Final pictures of the living room area

looking toward the kitchen and dining room:from the sliding doors, looking into the room:
looking from the dining room:
I really sweated over these curtains, trying to find just the right color and fabric. I wanted some kind of nubby silk, but that would have cost thousands for all these windows, on top of the couple thousands it took to get the solar shades up. So these are Ikea curtains, $30 a pair, with 50" wide panels so I only needed about 9 pairs to get decent coverage. The ceiling-mounted rods were a really juicy find - 10' wide that could go out to about 15', on clearance from JC Penney for $13. I had to make up for it with the specialty hooks with little clamps to hold the panels costing about $30 per pair of panels. So that would put the total at about $700 for nearly 30' of windows.

looking toward the sliding doors and deck - showing the remainders of the huge snow we had in January and February. I brought the patio furniture back out to the deck, but still had to wait several days before i could arrange it and put up the umbrella.

Bathroom

The focus has changed from living in it to getting ready to leave, which is not nearly as satisfying. But now it is about the product rather than the process. And the tub and shower units are still here. As it turns out, my esteemed Plumber and Water Master, Rick Littreal, told me that these are vastly superior to most of what is on the market now, and that I don't need to feel bad about leaving them in.

But I still like tile the best.

Here is the latest bathroom tiling project:

This is the wall that runs perpendicular to the kitchen. It is really part of the dining area, but is adjacent to the kitchen.

I love this little leather chair that fits the kneehole space so well. The countertop is abnormally low, so I expected to have a much more difficult time finding one. Again, new doors/drawer fronts, hardware, and countertops.

Kitchen of the Year

I was sure I would have to gut the kitchen to get results like this. Okay, yes, the appliances are all new, but otherwise it is just new doors, hardware and countertops, and a mosaic tile backsplash that marries all the colors together. I am flabbergasted that this was less than $10,000 when the average kitchen reno comes in over $25,ooo.

Big Change of Plans

All this time I thought I was renovating this house for us. But now I know I was getting it ready to sell. There is so much about this place I love, and it looks better every day. So I am trying to wrap my brain around the notion of moving out. I am finishing up the final details, and with any luck the sign will be out in front of the house by the end of the week. So tomorrow I will walk through and take lots of pictures to post. Sniff.

My Review of White Canvas 24" Wide Four Light Pendant Chandelier

My Review of White Canvas 24" Wide Four Light Pendant Chandelier

Originally submitted at Lamps Plus

Modern simplicity is exemplified by this drum shade pendant chandelier. A 1/8" thick acrylic diffuser at the bottom of the shade prevents glare. The design includes extra cable and cord for a versatile hanging height.

• 10 feet adjustable overall hanging height.
• 32" pre-set...

White Canvas 24" Wide Four Light Pendant Chandelier

Gorgeous!

By renovationbloviatrix from Blacksburg VA on 2/25/2010

 

5out of 5

Pros: Quality Construction, Great Illumination, Easy To Hang, Easy To Change Bulb, Attractive Design, Stable Design

Best Uses: Over Table, High Ceilings, Primary Light Source, Decoration

Describe Yourself: Midrange Shopper

Pros: This is over my dining room table in an open floor plan and works perfectly. It makes a striking statement, but doesn't get in the way or look as showy or ridiculous as some designs might. The shade does not obstruct the view across the room because it is not very tall. It is an outstanding choice for a space that is modern or transitional, which are the two styles I needed to encompass. I wish there was a smaller "mini-pendant" version for my kitchen island. A smaller version would also have been just what i wanted for the reading lights on each side of our bed.

Cons: It is a bit tricky getting the shade leveled with the 4 suspension wires, but it is worth messing around with. the adjustment mechanism is easy to operate, so it just takes some time and patience. (Beside the obvious reason, it has to be leveled so the diffuser inside won't look crooked when the light is on.) i will point out that the center electrical cord should be longer than the 4 suspension wires. My electrician installed it with that cord hanging straight. I had to ask him to adjust it so it would have that graceful sigmoidal curve, which meant it ended up a bit higher than i had intended it to be, but that is an insignificant detail when the fixture is so beautiful.

I chose this partly because i am getting ready to sell the house and wanted it to be stylish but not over the top. We are moving to an apartment and I wish I could take this with us.

(legalese)