Ah...The Basement...

...or lack thereof right now.  Haha!

I had a reader (Hi Jen T!!!!) ask recently about the progress of our basement.  As in...have I actually finished painting that durned floor...? 

Here is the answer. 

No. 

Why?  'Cause 1/2 way into the project we realized this was gonna take a LOT more expertise than we had at that moment because of trying to figure out what to do with the lead paint. 

Grrrrrr....

So instead of getting insanely depressed by how much $$$$$$$$$ it costs for a lead paint abatement, we looked into some other options.  We simply cannot afford the abatement.  SO!  We are going to just contain it.  That was the #1 thing people suggest in regards to the nasty stuff.  So we have a LOT more to do in that room.  Or rather...the ENTIRE basement.  After the kitchen is finished...we'll move on to tackle the basement. 

BUT!  I'll post a picture of the room sometime soon.  It's turned into the Hub's workroom for our remodels.  It has our mini table saw in it.  The miter saw.  The jig saw.  And all of our many MANY paint cans. 

Lovely. 

I guess this happens when you don't have a garage.  Remind me to add garage to my list of things we need to build. 

For now though...I'm dreaming of built-ins.  My living room is a very awkward set-up.  It drives me crazy.  I re-arrange that room more than any other in my house.  But I think I might have figured out a solution.

See, I have a piano.  It's an electronic piano.  Not the prettiest thing but we LURVE it because of a genius invention called headphones.  The Hub's can pound away and hard as he wants and all I hear are the keys pounding...something I can handle a LOT better than the same exact song over and over and over and...well, you get the drift.  I think I've decided to move it to the awkward wall and put some built-ins on either side of it.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....Just a thought. 

So here are some lovely pictures of built-in's that make me happy. 

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These are dreamy.  Quite possibly my favorite ever.

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Driftwood...Kinda Loving It....

So I was doing some online shopping for lamps to go on either side of the large dresser in our front room.  I want something cool and can make a statement.  Yet at the same time will fit in and not be overwhelming.  Is that an oxymoron?  I can't tell.

HA!

I wasn't finding ANYTHING I liked.  Many cool lamps are out there but nothing was really shouting "Pick me!  Pick me!"

Then I saw this...

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Understated...check.

Unique...check

Able to quietly make a statement...check

Will fit in to our color scheme...check

Yup...kinda loving driftwood at this moment.  Then I saw the price.  $319.00.  

YOWSERS!  

Um that's pretty much out of my price range.  And since I need 2...yeah, that would end up being a whopping $640.00...NOT including tax or shipping and handling.  

So.  I got an idea.  I'm pretty sure I can knock that lamp off.  I'm going to start collecting driftwood.  We live by a lake and a river and a park that all has a sizable amount of driftwood.  In fact...we're going out to Antelope Island soon for a sunset photo shoot and I'll just show up a bit early and start my collection.  That will make the lamps even that much more special.  

Lets see how much a lamp kit costs...

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Oh wow...look at that.  Only $6.61.  So I might (MIGHT) be able to come in under $20.00 with other accessories.

And...in making my own, I can make them as tall or as short and I want.  And can leave them the natural wood color...or stain them darker.  And can add any shade I want.  

Yup...this is a challenge that is too good to pass up.  

I will leave you with some other pictures of driftwood in decor.  I'd love to hear what you think of it.  Do you like it or hate it?  I'm genuinely curious...

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This one is my personal favorite...

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My Apologies...

...it has been FAR too long since I have posted.  I promise to be better.  My blogging sabbatical is now over.  Hubs started a new job and figuring out babysitting and MY work schedule around photography and remodeling has been...a challenge.  A good challenge...but a challenge none the less.

This post is gonna be kinda interesting.  I have a few things to share.  First off...

This.

Just 'cause. 

Now onto cabinets.

