2016 is in full swing! Are you rockin’ January? I read someone recently who said that we all do an amazing job meeting our New Year’s goals in January, but then February hits, and everything goes downhill . . . So true. It made me chuckle.
Well, 2015 was the year that we finally started tackling some of our own home DIY projects, and one of my goals is to continue working on our home in 2016.
Last week I shared with you where we are at with our 2015 projects, and if you remember finishing up our kitchen cabinets is #1 on my list.
I’m reaaaaally gonna try and not start working on anything else until this project is finished, but I know myself too well to make any promises. I have a terrible habit of starting a project, then getting bored with it, and moving on to something that peaks my interest more. I leave a trail of half-painted, unfinished things in my wake. Maybe this will be the year to become a better Finisher.
Once I DO finish the kitchen cabinets though, next on my list for the year is working on my dining room/extra-living-space/pathway-to-the-backyard room.
I really don’t want to even show you these pictures because I dislike this space so much! It’s just awkward, and I can’t seem to get it to make sense.
There are extra pieces of furniture that really don’t belong, hand-me-down things I don’t really want, and those terrible yellow walls and ceilings to top it all off.
It really needs some help.
And then those yellow walls and ceilings continue over into my 2 story living room and allllllll the way up the stairs and into my hallway.
I had finally convinced myself that I could DIY paint this giant, 2-story room (after lots of helpful and encouraging comments I received from many of you after this post here), but now I’m not so sure. I had the realization that if I paint the walls the color I am thinking, I will definitely have to paint the ceiling because it will not work with a cool color on the walls. And no matter how much I try to get myself fired up about it, I don’t think I can DIY paint a 2-story, popcorn, giant ceiling.
So, for now I will start with the smaller dining room area, then see where that gets me. If I have to hire a painter, well . . . I’ll cross that bridge when we get there 🙂
My style is really so much more like this:
via Pinterest
White walls, clean, ordered. I’m not afraid to add in color though, just as long as the backdrop is a cool-tone.
via Pinterest
There are certain things in my rooms I can’t afford to change (like the floor, our sofa, and our area rug), so I will have to work with those. But I keep thinking that if I could get the walls painted not yellow, just that alone would make a huge difference.
Another part of my living room area I would like to work on this year is my fireplace.
That tile surround is just ick. And while I appreciate the dental molding trim of the mantle, I think the whole things needs to be beefed up. I see a fully-trimmed fireplace surround, complete with some natural stone tile instead of that white stuff. I’ve never tiled before, or built a fireplace surround, but I think I can do it. I guess this will be the year to learn.
My last, biggest project goal of the year though is making over this terrible, terrible space.
I can’t believe I am going to even show this to you.
It’s flat out embarrassing.
But what the heck, here we go . . .
This is my little hovel of a laundry room, right off my kitchen.
If this doesn’t scream “Hot Mess!” I don’t know what does.
It needs a complete revamp. Nothing in there is practical and functional. Last year when our old washer and dryer died out we bought the new, stackable set, thinking that alone would help our space issue . . . But as you can see it didn’t.
I don’t have a place to fold or iron clothes, and my kids desperately need a place to dump their shoes and backpacks.
I would love to have a clean, serene, well-organized space that looks much more like this:
Four Generations One Roof
My husband and I are still working out the plans on how to organize it all for maximum storage and usability. We do know though that one part of our plan will be taking off our full door and replacing it with a bifold door, so we can access the wall that the open door usually covers. I also see new paint, new lighting, and STORAGE. It’s a must-tackle-room this year.
So, that’s the 2016 plan. Will it all get done? Probably not. But it’s what I’m working towards this year. Actually finishing my boys’ bathroom last year and making some major progress on the kitchen has helped motivate me, and given me some hope that maybe I can do these projects I have dreamt about for 5 years. I hope you stick around to see how everything goes–I promise not to make you look at more pictures of my laundry room. I don’t want to give anybody nightmares.
It looks like you have a lot on your plate but you’re a smart lady, I have no doubt you can do it. The dining room might look more like a DR to you if you go ahead and put a light in there. Might jump start you too. I sure would hire out painting those high ceilings. That’s a tough job even for pros. I really like where you’re going with your kitchen. We live in an apt. and have a stacked w/d and I despise them. They don’t hold much, and there’s only 2 of us. They also start to mildew and smell after a short period of time and have to be cleaned. You didn’t ask for any comments on your ‘to do’ list but these are things I noticed while reading this post. Just pretend I’m your mother, I’m plenty old enough to be. You’re doing great work, teaching yourself and then offering help to everyone else. So generous.
Happy New Year dear!
