Corner Cabinet

So, I finally got around to photographing our new corner cabinet in the dining room.  My father built and installed it for us back before Christmas and once I got the right color hinges, (that brass just stuck out like a sore thumb!) he came back and put those on for us!  I tried painting the brass hinges and then reinstalling them myself…. hmmm… didn’t quite work out as I was expecting. ;) So I just let him do it for me the right way!

Oh! Papa, I almost didn’t see you there in your camouflage shirt… doesn’t he just disappear?

hehe :)

Here is the completed cabinet, in all its After-Christmas glory.  Anyone else feeling that empty feeling in the house that comes after all the Christmas things are put away?

I filled the cabinet with crystal glasses and a covered crystal bowl.  Then I threw in the little salt and pepper shakers to add another color in there.  It still seems a little blah to me, but perhaps something with a bit more oomph will pop up later for me to put there.  Maybe I will put something on top?  Hmm…

Anyway, I am digging the recovered cabinet space in the kitchen where the crystal was living! Hooray for space!

And here is the whole room.  All the corners are now occupied with furniture or plants!  The only thing left to do in here is paint and find something else to go on either side of the mirror.

Here’s a closer look at my new table decor.  I decided to skip the blue and white of Winter Decor this year for something simpler. 

Plus, I couldn’t find anywhere else to put the topiaries!  And they do match our china after all :)

Okay, that is it for the dining room!  Next I’ll be featuring my master bedroom furniture that my father built, and my new dresser arrangement!  So, come on back in a few days!

Winter Blues

So, instead of taking down the tree and putting away all of the pine bough and decorations, my mother has decided to banish the Winter blues with some sparkly winter decor!

Here’s a few pics of her new winter blue decor:

 

 

Hope this wards off the Winter blues and gets us into the spirit of a cozy Winter with sparkly lights, icy branches, and glowing candles!

2009: Before and After

Here’s a look back on some of our house projects of 2009.

Garage Before:

Garage After:

  

 

Laundry Before:

Laundry After:

 

Front Door Before:

Front Door After

 

 

Garden Before:

Garden After:

 

 

Living Room Before:

Living Room After:

 

 

Kitchen Before:

Kitchen After:

 

 

Den Couch Before:

Den Couch After:

Looking back, 2009 was a productive year for us.  2010 stands to be even better, with new projects on the docket and another year of experience under our belts!  Here’s our wish list for the New Year twenty-ten:

• Replace carpet in den with laminate floors
• Remove carpet on stairs and paint them to match railing
• Landscape mailbox bed, mulch backyard beds
• Upholster two wingchairs for den
• Recover couches in living room
• Make roman shades for den windows
• Faux finish garage floor to look like tiles
• Furnish guest room (for our Homecoming guests!)
• Rebuild deck…  hahaha!  (I did say wish list, right?)
• Paint office, guest room, kitchen, dining room, bedroom, and den!! 

Happy 2010! 

May it be a bright year of dreams realized and goals achieved!

Closet Update

Ahhh… it’s that time again!  Time for a new blog post (and this time it’s non-Christmas themed!)  I don’t know what I used to do with all my free time before I started blogging.  I would be bored right now, but I know you all are dying to hear about my latest update to our house!  Well here you go.

It was the day after the day after the day after Christmas

and all through the place:

boxes of office stuff were taking up space! 

Husband was settled all snug in his seat,

playing World of Warcraft, he would not be beat.

When, what to my wandering eyes should appear,

but a cluttered closet in need of paint and repair!

I sprang from my chair and went straight to work,

That unfinished closet was driving me berserk!

I rearranged the shelves and painted away,

and finished the upgrade by the end of the day!

 

STAGE 1 : Remove stuff from closet.

STAGE 2: Rearrange shelf braces.  Spackle holes, prime and paint.

STAGE 3: Reinstall shelves and try to organize stuff in a pretty fashion.

STAGE 4: Finish installing stuff after you realize you didn’t buy near enough bins and your husband has too many comic books, action figures, and models.

STAGE 5: Lament the project because the closet still looks messy.  But at least it’s painted and ready for STAGE 6: Declutter and Organize!

Thanks for reading… even though I did sneak a Christmas allusion in there!  Happy New Year Everyone!

Christmas Past

As Christmas is creeping closer, I just wanted to share a few of our past Christmas trees with you.  Happy Christmas Everyone!

2006: Our little Christmas tree in the apartment.

 

2007:  Ditto.  With just a few more presents. ;)

 

2008: Our first Christmas in our own home!  And our first real tree!

 

And 2009: All the presents are almost finished and under the tree!

Hope everyone is having a lovely week.  Only 3 days to go! :)

Winter Wonderland

Yesterday we got a December snowstorm!  The snow started around noon and continued late into the night.  We awoke to about 5 inches of the white stuff this morning!  Almost in time for Christmas!

Here’s a few shots of our wonderland:

 

Merry Almost Christmas! 

Holiday House

Our Christmas tour continues as we venture outside…

The front porch is festooned with evergreen garland, white lights, red bows, an icy wreath, and ivy topiaries. 

A couple of reindeer are scrounging for a snack in the side yard:

Even the mailbox got a little trimming for the holiday season.

And here’s the view at dusk:

And after dark:

Well, that’s it for the outdoor decor!  Let’s go inside and get warm by the fire!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting!  Hope you all enjoyed our Christmas tour!   Only 7 days until Christmas!