Ron's house is 50's style ranch house he bought a few years back that he's slowly been remodeling. Since we've been together he has gratefully turned over the cosmetic aspects of the house to me. He LOVES doing the construction, creating new bones from old bones so to speak, but feels somewhat out of his depth at putting the finishing touches on the projects, picking paint colors, decorating and adding the touches that move it from a bare room to a warm and welcoming space. That's the part of having a house I love the most!! I get such a kick out of bringing a bare space to life, decorating it in a way that adds personality and personalization to the room. Even though I'm not living there yet (and currently the loose plan is that I'll move in sometime late next year after he's done the needed renovations to the bedroom and master bath to accommodate my belongings) he's so happy to be able to turn the decorating part of his renovations over to me, and I am so happy to accept that!! I'm hoping to make this thread a sort of diary of changes to the house. I wish I'd taken a whole bunch of before photos so that I have some record of the changes already made, but I didn't, so I'll just start now and capture what I can. Several months ago, he replaced the old full sized glass panels in the den with french doors. I'll take an actual picture of the finished product when I'm over there this w/e. Our current project is creating a wall unit/bookcase/cabinets on the far wall of the den. Again, no before pictures, but imagine that wall as just bare wall around the window before he added the beginnings of the bookshelves and cabinets.
Hoping to get wooden slatted blinds up on the window, and the cedar shelving up on the one side of that wall unit, (the side that doesn't have the fuse box) and start figuring out how to decorate it. It's a bit problematic because the light source is at the top of the unit, and once the 2 shelves go up, it will block the light to the lower area. Ron installed an outlet (you can see it in the pic) so we can use a small lamp on one of the shelves. I was thinking maybe one of those salt lamps? They have some lovely designs and the glow is soft and diffused. That will take care of one shelf. Maybe just put very light colored items on the other shelf so that they show up against the wood more? Won't know for sure how it will all work till the shelves are up and I know more what I'm working with.
@Ronni not to worry mate about previous pictures and Ron is so much like my hubby...rather get stuck in themselves than rely on others and good luck with the décor, as it's been handed to you knowing it's what you would like to see being as you'll be moving in. Lovely job with the shelving part and the wood alone makes it look expensive with the two tone look and it will be a pleasure seeing more pictures as you and Ron design the new home Ronni I like the 1st and 3rd one...with how Ron's done it they would give a more modern look with a touch of glass to go nicely with the wood.
Hey Ronni I have a suggestion for you. Ahem....how about you both come over to Scotland and remodel my cottage? What do you mean No!! Oh alright then I'll just have to pinch some of yours ideas. Oh by the way I have a salt lamp in our bedroom that's the same as the second one you've posted and I love it!! I'm already enjoying seeing what you two are doing together at Ron's place. You are so well suited to each other in every way aren't you?
If we ever decide to take an overseas vacation, I'll let you know Eileen!!! And yeah, we do fit well together! I found this great wall hanging to cover that troublesome fuse box but it wasn't quite big enough...finding ANYTHING with those crazy dimensions at a price point I could afford was a real chore. I almost didn't buy it because it was just a tad small.....and then I remembered that I have a VERY handy fiancé with a workshop filled with scraps of gorgeous wood, and he could make a frame for it. He found some scrap cedar out in the workshop, and voila!!! Problem solved I found the metal flower burst separately, but I like the way they look together. The old glass bottle with the spray of japanese cherry blossom was something Ron had. I love it, just not sure it’s going to stay there. But for now it'll do. The window isn't centered on the wall, which drove us both crazy trying to figure out how to construct the shelving around it. We struggled with making the shelving asymmetrical, or making it even and having the window offset, which is what ultimately won out. So then I went looking for something to put to the left of the window to balance things some. Found this amazing wall hanging planter thing with most of the little clay pots broken, so I got rid of them and added some new jazzy candle holders And finally, we got the shelves up. He made beautiful cedar shelves. Only the top one is sort of decorated, the lower two are just holding various of the things that might ultimately go there. But see what I mean about it being dark? So a salt lamp would brighten up the bottom shelf where the outlet is, and I was thinking to just maybe put very light colored knick knacks on the middle shelf so they pop a bit more against the wood. Still working that out.
Ronni your doing it lovely mate and the picture besides other ornaments are looking smashing ...i'm a silver freak in our home ...mind you in the living room we have white frames with architectural pictures and I have this in the front bed room.
Hey Gail, thanks for asking! Frustratingly slow, right now. There's been little progress this last week because we were out of town Friday through Sunday, (I think I posted about it here?) celebrating our engagement at a gorgeous cabin in the mountains! There will be little progress this weekend either, because Ron is helping his daughter with her house, and also because it's my son in law's birthday so I'm cooking for the family get together for that. The next couple of weeks (w/e's actually) should be full blast on finishing up the Den and laundry room, and then we can start on the master bedroom. I can't move in till there's some place to put me, so that's the next priority!!!
Hi @Ronni thanks for taking the time out to post back mate ...yes I saw the lovely cabin and it's surroundings you stopped in, absolutely gorgeous JEALOUS this end Sounds like your busy till you reach the master chamber...give Ron the odd boot now and again that way you'll be in quicker...enjoy what your doing in the meantime and have a lovely time.
Very little progress so far on the house. Ron has been completely wrapped up in his daughter's house project because his friend Vince came into town to help, and understandably Ron felt he needed to focus on that and give Vince all his time till he had to leave again. He left Saturday, and so finally I think we can switch focus back to the house. Well, sort of...the next several weeks are also crazy. I have a dear friend coming in from France and I'm hosting a gathering of a bunch of our mutual friends next weekend. The weekend after that we're traveling to Lookout Mountain for a weekend with another couple in their cabin. There are two weekends after that and then it's Thanksgiving!!! And Christmas is staring us in the face after that!! I have managed to accomplish a few more cosmetic touches in the den and kitchen while also, just by the way, trying to figure out what on earth to do with Ron's little "surprises!" He called me and asked “Would you like a fern?” I said ”Sure!” thinking how nice it a little one would look on the small side table under the kitchen window, along with the pothos that's also sitting there. Fern, my a$$!!!!! Folks, he brought home a damn tree! I think it's called a Majestic/Majesty Palm, right? It's gorgeous, but there was all kinds of rearranging that had to happen to fit it...AND its sister by the way!!!! into the house. I still don't know if these are their final destinations, but for right now at least they're not still in the middle of the floor and we're having to walk around them to get to the kitchen!!! Once we get the back porch done, which we're shooting for to be able to enjoy it next spring and summer, at least one of them will go out there while it's warm.
Blimey Ronnie Ron doesn't do anything by halves does he!!? Thank goodness you've managed to find somewhere to put his 'little' surprises. However they do look great where you placed them. Good luck with the next gift he gets you - I just hope he doesn't ask you if you want a cat - you might find yourself looking after a tiger!!!!!!!
