Caitlyn's bedroom remodel

We had always planned to spend part of our spring break making over Caitlyn's room!

Paint makes such a difference!

The biggest change is the painting: wall color and trim, but don't discount the de-cluttering and furniture re-arrangement. Before starting decluttering, Caitlyn and I discussed what activities would be done in her room.  We decided those activities would be sleeping, getting dressed, reading and homework.  Therefore crafting moved down to the basement.  (Yes, I "guided" her on this one.)

Our first order was to repair the ceiling.  We hadn't had any water since the 2nd week we lived in the house, so we felt it would be ok to repair the ceiling.. you probably caught this picture I posted to Instagram as soon as we were on Spring Break.

Once that was dry, Jared was able to paint the trim, Josh got in on the walls and we had a beautiful blue-green watery turquoise color!

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Caitlyn and I had spent a little time each afternoon before break going through a corner of her room. We were able to get rid of a lot of books that weren't challenging enough for her anymore that she could give to cousins or the Little Free Library.  A lot of toys went downstairs.  Other really small Mc-Donalds toy type items were trashed.  Once the room was painted, we were able to move furniture.  She really wanted a space to read, so we put her bookshelf in the opposite corner, swapped the dresser and desk.  The dresser is now outside the closet, which makes sense.  She wanted to move her bed to the window wall. At first, I liked how her bed was centered on the wall, but it created a little alcove where things went to hide, and broke up the space. The way things are now, she has two places to sit and read: on one side of her bed, as well as between her desk and bookshelf.  She also realized that with some decluttering, she can sit and write at her desk, whereas she couldn't before!

Her theme for this room was unicorns, so we kept the balloon from her 6th birthday, got new bedding, and I presented her with a treasure box and lamp that I had gotten back in November. (You can see these under the side table in the first picture above.)

Caitlyn also really loves to build legos, from Harry Potter to Lego Friends to just about anything.  She had run out of room on her display shelf, I mean, dresser. So we installed a floating shelf we had gotten from IKEA months ago, in anticipation of this remodel.  It was so great to see many of the things we had gotten along the way, finally get installed.

She has not stopped hugging me for how happy she is in her room!

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We took the bedroom and closet doors off to paint, but realized that the closet door often got in the way when she walked in. (And maybe I didn't want to paint it?) So instead, we hung up a tension rod inside and got a billowy sheer curtain that can slide to the side.  She can get dressed in her closet.  We also edited a lot of the clothes that were in the closet, made more specific places for her jewelry.  Hung a couple of hooks (one dedicated to her robe, you can't see, and the other for "today's outfit.)

We also got black hardware for her door, as we are changing that throughout the house. When we moved in, we changed the light to a differnt ceiling fan, and had previously installed faux wood blinds.  Its a far cry from what the house looked like when we toured it almost 3 years ago!

House Update Part 2:Upstairs

What did you think of the changes we made downstairs?  Wasn't the living room amazing?!

Well, onward and upward!

Josh's Room

I don't think anything has changed, except for how much stuff he has.  I won't embarrass him, but the drawers are stuffed and things are everywhere. I think the kids' rooms are the next painting project we will probably take on. When we freshen things up, at least with painting the trim, I'll be able to see things more clearly.  Perhaps a new bed (black single) and some more closed storage will make this room feel fit for a TEENAGER! 

Caitlyn's Room

Nothing has changed in here either, except also more stuff.  We did move her dresser out of her closet. I made some changes in my closet which left us with an extra shelf, which we installed in her closet, so we moved the dresser out of the closet.  It's where she displays her growing LEGO collection.  We keep the upstairs cooler at night, and she likes having that extra blanket, but otherwise, same deal as Josh: paint, single bed, better organization, declutter!!!! And also a floating shelf for her LEGO collection

Kids/Hall Bath

We did install a privacy film on the window in here but broke the blinds, so it seems darker.

Guest Room

This is the only room that is LESS blue because the bedding has been pilfered to supply other rooms! Josh took the blanket for his top bunk and the pillows got swapped when we updated our bedroom. I forgot to stage this room so the luggage rack and table aren't out, but they are still in the room.

Master Bedroom

This is the room that I'm most excited to share with you!  Over Thanksgiving, we painted our room and the hallway to our en suite.  We painted walls yes, and trim of course, but we also had to paint the CEILING.  The pictures don't do it justice, I think I had the flash off, but it is SO.MUCH.BRIGHTER in this room now!  Can you tell I am excited?!  We put in different blinds as well as took out the crossings in the windows.  We placed artwork in different, intentional places rather than the haphazard locations we had it before.  

