Stairway Renovation

If you've read this blog for long, you know that I've always disliked our stairway.  I was so disappointed when we moved in and saw that the renovators just stuck a boring half wall on there and called it a day.  I added trim and a newel post later but still, I hated that half wall.  The staircase deserved a pretty railing.  :)<br /><br />So, after removing the carpet, painting, repainting and many projects to take the focus off the half wall, we finally decided to just take the wall down, thanks to these reclaimed spindles hubby found.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjHhKs6-WFr6-LfTBhAxjLlJaesUqMBFL4aC6FWT1_vLmMtEVtF6bS2gGQWOiKirtar7FXWDfBiGBqgTxMkle-kVEOBn2VbmhqCOcfe1GOeLfTt2vHDRmdn-E2QZ_9B9f6F9I1rHKnePW/s1600/7ddb575e79a111e3b7650e1e7e7c6e3f_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjHhKs6-WFr6-LfTBhAxjLlJaesUqMBFL4aC6FWT1_vLmMtEVtF6bS2gGQWOiKirtar7FXWDfBiGBqgTxMkle-kVEOBn2VbmhqCOcfe1GOeLfTt2vHDRmdn-E2QZ_9B9f6F9I1rHKnePW/s1600/7ddb575e79a111e3b7650e1e7e7c6e3f_8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />It was certainly not in our budget right now to buy all new spindles, wood and trim to create a new stair rail so finding these was perfect.  And I'm proud to say that because we reused a lot of the wood we removed and wood from storage, this entire project only cost about 10 bucks.  :)<br /><br />Here are the 3 redos that this staircase has seen all in an attempt to take the focus away from the half wall.  The carpeted stairs are the way they looked originally.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAa2A_nZt8bdQaJxTqaoyydUyJnpoYBZRE6EeA_yrerWcJ2QSYPmZ-E7eR3BzF04boST842koya5Tb759c3aheM7R8LkUpB_mUrK2d6hgYCbf4K01BfFdaq0cZv8zvY6anVlPfFhOH2HG/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAa2A_nZt8bdQaJxTqaoyydUyJnpoYBZRE6EeA_yrerWcJ2QSYPmZ-E7eR3BzF04boST842koya5Tb759c3aheM7R8LkUpB_mUrK2d6hgYCbf4K01BfFdaq0cZv8zvY6anVlPfFhOH2HG/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" /></a></div><br />And here's how they looked the day before the project started.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNBV6tA7wPXIblca4R_8bUaQrq4udresCNjcCn5ndWflA4pYxr0NcHlZv2Xo5KDccA1DCdGOxA2vIos6Hq_AS784Xfu7k7u5ZCprhWS9PfOykpxLJVMkkHv9WZtv0k6jJU9jXiZhpyEB9/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNBV6tA7wPXIblca4R_8bUaQrq4udresCNjcCn5ndWflA4pYxr0NcHlZv2Xo5KDccA1DCdGOxA2vIos6Hq_AS784Xfu7k7u5ZCprhWS9PfOykpxLJVMkkHv9WZtv0k6jJU9jXiZhpyEB9/s1600/034.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I have to admit, this project was scary.  I've never done anything like this and to get the wall out, we first had to have a light switch moved and then we didn't have the right tools to get it out.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQJhGcIB1GXX1iTzJ80Oc0b6PVqsmOziPS4A92fqzrj1U6csQMaKwDU39WTZ9O4afgpFd-Ir1ifJYc5HHMoy7Rz1-Ux6n2AnMLBJRoqk5L5_CSPhdrOQMaH4d6m7F0re42gkkvLOqpIKO/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQJhGcIB1GXX1iTzJ80Oc0b6PVqsmOziPS4A92fqzrj1U6csQMaKwDU39WTZ9O4afgpFd-Ir1ifJYc5HHMoy7Rz1-Ux6n2AnMLBJRoqk5L5_CSPhdrOQMaH4d6m7F0re42gkkvLOqpIKO/s1600/038.JPG" /></a></div><br />So we used a chainsaw.  :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdufu_S13U9oRdyO1LMC264NnxzcCW3QM89Ui7PeeE9Us02Pxk7_NohStJMn1UMWcTHnu3NPoJmYlluOJNKzyDjcI0z7vvhtaGhM3wOHpdPpDDJfIG40T8tYf7x0zMBxMyCVvvwJEcCbER/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdufu_S13U9oRdyO1LMC264NnxzcCW3QM89Ui7PeeE9Us02Pxk7_NohStJMn1UMWcTHnu3NPoJmYlluOJNKzyDjcI0z7vvhtaGhM3wOHpdPpDDJfIG40T8tYf7x0zMBxMyCVvvwJEcCbER/s1600/039.JPG" /></a></div><br />But oh my, how I would do it all over again because here is how it looks now and I could NOT be happier!  Our staircase finally has the railing it deserves.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAyhlrRxM8loWPyEkHoXmN_o-UOpuWmqTe0n1U4FSfY_cKf1z0oW5sUnk1k_oE1_Y9x1Dy9pYZ1rW_w2cKb59u8qbNOJjKBNla3PaQ2tleNQbLUfZj_PYlfa6NOJZLjxBfFa7OaNciIrB/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAyhlrRxM8loWPyEkHoXmN_o-UOpuWmqTe0n1U4FSfY_cKf1z0oW5sUnk1k_oE1_Y9x1Dy9pYZ1rW_w2cKb59u8qbNOJjKBNla3PaQ2tleNQbLUfZj_PYlfa6NOJZLjxBfFa7OaNciIrB/s1600/043.JPG" /></a></div><br />The stairs were painted with Annie Sloan chalkpaint in French Linen.  I distressed them and then dry brushed a little white paint on top to age them a bit.  We have a dog and kids so they will get distressed anyway and this was a great solution for us if they were going to be painted.  The more distressed they get, the better as far as I'm concerned.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdPcTPPzlV-Fv7hJzJf4-MknkbrPfk_lWp2btY4_jC_LYCbeF9h0Tu4-oLkzzdGLWhSY1y9v3XOhYmBSeJiIeq6MoaQfWn_hjby4Slw4YoY_NozjKblr7PX-r3kAlQSGgLxCHeB0WnlET/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdPcTPPzlV-Fv7hJzJf4-MknkbrPfk_lWp2btY4_jC_LYCbeF9h0Tu4-oLkzzdGLWhSY1y9v3XOhYmBSeJiIeq6MoaQfWn_hjby4Slw4YoY_NozjKblr7PX-r3kAlQSGgLxCHeB0WnlET/s1600/045.JPG" /></a></div><br />And as usual, this is causing a room makeover for this room (the den) because I love the railing so much that now I don't have to hide the furniture that isn't my favorite in this room anymore.  I would LOVE to remove the carpet in here as most of it is hardwood floor, however, the large section right in front of the stairs is plywood as they used some flooring to repair in other parts of the house.  Any suggestions on what to do with the plywood area?  Throw a rug over it?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhB47jHbCk0RloOMbfPeKG0k-JV8kf8fSJo_e66Avj0sF1TAV74NU28NeYOPbQaMknf_ptlbKEL-GotBvZEzYcu6u6WFSanRPghn0_26ifETWuc5LVUkhSkfBsqUSbHPLfmfeYGIIa13y/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhB47jHbCk0RloOMbfPeKG0k-JV8kf8fSJo_e66Avj0sF1TAV74NU28NeYOPbQaMknf_ptlbKEL-GotBvZEzYcu6u6WFSanRPghn0_26ifETWuc5LVUkhSkfBsqUSbHPLfmfeYGIIa13y/s1600/042.JPG" /></a></div><br />So that's it!  Probably the last big project I will do for awhile!  :)<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by today!<br /><br />Diana<br /><br />Follow along between posts on <a href="http://instagram.com/dianagray5?ref=badge#">Instagram!</a>

