Time to get back to business around here. Summer is in full swing and we’ve been a little crazy with house projects. With the heat so bad we try to have at least one outdoor project and one indoor project going so when it gets unbearable we can move inside to work. It’s going good but now we have crap scattered everywhere which tends to make me crazy. Oh well.. I’m just happy to be “doing”.
Our bedroom project is still going, but it’s mostly my fault for being slow and wanting everything just so. So this post is about the bedroom and where we’re at and what’s been accomplished. It’s starting to bore me to tears, but it’s work… and progress is what this blog is about. Most of my time has been sucked up with VERY TEDIOUS tasks. When we refinished the built in cabinetry and “textured” those walls behind it we had to tear out all the trim. So once we were done with it… all the new trim had to go back. Of course you don’t just install trim… it has to be caulked and primed and painted and every thing around it has to be touched up. It’s maddening. But it looks so much better. Fresh and clean with tidy edges!
It’s hard to tell when you photograph white.. but the left is before and the right is after.
Trim around the beams and on the back of the walls made a huge difference. It’s starting to feel like a place I want to live in.
I cheated and used some tape to make my edges perfectly caulked. There was a small gap between the new trim on the cabinet and the wall that my eyes just cannot take.
It’s the Libra in me!
There was also a large (well, large to me) gap at the base of the cabinet that was now revealed when we removed the other side piece. I was going crazy looking at it so Richie created a little piece to slide right in. Okay, maybe I’m the only insane person around … but wouldn’t that bother you? This gap that makes no sense. Thank goodness he puts up with me! Much better.
Not only did I need to do all this trim and hocus pocus… but also paint the top of my closet which still had raw wood. Richie, of course, found this ridiculous but there was no way I was NOT going to paint the top of it. Seriously? Well of course, once he saw me doing it he got all interested and asked what I had planned for the top? My response was “how about your sign arrow hanging from the ceiling”. His eyes just about popped out of his head and he was like a little kid smiling at the thought of his wonderful find all fixed up and hanging. Ten minutes later he was off to the hardware store to buy chain and then fixed up a little spray area on the side of the house to coat the metal with a clear finish.
The arrow was found about 7 years ago and has been sitting in our shed since we moved here. Richie was beginning to get depressed about it sitting outside rusting so I knew this would delight him. Our love for rusty things and industrial pieces, especially signs, really helps “funk up” our mid-century modern decor. We love it!
So a happy husband means a happy wife! All is well and it’s out of the shed. We hung it so it isn’t sitting on the top and will make it easier to dust and keep this area clean.
Now it was time to move to the concrete floors. I had to clean, patch, seal and wax them which is NOT one of my favorite things to do. Floors make me crazy because I want them to be perfect but it’s inevitable that a hair, or speck of dirt, or something always gets on it. (sigh!) We have stained concrete throughout the house. The color was added to the final pour of the slab way back in 1958 so I’m stuck with this chocolate brown. At first I really hated it but it’s growing on me. I tend to ignore the color and just admire the fact that this very old slab is still in amazing condition with very little cracks. Of course we love the imperfections!
First the sealer went on and I let it dry for a few days. You absolutely have to seal the concrete before you wax it. Here it is already looking more even in color.
And here’s the floor getting it’s first coat of wax. I use a microfiber mop pad and a spray bottle with the polish. It’s so easy to just spray it on the floor and then spread with the pad. I always feel better after the first coat is on. It’s hard to screw it up after that. It’s very forgiving.
Here’s the floor 3 coats later. It’s shiny and well protected. It definitely brings out the deep color of the stain and makes the floors feel so clean and special. I’m so happy it’s over! Now I can start bringing things in.
Next thing was to bring the rug into the room and let it lay flat for a few days. It’s been in a ball in the corner of my den for what seems like forever. It’s all lumpy! I hope I can get it flat again. I shouldn’t have done that, but it’s an 8×10 rug and I had no where else to put it.
I love the shot below… the floors look so much better. OMG, this is going to be my room soon. How happy am I!!!!
So now we turn our efforts to finishing the bed Richie and his dad have made for us.
Richie made one many many years ago and is making another one in a king size. YAY!
Okay, I’m 5’11 and he’s over 6 feet. WE ARE SO EXCITED to have a king.