I had found pillow shams on deep discount a couple of months ago, so those are new.  A few other pillows from other places around the house update the look.  I'd still like to change the wall sconces to something modern, and black. The hanging ceiling fan is also brass, but that requires a ladder-situation AND electrical at the same time, so we haven't done that yet.

If you look back above, we also had to paint the doors on Jared's closet in the hallway.  With the living room dentil molding and the trim in this room, I got to play with a new toy: a paint sprayer! We changed the hardware on all the doors as well.

Nothing has changed in our bathroom, that's down the road, but I can't wait till I have cabinets that come up to my waist and better storage!  

Jared's Office

I guess we had updated this room over a year ago too, since not much looks different.  He's acquired more memorabilia from his favorite sports teams, and I got a chair to sit in for myself!

Oh, and there's a TV now too! The kids often watch 1 show after they are in PJs. Right now it's the Mandalorian, is anyone else watching that?

My Closet

Before

In a "Stage 1" type renovation, I tried to make my closet function more as a dressing room with zones, so I've been playing around with more storage options.  I even took OUT that shelf I mentioned while in Caitlyn's closet, so that I could have a wall with a mirror.  I think the set up is good, and I hope someday I can get wardrobes to make this space look even prettier and use the height of the room better as well.  Even above the tall boots, is a lot of space, which would be useful for dresses and double-hanging. I don't have super a lot of clothes since I use a capsule wardrobe, so the shelf has not been missed one bit. I don't feel closed in, I can hang out in here!!

Shoe Zone

Clothing Zone

Accessory Zone

   Below the necklaces and belts is a storage ottoman for my PJs and workout clothes, and also I can sit and put my clothes and shoes on.

Well I hope you liked that update.  Next up on the to do list: Powder Room, Kids bedrooms, Guest Room, then to finish the basement! Perhaps after all that, I can get my laundry/mudroom updated??? Ah it never ends...

Hello Again, and House Updates

Tap, Tap.  Is this thing on?!
Whew, it has been a looooong time since I last updated.  Kudos to you for sticking around!

I know you have been waiting on pins and needles to see the most recent update! It's all been good, working on my weight loss, working out more, and more work!

I finally took some pictures and the before and afters will be worth it since we've done quite a few things in the last 14 months.  Let's get to it!

Entry

No real changes here, just decorated for Hanukkah!

Office

Again, no changes, just decorated. It's hard to believe I've had this for more than a year!  I still feel like it's so new!

Living Room

This room had quite a transformation with paint.  Painted the trim white, the walls grey and navy. We changed the sofas to grey with slipcovers and swapped the coffee table from the living room. 

Got a new piece for above the sofa.  Paint covered up the patchwork we had to do when we moved the thermostat to the hall.

From this angle, you can tell how we moved some furniture around.  We also decided to take the blinds off the windows in this room. We don't really need the privacy here, and I love how it lets the daylight in.  Additionally, we took off the crossings in the windows. We also changed the pillows for the season.

Dining Room

In the dining room, the only thing that has changed aside from the seasonal decorations is the photos displayed above the buffet.

All the pictures we've taken from our travels, or our homes.  The sign that I had custom-made reads "No matter where I am with you I am home."  Jared and I have had 5 homes together, and this one feels quite long term, but regardless...

Kitchen

In here, we swapped out the drawer pulls/handles for something more simple and modern, but most excitedly, we got a new refrigerator, microwave, and stovetop in either black stainless or black to match the oven.  The new refrigerator is a better use of space inside, allows us to have a "snack drawer", and by moving the old one to the garage, we doubled the amount we can keep cold which comes in very handy for parties and buying in bulk.  I love how the microwave has a light under it so I can SEE what I am cooking on the stovetop, which has 5 burners now.  

Family Room

No changes here, but I love these tall ceilings!

Ok, I guess I lied, we did make a few changes, as a result of the living room swap for the coffee table/ottoman.  I also took down the New York pictures and moved the menu from the desk area for parties.  Of course, swapped out pillows for Halloween vs. snow. 

Hall Closet

Looking at these pictures makes me realize the organization I thought I put in here, really isn't working. I'll keep working on that for ya!

Powder Room

the only thing I changed was the garbage can! Someday we'll paint this room!

Well, I think that's good for 1 day.  Updating the upstairs in the next post!