No, I'm not pregnant

That is what I have to say to friends and family when they see this room for the first time:

WHA?  I know, this is totally not my style.  This room was painted (YES, BY ME) within two months of moving into the house because I was just TOO EXCITED to paint all the bedrooms.  Big mistake!  Always take your time and think it through before painting!

This room functions as my dressing room...hence the exorbitant amount of sweaters on that shelf.  With the paint and decor, I was going for 'Victoria's Secret', but ended up with 'Circus Nursery.'  Britney Spears would probably love this room.  I also didn't take the time to sand, prime and paint all the trim before painting the walls (I only did the ceiling and baseboards first) so all that has to be done before I can fix this disaster.  What a rookie mistake!  It's amazing how much I've learned in one year. 

                  

The pink is not horrible, but it's just not for me.  I'm tired of everyone thinking it's a little girls room.  And the brown stripes were supposed to be bold, but turned out boring and 'pastel' because I just used leftover paint from our living room instead of buying something specific for this particular shade of pink.  I've really learned that rushing never is a good idea....oh, and that my cat loves to pee on shag rugs. 

Just ignore the bra on the floor that I've circled in red.  These are the only daytime 'before' pics and I noticed it too late.  I thought for the sake of keeping it real I'd leave it there instead of attempting to photoshop it out.  Here's a better pic taken at night:

No offending brassieres in that one!  And the color actually looks better, I think. 

This sad excuse for a light fixture is going to stay, but I have some ideas to make it look nicer.  And just in case you were wondering what is behind door number 2, it's these:

Oh, and a bunch of other crap.  My plans for this room involve replacing the pee-stained rug (gag), repainting, putting up (possibly making?) new curtain panels, addressing the light fixture, buying (making?) a cushion for the bench, and trying to come up with storage ideas.  I would love to do built ins around the windows, but I have the closet door in the way on the long wall, and the plumbing access can't be blocked on the opposite wall:

So, there is some potential to do a 'corner unit' in the corner between the windows, I'm still mulling it over.  I don't really care for the color of the wicker dresser anymore, but I don't think there is much I can do with it.  I could move it elsewhere in the room, (or out altogether) but I do use it frequently, and it was expensive, so I want to keep it.  It also matches the rest of the set in the guest bedroom.  My colors for this room will be some sort of gray and yellow, I love that combo and it can still work for a nursery IF the day ever comes when we need one.  Or maybe not, on most days you can almost see your breath in this room....we'd have our very own baby-popsicle!  

Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to dive in and do some good stuff to this room. 

Oh yeah, I LOST

Like, big time.  I'm referring to the Old House Web blogger contest in which I was a finalist.  I got nada.  Well, I shouldn't say that - I got nice comments, several votes, and lots of people got to see my blog because of it, so I'm happy.  Plus, two of my favorite blog 'hauntees' won $100 gift cards to Lowes...congrats to Oh! Apostrophe and DIYdiva!

Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me, and also a big HELLO to all my new readers!!  I'm so thrilled to have you all 'following' me and I will be perusing all of your amazing blogs while I should be working on my own house! 

Epic FAIL

Dear French Door(s),
We had such grand plans to stain you a gorgeous shade to match our refinished floors, didn't we?  I am sorry that after one gallon of Smart Strip, eleventy million dozens of sandpaper sheets, hours of scraping, glopping, picking, heating, sanding and screaming later, you are still covered in a thin, seemingly impenetrable layer of gross oil-based paint. 

We rejoiced when the wood grain started peeking through, but the end still wasn't in sight several 'strip sessions' later.  After our best efforts, the paint still clung to you like Nicole Kidman to her Botox needle.   

And quite honestly, we are tired.  We want to do other things.  There are really good shows on tv this fall that aren't going to watch themselves!

So, you will soon be primed and painted white.  Again.  Like all the other doors in the house.  And you will have to like it.  But don't worry, you will look beautiful.  And I will get drunk on the power of HBO and Showtime on demand for the first time in my life.  And probably drunk on wine, too.     

Take heart, though. Your original hinges are looking mighty spiffy, so that's something.

               

We hope you can forgive us. 

Love,

Sara and Shaun