The boards are all cut and the metal frame has been welded and primed but still needs a final spray coat. The wood slats require a banding (we used plywood this time, instead of solid boards) I had to order that online as well as some rubber gaskets to put it all together. The boards are just waiting (see below). Hope to get that done in the next week.
Here’s a picture of the first platform bed Richie made which is now in our guest bedroom.
You can see the metal frame below is topped by 4 large slats and a headboard (seen above in it’s raw state) Each slat gets bolted into the frame and sets on a thick rubber
ring to keep it all tight and in place. It’s simple and just our style.
So there you have it! Yes, very long, very tedious, but all important little steps to getting us finished. Once we get the bed done and moved in, I’ll be able to work on my side tables, hang my Tolemeo lamps, and the last project will be to re-paper the closet doors. So we’re moving along and I’m learning to NOT get mad at myself for being slow… but to be thankful that we keep on keeping on. After 3 years this June, I feel proud that we’re both still hanging in there and we keep each other motivated. We’re definitely moving slower… but that’s okay too.
During all of this, I’m also refinishing the inside of our media cabinet in the living room, painting the outside of the house, dealing with cinch bugs eating up our entire lawn.(YIKES), which is all making me grind the hell out of my teeth so I had to have a $500 night guard made at the dentist! It’s never ending, isn’t it? There is also some estate sale finds to report and other small projects in the works. So I’ll definitely be back soon. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Stacey – you are indeed a kindred spirit! To be anal retentive is to be one with the force. Your home is beautiful.
Ha Ha! Thanks for that. I knew after reading your last post I was in very good company. It certainly tries my husband’s patience but in the end he can appreciate my craziness. I imagine your wife feels the same about you. I’d rather care too much, than not at all! Cheers to the anal retentives!!! May your caulk always be straight!
a) where’d you get the rug? b) I want/love that arrow c) the crazy impatient Aries in me tells the Libra in you, the gap would have driven me insane too so I totally get that and d) he made that bed? I’d buy that bed!!! That room is shoji wall MCM perfection!
PS – I am also 5’11. I totally understand the bed thing. And we still have a Queen. And it has an end at the foot of it. So painful.
Hello tall lady! You’re the 3rd person I’ve met through blogging that is 5’ll. Holy moly.. who knew there were so many tall ladies out there. IT ROCKS! And it keeps me very busy at the grocery store… assisting others with the stuff on the top shelf. HA!
You’re so sweet and fun… thanks for the comment!
The rug came from Crate and Barrel. It’s the “Olin” rug. I hope my lumps come out… it’s been a rolled up for way too long. I like the bold graphic stripes. I hope it works in the room….. we’ll see.
The bed cannot come fast enough! When we got this house and realized how much bigger this room would be from our last house we both turned to each other and said “KING SIZE BED”! woo hoo. It’s been a long time coming.
I think he did a really nice job on the first one. He enjoys making things…. and you won’t get complaints out of me!
Whatever you guys are on i want some too!!!!!
I just burst out laughing! We’re running on fumes, girl… nothing but fumes.
I’m just hoping the burst of energy will last through summer! Thanks for checking on us.
I love the red arrow and your floor!
I am only 4’10” and my Hubby is 5’8″. We have had a full size bed our entire marriage (31 years). I guess that is why they call it “togetherness” :-)
Hey! Thank you so much… my husband loves signs and rusty bits of metal. He’s so much fun. I never know what piece of scrap he’ll bring home next!
Wow, a full bed!! We had one for about 2 years after we first got married. Yes, imagine our giant selves in a full. It was cramped to say the least. After 22 years of marriage… I don’t need to be that close anymore. HA HA HA HA! But it made me go “awwwww” when I read that about you. Sweet, indeed! And congrats on 31 years. That’s wonderful.
Thanks for looking and saying “hello”. I appreciate it!
Yes, the gap would have bothered me too, so I don’t blame you one bit for wanting the little piece to hide it. I love the arrow, and your floors look phenomenal. And that bed is so gorgeous that I can’t even find the words to tell you how much I love it!
Thank goodness I’m not the only one! Thanks for the back-up there Dana. NO GAPS ALLOWED!!!! (giggle)
I’m really proud of those floors…so thank you. Concrete isn’t for everyone, but we really love them. Warm in the winter… cool in the summer.
