Updates In The Basement

YEAH HAPPY NEW SOFA!

I have been watching Craigslist for a new sofa for quite a while now.

Originally I wanted a simple settee for the master bedroom that I can reupholster.

But, when a great bargain comes along, you just have to take it.

Well, at least that is my excuse.

Mr. M., the kids and I picked up the sofa at a tiny antique shop in Buffalo.

The guy had some amazing chairs, but due to the abundance that I already have!

I didn't bother to ask the price.

I knew I would get THE LOOK from Mr. M.

I have been wanting to replace the sofa in the basement for a long time.
13 Years long!

The only problem was, the first one was free.

How could I justify buying a new sofa when it wasn't a NEED as Mr. M. put it.

I had my argument all ready.

Old sofa, messy and needing a new slipcover.

Old sofa, too big for room.

Old sofa, not worth buying fabric nor worth sewing new slipcover for.

When this new sofa came along.

I just had to explain the savings of buying now verses a new one in a couple of years.

I can be persuasive.

I love my new sofa, and at half the cost than if we had traveled to Ikea to get it.

Now if only I can get my sewing machine fixed.
I am in the mood to sew some major slipcovers.

And you, what are you doing to get through the winter blahhhs?

Messing With His Head

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

The kids and I did some Christmas shopping.

Watched a new Christmas movie to get them in the spirit.

Put up a tree or two.

This morning the kids helped me take the Christmas storage buckets out of the attic so I could start decorating.

But!

I kind of wanted to wait and see if I could talk Mr. M. into putting in the wood floors in the living room.

So..................

I called him this morning, he has been out of town for the last 4 days.

I wanted to let the kids talk to him before school.

After they were done talking.  I nonchalantly asked him, "so, how mad would you be if I started taking up the carpeting?"  You see, he knows I want to put in wood floors in the living room and study.

"Why?  What have you done?  Where are you working?"

"Oh, I was just kind of wondering.  I hope you have a great day love, miss you."

hehehehehe

He knows.

I think in the back of his mind, he wonders.

WHAT IS SHE GOING TO DO WHILE I AM GONE!

Maybe I have done things in the past while he is gone.

Maybe or maybe not.

I left the conversation like that.

He called back a couple of hours later.

"So, what are you doing?"  "Nothing, why?"  "Have you really started taking up the carpet?"

"Only a little."

"Where?"

"The office."  "Why there, the carpet looks the best in that room?"

You see, I have the next three days off, work Friday and then the weekend off again.

I want to get the floors finished so I can do my Christmas decorating.

I kind of have it in my head to get this done before the holidays and once the idea is there, I will get obsessed with it until it is done.

I can see it from his point of view too.

You see, we also are working on the master bedroom/garage addition.

But, in my defense, we have been working on that for the past 4 years and we probably are not going to work on it much over the winter.

BECAUSE IT IS SO STINKING COLD IN THOSE ROOMS!

Why not work on a room that we can finish in a week or two.

It really is that simple.

In my mind.

Oh, I know there is work, school, home work, pies and Christmas decorating and shopping.

But can't that wait for just one long week?

Pine floors against white walls.

Beautiful.

It all started here.

You see, I showed him this view of the basement last week.

It is my favorite room right now.

I know our living room can look just as beautiful.

I think I might just call him back and ask.

"On a scale of 1 - 10 how mad would you be?"

I know, bad, so bad.

He will be home tonight, but that might make him get home a little quicker.

This might just put me on Santa's naughty list.

What would you do?

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like..........

Early?

No, come on, not in this house.

Never too early.

Yes, I started putting up trees.

You have to start early when you have 10, 11, 12....

The number seems to grow each year.

This year I started with the tree in the basement family room.

I am thinking of going with a cream gold and red color theme.

I tried to use colored lights.

Really, I did.

Ask my daughter.

I had the tree all lit up in colored lights, just to try it out.

NOPE!

My daughter went down to check it out the next morning.

"MOM, why did you take off the colored lights?  You said you would try."

Oh, I did, for one night.

They can have all the colored lights they want on the trees in their rooms, but for the rest of the trees.

White lights only!

Over the long weekend the kids and I are doing some Christmas shopping, going out for lunch and craft shopping.

We all love to do a fun holiday craft.

