the renovation : 'dream home' sneak peak

As I mentioned, we sold our house - hurray!

Even though we won't be closing/officially moving into the 'dream home'/renovation project until end of September, we are contemplating renovating the kitchen fully before we move in.

{Side note - we will only have access to half of the house, as we have a renter in the other half whose lease is not up until end of January.}

Every time I go over to the house I am overcome with how 'at home' I feel there.  My mind races with a million ideas and renovation plans. I am blessed to have a Hubby who is willing to live in old, urban houses that need a lot of work, when he probably would be just as happy in new construction in the 'burbs. 

Thank you Hubby!

 (Truth be told, though, he is just as excited about the kitchen reno as I am...maybe even more!)

Here are some photographs of the current state of the front unit of the home

I realize it is a beautiful historic home, just how it is... but we are excited to design a new kitchen and do various other renovations to make it our style and with modern conveniences.

We hope it is the home we live in for many years to come!

Here we go...

Master bedroom - south view. 

Master bedroom - northwest view with a sweet little one helping sweep.

there are four, yes, four green rookwood-tiled inoperable coal fireplaces in the house.  we will probably re-tile them...sorry rookwood fans!

The master closet is barely big enough to hang a coat or two {apparently they used wardrobes back in 1859} so this will become built-in bookshelves, and a new walk-in closet constructed by taking space from the bedroom that is attached directly to the master.  That bedroom will become an office/guest bedroom someday.  

aren't those wide plank hardwood floors gorg?

Another view of master.  Excuse the pile of painting supplies.  We had the walls painted gray recently because we thought we were going to rent out the front unit.  (They were a really dark blue which closed up the space.) Then our house sold unexpectedly.  YAY!

The future master bathroom.   We are going to reposition the clawfoot tub to be in front of the window, add a tile/glass shower, and a double vanity.  Oh, and put the toilet in it's own little 'closet.'

 Also going to re-do the flooring in the bathroom, as it is laminate instead of hardwoods.  I'm not a huge laminate fan.  We will probably go with stone tile and install floor heating to keep my toes warm!

The walled-up doorway you see at the end of the hallway will someday be another entrance to the back half of the house:

Completely livable for a while though!  I actually adore the bathroom as is, and can't wait to start decorating.   I'm a sucker for super high ceilings and romantic clawfoot tubs.  {The house has another in the back unit!}

View from the second bedroom, looking out onto a small deck that is attached to the third bedroom.  May not seem like that great of a view, but the tentative plan is to construct a rooftop deck which will have a view of downtown and the river.  The fourth bedroom waaaaay in the back does have a view of the skyscrapers...oh, and Mt. Adams, which is where Hubby proposed!

Here is the kitchen - the first major project on the 'to-do' list...

Looking into the kitchen from the front room.  This room will look probably 100% different.  There will be dark cherry cabinets, granite, an island, a sink in front of the window, different lighting, different appliances, etc.  We are keeping the floors the original hardwoods, though.

Looking out from the kitchen to the "front room" - to be the formal living room.  Eventually we will have a casual family room in the back part of the house, which is currently the renter's kitchen.  Also back there on the main floor is the dining room and another small laundry room, which we will convert to a storage closet.

Front staircase, and in the below pic you'll also notice a half bathroom straight ahead.  That wall you see inside the bathroom with the light on it will eventually be a doorway to the other side of the house.  (The bathroom will stay but become smaller.)  We also plan to paint the stair backing white, as well as the spindles on the railing.  Still debating on whether or not to paint ALL of the trim white.  I prefer the look of white trim, but would be a lot of work and the original trim has historic value.  Any opinions?

 This was taken when we first purchased the home in January - give a good idea as to the height of the ceilings and the double doors that separate the kitchen and living room.  Hubby is only 5'8.

Another perspective from the living room looking into kitchen.

So for those of you that were curious as to what the inside of the house looks like,

I hope this helps!

g

mama confessions: share some, maybe?

My son is starting to show signs of, well, an attitude.

Case in point: playing with his Cookie Monster counting toy.

He loves this toy, although not really the way it is meant to be enjoyed.

Usually he just wants to try to eat the plastic cookies himself:

mmmm...snot and plastic cookie.

Meanwhile, poor Cookie Monster waits, open-mouthed, for someone to answer his pleas: "Cookie, please!" 

 Cormac is really good at opening Cookie Monster's backpack and retrieving the cookies.

 

But then things sometimes go awry.  Like he abandons Cookie.  

Or, worse, tries to violently force-feed Cookie.  

Cormac: {grabs Cookie Monster's plastic googly eyes and tries to rip them off of his blue fuzzy head.}

Me: {look of concern} Oh, no, be gentle to Cookie Monster.  

Cormac: {stares me right in the eyes and continues to yank the eyeballs up and down violently.}

Me: {shocked and sad face} Don't you think that might hurt poor Cookie Monster???

Cormac: {continues to look me in the eyes and then starts ramming his arm down Cookie's throat.}

I decide he is just trying to get a reaction out of me, as my face is very expressive, so I change tactics by laughing and make Cookie Monster "eat" his hand, with gusto.  Cormac laughs, too, and moves on to a different toy.

This is only one example.  He has taken to chucking his sippy cup across the kitchen, rather than placing it neatly in its holder on his tray like he used to.  A simple car ride can be a complete scream-fest.  

