Salvage finds

The high/low challenge from HGTV was fun -- if you're into that kind of stuff -- which, if you're reading, you probably are.  Look at these four sets of items and choose which one has the lowest price tag:

Then find the answers here!  This was that contest I won... or well, at least won a HGTV t-shirt or something! :)

----        anyhooo.... back to reality....     ------

There is this 'surplus' or 'recycle' store that I've visited a few times now - called Construction Junction.  Sometimes there is a lot of junk, sometimes there is a lot of cool finds -- like this one:

AND I found TWO of them!  Perfect!  I have two open holes next to the guest bed windows.  They look period-specifics (at least to me... 1930's that is...).  Actually I found these a year ago and just haven't used them yet.  I believe $8 a piece or $8 total.  Yes, not a hell-uv-a-good-deal but that's okay.

They have some paint on them, so we polish it off AND find some brass!  Perfect!  

We'll just peel the paint away (sanding, polishing, or soaking in a slow cooker on high with dish soapy water -- then peeling it off) and then we'll have a beautiful brass fixture!

Or not...

There is a yucky steel under this paint.  Blech.

So, we found some hammered nickel spray paint so that will look well with the ceiling fan.  Spray painting is the easy part -- wiring it is not!  That is on our to-do list this wknd... as well as too many other things :)

Hopefully I'll be able to share a picture of these installed... soon... (Tom?)

On a different note - I am in serious need of covering or 'dressing' my windows. We have far TOO many windows, truly (38 windows?  Tom?).  We MADE some curtains on Saturday - yahoo!  MAJOR thanks to my amazing mother-in-law!  (and then that night, she watched the kiddos while we went out for our anniversary!!)

Check them out!  Still need to add some more hooks to make it sit against the window better.. And now I also feel like I need to add something up top!  That will be a wayyyy later type of project...

A couple weeks ago I had an interior designer here, Kay.  She's not very good with using email, but she definitely has the designer 'look' going on for an older woman! 

She was with Caldwell's Windoware.  I was impressed actually (despite thinking I might not be after a few conversations...  She brought some awesome samples though!

I believe we will go with one of those 'bamboo' looking shades with a valance up top - that way I don't hide the beautiful woodwork we took so much time to strip/sand/stain last year.  I think our living room will be our project for the next spring/summer/fall.  We need to close those holes in the fireplace, paint that, install a beautiful mantle, fix the french doors - DRESS the doors and windows... and probably get new furniture to fit.  Thats a LOAD of work - but enough work for the entire year I think! :)

Do you spy what I spy?  :)  Besides the mess of course...

Reduce, reuse, recycle,

Heather

WOW

WOW.

I literally said, "WOW!!" out loud the other day.  And then I said, "I can't believe its only been two months!".

In a matter of two months time, we have gone from this:

To this:





THAT IS UNREAL!  We have done ALL of this ourselves (other than carpet install, but I still had to go there and pick it out!)

AND with a small infant and 3 yr old!  Of course, couldn't have done it without the help of family, friends, babysitters, etc.  Mind you, we don't have any family in town!  (Although the in-laws make it here pretty frequently)

What color should I add to this gray room?  Let me know.. I'm debating.  Rick agreed with me, it needs a pop of color!

Next up?  Finish this dag-on bathroom!  We have visitors (in-laws) this weekend - and we haven't had a chance to have the ducts cleaned.  Too much construction debris in there to turn on the furnace...

Also, I found someone to make drapes for us!  Yes!  She is currently working on those, I cannot wait!  I have some more projects for her after the new year too (granted she does a great job).  Anyone in Pittsburgh - she said she love to sew something for you if you need it!  Apparently, I know a bunch of moms who are great sewers (I just talked to another mom who made her babies crib sheets!  What?!?!)

Happy Tuesday ya'll!

OH!  I forgot!  I felt like a real 'home designer' the other day!  There was this challenge on HGTV - and I won!  Basically, it had photos of two very similar items, and you had to guess which one was the cheapest.  I didn't see anyone else with the same comments as me... but I went with my gut :).  Here is the link - take a guess and make a comment below... I'll write the answer next time!

In the name of good home design -

Heather