Thursday, April 7, 2011

DIY Update

Back in February I gave you a list of projects that we're working on around the house. We've crossed a few things off that list and added a few more! Here's the new, revised list:

1- Fix the kitchen light.
2- Repaint the dining room.
3. (Neatly) mount the television above our fireplace.
4. Get rid of the Tiffany's-esque chandelier that hangs in an awkward place in our living room.
5. Update the ceiling fan in our bedroom.
6. Rearrange the furniture in the living room.
7. Add some wall art to our master bedroom/bathroom/living room.
8. Update our upstairs bathroom light fixtures.
9. Repaint the red in the half bath.
10. Sell living room and mancave couches on craigslist.
11. Find a sectional for the living room and redecorate!


We picked out a glossy black paint to cover up the hideousness that was our kitchen light. It turned out pretty good with only 10 minutes of painting! Eventually we would like to replace the light completely, but that includes drywall, spacle, and other things we don't have time to mess with at the moment. So for now, the black paint will just have to do :)






Mounting the flat screen above the fireplace took a little longer. Seth came up and helped Aaron. They cut a small hole into the drywall behind the tv, ran the wires, and swapped a regular faceplate for one that would accommodate all the wires. They made it look easy and did it in one night! At first, I was unsure. Did we do the right thing? The tv looked huge above the fireplace. I then had to figure out what the heck I was going to do to decorate it. I poured over design blogs and googled my heart out, but found that most people think you shouldn't mount a tv above the fireplace.... too late for that. I knew I needed something a little taller to balance out the tv. I remembered seeing a tutorial for 10 minute topiaries and started thinking maybe that would be the solution for my design problems. It took me 6 stores to find the exact pots I wanted and about $8 for each topiary, but I ended up loving the results!



We ended up rearranging the furniture in the living room and dining room; however, I couldn't find a picture of what the original set up looked like?! I guess the big reveal will have to be after we re-do it, color scheme, couches, and all. I started getting this itch to switch things up, especially in my living room. I talked to Aaron about it and he said that we didnt' really need new furniture. I agreed because, well, he was right. Our couches are in great condition, but they are a red plaid and kind of hard to decorate around. We agreed to sell our 2 couch sets on craigslist and use the proceeds to buy the new couch. I've decided I think I want a sectional. Hopefully I'll have an update for you in the next month!

So there you go. We've got a few things off our list... and added a few more!

3 comments:

Jan said...

Don't add to many other honey-doos, we've got some golf to play.

The Life of Susan said...

love the tv over the fireplace! i mean getting to stare at your favorite shows and a fire at the same time? heaven! love how you decorated. very simple and clean. :)

Kristin L. said...

Hey Kat -

I read your blog all the time, but have never left a comment before! Seems like your family is doing wonderfully! Your baby boy is such a cutie!

I just wanted to let you know about a great sectional that I read about on a blog called 'young house love'
here is the link to the post. http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/01/surprise/

Happy couch shopping!

~Kristin