Nursery & The One Room Challenge

I'm linking up to the Spring One Room Challenge 2018 with one of my best blogging friends Sam at Away She Went Blog. She always inspires me to do the things so, here we go. What better reason, right?

We've decided to turn our second bedroom from a guest room/office into a nursery for the baby when it gets here. We luckily have a great landlord who lets us customize our space and, since we're staying for sure another year, we figure we may as well make baby comfy in the meantime. Right now, it is a hot filthy mess. Luckily we've got a few months left to get it all together.

Full disclosure: The following photos may trigger you into organizing your entire house. If this mood strikes you please let me know in the comments below and you can use that passion on this room! just kidding of course... but... here is a picture of the room as it is currently:

Living Room: To Sectionals and Beyond

It has been a whirl wind in my life since May, which is why I haven't posted. I guess you just find that life takes over. We spent a great deal of the summer in South Dakota with family after two huge losses in our family. My Speech & Debate Team also competed for a week in Dallas, Texas winning third in the WORLD for our debate skills. I was so proud of them! I can't take any credit for their success, they were great all without me!

Now we are also focusing on redoing our family home about a mile from where I live, we are going to be selling it. We purchased the house in 1998 and it was where my siblings and I all grew up. It will be hard to let it go.

However, it has gotten me inspired to redo my own house a bit! I want to sell but I also want to be debt free, so I am going to stick it out a bit longer so that I can be prepared for a new project. I feel like I am almost there!

So the revamping is going to start in the living room, remember what it looked like the first time we went to the place?

After the first remodel it looked a lot better! A little bit collegey for my liking. Notice the couches? That was back when I first bought the slipcovers and they looked great! I was so excited about them! That was in 2009. It also looks pretty empty to me...

Here is what it looks like nowadays! I think it's a little cluttery and I am working on cutting down on some of my knick knacks and the like. It is so easy to accumulate stuff!

I want to stream line some of the colors and add a sectional for more efficient space usage. Check out my inspiration board:

Living Room Re-Do by megmcd featuring a fabric loveseat

I have managed to find substitutions that are less expensive. I can't wait to  buy some new pillows! I am also going to try a flat weave indoor/outdoor rug for the pets to see if that helps with the animals. I have so many of them creatures.

I did find a version of the couch that is pretty close to perfect at American Furniture Warehouse (you can buy an add on to make one side longer):

Source List and Budget:

{Sectional} $700.00 (American Furniture)

{rocking chair} $50.00 (WalMart)

{Flat Weave Rug} $100 (5'7' Target)

{Accent Table} $80.00 (Target)

I also want to pick up some new baskets for the extra blankets and such. I have plenty of knick knacks, wall decor, and stuff like that so I won't need much. I'm just coming to that stage where all the expensive furniture needs to be replaced. 

Now that I have eliminated so much debt I will have the funds to be able to make some of this happen! With good choices, of course. 

What do you think?

Baby Sister's Room To-Do:

I am obviously very excited to have my baby sister move in with me next month. I want to get her room all prettied up and ready to go for when she gets here! I am trying to use what I already have for her room to make it as magical as possible.

 I think having a cozy personalized room will make her feel more at home, especially since she went to college when my parents moved out of the house we grew up in and to New Mexico.

 Here's my inspiration for her room:

Sister's Room by megmcd on Polyvore

Now add teal in between the grey chevron stripes and put the mirror above the desk. The desk is going to get a coral fabulous face lift. I picked it up at Habitat for Humanity for the lovely price of $15.00! It is a laminate which requires a little bit more specific painting but then again, most of the cabinets in my kitchen were laminate so I'm an old hat at it nowadays. I'll do a full post on that lovely process soon.

It'll be fabulous! Just a reminder of what it looks like now:

Essentially my plan at this point is to buy a gallon of grey paint that is as close to the original color that's there now as possible and paint it into the closet. Then I am thinking to go ahead and do some chevron stripes over the single teal wall since that's where the head of the bed is going to go.

Imagine chevron.... beautiful!

Here's the desk that is a beast but I'm going to make super beautiful:

Here's what I imagine it will look like, or at least the color I want to use for both the desk and dresser I will get for my sister:

{source}

So now for the overall to-do list for Ally's room to be done by the first of May:

• paint over grey and carry over into closet
• paint desk from Habitat coral
• buy cheap dresser (also paint, coral drawers, white outer)
• move full sized bed from striped room to Ally's room
• make/find headboard
• move side tables from my room to Ally's room
• put IKEA rug in room
• hang floating shelves on funky wall for storage
• hang hook rack
• full length mirror behind door
• accessorize!

