Speaking of, THANK YOU to everyone for your awesome pictures of floral drapes!!! They helped so much. Also, how do I see when someone @'s me on Pinterest?! Clueless.
I ended up getting a digital camera and I LOVE IT! My sweet friend sold me her Canon Rebel XS since she recently upgraded. I'm holding off on a new lens, and it turns out the lens that came with the camera works really well for now.
Saturday morning I took about a million random pictures of our messy house from the sofa while playing with the settings.
And speaking of random... that wood table is the bane of my existence. My husband uses it when he eats lunch (and sometimes dinner).. I think I need to get him a TV tray. I can't believe I'm even posting this....
Also... do you want to hear something crazy? We're thinking of putting in new floors. CRAZY. Remember when I told you we were going to have the bathrooms tiled upstairs? Well, we haven't done that yet, and now now we're considering putting that on hold and doing the floors downstairs instead. Home Depot is having a $397 whole home installation special for laminate right now and it would save us close to $1,000. Also, you know I hate our current floors. They are old, in terrible shape and they are red. Not to mention we have vinyl in the kitchen. I will explain more in a new post (if we go ahead with it), but for now, here is the sample:
I have serious ADD when it comes to house projects. But now that you've seen a close up of our floors, you understand, don't you?
EDIT - we are also getting more information about refinishing what we currently have and bringing it into the kitchen! To be continued......
I have also been thinking of doing a Keratin treatment this summer (although if we do the floors, that will be put on hold too). My hair is CRAZY curly and frizzy, and I'd love to just wash and air dry and look like this in 90% humidity:
Minus the blond color and killer body. Ah, Carrie. She had the best hair. I need to talk to a stylist to see if they can make this happen.
And with that, I'll leave you with this picture:
It's from the Rambling Renovators and is the perfect example of the drapery look I was looking for. Thanks guys!
I warned you this post would be random!!
We have red oak floors that were in horrible shape that we had repaired and refinished in ebony and they look fantastic. Do see if you can have an expert save your floors and install new in the kitchen, much more green and if what you have now is hardwood, much better floor in the long run.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I have to agree with Kathryn. I hear you on the "red" color of the floors, but if you are ever thinking of reselling your house, I think hardwood floors would go a lot further than laminate. I apologize in advance for saying this, but to me laminate = cheap. When I was looking at houses a few years ago it was an immediate deal breaker.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, good luck on your decision! Love your blog.
My hair is frizzy, super curly, thick, and long. It does that whole triangle head no matter how it's cut, and I'm tired of wearing my hair up in a ratty bun in order to semi-control it. I've been wanting a Keratin treatment for as long as I can remember, but I've had a hard time stomaching the cost. I finally booked one in for the end of June (right before a 2 week vacation), and I couldn't be more excited. I'm hoping my hair responds well to the treatment. I say go for it, and post pictures!
ReplyDeleteAnd now for a random comment...thought this post might be something you would be interested in for your food blog...http://bargainhoot.com/2012/04/17/what-do-the-stickers-on-fruit-tell-you/ or even just for your knowledge because I had no idea. And I met this girl in Utah with the THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SKIN I HAVE EVER SEEN...I thought she was 22. Um, no 45. She has switched to a raw diet...meaning raw plant based diet for 99% of her food. No meat or dairy either. It is extreme and a huge change but she said her adult acne cleared up right away and now she looks amazing. Even if you didn't go totally raw, I think keeping that in mind and opting for raw when you can would help don't you? I have been trying to do that but like you fast food and candy seem to get in the way.
ReplyDeleteThe curtains...were they really pleated or did they make them look pleated using the hooks? I can't tell from the pic.
Good luck with the hair...I don't have any tips there. Although I am jealous of yours and it never seems frizzy to me!
I think the thought of new floors is a good one. Your kitchen is lovely, but new floors would definitely update the look.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever considered adding molding to the top of your kitchen cabinets like in this renovation: http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2011/10/incredible-renovationpart-ii.html I know you've talked about upgrading the countertops, appliances, and now the floors. I think the molding would an easy, inexpensive addition too.
ReplyDeleteHey Bryn, I've done the Keratin treatment a few times and loved it at first, but felt like it wasn't really worth the huge investment. I just recently tried a permanent straightener from Aveda (I moved states and had to find a new salon, and though I wasn't ever a big fan of Aveda I am sold now). It completely changed my hair for the better. I had really curly hair but now I can let it air dry and am probably 80% straight, with a soft wave and no frizz. Thought I'm only two months in, it's apparently permanent- you just have to touch up the roots about once a year. I just wanted to pass along because I know how much of a love/hate relationship one can have with seriously curly hair :) Email me if you have any questions!
ReplyDeleteLOL - this was awesome! I need to know how this Keratin treatment goes, if you do it. I have curly hair too and am ALWAYS interested in anything that is NOT what I have now :)
ReplyDeleteYou will devalue your house by changing hardwood for laminate, unless yours are currently laminate, than the color you selected is an upgrade. We refinished our floors which were in terrible shape when we bought our house, and now that is the thing we get complimented on the most. Everyone loves them.
