TGFP!

I am knee-deep in loading up the formals. It feels so good to get to this part. Finally!
Of course, it is October 1, so that means eventually the Halloween decor needs to come out. But I figured I'd wait until after we get back from San Fran... give us some time to enjoy the new rooms sans pumpkins and witches and goblins, oh my.

Because we won't have the big reveal until end of week, here are a few pics to tide you over...

It looks like we could go up one more layer of Billy bookcases. We may just do that!!

Here's a guy you've probably never seen before, and the reason for the title of this post:

You can say that again, sister.
Thank God for Pinterest.

We have these great couches that are microfiber and well over 7 years old. Structurally, they are fantastic. But as you can see... they've seen better days as far as stains go.

Between Nic and the dogs... ouch.

This loveseat and its mate (an eight foot replica) have been in the loft since we moved in. However, my momma needed to pick up her couch that she had stored over here (Goodbye Mr. Santa Fe!), which left us sans seating in our new biblioteca.

So, Alex and Isa brought down this sweetie pie yesterday and I got to work trying to figure out how to clean it. I found this post pinned on Pinterest... and it looked like it just might work.

I sent Alex to Walgreens for the sponges and an extra large bottle of alcohol.
The rubbing kind, of course.

It took some elbow grease (wait, maybe that's what I removed with said cleaning?!) - either way, it looks MUCH better. For now, anyway. Eventually, I may find a slip cover for it.

I even took the cushions out and washed the covers in the washing machine on Hand Wash. They came out great. Forgot to take a before picture though. Oops.

I am going to spend some time during the next day or two loading everything back in... and I will be back with more pics soon! In the meantime, be sure to check out my 31 days series... :)

350 < 8 [Installing new floors in the Formals]

Yesterday was CRAZY with a capital CRA.
Seriously.

Want to start at the beginning? Click here.

We did a lot of the prep work for the floors on Thursday and Friday nights. We had to be ready for Saturday morning. And we did it!

After our home builder came in and fixed the imperfections in our concrete floors, Marcos and I got to work and filled the nail holes (from the carpet tacks), and filled in the long, but superficial surface crack.  The very nice subcontractors left us some of their magic stuff. [One less expense. Yay!]

 

After we got all of the cracks and holes filled, I mopped the floor with vinegar. Just a quick mop. We had already swept and vacuumed and swept a gazillion times (concrete and drywall dust are no fun). After that it was time for Kilz primer. THAT STUFF IS STRONG. I think we were high most of the night (even with the windows open and fans going). But we needed to ensure we sealed the concrete and get rid of any odor from Olive (the perpetual pee-er).

That took us up until Friday night. My parents came over with their flooring tools and saw on Saturday morning before 9. I made breakfast (French toast and bacon) and then at about 11am we got started.

Our floors had been in the house for over a week, so we knew they had acclimated. We read the instructions to ensure we weren't missing anything - and then we pretty much got started.

We rolled out the 2-in1 underlayment plus padding. It was $34 a roll for 100 SQFT, we bought four. We could have gone with a more expense product, but this appeared to be exactly what we needed.

Once that was done and while Marcos and Alex ran to Home Depot for a few last minute things, my parents and I did a dry run to see how we were going to stagger the planks. I love how WIDE they are!! Almost 10".

The seams from left to right hardly show, so we didn't have to be exact in our measurements of stagger (at the end of each side of the room).

Here's my dad laying out the first plank... schooling us on how to lay floors.

This was truly a family affair. Here is Nic trying to get his knee pads on.

It took us a good hour or so to get the first couple of planks put down. We had to ensure we had spacers against the wall; the wall to the left isn't perfect. Despite all of the that, we were in good spirits. And we just kept on working, working, working. After awhile, we had dad man the saw while Marcos, Alex and I installed the floors.

I guess while I was working, Nic decided to go around the house and take pictures. I've told you before how much I LOVE finding his pictures on my camera. Look at this one, it's straight out of the camera.

After a quick pizza break at 5, we got to work finishing up the last few rows. I took a ton of pictures last night, but the colors were off, because my camera hates the dark. So here is a picture from this morning.

And here is a reminder of what my formals looked like a few months ago:

Not bad, but not exactly what I want.

Today, I am headed to Home Depot to buy new baseboards, and then I have a new mirror from Hobby Lobby to hang up... and then new drapes from IKEA. I am hoping I can start building my Billy built-ins this week and then loading everything back in (and out of my hallway and office).

I am so sore and tired today - but it feels good to have accomplished something that big. A HUGE shout-out to my parents for being the best. Really. THE BEST.

As a side note, be sure to check out Eighteen25 later on today, where I have some NEW Halloween Printables to show off!!

Finally Focused on the Formals

I may be MIA for the next few days. We've been working hard to get our formals ready for wood floors!! The husband and I are working on scraping the carpet glue off of the concrete and removing base boards.

The entire rest of the house has taken a major beating while this work has been in progress. Which explains the first picture, right? I am so ready to be done! ;)

We have a TON of Dr. Pepper on hand and we are working it!!
Updates soon (I hope!)

A Concrete Jungle

No, this post is not in reference to New York nor Alicia Keys. Instead, it's about Olive.