Reality Check.

Living Room Plan Newsflash:

 

(This is the only picture I have of that whole wall space. Apparently I need to get after the "before" picture taking stuff... lol) Dang those ceilings are nasty.

Sometimes I make these gigantic lofty plans that are a little well... #craycray. Like my whole plot to build an entertainment wall. What the hey. The amount I would spend on tools in order to just cut up the wood would be more of an investment then it would be worth. At this point if I go to sell my house I will be lucky to break even. Therefore if I buy anything it needs to be new home eventually friendly.

Big ass wall unit. Not move friendly.

Dumb idea.

Luckily I have new idea!

I stole this idea from Sam @ The Junk House. Mostly because she's a lovely bloggy friend. And it looks good in her house.

(Hi Sam! I stole your photo! hehe)

 

 

See how lovely that looks?? I think I want to get the model that has the larger bookcases on the sides (English major= loads of books and crap)

 

 

It's $665.00 for the whole shamboozle but considering that I have the 50" TV for a minimal repair cost of $50.00 that works out pretty evenly. (My parents hooked me up with a sound system, a little older but no big deal, and a big TV when they moved. I love them.) Plus the whole thing can be moved and would work with my new dining room concept.

What do you think? Should I save for this IKEA beauty or still try the build it your own self tactic?



Dining Room Bones

The dining room was one of the other locations that I've been wanting to update. This would actually be one of the easiest rooms to get started. It's really just updating furniture. Here's what the joint looks like right about now:

The traditional style solid cherry table is beautiful, there is no doubt. But it is pretty big for my dining room. Also the upholstered seats just attract cat hair like crazy so no one will really even sit in the seats at this point. Basically the table is useless for anyone but the kittans.

I'm thinking that selling the table is the best way to start making some extra cash for buying my new furniture. The table does have some slight scratches on the top from a roommates puppy 5 years ago. But someone with patience could buff them out pretty easily. So we'll see.

Here's the mood board for my dining room:

Dining Room Love by megmcd on Polyvore

I want it to connect back with my living room since it's just one big gigantic space really. So I'm sticking with the white table. Which would be this one from IKEA for $279.00 {here} and the four vintage chairs I like are from Overstock for $199.99 {see em here}

And I love the idea of having two bookcases on either side of the window. Right now I have my chevron buffet under the window which works pretty well, especially if there's a smaller table involved. I like these from IKEA. They are affordable and go with the one that I already have in the living room. Plus they are versatile, if I get bored with them there I can move them somewhere else. They're $59.99 a piece.

Total I need to raise for dining room extravaganza:

Dining Table IKEA: 279.00
Set of 4 Chairs: 199.99
Two IKEA shelves: 119.98

Total: 600.00 bones.

Maybe I should have a bake sale? lol. The first thing I would probably buy is the chairs since they are on Overstock and their stuff moves out so quickly. I guess it's time to start selling that dining table. Craigslist here I come.  

Dining Room Love by megmcd on Polyvore

Run-On List of Lists

So I got the idea to compile a gigantic list of all things my house from one of every home decor bloggers favorite sites Young House Love. Such amazing smart people. This list includes all the things I have done to each room and still want to do and is styled similiarly to the one on YHL. I think it helps me with prioritizing and knowing where to go. I know I've made a lot of lists lately but budget restraints have kept me from really starting any major projects. Hopefully this helps me decide what I can do. :)

 

Exterior/Porch:



(50% complete)

 

To-Do:

• Fix step into house
• Remove ramp (it's rotting and collapsing)
• Rebuild steps in back yard
• Pot plants
• Repaint porch
• Grow more grass
• Build new back porch
• Replace exterior doors
• figure out a new carport situation (former roommate drove into a post so it's on it's way out)
• organize sharage (shed+garagey thing=sharage)
• add more motion sensor/security lighting
• new gutters for the whole house
• enhance privacy in back yard either with new fence or just slats

Done:

• The yard has finally started to grow grass again...
• Repainted the lawn furniture
• Got a grill and lots of pots. 

