat to your house!</li><br/> <li>Make sure the AC filter is clean.  Periodically have a professional check your duct work , vents and registers for leaks.</li><br/></ul><br/>If budget is an issue, ceiling fans can be effective, as are window AC units.  And there’s always the stand-by of placing the underside of your wrists under cold running water for a few minutes.  That’s what we are doing, at least for this summer.

Air Conditioning

Yesterday I was sitting in my office writing about how I’m not particularly fond of Air Conditioning.  I like the windows open and the smell...

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Ceiling Fans

One of the options we chose <em>not</em> to include in our modular home was central air conditioning.  We do have a furnace, so if we decide we need central air down the road, we can certainly install it.  I’m hoping that we wont need air, because it gives me a headache, and because I love the windows open and the smell of fresh air and cut grass in the summer.  We have our house closed up all winter, and I don’t want it closed up in the summer.  Of course we live in Central New York, not central Texas, so that at least allows me the option of choosing fans.<br/><br/>We're also hoping to realize some savings with the fans, both in summer and in winter.  Central air costs about seventy times more to run than a fan.  And, according to the fan experts, a ceiling fan can make you feel 3 to 8 degrees cooler.  That's not too bad.<br/><br/>(Today I’m using the term “we” loosely.  My husband would love AC.  So, I will post on AC tomorrow, and consider his opinion).<br/><br/>Our modular home builder wired every room for ceiling fans.  Yesterday it was 91 degrees, which is hot for May, but the house was nice and cool, with just the fans going.  I’m hoping that’s a good omen, but I’ll have to let you know how we’re doing come mid-July when every day is 90 degrees.<br/><br/>If you do want central air, you can still use a ceiling fan and raise your AC temperature, which will also enable you to save money.<br/><br/>I did a quick look on The Home Depot website and there are about 15 pages of ceiling fans, ranging in price from $34.97 to $1908.09 .  Of course loading your house full of 2000 dollar fans, it may take a while to realize any energy savings!<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/cheap-fan.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-130" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/cheap-fan.jpg" title="cheap fan" width="300" /></a>This is the least expensive fan:<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/exp-fan.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-131" height="300" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/exp-fan.jpg" title="exp fan" width="300" /></a>This is the most expensive:<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>You don't have to go to those extremes - as I remember ours cost around $90.  If you decide to buy a couple of ceiling fans, either to help keep the AC temperature up, or to use on their own, you need to get the right size.  Here is a guide to buying the right size fan (from The Home Depot):<br/><br/><strong>Fan Size</strong><br/><br/>Select a fan that is sized to match the dimensions of the room where it will be installed. Fan size is determined by measuring the width straight across from blade tip to blade tip. While a fan may be larger than necessary, as long as it has enough room to rotate properly, a fan that's too small will not effectively circulate the air.<br/><div dir="ltr"><br/><table><colgroup> <col width="65" /> <col width="110" /> <col width="135" /> <col width="313" /></colgroup><br/><tbody><br/><tr><br/><td>Fan Size</td><br/><td>Room Size (Sq. Ft.)