haha speedie- DH can OWN the above fridge cabinet - even for me it requires a stool to go beyond the front row.
A hutch, that's not country? Sounds like something fromMartha Stewart or Pottery Barn, painted perhaps? not too many frills? Or consider the pieces available from your cabinet line. I thought about a whole row of cabinetry on the wall opposite my kitchen, the dining room wall so to speak.
New Projects in the Mid-Atlantic almost spring 2013
There are many styles of corner cabinets that are not country. We have an old Federal Period CC that Jamie rescued. It was one of a pair, but they already burned the other. The funny part is we didn't have a corner for it, so we made one. We built a buttress wall between the kitchen and great room. on one side is the CC on the other is the island in front of the kitchen, with storage. Ric
Aren't there more creative choices than a big square fridge?
http://www.crookedbrains.net/2010/12/creative-refrigerator-designs.html
Oh gosh coleup......I had to save that website in order to go back later and take a further look. Looks like things right up my alley. I will go ahead and admit that many of the hours that previously would have been spent here at Dave's have recently been spend in Pinterest which is full of some of the very greatest ideas for things that I have ever seen. I started originally looking up the topic of home decor......I am now pinning about eighteen different things ranging all over the map. Probably my largest two boards are decorating ideas and crafts. This in no way means that most of these ideas will ever get done here, but a girl can dream can't she? I have already incorporated quite a few of the ideas for organization that I found there and after the major job of painting the house is complete, I will be using many of the decorating ideas I am now seeing.
Speaking of back splashes again......I too want something new. Yesterday while reading an issue of HGTV magazine I found an article on Tempaper which is washable and easily removable wallpaper. It was given as an idea for back splashes and of course I had to check out tempaper.com and see what they offered. This particular company only has a selection of about forty different styles and with further research, I found some rather inexpensive, hopefully as usuable as the more costly stuff at Walmart.com and saved the picture of what I am planning to use for my backsplash.
Before any painting is done there are other steps required first. The first being packing up china cabinets contents, second time in a year!!!!! Getting to be a lot of work for me. I just know that when my living environment has a few changes made, that I am going to be a lot more satisfied with life in general. For about eight years I have had basically the same decor and same knick knacks sitting around. The time has come for what to me is going to be major changes. I've grown tired of most things. I will have the same furnishings as before just some new colors and a lot less things to look at. I am really looking forward to it.
All others involved with re-do's - happy projecting.....thanks again Ric for a place to chat about this. Always interesting to hear what others have going on.
Ruby
Going to check out tempaper now
Ruby--
What is Pinterest???
You have mentioned it before. Is it a Website?
Gita
Yep Gita, Pinterest is a website that covers pretty much any topic a person can think of. I originally checked it out because of looking for home decor ideas. I was not let down. It is very easy for me to spend hours there looking at the pictures that folks have sent in and the links to websites for even more ideas. "Pinning" means that a person basically saves the particular picture that caught their eye and it is saved for future reference. Some folks are putting together Pins such as their dream homes which will have ideas that they would like to incorporate in to a home that they build later on.
I have tried lots of the things I have pinned and am looking forward to some vacation time in April where I will have time to try some of the craft ideas I have pinned. As far as I can tell it is not an interactive site like here at Dave's with the social interaction between folks, though I have been invited but not accepted to join particular boards for some topics. That may be a place where a person can speak one on one with others, but I haven't gotten that far yet. I have really only been pinning for a bit over a month now. Check it out....you might like it. I find it helpful when needing ideas for doing things around the home....you type in your topic and up comes loads of ideas relating to the topic.
Even though I did not go searching for photography related things....I have seen some of the most gorgeous photos ever that folks have shared. Some I hope at some point to make copies of and use in frames here at home. I also didn't go looking for cute animals, but I have seen pictures of the most sweet puppies and other animals that I have ever seen before too. There are lot of sites for inspirational and motivational quotes and lots of hilarious things too. As I said, it pretty much covers just about any topic there is.....oh yeah, my first trips to Pinterest last fall before getting really involved in it were to look at garden related things....which of course I have a board of pins for. For me, it has been an education in itself for many topics.
Please forgive me for taking up the thread here to say so much about another site, but it is really making a big impact in how I am going about my daily life these days in terms of home making and inner soul work. For me, if my environment isn't pleasing, my soul will be ill at ease. I am working on bettering both of those currently.
Am hoping to have my son go to attic in a bit and bring down still more things stored up there. The sooner all the things are gone, the sooner the insulation can start going down. Sally, I had to giggle about Mark becoming frustrated with the job that lies ahead for John. I would do it myself if I were able, but that ain't gonna happen. I haven't been up there for several years now in fact and probably won't ever go back.