The cabinets in the kitchen were hung quite a while ago but for some reason I forgot to post about them.  Now I know that people typically hang the tops first...but we decided to do the bottoms first because they took a lot of creativity to mash together and Hubs was in the mood to be creative.  So they were done first.  Honestly...we liked doing them first.  Made it easier to hang the top ones because we had to be creative in how we were gonna get them in place.

I'm rather a weakling so when it comes to drilling into brick to hang a cabinet...that is the Hub's domain.  But since I'm a weakling...I cant really hold up the cabinet either because it was so high, and we have 1 step ladder.  So Hubs came up with a genius idea.  This...

Yup...that would be our car jack.  We stuck up a cabinet that we weren't going to use and then put paint cans on top of the cabinet to add some height.  Then we put our hydrolic car jack on top of it with a board to stead the cabinet and then all I had to do was hold it steady while the first few screws were put in place.  Snazzy huh?  Hubs was quite proud of his little invention...

 
As you can tell.  (please forgive the mess in the kitchen.  I know it's a construction zone but with how small it is...you really can't hide anything.  haha!)

Also, on his head is our headlamp.  He called that his inspiration lamp.  It was quite funny.  He was cutting trim and wasn't wearing his lamp.  All of his cuts were off...even after multiple measures.  He was so frustrated!  Then he put on his headlamp and voila!  He was good from there on out.  It's his bestest friend right now.  Haha!  I think it makes his hair look funny.  :)

To hang the cabinets...we decided a long time ago we were going to push them to the ceiling.  Hubs screwed a 2x4 into the ceiling so that he could add some support to the top and screwed the cabinets into the ceiling first.  After securing the cabinet on the ceiling we had to screw them into the wall.  Now both of our upper cabinets are on exterior walls.  Not a big deal you say?  Uh.............they're plastered brick.  Not lath and plaster...oh no.  Plastered brick.  Made the lath seem like it was a dream to work with.  We have cheap-o tools because we didn't realize we were going to turn into home renovators when we bought our tools.  It took both of us pushing that electric drill as hard as we could push to screw in these massive screws.  Let me see if I can find a picture online to show you how huge these blue suckers were...

AHA!  Found the pic...

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You can't really tell how massive they are in that picture but trust me...they're large.  And heavy.  And may slightly intimidate the dickens out of me. 

So.  We got the cabinets installed and took a break.  It was exhausting.  

The beadboard wainscoting was done before installing the cabinets...here's what it looked like pre-caulk

It looks so different now because we've installed the window seats.  We elected to go for tall wainscoting because little hands touch all over and it'll be a lot easier to clean off than just a painted wall.  I'll be back with details on that later.  

To end...I have to leave with this picture.  

A teaser of what's to come.  :)

The Royal Wedding...

Ok...so the minute William and Kate announced their wedding date I giggled.  Charles and Dianna were married on my parents 1 year anniversary.  My mom told me how they stayed up late and watched it live.

Well...William and Kate are getting married on MY anniversary.  Pretty crazy stuff huh?

I also come from extremely British descent.  My dad was a genealogist and while I have a lot of other nationalities in my heritage...I'm mostly British.

As such...I've always felt extremely tied (is that the right word?) to the UK.  I've always ALWAYS wanted to go visit and I've always had a slight crush on William.  And I think Kate is the perfect princess.  She's got it all...beauty, dignity, and grace.  And I LOVE her clothes.

Anywhoo...I'm pretty much obsessed with this wedding.  I have a groomal session on the 30th but I'm still watching that wedding live.  I'm so excited.

So here is a list of wedding/british related decor that makes me smile.

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if anyone is having a party...these are fun!

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New Color Obsession...

Um ok.  I have a new color obsession and I am rather surprised by it.

Navy blue.

I always knew I wanted my living room to be green and blue but I always pictured a lighter blue.

Then I got a rug.  I can't find an image online of this rug...weird I know...but the colors are sage green (the EXACT green as my couch), a brownish mustard color, and navy blue.  And so my obsession began.