I’ll tell my husband you said so… he’s very humble about the things he makes and thinks they’re no big deal. I try to tell him that not everyone can do stuff like that … so I tend to brag a little. Thanks for letting me. I’m proud of him… obviously! Have a great weekend!
P.S. I had a dream last night that we found a Platner table! HA HA! I WISH!
You are TALL. We can start a tall lady club! I’m 5’9. Thank your husband for filling in the gap between the cabinet and wall. It would have drove me crazy!! So excited for you that your bedroom is coming together :) dig the arrow!!!
Man, another tall drink of water! We’re taking over, Brittney! Another reader told me she’s 5’11 too. I LOVE IT! It definitely has it’s advantages when you’re working on your home, doesn’t it. NO LADDER NEEDED! HA HA!
You’re so sweet to stop and look, I’ve been dragging this project out to the point of ad nauseam. But I do get excited every little step of the way… so thank you!
Don’t work too hard this weekend!
The bedroom looks fantastic!! I love the floors, stained concrete turns my crank! ;) seriusly it looks amazing + your husband rocks for making that bed, I LOVE it! Can’t wait to see you king! Keep up the good work it all looks incredible!
YAY! A concrete lover! I know it’s not something everyone could deal with, but it really works in this house. We thought about tile or wood… but it just didn’t make sense. I’m loving it.. especially as we finish each room and get it all polished up.
Thanks, Heather.
I could use one of those raspberry tarts right about NOW!
You have been working hard my friend! The place looks absolutely fantastic (as does the rest of your home) and I knew it would.The finish work is top notch to say the very least!
The bed is cool.The arrow as amazing! Tell him,nice find! There is one that the guys from A&E’s American Pickers found in a field a season back sitting in the Antique Archeology shop in Nashville with a big fat N.F.S. tag on it.UGH! Jealous! :)
And yes,the piece filling that gap looks much better and yes,it would have driven me crazy…
But then I’m pretty much already there anyway ;p
OMG, if Richie knew where you lived he’d have a cow! I’m not sure, but I might need to check to see if the TV is broken… because it seems it’s stuck on the History channel and American Pickers. He’ll watch that crap over and over lusting over the “rusty gold”. So I try to always find a place in every room for some of the “stuff” he drags home…. so thanks for the nod… it’s not for everyone, but I know you “get it”.
You ARE crazy! In the best possible way, my friend. :-) I love all your stories, you always keep me laughing and entertained. Your obsession with thrifting is near and dear to my heart. NEVER CHANGE!
Haha! OK,hows this for never changing?
Tell him to click on the lower right photo here. Looks like Mike Wolf “stole” his rustic arrow idea and he needs to write a letter or email (or maybe put a new TM next to his). Just saying ;)
http://www.antiquearchaeology.com/antique_archaeology_nashville_tn.html
Thats it! Things are about to get ugly. I just got off the phone with my lawyer and IT’S ON! (laughing)
Actually Richie just carved up a little TM sign out of wood this morning so we’ll settle this here and now. I’ll email it to Mike and tell him to shut that shit down!
You SEE, You SEE… never change…you know how to get a girl laughing!!!
Thanks for the fun, ALWAYS!
BAHAHAH! I’ll stop beating that dead horse now :)
Hope you guys had a great 4th!
The trim work can be so tedious! But it makes all the difference in the world. Caulk is really like a magic potion. Good idea with the tape. Me and caulking tends to turn into the most time consuming, detail-oriented project. And then, if it shrinks in the winter and shows a gap, it makes me CRAZY.
Kind of like that little gap between your wall and cabinet would have made me crazy… Richie’s block is a perfect fit! It looks absolutely original. And that arrow!! Totally fantastic and unexpected. It fits perfectly in that space—the color and the size are great!! That is SUCH a good feeling to find the perfect spot for something you love, but haven’t been able to use…
The floors look phenomenal… the color is very rich. It really sets off all your light walls and windows. I am sure you CANNOT wait until it’s all done right to the last detail… And your bed! Richie is an artist. Really.
Hi Victoria! Thanks for all the sweet stuff! I actually LOVE to caulk (is that weird?) and thank goodness SOMEBODY invented that stuff or half of what we do would like like CRAP! Richie has his gun and I have mine… and he’s not allowed to use it! I’m very protective of my caulk. HA HA!
