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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Everything in its place

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEy3WFaUBH6Dhw5kTDV58erUAqcQ2dqyCQqHUYcCvm29Jfp6smvRRs0lAXUKVV6fAahaEt6SuhLi32Dz8zxlxNAzIApuqvMmY0FnpK_YIZKWlgKNlnEx31fKdGv6HL86SbX-VOrxrpVpu/s1600/junkdrawerorganizerYBlacker.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563717267526089202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEy3WFaUBH6Dhw5kTDV58erUAqcQ2dqyCQqHUYcCvm29Jfp6smvRRs0lAXUKVV6fAahaEt6SuhLi32Dz8zxlxNAzIApuqvMmY0FnpK_YIZKWlgKNlnEx31fKdGv6HL86SbX-VOrxrpVpu/s400/junkdrawerorganizerYBlacker.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Getting organized:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> check out my tips on </span><a href="http://lynnfield.patch.com/articles/resolving-to-get-organized" style="font-style: italic;">Patch.com</a><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Just when I start to get organized at home, we have to move everything around again! This week we are having hardwood floors installed on the second and third floors. Only in the hallways and stair landings, but enough construction traffic to create a sense of being displaced. A bedroom floor is also being refinished which adds to the commotion.<br /><br />I can be quite the homebody (when I am not out and about) so I will be happy when this phase of construction is over and I can work peacefully at my desk in my new office and not downstairs in the living room amidst the boy chaos!<br /><br />Until the dust settles, please visit <a href="http://lynnfield.patch.com/articles/resolving-to-get-organized">my recent post for Lynnfield Patch.com</a> and see how organized I was not too long ago ...</span>

Everything in its place

Getting organized: check out my tips on Patch.com Just when I start to get organized at home, we have to move everything around again! This...

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A “slow home” gets a new room