Jan, what to do you think of Tempaper? Hope that everyone is involved in something that leaves you feeling accomplished and good about the way you spent your day. Happy, happy all.
Ruby
Ruby, Have you seen the glass plates that are glued together to make flowers. Not the tall totems more like 3 plates of decreasing size stacked on top of each other. I just love them. I will be spending a bit of time checking out the thrift stores with Ric looking for colored glass plates as those are the ones I like best. I will post a few pictures when I get some made.
Ruby,
I've spent a little bit of time on pinterest, but not significant. After I read your post, I jumped back on this evening. I've been sitting so long finding neat things, that I didn't get up and take a break. Boy does my rear end hurt, and my left leg is asleep LOL. I focused on garden accents, garden settings, garden paths, and conservatories ideas. Time to get up and stretch...
When I went to WalMart this morning for misc cleaning supplies, I spotted a fresh shipment of houseplants that had come in. They were in great condition and the prices were good too. I got a majesty palm (less than $10.00), a eugenia topiary ($11.98) and three kinds of ivy ($2.75 ea). Then when I was at the grocery store I picked up an oxalis and a little pot of mint. Must have been the day for unexpectedly finding nice plants. Then I went to Michaels and found a cute little bird cage 50% off and a ceramic white bird at $2.00. The saga of the unfinished conservatory and kitchen continues, but with these plant additions and the other odds and ends that I've moved in over the last two months, I can really see how it will look when it is done. Still need to finish the tile floor, dishwasher panel, sink, counter top, etc.... I'll also be switching the bigger square table with a smaller round table as soon as I can get someone to help me move them up and down the stairs. Pictures attached - I'm so thrilled for how this is turning out.
One more picture...
Uh oh, Jill might lose the title to Best Sunroom of Mid Atlantic Forum!
LOL, I don't know - hers is done, and she will always be one of the plant know-how royalty, along with yourself Princess Sally. Ask me to take a picture in a few weeks and we'll see if those beautiful healthy plants that I bought today are still alive.... I do love the creative process of putting odds and ends together - thrift store finds, things from Michaels, Home Goods, WalMart, Target, etc.. and relocating things from elsewhere in the house. The only thing splurged on was the chaise - a must have for reading and napping.
Teri, Did you look at those glass plate flowers while you were in Pintrest. I think that might be a good summer project for a group get together. Hey maybe at your Conservatory and then we could throw ourselves into the pond. LOL
WOW that look wonderful even if it isn't finished.
Teri--
That looks so peaceful and serene--and inviting....Makes me just lounge in there..
while the cold winds blow outside.
I need to make a trip to Wallmart. I want to check their packaged Roses.
Always hoping, one of these days, I will find one of my old faithfuls and favorites.
IF you EVER see the rose called "Sweet Surrender" run to get it!
The fragrance is amazing--like Granny's perfume. it is robust and the blooms
are a lovely pink and huge. So many petals that it has double whorls in the bloom.
Wish I could find another one....I will dig up anything i can to plant this one again.
I still have mine--just know how amazing it is.
Well done on your Conservatory....your own little Palm House (ref, to Rawlings)...
Gita
pic: I surrender to my senses to my "Sweet Surrender Rose'...
The Tempaper looks interesting. Probably will do some tile eventually.
I LOVE your kitchen conservatory area. I could picture myself in that chaise very well. Enjoy the journey.
Terri - That is beyond beautiful and definitely Pinterest worthy if you can figure out how to put your own stuff there...which I don't have a clue to. Holly and Terri, so glad you girls are enjoying the site too. Yes Holly, have seen the flowers and probably have them pinned for later use. Such cool ideas and those things are pretty. I was thinking one day last week while out shopping how for years most of my recreational shopping was done in thrift stores and how I haven't really been to many in the past couple of years.....might be time for me to start getting some things together for garden art too. I love your idea of having a flower crafting day with the group...how fun!!!
Terri, thank you so much for sharing these photos of your own paradise....again, just beyond beautiful and I am like the others and the chaise caught my eye. I have always loved them though have never owned one, so don't know if it would get used or not. Anyway, what a lovely area to just be. Great on the plant finds..... love days like that. I am definitely not in the market for any plants other than one that I noted recently as wanting......a Fire Cracker Begonia......not sure if mine has made it through the winter or not. It lived last year and put on a good show last summer but now that I thinking about it, I don't remember seeing it for quite some time now.....waaaa.....need to find it today and see if it has made it through the winter.
