Before and after, as promised!

The bedroom makeover is coming along well. 

Painting completed and new flooring installed.

New ceiling fan/light is up.

New blinds being made.

New furniture traveling cross country, hopefully!

Only piece of furniture remaining from before - the loveseat, with freshly

 laundered slip cover, awaiting new pillows.

This is my favorite place to read during daytime hours.

Before was OK but getting tired looking.  Carpeting too hard to keep clean, paint fading.

Entry hallway in Kendall Charcoal - a few shades darker than the bedroom's

 Chelsea Gray.  We did this area in eggshell finish rather than flat paint

so it has a soft gleam in the sunlight from the front door, plus resists 

scuffs in a busy traffic area.

Taking the same flooring through from the other downstairs areas - our master

 bedroom is on this level - is more cohesive, easier to clean and makes

 the first floor appear larger than when chopped up by different floor coverings.  

Only the kitchen floor is different.

I popped into our local AT HOME store yesterday afternoon for
a quick look at rugs. OMG what a selection - that home store requires a 
week at least to cover every department!
Bob insists on a throw rug on his side of the bed now the carpet is
history.  This is the one I brought home to try and I love it. 
It's so soft, non-slip, and the colors are perfect with the flooring, 
Do you agree?
Just enough of that terra cotta shade I mentioned before when thinking 
about adding color with accessories, along with greys, creams, and the 
darkest background shade matches the flooring. For just $30 I think it's super.

st

The south facing front door has also been refinished as it was faded from the

 sun and heat. Sanded, two coats of stain, a good sealer. . . .it looks like new.

 Now a word or two on stained wood! 

Yes I know many people are painting every piece of their woodwork

white these days, especially if new construction. We sometimes check out

 the million dollar plus new homes being built all around us and are

astonished that there is very little real wood used for trim, doors etc.

This house is now thirty five years old and we've been the only owners. 

I won't say I wouldn't enjoy painting all the wood - well having someone

 with a stronger shoulder, younger knees, and more patience than myself

doing such a huge, expensive job - wood trim, crown moldings, chair rails,

baseboards, six-panel doors etc. . . . . BUT, and it's a gigantic 'but', 

the cons far outweigh the pros at this point for us!

Natural wood is beautiful, all oak here, is a good fit in this cottage-style

 house. . . . . . and, believe it or not, the darker paint colors in a couple
of areas really work well, giving it cottage warmth plus sophistication.

I'm happy with the outcome of my project - dreaming about the 

next one will keep me out of trouble!