Sunday, November 21, 2010

Almost…

No I haven’t quit blogging.  I’ve just been consumed with the De-Hoarding.  Consumed!  It is the first thing that pop’s into my mind the second I wake up.  At night, as my exhausted head hits the pillow, the countless thoughts of upcoming projects swirl around as a blizzard, numbing me to sleep.  I’ve so many rooms that are Almost done.  So close to being perfect, yet the little un-done details constantly nag my conscience, and have prevented me from showing the before and after rooms.  Until now.

Since the little details won’t be looked at until the rest of the house is Almost Perfect.  I’ll go ahead and show you my last three big projects.

The Master Bathroom.  The Horror Before…

Summer 644 

Even with a laundry basket in the room the kids would still drop their clothes and towels on the floor.  Frustrating.

Summer 643

Every surface on counter and tub, cluttered with bottles of what-not’s, toys, cups, clothes.  At least that is how it was a little over a month ago. 

Summer 543

And Today…

Summer 1412

Not only is it clean, but it’s beautiful.

The biggest time consumer was painting the trim and the cabinet’s.

They had to be painted with and oil based paint, which was smelly and takes ages to dry, but is so much more durable.  New hinges & knobs too, because we couldn’t stand putting the old rusty stuff on our beautiful white doors.

Saved money with the curtains though.

Made the curtains with material from my old stash.  Humm looks like the leftover duvet cover ($4.99) I thrifted to make this little darling.   

I did have to get more drapery hardware, but that duvet cover went a long way.

Paint: $95  Hardware:  $73  Curtain Supplies:  $24  Total:  $ 192

Now off to the girls room.  Princess and Hope’s room was the cleanest bed room in the house before we started.

Summer 1231

A bit stuffed, but not horrible.

Summer 601

But After:

Summer 1285

A Perfectly Pink little girls room.

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And I’m still in awe of the closet.

The girls let go over over 8 rubber totes and bags of clothes, bedding and toys.

Found two matching comforters at 75% off.  They were ended up costing $7. 98 each. 

And the darling bed skirt.  I raided my sewing stash again.

Summer 1288

Found two other bed skirts that I bought for possible girly dresses and did something different.

Summer 1253

Couldn’t make the traditional bed skirt because the beds are taken apart bunk beds. 

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So I employed some Velcro and attached them that way.

Summer 1290 

The Curtain rods.  An Electrical pipe, Wooden dowel, and ends from another shorter curtain rod.

Summer 1256

The silly wooden dowel was what I spent the most on.  $3.49.

Summer 1257

First I screwed the finial into the end of a short piece of dowel then snuggly fit it into the pipe.

Summer 1258

The curtains we found at a thrift store.

Summer 1368 

The vanity was gifted to the girls by a close friend.

Summer 1370 

And we were able to find some other thrift treasures to decorate with.

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Best of all the girls are surrounded by their most favorite toys.  The ones they liked above all the other’s that they let go of.

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This room did contain my first opps.  One of the paint colors we choose was a little too pink.  So overwhelming and bright that it made the room look smaller.  It nearly matched the pink ribbon on our curtain tops.   

So we changed the color on the top half of the room and now it darn near perfect.  I didn’t even grumble too much with painting the stripe in between the colors.

Summer 1270

And NOW for my final upstairs room.  We took this monstrosity that used to be the boys room.

Summer 1241

A cave of darkness, damage, and even more clutter.

Poor Lea inherited the room from the boys in April, but nothing had been done to it to make anyone know it was a girls room.

Summer 1244

The walls were riddled with holes, dings and dents from my O.D.D. son before we entered him into treatment.

Summer 1252 

The Doom Room Before…

Summer 1242

It was a very sad room.  But we poured a honking lot of love into it and today…

The picture doesn’t do the room justice.  It’s much lighter in person. 

Summer 1421

More like this…

Summer 1427

Again I made the curtains from thrifted sheets out of my sewing stash.  They are much more adorable in person.

Summer 1387 

And the bed skirt.  (This picture is truer to the actual colors of the room.)

Summer 1430

Well, I broke the rules.  It’s not a bed skirt, but an heirloom table cloth spread between the box spring and mattress.

Summer 1390

The closet before...

Summer 546

And After.

Summer 1428

Lea’s desk is now in the closet.

Summer 1424

She loves it.  Like everyone else she let go of over 75 % of the stuff she had.  Somehow the sacrifice has made it all worth while for everyone.

