One Room Challenge...Week 4

Hello, and thanks for coming back and checking in on my progress with my entry. This is week 4 of the One Room Challenge. In case you are new, this is where you can start the beginning of this challenge. 
I am not going to lie...I worked like a dog over the last week. I really wanted to have something more to show you than millwork issues. I think I finally turned the corner, figuratively and literally.

Here is the finished millwork with primer on some of it.

Let me show you how I got here. 

This one's for you DAP people....who follow me on Pinterest. For the record, I have not received anything from DAP....but totally would if they sent me some!

I really like the High Performance one on the right for all the joints where the boards meet. The one on the left (the pink kind) is great for small holes.

Once all the holes and joints are filled

(does this remind anyone else of the book Put Me In The Zoo?)

I used a sponge sander to smooth out the joints

Check the smoothness with your hand when you are done. Remember, if you can feel it, you will see it when it's painted.

A coat of primer, and I am almost ready to call my painter for the finished coats.

I thought I would be done priming by the time Seth started his monologue at the Oscars....that didn't happen. In fact, I am finishing it as you read this. 
Moving on... remember that Vintage Regency piece I showed you? Well, I asked Joe and Mike to look it over and see if it was real Burl wood. These are two dudes who hate the thought of paining wood. Not only is it NOT real Burl wood, they went on to tell me how they thought it was poorly made. 
This would not be the time to explain to them how expensive the marble top would be if I tried to buy just that. I also had no guilt over painting it....so here is a sneak peak at the color selected.

It needs another coat, or two. 
Craigslist was good to me, again...I picked up a pair of stools, that need a makeover.

And, finally...I ran to Target and picked up a matching pair of lamps. Can you guess which style I selected?

Which one would you pick?

Now if the weather would cooperate, and give me a few spray painting days...I would really be grateful.
Let's go see how the others made out this week.
Wall Treatment Specs Week 5

Chattafabulous 

Chinoiserie Chic 

Classic Casual Home 

the Cottage Mix 

Cottage & Vine 

Design Indulgence 

Design Manifest 

Everything LEB 

Hodge Podge 

Kim Macumber Interiors 

Little Black Door

Matters of Style 

Nicole Scott Designs 

Pacific Family Homes 

Pawleys Island Posh 

the Peak of Tres Chic 

the Pink Pagoda 

Powell Brower Home 

Simple Details 

I Want to Try This

I have been working like crazy on my entry and decided to take a Pinterest break. I know you know what I am talking about. Since spring is just around the corner, I am feeling the love for fresh happy colors. 
Here are three things I want to try when the spray paining weather returns. 
How fun are these hangers? 

Via

This is the best idea for old silverware...just dip it in paint.

Via

Fun colored branches...so easy, I feel stupid for pinning it.

Pinterest, could not find original source

I just noticed that the wall panel detail is almost exactly like the one I am hacking away at.

All of these, and a whole bunch more stuff is on my Crafty Ideas Pinterest board. Has Pinterest inspired you to actually do something....other than pinning?

One Room Challenge...Week 3

Was it really a full week, already? This is the third post for the One Room Challenge. If you are new to my blog, you can start at the beginning, here. 
Time is flying, progress is crawling and I have lost the ability to think clearly on this project. Some people may argue that I never had the ability to think clearly. It's a long slow process for my entry. Joe and Mike left last week. They were here for the crown molding, and some of the harder cuts. 
This is what went down this week. Did any of you notice this marble wall shelf?

I seem to have forgotten that marble is perfectly straight and sheetrock is not. What am I talking about? Well, when the wall shelf was installed, the bow in the sheetrock was so distracting to me....I had it cut, and slid the marble top into the wall so it would appear flush. 
Still confused? This is what the wall looked like when the marble top came off

The bow in the wall was so obvious for a panel treatment, that the center portion of sheetrock was removed...stud shaved down....new stud added....and new sheetrock installed. The majority of this was done by another "Joe". He left the spackling for me, so I could save a bit of money. 

At this point, the phrase "save a bit of money" really needs to be changed to "Who else wants a piece of me?"

The answer to that question, would be my electrician, Chad. Remember Chad from my master bedroom project? 

As the panel detail was going up, I ran into this

An electrical switch in the way. This happened FOUR times. I am happy to report that all four outlets/switches have been moved just a few inches from their current location. 
If the Universe is not challenging me enough....I decided to make changes to my own design. At first, I thought it would be interesting to wrap the columns like this

After staring at it for about three days, I HATED it.....and removed it. This is what it looks like now

I like it this way. You can also see two of the four outlets moved. These pictures were taken after dark, so this is the best it gets.
I'll leave you on a positive note...just look at this return detail that Mike did

I love how it overlaps the backband on the door. 

I don't want to jinx myself...but next week must go smoother..wouldn't you think? Now I'm off to see how the others are doing.
Week 4 Wall Treatment Specs Week 5

Chattafabulous 

Chinoiserie Chic 

Classic Casual Home 

the Cottage Mix 

Cottage & Vine 

Design Indulgence 

Design Manifest 

Everything LEB 

Hodge Podge 

Kim Macumber Interiors 

Little Black Door

Matters of Style 

Nicole Scott Designs 

Pacific Family Homes 

Pawleys Island Posh 

the Peak of Tres Chic 

the Pink Pagoda 

Powell Brower Home 

Simple Details 

Gracefully Searching is my Guest

Oh, are you going to want to pay attention to this! I think I found Laura from Gracefully Searching when her room was featured on my adopted Niece Lindsay's blog, here. I immediately became a follower. Some time last week, she did a Pink Office layout that I just loved. 