Oh that silly arrow…. I know you must look at some of our “choices” and think… WTF! (LOL) You have such exquisite taste my dear, but I hope you find it somewhat amusing. I’m glad you have such an open mind and heart! You’re so great!
I am happy with the floors… after 3 years of walking on unfinished concrete I feel like I’m living in a dream. So don’t wake me yet… I’m so happy.
Thanks, as always for your encouragement! Hope your “girls” are making you smile this weekend. :-)
I have to tell you this because you will appreciate it—I have my own gun too, Paul gave it to me for Christmas one year… if you’re familiar with Christian Louboutin shoes? You’ll get the joke that he painted the underside of my gun with a shiny red paint. And he glued a giant crystal ball to the roofing nail you use to plug the tube of caulk when you’re not using it.
It remains one of the best gifts I’ve ever gotten. (Of course then I couldn’t use it and had to buy another one…)
And? Are you kidding? If I found that arrow? I would totally hang it in my house.
blahhhhhhhh! That is the BEST EVER! Paul is hilarious and it sounds like he’s a hell of a lot of fun. Lucky you. I’m going to ask for a diamond studded caulk gun for our anniversary… oh, AND some Louboutins… I can caulk in high heels – no problem! Great story!
No caulking for me today…it’s pouring down rain! Hope your day is good, V.
:-)
Wow, you guys have been busy! Everything looks great!
Thanks, Kim! We’re all such little worker bees lately, aren’t we? HA!
Love the sheen on that floor Stacey – can it double-time as a mirror? Is it slippery? I imagine some good sock-sliding/floor-skating on that. The cabinets look TIGHT – and that jade in the bubbly planter…sigh! In all, the bedroom looks “dreamy” and the arrow adds a nice funky pop. BRAVO, you guys certainly are intrepid and skilled. :)
Hey! Thanks so much. I’m really loving my shiny shiny floors. Thankfully they do not have mirror like qualities because I’m NOT the fairest one of all! HA HA!
You would think with all the shine it would be slippery but it isn’t at all. The wax is really smooth but you get a good grip under foot. It was really slick with just the sealer on it and I’ve busted my butt before running though the house with just socks on. BAM… and all I can do is just lay there and laugh. Not good for the hips!!!
Intrepid… I like that word! Thank you, Jocelyn. We screw stuff up all the time, but we’ll definitely try anything. And when you’re poor… you better be intrepid! (giggle)
Thanks for the visit!
I know I’m repeating myself here, but I’ll just take a fraction of your energy, please! My husband is in the middle of trimming, caulking, painting the new trim in our entry and we’re going on week three. It might never end.
The bedroom looks fantastic – I thought it was finished before! Love the arrow, love the bed, and the floor looks brand new! How old is your house? It is pristine!! Keep up the great work. so glad you’re sharing it with us!
Cathy if you could see me right this minute you’d know that I’m so damn tired I might fall over on to the keyboard! Energy? I wish!!!! I’m desperate! I need to finish this house before I DIE! ….. and it might take that long. Ha Ha!
Oh your poor husband! That kind of work is tedious to me. It does make a huge difference but it’s so time consuming. Three weeks seems like a dream. I just realized today that I’ve slowly been working on the bedroom since January! YES, JANUARY. Most people could have built a house by then.
The house was built in 1958… so it’s a little older than me. (LOL) But not much.
If it looks pristine then I might need to focus my camera better. And I need to thank you with all my heart. It certainly was a diamond in the rough when we got it. VERY ROUGH! But diamonds are a girls best friend and this one’s a keeper.
Thanks for following along… I hope it’s mildly entertaining. It’s certainly more fun to share it than to do it all alone. Thanks!
you HAVE been busy, little libra! you and richie have done such a great job (is there anything you can’t do?!) and those floors look AMAZOID. i love, love, love the shiny chocolate and it really makes the contrast of the walls pop. can’t wait to see the finished product with bed in place and that last pillow planted. have a great weekend! and i hope TX cools down soon.
mmmmmmm, did you say chocolate? HA!
