Going For it! Staircase Makeover (Phase I)

 

Here we are just past the middle of April and I'm starting on my next indoor project so I can get it done before Summer starts!

 

 

When I bought my house I was ok with having carpet on the staircase. It was in good shape and added softness and warmth, so I was ok with it.

 

Then I got a dog.

Then she tracked mud on the carpet.

Then a drink was spilled during a get together.

 And now nine years later its looking a bit dated.

 

I am ready for a change, but I wasn't sure what was under the carpet and didn't want to mess with a costly upgrade should the stairs need to be replaced so I have been hesitant to get this project started.

 

But my curiosity was peaked and I decided to pull up the carpet on the bottom stair-just to check it out...........and I am happy to report an oak staircase under the carpeting. It actually looks like these are the original stairs to the house. Yay! 1940s oak in great shape too. Woot! Woot!

 

You can see my attempt to try a new paint color on the wall too. LOL :)

 

Let's just say there's going to be a lot of changes to this space.

 

It is the first thing you see when you open the front door so I want it to be welcoming and set the tone for how the rest of the house will look.

 

If you have never tackled a project like this, let me just tell you that there are a MILLION staples and nail tack strips you have to remove.

 

That's the hardest part of this whole project!

 

 

I am so happy that I have an oak staircase to work with....it makes this job so much easier.

 

So this weekend I will be busy pulling staples, staining, and removing the rest of the carpet. We are supposed to get rain on Saturday so I'm ok with working inside.

 

 

 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

Jennifer

 

 

 

 

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Fall Bulbs Turn to Spring Flowers

Remember when I planted bulbs last fall?

 

You can read about that HERE.

 

Well I am happy to show you their progress.

 

I planted a combination of purple hyacinths and yellow daffodils to add some Spring color to my porch.

 

 

 

The daffodils did not bloom together so I only had a few in bloom at a time, but the purple hyacinth did quite well. They bloomed large fragrant blooms, but they had a tendency to fall over when it rained.



So I am giving this spot another year to see if the flowers come back stronger next year.

 

 

Look at those gorgeous blooms!

 

I am glad I planted them in this spot right by the front door. They are so fragrant that their scent carries into the house every time you open the door.

So the tulips, daffodils, and hyacinth have all bloomed and are now dying off as another round of flowers like iris and azaleas will be blooming soon!

 

 

For more gardening/landscaping tips, you can read about planting Fall bulbs HERE, and click HERE to find out  how to get more blooms from your flowering bushes.

 

 

 

Enjoy your day!

 

 

Jennifer

 

 

 

 

 

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New Light Fixture in the Mudroom

 

 

Now that the removal of the popcorn ceiling is done, its time to finish the touch up paint on the walls and put up a new light fixture.

  

 

It was now time to finally get rid of the typical "boob" light and upgrade to something more my style that would also provide more light.

 

 

I knew I wanted to keep the Oil Rubbed Bronze finish and that I wanted a fixture that provided more light than what I had before, so when I found this light at Lowe's I knew I had to have it!

 

 

 

I love how the three bulbs light up the room and how the ORB finish looks against the color of the walls.


The glass globe is also pretty and allows for all the light to shine through unlike the light I had before. 

That frosted finish on my old boob light was hard to keep clean and it filtered the light too so I always felt like that room was too dark.

 

 

 

When we went to hang it up we discovered that the hole in the ceiling was bigger than the mounting piece on the light so we had to work around it by adding a ceiling medallion.

 

I love this one because it has a beaded edging and is pretty simple so it does not compete with the look of the light fixture.

 

I have been searching online and the retail stores for a while now for that one fixture that I knew was the one. I started to get bummed out but then I discovered this light and knew it was the one!

 

 

 

Now that the ceilings are done and the light is up, I'm so relieved to be done with the hardest parts of this makeover. All I have left to do  now is get organized and decorate....you know, all the FUN stuff! :)

 

 

Have a great week!

 

 

Jennifer

 

 

 

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