Progress

"Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress." - Nicholas Murray Butler

I know you don't see it... probably can't even tell the difference but I can smell the paint drying and I know there is a difference. My forearms and shoulders ache from painting, I have paint in places that one shouldn't have paint, and I'm having weird dreams from the fumes. But I have (finally) painted my kitchen cabinets.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can see the cute room that will be. The room that lives in my head, in my imagination - heavily influenced by House Beautiful magazine and HGTV.

I hear the negativity out there... the "how's the house going?" and "how long ago did you move in?" or "you're still painting..."

I know there are some doubters out there... some haters, if you will, who never thought I'd get it done. Who know how short my attention span is, how easily I move from one project to another, who have identified my lack of follow through as my biggest problem. Followed closely by procrastination.

But after a brief pause (cue summertime, 2 weddings, other people's illnesses and vacations, plus trying to have a life of my own) I am BACK! And better than ever!!! I spent my weekend working on the kitchen cabinets...

sanding...

tearing down unneeded shelves (thanks Chad!)...

repairing damages and holes...

learning how to use wood filler...

shopping for hinges...

replacing light fixtures....

and of course, PAINTING.

I finished the priming and started the actual painting which made me feel oh so accomplished. I'm about half way through with the painting... I think I'll be able to finish them tonight or at the latest tomorrow (Putting that insomnia to good use). Which means, I'll be able to hang the cabinet doors this weekend!!! Whoot! Whoot!

Up Next: Floors, Countertops, and Back-splash.

Girlfriend is going to learn how to tile.

Welcome

There are many reasons I bought my home... location, age, style, and hardwood floors. But the very first thing I feel in love with was the dramatic and stylish doorknocker original to the house. I was afraid to ask if it would stay and become mine because I didn't want the previous owner to know how much I coveted the knocker.

And here he is... I've promised pictures and now I am delivering:

I think he needs a name... Lionel immediately comes to mind but that's a little too obvious. Too expected. So I need to think on this for a while, try some out. It would be great to say hello every night when I walk in, like a butler. Maybe James? Or Oscar?

Oooooooooooh. I like Oscar... that might work. I'll test it out and see if it works. But I'm still open to suggestions so feel free to leave a name in the comments.

Other parts of my weekend include:

Following this guys around my yard, trying to figure out the best settings to get the best pictures... this one isn't too bad considering my attention span. I was looking for things to take pictures of, to practice and see how the settings changed the outcome but it was so hot and I was very unmotivated this weekend... I went out a lot (Thursday, Friday, Saturday AND Sunday nights - it's a lot for me) and I lazed around during the days. Therefor, not much progress on the house but I made some design and material decisions so that's actually progress in my book.

And then a wonderful dinner party at a friends' home. Perfect weather, great wine & food, and fabulous company... it was a great way to wind down the weekend. The menu included vidalia onion pie which is my favorite - if you aren't from the south or haven't visited the south and tried this deliciousness, I beg you to treat yourself some day. I'll see if I can dig up the recipe and give you some step by steps on creating the magic in your mouth. This is one of the tables after the party... the votive candles were shaped and painted like bulbs, so perfect for the hostess. I loved every moment and was honored to be included.

More House

"The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving" - Oliver Wendell Holmes



I spent the entire weekend working on my house. I sanded, primed, painted, cleaned, hung pictures, organized my closet, sanded, primed, painted and cleaned some more. It's a good feeling now but it was all I could do to make myself keep up the pace Saturday and Sunday. Especially when my friend Alyssa invited me over to layout at her pool.

But here's some of my progress:

These are the pictures hanging over my bed (a sleigh bed that I LOVE!!!). I took all of them so it adds a nice little personal touch to my room. They are black and white photos of places I've lived: Lincoln Park in Chicago, Music Row in Nashville, and the Tree that owns itself in Athens, GA. They probably wouldn't win any awards at but I love them and the look I've created over my bed.

Here's an example of the exposed brick I have through out my house. My house was originally built in 1928 and has been remodeled a couple of times (hence my 1970s blue bathroom). Fortunately, due to costs or effort, I have a couple of walls of exposed brick and I love them. This one is in my dressing room and that's the dreaded blue bathroom to the left. I hung a picture my sister Lauren painted for my brithday a couple of years ago. I love this picture.

Can you tell what it is? While it's so obvious to me, it's just abstract enough to confuse some people...

And here is what I fell in love with first... the molding over my front door. I love this detail work and the door itself. It was a total pain to paint but now it's done and I love it. The door is pretty awesome itself, heavy and solid. I'll have to take a picture of my doorknocker, it's pretty awesome.

Anyways, here's where I spent my weekend but I'm loving becoming a homebody. It's really becoming mine and I'm feeling more and more at home here.

Slow

"Progress, of the best kind, is comparatively slow. Great results cannot be achieved at once; and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step. - Samuel Smiles


that's how the house is going. thanks for asking. it's going slow...

And while I'm enjoying the process, progress doesn't seem to be happening. This weekend, I stopped the actual painting and sanding to finish organizing the rooms already painted. Which I think will help me feel more at home.

Here are some more pictures.


That's the blue in my bedroom - Sherwin William's Jetstream (SW6492) - when I first opened the paint can, I got nervous and when I applied it to the walls, I got even more nervous. When my mom came over and swore it wasn't the color we had picked, I got angry. But now that it's up and dry and my furniture is in the room, I LOVE IT. It's just bright enough to be noticeable and calming enough not to be distracting. (It's a good thing too because painting a room over due to poor color choice isn't an option right now).



The white trim is also Sherwin Williams, Classic White, a discontinued color but I had a can from my parent's house so I was able to get a match made. Why they got rid of this perfect white trim color in oil I do not know but I'm making sure I have enough left over to continue to get it matched in the future. It is the trim color I have used throughout the house and I love it. Classic and clean looking. Fresh and Bright.


This is my new favorite toy... a sander! Once I got over my mental hump of "I don't know what the hell I'm doing" and got to work, I've really enjoyed sanding. It's much quicker and more efficient than painting so it satisfies my instant gratification need. I can see progress after a couple of minutes versus hours. And I can't explain how nice that is...





And my house numbers, my Papa (grandfather) attempted to put these up for me this weekend but the drill bit broke in the brick so I wasn't able to finish this project. I bought these house numbers before I had even secured my loan (that should have been a sign) at Frontier (no website) in downtown Athens on Clayton. Great local products and unique gift items and it's rumored to be owned by one of the wives of a WP bandmember. I've found some great items for family and friends there. Plus these numbers for my house. This picture was taken on my coffee table but as soon as they're in their proper place, I'll post another picture

Making Progress

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,

Be it ever so humble,

there's no place like home.

- John Howard Payne

Slowly but surely I'm making progress on my new home. I thought I'd have more time last week but with my internet already turned off at my old home but not hooked up at my new house, it's been a little like not having my left hand or something. I am really enjoying it and I'm excited to really make this place mine, have it reflect me and my personality.

Check out the pictures below.