Eric's Demands

Eric is so darn cute. I know most everyone already knows this, I just want to reiterate this important fact.

What is he doing you ask? Reminding us to remove the planter/half-wall/50s heinousness that is next to our front door!!

New Old Sofa

I've purchased myself another project in the form of a 1960s sofa.

I originally got it to put in our "library" room. My grand plan was to reupholster it a lovely red color to contrast with the black and white curtains I bought (see plan 1). My only question then was whether I should buy the brighter color twill fabric (on sale for 6.98/yard) or buy something a little better quality (the darker red swatch) on sale at 10.98/yard.

But now I'm wondering if I should go with something more neutral so I can use it in the living room until we can afford nicer furniture. What to do? $6.98 for upholstery fabric is a steal of a deal....do I pass it up and hope for another great sale next year?

Before & After Chalkboard Door

Since Eric has been working a lot lately, I've been looking for random, girly projects I can do while he's away on the weekends. The first of those projects: turning our dinged and dented kitchen door into a chalkboard!!

BEFORE

DURING....

AFTER!

 Notice I've added a list of things to do?? That way when Adam gets here he will have a built in task master!!! :)

Decisions, decisions

On Friday I went to Ethan Allen to learn more about our furniture choices; I already knew I wanted their Bennett sofa, but Eric and I are having a hard time making a decision on fabric color and type. I really like gray and I want a solid ...... but I haven't found any prints that I like that would work for arm chairs.

This is the lovely 2-cushion Bennett sofa that I've been drooling over. In gray.

I like the texture of this fabric; I couldn't find the swatch of Eric's favorite fabric...

I've also been eying a dining set at Crate & Barrel for a while - it was one both Eric and I really loved when we saw it in CO. Ethan Allen has one that is really similar AND it's available in a couple of different sizes! Both are pretty pricey so we'll continue to check out craigslist for now :)

Crate & Barrel "Marlow Table" on the left; finish of Ethan Allen's "American Artisan" dining set on right

Goodbye carpet of death

Last night we had our good friends Jason and Janeen over for dinner. As always there was a lot of laughing involved, but none so much as when Janeen first stepped into our main bathroom. Now - we realized when we bought the place that this would be a redo area (Eric really likes plumbing and is excited to get some practice), but most people when they see the flesh colored tub, brown tile, and butterfly wallpaper tactfully comment on how big it is or make DIY suggestions on how to cover up the tile. No one has just busted up laughing. The best part was that whenever she walked past it she'd chuckle (I think she thought it was to herself) and at one point she left in the middle of a conversation just to go look again. I could hear her chortling halfway across the house.

After J & J left, we were too wound up to go to bed so we got out our knives and pliers and ripped up the carpet in both the living and dining rooms. This morning we both woke up with sore hands (poor Eric has a blister) but to a completely new house! It's lovely! Goodbye deep shag! Goodbye soul-sucking green!

Check out our beautiful new floors!!

(Tack strip removal and refinishing coming soon)

Our First House!

On April 8, 2011 we closed on our first house!!!!

Following is the floor plan and a few pictures of the inside of the house (I lost the roll of film that had the bedrooms and the outside of the house so hopefully I will find that soon). As you can see we have a LOT of work ahead of us, but with Eric's muscles and know-how and my…encouragement, it should be a lot of fun and a great learning experience!!!