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dL4rSNQxeXhFFrojT_uxNBRTFeOOHCewpIyQ7pz1ulsyvyzVunaTK6f0QRDMuGbVmXS84tBXzy3VomcFeapAvv0M_yu7MB_CV2owyzLPwlgECJ-481n9RY_HZTKnohzyXru5vIvxhWsX/s1600/grapevine+1st+winter.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548473543557332898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dL4rSNQxeXhFFrojT_uxNBRTFeOOHCewpIyQ7pz1ulsyvyzVunaTK6f0QRDMuGbVmXS84tBXzy3VomcFeapAvv0M_yu7MB_CV2owyzLPwlgECJ-481n9RY_HZTKnohzyXru5vIvxhWsX/s400/grapevine+1st+winter.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">2004: First winter in our New England “farmhouse</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">”</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;">We live in an old house. Built in 1904, it was at one time a dairy farm with a large barn and around 15 acres of land. All but two of these acres were sold to other parties</span><span style="font-size:130%;">, with some deeded to the town as conservation land, a large section was developed and is now a street with a handful of homes, and the last six acres belongs to a neighbor behind me. Those six acres were scheduled to be a development of homes, but many of the acres were determined to be conservation land so the project stopped at just one. Knowing that someone could not build behind us or next to us was one of the main reasons we felt this property would be a worthwhile investment. It can be quite unnerving to buy a home in a neighborhood that you fall in love with, only to look out your window one day and<br />see the landscape change before your eyes!<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaak73Ws4BD6JnfM2bzCLL9kdOO6hglLtejHV-NMFZ6bPOuOm2Aq_MyAhzeilK4q1uc3UZ8bCeUOILmfBZcypikbGfgIJZ0I5660oWoBAaTTYLMNt2s2lylT51lFDCeuw7H5565FoBkCm/s1600/originalBRwallpaper.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548477714004350562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaak73Ws4BD6JnfM2bzCLL9kdOO6hglLtejHV-NMFZ6bPOuOm2Aq_MyAhzeilK4q1uc3UZ8bCeUOILmfBZcypikbGfgIJZ0I5660oWoBAaTTYLMNt2s2lylT51lFDCeuw7H5565FoBkCm/s400/originalBRwallpaper.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >We bought our current house in spite of<br />room-after-room of dated wallpaper.<br />Today I wish we had saved more<br />of it then just this swatch.</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">There were other reasons that we fell<br />head-over-heels for </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">this property:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> It felt like a “town and country</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> home, located within walking distance to the center of town and most of the schools, yet the backyard felt like a rustic retreat from modern day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> Our house is situated in a way that it gets full sun<br />in the backyard with lots of great interior light throughout the day. Shaded farmer porches in front are a welcome place to sit. Tall evergreens stand at<br />the properties edges, adding both privacy and<br />natural beauty.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.</span> This home is bigger than our last house, but still manageable in size, with plenty of room to grow<br />(barn will one day be a family room, over garage will one day be office space ... )<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> The dining room probably sold us. We did not have a formal dining room in our last house that was big enough for our young family, let alone for entertaining guests. This dining room is plenty big and is centrally located in the perfect spot to enjoy it every day, not just on holidays.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> While we realized some areas could use increased storage and energy-efficiency, we figured we redesigned our last home — how hard would it be<br />to do it again???<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuhbq4X9ziBBacnZT2Ie2JoOG7pFlbZjaJwr053ayoYfXn17c5qz9ud533quDBt45IRQCJ7ou_WQBqUzjqukJe3xroMPu3faNXHdzZ-bXGBwv1DPV_xCZ65ZvomM2i40W7rW-hTxz2vUv/s1600/bird+in+nest_YBlacker.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548426702644306786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuhbq4X9ziBBacnZT2Ie2JoOG7pFlbZjaJwr053ayoYfXn17c5qz9ud533quDBt45IRQCJ7ou_WQBqUzjqukJe3xroMPu3faNXHdzZ-bXGBwv1DPV_xCZ65ZvomM2i40W7rW-hTxz2vUv/s400/bird+in+nest_YBlacker.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 339px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">If only feathering our nest was this easy!</span></span> </div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />Well of course it has taken us much longer this time around to complete our home renovation projects. When we were working on our last home we raised the roof before we had any children, started our kitchen addition when we were expecting number two, finished new kitchen and bath by the time number three came around, and then finally got around to all the final details just in time to put it on the market and simultaneously find out number four was scheduled to arrive six months after closing on our new home. To say it has been a challenge to renovate with four little ones under foot is to put it mildly! And as our little ones have grown, our visions for our current home have changed at about the same pace. When we were surrounded with babies, we needed to be close at hand, but now we have a bit more breathing room ...<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuO9n-9bzXh9ektF86rS8YPJ6DcQRutpwiMS5Otq2dziauYki19IQeMc7JD82SF3afF3rh2A9vYLgypqCLyVwfy5BDLeL680eWhJYnDOlRDTNwXrp72y51RjHvoVwyAj41FJegMN7-LJK/s1600/chair%253Awindow%253AnewBR.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548427930186551634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuO9n-9bzXh9ektF86rS8YPJ6DcQRutpwiMS5Otq2dziauYki19IQeMc7JD82SF3afF3rh2A9vYLgypqCLyVwfy5BDLeL680eWhJYnDOlRDTNwXrp72y51RjHvoVwyAj41FJegMN7-LJK/s400/chair%253Awindow%253AnewBR.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 356px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">A sneak peek of our newly completed master bedroom.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Today I am happy to report that as of last night we have officially finished one of the major renovations that has been on our construction “<a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/10/10-weeks-10-projects.html">to-do</a></span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> list ... the master bedroom that we built from scratch is a reality! </span><span style="font-size:130%;">What was once an inaccessible attic space is now a brand new room with a new set of stairs, new carpet, freshly painted new walls and it even has the<a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/01/master-bedroom-preview-part-1.html"> newest type of insulation</a>. We slept in it last night for the first time (our twelve-year-old actually helped us move the bed upstairs ... we have come along way!) and it felt like we had traded in “this old house</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> for a new and improved version.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">I always knew this house had room to grow, I had just imagined it would be laterally not vertically!</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Some day we may do that addition we dreamed about, but for now, we are happy with this new arrangement which is actually more energy/cost efficient in the long run than a large-scale addition would have been.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://slowhomestudio.com/the-slow-home-test/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548426717300195714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVgdy7fSgUauGQPUwIXmHHukv5D_1cxSqy7WyXp6Nwi0BWoEzHxWkyRc1u1oQQ-z1Jh0nEToxgt_zVZH_PKwcsz7FRmKUzfjAK5EaXx9atmo4vBG5EJt99jNj_4rZjVGuzLitZgFy8go_/s400/slowhometest.png" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Find out how your home rates by taking this</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br />test available online at <a href="http://slowhomestudio.com/the-slow-home-test/">Slow Home Studio</a>.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">While we could tell our home had inherent value, we mainly bought it based on a gut feeling. It felt like the home I had grown up in and it seemed like it could be improved upon without too much effort (okay, we were off just a little bit with that part!) </span><span style="font-size:130%;">What sold you on your home? Are you comfortable living in it or are there areas that could use improvement? There is a great test available that evaluates the quality of a home’s design. It is called <a href="http://slowhomestudio.com/the-slow-home-test/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Slow Home Test</span></a> and it is great if you are looking to solve design issues in your current home or if you are looking to buy a dream-home of your own. I recently mentioned this test in a post on the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Slow Home movement</span> that I wrote for <a href="http://www.alluminare.com/">Alluminare.com</a> (which BTW sells some really great custom designed lighting and home decor pieces). The Slow Home movement is all about creating homes that feel as good as they look. Learn more about it by checking out the following links:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://blog.alluminare.com/slow-home-101/">Slow Home 101</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://blog.alluminare.com/the-language-of-slow-home/">The Language of Slow Home</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">• <a href="http://blog.alluminare.com/slow-home-and-going-green/">Slow Home and Going Green</a></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Later I will post some true “after</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> pics of our new space. I really should be decorating for the holidays about now, but I’d much rather be accessorizing our new room than pulling out boxes of ornaments and wrestling with strings of lights! How long do you think I can put it off without the kids noticing that we don’t have a tree, yet? ; )</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRUXW2UceLZoxH2lddJxLS_L1lURasNrJGUYBgrpU6xdGx6lVPj6hIGkSjvyXd3BsDdtVWSs3ryIePMf2P49gCCDFgGHv4Vs1XGLQ2w9mlUYb9os-UC64QevJE_hTrA_2Pn-SHQ_GTVhK/s1600/ph_tvproject_5.jpg"><br /></a><br /></div>