 

Entryway:

 

(75% complete)

 

To-Do:

• Maybe get a runner rug somewhere down the line
• Keep updating accesories
• Paint walls
• Paint back of door a fun accent color

Done:

• Replaced the floors in the whole house
• Got a fabulous vintage vanity
• Hung some art 



Living Room: 

(50%ish complete) 

 

To Do:

 If you have seen my recent post about the living room you know the list is pretty long. I say "50%ish complete" because it's fully decorated and pretty I'm just in the market to go Beyonce on that room and "upgrade ya."

 

 Consign glass end tables

Fix 50" TV from rents

Sell IKEA entertainment stand

Build entertainment wal

make a decision on wingback chair (reupholster? Sell? Give away?)

New sectional couch

New flat weave area rug (more durable than fluffy shag rug now)

Paint ceiling (white, durr)

Paint walls (either Revere Pewter by BM or Moonshine by BM)

paint moding and beam to  match beadboard (white)

replace interior doors (the holey 80's hanging off the hinges doors suck)

Done:

replaced coffee table

upgraded wall art

upgraded lighting

love my curtains (hehe)

Dining Room:

(20%ish complete) 

 

To-Do:

This is sort of the same deal as the living room. I want to upgrade the dining area and make it more "my style" within the next year or so. Right now I have the same furniture in there I've had since I was 18. So it's totally done remodel wise.

• Buy new table (this one from IKEA)
• New chairs that don't have fabric seats
• Jute rug for under table
• Upgrade wall art on "big wall"
• Figure out how the heck to make window wall function/look good.
• Paint walls to go with living room and entryway
• Find a new fabulous light fixture. (sort of feeling a drum shade chandelier)
• paint the ceiling/molding (white o course)

Done:

• love my curtains
• painted the ceiling fan so it works well enough for now
• upgraded flooring through out the house

 

Kitchen:

(75% completed)



 

To Do:

• replace painted countertops with a new laminate (love solid surface-but it's a trailer ya'll)
• repaint cabinets with more durable paint (been a year since I've painted em and they chip)
• frame out doors to create shaker style
• replace hardware
• paint ceiling/molding to match rest of living space
• paint behind fridge (hehe)
• frame out wallpaper after new countertops are in
• install new faucet
• get prettier cabinet support sticks
• make bar counter out of wood for a butcher block effect (Like this blogger did here.)
• Make range hood less homely.

Done:

• repainted the cabinets
• repainted the hinges/existing hardware
• upgraded dishwasher/fridge to energy efficient
• upgraded art work
• added wallpaper tile backsplash

Master Bedchamber:

(90% complete) 

 

 

To-Do:

• upgrade tiny nightstands to small dressers upcycled from thrift store (I have lots of clothes)
• switch living room rug to bedroom and jute rug to dining room
• new headboard/footboard set up
• smaller pillows (brown ones)
• upgrade ceiling fan to pretty light
• paint the molding around bathroom entry, upgrade to prettier trim? maybah? 
• upgrade to double rods
• new bedroom door
• replace mini-blinds

Done:

• upgraded all the flooring
• removed crazy scary sliding closet doors
• installed closet organizer
• revamped filing cabinet
• painted ceiling fan so it's prettier for now
• took down uglio I-wish-I-was-French-doors
• put up curtains for closet/bathroom doors
• turned cheapy bookcase into magical shoe display land
• upgraded desk area
• added new/pretty artwork

 Master Bathroom:

 



(95% complete)



 

To-Do:

• replace/fix shower stall (at least the door, it pops open. Sebastian likes it. I don't.)
• take down cheap over the potty thing and install something prettier (only if there's studs)
• recaulk around the vanities/tubs/shower/wet places.
• upgrade the hardware (just painted the original stuff when I did the redo. heh.)
• add second shelf under little shelf that has been in my trunk for 3 years... no rush yo.
• work around garden tub area to add new tile or something. It's ugly.

Done:

• repainted all cabinets in a two tone fashion
• upgraded artwork
• painted the walls and ceilings
• added accessories
• installed jewelry cabinet
• added changing chair

Cube Hallway:

(60% complete)

 

To-Do:

• Paint the walls to match the living room space
• Paint ceiling/molding
• add beadboard wallpaper from Lowe's to bottom to make it match the living room
• upgrade switch covers
• remove drywall strips and texture
• replace/repaint light fixture
• replace both bedroom and bathroom door and handles

Done:

• added storage using old microwave stand
• upgraded flooring along with the rest of the house
• painted furnace cover (gotta love trailers)

Bedroom #2:

(10% complete) 

 

To-Do:

This is when my unique situation comes into play. Right now in order to afford the mortgage (just graduated college-seeking new full-time job) I rent out bedrooms #2 and #3 for extra cash. Meaning I can't do much in this room. My goal time to "reclaim" this room is by the end of 2014. So a year and a half. This list will read as the future office I want it to be.

