Making January Productive

I was feeling a huge need to unclutter our home after Christmas. We talked about it, and it was decided we should rearrange our home!

Here are some before and afters. Mostly befores.

Second Bedroom - This was used as our guest bedroom. Through December, it became the whatever room. The door was closed most of the time. It wasn't a happy place.

First Bedroom - This was used as our bedroom. Slightly more spacious than the other room, and a lot more closet space.

Front Room - Yep. You guessed it. This is the first room you enter when you come over to our house. Please notice the pretty tree and collection of Christmas cards hanging out on the closet door.

Now today, we're only focusing on the First Bedroom. We had fun moving things around.

And it was time for the wall vinyl to come off. It just wasn't going to work between the two bookcases, and it would clash with the theme of the new room.

Now, here is the First Bedroom. It's not completely finished, but it is done enough to share.

 

The First Bedroom is now the t.v. room / library. I love having The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights framed! I also love having page 3 of the Constitution modge podged onto the frame and the picture of us in front of the White House! I never thought I'd love having a rifle displayed on a wall, but I do. (It's a Gowen family ancestor who used it to settle the frontier.) I love being able to display the crystal vase, my first purchase from my days at OC Tanner.

Sean is so patient with my zest for this country. It feels like an actual room now! Hooray!

That's all for now. The move helped January to feel productive.

Paint Project - China Cabinet

Here's something I've been working on. It's not fully completed yet, but it is pretty close. We inherited a china cabinet from Sean's parents. It fit in our kitchen nicely, but it needed a little something - other than our personal things inside - to settle it into it's new home.

Paint!!

I saw painting inspiration on my friend's blog.

So, here it is. The recreation of my in-law's china cabinet:

 Remember those green colors in the painting supplies picture above?

Well, I decided the back of the cabinet needed a little pop of color....

And green was the color of choice....

I'm still figuring out what goes where, and what deserves to go in the new cabinet. I love how it shows off my kitchen colors, and it gives me some more shelf space in the kitchen cabinets.

Next project: bedroom furniture?? I'll keep you posted.

A New Seat in Time for Labor Day

About a year ago, our new neighbors gave us some chairs they had inherited from past friends. This meant we had outdoor furniture! A place to sit when taking off shoes covered and filled with Moab dirt. A place to sit and watch storms while the husband tinkered on the guitar. However, these chairs were getting plastered with the sprinklers several times a week without much protection for the wood.

They were painted red and orange. Their names were painted accordingly:

 I sanded these babies down, and wasn't too careful of what I tracked inside the house....

I painted away with the vibrant Million Dollar Red. It looked closer to pink when I put it on. *face palm* Thankfully it dried darker, so it was closer to the look I was going for:

The ending result: a cheerful entry to the house that will be protected from the elements and look nice year round!! They look better in person. You should see for yourself!

 

 As for Labor Day weekend, we played and tried out some new forms of Moab recreation. We went rock climbing at Ice Cream Parlor. (Outdoor rock climbing was a first for me!)

Who doesn't love playing in the water at the beach?? Oh, oh pick me!! A beach off the Colorado River? That works!

Thanks Sparks for introducing us to some new recreation!

Painting Weekend: Part 1

It has been done. The paint colors were finally decided on! And, since Travis and Jessica were visiting for the weekend, we took advantage of their good company and willingness to help get the deed done.

Final prepping before the color went up.

Our two captive helpers.

Are you curious?

We decided on one main color, and a darker color for an accent wall. The paint was correctly mixed according to the swatch, but it looked differently in the can and more differently on the wall. Such is usually the case.

However, the room has had a happy transformation since color has been put on the walls!! Please observe:

 

The corner and accent wall.

The colors at night. Love it!

This view put a huge smile on my face in the morning.

Some touch up is needed, but that will come. It is a cheerful change, and improves the look of the mud-texture-over-off-white-wall-look.

January 2012

We took it kind of easy in January. It took a bit to get back into the swing of things. After the camera battery was charged, and I remembered to put the memory card back in (and yet it still took pictures...), this is how January went:

We took a visit to Ephriam and Manti. Travis and Jessica gave us a place to sleep, and we enjoyed the temple with donuts afterward.

We have done some work around the place as well. Mostly in the bedroom.

Once we finish the texture of the walls, we will finally paint. I promise!!

We also went on a date to Grand Junction. Sean took the scenic route, we ate at Johnny Carino's, and enjoyed a the Grand Junction Symphony. At first, we were doubtful of the quality of the performance because of the high school venue, but it was excellent!

The Closet!!!

After moving things around, reorganizing, and getting frustrated, we decided an additional closet was needed. The landlord said, "If Erin thinks we need a closet, then let's do it!" So we made plans!

First cutting out the carpet for the studs.

Get all of the tools and supplies in one place.

Create the frame for your soon-to-be walls.

Put up dry wall, and triple check your measurements.

Have your wife's boss help, and make him treats too.

Enjoy the mess while it lasts. It will not last long!

Time to mud!

And mud some more.

Then we paint with primer.

And paint the shelves too. (Later add liner for protection.)

Decide that the hall closet can be more effective with two more shelves.

And move the vacuum into its new home!

And fill the new closet up with everything in sight!!

 Next project: painting the entire bedroom. This project is pending on the choosing of color..... We will keep you posted!