Downstairs...of Horrors!

So this is the living room. I know - it's very sad. Go ahead and cry.

 I've removed the lovely brass frame from around the gas fireplace and it looks much more hearth-like without it. It's a long room - the dining room is directly to the right in this pic, the big front window and door to the left. The room you can see through the door is a sort of sun room that we are making an office. It's below.

Those doors look out into the backyard via the pergola -covered patio.There's a gas heater that I want to turn into a gas fireplace. You can see it on the right of the pic. The ceiling was covered in horrible foam-cardboard-y tiles that I popped off and found beadboard underneath. Yay! A few hours of prying out staples and the ceiling was ready. This room is fun, but FREEZING! When it warms up, I'm sure I'll be in there all the time.

This is from the living room looking into the dining room. Love the archway, but behind those hideous curtains are TONS of cracks in the plaster. We've patched it all, and I am painting it this weekend... I think. 

This is the full-on dining room shot. The chandelier is actually covered in tiny bunches of grapes - super tacky - but it looks alright from a distance. The carpet is up to reveal the wood floor. The kitchen is through the little door on the right.  

This pic (below) is the other end of the living room. Front door is immediately to the right.

Because the kitchen is out of commission, the dining room is full of kitchen boxes and I have a slight urge to cry when I walk in there. But hopefully, with a coat of paint and a little more elbow grease, we'll be set. Hopefully...

Scary Kitchen

If you've ever read this blog before, you know I like cheerful kitchens. That knowledge should make this kitchen doubly horrifying.

Now this first picture might not seem so bad, but know that the counter in front of the window is only about as deep as a toaster oven. Apparently it was shortened to make space for the dishwasher.








This is the counter just next to it. Notice the maroon wallpaper with fluffy teal trees interspersed with geese wearing bows. (more close ups of wall paper later)

 Here's the whole room shot. That's my husband and daughter in the middle. The ceilings are high, just over 9 feet, and the sad ceiling fans come with. Those cabinets are solid wood, form the very bottom all the way to the ceiling is just one long piece. The floor is brown porcelain tiles. they are very slick, as I learned last week when I stepped on a fallen cookie sheet and slid all the way down until I met said tiles with my derriere.

The floor is so patterned and brown that you can't even see what you're sweeping, you just keep going in the same direction and hope you're getting it all.

Here's the best part! Just next to the kitchen is what used to be a hallway and is now a hallway AND a bathroom! Talk about multi-tasking! That doorway leads to the half bath (which you can see) and to the left is a door to the basement and a door leading outside to the side of the house.

This is the view when you come in the side door. Literally. You open the door, and this is what you see. At least you don't have far to go if you've been holding it in the car!