Current House – Page 29

Bentwood and Marble

Published on May 13, 2016May 26, 2016 by Our Humble Abode4 Comments

Three years ago I stumbled on a cute little bent wood stool with a cane top. It was a mere eight dollars and cute as can be. Sadly, the cane top was already broken, a slight tear along the edge. Regardless, I set it by the claw foot tub in the master bath, to hold towels and such.

Several months ago, someone, I don’t know who, stepped or sat on the top and further damaged it.

On another thrift shop stop, I spotted a white marble serving tray, priced at three bucks. Not having an exact use, I still bought it, knowing I’d find a use for it somewhere/sometime.

It sat in the cabinet for a few weeks. As I was cleaning the bathroom, I moved the stool, and a lightbulb went off. Would the marble fit on the stool? I dug it out, flipped the stool to a side, and set the marble on. Wouldn’t you know it, the marble was a perfect match!

Knowing the shoe (marble) fit, I cut off the broken cane. After pulling the outer cane strip off, I set the marble back on.

It’s the perfect pairing, adding a solid surface to set a plant and candle, or stack of towels on.

Not exactly a DIY, more a matter of luck, but it made a huge difference. In fact, we did something similar to update our living room end tables.

Further proof that white marble can cure nearly home related problem. Moral of the story? Buy all the affordable white marble when you see it. Even if they’re cute, relatively useless small stemmed glasses.

Just trust me on this one, you’ll find a use for it.

Basement Bedroom Plans

Published on May 10, 2016May 11, 2016 by Our Humble Abode6 Comments

Now that we’re nearing the end of (parts of) the basement remodel, I’m determined more than ever to put together a cohesive, inviting, and colorful room. The newly created bedroom will serve as an overflow/more secluded guest room, at least until our kids are old enough to want separate sleeping spaces. Right now, the room looks like this:

She’s all dressed up with nowhere to go. All the trim is painted Simply White and walls are Templeton Gray, both from Benjamin Moore. Carpet has been finalized and ordered, but we’re waiting on install. After that, we can put closet doors on, and get what little furniture we have back in here.

Right now, the only piece of furniture we have is a mattress. Everything else still has to be built/found, but that hasn’t stopped the ideas swirling around in my brain. Some days I want a plush upholstered headboard. Others, I’m brainstorming up a beautiful leather creation. And then there are days I want nothing but a simple wooden headboard. This beauty has stolen my heart (as with many of the other items in the mid century Chairish collection), but it’s two sizes too small for our California King sized mattress.

Even if the size isn’t right, it doesn’t mean I can’t use it as an inspiration/jumping off point to create something like this:

I’ve mimicked the wall, trim, and carpet colors before layering in some of my favorite elements. Neutrals mixed with a few bits of color, but nothing overwhelming. Above the bed, I’d love to frame a turkey tail my father-in-law gave me.

If the final headboard is neutral, I’d love to add in some more color with painted night stands or dressers flanking the bed. These green beauties by The Painted Hive are so fantastic. ;lkuefrlkaseliuth Oops, that was me, wiping the drool off my keyboard. Lamps are still up in the air until I find a pair I love. Sconces are also an option, depending on the size of the night stands I can muster up. Have you noticed the trend? Everything is in flux, each item depending on another to know which way to take the design.

Over the years, I’ve realized I absolutely loathe making king beds with solid colored sheets. Since the dimensions are so close, it always seems like I get the wrong side on and have to start over again. Striped sheets not only look pretty, but the directional pattern is helpful when making a nearly square bed.

When I selected the wall color, I knew I wanted something that wasn’t a neutral, but would easily pair and complement my favorite colors: blues, greens, and mustards. A beautiful, but simple color blocked lumbar pillow in a neutral and mustard colorway is just enough color.

For a bit more green, I’d love to hang a pair of beautiful prints by the ever so lovely Living Pattern shop. I especially like the Pine and Maidenhair ferns.

