2011 House Plans

The hubs is dead set on paying off the house this year, so we are officially in poverty mode.  That said, there are still a bunch of projects around the house that I can do that a.) I already have the stuff for and b.) are free/cheaper than dirt.  Here is a list from front to back:

Front Porch:

• Install new front porch lights that I got for Christmas
• Paint front door red
• Paint porch swing (and possibly wooden rockers from my parents' house) black.

Foyer/Stairs:

• Browbeat David-the-Contractor into finishing the stair railing (it still wobbles).  You'd think that he would want to get this project finished before we hit the one-year mark next week.  He said he'd be here today, but here I am writing this...
• Hang family portraits on stair wall.  This would include finally framing Q's baby portraits.  The second child SO gets the shaft.
• Hang art in entryway.
• Get mirror for empty frame above entry table.
• Paint hideous brass chandy black and top with adorable mini-shades that were in my formal dining room in my last house to replace the much-too-small fixture in the entry.

Living Room:

• Find a place for the painting that used to hang over the fireplace.  It was replaced by a gorg painting from my parents' house that was a better size.
• Repair giant wicker flamingo that Holly mauled.  I think I am actually going to cover the wicker form with braided fabric rope a la a braided rug.  Colorful and not not missing vital parts!  Cool!

Kitchen and Dining Room:
(Not pictured: messy/embarrassing state of my kitchen)

• Remove hideous wallpaper.
• Remove chair rail and upside-down crown molding.
• Paint beige-on-beige harlequins on kitchen walls.  I'm so stinkin' excited about this!
• Build banquette.
• Raise and re-cover Craig's-list wingback chairs to use as host chairs.

There are a ton of other non-cheap projects in the kitchen (new counters not held on with Scotch tape, an actual bar-height bar, built-ins, etc.), but alas, they won't be happening this year.

Laundry Room:
(Not pictured: hideously messy/embarrassing state of the dumping ground laundry room)

• Make cafe curtains to hide my shame from the neighbors but still let in enough light to work.
• Install more shelving/open storage for the less-used items from the kitchen
• Possibly paint, but I have no idea what color.

Master Bedroom:

• Install crown molding
• Touch up paint (in the right light some areas are quite patchy).

Z's Room:

• Paint yellow pine corner cabinet white
• Wallpaper (okay, Contact Paper) the back of her shelves with SO cute green pattern
• Sew pillow shams and second dust ruffle

If I want to get really crazy, I have an idea for a 'border' treatment around the ceiling that could be really cute, but I may save that for when other things are looking more finished.



Q's Room:

• Finish rope detail around his ceiling
• Put together his big-boy bed.
• Buy/make big-boy bedding.

Kids' Bathroom:

• Prime/paint sand and sky colors (like I had in the old house).  Possibly with chair rail, but probably just paint treatment with palm trees.
• Make frames to hang over the builder-grade giant mirror
• Spray paint the TP holder to match other finishes in the bathroom.

 Sewing Room/My Office:

• Paint walls palest aqua.
• Convert daybed to 'couch' (a small construction project) and upholster with fabulous cocoa-polka-dotted fabric.
• Build custom desk that runs the length of the room with space for both my sewing machine and computer, with plenty of storage for sewing and crafting supplies.
• Make a window treatment.

Guest Room:

• Hang curtains that mom-in-law bought me.
• Hang art.
• Add accessories that haven't make it out of storage.

Guest Bath:

• Find some art.
• Circle border treatment like I saw at House*Tweaking, but with more colors.

Kids' Den:

• Hang art - especially cool David Bromstad-esque deer portrait I made T for Christmas
• Get kids' computer stations set up and running.
• Find a home for all of the stuff in boxes from my parents' house.

I found the fabric I want to use for curtains in this room, but it will require some serious yardage (five windows!), so this may be a project for another year.

Oh, is that all?  Looks like it will be a busy year, poverty-mode or not!

PS - I joined the Home Plans party at Nesting Place.  People have big plans for this year!