Project Update and I Want...

Hola darlings!  I started writing this particular post back on July 21st.  Fortunately, the weather did moderate away from 10 straight days of insufferable heat, humidity and insane dew points!


While I'm suffering through unbearable heat, humidity and tropical level dew points in SE Wisconsin, watching my front lawn shrivel helplessly under onslaught of no rain and sod web worm, I am slowly working on various projects around the house.

The Stairs

I have been seriously impeded in my progress toward refinishing them by having to chisel out staples that were used to install the chintzy padding.  Most of them are slightly buried below the level of the tread, making it impossible to get a grip on them with any kind of pliers or other tool that I have.  So, I've had to use a very small flat-head screwdriver, carefully pounded underneath the stable and then levered just enough to get it above the tread so I can "grab" it, and then pull and tug and huff and puff like hell to get it out!  I may have reported this earlier and if I have, sorry!  Thus far, because of this unexpected roadblock (or perhaps it would be more accurate to say a couple hundred roadblocks in the form of staples) I have only cleared two stairs!  Yep, two lousy stairs. 

Here is a container of the crap I've pulled from two stairs worth of staples:

I know that, in the end, this project and all the huffing and puffing and sore butt muscles (pulling seems to do something to my butt and makes it sore, ouch!) will be worth it because the stairs will look smokin' once refinished with paint and stain.  Because of the weather, though, and the press of activities outside on the weekends when the weather has been less horrid (few and far between), I haven't felt like picking up the mini flat-head and pounding it gently underneath staples when I get home from the office.  The weather is forecast to break Friday afternoon when a cold front is supposed to roll through, bringing a big storm with rain, strong winds and much cooler temps and lower dew points for Saturday and Sunday.  I've heard that song before -- and it didn't happen! 

I WILL finish this project, it may not be until winter, though.

The Family Room

No painting done, much wallpaper still remains to be removed and drywall damage repaired.  Sigh.  On a plus note, though, I got tired of waiting for dramatic change and as an enticement to keep going, I pulled out some of my new celadon and blue accessories and am loving how the space looks!  The color really shows up against the neutral backgrounds.  It doesn't pop, per se, but is noticeable nonetheless. I mentioned a new lampshade a post or two ago.  Actually there are two new lampshades and I will post about the chain of events in the future.  Meanwhile, here's a teaser shot of the shade that started the latest determination to keep improving the space, one small step at a time:

I Want...

...a ton of money so I can buy whatever I want and hire people to do all of the work for me and get it done nearly instantly!

...a new front (living) room.  Been hankering for one for awhile now.  I'm sure I've mentioned this in prior posts so I won't go there again.

Lately I've been entertaining myself on the bus rides to and from the office by making a mental wish list of what I would/could do if budget was not such a consideration.  I would:

• Remove 23 year old light grey carpeting that has seen better days and put down hardwood flooring.  It wouldn't have to be through the entire first floor, I'd be happy with just having it in my 16 x 19 front room. 
• New sofa
• New chairs with ottoman (twin poufs or ottomans would also be an option, if there is room)
• Remove china cabinet/buffet to the family room and get rid of the 1986 entertainment center that is there now. The upper glassed-in buffet unit holds lots of books, the lower enclosed shelves hold lots of paper records and accessories
• New bookshelves, either flanking the fireplace or anchoring the wall opposite the fireplace wall

I've got no plan put together.  I could do a "mood board" and form up a comprehensive list of what is to be done, what will be kept, what will be removed, and what will be replaced, along with photos, lots and lots of inspiration photos.  A color palette.  Materials list.  Oh - and a budget!  The most important thing, LOL!  I've got no budget.  None.  Zero.  There are no funds available to pay for such changes.  That hasn't stopped me from window shopping online, though :)  For just a few things.  And dreaming is free.

I found a chair at Home Decorators that I absolutely fell in love with.  Now is this a delicious chair, or what -- here it is:

Moore Wingback Chair
Make a Luxurious Statement with This Sophisticated Wingback Chair
Item # 13388

41.5"H x 29.5"W x 29"D.

