Finished Project: New Hallway

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizbDNUzFrl7QQnJT7aC7Axfvqg-_QXvJccD9aHx1jHQbyKGYUSNsN0k0PQ7GPJyhM51RnU2ixlq7YfY9-gYq6NuOq01wc663gBRJ6qUDwGnT6N6AiqQALiipz_eBlHi3dkGFZGx41QSZ_/s1600/55hallway-new.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570965072775288514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizbDNUzFrl7QQnJT7aC7Axfvqg-_QXvJccD9aHx1jHQbyKGYUSNsN0k0PQ7GPJyhM51RnU2ixlq7YfY9-gYq6NuOq01wc663gBRJ6qUDwGnT6N6AiqQALiipz_eBlHi3dkGFZGx41QSZ_/s400/55hallway-new.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >By painting all the trim, doors and walls the<br />same color (Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan)<br />the seven doors in this 17 foot long hallway fade<br />into the background creating a seamless look. </span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />It is easy to forget how far we have come when renovating a home for, oh, seven years or so.<br /><br />This hallway on our second floor looks AMAZING to me, but if I were to give a “house tour</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> it would be hard to explain just what had to take place to make this calm and peaceful transition area look as plain and lovely as it does. </span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgF7mYgqilCir0SF-DGisK0QxI3GOGLTBafkUesk3hYAmWktw4AZkpwyZfzfyCQqNdjLUlh37SZWMXU0vvaayv4_NUh5ofpVyWmWV23DDMT-KRT9WmSPE450uyuY6kn9Ses2dgb2GM6kj/s1600/55hallwayb4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570965069377570354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgF7mYgqilCir0SF-DGisK0QxI3GOGLTBafkUesk3hYAmWktw4AZkpwyZfzfyCQqNdjLUlh37SZWMXU0vvaayv4_NUh5ofpVyWmWV23DDMT-KRT9WmSPE450uyuY6kn9Ses2dgb2GM6kj/s400/55hallwayb4.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">This is what the hallway used to look like. I took this picture on a second walk-through after we had decided we wanted to put in an offer.<br /><br />I am pretty sure this view would have scared most people away, but we could hardly contain our excitement “We love it! We’ll take it!!”<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Here is the mathematical equation<br />for how we achieved our end result:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subtract:</span><br />One chimney<br />One fire alarm bell<br />One wall niche with little purpose<br />One wall and door way to second floor landing<br />All doors, trim, walls, ceiling<br />Linoleum floor covering first,<br />then existing maple hardwoods second<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Add:</span><br />One larger linen closet where existing closet was<br />New central vac closet where chimney was<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">One set of brand new stairs to third floor<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">New doors, hardware, trim, walls and ceiling<br />New lighting and updated electrical<br />One french door (not shown in pic above)<br />New red oak stained medium brown hardwood floors<br />Fresh coat of low VOC paint<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4WjggndFpE8hwVwJL4IFcr9ysyF84WDkLtQkRhf7R7-rQJTwR55we1lnVIh3rQv49ln2hPfZ16c4CJ3yKu5t4n8AbHXzpFbCy_JF4PsCbKLn1N4PIgbMcL8LkfdGRhGqLp9MmIr2I7CN/s1600/landing55.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570978299522975362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4WjggndFpE8hwVwJL4IFcr9ysyF84WDkLtQkRhf7R7-rQJTwR55we1lnVIh3rQv49ln2hPfZ16c4CJ3yKu5t4n8AbHXzpFbCy_JF4PsCbKLn1N4PIgbMcL8LkfdGRhGqLp9MmIr2I7CN/s400/landing55.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">All that is left to do is to figure<br />out what to hang on the walls</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">A huge thank you goes to just a few of the many contractors (it probably took about half a dozen contractors – including my husband – over the course of this more-complicated-than-it-looks project) who recently helped us cross “finish 2nd floor hallway</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> off our list:<br /><br />Weaver Brothers Construction, Lynnfield<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://candrflooring.com/">C&R Flooring</a>, Needham<br /><a href="http://locontepainting.com/">LoConte Painting</a>, Lynnfield</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrc2uEE4uGjDCQZQwst1WkxIcFYt0T_YX4_ZUy3NDJZo8Zc9_ZA6JVcEMPKYsbe2zJp4lTfYMobTYTxSNi9pG3T8WOQ8oO_QCfclhwRe8xU8rEztX1kKXKleg5MAfkJXqSlJZehy2Ejq36/s1600/NEF-BC-front.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570980772872514530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrc2uEE4uGjDCQZQwst1WkxIcFYt0T_YX4_ZUy3NDJZo8Zc9_ZA6JVcEMPKYsbe2zJp4lTfYMobTYTxSNi9pG3T8WOQ8oO_QCfclhwRe8xU8rEztX1kKXKleg5MAfkJXqSlJZehy2Ejq36/s400/NEF-BC-front.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 229px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Come back later this week for a sneak peek of <a href="http://www.newenglandfinery.com/">New England Finery Magazine</a> which I will be able to cross off my design-to-do list early next week : )<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>

Finished Project: New Hallway

By painting all the trim, doors and walls the same color (Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan) the seven doors in this 17 foot long hallway fade i...

