The Transformation

So when Dennis asked me what I wanted for my 50th birthday I couldn't think of anything I wanted or needed.  So I put a few things I wanted done on the house (I guess that counts as something I wanted).  Anyway, one of those things was getting the living room carpet replaced. The carpet has been in the house since we moved in (so 20 years basically).  As you can see below it was a lovely salmon color and in an attempt to add some color to the room we painted the back wall and the trim green.  In this first picture you can see we had already started removing the carpet which covered the living room and dining room.

 This next picture shows what was underneath the carpet.  Hardwood, which we knew but weren't sure what kind of shape it was in.  It was very dirty and had these little black dots all over the place from the carpet pad.  Like something in the pad had melted.  We figured having the floors redone would be really expensive so we were just planning to recarpet.  A friend of mine recommended Gabor who was a big Hungarian guy.  He gave us a bid and it was actually $100 less than new carpet! So we went with the hardwoods much to Spencer's delight as he was pushing that from the start (too much HOME or DIY TV).  Notice the lovely green beam dividing the living room from the dining room--it plays in later.

 This is what the trim around the doors looked like up close.

We knew the beam was fake, but when Dennis cut into it, it was hollow.  I can't even explain how the guy constructed it.  But, it is gone now!

This next picture is just to show what was underneath the trim around the doors, so basically what was underneath the textured walls--old ugly wall paper!  Can you imagine a whole room done in this stuff!  We think it kind of was an oriental theme and the white building is a pagoda.

This is more of the lovely wallpaper.  We are so sad that we couldn't restore it to it's original splendor--NOT!

 This is the wall paper that is in all of the closets in the upstairs, the linen closet, our bedroom and the boys--though I painted over it in the boys room.  Tiki hut?  I don't know, definitely not attractive but I'm sure it went with the oriental stuff that was in the living room/dining room.  Scary? Yes!

 So this is how the floor came out!  Can you believe how different it is?!  You'll notice that the trim is still green.  But the room looks so much more open & airy!

This is what the ceiling has looked like for the 20 years we have lived here.  Lovely, sparkly popcorn--so stylish!  We have always wanted to get rid of it but figured it was full of asbestos and we were stuck with it.  Turns out it wasn't and we weren't.  I scraped off a sample and took it to this place that tests it to see what's in it and there wasn't asbestos!  So off it came and easily, just a little water sprayed on and it scraped right off.

 This is what the ceiling looked like after the popcorn was off and it was repainted.  It also shows the addition of the crown molding.  Isn't it cool!

 This is more of the crown molding.  It isn't completely finished as we still have to fill in the little nail holes and the edges with caulk.

 This is the new door trim.

 More of the new door trim and baseboards.

This is what the crown molding and the new ceiling look like up close.  The wall is a tan color that looked almost white when it was with the green but after the white trim and ceiling were added it really brought out the color on the walls. 

 This is the final look so you can compare it with the original.  In both pictures there are no blinds on the windows but you can definitely see what a big difference the new floor, trim and paint job make to the room.  I am so excited!  Our finishing touches will be area rugs and new blinds.  It turned out to be an awesome birthday present.

Summer Fun

I didn't take as many pictures of our summer trips this year.  Mostly because my camera battery won't stay charged.  It's difficult to find a battery for it now so I guess it must be time for a new one.  Anyway here are a few photos from some summer adventures. 

 This is Tucker learning to kayak in Bill's swimming pool.  It wasn't actually as dark as it seems in this picture.  It WAS evening but not this dark.  Tucker learned out to exit the boat once it is flipped over but not how to flip himself back up while still in the boat.  Though he did try it many times, he always had to exit with the boat turned upside down.  This and a couple other similar pictures of him are the only pictures I got of our rafting trip this year.  :-(

 This is us "sunning" at the beach on our annual Chandler Beach Campout.  Notice the mulitple layers of clothing and the towel substituting for a blanket?  That pretty much sums up the weather.  Well that and the next couple of pictures.

Here is Cooper enjoying the surf and no, it is not a badly taken picture.  This is actually what the weather was like--foggy.  And yes, it was pretty much as cold as it actually looks.

 The coldness however did not stop Cooper from spending a few hours body surfing and also using the boogie board--which sadly I did not get a picture.  The boy has no nerve endings I'm convinced.

We did spend quite a bit of time around the fire.  This being late in the day when it was at its warmest.  Dennis is at least sporting his beach sandals. 

Here's Tucker with his cousin Emma (purple jacket) and her friend Cailey who has camped with us every year for probably 5-8 years I think.  It WAS fun despite the bad weather.  It didn't rain, it was just socked in with fog and the temperature only in the 60s but being intrepid Washingtonians that didn't stop us from staying the whole time.  Sadly, the best day of the Friday, Saturday & Sunday we were there was Sunday when we packed up to leave!  Oh well.

We are finishing up the big living room remodel. Next post will be the before & after photos.  Not that I got good before photos and I kind of forgot to get in the middle photos...it will still be a pretty amazing transformation!  Stay tuned.