Solid wood, bonded leather.

Price:  $549 plus $55 standard shipping ($604).  It comes in ivory, grey pebble, Havana brown and black.  I fell in love instantly with the ivory.

I don't know what it is about this chair, it just "speaks" to me. Maybe it's the proportions; maybe its the modern take on the traditional wing chair, and I'm a traditional girl at heart. Whatever it is,  I want it!

An equally beautiful and less expensive possibility, also featuring plenty of nail-head trim, is the Meloni arm chair, also at Home Decorators:

Meloni Armchair
Bring Personality to Your Home with This Armchair
Item # 02848

36.5"H x 34"W x 30"D.

 

Price:  $419 plus $70 standard shipping ($489). There are five upholstery options and I liked two a lot.  The one in the photo above is herringbone brown; the other color I liked is dark beige linen.  The dark beige linen would probably be a better choice for what I have in mind in my imaginary redone room.  It's hard to tell from the website, but it appears that it is a lighter/brighter color option.  I like the lines of this chair a lot, as well as the nailhead trim.  I'm not a fan of the piping on the seat cover; I think it would wear quickly, crackle up and start falling off in little flecks. Then what would I do?

 

I envision either chair style accompanied by a generous ottoman of undetermined color and material, shared by two matching chairs.  Yeah, matchy.  I don't think my room is large enough to support two different styles of arm chairs in the main seating area.

 

I found two sofas that I love!  The Brae sofa (below) that I found at Steinhafel's (a regional, family-owned furniture store) is my first choice!  Style-wise I love it equally with my other choice, but the price is much more manageable for my non-existent budget.  Just looking at this photo makes my heart go pitter-patter:

 

 

Brae Sofa

On sale right now for a limited time at 30% off for $1,887.27.  It's a Bernhardt sofa, woo woo!  Luxury abounds with down-blend cushions and I know that Bernhardt means quality construction.

Dimensions:

92.5"W x 43"D x 34.5"H
Sku:
201117810

Features:

• Kiln dried wood • Removable legs • Loose back pillows • Poly Dacron wrapped seat cushions • 1.8 density foam cushions • Made in USA • Removable, zippered seat cushions • High gauge sinuous springs, with double springs on each end • Other colors available by special order • Hundreds of fabric choices available by special order • Heavily reinforced and padded sides and backs for maximum durability • Down blend cushions

I've no idea what the color of the upholstery is in the photo.  But, as a special order item there are LOTS of options available.  This sofa is about 8 inches longer than my present sofa and it would take some new floor plans to fit it in the room because the front door enters directly into this room and one crosses the room to get to the stairs and the short hall to the back of the house (kitchen, dinette, family room).  I'd have to remove some existing pieces that I am very attached to, and create an entirely new vision.  Am I ready for that?  Hmmm... 

On the other hand, I love the tight back with the throw pillows; I love the nail-head trim and the three turned legs across the front, as well as three separate seat cushions. If it came in a bench seat option, I would buy that instead.  It irks me to see a huge sofa with only two seat cushions. Who sits on the crack between the cushions?  Nobody!  That means if you have a crowd, only four skinny people, or two normal sized people, would sit on the sofa...  I wish bench seat options were the norm!  On a bench seat cushion, nobody lands on a butt-crack!

This is the other sofa, also at Steinhafel's, that caught my eye:

The Kensingway Sofa

This classic tufted tuxedo style comes in at 117 inches long; the "small" version is like 97 inches long - way too large for my space. The price is over $2,000, on sale ($2,007).  It's on back order until near the end of September, 2013.  I love the three seat cushions, tight tufted back, the nail-head trim, the three turned legs across the front.  I've always been attracted to this style of sofa.  This is gorgeous.

The Kensingway is also a Bernhardt sofa, and features the same quality construction as the Brae sofa (above). 

Oh well.  Perhaps I really should have married either of those two rich men years ago.  Hmmm....nah.