I am a little surprised these tantrum issues are coming up when he is barely a year old...

but I was a pretty defiant child, so I'm sure I'm just beginning to get my comeuppance. 

:)

I'll leave you with this Sesame Street video, which my "little" brother showed me {along with many other gems} during our family camping vacation last week.   It makes me smile, especially when I think of my little guy trying to gouge Cookie's eyes out.  (Twisted, I know.)  I think I've watched it about twenty times.  It makes me wish I worked for Sesame Street, so I could be in a video like this.
I would like to be cast either as a flash mob dancer, or the guy playing the xylophone.
Enjoy!
:)

g

book review: one thousand gifts by ann voskamp

The book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp was given to me as a Christmas gift from my sis-in-law Jen.  {not sure if she had read it but told me various friends had highly recommended it.}

The very night I was given the book I read about ten pages and, after several bouts of tears,  I had to put it down.   It started slow...and it was depressing, particularly for a new mama.  {spoiler alert: stories of children dying tragically.}  I didn't like it.

Six months later I picked it up again.   This time I gave it more than ten pages.  I gave it fifty - and that was all it took to get me hooked.  To move me.  She is a mother of six, on a farm, present day, homeschooling, tired, searching for meaning.

She finds it - in thankfulness.  The secret to a full life?  Being thank-full.

She writes a lot about the 'hurry' of life.  Rushing through and missing the little things that God wants us to notice and praise Him for.

The gifts.  Not the big ones - health, home, loved ones, car...

...the little things like the iridescent rainbow on a soap bubble while doing dishes.

So she is challenged to slow down.  To notice these little things and write them down in a notebook.

I have started lists like this several times - inspired by my dad, who has kept a list for years of things he is thankful for.  He calls it his arranain list.  {Sorry if I spelled that wrong, Dad!}

However, I always get frustrated while writing the list, because I always want to start with the "big things," and then get so caught up in describing why I am thankful for them that I tend to abandon because it seems so overwhelming.

The list Voskamp shares in One Thousand Gifts sets up a different kind of arranain.  It is the simple things that you would only notice if you slowed down long enough to see and truly appreciate them.   The way she writes them is beautiful.  In fact, the way she writes the entire book is beautiful.  You can hear the joy in her words.   She is poetic without being pretentious.

Following her example made it easy to start my list, not worrying about the obvious "big blessings" but focusing rather on the little, lovely things that make up every single day.

Here are a few from my list:

- warm, sweaty snuggles with arms wrapped around my neck, breathing steady and even.
- the vibrance of the center of a coneflower, orange quills reaching towards the sun
- an extra fifteen minutes of quiet in the morning with a steaming cup of coffee.

I could write for hours, but, like Voskamp, it is easier just to keep a notebook nearby and write them down as I notice them.  Reading over my list, especially when feeling particularly "ungrateful," fills my heart and makes me remember.

I recommend One Thousand Gifts, and making your own list.  You'll be amazed at how easily the words will flow from your pen...or fingertips. :)

PS - Another on my list...house sold!

g

thrifty find: burlap lamp shades

Right now I am loving the natural fiber of burlap -- and apparently so is Pottery Barn and the rest of the world!  :D  

While flipping through my PB catalog for design inspiration I was completely drawn to their new burlap lampshades. 

{pb}

But sigh, I cannot pay $70 for a lampshade.

This is when I turn to Target, who has a similar product {okay, so not as luxe} for only $19.  

{target}

So I snagged the large version to replace the broken shade on the Eiffel Tower lamp in our living room.

Of course, Hubby still thought $19 was expensive "for a lampshade."  

:)

g

the {one year} photos

Portrait photographers deserve the utmost respect.   Particularly kiddo portrait photographers.  At least the good ones do.

I don't know how they do it.

Get those kids to smile.  Get those kids to look 'normal.'  Get those kids to actually have fun while getting their photos taken without having a meltdown.  Keep those parents from having a meltdown.

Saturday morning I tried to get "good" photographs of my family, and while I love a challenge, might have been easier/better {albeit more expensive}to have just hired someone.  {I think I said this to Hubby about 100 times during the process.} 

I love photography and getting creative...but flowers and food are more my forte.

My one-year-old was nearly impossible to shoot.  Even with my sweet hubby there to corral him.  He just would not look at the camera.   He would look anywhere but at the camera.

There were a few moments that worked, though.  My favorites came when least expected, like on a dumpy storefront stoop, with mangy alley cats there to mesmerize the boy.

So the morning wasn't a total loss.  Here are some that half-way turned out -- or were just funny to me {like the face smooshing shot.}

I love this mural in our city - so I had to use it in some shots!

  

Rather than try endlessly to keep his shoes on, I let him go barefoot.  Gotta choose your battles.  Plus, we're in Kentucky.  {that joke never gets old, right?}

I didn't let the boy actually touch these cats, but the hubby did in order to try to distract the boy, which resulted in a major allergic reaction.   Sneezing, red eyes, the whole bit.  

My favorite!

Okay, so I look like a total dork here...but love the bright yellow gate, and do you spy the old claw-foot tub waaay down the alley?  So cool!

this camera was just a prop - I have no idea if it really works.

Sometimes, it is just easier to resort to your own backyard.

this pic looks like poor Cormac is being tortured.  epic fail!  

Ever tried to take your own family portraits?  Was it as difficult for you as it was for me?

Yet, in the end, a few treasures!

And Hubby saying, "Wasn't that fun?"  

and only sounding half-way sarcastic.

g