Before & After

I love a good "Before & After" blog post. Matter of fact, they are my favorite. So imagine my excitement when I came across some internet pictures of our house when it was on the market. I never got to see it with furniture in it, as it had been vacant for a few months months when I first looked at it. I am more of a "visionary" when it comes to decor, old furniture or things like that where as my hubby is VERY literal. (However, since my design on a dime project he has become MUCH more open minded.) 

When I first brought Slade to what is now our humble abode, he thought I had lost it. Seriously, looked at me like an alien must have invaded my body because I wanted this house. The woman who lived here before us, had lived here since at least the 1950's and hadn't updated, well, pretty much since then. She was a heavy smoker so there was a lovely staunch that accompanied all the hideous wallpaper and matted carpets. I, however, loved the floor plan and thought it had great bones...just needed a facelift. We didn't have the scratch for a full facelift so I settled for what I assume is the decor version of Botox, brow lift, and veneers.

Not one to be deterred, I painted a picture for my husband that must have been quite elaborate because somehow, I got him to agree to buy it...oh, and I told him I would do most of the work myself... and I might have had to google, "How to paint a house" because I had no clue what I was doing. 

Then the fun started. I painted the entire house...myself. I did have occasional help from my father, my grandmother and Trish...with a few other people who got randomly suckered in for small projects. However, I did the bulk of it. Probably won't ever do that again. I had Bob the Builder who helped me do the things that I physically or legally couldn't do myself and voila! good as new..ish.

It is in no way, shape or form finished to the standard that we would like (I am still the proud owner of ovens that I believe the Keebler Elves use in their tree....actually, I bet even THEY have bigger ovens now) and a turquoise bathtub, which I now kind of love...very Anthropologie (or so I tell myself) but it's home and we love it. This isn't the entire house but more just the B&A of the rooms that they had previous pics of, plus a few random projects...So here is my progress.....

Living Room

Shot of our living room from the real-estate listing....yikes

My first attempt at an update with "hand me down" furniture..

I also removed the popcorn ceilings, painted the entire room including the wood paneling,

 brick fireplace and added more modern lighting.

Few months later, saved a little money and trying to make it younger still...

I painted the table and replaced the pillows

Couple of years later..got some Christmas money and FINALLY got fresh carpet (yippee!) 

and some newer furniture...

Finished product (for now)....naturally the king needs his chair right in the middle

opposite side...left bookcases original color 

Formal Living Room

This was the formal living room which we have converted into Slade's office. 

I kind of wish I had stolen those chairs on the right...I kind of like them.

Finished product..

painted the walls, put down hardwoods, added recessed lighting and got him a "man desk." 

We had no real need for the "formal living" as we have no "formal" furniture.

Dining Room

Real-estate picture of the dining room...

Again, added hardwoods, painted the walls and after a year and a half of looking..

 decided on a dining table I liked...6 months later, got some chairs!

Next I painted the chandelier from bronze to antique white to match my table.

Guest Room

Real-estate pic of one of the bedrooms. I knew it was not going to be the nursery

 and just a guest room so I wanted to do something a little younger/hipper...

so I did this......

Painted the walls green! Everyone thought I was nuts. But I love it.

 Actually it's not this dark in real life, just kind of weird lighting.

This is actually a little bit truer color..

Kitchen table..

This is the kitchen table I painted shiny black ....but don't have a before pic...oh well

Table in the kitchen.. I painted white over wallpaper that shouldn't be allowed to be seen..ever.

Master Bedroom

Real-estate pic of master bedroom before...

Had to use LOTS of adjectives to sell Slader on this one...

blue room AND blue carpet..nice.

Current pic of master...not the greatest pic since I took it with my phone.

Still want to do some work but broke for now. 

Painted walls, new carpet, and new lighting. 

Entry Way

Entry way...after I covered up hideous wallpaper and painted stripes, 

but before I painted door

see..much better!

Real-estate shot of the bar....oh,  the turquoise.. 

did I mention that the wallpaper is a lovely mix of velvet and metallic stripes...jealous?

The bar today...spray painted the cabinets and added wallpaper...

Cabinets with my fun little knobs

Bar from opposite side