I think her room is one of my favorites after mine own.  Again the pictures don’t do it justice.  My point and shoot camera was acting up and bit the dust just yesterday.  Princess accidently dropped it and it died a horrible death.  So I just had to post these almost pictures to show you that we are still moving forward. 

There are still so many little, itty-bitty details I want to go back and change or fix in each of the rooms.  But they are a beautiful place to be while waiting.

It’s painful, and I’ve never worked so hard in my life.   That’s saying something because I’m a worker.  But this is the first time I’ve put all I have into something.  

I might have to borrow a camera but I promise to keep taking pictures.  I’ve so many more stories to tell of the process, the heartbreak, the miracles, the roadblocks, the generosity of angels, and the lesson’s I’ve learned.  They will come, maybe after I’m done being consumed by the process, but they will come.

19 comments:

Keri-Ann said...

Fawn, this is incredible! Congratulations! You are an inspiration! We are in the same process right now... I finally got the office cleared out (two trips to the donation truck and two craigslist sales later!) and painted and we're working on assembling furniture and moving Joseph in... got a landing decluttered and organized with a place to sort the off season front closet so it doesn't avalanche mittens, soccer cleats, and water-shoes on us whenever we try to hang up our coats. Next up, declutter, repair, and touch-up paint in the two kids' rooms upstairs, switch residents of the rooms and their furniture, finally give the boys curtains (started that one over a year ago), then we start the process in the playroom. It IS a difficult process but it is SO worth it! You are my hero! :D

Beth said...

Wonderful!!!!

The Trio said...

Fawn, I am so excited to see more pictures and hear of your wonderful adventures. I am not sure that I could do that much getting rid of but I am making my own dent. I am so happy for you all. Can't wait to see it in person.

Teresa said...

EVERYTHING looks fabulous!!!

Secret Mom Thoughts said...

You have done a fabulous job. All the rooms look great.

Arrow said...

Great pictures. It looks great!

Suburban Correspondent said...

Totally amazing! And don't let yourself get caught up in perfectionism - good enough is good enough!

Isn't it so much easier to keep clean and tidy without all the extra stuff? I've been working on our little girls' room also - I'm tired of scolding them for the mess, I know they would be happier with less stuff in there.

Rosemary said...

I am so in awe of you and your family! I know how hard it is to part with "stuff". Stuff weighs me down. Seems I can't escape it.

Keep up the good work FawnDear, and please do take more pictures. (Sorry about your camera).

Niky Sayers said...

It all looks fantastic! I LOVE the curtains and the bathroom looks wonderful. Well worth the effort, well done!

Sara said...

It looks fabulous! Everything is gorgeous, just like HGTV. Keep it up, dear.

Anonymous said...

I'm most excited about the last bedroom--what a gift to your daughter--all that TLC invested in her space to make her love it more. And the bathroom and other bedroom turned out so pretty and bright. This update was so great to read.

~Mama Cayman ;) said...

Hello Fawndear!
When I saw over the weekend that you had a new before and after update, I couldn't WAIT to read it! I got all the kids off to school this morning, made myself a cup of hot cocoa, and sat down at the computer to enjoy reading it. What a delight! The room transformations are inspirational, as always, and so very beautiful! You are simply AMAZING!

Trena Doll said...

Beautiful! When can you come for a visit? :)

Marisa @ Getting Back To Basics said...

The transformations are amazing and I got a lot of ideas, Congrats for a job well done.

Richins Family said...

Absolutely Fantastic! I am not much of a blue lover, but I adore your bedroom and your bathroom. I want to hear more about how you do the painting on the cupboards. I have some that I would love to transform. Bathroom and Kitchen. I am so glad that you are sharing your pictures. I know that you are working really hard. I bet it has to feel really good. Way to go Sis. Love you. One of these days you need to just sit back and really enjoy looking around and pat yourself on the back. Are you coming to do my house next? :)

Keep up the great work.

RavenM said...

Wow, wow, wow!!! Incredible:)

Natalie said...

Oh my goodness. FAWNDEAR!!!!! You are doing so well! Oh my goodness, (again) Lea's is my favorite room too. If only my room looked like that.

You've inspired me. I'm doing my room over break. Keep up the good work!

Katy Cameron said...

Oh wow, the house is looking fantastic, well done to all of you!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful!! Hope to see it in person in the not too distant future. PomPa A.