Since I don't do Design Boards, and I love to teach you things when I learn them....it is not a competition, people...I asked Laura if she would tell us how she makes them. Honestly, she is so fantastic...I'll just hire her to make them for me.

Hi Everyone! I am Laura from Gracefully Searching & LCD Design and I am so excited to be here today! Linda is an amazing DIYer and I have followed her for a while now as she is full of great ideas. I am a huge fan of the "One Room Challenge". She did such a fabulous job on her dinning room and master bedroom last year and I can't wait to see this year's result. Today I am going to be talking about Design Boards. I am an interior decorator and one of the services I offer is E-Design. To make it easy for my clients to visualize I create a layout for them, as well as a perspective view of what their space will look like when the furnishings are placed. 

When working with clients I ask them a series of questions to determine how the space will be used. Will any pieces you currently own be carried over into the new design, color preferences, dislikes, price point, inspiration...? All of your answers will give me a jump off point to begin researching complimentary components for your space. The boards are a great way for clients to visualize the end result, and a great way to guide the client when choosing pieces in their home to achieve the overall look. 

I use Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Illustrator CS6 to create these boards. I learned most of the fundamentals in college (I studied Fashion Design & Marketing) and then applied it to creating these boards. I photoshop your space with the design elements found through my research based on your search criteria. To further demonstrate the feel of your newly designed space I will sketch by hand. This process more accurately demonstrates the product we would use as well as the textures of the materials, layering, etc. 

Here are some recent projects I have worked on- I include all of the sourcing, pricing, layout info when working with clients. If you are interested in leaning about my design services further come visit me at Gracefully Searching or contact me at lauracollinsdesign@gmail.com

Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to share my process with your readers!! Come visit me at Gracefully Searching.

Laura xoxo

Thanks for the teaching us how to do this. You can come back anytime, Laura. 
Laura is also on Pinterest...who isn't?

Winner, Winner...C.Wonder

Thank you all for entering the C.Wonder giveaway. 

Congratulations, Debra!

I'll be having another giveaway sometime soon....so be sure to check back.

Opinions Please

You may remember that I was looking for a vintage Regency piece for my ORC entry?

Well, here she is. I found it on Craigslist...of course. There is a carrera marble top for it that I moved to a safe location. This is where I need your help. I am not sure what color to paint it. 

Since the walls will be white, or close to it.....I have an almost unlimited palette to chose from. So I need your help.

Here are some colors that caught my eye.

source?

1st Dibs

via

Sally Wheat Interiors

1st Dibs

LGN

As you can see, I'm all over the place.

Do any of these colors speak to you? Any other suggestions?

Week 3 Week 4 Wall Treatment Specs Week 5

One Room Challenge....Week 2

Hello, and thanks for coming back to check in on my progress. You can start at the beginning of the challenge, here. I would like to tell you that I have had a really productive week, but frustrating would be more like it. 
It started off well....destruction before construction. My ceilings are 8' tall and I would like them to feel taller. This decorative detail above the entrance into the dining room makes the ceiling feel lower.

I also thought all the detailed trim on the columns were  busier than I wanted for my look.

So I ripped it out

At the bottom of the columns I removed the base pieces, but will put them back.

The top cap on the baseboard had to go, and so did the quarter-round on the floor.

The best way to do this is to score it with an exacto knife to break the caulk seal.

I had 3/4" boards of MDF cut down to a manageable size that would fit into my car. 

Then, I brought them over to my friend's home where her husband has a workshop in the garage. I ripped the boards down to my desired width for the paneling treatment. 

At this point I called Joe...my favorite contractor. Fortunately, he was available. I thought I would have him do the crown molding and I could do the rest. 

This is Joe

This is Mike, he works with Joe....he doesn't like me. 

Apparently, I make him nervous because I question his decisions.

Mike is installing the reveal under the crown. 
so far...no problems...the crown is looking great!

I love the simpler column and how the crown steps around it. 

They trimmed this crazy ceiling slope perfectly.

And this is where the happy story ends....
I don't know why I didn't realize the walls were so uneven in size and that would affect my recessed panel box design.

I like the chair rail molding...but can't decide how high it should be. 
I think I can get the bottom squares to look somewhat similar in size, but the top half will be so obviously different if I run the planks up to the ceiling. Luckily, Joe and Mike were not coming back until Friday....and then we had a blizzard!! So they could not come back until Monday.
This is my kitchen during a blizzard with kids housebound for the weekend.

Long story...longer, I modified my plan for the entry design. I think the top portion will be framed without verticals breaking up the space. So, the upper walls need to be painted a flat color....not semigloss white like the bottom portion. 
I love this wall color with the white trim all around it.

Classic Casual Home

Hopefully Mary Ann will be able to locate the paint name. 

That's enough of my drama for the week. I am working in real time and I'm not happy about it. I hope to be ready for paint by next Wednesday. I may need to keep Joe longer than expected...you know what that means..... over budget, already.

Vintage Regency Piece Week 3 Week 4 Wall Treatment Specs Week 5

Now let's go see if the others had better luck with their rooms

Chattafabulous 

Chinoiserie Chic 

Classic Casual Home 

the Cottage Mix 

Cottage & Vine 

Design Indulgence 

Design Manifest 

Everything LEB 

Hodge Podge 

Kim Macumber Interiors 

Little Black Door

Matters of Style 

Nicole Scott Designs 

Pacific Family Homes 

Pawleys Island Posh 

the Peak of Tres Chic 

the Pink Pagoda 

Powell Brower Home 

Simple Details