There’s nothing better than putting before and after pics side by side (or top to bottom as the case may be) to see the progress that’s being made on the Dream House. This is especially important when we start getting impatient with ourselves and feeling like we’re not getting enough done. So let’s take a look at how the master bedroom has changed since we moved in a three months ago.
Now that the side entry hallway has been painted and art has been installed, it’s time to switch out the light fixture. We’ve been shopping around for a light fixture that has vintage styling but still provides good lighting. These nine fixtures are some of our favorites so far…
There’s a thrift store in a nearby town that I visit at least once a week. It’s not the best thrift store – they don’t have any furniture and their hours are kind of limited – but I’ve found a few gems here, including our glassware and Michael Graves phone.
On one of my very first visits to the store, Steel Magnolia was playing on the televisions. Now, if you don’t this late 80’s cinematic gem, you’re missing out. With an all star cast of leading ladies, including Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Sally Field and Shirley MacLaine, I immediately fell in love with this tear jerker the first time I saw it as a teenage boy.
Later, as a lonely college student in my first apartment, I literally wore out my VHS copy of the movie. I think I actually broke down in tears on the afternoon the VCR at my tape.
Fast forward 20 years to the day I walked into the thrift store and saw the film screening on the bulky old televisions. It felt like a welcoming hug from my new hometown.
“Drink your juice, Shelby,” I muttered to myself and giggled.
“Welcome home, Mr. and Mr. Blandings,” the movie seemed to say in return.
— J. Blandings
It has been many, many years since either of us have lived in a house. One of things I had forgotten about houses — especially houses in small towns — is that no one uses the front door. Whether it’s a neighbor, the UPS delivery person or me and Mr. Blandings, we always use the side entrance, which opens into this little hallway. It’s partly because it’s the first thing people see when they enter the house and partly because it’s a tiny little space that wouldn’t require a lot of work that made me decide to give it a makeover now rather than later.
While we plan to switch out this flooring in the kitchen and side entrance hallway, we’re a year or two away from being ready for the project. We won’t want to replace the flooring until we give the kitchen a major overhaul. And to redesign the kitchen, we need to save all of our nickels and dimes. Meanwhile, I’m thinking about covering the existing flooring to give it a little refresh.