A “slow home” gets a new room

2004: First winter in our New England “farmhouse ” We live in an old house. Built in 1904, it was at one time a dairy farm with a large barn...

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10 weeks, 10 projects

<span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMSuaAA3NerkdcLgIxGcZcpmqsConH7xJjHgpVk2eSDvSvfOxgC84iRzbkSLbEW3j9y6CaaOIaTSaamaIliI5iJeUN6xMku7uxeqc6OtZCUrUK6_-yQwx7vKz2hc7Zvuj1ZLp1ZEuA-Yu/s1600/backofhouse.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527217857324816994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMSuaAA3NerkdcLgIxGcZcpmqsConH7xJjHgpVk2eSDvSvfOxgC84iRzbkSLbEW3j9y6CaaOIaTSaamaIliI5iJeUN6xMku7uxeqc6OtZCUrUK6_-yQwx7vKz2hc7Zvuj1ZLp1ZEuA-Yu/s400/backofhouse.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />I figure I have about 10 productive weeks left of 2010. My goal is to finish at least 10 projects that have been on my to-do list.<br /><br />1. Finish <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/03/master-bedroom-window-area.html">master bedroom</a>. I know I have been talking about finishing this for some time now. We are down to just having the hardwood floor installed and then we can move in!<br /><br />2. After we move out of <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/01/master-bedroom-preview-part-2.html">our existing room</a>, have hardwood floors repaired and then refinished before giving this space to two of the boys (we never did this floor over, just put a wool carpet on top). This room will then be complete (which means all walls are new, trim is new, electrical has been updated, walls are insulated and painted).<br /><br />3. Finish painting closet and trim in <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/02/xtreme-sports-inspired.html">existing boys room</a> and add a new light fixture. We are so close to being done in here, but I just haven’t been willing to get in there, move furniture around and paint. It is much easier to tackle now that the guys are in school for most of the day. I did get the beds painted black like I had planned, but haven’t put together the finishing touches so have yet to post after pics!<br /><br />4. Paint interior of front door high gloss black and paint new trim around door. Such a small project. Have all the paint. What am I waiting for??? Oh yeah, again I had to wait until no one was home and going in and out for most of the day. If I paint at 9am it should be safe to the touch by 2pm (when they start to arrive home). I know I could paint at night, but by the end of the day all I want to do is sit on the couch and catch up on my reality TV or design shows!<br /><br />5. Turn <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/02/swatch-report-boys-room.html">the smallest bedroom</a> into my office once they move out to the bigger room. This will be the best reward for all our hard work (at least for me it will be!)<br /><br />6. Make temporary kitchen a little prettier. We <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/05/this-old-house-on-north-shore.html">gutted the kitchen</a> and have been using the dining room as our new home central (cooking, eating, homework, you name it). Would like to add some shelving on walls and some fabric under temporary sink (which is starting to feel quite permanent!) Also would like to get a handle on the huge amount of recycling that we do since we are short on space these days.<br /><br />7. Get 2nd floor laundry room under control. No need to show images, but our system is overburdened right now (started out looking very organized and GAP-like when the kids clothing was small, now it is more guys-college-dorm-room in appearance!) New bedroom arrangements with additional closet space should help.<br /><br />8. Have stairway, 2nd floor hallway plus all 2nd floor doors painted (we recently replaced 7 of them). For this I will call in a professional painter with staging.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">9. Add new fall-to-winter flowers on front porch. Maybe I will start with this??<br /><br />10. Begin the process of replacing the missing kitchen and first floor powder room!<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />I figure if I put my to-do list online, I will feel more pressure to tend to these projects. Plus that will be 10 weeks worth of great home renovating content for all of you. Besides, I don’t want to go into 2011 with the <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-day.html">same resolutions</a> that I set for 2010 (why do I even bother putting “use treadmill</span><span style="font-size:130%;">”</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> on the list???)<br />Wish me luck!<br /><br /><br /></span>

10 weeks, 10 projects

I figure I have about 10 productive weeks left of 2010. My goal is to finish at least 10 projects that have been on my to-do list. 1. Finish...

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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...

Read more »