First step has been taken here in order to get ready for future painting job. I had John bring a few empty bins in for me to start filling with china press contents yesterday. Got side tracked and didn't get around to doing any packing yesterday, but that is on the agenda for later today. So much to do in order to get ready to do the actual work. Also have the attic emptied other than my son's belongings which he will need to move himself in order for John to start on insulation project. I have done my part. hahaha
Jan, when I first moved to this house about eight years ago I started a back splash with colored and unusually shaped tiles pieces. All that was ever completed was around the garden window and a spot directly behind the stove. I used a decorative cutting board with a picture of fruit and glued it to the wall directly behind the stove and put smallish blue tiles around it. It is something to look at while standing at the stove. It will be interesting to see how easily the tiles come down when I start putting something else up. Won't be easy, I am sure.
Anyway.....loving the project stories and also loving the pictures. Keep them coming folks. Hope that everyone has a great week coming up.
Ruby
Aspen, your conservatory is gorgeous! Did you build it yourselves? How did you handle all that glass? That is so ambitious!
Devon, Next time Teri wants to host anything you have to get there. She is developing the gardens as well as she did the interior decorating. House beautiful and gardens following. Ric
I am drooling....
Thanks guys for the compliments. The conservatory was a kit from Four Seasons. We opened up the exterior kitchen wall and supplied the foundation, then Four Seasons installed the conservatory. We are taking on the electric and the tile flooring, and coupled the opening in the exterior wall with a complete kitchen remodel. All of this started with a brochure I had saved from one of those home shows at Dulles Expo - had it on my "wish list" for10 years or more. Began the actual construction in the spring of 2011. I also spent about a year analyzing how I use the kitchen, what didn't work in the existing layout, and re-designing a better layout - to include identifying everything I had and making sure there was a place to fit it - down to every cabinet, every drawer. Pretty OCD...
As you can tell, we haven't been making fast progress, but that is OK I'm used to it. We have been working on this place in one way or another since 1988. Always living in some kind of construction (Ric and Holly can relate), but what the hey - maybe someday all the projects will be completed. Nah, my ideas never stop and the creative process, whether home design or garden design, is a passion. What I really need to work on is getting more knowledgeable on plant care and general garden maintenance - the ideas are there, but the upkeep needs work LOL...
I sooo hear you, aspen hill. You all will see our kitchen if you come to NJ in May. It also has been a many- year project. Not finished yet. One summer was spent making some of the cabinets. I was thankful that he always kept it functional as he worked on it. That was helpful when I was taking care of my mom.
Once the kitchen is done, a bathroom is next on the(my) agenda. Then the other one. I want to do a wet room in one of them.
Ew, we have two bathrooms in need of work! I think I know what a wet room would be, but have to check that out.
Aspen: I'm totally in awe -- you and your DH must be incredibly talented. And then we have Ric and Holly, and Speedie, and Sally G, and .... You are all amazing. I literally can't drive a nail. I'm ok with relatively minor plumbing issues, but that's about it.
if the Millers can even be fairly included on that list, it is surely in fourth place- you haven't seen the skeletons in our unorganized closet, home repair wise! We're making a to do list today.
Sally, That's OK as long as the bones of your hidden skeletons are strong rather than a state of decay. Ric
Not exactly a project, but took down a large miniblind today, took out bad slats, shortened the way you're supposed to when you first install them, cleaned it, and retied the strings on the bottom, where the original plastic thingies has dry rotted and broken, making it hang crookedly. (Trying REAL HARD to NOT think about the other sets of mini blinds that need to be cleaned I am sure...)
Next- new curtain rod and curtains on large window in dining area.
LOL Sally, You should see the wall of toys in the living room. Hey why don't I just show you.
I am doing a great job of getting rid of things as they come out of the bedroom. Jamie wanted me to keep the big spring horse so I told him to come over and take it apart and get it in the attic if he wants it and I sent the old cedar chest to Jen's. Don't get pictures of neat old furniture in your mind. It is old but not in the good way. It is in Jen's attic she has real steps to her attic and you can stand up and walk around. It will serve her well this spring when coats and heavy quilts need to be stored. A whole box of books has found a home and a large stack of mags is also gone. There are a couple of totes of clothes and a shoe rack behind the couch and Ric took down a few pics so we can take the bed apart and stand it against the wall. The dresser will go behind the couch. Maybe I can pretend it is a couch table, Put some pretty nick-nacks and a lamp on it. LOL Boy am I glad we aren't hosting any parties at our house.
This seemed the most appropriate Thread to post this on. SO------------
Killing time before bed time--I just discovered something on DG.
Many of us seldom look at all the stuff that is under the "EXTRAS" tab on our home page.
One listing was "Friends of Daves Garden"--so I opened it. Never knew about this!