• since this will be my office one day, I want to repaint it completely.
• replace bedroom door and knob
• add custom desk with lots of storage. ((sort of like this)
• add more to the existing closet organizer for files/paperwork/craft supplies
• get a wonderful amazing rug
• texture the walls
• upgrade the curtain rod

Done:

• flooring is all replaced with the rest of the house
• upgraded the light switch covers
• new water heater (it's in the closet in there, again, trailer weirdness)
• painted the ceiling and molding
• added closet organizer for max storage space
• took down crazy ugly closet doors and replaced with curtains

Bedroom #3:

 

(50% complete)

 To Do:
Again this is a similiar situation to what's going on with bedroom #2. I rent this room out also because I need help with the mortgage and such. Back in the day it was my office but in the future it will be a guest room. If my life follows it's current path that should be by the end of 2013. Yay!

• upgrade night stand and dresser
• add headboard
• buy a second curtain for the closet (currently has desk on one side, roomie clothes on the other)
• add more shelving to closet organizer so can be used for seasonal shoes/clothes, etc.
• replace bedroom door and knob
• replace mini-blinds

Done:

• upgraded all the flooring with rest of the house
• purchased a full-sized guest bed
• upgraded the curtains
• added new curtain rod
• painted magnificent stripes
• already own bedding for future guest
• have a good grey IKEA rug
• have a TV for guest room
• added closet organizer
• upgraded ceiling light

Guest bathroom:

(90% complete)



 To-Do:

• upgrade to energy efficient white potty (bye-bye bisque)
• add trim under countertop
• replace mirror
• touch up paint

Done:

• painted all the walls Dolphin by Home Depot's Martha Stewart collection
• replaced countertop
• replaced faucet
• tiled shower and flooring
• replaced bathtub
• fixed faucet/showerhead
• added storage cabinet
• upgraded light fixtures
• upgraded cabinet handles
• upgraded towel bar
• added new art work (see the reveal for the whole thing here)

Laundry Room:

(68% complete)

 To-Do:

• lighten up the paint color, it's pretty dark
• add tile wallpaper backsplash on space under cabinets
• replace exterior door with an outswing insulated door with dead bolts
• fix electric... :/
• upgrade light fixture
• added microchip pet door for Sebastian (little spendy but I don't want Pouka and Lucy going outside)

Done:

• new energy efficient washer/dryer
• build countertop
• added storage for kitty area
• added shelf for storage baskets
• painted ceiling/trim/molding
• painted cabinets
• added cabinet hardware
• upgraded outlet covers

 All in all, I have definitely done a lot since I've owned the house. (it'll be 5 years in May. craycray yo.) Some of the things I want to do just are reflective of where I am in my life and upgrading from the free college furniture to stuff that I would like to have for years to come. Some of it is to just keep up with the trends. At this point I think some of my redos are going to be a little sporatic. So for example, replacing furniture might be 6 months to 2 years depending on what I decide to get.

The first five things I do plan on doing are:

• repainting the living room (pretty sure Revere Pewter by BM)
• painting the ceiling in the kitchen/living room/dining room area
• paint laundry room
• upgrade countertops
• replace back exterior door

Hopefully some of those other nit-picky things get knocked off along with the ones listed above. I think it will be great! Besides I get my first paycheck in March for substitute teaching so I'll finally be able to do things! (thank all holyness everywhere.)

New Look and Outdoor Walls

As you can see I've been making some updates and changes to my blog trying to get it all prettied up for the summer. I've neglected it for the last couple months and it needs some love! So just hang with me while I get it all situated! And if you have any suggestions feel free to email me at thismessybusiness@gmail.com or comment.

 But moving onward to home related things. I've been tossing around some ideas for sprucing up my front porch space.

Here's what it currently looks like:

That one lone star is the only wall decoration that I have up. And it's been there since the first summer I've owned the house. I'm trying to think of some other ways to decorate that big ole blank wall.

I've seen some really cool "urban gardens:"

{source}

I really like this one because it seems really natural. Also looks like I could make that out of free wood pallets. Free. Love that.

{source}

I've seen these little guys all over the place and the more I see them the more I like them. I think they would be fun in the concrete area where we keep the grill. They'd be up and out of the way but would add some interest and greenery. Perhaps I could do my own version with one big pot and then several little ones around it? Hmmm. 