Depending on how the space feels, I may or may not add a bench at the foot of the bed. If that happens, I’d love a natural linen tufted beauty. At this point, I haven’t had much luck finding pieces I absolutely love. A test of my patience is probably going to happen, and I’m always impatiently waiting.

Carpet Sampling

Published on May 5, 2016May 5, 2016 by Our Humble Abode3 Comments

Choosing carpet isn’t something we’ve done often. In our first house, the only rooms with the cushy stuff were the basement bedrooms. At this house, hardwood and tile are the only flooring types currently installed, but that will change soon. Before we can get to install, we had shopping and serious deliberations to go through. Ironically (or luckily?) carpet is the element Ben and I disagree on most.

At the beginning of our search, I said I preferred patterns created by texture, something like this. A shorter, dense pile that holds up better to foot traffic, with subtle interest from the pattern. All great selling points in my book.

Ben, however, prefers for his carpet to feel, well, like a wall to wall mattress. Thicker + cushier = better. I tease that he’s a princess about area rugs and carpet, and he doesn’t argue against that.

He also wanted nylon fibers, which greatly whittle down the available options. After hitting up several stores, we dragged any and all interesting sample boards home to evaluate.

I nearly had him ready to pull the trigger on the waffle-esque pattern, but then he talked to installers. Always researching, that guy. Turns out, installers don’t really like the pattern, because it takes considerably more time and effort to keep the lines straight. Essentially, the pattern is like tile and grout lines, but can easily be stretched out of alignment. Crooked walls are even more of an obstacle. Unlike tile, as carpet wears the fibers loosen and look saggy, needing restretching down the road. Often times, the wear is not even throughout the room, and certain areas can be stretched up to several inches while others go untouched. For these reasons, a patterned carpet was officially out of the running. Womp, womp, wooooomp.

Back on the hunt for a plush carpet we could agree on. Here were our basic considerations to get to our final choice:

1. Fiber type: In our search we found that the majority of carpets carried are polyester, polypropylene, or a polyester blend. Yes, there are some nylon, wool, cotton and other fibers, but polyester seems to greatly outnumber the other options. Generally speaking, nylon costs more, but is the strongest fiber, thus can handle heavier foot traffic. Nylon carpets hold their twist better, preventing the worn look of frayed ends. For this reason alone, Ben wanted a nylon carpet.

2. Pile length: From my wish list, I wanted a shorter, dense pile to minimize the look of traffic patterns. Just like grass, the longer it is, the more obvious the wear.

3. Face weight: The face weight of a carpet is how many ounces of one yard of actual fiber (not including the backing). To generalize, the higher the weight equals a more dense and better quality carpet. That is, assuming the pile length is the same. If it’s really easy to feel (or even see) the backing, the lower the face weight will be.

4. Coloring: With the carpets we considered, we had the choice between solid or flecked. I immediately eliminated the obviously speckled look, since it’s just not my thing. On the other hand, in some cases, Ben likes the interest it adds.

5. Price: Like all products, there’s a wide variety, covering all ends of the price spectrum. We didn’t set a budget for carpet, instead, we wanted the quality and durability to take priority.

After checking all of those boxes, we had our winner: a nylon, 70 ounce face weight, subtly speckled plush carpet that feels like walking on a cloud.

Of course, there was one last debate-colors. I loved the lighter slightly oatmeal gray, Sharkskin, to keep the rooms feeling bright. Ben, being the more practical of the two of us, liked the darker, more forgiving if spilled on Grey Flannel.

Both are good neutrals and will work, but I really pushed for the lighter, arguing these aren’t high traffic areas. Ben still insisted on the dark, and I gave up the fight. When making so many house design/decor decisions, we’re in 100% agreement. Sometimes, Ben just doesn’t have an opinion (typically when paint colors are involved). Since he so rarely insists on something, I couldn’t argue.

In both doorways, the carpet will butt up to the slate tile, so the darker will allow the color to flow a bit more seamlessly.

