Renovation Pics

[aearwen2]

I thought I'd give LJ another chance to see if I could upload the pics of what we did to my living and dining rooms lately.



First pic is more or less of what we started with. Hubby had already brought in part of the components to the new mantle unit - one of two aging bookcases he'd painted & spruced up.




When all was said and done, and the priming, painting, sanding, and repainting done, this was the mantle unit. Note the funky old forest-green carpet. It was well over forty-three years old, had holes in places, was full of dust and just plain unhealthy.



We eventually got all the furniture moved out of the place, so that the green was open and ready to be yanked out...



And when everything was all said and done, we were finally able to start considering moving back into our own home. It sure looks a whole lot better with the new carpet and the lovely, custom-made mantle, doesn't it?



In the dining room, which was the far room in the pic of the empty house, I've been able to put my piano back under my display case. I feel like I've come back again, and that things are better than ever, I swear!!





And so now you know just what it was that kept me from posting two weekends ago.

Comments

[engarian.livejournal.com]

It's truly so beautiful and well worth your time and effort. Congrats to both of you - job well done!

- Erulisse (one L)

[galantha-nivala.livejournal.com]

Wow. That was an awful pile of work but the results are certainly worth the effort. The new carpet looks great and the custom mantle is fantastic. Is that a doll in the display case on the top of the mantle?

It must feel like a brand new place.

[aearwen2.livejournal.com]

Yea, it does feel like a completely new place. I still tend to walk into the living room, sit down on the couch and stare at the mantle because it's SO much different from what it used to be. Mind you, I've lived in this house for going on 47 years (with 5 years out for college and getting married,) so it's a HUGE adjustment.

And yes, there are two display cases on the mantle, both of which hold antique Japanese dolls. I collect them - and they're a good part of what is in the display case above the piano too. Hubby has on his "To Do" list another not quite ceiling to floor display case for the living room to hold the rest of my doll collection. There are a couple of dolls that have bases that are too large for the other display case. :-p Also on his list is a small display case (like those on the mantle) for a rather rare set of "Grandparents" dolls that I've had for about 10 years, waiting for him to hone his wood-butchery skills.

I'll take pics of the dolls on the mantle for you, so you can see them better. They're really gorgeous, and I'm so glad that I worked the white elephant booth at the local Obon Festivals the years that they were donated, so I could buy them up right away!! :-D

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

Such things are always hard to go through, but if you like the result, it's worth the effort :) Thanks for sharing the pics!