There are many, headings to explore---all kinds of links and advice on anything,
all provided from these "Friends" for us to enjoy.
Spent a long time reading all the asst. hints for all kinds of categories. Good advice!
http://davesgarden.com/links.php
G.
Thanks, dear. I didn't know hat either. Had fun roaming around!
good stuff!
You can spend a day on here;
When you open the link above-- http://davesgarden.com/links.php
Go to "Discover Life"-->"All Living Things"-->"Other"--and enjoy the world of weird plants, slimes, and all kinds of things.
coleup--I think you would like this site...
OR---Go back to the link above and scroll down the page a bit to the heading of:
"Additional Educational Resources"-->click on "Perry's Perennial Pages".....
http://www.uvm.edu/~pass/perry/links.html .MAMMA MIA!!!!! I will say no more!!!!
Gita
Sounds as though we have some ambitous folks here. I can't boast of accomplishing much at all this past week or so. Did send away several boxes and bags of donations on a large truck yesterday morning though. An organization that I heard of recently has stops in our area about once a month and for two months running I have been able to sit out quite a bit of stuff for them. It is so much easier for them to come here and get it than for me to decide where I want to donate and then get it there.
Hard to believe especially with the deep snow fall we had this week, that spring is almost here and soon we will be putting our efforts to outdoor things. Believe me, there is lots to do too. I suppose digging up most of one of the front beds will be first on the list. There is an area of weeds that nothing has killed so far that need digging of plants and bulbs in that area and then some strong sort of poison sprayed on the sedge grass that is so ugly.
Some of the dug up plants will not be going back in and I am hoping to have some different sorts of things to share at the plant swap this year. Well, here I am talking about outdoorsy stuff already. I guess I am more willing for it to get here than I was just a week or so ago.
Terri, I have often drooled over the Four Seasons kits too. If any thing ever does happen here along those lines, it will be on a much, much smaller scale than yours but will make me just as happy as you are with yours. I know that you have many hours of pleasure ahead enjoying the conservatory.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend.
Ruby
I decided to do something about curtains in kitchen and dining room which are all one area. THis for me means MAKE curtains, I always have, and don't like big formal drapes anyway. Then came dealing with broken sewing machines, took two to the dump (snif) and getting Moms old Singer out and determining YES it still works
( THANKS MOM) .
THen shopping for material or something to cut up. About the fourth shopping trip I found a huge tablecloth I love to cut up for valances. Now the measuring large pieces, the checking the print to make sure its straight....aarrrgghh No wonder I haven't been sewing lately. No wonder I ignore home decor issues. We are not having fun yet.
ALERT- I apologize- it seems that my evil twin, Sally Sourpuss, got access and posted under my name.
As for me I am way out of practice but am persevering with my project.
Great weather for 'not gardening' and for getting indoor stuff done.
Sally--either one of you--------
I used to make a lot of curtains for my windows--all over.
I found bed-heets to be just the right weight fabric--as long as you can find a color and pattern you like.
Besides with sheets--you have a HUGE sized piece of fabric and do not have to worry if anything fits...
IKEA has nice, bright patterned sheets. Kind of on the BOLD side....but that's IKEA.
"Tuesday Morning" as well as "Burlington Coat Factory" are two good places to get inexpensive sheet sets.
If you do not have either near you--come over my way and i will take you to both--
one across the street from the other--at Perring Pkwy. and Joppa Rd. Right by #695.
There is even a BIG HD there--as well as Joannes Fabrics and a Modells. All in one place.....
Gita
Hee hee, Sally sourpuss!! I am sure they will be loverly when finished.
Gita, aren't you the clever homemaker. Yes sheets are great for curtains. I used a tablecloth, RalphLauren, all cotton, the equivalent of about three yards of fabric, 60 inches wide, for 24 dollars. I just hadn't seen anything I liked in the fabric store. JoAnns has had some good choices in clearance fabric but I hadn't gotten back there before seeing this tablecloth. I used JoAnns clearance for my previous and my current bedroom curtains.
Oh I know just what you all talking about I use to make my own curtains too. A pretty easy job but all that rather slippery fabric makes for time consuming job.
Gita, I also use sheets for many projects. When I couldn't find a table cloth big enough for the huge round table top that Ric made for me I found a king size sheet that worked great. Oh and I just love the new Ikea sheets I got. Such nice fabric and they feel so good.
I really don't have much in the way of curtains right now. Mostly I have blinds without curtains.
Holly---
.Don't you ever sleep???? seems all your posts are in the middle of the night....
All my windows, except the kitchen, also have mini blinds--but I have pretty
lace, or lace trimmed. valances at the top. Sort of the "girly" touch.
Who woulda thunk I like lace all over my house? G.