I am making some paper Santa ornaments and sewing some sweater pillows.

How about you?

Any trees yet?

Are you even in the mood yet?

I even found Christmas carols on the radio.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas all through the house.

Vintage Coffee Table

I found a neat old farm table and trunk at a local farm sale.

You may notice that YES THEY ARE BLUE.

I am planning on using them in the basement.

Not as blue is it. 

First I sanded off all of the chippy paint.

Then I painted over the blue with a slightly aqua green color.

Then I stained it all with a gel stain.

You can see a little of the difference in color now.

Did you notice that I did not cover it in paint but tried to let the wood show through.

This trunk is great for storing extra blankets and pillows.

I'm loving my new table.

I love finding vintage pieces and reworking them until they are perfect.

Rather than going out and finding the perfect piece I make it perfect for me. 

So, how do you like it?

Do you like how I only painted over the painted areas or do you think I should have covered the whole top?

I still have to have the legs trimmed down to coffee table height.

What are your plans for this weekend?

Me, weeds are calling my name.

I am sharing my vintage table with Debra from Common Ground for Vintage Inspired Friday, Cindy from My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday and French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday.

And I would like to join a new party.

Thank you Jody from Rooted in Thyme for inviting me to join Simple & Sweet Fridays.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by.

New Whites in the House

Where does one start when there is a long pause.

Why of course with new WHITES.

I have completed many projects, and yet there is always a long list of those still to come.

This is what you see when you look down the basement stairs.

I moved this little dresser from the living room.

The kids have it packed with board games.

The door is to our pantry.

I did some sewing.

Cute little legs.

Just a hint of blue.

Even though those inner arm seams gave me trouble,

 I am glad to say I remembered how to whip up a chair cover in a couple of days.

I am hoping to use some of these fabrics for pillows and other slipcovers I may need for the room. 

A little table brought in from the garage and given the WHITE treatment.

Great size for a game or snack.

This over-sized footstool is great for putting your feet up or as an extra seat.

Of course I had to give it a new WHITE slipcover.

Too much color going on here.

More sewing in my future, I predict.

I have some beautiful inspiration fabric I plan on using.

The back of the basement is still cluttered, I am working on the storage issue.

I have to say we are really happy with how it turned out so far.

Turn off all of the lights and we have a great movie room.

My sister made mention that we should put in surround sound.

Oh dear.....maybe a project for next month.

These are the basement stairs.

I have one more coat of WHITE paint and then I am going to paint some stripes down the middle.

The hand rails are plumbing pipes.

Mr. M. got the idea from seeing them used in a local restaurant.

They are perfect for sliding down.

 Mr. M. does it with one hand on each side and zips down to the bottom hoping not to crash.

The kids hold on to one railing with their feet on the molding and go sliding down the side.  

Funny thing is, I did not know they did this until I saw them teaching all their friends at a party.

Even Aunt T likes to slide down with the kids.  

Thanks for stopping by.

I am joining;

White Wednesday

Show and Tell Friday

Feathered Nest Fridayhttp://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2012/04/feathered-nest-friday.html

What's Going on in the Basement

I have been wanting to change my basement for awhile.


We are currently using this room for watching TV, working out on treadmill and elliptical/bike, storage and this is where I do a majority of my sewing.  
Whew, there sure is a lot going on in this space.


The room runs the whole length of the house and is approximately 12x30.  We have a room on the other side the same size that is for laundry and storage.  I would like to organize the other side and make it more useful.
In the middle space we have the kids playroom, small desk area and a storage closet.


In need of some inspiration I went to Olioboard and played with some pictures.

This is where I would like to take this room.

Lots of WHITE.

The walls in the main TV room have already been painted an off white that I currently have in my office.

I would like to put down some kind of wood floor with a few area rugs.  The diamond pattern I would like to paint in the stairwell.  

Ok, now I have told you I have a thing for tables and chairs.

Most of the furniture I have pictured I already own and is currently  in the room in a slight variation and I may have left out a table or two and a couple or five chairs.

Hey, a girls got to have choices!

The red accents are for Mr. M. my fireman.  I would like to hang his plaques and add some fireman memorabilia on shelves.  

What do you think?

Have you ever visited Olioboard and designed your own room?