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Chocolate fantasy ...

<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZe9InhsqINAaZdE0WdyNrm1iQOAo0gIk_gvadlr7TNhK4dTyUu7cWutkeTTGP_xHA5tCLTOlSdkbH9o1Y53FBoHBc6K3h3qthhtWBoF2Ar9W98C4LQRhnRUvwH-fzxdq1D5Y9kjkX7fM/s1600-h/cake.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320308266425845810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZe9InhsqINAaZdE0WdyNrm1iQOAo0gIk_gvadlr7TNhK4dTyUu7cWutkeTTGP_xHA5tCLTOlSdkbH9o1Y53FBoHBc6K3h3qthhtWBoF2Ar9W98C4LQRhnRUvwH-fzxdq1D5Y9kjkX7fM/s400/cake.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 388px;" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">For my son’s birthday, I promised him a trip to the <a href="http://thechocolatetruffle.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chocolate Truffle</span></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> a decadent shop full of hard to resist confections located in the center of Lynnfield. He had five one dollar bills burning a hole in his pocket, and his goal was to trade it all in for his favorite “food.” This store is heaven-on-earth for chocolate lovers, and the interior design of the store was a feast for this decorator’s eyes as well.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFUNQ5CN-SZX1vXlzFdOyp-lzj4SfHDEpLxZFeTK4HKdBkvmCYsvWQVK7_RqeepyYH7zHvDgbjvoSQ_fkhP18wt_OGqeggfc08k2rjr5Bq62b-JquLTqdmSIiPwvA4folIyoyn0wQStI/s1600-h/trufflebox.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320318116830007698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFUNQ5CN-SZX1vXlzFdOyp-lzj4SfHDEpLxZFeTK4HKdBkvmCYsvWQVK7_RqeepyYH7zHvDgbjvoSQ_fkhP18wt_OGqeggfc08k2rjr5Bq62b-JquLTqdmSIiPwvA4folIyoyn0wQStI/s200/trufflebox.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 200px;" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3UkvAIjxeZX-xBSv1mRm60S5cTaoPDkEGlwIV15JQFuhk2-pbZjzfjF_WIdOm2U9o5Ex-zIqFgz8Nkyu2uO6zA4mNDcoFRRTDs5TZ-7pUMxGdSTnWk3LfOSLD_oUtQ7QJLU-k1g2pfc/s1600-h/chocolatetower.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320309485050244370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3UkvAIjxeZX-xBSv1mRm60S5cTaoPDkEGlwIV15JQFuhk2-pbZjzfjF_WIdOm2U9o5Ex-zIqFgz8Nkyu2uO6zA4mNDcoFRRTDs5TZ-7pUMxGdSTnWk3LfOSLD_oUtQ7QJLU-k1g2pfc/s320/chocolatetower.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd85VJjYk0ypbe76w7d0Lpo8_CRqEXz5OlGXbHZhRWw_XJW6g9CRQQvJMYZVK7x_Cbn4pO43xkW4myIpX0IYNhGVVAQ8s7CgEe6MygdU6CcDye71bjHC2BYaIAqvVBcjWR0NYSAIZBj9I/s1600-h/peeps.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Chocolate Truffle has successfully branded itself with chocolate brown and verdant green on most of its packaging and in the interior of its store (other locations include Reading and now Winchester). You can actually notice the eye-catching combination of colors just driving by ... it is stunning! The wall color is my current favorite. We* recently painted a sunny bedroom in our house a similar color – Woodland Hills Green from Benjamin Moore.<br />Check back later for “after</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> photos. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />* Chris LoConte, my favorite local painter,</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> is<br />“</span><span style="font-style: italic;">neat, dependable, and affordable” ... 781-334-4467</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpKslXL8OvwDyInNPARZHfKfHQekHE-xG5fFidt2FnkNOF8oFj2FB0eFf_9j6AlvtUzi1dMJTNDvwUfn94kxQdYHB3Hg_1R4YGEoBgY5MJ660q9VTeyxGmDeeDMnjRz-wOTRwDTsqW3Q/s1600-h/chocolatebowl.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320308606385418898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpKslXL8OvwDyInNPARZHfKfHQekHE-xG5fFidt2FnkNOF8oFj2FB0eFf_9j6AlvtUzi1dMJTNDvwUfn94kxQdYHB3Hg_1R4YGEoBgY5MJ660q9VTeyxGmDeeDMnjRz-wOTRwDTsqW3Q/s400/chocolatebowl.