Remember when she was cute?! And piddling on the floor was clean-able? Yes, well, she's still cute, mostly. However, I am so over her using my expensive carpet as a pee pad. Okay, to be honest... it's been a while since she's been a bad doggie. She's trained now. But my carpet... has to go!

We were definitely planning on changing it out sooner or later, but spending some time in that room recently, painting, made us make-up our minds on SOONER rather than later.

The husband decided to pull all of the carpet yesterday evening while I was off getting my hairs cut.

Wait. This post is about the formals.

Here are some pics of that space now.

 

Yes... all those white spots on the walls were from my love of hanging any and everything several times. :) We are going to get the paint out and move right along.

We've figured our formals are about 350 square feet all together. Those two pieces of wood flooring might not be enough, now that I see the pictures.

I kid, I kid. We have to buy lots of flooring. Those are just my sample pieces. We are looking into Lumber Liquidators - with Marcos installing the floors himself. We had a third sample we wanted to look at; however, it's being mailed to us.

I am really leaning towards the one on the left. It's lighter than our table, but has very similar tones. It also goes well with our tile (a huge must!).

So, the husband got the ball rolling and we are going to have to move fast. I am not a fan of concrete floors, my formal's furniture in the hallway or the loud echo I get when I scream.

Anyone want to come help Marcos float these babies?!
Anyone?

Lovely, Lovely Linen

I think I found THE color. Thankfully... considering I purchased two cans of it assuming it was THE color.
After we got it on the wall, it was confirmed.

We were up late last night putting the finishing touches on the feature wall in our formal dining room. The kids and I are going to start moving things and taping off the rest of the formal living & dining rooms today to get ready to paint the entire space.

Here's a sneak peak of how it's looking:

Keep in mind, the picture was taken at night, sans flash on my Android. I will see if I can get a better picture today! ;)

Click here to see how it went up!

Edited to add:

Let the Batten Begin!

Well, the board, too! The hubby and I made a quick trip (ha!) to Home Depot today to pick up a few things. Namely, my primed MDF boards, a new circular saw (my dad is still busy with the chop saw, so we can't borrow it back just yet), and some paint.

I am tired of my formal dining room sitting in my formal living room. I want to get the front of the house back in order. So we got BUSY tonight.

I know it LOOKS like I am not doing my fair share... but I was. I did all of the math (65" tall, 12" from the top board to the second board, 23" between vertical boards on a 13 foot wall). And, I measured. And grabbed boards. And supplied supplies when hands were reaching out grasping for something, anything.

Because the MDF boards are a 3/4" thick and my existing baseboards are only a 1/2", I grabbed some trim pieces to help extend the baseboard. Once we putty and caulk, no one will be none the wiser. <-- a double negative?!

There's a whole lot of sanding and painting in our future (tomorrow?!)... but I love the way it looks already.
We've decided to paint the rest of the room (and actually the entire house (sans my office and kids rooms) Natural Linen from Glidden. It's very similar to what we have but it's a greige... and does not have ANY pink undertones (unlike our current color).

As soon as I get the board & batten sanded, I will unload the formals and get the rooms painted. I will also use some of my recent Pinterest finds to bring more character to the rooms. I cannot wait to finish it up!!

Here's what our Dining Room looked like before:

And this is what it looks like RIGHT NOW! ;)

I think it's looking quite regal already!! Don't mind the mess. Please?

And the Painting Continues

I added a quick first coat of Phoenix Swiss to the formal dining room last night.

Lighting was HORRIBLE, sorry about that. Only one wall in this room will have Board & Batten... and I cannot wait to get the wood cut and installed so I can get my formal dining table out of my formal living room! ;)

We are painting fools, I tell ya!

Fab Five Pins of the Week [Bunches of Benches]

It's that time folks... I've scoured Pinterest recently, looking for BENCHES! I have two fantastic tables, one in the kitchen and one in the formal dining room. But I do NOT love the chairs.

I can't seem to locate a picture of my kitchen table, but it's dark... and it has 6 chairs, but seats 8.  The chairs in the kitchen are falling a part, and they are not even 2 years old. Nice craftsmanship.

I think I am going to try to talk the husband in to recycling at least the kitchen ones into benches. And maybe sell the dining room ones. I've had my eye on benches for both spaces for quite awhile; however, have you seen the cost of those babies?!

Definitely more than I want to spend.  Instead, I decided to look around Pinterest for ideas and tutorials.

Let's just say that I was *not* disappointed.

#5 - From Me to You - I don't think she ever intended for someone to pin the benches, since it was a Mother's Day party. But swooon!

#4 - Ana White's Bench tutorial. Why does she make it seem so easy?! =)

#3 - A bench [and table] bragged about on Ana White's site. She has an area where people can post pictures. I am glad this was posted. It even came with a tutorial. Not the right color, but this helps with the Pinsperation.

#2 - And then there is this BEAUTY from the Velvet Door.  Love this formal living & dining room. May copy it! =) Or just invite Kristel over to replicate it for me!

 #1 - Love this so much for the kitchen table. But just one. Love the bright, print fabric... and definitely the shape of the high back loveseat. Is it hot in here?! Anyone?

There you have it. 5 pins that truly inspire me.

Have you found any benches you LOVE?! Feel free to leave the info in the comments section. You can visit my House & Home Pinterest board by clicking here.

Have a wonderful Friday... and a better weekend!