Thanks Tamara, I love painting color on the walls and my last house had a different color in every room. It was so fun! With these dark floors it’s almost impossible to not do white. I do think it helps keep the space light… so thank you!
The last pillow planted… oh how wonderful that sounds! But first I have a plan to make some pretty ones so I hope to get to that soon.
I’ve been working outside today and it’s actually been kind of nice… much cooler and overcast so it was almost enjoyable. It only got up to 88… feels like winter!
Enjoy your weekend, sweet friend!
i just showed jordan your post and he said, “uh.i.want.that.bed.”. plus he said stellar job on the floor. plus i love chocolate. only dark. :)
HA HA! You guys are too nice! So sweet that you shared it with Jordan. Now, listen… if he’s looking for a project, have him email me and I’ll send him the specs. He can make one too!!! And you can sit and eat chocolate and watch him do it. That’s what I did. (LOL – kidding)
Seriously, the whole word “chocolate” made me a crazy lady. I have secret stashes of chocolate hidden in the house… otherwise Richie will find and eat it all. A woman needs her chocolate!!! Maybe that’s why the floors are growing on me!
(dark is the best!)
Beautiful floor. I love the rug and the gap would have bugged me as well. My husband always says I am nuts because I worry about things that no one else will ever see but then I say ” I see them and that is enough for me”.
I’m with you!! It doesn’t matter if anyone sees it the rest of my life… I have to look at it everyday and stuff like that makes me a crazy woman!!! By now he’s learned that if he just helps me fix it… he won’t have to deal with a crazy wife. He’s a quick learner! (ha ha ha!)
I made him roll around on the rug yesterday to get some of the lumps out. IT WORKED!!! He’s good for so many things around this house. I think I’ll keep him. :-)
Thanks, Payman.
Reblogged this on and commented:
wow…!
Thank you!
Oh my goodness… you totally make me laugh, because I so get it! All those little details make the difference in if a room feels finished or thrown together. And when it’s in a room that you’ve worked on, doesn’t your eye immediately go to those unfinished spaces? It makes me so twitchy!!
The finishing you did looks amazing and my mind is completely blown by the idea of using tape when chalking! So simple; it’s brilliant! I’m totally stealing that. I don’t know about you and Richie, but it seems like certain jobs always get handled by each of us. Tyson rolls the paint, I do the trimming… etc. Well, I handle the chalking… which ALWAYS turns into a series of juvenile jokes. Good times!
Hi Danielle. Apparently I’m not the only one that sees all those little things. (Thank goodness!) You’re so right!…. if you leave it, then it looks like you didn’t care and the room is unfinished and just half-assed! Just call us the twitchy sisters. Twitching makes for a beautiful room. HA HA!
Richie hates the finish work. He doesn’t paint anything! Unless it’s spray paint. I’m the caulk, paint, sheetrock, twitcher… and he’s the tear it up, nail gun, build it, fixer. He’s great at plumbing and electrical too… so that counts double!
P.S. The tape works great. Just be sure to remove it immediately after you caulk while it’s still wet. Hope you’re having fun with your daughter. Can’t wait to see her beautiful purple room.
Ahhhh… I love what you’ve done…the floors, arrow, bed, fantastic, maybe my floors will grow on me too! You’ve gotten so much done no matter how slow you think your going, thanks for the motivation to keep going.
Thank you so much! Its baby steps…. but I’m thinking I might need to be more like you and work some at night. I bet I could really amp things up. Ha Ha! But then I might need to blog from a hospital bed … so I guess I’ll pace myself. It’s hard to do what we are doing and fit everything else in too. Glad we can motivate each other. You certainly do me!
Can I move in? It looks great – and boy, have you guys been BUSY! Love the arrow, love the floors, love the rug, and the bed – geez! Take a long summer nap – you deserve it!
You can’t move in until I can move in! HA HA! And apparently I’m as slow as Christmas… so it may be Christmas. Goodness, I hope not. A NAP! I wish!
okay… maybe when i finally get that bed in with fresh new sheets on it I’ll close my eyes and dream the rest of the house is done! (I won’t want to wake up)
Thanks so much… you’re too sweet.
Wow, Stacey – you and Rick are incredibly talented. Can’t get over that bed. Really, really cool piece. Can’t say I’ve ever even thought to take on a project of that scale.
The whole thing is looking awesome.