This Old House - The Reveal

The Painters are done! Click here for The Before.

And now I proudly present...

The After:

And one moment of abject panic when I prayed that these guys were as good as their word:

And (thank you, God), they were.

Next on the agenda? Onward and upward. Apparently, we need a new roof...

This Old House

We moved into our house in September of 2002. I was seven months pregnant. Our house was what most first time home buyers search for and sometimes get, if they're lucky. A house with good bones in a great neighborhood. What we also got was a total of two feet of counter space, an original 1930s bathroom, old hardwood covered by meh carpeting, and wallpaper you'd have to see to believe.

Since that time, we've enlarged and redone the kitchen and bathroom, refinished all the hardwood, built out a playroom in the basement, replaced all the windows, and stripped, painted, and painted (and painted) walls, woodwork, and ceilings.

Oh, and we also found time to have two babies, change jobs, become a SAHM, and all the other things my addled brain can't recall just now.

I think I made this list mostly to remind myself how far we've come. And to justify the pictures I'm about to show you. We've been busy! But now that the inside is done-ish and because the prospect of rotting wood has made our next step far from just cosmetic, we're getting around to painting the outside of the house! Without further ado, I present...

THE BEFORE:

Our current color is dandruff white. We're going for a taupe with bright white trim, and black accents (doors, wrought iron railings, mailbox, etc.). Now all I have to do is settle on which taupe...
Suggestions anyone??

Ambush Makeover

Ta-freakin'-da!

So what do you guys think? The grey-on-grey was really starting to get to me and the alternatives on Blogger were either equally grim or already taken by my blog buddies. When Holly re-animated her life with stunningly, retro, mid-century results, I decided it was time to take the plunge. Especially when I saw my new best friend's awesome rates.

I've been working with Cyn, the Nap Warden over at NW Designs to create my awesome new look. Okay, done with the hyperlinks. She could not have been easier to work with.

• When I said I liked apple green but not mint green, she knew what I meant.


• When I said I wanted something "different" but didn't know what, she gave me options.


• When I said I wanted to be 110 lbs driving around in a Benz convertible...well, there's only so much magic she can work.

So the boys and I are off to a beach/playdate so this is yet another drive by blog but please, kick off your shoes, wander around, make yourselves at home. There's iced tea in the fridge. I'll be back shortly.