</td><br/><td>Room Types</td><br/><td>Points to Consider</td><br/></tr><br/><tr><br/><td>32"</td><br/><td>Up to 80</td><br/><td><br/><ul><br/> <li>Bedroom</li><br/> <li>Bathroom</li><br/> <li>Kitchen</li><br/></ul><br/></td><br/><td><br/><ul><br/> <li>Matching fan size to room ensures greater energy efficiency</li><br/></ul><br/></td><br/></tr><br/><tr><br/><td>42"</td><br/><td>80-120</td><br/><td><br/><ul><br/> <li>Bedroom</li><br/> <li>Office/study</li><br/> <li>Porch</li><br/></ul><br/></td><br/><td><br/><ul><br/> <li>Outdoor areas require specially-designed fans</li><br/></ul><br/></td><br/></tr><br/><tr><br/><td>44"</td><br/><td>120-144</td><br/><td><br/><ul><br/> <li>Bedroom</li><br/> <li>Living room</li><br/> <li>Patio</li><br/></ul><br/></td><br/><td><br/><ul><br/> <li>Downrods and angle mounts allow installation in tall ceilings</li><br/></ul><br/></td><br/></tr><br/><tr><br/><td>52"+</td><br/><td>144+</td><br/><td><br/><ul><br/> <li>Family room</li><br/> <li>Great room</li><br/> <li>Patio</li><br/></ul><br/></td><br/><td><br/><ul><br/> <li>Remotes and wall controls make adjusting fan speed easy</li><br/></ul><br/></td><br/></tr><br/></tbody><br/></table><br/></div><br/>I’m not trying to play favorites here, but The Home Depot really does have a huge selection of fans.  I bought mine from the store, rather than online, and it was easy to get the right sizes, and I had a fun afternoon looking at all the fans and lights with my Mom!   All of the ceiling fans I bought had lights.  I needed the lights, but certainly, they come without lights depending on your taste and budget.<br/><br/>Here is our ceiling fan in the living room. The light is not very bright because the shade is a teracotta color.  We don't need a lot of light in our living room because it gets a lot of light from outdoors in the day, and at night we want it ambient rather than bright.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00211.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-134" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_00211-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0021" width="300" /></a><br/><br/>That <em>WAS</em> in our bedroom, because I <em>thought</em> I wanted it to be nice and dim and romantic in there.  But it turns out I don't!  I want to read at night!  So we took this out of the living room:<br/><br/><a href="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0020.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-135" height="199" src="http://www.fyimodularhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC_0020-300x199.jpg" title="DSC_0020" width="300" /></a><br/><br/>Not only can I read at night, I find my outfits actually match nowadays!<br/><br/>When you use your ceiling fan, and this may seem obvious, but sometimes I like to state the obvious - in the summer months, make sure the blades are blowing down.  We generate heat, and fans push that hot air away from our bodies.  When we sweat, the moving air cools us as well.  Ceiling fans do not make the air cooler, they just cool <em>YOU</em>.  To be clear, no need to leave ceiling fans on if you're not home, they cool people not the air.<br/><br/>Ceiling fans are also efficient during the winter.  Almost all ceiling fans have  a switch to change the direction of the blade.  In winter, your heat rises, so all your heat heads up to the ceiling.  I’ve read that the air at the ceiling is 15 degrees warmer than the rest of the room!  <em>What?! </em> If you change the direction of the blades and keep them  on the lowest speed, you will gently force the heat back down to the floor, where you are!<br/><br/>Now here’s a tip:  When winter is over, and you decide to switch the direction of the ceiling fan blades, stop and think.  What is that long handled duster I own used for? Why don’t I use it on the ceiling fan blades?  Because, according to a friend of mine, not <em>ME</em>, if you skip this step, and just switch the direction and turn the fan on, you will walk back into a room full of little tiny dust bunnies.  That must have been really funny for my friend.<br/><br/>You have to get your ceiling fans up.  I’m lucky.  I have a live-in electrician.  And he’s tall.  So, he hung our ceiling fans in the blink of an eye.  One day this Spring we even decided to switch the ceiling fan  in the bedroom with the one in the living room, and by the time I had a cup of coffee he had the fans switched.  Good job, darlin!  <em>BUT</em>, if you don’t know what you’re doing and don’t have someone handy in your life, hire someone.  The fans can be heavy, you have to stand on a ladder a fool around with wires.  <em>Not</em> a good idea.<br/><br/>Well, that’s it for today and ceiling fans.  Now I’m off to help my hubby with cutting the poison ivy vines from our trees - <em>no, not really! </em> That’s not a good idea either!