Stairway Renovation

If you've read this blog for long, you know that I've always disliked our stairway.  I was so disappointed when we moved in and saw ...

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New Bedding and Stair Project Update Part I

<div style="text-align: center;">Hey there!  I'm back!  Thank you so much for all the lovely comments on our FB page.  The encouragement you gave me touched my heart.  Thank you.  <br /><br />I wanted to share with you the new bedding I purchased for our bed.  We've had the same bedding on our bed for about 10 years.  It was a duvet cover and shams that I made from two sheets as seen on our previous master bedroom photos.  It was perfectly fine, but it was time for something new, you know?  I have admired this ruffled, scrunched up bedding for a while and even considered making one myself, but decided against that tedious sewing project.  So, I was so excited when I found exactly what I wanted at Target.  I purchased the duvet cover and two shams for around $60, which I didn't think was bad at all. It is so feminine and romantic.  Here's a look.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4J3wuXBCP3zDz2wXcmWGh3Bi6KH46ykYs_KgOjfaZoyoOnSTCWfWu215KBdHQ1lJT7JTI1dr3ESlXm3nZ16mkEC6XAM_4Er1k6AyFgGpcKMDgSqb5CRe9p7YEpKYYQ0c-AKn2TTaY3lA/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4J3wuXBCP3zDz2wXcmWGh3Bi6KH46ykYs_KgOjfaZoyoOnSTCWfWu215KBdHQ1lJT7JTI1dr3ESlXm3nZ16mkEC6XAM_4Er1k6AyFgGpcKMDgSqb5CRe9p7YEpKYYQ0c-AKn2TTaY3lA/s640/109.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Love!!  I wanted to stick with white because I love the contrast between the white bedding and the rustic barn door behind the bed.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquQYnOzmHXg8dXni3SZTiWV6VWnoP_8_AyKuMFIGsZJ31SqBr6R3Jnv0RLUm3juoL5ukYNxtteGPciZVvAv256-RAs2f6kTsyKsnlKI7FP8BSkr2nqE7r3qJsLAMW3ABj5zNo628o_2Y/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquQYnOzmHXg8dXni3SZTiWV6VWnoP_8_AyKuMFIGsZJ31SqBr6R3Jnv0RLUm3juoL5ukYNxtteGPciZVvAv256-RAs2f6kTsyKsnlKI7FP8BSkr2nqE7r3qJsLAMW3ABj5zNo628o_2Y/s640/111.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>It's simple and pretty, exactly the way I like our bedroom to feel.  Because of the close proximity to the outside door, we are limited to what we can have on that side of the bed, hence, no second bedside lamp and a tiny rattan storage box for a night stand.  We really like to open that door on warm summer evenings and let the breeze blow through.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpfvQ3fMoWT93QG0hv-qqUonJf3vC3tLtcEl0Sw7Xi77pAtW1_rFmBWGjl4jhoky2RousvR_-gwNo59zgWwD1BAInmE_uDKSeeNb8b_gn4y-prffY7ikYo4eerbsohk5MWOTzxGBWDAs/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpfvQ3fMoWT93QG0hv-qqUonJf3vC3tLtcEl0Sw7Xi77pAtW1_rFmBWGjl4jhoky2RousvR_-gwNo59zgWwD1BAInmE_uDKSeeNb8b_gn4y-prffY7ikYo4eerbsohk5MWOTzxGBWDAs/s640/116.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I can't tell you how excited I was to find this bedding so I didn't have to try sewing it myself.   The throw pillow is from West Elm, a gift from several years ago.  It had been in storage and I had forgotten about it, found it while looking for something else,<br />and thought it went perfectly with the white bedding.<br />What do you think?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">  </div>So, I finally finished our stairs.  The second part of the project will be figuring out what to do with that awful half wall.  I don't mind saying that I hate it.  It is a huge eye sore and I want it gone, however, we aren't sure if it's possible with a light switch right there at the front of it....I don't do electrical and neither does hubby.  