Master bedroom preview, part 1

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdJjNjZwAiSEQYdm-TjT9hq8iLV8HUy2lZSF9GsmDY5uoWWrmw6Et0eeLDT3P2ba2bbYxQQCLn44BizjNyzvhjc9uawC2BP2Vg9vBDHECXZDbzaoO_7mR3qubplp4HOcVHItS8xBUz2I/s1600-h/boom.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426411028918715522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdJjNjZwAiSEQYdm-TjT9hq8iLV8HUy2lZSF9GsmDY5uoWWrmw6Et0eeLDT3P2ba2bbYxQQCLn44BizjNyzvhjc9uawC2BP2Vg9vBDHECXZDbzaoO_7mR3qubplp4HOcVHItS8xBUz2I/s400/boom.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />As I pulled in to my driveway early this week, I came upon this mesmerizing sight. There is nothing like a huge boom truck delivering a bunch of blue board to bring a smile to this decorator’s face! I will now show you a series of before and after pics from this project ...<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyiABL9LbBk-G7nEkygLO2zaDGAil_GytVcW_aNlEvAX1ouMlpRVrusYugPR4ylQST-9nL-mqmcfiYwLHgzDYCs2-tAwajWArOzfLwQSpflJML4SY1wS2wpsO7NO_D1OqfIKwVuuetYw/s1600-h/masterphase1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426416360028597474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyiABL9LbBk-G7nEkygLO2zaDGAil_GytVcW_aNlEvAX1ouMlpRVrusYugPR4ylQST-9nL-mqmcfiYwLHgzDYCs2-tAwajWArOzfLwQSpflJML4SY1wS2wpsO7NO_D1OqfIKwVuuetYw/s400/masterphase1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br />Master phase 1:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> new floor boards are put down over newly insulated and framed floors. What I don’t have a picture of is the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >true</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> before, when there was a chimney surrounding this black vent pipe and the access to this space was a pull-down ladder that was situated in a 2nd floor bedroom closet! My I’ll-never-forget-memories from the day the chimney came down is a story for another post!</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXn15ivj8SOvDh2SiXtc6viKavKPWmXjJr0c3r5ZVJTk4nDW5v5PPACgGRK5AKlzv-Ok1xfqlPd_hz-SMWbwh_4Hq8mz0oSs9AYck10ttpKRJDQYjZ9gNPGMIti_FNUuOBc3Ve_PaS9w/s1600-h/masterphase2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426416362240862002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXn15ivj8SOvDh2SiXtc6viKavKPWmXjJr0c3r5ZVJTk4nDW5v5PPACgGRK5AKlzv-Ok1xfqlPd_hz-SMWbwh_4Hq8mz0oSs9AYck10ttpKRJDQYjZ9gNPGMIti_FNUuOBc3Ve_PaS9w/s400/masterphase2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br />Master phase 2:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> framing of the new room has begun! What happened next was Thanksgiving and Christmas, so we did not get back to this project till the new year (and the day I created our at-home-projects timeline calendar!)</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1f_LuIEGAkFxNv5bB2-RFil06RwTt3y5g7BZ4vfpXOIc0CX-e4Q-mjIlEaPkwG0icQO20fMz7g9bdLEwErw3lOsMgYQ8xHDbV9F6gDSv4QtYQIAyqgjN31Ft8hF0yOa2LXxeo3f1xvg/s1600-h/sprayfoam.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426411026095779106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1f_LuIEGAkFxNv5bB2-RFil06RwTt3y5g7BZ4vfpXOIc0CX-e4Q-mjIlEaPkwG0icQO20fMz7g9bdLEwErw3lOsMgYQ8xHDbV9F6gDSv4QtYQIAyqgjN31Ft8hF0yOa2LXxeo3f1xvg/s400/sprayfoam.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Master phase 3:</span> insulation!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> We are</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> now </span><span style="font-size:130%;">fully insulated. Doesn’t this space just look warmer?? A crew showed up last week and created this sci-fi like scene. Spray foam insulation is the latest energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly technique used to achieve a completely air-tight insulation application. Here is a close up of under the eaves (which will be a great area for long-term storage) ...<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBYyvQvl4i5oXMYZ1rRC5HyEcWuN4anDgBV8hZmlTIW0zc8-LXLSNkf1ufAkug29DQ6U6A9iAuHsNXzJDgxjH08pteKw9gml8uyIGs3Yum6GILsk-awxJzFdV4lh2fmZPms-YiQEQ9mE/s1600-h/eaves.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426425986969609394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBYyvQvl4i5oXMYZ1rRC5HyEcWuN4anDgBV8hZmlTIW0zc8-LXLSNkf1ufAkug29DQ6U6A9iAuHsNXzJDgxjH08pteKw9gml8uyIGs3Yum6GILsk-awxJzFdV4lh2fmZPms-YiQEQ9mE/s400/eaves.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The difference in the overall temperature in our house was noticeable right away. Before, heat was going through the slate roof which would cause landslides of snow to come crashing off the roof during the winter months. When my kids would go out to play, I used to fear that they would be caught in a mini-avalanche if they walked too close to the sides of the house! Now, the snow stays on the roof like a blanket. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">With the added insulation, it is also a lot quieter in the space. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Bonus: we are expecting to cut our heating bill almost in half which is something to look forward to!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeruzWPnX-jdMbZxq9JJSTeoGZfC0fjOZ_NpA8yes8Og8WXAMk8ENC9W6lo0CwJ2lhf_X_19ldHKwPuTy78nG8nZneNih9n-kDY9aG2HWi6P6Mune8HUUrUl2AgYFKs9RpdMhliahvfP4/s1600-h/blueboard.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426952567989889058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeruzWPnX-jdMbZxq9JJSTeoGZfC0fjOZ_NpA8yes8Og8WXAMk8ENC9W6lo0CwJ2lhf_X_19ldHKwPuTy78nG8nZneNih9n-kDY9aG2HWi6P6Mune8HUUrUl2AgYFKs9RpdMhliahvfP4/s400/blueboard.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Master phase 4:</span> the walls are up! </span><span style="font-size:130%;">Yesterday the boarders did their magic. A dream is starting to look like a reality! This dormer will soon be my mini-office. There is actually room for a good-sized desk and file cabinet in this little nook </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(see my sketch below)</span><span style="font-size:130%;">. Now all we need is an energy-efficient double pane window to replace the ancient single-pane ... the only window in the main house that was never changed by the previous owner (we will replace this in the spring). </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_42iXBR94tbuEvFvJ4fNWwcHTm1jOuW24FvgV4R4ViAx7C_83CN7CnlggFjXoqnNyFjYPm3a2TxLKkMrJHn7hOhDwWoKSqrLJP8ytvFxRta5i5bbVjEM-5xbSWAa3mcTxCopXAwT9n3U/s1600-h/masterbrfloorplan.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426411021110785154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_42iXBR94tbuEvFvJ4fNWwcHTm1jOuW24FvgV4R4ViAx7C_83CN7CnlggFjXoqnNyFjYPm3a2TxLKkMrJHn7hOhDwWoKSqrLJP8ytvFxRta5i5bbVjEM-5xbSWAa3mcTxCopXAwT9n3U/s400/masterbrfloorplan.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 273px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I used a neat online tool, <a href="http://www.icovia.com/design/">icovia</a> to sketch out the plan for our new room. I first discovered this resource while reading the blog of <a href="http://www.chameleon-interiors.com/Chameleon_Interiors/PrivateClientPageLMKitchen0709.html">Linda Merrill</a>. I asked her about it, and she walked me through a couple of her projects (virtually). The software offers a lot of options, although the monthly fee certainly will add up. The offset value to the monthly fee is that program updates are received automatically (without having to purchase a new version). Plus, if I were to sign up I could cancel at any time. I have already tried it out for a couple of spaces, however I cannot save my project work until I become a member.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YqWss0uopXQVYqASvvhwG6EgOHCpBDH2ZoyodWkS55KSknLf0A9XRpBqHYJcFYBduA3YB9ZziGsylHIrtNlEcFxU_KYCycvQN8HzaglHoONJ5SWnrLftSdXNJLlRDOntMKfsX1XqFEY/s1600-h/hanger.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426988065081443522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YqWss0uopXQVYqASvvhwG6EgOHCpBDH2ZoyodWkS55KSknLf0A9XRpBqHYJcFYBduA3YB9ZziGsylHIrtNlEcFxU_KYCycvQN8HzaglHoONJ5SWnrLftSdXNJLlRDOntMKfsX1XqFEY/s400/hanger.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">What you can’t see in the above drawing is the future master bath (just framed for now) and the walk-in closet. Both of these will be just outside of the room and to the right. I will be very happy to finally have space to hang all of my clothes in the same spot instead of stashing them in various closets like I am doing now (old homes like this one are notorious for their lack of closet space!) I also like the idea of having our clothing storage located outside of our room – it will be much more serene. To check out some inspiring walk-in closets, visit Heather Clawson at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Habitually Chic</span> who <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-years-resolution-1-clean-out-closet.html">recently posted</a> some enviable spaces!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmosmeGRug8_qmrfLJn8jo0wPDv34iNRX07d7hoyZHaRXB_2fWBaCjWzi9ezjaN8pLOGlduZ9Trwo7ZLga7DYiBL0nsmaL3mCMHNmfrrAKqBKS72X2FpCisp4NOrVkDaKiRx1sUmKbwc/s1600-h/birdfabric.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426972433131837746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmosmeGRug8_qmrfLJn8jo0wPDv34iNRX07d7hoyZHaRXB_2fWBaCjWzi9ezjaN8pLOGlduZ9Trwo7ZLga7DYiBL0nsmaL3mCMHNmfrrAKqBKS72X2FpCisp4NOrVkDaKiRx1sUmKbwc/s400/birdfabric.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Come back next week to see the completely plastered room along with my color and fabric choices. I am off now to make some final decisions on the flooring ...</span><br /><br /><br /></div>

Master bedroom preview, part 1

As I pulled in to my driveway early this week, I came upon this mesmerizing sight. There is nothing like a huge boom truck delivering a bunc...