I LOVE this color combo.  Love.

So I'm beginning to think that my walls are going to navy blue in my living room.  A bit more bold than I was going to go but I'm way excited.  I'm just obsessing about it.

Here are some inspiration pictures...

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Kitchen Table...

Well...I have decided on the kitchen table I want.  It's not at all what I thought I would get.  But it will definitely work AND add some more storage. 

Without further adieu...

Again...not quite what I was going for but it'll work great for what we need. 

We can get these baskets...

to store the Princess' dishes in.  Since all of our dishes are going to be on open shelving...we needed a storage solution for that and I believe this might be it.  I don't particularly care for these baskets though so I'm going to be on the hunt for something different but with the same dimensions.  I might make something.

Here is a view with the baskets and the table...

SO!  The big news with this table is that it's outside of my price range.  And I want a black table.  Um...I'm gonna make it!  My little bro just got off of his mission and he needs a project so he's gonna help me!  I'm really rather excited 'cause then I can pick the feet and the color and basically everything.  I got the plans from Ana White (click HERE to visit her website...).  Trust me...you won't regret it and will want to start building EVERYTHING on there.  We've built a storage bed and it seriously was the best thing we have ever purchased/built. 

We're gonna start construction as soon as I go to the hardware store.  WOOT WOOT!

Square vs. Round...

So we had my family and the in-laws over for dinner on Sunday.  Our little bungalow was rather full.  But the best part was being able to fit 12+ people in our 1/2 way done kitchen when before only 2 people could really fit.  Window seats are AH-MAZE-ING!!!!!

Seriously.

Best idea ever.  But one thing became VERY apparent.  We need a round table.

There is nothing wrong with our current table...it looks like this...

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However....it is too wide and the legs are in a very inconvenient place for a corner banquette.  It most definitely looks out of place.  It's just WAY too big for the space.  So I've started combing KSL for a replacement.  Now I just have to decide if I want to build one or just buy one.  I can guarantee I know what the Hub's would say to this..."BUY!"  He's convinced that every time I take on a project he's the one that has to finish it up.  I really don't know WHAT he is talking about.  Hee hee.

Anywhoo...I've found several options this morning and just had to share.  Some of them are pretty cool!

Take this one for example...

I would repaint it black.  With wood floors and a wood countertop...we've decided on a black table.  This chunky piece would look great in the space.  Annnnnnnnnd...it's only $88.00.  Very nice.

This piece has some beautiful details...I think for my space a little too many details but it truly is lovely.

Yup...really pretty.  In the right space, it would definitely stand out.  But $300 is a bit out of my price range right now.

This piece might just be the winner.  Not really what I was going for at first but it's only $25!

The Hub's is gonna drive out and see it today.  We'll see if he brings it home.

I absolutely adore the base of this table.

I also love that it comes with 2 leaves so it would basically be my forever table.  Imagine it painted black... reminds me of Z Gallarie...  YUM!  Hubs might have to go check this one out too...  It's $100 but really... last table purchase ever might seal the deal.

This one is just chock full of personality and would be so so cool in the right space...

Unfortunately that space is not mine.  Not quite what we were looking for but still so cool and fun...once you take the tennis balls off the legs.  :)

This one isn't exactly round but it would fit in my teeny nook...

I think it's really interesting.  Not sure from the picture if it's exactly what I'm looking for but it's worth taking a look...

THIS table was my favorite.  Ever.  But, we're looking to go round and I don't have a formal dining room.  I so so wish I did though because I would have snapped this baby up in a heartbeat.

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I included the link to the ad in case anyone who reads my blog can use this beautiful table in their home.  Imagine it painted a beautiful black.  It would take some work to make really pretty but it's only $75 dollars and reminds me so much of other tables I've seen in the $1000's at other stores.  I really do wish I had a formal dining room...this would have come home with me the instant I saw it if I did. 

So there is my table shopping for the morning.  I'll keep you all posted with what one we choose!