ReplyDeleteI have crazy curly hair like yours and I went the professional Keratin route. It definitely worked but for the $$ I wasn't very happy. After the treatment you can't wash your hair for 2 days so its very greasy and unattractive. After I was able to wash my hair it still felt oily and the treatment only lasted about 2 months. So I heard that Organix Keratin treatment works pretty well and at only $15 I gave it a go. Surprisingly, it worked pretty awesome for how little it cost! My hair is still curly but its much softer and not nearly as tight and kinky. The best part, absolutely no frizz! I also bought the shampoo and conditioner and some moroccan argan oil. So for under $50 it was definitly worth it! Now I just towel dry and run a quarter size amount of the morrocan oil through my hair and I'm good to go :) You can find Organix just about anywhere. I hope that helps!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your blog! If you are ever in Oklahoma City I would love to hire you. We put in an engineered wood floor from Bruce Flooring. We did the hickory 5' distressed plank. http://floorsbybluewater.com/brands/bruce-flooring/bruce-wentworth-estate-plank-5-engineered-wood-flooring-hickory-chocolate-truffle.html
ReplyDeleteA couple of thoughts from the experience: Huge mess and had to move out for 3 days. Make sure you have a "A" team install. I would also suggest a moisture barrier under the wood floor. We had to replace ours due to moisture. Make sure the installer pays attention to the edges like by the entrances and floor molding. Also it you do put in your kitchen just be aware of areas that have water by sink, dishwasher and if you had a outside water dispenser. They can ruin the wood floor so you need to be aware. Hope my experience helps the process!
love your randomness. That is how I am feeling right now, trying to finish my Spring Into Action challenge today, plus fit in "the rest of my life" in the meantime..it gets crazy! I sure which I could just do this stuff full-time! ( Although I practically am) Love the darker floors, and your honest little tv table, etc. Already your shots look amazing! I need a DSLR asap!
ReplyDeleteNancy
Powellbrowerhome.com
I love keratin treatments! Go for it. I do not know what I will do without one now.
ReplyDeleteJust to give my opinion... keep the floors and refinish them. You could match something very similar in the kitchen and having it all sanded and refinished.... it should all work together.
ReplyDeleteWe just finished a kitchen renovation, where we had hardwood floors put in. We already had hardwoods in our dining room, and they just weaved the new ones into the existing and refinished them to look all the same. You would never know that the kitchen didn't have them before. It's definitely something to consider before ripping out all of your hardwoods.
ReplyDeleteFrom my perspective as a former real estate broker, replacing your wood floors with laminate would be a huge mistake. I don't really think you asked for advice, but mine is this: "Don't do it!!!!"
ReplyDeleteThanks for including my drapes, Bryn! One thing I did notice when I got the drapes was that the repeat of the pattern became more pronounced when the drapes were open, forming horizontal lines. The pattern seems more random when the drapes are closed, but more regular when they're open, if you know what I mean. Not a big deal but just something I didn't expect. I still love the drapes and I'm sure your client will love hers too.
ReplyDeleteeven with refinishing your red oak (assuming) floors it will still "pull" red. just make sure you go dark with your stain to help combat this issue. I would re finish your floors as it is a much greener option and better for resale than laminate.
ReplyDeletehowever, it too will be a huge mess. everything will have to come out of your spaces with wood and the stain is beyond smelly for at least 3 days while it off gases.
good luck
K
Bryn, I suggest you add wood in your kitchen and refinish the floors. I know it is messy living in it but such a better long run option than the laminate. Your home is beautiful! I love this random post! Don't we all wish we had Carrie Bradshaw's body? Keep the curls, the keratin isn't all its cracked up to be! Your hair is beautiful!! Have a great day. Oh, what? you didn't ask me for my opinion? Sorry! Couldn't help chiming in!
ReplyDeleteOops, not sure what I did but think I just erased my comment! Ok, so may be I'll do a shorter version anyway...Keep the hardwood, add more in the kitchen, refinish. Have your floor guy do a mix of special walnut, dark walnut with a little jacobean mixed in and it will take the red out. Keep the curls, they are gorgeous! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteplease don't replace your beautiful oak floors with laminate
ReplyDeleteKeep your original floors if they are in good shape (not finish) but, joist and such underneath house.
ReplyDeleteme again...yes..replace the kitchen floor with wood and finish ALL the same. I agree with 95%..go with what you have!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, i bet you didnt imagine you'd get so many comments on the flooring! I never comment on blogs.. im a happy lurker and firmly believe in the "if you dont have anything nice to say, dont say it at all" But.. i have to agree with the other commenters... Laminate, just isnt as great as it sounds. We had it in a home and it started to peel, and got yucky near the sink even though we were obsessed with keeping it dry.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as a personal opinion.. i HATED the way it sounded when you walked on it with clicky shoes.. Very noisy, echoying, clicky sounding.. nothing like real wood. I agree re-finish what you have, and put in new in the kitchen...
Keep us posted! I do love the color choice you picked though!
Go for it on the Keratin. Worth the investment for me every May.
ReplyDelete