After just 8 months

After only 8 months we finally hung curtains for the basement doors. It was always on my list but we could never figure out what type of covering we wanted. We purchased the curtains and rods at Ikea. The total cost was about $40 before taxes. Not too shabby. I'm very happy with the look of it but not so much with the color of the basement walls. I'm also at a loss on how I want to use the space. We use it as a home for my rabbits and a general dumping ground for toys

I guess I always envisioned it as the adult lounge space. I thought modern, swanky, wine bar. Back to reality...we don't spend too much time there as it's cold in the winter. I spied this at the local store and thought it would be a great solution.

The price is reasonable, just $150 and the reviews are decent. It can be hung on the wall or placed on the stand. It adds ambiance and warmth. I can image sipping wine here in the winter after the kids have gone to bed. I asked for one for Christmas but didn't get it. I think I may just purchase it before it goes out of stock.

Aside from a secondary heat source the room needs area rugs. I found some inexpensive ones from Ikea that I think fit the look I'm going for. I'm afraid they are too small alone so I wonder if I could get multiple rugs and place them together.

A small end table or coffee table would be useful too.

A year or two down the road we want to install upper and lower cabinets, a small fridge, and a microwave.

More realistically I'd just like to get the space where it would be a comfortable place for guests to use. So a coffee maker would make a nice addition to the smallish bar top currently there. Also we have a little tv there that would work except we can't figure out what cable line to use....then there is the problem that one of my rabbits sort of chewed through the tv power cord (which I though was safely tucked behind the entertainment stand but someone she managed to wiggle back there).

Comments

toddler.nursery.

After spending a bit to make sure my toddler's room was up to par on decorations I wasn't ready to can the whole idea after getting to the new house. I'm planning on painting the new toddler room the same or similar color and putting up the same art work and curtains. This one will be simple save for painting. Oh how I've come to loathe painting. Perhaps it's the crappy coverage low VOC paints that make me miserable but I know our air quality is somewhat improved over the other stuff. The new nursery has presented some challenges, namely that we aren't 100% sure that the new occupant will be female. We aren't sure whether the toddler will outgrow the crib by the time the newbie arrives. Not wanting to do the same old neutral color scheme again I found a great blog that manages to add color and a bit of modern sophistication to their nursery. That and if the newbie turns out to be a boy it would be just a matter of changing bedding and wall art. Anyway ...

The Christmas Experience

The big holiday is over and done. Does anyone else feel the tiniest bit depressed when it's all over? I don't know about you, but for me, the anticipation coming up to the big day is what I revel in the most. Sure, the presents are way up there for the kids, but mine equally anticipate the activities we get up to prior to the big day. Our little list of activities (dare I say traditions) help make the season that much more special. In no particular order: ✔1. Christmas Gardens Lights-our botanical garden have a gorgeous display 2. The Nutcracker play ✔3. Gingerbread houses ✔ 4. Baking cookies 5. Mulled wine (just the husband and I of course) 6. Watching Christmas movies:: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ✔ Love Actually ✔ The Holiday ✔ Elf The Polar Express ✔ Last Christmas (new addition for me this year) ✔ 8. Visiting w/ Santa (with kids) ✔ 9 . Advent calendars ✔ 10. Ebelskivers ✔ 11. Christmas Eve Boxes We managed to almost complete the lis...

getting.started.

We've done many a home improvement project on our little house over the 7 years we've lived here. We got married in the house and had our first baby in the house. It has a special place in our hearts. After much debate we decided we were outgrowing our space. Our little starter home was quickly filling with baby items and the news that another would be on the way pushed us over the edge. We set a deadline. The modest 1,200 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 2 bath home would hit the market in less than a month. With a 3 page list we got to work. We painted (and painted and painted), rented a storage unit, de-cluttered (that's an understatement), and fixed up all the minor imperfections we'd overlooked in our time here. Happily after less than 1 week on the market and a stager who pointed out some not-so-obvious furniture arrangements we were under contract. Yes the hard work paid off. We never expected to go under contract so quickly. Lugging the toddler, 2 dogs, and 2 rabbits was h...

simple.just.practical.

Search This Blog