What Can It Be Now?

I have to admit when I saw the family room I gasped in horror. It was obvious at one time it was a garage. The light switches were exactly where they would have been. the size was appropriate and the placement was dead on where a garage should have been. But now, it was a very large family room. I figure in Southern Utah where snow is rarely seen, I could use the recreational area rather than a place to park my car and all the junk I call mine.

The problems with this room were many. The brown sculptured carpet was UGLY. I was reminded of a chant: U-G-L-Y it ain't got no alibi, it's ugly absolutely ugly. And ugly it was. It looked as if someone had some idea as a doorway was being framed for starters, but there was nothing I liked about this room other than the massive size of it. And the brick wall!



One wall of the room was almost entirely brick. It had a half-moon that jutted out with a gas fireplace. I was not thrilled about that because I knew straightway that I wanted a huge Ikea entertainment center on that wall so the half-moon would have to go. Taking down the brick would have caused massive destruction, and I liked the architectural detail it provided, so it stayed.

Two closets would store media equipment and games quite nicely. The three large windows still don't look the best, but I was excited to find a way to cover them that would look stylish and tie the colors I had in mind together.

This room also needed to house my office. Lucky me gets to work from home. I have a corner set aside where I sit and work from 8-12 Monday to Friday. It is perfect in every way.

The first picture includes a yard sale find from probably a decade ago. I loved this picture but it always sat in a storage room because it didn't quite fit. It is inlaid with pieces of cut wood in colors of turquoise, lime green and the corraly brick red the family room was painted. Finally it has found a home.




The family room is exactly that. This is where the family gathers...to watch tv, to play video games, to surf the computer and often to eat while watching reruns of the "Reba" show. The colors came together exactly as I pictured. Thanks to my sister Lori for sewing the curatins and pillows for me. I love this room!

From Beast to Beauty

The kitchen is said to be the heart of the home. Well, with it just being me and Brooklyn here, not a lot of time is spent preparing, eating or cleaning the kitchen. But if our kitchen isn't the heart of the home, it is definitely the main artery. It leads from one side of the house to the other.

The kitchen in this house was icky. That is the only way I can describe it. The ceiling was low, the cabinetry old, the wall paper gross. The laminate floor bulging from leaks. The countertops were burnt and the appliances were ugly as well as not working. Maybe in "the day" this kitchen was something to be admired - although I highly doubt it!



I decided that it all had to go. The entire kitchen was gutted. Sometimes to get to the best, all the bad has to be stripped away. It is the case with us as humans...and it was certainly the case with this kitchen. Everything was taken out...including the low ceiling. The electrical was redone, the floors were demolished and scraped. The appliances and cabinetry taken away. It was a clean pallete.



And then the excitement really began! Lucky me found a wonderful deal on kitchen cabinets, appliances and the corian countertops on ksl.com. One thousand dollars for the majority of the kitchen! Yes, you heard right, one thousand dollars! I did play the "single card"...not to get a better price, but to bump me to the most needy buyer. I was not a fan of the bisque appliances or the almond corian countertop, but for one thousand dollars I knew I could make it work. And work it does! I love this kitchen. Although it may not be the heart of the home with only two of us here...it is definitely a place to enjoy. And when I have a reason to cook ;) those double ovens will come in very handy!

The Living Room

My children always get confused as to which is the living room, the family room, the den, etc. Well, I have no explanation because the living room is certainly not the most lived in room in the house. This living room was cold and dirty when I bought this house. The floor was tiled and the room was sooooo long. There were archways, which I loved but my guy (ie: handyman) hated. So after a little reconfiguring, I now have a warm and welcome living room.



The floor was tile. Not my style for a living room. It was warmed up with some dark laminate. And a beautiful rug (lucky me I work for a floor covering store). The extra long room was made cozier by shortening it. A wall was built five feet in, giving me a closet with a door from the "family room". This made the room a little more cozy.

Furniture was brought in from different areas of the house and wah-lah a beautiful living room. Excuse the ivory Pottery Barn couch at the one end. A black slipcover is still being made for that couch. By the way, if anyone needs a slipcover made...I have the most amazing girl who does the most amazing job. She lives in Utah County. Just let me know :)



So please come in and sit awhile. This is a very relaxing and peaceful room. I will be glad when the weather cools down and we can open the blinds and see the view. But for now, this will do.

Welcome !

A front door says so many things. My original front door said, "UGLY"..."CONDEMNED"..."FORECLOSURE"...and "UNLOVED". I talked with a couple of different men about restaining the door because it is a really beautiful door. They said it would take days, hours and lots of money. Of course I had none of the above :) So I decided that with a twelve dollar can of minwax, a few pieces of sandpaper, and a few hours, maybe I could show it some love. Now when you walk to the front door you see "WELCOME".



Upon entering my home you are greeted by a cute hall tree. I don't remember where I bought this from, but it had set in storage for a long enough that I had forgotten what it looked like. I was at a consignment shop in the spring and came upon one exactly like it. It was priced at $400. I thought, "Maybe it is time I fall in love with my hall tree again."



A chandelier for the entry way was most sought after. I finally found this mustard colored one in a liquidation shop for only $40.00. The electrician who installed it said, "What garage sale did you get this from?" It took a little manipulating to shorten it (thanks Dad)...and I think I am the only one short enough to walk under it without bonking my head, but I love it. Something about crystals makes me happy (and reminds me of the temple).

So enter my home. As the week goes on, I will take you through each of the rooms...and you can see why I am happy here.

Let's Start From the Very Beginning....

Let's start from the very beginning...it's a very good place to start. So now my house is a home. There is still a few things left to do...but there will always be things left to do, because creative people are never finished! But I wanted to give you a tour around my new home.

So I decided to start in the front yard. When I bought this house in early spring, the lawn was non-existent. Dirt everywhere. The house looked blah and bland...yellow brick, yellow roof, and yellow :) dirt. All one color. I tried to spruce up the front porch, but I still need shutters to complete the look.




I also got a lawn put in. I told the landscaper I was happy he chose green grass because it went so well with the patio furniture! The beds have drip systems in them. It will probably be next season before I plant flowers since it is September. I am excited to see color around here.

The mailbox is a community mailbox down the street. I am so happy when I turn around to walk back to my little cul-de-sac to see a home with green grass and life. It makes me feel alive, too.