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Keeping It Simple

Published on April 10, 2014April 10, 2014 by Our Humble Abode8 Comments

I have a tendency to over complicate my life and the things in it. I’m slightly OCD and a perfectionist by nature, so laundry must be folded just so. The dishwasher loaded the correct way. And I don’t do well with messes. Of course none of these things really matter, I understand that. Trying to get the crazy side of me to recognize it however, is a different story. Another area I’m trying to simplify is my decor. Too often, I feel the more, the better. Look at the old entry for instance:

Statement-type mirror, frames, necessities (the light, key tray and bench), and knickknacks. Wiping the slate clean after the tongue and groove wall really made me realize how nice the simplicity is. I propped a black mirror up, but didn’t like the added visual weight. And the reflection looked cluttered.

Instead, I replaced it with a white frame, large white mat, and a sweet little painting from Painting Well.

Balanced by the large expanse of white, the small rectangle of cheery colors don’t over power the space.

Nor does it compete with the horns.

Keeping the art lower to the console means the art ‘interacts’ more with that scene than the higher horns.

As for the console decor, we’ve got the basics. The small bench for putting on or taking off shoes. A lamp to leave on at night, the mitten/hat drying rack, a key tray, and small bowl of stamps. More than enough room to set things like mail or sunglasses, but they’re not permanent.

Goodness Gray-cious

Published on April 8, 2014April 8, 2014 by Our Humble Abode19 Comments

My quest to repaint the entry, living, and dining rooms took a lot longer than I expected. First painting the new crown and waiting for it to thoroughly dry. Next, a last coat on the tongue and groove wall.

Followed up with a first coat of paint on the walls. Then tackling the ceiling where my shoulder and neck started cramping. I ran out of wall paint and went back to get a third gallon, but we had issues matching the color, so the walls are slightly different from my original color. But, now these dingy peach walls:

Are no more. Totally worth the days of plowing through. Instead we’ve got fresh light gray walls to bounce the light around. Make no mistake, the room is still one thousand miles from done, but much improved.

And hey, we’ve got a solid color. No more patched sheet rock or paint swatches.

Unfortunately, I can’t say they’ll stay that way forever. The too tall French door will become a standard window and the bay window a sliding door. After replacing the windows, we’ll update the window trim to match the rest of the house. If I nail down my stair railing plan soon enough, we might be able to replace it soon, too. Say it with me, no more orange stained oak!

For now, I’m just happy to have baseboard (and the entertainment center toe kick!) and blank walls.

This was unfinished far, far too long.

Whenever I paint, I pull out every nail, patch it, and then start anew. Which is why I have only a few frames on the walls. Still deciding on the rest.

Even so, I’m not desperate to slap things up in an attempt to hide something ugly on the walls.

And that’s the power of paint. Or love, as Huey Lewis might say. Sweet, sweet victory. Even if I will have to do it all over again after windows.

Gimme a Giveaway: Easy, Tiger

Published on April 4, 2014April 4, 2014 by Our Humble Abode36 Comments

Allow me to introduce you to a fun little shop Easy, Tiger.

The shop is stocked with funny cards, shirts, and art prints. This Best at Life print will get here soon, and I’m so excited for it.

How about a humurous Blah Blah Blah print?

Stock up on fun cards like Keep it Down card:

Or the Wishbone card:

Maybe you want a cute shirt like the Gray Script Font Shirt:

Whichever item/s you prefer, one lucky winner will get to choose some favorites.

The Goods: A $50 gift certificate good for or toward anything in the Easy, Tiger shop.

To Enter: Leave a comment, which can (but doesn’t have to) include our Just for Fun question.

Just for Fun: If you were to have a personal catch phrase, what would it be? I’ve been catching up on How I Met Your Mother, and Barney’s Legen wait for it, dary is fun. So is Whoa Easy, Tiger.

For additional entries:

1. Like Our Humble Abode on Facebook, and comment again for two total entries.

Contest Closes: Thursday, April 24th.

Number of Winners: Just one, chosen by Random.org.

Ships: Anywhere in the US.

Other Info: We will select the winners using random.org and announce on Friday, April 25th.

Hung Up on Horns

Published on April 3, 2014April 3, 2014 by Our Humble Abode19 Comments

I’ve still got one coat of paint to finish the ceiling, but the rest of the entry, living, and dining room painting is done. It’s amazing how much lighter and brighter everything looks. Especially the entry. Boy has it come a long way over the last month or so. We started with this beige box of ugliness:

And now we’ve got a modernized, slightly rustic, light space.

Peachy beige walls looked sad and dingy, especially against my vintage Longhorns.

To create a light backdrop with warm texture (not the heavy knock down), Ben hung tongue and groove pine planks.

Installing simple crown moulding throughout the room for a crisp edge helped finish off the top of the accent wall.

And giving it three good coats of white paint to finish it off for a neutral backdrop.

Along with the freshly painted light gray walls, the room feels clean and fresh.

Not only does the tongue and groove cover the giant wall of knock down, it also acts as a huge stud wall. Planks nailed into studs every 16 inches are completely secure, and the boards can easily hold the weight of art.

Don’t the horns and light fixture contrast nicely now?

Once our new windows come in, hopefully next week, we’ll replace the door and window.

Usually a fully white wall feels sterile and cold to me, but the knots and grooves keep it interesting.

I’ve never had an accent wall, but I have to say I love it. Seeing the horns and light against it just makes me giddy. My parents will be here soon, and I’m excited for my mom to see her horns proudly displayed.

The Ole Switcharoo

Published on March 31, 2014March 31, 2014 by Our Humble Abode6 Comments

Unfortunately I’m still not finished painting the entry, living and dining rooms like I had hoped. However, I did get a first coat on the ceiling and walls. We hauled the big furniture out so I didn’t have to work around it.

While the sectional was out, I fully realized how much the big beast closed off the room. Though I still have another coat to put on the ceiling, we moved the sofa, chairs, and coffee table to the living room.

When we replace the sectional, I want a normal sofa and two chairs. It’s amazing how much bigger, brighter, and more open the living room feels now. Walking completely around the couch is possible when it wasn’t before.

Seeing the open railing, and those coming in the door, is a great perk, too. And having easy access to end tables? It’s so convenient.

Cozy upholstered chairs would be nice along with a long, rectangular coffee table.

After nearly two years of living here with the same furniture arrangement, this feels so fresh and inviting. And gives us an idea of what we want as replacement stuff.

For now, the sectional awaits its fate in the family room. Where it awkwardly fills the space.

Though there’s still enough walking space to get to the back door, it’s much more cut off than the previous layout.

Most strange is the focal point it has to face. The wall and entry.

The behemoth is 10 feet wide by 7 feet long, so it won’t fit in the 14 foot wide family room any other way.

Another annoying thing about this? If centered on the rug, it’s close to the fireplace when lit.

Finally moving things around has made us even more sure we want to replace the sectional with a standard sofa and chairs. Now to agree on the perfect couch, which is more difficult for us than it should be. Ben wants leather, I want something with removable, flippable seat cushions. Typically those two don’t go together, so a compromise must be made.