The basement has been measured, carpet is ordered, and we’re waiting for it to arrive and be installed. One last step to moving furniture back into these rooms and finishing the laundry and bathroom.

Basement Trim & Paint Progress

Published on April 29, 2016April 29, 2016 by Our Humble Abode10 Comments

Basement progress hasn’t been quick, but with a down-to-the-studs starting point, I guess that’s only natural. It’s been a while since the last update, so here’s a run down of the changes made. Directly ahead from the base of the stairs and garage door is the mud nook with the bedroom beyond.

We spent two weekends hanging sheetrock before hiring a crew to tape, mud, sand, and prime to avoid getting bogged down. Money well spent, if you ask us. Right after they finished, we laid slate tiles in a herringbone pattern (same as the kitchen). Next, Ben hung doors and installed baseboards, crown, and door trim while I filled, caulked, and painted doors.

With all the trim filled, I spent most of my waking hours painting. Just painting away. First trim, then walls. We carried the same paint from the main level down the stairs, and into the hallway.

In the south facing bedroom, I wanted to use a bolder color. Something to break up all of the neutrals in the adjoining spaces.

Enter Templeton Gray from Benjamin Moore. It reminds me of dark and stormy skies; blue with enough gray to keep it from feeling bright. Depending on the lighting, it can look gray or blue. A color that can easily pair with golds, mustard yellows, navy, wood tones, and my favorite-green.

Bedroom and closet doors are waiting in the wings, ready to install soon.

Back out in the hall, the first door leads to the laundry room.

To save space, we installed a pocket door, and modified the trim to fit the lowered ceilings.

Let’s continue down the hall, toward the theater room.

Duct work runs the length of the hall, lowering the ceilings by about one foot.

In an effort to minimize the height difference, I carried the wall color up to the ceiling.

Down in the theater, the duct continues through part of the room.

To create a dark, enveloping room, I chose a deep green for the walls, Jasper from Sherwin Williams, in a flat finish. As with the hall, the color continues onto the lowered ceiling.

Eventually, we’ll mount the TV to the wall with a cabinet below.

This shot is the most accurate color representation. It’s exactly what I hoped for, dark enough, but still looks green.

Carpet samples are on their way here so we can decide on a color before ordering. Once carpet is in, we can officially start using these rooms!

Thanks to the configuration, we had to make the theater door swing into the hall to avoid a door awkwardly sticking out.

Through that door is a storage space, which would be a closet if used as a bedroom.

Looking back down the hall, the doorway on the left is the bathroom, laundry after that, and mechanical straight ahead.

And the nearly after view, minus missing carpet and lights until the paint has cured.

I’ve got ideas swirling in my head for furniture and accessories, which I can’t wait to get a start on.

Door Handles

Published on April 21, 2016April 21, 2016 by Our Humble Abode6 Comments

For the most part, decisions for the basement have been made based on the main level. Mainly what will flow, so we’ve carried elements throughout for continuity. Painted six panel doors, same trim, slate flooring, and white tongue and groove are all joining the party. One choice however, has prompted a change on the main level:

It’s subtle, but maybe this will make it more obvious?

If you still can’t tell, we changed out all the door handles and hinges.

After looking at several options, we landed on the Latitude series from Schlage in satin nickel. I chose based on looks while Ben’s choice was based on durability, reputation, and a lifetime guarantee.

Gone are the shiny brass paddle style levers that adorned each main level door when we bought this house. I know the brass trend is still going strong, but I prefer it in unlacquered form.

The basement had all standard cheapo knobs straight out of the 70’s.

Now that we’re at the point in the basement to, you know, install/need doors and handles, we bit the bullet and bought enough for both levels.

Clean, tailored lines are beautiful, but also really easy to wipe down. With two messy boys, wipeability is always a consideration.

More often than not, it’s the tiny details that make me happiest. Even something as miniscule and trite as door handles. It’s always a great reminder not to ignore smaller elements, as they still have an impact on every finished space.