{source}

This may be a better solution! I could find some wall scones from the thrift store or something that are supposed to be used for candles and instead find a way to use them for some cheap clay pots that have been spray painted. That way I'm not drilling any major holes into the exterior walls and I can paint them any color and change them around. I think I like this idea better. 

What do you think? What have you seen that is a great, easy, and preferably low maintenance outdoor wall goodness?

Half a Whole

It is three days into the semester and I am already swamped! Luckily it is my last "real" semester on the college campus! Next semester starting in August I will be doing student teaching in a ninth grade English classroom! Just have to survive this semester.

And get a 4.0.

No pressure.

This weekend to celebrate our last semester at Colorado Mesa my friends and I had a "Pre-Semester Ladies Night" at one of our favorite downtown spots! (Left to right; Chelsey, Katrina, and me!) The quality of the photo isn't so fabulous but it was a really fun night!

Now meet my new kitchen rugs! I bought them at Lowe's on clearance. 26.99 a piece. Still cheaper then the big rug I was going to settle for from online. I think they're pretty awesome! I love the dark blue and the moroccan pattern makes me feel like dancing! 

They are really durable too because they are made from wool, which is good for such a high traffic area.

The old knobs from the drawers were not going back into the kitchen. First of all they were ugly, and second they were broken. So I splurged and bought this great little drawer pulls, also from Lowe's, for 2.99 a piece.

Insta-improvement don't you think?

They look so awesome! My roommate helped me attach them because I strained my wrist... again.... dang it. But! How classy do they look? Totally classy!

The in progress kitchen was looking a little bit stressed out. Eek. I was also deep cleaning the stove. PS. Not a pleasant experience.

Though you can see how it is starting to look a little better with each door that is added on! I have also been doing a bit of reorganization which is really helping with the space. I keep finding things I didn't know that I had. Like 6 muffin tins. I've never even made muffins. Hmmm lol.

The right side isn't looking quite as fabulous... I have to move the fridge to paint the rest of the cabinets, which isn't a big deal but I figure when I move the fridge I need to have the paint to paint the wall that is behind it. Which I don't have. Hence random side not painted. lol.

But! look at it now! So beautiful!! The hardware is all painted oil-rubbed bronze. Total investment for hardware? 16.00. and that is just for the drawer pulls. I already had the paint and the handles are original same with the hinges, which are also spray painted. Looks FANTASTIC!! And it really is starting to blend in with the laundry room now.

Plus I did the dishes. Hehe.

Part of the project I still have to do. Put in new toe-kicks. They've been missing since the flood in 2009. Hate to rush into things.

My paint color for the walls is going to be the middle one on the paint sample. Bye-Bye orangey-peach-toasted-coconut!

Filling these little cubbies with vintage crystal champagne glasses and ball jars filled with wine corks. I love mixing vintage with some modern elements. I'm still in love with Ball jars no matter what though!

Ahhhh soooo prettyyyy!

This stove fan thing doesn't even work. And it looks awful. Bisque. I have bisque. That one I'm still trying to figure out. Spray paint it? See if I can replace it somehow? Who knows.

Broken ceiling lights. It's a better view of the huge fixtures. I still have to figure out how to get some new ones... maybe that BOTH work. lol.

 This is the not done side. The doors are mostly finished. Just need to do a few more coats of white on the lower cabinet boxes before I put the doors back on.

A picture of both Pouka and Lucy together! Though Lucy looks a bit malevolent...

Pouka is my princess kitten. She is also very spoiled. But I love her A lot.!

Still have to paint this part of under the cabinets... Right now it's all white like the rest but I was contemplating doing some sort of stenciling or something just to add some character. I've scouted out some really cute Martha Stewart ones at Michael's. Plus... I have coupons!

The lighting sucks in this picture but you can sort of see how all the white is starting to blend together. Makes it feel really open and cohesive. Which is what we were going for anyways!

These stools are going to need a little love soon! They are the most used seats in the house though. They often get used as shelving, end tables, table legs, and ladders. They aren't fancy but they are definitely sturdy!

Disadvantage to being tall in my house. You can't see anybody's head through the cabinet pass through. But it is nice to have! We'll be replacing those stilt things so they look less ghetto and more purposeful.

Check out the side by side comparison! It's not done but it's already a hugeeee difference! Ahhh the power of a $30 dollar gallon of paint!