Day #306 - Let there be light...

Well, it fits into its contemporary setting, and it'll be nicely functional with the two individual light arms, but I have to admit, our new floor lamp for the family room is a little strange-looking!

Day #284 - Decisions, decisions...

We're having a terrible time finding an area rug we like for the new family room. Today we discovered we could kind of make our own, or at least choose our own colors to go on pre-designed rugs. At the moment, we're going with the lighter brown (Canyon) for the body of the rug with Fudge, Ivory, and/or Black as the accent colors. Now we just have to decide on a design...

Day #269 - Him and her...

Being at a loss for a picture today, I took a close-up of the sculptures on the mantel. They look black but they're really bronze. Another Pier 1 find.

Before and after photos...

Thanks to you all for hanging in there with me through the family room redo and for all the compliments and encouraging words you've given.

I've put the before and after photos in my Picasa Gallery - you can see them here:

Family Room Photos

Just click on the "Family Room - B&A" album. You can view them individually or with the slideshow option.

Day #268 - We have a room!

They have arrived! The cabinets were delivered today and we are beyond pleased. There's supposed to be a pull-out lazy susan type thing for the TV that's missing, but that's minor. The shelf configuration in the TV unit is temporary though, until that piece arrives. We're also waiting on a companion vase that won't arrive until November.

So, with the exception of a few finishing touches, we have a room! I know I've only been giving you bits and pieces as we've gone along, but I'll be posting before and after photos of the whole project on my regular blog in the next couple.

Day #265 - A little fall color...

Found these colorful accent pieces at another of my favorite spots, Pier 1. They fit perfectly with the new family room color scheme... and the approaching season. (ooops - excuse the price tag I haven't taken off yet!)

Day #264 - Before/After...

BEFORE

AFTER
(I don't know what that circle on the fireplace is -
reflection or something I guess.)

Well, I've been waiting for the new cabinets to come before posting pictures of the finished work, but it's going to be at least another week or so and my grandson's been after me to send pictures of our progress, sooooo... The cabinets will go to the right of the fireplace.

Day #263 - Floor decor...

Funny how little things can bring us such pleasure. We bought a small throw rug for in front of the patio door and I just love the way it looks when the sun hits it. The photo doesn't really do it justice - the colors are richer - but it looks so nice on the new floor.

Day #253 - Keeping the cold (and cats) out...

We are so pleased with the new fireplace doors that arrived Saturday. Finding anything for it has been extremely difficult because it's old, and this particular model isn't even manufactured anymore. Luckily, I found a place on-line that makes doors to fit and voila! - they do! Perfectly.

(the surround really is blacker - it looks gray because of the flash, I guess.)

Day #246 - Getting organized...

One of the cabinets we found at Ikea (Lew was working on the other drawer.) Along with the matching wall units, which still have to be put together, these will work very nicely for the printer/scanner and other storage. We're pleased with our purchase. :)

Day #244 - When the going gets tough, the tough go... shopping!

Guess where we went today?? :D I was really starting to stress about the cabinets we need for the other side of the family room because the space we need to fill is odd-sized. It was looking like they would have to be made too and I really didn't want to put that kind of money into the darn things. I think we may have have found some components that will work though so am feeling better about the whole thing. Not the exact right size, but hey, I can adapt!

Day #235 - Shades of brown...

It's always been a real challenge covering the patio door and we've tried everything - drapes, vertical blinds, French door curtains, etc. I think these Roman shades are going to be perfect. The beasties can look out the door without tearing or knocking things down and we can still have privacy. The window has the same treatment.

Day #232 - Floor decor...

Buster, being Buster, has to check out the new flooring by plopping his chubby self right in the middle of things. The installer started today and should be finished tomorrow. I finally won't have look at the existing ugly floor ever again! Happy Birthday to me!! ;)

Day #227 - Dumping ground...

Poor Lew! His office has become the repository for almost everything that was in the family room while we're redecorating - he can barely move in there! He should get most of it back next week.

Day #225 - Floor on the floor...

We have floor... 26 boxes and about 800 lbs of Bungalow Oak floor; two rolls of underlay and a bunch of feet of molding. Lots of floor sitting on the... well, floor! Seems it should "acclimate" itself to its new environment, so we get to look at it until next week's installation. The cats love it - something else to climb on.

Day #224 - Busy brush...

At the risk of boring y'all simple and having you get sick to death of redecorating photos, here's yet another of Lew doing some touch up painting. The contractor comes back tomorrow to repair some ceiling damage from the tile man, then a short wait for the floor and cabinets.

Day #222 - Oh bother...

Shoof! Like the man doesn't have enough to do! We decided to keep the old hearth because there was really nothing wrong with it and it would save a few $$. However, after the wood trim around the fireplace was removed, there was a distinct difference in the slate where it was covered by the trim. Soooo, poor Lew has to wet sand the whole thing to remove the build-up of 30-odd years of wax to make it all the same color. Then he'll seal it for protection. What a job!

Day #219 - Wheeee! More progress...

Okay, now I'm really excited! I am loving this look! With the two sculpture pieces we got for the mantle, this is gonna be so striking.

The tile man returns tomorrow to grout - we opted for a dark color - and add some trim. This is fun!

Day #217 - Family room progress...

A little up-date on our progress...

Since the fireplace wall is the focal point of the room, it's getting a lot of attention. Lew spray painted the metal surround with fire-resistant paint and it almost looks new. The wall itself will be covered in a gold-coppery-brown glass tile around the fireplace/mantle with cabinets on the other side of the fireplace.
The room is long - about 25 feet - and is used for numerous activities. Relaxing, TV viewing, office, exercise, crafts... it's always been difficult to pull together cohesively. So, a half wall has been installed that will define two separate spaces yet keep it open and light. The support beam (beside the chair) - a stupid post that's always been a real pita and looked dumb, has been covered with wood and will be painted to match the room - looks so much better.
I'm loving the new lighting! Before, we had a ceiling fan light fixture (which I hated but we needed some light) and a couple-three lamps, along with my desk and craft table lights. Now there are five ceiling lights that throw a wash of light on the fireplace wall, as well as two wall sconces, one of which is on the stairs. These three and the sconces, are at the other end of the room. There are also two more ceiling lights in the middle of the room. Fourteen new lights! They add such a warm ambience and glow to the room.

We're getting there!

Day #213 - Sneak peek...

Here's part of the new fireplace wall - the mantle that was finished today. There's been a delay with the cabinetry and wall tile but hopefully the tile will arrive tomorrow or Friday and be installed next week. The cabinets will take about 3 weeks. The electrical work is complete and the floor is scheduled to be installed around the middle of this month. Lew has painted the whole room except for the metal fireplace surround and we're just waiting for the dirty work to be be finished before we install the window/patio door Roman shades. We still have to find cabinets for the other side of the room, but work is progressing very nicely. It's hard to believe it's the same room!