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">For now, enjoy these “visions of sugar” but be sure to stop in for the real thing. If you are lucky, like we were, you may get to sample one or two ...</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbGQcGR5tIOEkP1KpP0xWohWL3zTnP965Al0CgDwiyBvqjOomPineQwQVFTnHtkHLSRrxe0iVU37qZOz5X4Njk4jT6YBK14IZ8tUAvUe1TXS_XvsPZb3I2L4Dk4nJPP9vmykM6zm8R-k/s1600-h/case.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320309658849227026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbGQcGR5tIOEkP1KpP0xWohWL3zTnP965Al0CgDwiyBvqjOomPineQwQVFTnHtkHLSRrxe0iVU37qZOz5X4Njk4jT6YBK14IZ8tUAvUe1TXS_XvsPZb3I2L4Dk4nJPP9vmykM6zm8R-k/s400/case.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 146px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Row upon row of hard-to-make-choices ...</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd85VJjYk0ypbe76w7d0Lpo8_CRqEXz5OlGXbHZhRWw_XJW6g9CRQQvJMYZVK7x_Cbn4pO43xkW4myIpX0IYNhGVVAQ8s7CgEe6MygdU6CcDye71bjHC2BYaIAqvVBcjWR0NYSAIZBj9I/s1600-h/peeps.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320308274340369874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd85VJjYk0ypbe76w7d0Lpo8_CRqEXz5OlGXbHZhRWw_XJW6g9CRQQvJMYZVK7x_Cbn4pO43xkW4myIpX0IYNhGVVAQ8s7CgEe6MygdU6CcDye71bjHC2BYaIAqvVBcjWR0NYSAIZBj9I/s400/peeps.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Chocolate and bunnies .... two of my favorite things!</span><br /><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtJuC6ojUZevpa5L-9JK1PtgwZVPbCcclBWRiSVsTKplK_cC-nxB8GI5j5sOTlvFkUgp86NW7hFlqhED3r0HMvozOvTzf5erQv9SXJX_LxvB7lDwzE_D5doeBUgA35MRfmqh1Fx_eGqM/s1600-h/bunnies.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320308608396205698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtJuC6ojUZevpa5L-9JK1PtgwZVPbCcclBWRiSVsTKplK_cC-nxB8GI5j5sOTlvFkUgp86NW7hFlqhED3r0HMvozOvTzf5erQv9SXJX_LxvB7lDwzE_D5doeBUgA35MRfmqh1Fx_eGqM/s400/bunnies.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />If you are avoiding chocolate these days </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >(not that I would advise it!)</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> be sure to check out their display of calorie-free style-filled gum wrap purses ... so sweet!</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dy4Rue6vhqdSyrmy7XetfzvnJ5_LTMVpTtHIWsy9BdhyyRSBSPecDLpNM8J1MRdD2syrDmxmzssQENKPzpNcC6ujnYkn9to2F0orJBBa6BrbZ5f9y-EVlhCHatSPs9hHWQW944JHS-M/s1600-h/gumwrapperbags.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320308279723210722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dy4Rue6vhqdSyrmy7XetfzvnJ5_LTMVpTtHIWsy9BdhyyRSBSPecDLpNM8J1MRdD2syrDmxmzssQENKPzpNcC6ujnYkn9to2F0orJBBa6BrbZ5f9y-EVlhCHatSPs9hHWQW944JHS-M/s400/gumwrapperbags.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">And if you are a white chocolate fan,<br />you will not be disappointed ...</span><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SvODK0Ltyo5vbTnEMx-saxwoPuMpwUl0ogqUQaW14DGgAE6dYRfM7jGsw-ZRalDO0kkqkj6ugvuFN9PYEjqBUFqC-ZpfzPEd-XQjgqDn7AJGtUK6L8Yb_sIIv9FG20Y5MPlxIfyOqWk/s1600-h/whiteswan.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320309482530024546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SvODK0Ltyo5vbTnEMx-saxwoPuMpwUl0ogqUQaW14DGgAE6dYRfM7jGsw-ZRalDO0kkqkj6ugvuFN9PYEjqBUFqC-ZpfzPEd-XQjgqDn7AJGtUK6L8Yb_sIIv9FG20Y5MPlxIfyOqWk/s320/whiteswan.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 163px;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.thechocolatetruffle.com/">The Chocolate Truffle</a><br />586 Main Street<br />Lynnfield, MA<br />781-334-9800</span><br /></div>

Chocolate fantasy ...

For my son’s birthday, I promised him a trip to the Chocolate Truffle , a decadent shop full of hard to resist confections located in the ...

Read more »