I so appreciate your thoughtful comments June! I do like the higher capacity of my stackable w/d, but you are right in that they do hold onto water and can smell stinky if we leave the door shut. Our dining room area did have a chandelier when we first moved in, but since we were using that space as a play area people always hit their heads on it while walking through! So we replaced it with a flush mount. I would love to have it be a proper dining room, but that space is the only pathway for my boys to go in and out of our backyard . . . I know a dining set is bound to get banged up pretty badly while my little guys are still young. So the space needs another purpose, and that’s the part I am struggling with. How to keep it open enough to function as a pathway but make use of it as functional square footage.
Wow! I see your struggle with your so-called DR. Maybe when your boys are a little older (or they go to college) you can get that back. Keep up all your good work. I really enjoy your blog bc you’re very ‘real’.
Thanks June 🙂 I used to have more energy to put on a good show, but nowadays I’m too tired most of the time to be anything but real 🙂 As my boys age more and more things in my home change–at one point that whole dining room area was a big toy room! So I probably will just have to wait a few more years before making any drastic layout changes.
I love reading this post bc I have the exact same list! I’ve even started my kitchen cabinets and stopped. I also have a sliding door area that’s tricky. I think you could get away with a seating area and cover half of the door maybe. Definitely hire a painter for those tall ceilings! I just painted bm gray owl and am very happy with it. Looking forward to seeing more. Thanks for sharing!
OOh, the gray sounds nice! I have thought about covering up the one door that doesn’t open Tracy, so I’m glad I’m not crazy! Thanks for your thoughts.
Hi Melanie! Just wanted to let you know that I painted my kitchen cabinets this past summer with Fusion Limestone and we absolutely LOVE the results! It was VERY hard work but well worth it! We’ve had a number of people visit since the re-do and have received tons of compliments. It looks like a brand new kitchen. I had to be convinced to paint over our oak cupboards but I’m so glad I gave in. 🙂 Happy 2016 DIY, Melanie. I really enjoy your blog!
That is wonderful Vicki! If you get a chance, could you email me a picture of your cabinets? Thanks so much for letting me know about them.
Hi Melanie – have you thought about perhaps having a ‘barn style’ door for your laundry room, but have it on the outside not the inside – not sure what you have to the right of your doorway, but perhaps a thought for you?
Just another idea – what if you move the two easy chairs and place somewhere else and then either keep your piano where it is or move that to the side where the chairs are now? And, because you still want/need space in the middle of your Dining Room – you could perhaps place a dining table and chairs nearer to the wall, either to the right or the left of your Dining Area?
Anyway, I wish you well in 2016 and will look forward to seeing whatever you decide to you 🙂
Whoops – I forgot to let you have this link – for ideas on Barn Doors 🙂
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/barn-style-doors/
Hi Again Melanie – just been ‘browsing’ and thought about you with your Dining Room – perhaps something like/similar to these styles might work for you? 🙂
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/34973334581828406/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/111253053267660805/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/206532332885165184/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/206532332884221424/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/284430532687772158/
Denise I love all of your ideas! Thank you for taking the time to look those up. The banquet seating is an interesting thought … I may could work something like that out. And I love the sliding barn door laundry room idea, but unfortunately I only have about 4″ clearance on one side of the door about 18″ on the other … So it won’t fit 🙁 I like you’re thinking though!
Oh no, the dreaded to do list – mine is so very similar to yours. I just recently got rid of the yellow walls in my kitchen, they are now a soft gray to go with newly finished white cabinets. Next to go is my 2 story PEACH foyer – what was I thinking!!!! Then there is the family room, mud room, and the list goes on. I too am striving for a clean, neutral ordered look, a big change from the tuscan yellow, red and green mess I have now. Here’s hoping that 2016 sees us both putting a major dent on our list!!!
Isn’t it funny Liz how color trends change? I remember that peach, yellow, and hunter green color palette all too well . . .
Hi, I just found your blog and love your work. I am going to attempt to paint my first pieces with fusion paint and forgot to ask the gals at the occasional store I bought my paint from if you can apply it with a small foam roller for a smoother finish or if it is a brush on only project. Do you have any advice for me. I am doing 2 dressers, a desk and a night stand.
Hi Marsha, thank you for your comment and for stopping by. Personally, I find that Fusion works best when applied with a brush. You can use a foam roller, but rolling on the paint makes for thinner coats, which typically means more coats. I have had fantastic results using the Fusion Small roundhead brush, loading the brush up with paint, and running long, smooth strokes over my pieces. The paint will self-level a bit if you lay enough down. Maybe experiment with both methods and see which you like the best.