Ceiling Fans

One of the options we chose not to include in our modular home was central air conditioning.  We do have a furnace, so if we decide we need...

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Refreshing the living room

<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-btebSNeouxI/T7mp0OArCDI/AAAAAAAAVGY/cJukw_o7XiA/s1600-h/header%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ip_5K1RrJzs/T7mp0fbS-OI/AAAAAAAAVGc/f1OGdxC7O1s/header_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>Hello there! I hope you had a fantastic weekend! It was a good one here – I got SO much done. <em>And</em> had some fun. Just the right mix. ;)</p> <p>I’ve been making some changes to the living room over the past year or so and I am really loving how it’s coming along. I know living rooms are typically more “fancy,” but I don’t really want fancy in our house. It’s a big, open room so we spend quite a bit of time out there. The Bub plays in the living room more than he does any other room downstairs, so it needs to be comfy. Even though I don’t want fancy, I do like this space to have a little flair. </p> <p>As some of you know, we got <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/10/our-new-house.html">new hardwoods</a> last fall, courtesy of a fridge leak and great insurance. (It so would not have happened otherwise.)</p> <p>The floors made a HUGE difference in that space, but I’ve really wanted a rug all this time. I’ve been looking for MONTHS and I finally found the right one. I started with a cream rug back in January from World Market, and I loved it – but once I put it down I knew it was too small (6.9 by 9.6 I think). And the day I got it, a visitor came in with shoes on and I had some <em>major </em>sweats. I didn’t want to live worrying about the dirt that would show. </p> <p>So it went back, and the floor has been bare again. :) I decided I wanted to go with a natural material like a jute, because it would hold up well and I love the look of them. But it was the <em>feel</em> I was worried about, so I researched a TON, read a lot of reviews and tested a few out in the stores. </p> <p>And then I waited for a sale. ;)</p> <p>Last week I got the ONE:<a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/two-tone-large-diamond-jute-rug/"><img alt="Pottery Barn Two Tone Diamond Jute Rug" border="0" height="421" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HVQIVSWi0qA/T7mp1f4S6TI/AAAAAAAAVHI/lUp1KtfN4kA/img20o%25255B15%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Pottery Barn Two Tone Diamond Jute Rug" width="534" /></a></p> <p>I went with the 8 by 10 size and it was on sale for just over $400 – one of the best deals I’ve found! </p> <p>I loved that it was the natural look, but had two different colors and had just a slight design to it:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pkH32ha-hv8/T7mp1wPth5I/AAAAAAAAVDY/T9CWe8mLFyQ/s1600-h/IMG_1443%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-B4On2Uhr-B0/T7mp2EVyHYI/AAAAAAAAVDg/SDslLu8nYzg/IMG_1443_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I was afraid a full jute rug would be the exact same color as our sofa and wash everything out, so when I got home with this one I realized it was a good call:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-o92AnmwHOu0/T7mp2hhacHI/AAAAAAAAVDo/FWcnNMFhFEI/s1600-h/IMG_1372%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="325" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ElfZUyK0MpI/T7mp23UxsjI/AAAAAAAAVDw/57mYiRVz5PQ/IMG_1372_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I have a very confusing relationship with that couch – I love that it’s nice and deep and the cushions are oh-so-comfy. I struggle big time with the color and the fabric. I would have had it recovered by now, the the back cushions are sewed on. NICE. I may still do it, I just need to check out my options. </p> <p>AnyHOO…lately, I’ve decided to just work with the color, not against it. And that’s another reason I really, really like this rug. It pulls in the color of the couch and makes it not stand out as much. </p> <p>It’s way softer than sisal, and softer than most jute rugs I’ve looked at. It’s not baby butt soft or anything, but it’s not bad at all to sit on (which is good for the kiddo):</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-67mS5KlQ9HA/T7mp3OHqvqI/AAAAAAAAVD4/c_gVPbEQjV8/s1600-h/IMG_1427%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pottery barn jute rug" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rDUX51v4S24/T7mp4oGCmdI/AAAAAAAAVEA/ds2rRn-DToI/IMG_1427_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="pottery barn jute rug" width="320" /></a></p> <p>And it’s like a little foot massage when you walk on it. :)</p> <p>I love that keeps this room from getting too serious – the fringe on the ends helps with that:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yD1mwM3KWQs/T7mp4zYPzoI/AAAAAAAAVEI/tU6IRTqcBuw/s1600-h/IMG_1367%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="large nail head trim chair" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-edfAVb9JMDw/T7mp5Of3vPI/AAAAAAAAVEQ/P4tUZVdhl50/IMG_1367_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="large nail head trim chair" width="320" /></a></p> <p>The 8 by 10 size is perfect for this space – at first I had it running the opposite way, and it wasn’t right. It’s amazing how switching the direction of your rug can make a HUGE difference in a room! Try it. ;)</p> <p>I like that it goes under the sofa just a