Home Remodel (from a guest)

Linda from It All Started with Paint is here helping me out today! 

I know you are going to enjoy this!

Please welcome Linda! 

Hello Dreaming in Color readers! I'm so excited to be here!   I was thrilled when the very sweet and fun Deneen invited me to guest post. Oh, and if you're wondering about Deneen, I can personally attest that she is just as sweet and fun in person ... I had the pleasure of meeting her at Haven in August!   My name is Linda and I blog at It All Started with Paint …  

I started blogging two years ago to document my efforts as I redecorate my home, room-by-room, on a very tight budget. And after two years you would think that I've completed the entire house ...   but, sadly, there is still so much to do! Life keeps getting in the way ...   But I thought I'd give you a quick tour the rooms and projects I have completed. Let's start out front ...  

We live in Chicago and, as you can see, live in very close proximity to our neighbors ...   It’s a good thing we like them!   I love to dress up the front porch for Halloween; this year it features my favorite decoration ...  

The bats flying across the door.   When you climb the steps, you’ll be greeted by my painted-on porch rug. This project and tutorial was one of my very first blog posts …  

Once inside, you’ll be greeted by my board and batten entry. This space used to be very, very sad. A poor first impression. And a wasted use of space. But now it’s not only pretty … it's functional too. With plenty of hooks for coats and backpacks and hats ...  

After we installed the faux board and batten wall treatment the entry -- using only hammers, nails, and lots of hard-earned sweat equity – I made an executive decision that I needed it EVERYWHERE!   So the next day I ran out to the home improvement store and bought a brad nail gun and compressor.   I kid you not.   I’ve gone a bit batty for board and batten. It just seems to suit our 100+ year old home. So I installed it in our recently remodeled living room …  

I just love how the navy pops against the crisp white board and batten ...  

And I installed it in our recently remodeled dining room …  

A remodel that was inspired by my amazing navy and white striped rug …  

When you turn around, you’ll see that I haven’t yet installed board and batten in our kitchen …  

The kitchen.   *Sigh*   Where it all started. And where the blog name came from. My “honey, I think I’m going to paint the walls in the kitchen” steamrolled into a new quartz counter top and new glass tile back splash and new sink and faucet and ripping out and replacing the rotted out sink basin and me painting the builder-grade oak cabinets …  

Funny thing … I’m gearing up to give the kitchen a second makeover. Tee hee. Don't tell my husband. ;)   I see chunkier top molding. I see a lighter cabinet color palette. I see a chalkboard wall. I see exposed shelving. I see making more functional use of that load-bearing wall that separates the kitchen from the dining room …   It’s on the ever-expanding to do list.  

  Can I sigh again?   Then there’s the teeny, tiny first floor powder room.   It got in on the board and batten action as well ...  

  But it’s probably best know for my painted bathroom sink …  

  That’s right. I actually painted the sink …   Yeah. I’m crazy like that!   The upstairs bedrooms and baths are still in the planning stages, with the exception of my teen son’s room. Once he hit high school, it was time to grow things up. His only request was orange walls …  

The drop cloth drapes were my favorite project … and my favorite post. It’s a homage to my amazing, beautiful, creative, and talented sister who lost her battle with breast cancer seven years ago …  

  I’ll end this house tour out back. On the screen porch …  

  A refuge for us Chicago dwellers. A place we dream about for nine {and some years ten} months out of the year …  

Even Ernie the beagle likes to get in on the outdoor action!   Thank you Deneen for inviting me to guest post!   Oh, and I have a second blog too. One that's all about the millions of things people do with their mason jars ...  

and it doesn't involve canning! :)  


Thanks Linda for being here! Hope you enjoyed this as much as I have!



  

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