So, I'm trying to figure out what to do, if we can take it down, alter it somehow, or what.  I'd love to hear some suggestions from you!<br />Here's a look at the stairs before I removed the icky carpet.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFa0smlzNsu6imT0F1Ne3kASLQR9hiYH4NPbYtKLgHhXSSCi2_F3eI1_-PNIELGgR98XPYMoFFiHM19uyBm4oXNgtZLSyYqAloJkXyIO5lP3DF9Jw5xB-5OKOKhE_v8AP1y-HVbf7yu0/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFa0smlzNsu6imT0F1Ne3kASLQR9hiYH4NPbYtKLgHhXSSCi2_F3eI1_-PNIELGgR98XPYMoFFiHM19uyBm4oXNgtZLSyYqAloJkXyIO5lP3DF9Jw5xB-5OKOKhE_v8AP1y-HVbf7yu0/s640/003.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>And here they are after removing the carpet and 4 billion staples.  <br />A project I never want to ever do again.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHSoRxM91Na3SVIJCMcT4M71AUgpsu2COfEcgRVRMHJRmlPV_N11xvSV0YTHF_mNCIvlAPDvZkbqdhqHekkh932RhUep0dO7FWJOeAAF06e9ouyWRC1EY4pVlPMGdLYFaGEoqs_EluIo/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHSoRxM91Na3SVIJCMcT4M71AUgpsu2COfEcgRVRMHJRmlPV_N11xvSV0YTHF_mNCIvlAPDvZkbqdhqHekkh932RhUep0dO7FWJOeAAF06e9ouyWRC1EY4pVlPMGdLYFaGEoqs_EluIo/s640/006.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> And after sanding, painting, staining and sealing.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPqBegWxks9hnYmbo37IVufeN7UhAbWot1-HRIPG_Wfb-v93EKLu2mqZShsDWVLpUb3zfqNRPDqhudUEZq2XMDSqXQ0etNaU_anEcVOhhf0ZFSWXU81Tx1crbsrnIVSqF8Xr-SnwN8_w/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPqBegWxks9hnYmbo37IVufeN7UhAbWot1-HRIPG_Wfb-v93EKLu2mqZShsDWVLpUb3zfqNRPDqhudUEZq2XMDSqXQ0etNaU_anEcVOhhf0ZFSWXU81Tx1crbsrnIVSqF8Xr-SnwN8_w/s640/101.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>The stairs were covered in lots of paint spills from the painters who painted this house before we moved in so there was a lot of sanding involved.  Not fun, especially after suffering a bout with bronchitis and a torn rib muscle.  But, the stair portion is done, thank goodness and I'm pretty proud of it.  I didn't want to do anything fancy or trendy.  Just classic and in keeping with the rest of our home.<br />I was thrilled with how the wood looked after removing all of the yuck on it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXEeaYPFAkdw6uYmcPbuoR9-8vX-nm0T5x4gHJVmvXvSvtBSejWhsNed8fRB2ecMEsITNsVNkh1fZ4ZPgIq1gMIqIPtNWveg69JO0lrdCe00stPHTY95h74Fh7lF5qfE75gHsRasbrEM/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXEeaYPFAkdw6uYmcPbuoR9-8vX-nm0T5x4gHJVmvXvSvtBSejWhsNed8fRB2ecMEsITNsVNkh1fZ4ZPgIq1gMIqIPtNWveg69JO0lrdCe00stPHTY95h74Fh7lF5qfE75gHsRasbrEM/s640/094.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>I stained it dark walnut and sealed with high gloss Varathane for floors.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitcful71iLM6HKqjeIl54PgwzQ9EcZrzfz4sYhIzLRnrtohR1IGr0Tss6BTmAiuS7hh4MJlB34APb9YoewkWJ-nClpkNyWpYx4McLYYIq6MNiMcnru_PgpskKahqD1W29okfcPIJ5fwQ/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitcful71iLM6HKqjeIl54PgwzQ9EcZrzfz4sYhIzLRnrtohR1IGr0Tss6BTmAiuS7hh4MJlB34APb9YoewkWJ-nClpkNyWpYx4McLYYIq6MNiMcnru_PgpskKahqD1W29okfcPIJ5fwQ/s640/102.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>Now to start on the half wall redo/demolition/whatever!  What do ya think?<br />We originally wanted to use the giant barn beams hubby brought home, however, they are covered in some kind of oil that is nasty and not wanted in our home.<br />Would love to hear your ideas for the wall!<br /><br />Have a great day y'all!  <br /><br /></div>

New Bedding and Stair Project Update Part I

Hey there!  I'm back!  Thank you so much for all the lovely comments on our FB page.  The encouragement you gave me touched my heart.  T...

Read more »