bit:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NNxLx3BsjIk/T7mp5fM-v8I/AAAAAAAAVGg/d9z1XzCP0Hw/s1600-h/IMG_1402%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pottery barn jute rug" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Wz84g1eiMNA/T7mp5zJxTTI/AAAAAAAAVGk/8OhzRM1Ab2k/IMG_1402_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="pottery barn jute rug" width="320" /></a></p> <p>You can see I don’t accessorize our coffee tables. (This one is from Garden Ridge.) Around here, a flat surface is a Lego surface, so really, there’s no point. :)</p> <p>I put it under the sofa a bit because I didn’t want the rug to go under the desk chair on the other side of the room:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ugvu2DMPnSg/T7mp6Uu91iI/AAAAAAAAVGo/Obqfd7oh3tc/s1600-h/IMG_1384%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cream desk homegoods" border="0" height="634" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9cdmI23jRFs/T7mp6s9Ee-I/AAAAAAAAVGs/ezLiYEN2lOs/IMG_1384_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="cream desk homegoods" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I don’t think I’ve shown you this desk yet! I got it about a year ago at HomeGoods and luuuuurve it. It’s such a pretty little piece. I have a plan to change it up a bit, but I’ve had that plan for almost a year now and it hasn’t happened yet soooooo, I’m showing you the desk. ;)</p> <p>For years, a chair that went with the sofa sat in that corner. Lately I’ve wanted to try and create more “vignettes” in this space – it’s a big room with soaring ceilings and it didn’t feel cozy to me before. Now it feels so much warmer – I adore this desk and how different it makes the space look!: </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-npHHzJ-m5rA/T7mp74AQk7I/AAAAAAAAVGw/SzDLprPdR7Q/s1600-h/IMG_1421%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="desk by window" border="0" height="540" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LArFEHyMfTY/T7mp8e5gM7I/AAAAAAAAVG0/si98D_cPH58/IMG_1421_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="desk by window" width="360" /></a> I did a tiny bit of rearranging by moving the round table over in the corner:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bVaY-T8OsMU/T7mp8mte2gI/AAAAAAAAVFY/FVO2PX92uTQ/s1600-h/IMG_1436%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-B7EkU0EYJEI/T7mp83y4SCI/AAAAAAAAVFg/ErcWlEni8zc/IMG_1436_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a></p> <p>For no other reason than I just wanted to move something around. ;) I never move furniture in our house, so even a little table feels like I did something BIG.      </p> <p>So this space is one of my favorite before and afters. Early on it looked like this:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wWWVDCPO3UY/T7mp9JNfPLI/AAAAAAAAVFo/Q1dUZ5flNus/s1600-h/2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="282" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VSVA19PUM4s/T7mp9jHry_I/AAAAAAAAVFw/_s_UKkefNNo/2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>We really loved it at the time, just like everything in this house. I love (most) changes every step of the way, but it sure is fun to see how different the same room looks years later:<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0piOgbVEbQQ/T7mp-y6wEVI/AAAAAAAAVG4/4vCcpmKR51M/s1600-h/IMG_1414%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="367" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZbwkLNv8ZPU/T7mp_IMXXjI/AAAAAAAAVG8/QX6S0FnSQ1w/IMG_1414_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="550" /></a></p> <p>A couple of winters ago I started the process by adding new window treatments (that I made myself) and adding a dresser (that was in the Bub’s nursery) to brighten it up a bit:</p> <p><img alt="" border="0" height="312" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/TWXkvKQu_1I/AAAAAAAAMT4/NQ4RUoMO1kk/IMG_3213_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" title="" width="450" /></p> <p>And now it’s really come together:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PqOqaK6qkMg/T7mp_rpa0xI/AAAAAAAAVHA/6qX6Ro6nGM0/s1600-h/IMG_1405%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="jute rug living room" border="0" height="768" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BnTTCXExQzM/T7mqAOlSfkI/AAAAAAAAVHE/ppi3JWfXUhI/IMG_1405_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="jute rug living room" width="532" /></a></p> <p>It’s taken a few years of waiting for the right pieces and I’m SO glad I've been patient. Sometimes it’s a good thing it takes me forever and a day to do anything. </p> <p>There’s still a BIG project I want to work on next, and it involves the walls. And ladders. OH MY. </p> <p>I think picking out a rug is one of the hardest decorating choices, hands down. Do you? Part of it is the cost issue, but it’s also because they make a HUGE statement in a room! </p> <p>**You can see how I made the terrariums on the desk <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/05/how-to-make-succulent-terrarium.html">here</a>. <br />**Check out the DIY Pottery Barn pillows on the cheap <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/08/pottery-barn-pillows-on-cheap.html">here</a>. <br />**And more about the bookcase <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/08/pottery-barn-pillows-on-cheap.html">here</a>!  </p>

Refreshing the living room

Hello there! I hope you had a fantastic weekend! It was a good one here – I got SO much done. And had some fun. Just the right mix. ;) ...

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