So this is where we're currently living.
Louisiana
It's a bit like camping compared to our last house which was a new build, 4 bedroom, 4 bath. This house is like 100 years old and just a 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Oh, and it was built before washing machines existed so there's isn't a separate laundry room. I have to fold clothes on my bed like I live in a dorm again, ha! Luckily for me I like the people I live with so adjusting to just 2,000 sq ft hasn't been a challenge.
Barker was nice enough to make a few changes to make me feel more comfortable considering this is by far the oldest house I've ever lived in. If we were going to be here for a while we'd add on quite a bit and tear out the entire kitchen but since this is temporary we're just putting a little lipstick on the place, no major reconstructive surgery here.
And can I just say, I hate giving a little 'tour' here. I think unless you live in the Taj Mahal or a colonial built in the 1800's you recently fully updated, you really don't need to give anyone a tour of your house. Barker once walked people around our new build and I was like "What are you doing? No one needs to see our bedroom, bathroom or closet! It's a square room with a bed in it. Everyone has one.They don't care." It's just weird to me. But I've had several people ask to see pictures since this house is so different than what I'm used to. So here I am, blogging about a totally normal, everyday house, and getting on my own nerves.
Before:
The original color of the living room was a khaki color. The color wasn't that bad but it wasn't painted well. And I CAN'T STAND when the paint in my house isn't a perfect, crisp line. That's a must.
This was the color in the front bathroom. Yep. Bright red with nautical border. BORDER! I hadn't seen border wallpaper since the 90's. Well, maybe I have but didn't even notice it because it wasn't slapped on top of bright red.
the hunter green color in the dining room
hunter green master
This awful pear wallpaper was in the kitchen. Seriously. Gross.
The room that is now Hudson's was painted blue. I like blue in a house if it's a very pale gray-blue or navy. This was neither. It was like day care, primary color blue. And painted very sloppily. Walking through the house I knew Benjamin Moore was going to be happy to see us walk through the door. (I only use Benjamin Moore paint)
Speaking of doors...
These door knobs are throughout the house.
They're way more girly than anything I ever allow myself to buy so I quite like them.
Oh and we left most of our decorative things like pictures, mirrors, etc in storage so even though the house is set up, it still looks a bit bare. Maybe at some point we'll find our frames, vases, what have you. Or maybe not. I don't really care either way. I'm no Martha Stewart.
After:
living room
Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
We also painted our bedroom this color but I didn't take a picture of it cause I don't like people in my room, even just a picture. It just weirds me out.
dining room
Benjamin Moore Antique Pewter
The front bathroom is also now this color. Goodbye lighthouses.
kitchen
Nothing I can do about the bad cabinets or hunter green tile floor, but I can live with those temporarily. However, the saggy pear wallpaper had to go. And man do I miss granite. How do people live without it? I'm finding out now.
Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
playroom
I can't do anything about the wood paneling but I surprisingly like other things about this room. It has a huge built in bookcase (left) so I didn't have to bring either of the kid's book cases. That made Barker happy. Plus, it is almost all windows and we love the natural light. (I took this picture at night when I had the drapes closed.) One wall is brick. I love that. And this is the only room with carpet in the whole house. Luckily it's brand new. I would be grossed out if my kids were laying on nasty old carpet. But it's new and protects their heads from the inevitable falls. It's working well as a playroom.
Audrey's room
It looks a bit sea foam here because I took the picture at night with just her chandelier and my flash, no natural light. But it's really more of a pale blue like her sheets. She likes her room. It has 5 windows and a large floor to ceiling mirror. I'm going to buy a dowel rod to put across it so she can practice ballet.
Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue
Hudson's room
I love the 'puppy dog tails' we hang his coat and church bag on. I also like that it has two doors. One to the hall, near a bathroom and another that opens to our room. It's so nice to grab him when he wakes up in the morning and throw him in our bed to cuddle until Audrey wakes up. Oh, and he refused to walk across the cowhide rug for a while. He'd tip toe around it. If you sat him in the middle he'd get so mad and crawl off of it since it's faster than carefully walking across. It's not surprising since he's still a vegetarian. I blame Johanna.
Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
Our last house had a desk built in. And the desk in our house before that was mine from college. Not good. I think I even left it in the attic there. So I thought I'd buy an old desk and paint it. I figured it would be cheaper and way cuter than buying some cheap particle board desk from Office Max or Target or something. And I won't feel bad about buying a nicer one later in a long term home. So I headed out to the antique shops and 30 minutes later I found this little old desk and a chair at the antique mall across from Centenary.
The next day we bought some paint.
I meant to get a before picture but Barker is a quick one.
We painted them black, then Barker took some sand paper to various bits to give it a distressed appearance. I was going to buy new hardware but Barker really liked the brass knobs on it.
It's the perfect size for Audrey to do her home school activities and crafts in the playroom. And I think Barker had fun giving it a makeover. I should have known he wouldn't let me do this project alone, that boy can't sit still. But I don't have to worry about him coming home with old furniture to paint every weekend because we still have a dining room, living room, and two bedrooms worth of furniture from our last house that's still in storage. The last thing we need is more furniture, or a new hobby for Barker. After he finished this project he relocated his plant starters from the kitchen to the green house, played soccer with the kids, and grilled some steaks and sweet potatoes. Busy bee.
