It's Official

Well, it's official.
The couch and chair set have been sent off to the upholstery shop. Both the upholsterer and my husband screamed in horror when I suggested cutting off the legs, and changing them out for more modern, sleek ones. SO, I was overridden, and I am keeping the frame the way that it is. Cost of refinishing the wood framing on both pieces- 500 dollars. Cost of re-upholstering each pieces 950 dollars....I think I am going to throw up.
But, in the end, I have been saving to have these re-finished for a while, I am ready to take the plunge, and have them re-stored to their once beautiful selves.
Plus, the upholstery guy said that once they are refinished, an antique appraisal will like come in at over 5,000 dollars for them... that is pretty cool.

So, it's official. I am committing to paying the excruciating amount of money it will cost to have my antique couch and chair set re-done. I have grown just a little tired of having 4 couches in my living room. So Rocky Mountain Upholstery picks up the antique set on Friday, and I am posting the other set on KSL this weekend for 600 bucks. I will used the 600 to find my dear husband a nice, neutral, traditional, Pottery Barn-esque sectional.



I heart this french chair (above) from Miss Mustard Seed Creations http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2010/12/french-chair-makeover.html
It was my main inspiration for how using drop cloths to re-upholster something, can make a piece turn out looking awesome, without spending alot.

I heart Cotton Love Home. Find it here http://shop.cottonlove.com.au/onlinestore.php. The chair above is SEXY-if a chair can be such a thing. I told the upholsterer that I wanted him to saw off the legs of my antique couch and chair, and reattach ones that look exactly like these. He thinks I am crazy.




This couch is a finished product from Rocky Mountain Upholstery in Utah. I think it's turned out awesome- I hope mine does too when they are finished with it. It better seeing as it is costing more than my first born to have re-done!

Couches, Couches, and More Couches

The problem with couches, is that they cost an un-holy amount more to refurbish than you would ever guess. When I bought these antique beasts (beasts, because they weigh more than I did at nine months pregnant) I thought that the 80 dollar price tag was a steal of a deal....

....Little did I know, the seller knew something that I didn't. This set would end up costing over 1200 dollars (not even including fabric) to re-upholster! Even if I stretch my budget and recover them in drop-cloth, I am appalled at the idea of spending that much on something that in the end will still only be masquerading as my true love couches from Restoration Hardware. So, here they sit. 4 couches in one tiny living room. And I am starting to think crazy. I am considering selling them all- and starting over. Buying a 400 dollar NEW set from Ikea and a more expensive slipcovered set from Evans Gatehouse. I could have 2 new sets for the price of this one- maybe. At least in my head it works out that way.

The Issue with Couches

My entire computer crashed this last weekend- We lost everything from the last three years. Baby pictures, family pictures, poems, essays, everything. SO there shall be no pictures for this posting. I bought an antique furniture set a month or so ago. I have visions of them one day looking just like the 4000 dollar restoration hardware couches that I can't afford. For now, they are green velvet, with peeling wood and a hole in one cushion.
A measly 850 dollars- and they could be the couches of my dreams- any one up for some charity work?

Things to be Greatful For

Random Things That I am Thankful for...

Delicious Children Who, though they keep their room like this...



I love anyway.

My parents, who started feeling bad for us and our falling apart-barely painted table, so they gave us an early Christmas present.....

Pretty Killer, huh.

I have been wanting these wire, topiary, thingy's for EVER....

so....

I finally caved and bought two of them. I am in love....


With these ruffly-shabby chic drapes

They make our bedroom feel like a cloud.

And of course, the always gorgeous, oak armoire-

I am thankful for the heated, half-finished mess that is this house, and this life...

I am thankful for the right now.

I have been gone A While

I'll be the first to admit.
I had some serious aspirations for this blog.
When we started out renovating this house, and doing this blog, I was all full of optimism about what both could become. I had visions of those gorgeous shabby chic houses you see on every other blog site out there.
Then reality set in.
I haven't posted in months because I am burnt out, and totally over this house.
Literally everything that could have been wrong with this house was. We ripped the entire inside down to the studs out of necessity and started over again- strained our budget until there is literally nothing left- and still have an entire basement left to finish.
It snowed yesterday- and we have no furnace. Not even any heat ducting to blow hot air anywhere even if we did have the furnace.
So, here we sit, in sweatshirts and sweats, hovering over space-heaters.
And I am feeling crabby.
No new pictures to offer, no pretty nick-nacks, because I can't even afford to buy drapes, badly needed dressers, or a single rug at this point.
No new entries, because my life is not a vacation, and I have to work. All day. Every day.
Maybe, at some point,
I will get over this Edgar Allen Poe moment I am having
and write a happier post.
:)

Long time no see! We have been actively renovating and moving over the last two months or so, and here it is. Finally, the big reveal of our 1950s brick cottage.


The floors in our living room were stripped and refinished. Look how amazing they look after 50 years!

Here is the master bedroom complete with my "cloud" bed. I plan to keep with a white color scheme in this room to keep things looking heavenly.

This is the newly completed closet size bathroom. By the way, who knew that faucets would cost an arm and a leg??

Our beautiful tile work made of travertine with glass accent tiles.

This is the pantry in our new kitchen. We got the cabinets from lowes, painted them white and smeared a brown glaze over them. Delicious.

Here is the new kitchen nook. The art is my fav, I have been wanting this painting for a very long time, and now here it is in my first kitchen!

The kitchen cabinets are made of knotty alder and distressed in the same way that we did the pantry. I love love love these cabinets. But they were also painfully expensive. SO, no granite counter tops for us. The Formica is called ebony mocha, I was drawn to it because the name sounded like coffee, and you know how much I worship coffee.

This is my favorite part of the kitchen. I love the staggered cabinets and I love my new oven.

There is lots more to do around here. The new dishwasher comes on Wednesday. I am so excited after doing dishes by hand for two months.

I am going into full hunting and decorating mode, and will be dragging you along with me whenever I can.

Love,

Kristin