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Dressing and interiors ...

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifc-86fAegPZ6sVIewECj5oKJcZ-HPLNzjDXuxtU__dQqQMqa976swp-WNMTIeA9xkC1fWYO4CH2v2kffONs0Elp8OEgafkJcE7jw8983CCpISTwxf4ybyBwTJZLZhmJjtEpAYVld5GZM/s1600-h/PEMpursebooklamp.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411772026778120018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifc-86fAegPZ6sVIewECj5oKJcZ-HPLNzjDXuxtU__dQqQMqa976swp-WNMTIeA9xkC1fWYO4CH2v2kffONs0Elp8OEgafkJcE7jw8983CCpISTwxf4ybyBwTJZLZhmJjtEpAYVld5GZM/s400/PEMpursebooklamp.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A side table vignette from <a href="http://www.pemshop.com/">the shop</a> at<br />the <a href="http://www.pem.org/collections/">Peabody Essex Museum</a>.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Last night I attended the <a href="http://www.pem.org/exhibitions/21-rare_bird_of_fashion_the_irreverent_iris_apfel">The Irreverent Iris Apfel: Rare Bird of Fashion</a> exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum. It included a special Iris inspired fashion show presented by the Salem vintage clothing boutique <a href="http://modernmillieshop.com/">Modern Millie</a>. I met some very stylish attendees after the event, who I will post about early next week. In the meantime, check out these behind-the-scenes images from the <a href="http://milliegirl.tumblr.com/">Modern Millie blog.</a><br /><br />And if you are looking for something fun to do today with a girlfriend-daughter-or-mother, the museum is hosting </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.pem.org/exhibitions/21-rare_bird_of_fashion_the_irreverent_iris_apfel#Atrium%20Alive:%20The%20Art%20of%20Fashion%20with%20Iris%20Apfel">Atrium Alive: the Art of Fashion</a><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">(December 5th from 11am to 5pm). </span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVF0iNP5iq38KEfrCERKNcV-VZndGUGC6udKSv3DtjqXoZa7XlVffBiAFtsZ07hvThlnmRo4Kjs-1ZeVPNuLp61Y21TjhqEbx-aSTBsxKGuaOJ_YqUU6QAhlMNMWdpxukblx1DCDsc3sc/s1600-h/HolidayWindowPEM.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411792670290746610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVF0iNP5iq38KEfrCERKNcV-VZndGUGC6udKSv3DtjqXoZa7XlVffBiAFtsZ07hvThlnmRo4Kjs-1ZeVPNuLp61Y21TjhqEbx-aSTBsxKGuaOJ_YqUU6QAhlMNMWdpxukblx1DCDsc3sc/s400/HolidayWindowPEM.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Holiday window dressing at PEM.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />If you can’t make it to the North Shore, here is a great example of over-the-top dressing of the interior kind as posted by New York designer Heather Clawson, of the design blog <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/">Habitually Chic</a>. Today she posted images from <a href="http://www.holidayhouse2009.com/www.holidayhouse2009.com/Home.html"><span>Holiday House 2</span><span>009</span></a> featuring designer table settings inspired by a year of holidays (not just those in December). Plumage in many forms seemed to be a recurring design theme ... see how many birds-of-a-feather you can spot. Enjoy!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-house-2009.html#links">Habitually Chic™: Holiday House 2009</a></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypkCICX6ZNYLwCgzcTKU1LpPab4J7PrQBJ2jqd4WJmQJLXQ6r7SmGYeVX2MS_nVceoo6qYW4EFdwMVeRqnFse7pPLZzdWIxqbdxb1K_UE97VrFgdG_bA-gLaz-Na9ED633YzPEGdqDgg/s1600-h/feathervignetteYB.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411802404104556642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypkCICX6ZNYLwCgzcTKU1LpPab4J7PrQBJ2jqd4WJmQJLXQ6r7SmGYeVX2MS_nVceoo6qYW4EFdwMVeRqnFse7pPLZzdWIxqbdxb1K_UE97VrFgdG_bA-gLaz-Na9ED633YzPEGdqDgg/s320/feathervignetteYB.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 268px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A small feathery vignette of my own currently on</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />display at</span><a href="http://www.bethhylan.com/Guest_Designers.html" style="font-style: italic;"> the Studio</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. Felted acorns by </span><a href="http://truluxe.blogspot.com/" style="font-style: italic;">TruLuxe</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br /><br /></div>

Dressing and interiors ...

A side table vignette from the shop at the Peabody Essex Museum . Last night I attended the The Irreverent Iris Apfel: Rare Bird of Fashion...

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