Sunday, September 18, 2016

Make Do, Renew Edition

 I don't strive for a posh life, just one that is fulfilling and hopefully fun. I like interesting and wholesome food, not the putz and bother of artistry though I can appreciate the talent that takes. I don't need or want a magazine ready home, even while I do get inspired when I see color combinations and textures that are appealing to the eye. With the appreciation of the finer things in life, yet the desire to have simplicity and organization, I dub this post the Make Do, Renew edition. Too many projects at once are colliding on my calendar and I am preparing everyone I talk to that will be at my daughters confirmation dinner next week to ignore the remaining chaos. They understand, most have been my family my whole life and the others for nearly 30 years. This is how we live, always something undone, house in a state of flux. 

I am becoming woefully aware of the rising cost of the bigger projects. The tile for the family room, even with the discount DH found will run just shy of $3,100.  New gutters also to combat the water problem, to be installed on Thursday, a whopping $1,100. While we have these dollars saved, I was unprepared for how much the tile was going to be-in my had I had it 1/3 less. Add these costs to the driveway done a few months ago and we are shelling out $9,200 for product and labor. We will need to buy a new couch or sectional-the old also had water damage, but I haven't selected one yet. We'll just have card tables and chairs for folks to eat next week. With these costs, I have even more reason to look at what we already have to fill in the decorating holes.

In cleaning out under the kitchen sink, I came across this old planter that my former neighbor had given us, with a plant that I have long since killed, for taking care of their cats when they went home to their native Boston for a week. On the opposite side is a red lobster.  While I am not going for  seaside look, turning the planter after repotting whatever kind of plant that is, in the container, adds a nice little touch to my dining room. I miss those friends, and the planter reminds me of them. She shared my love for coffee! The plant stand is one of two, the only treasure I have from my grandmother on my mothers side.  The gray towel tower, below, was white yesterday morning, a cheaply made $10 target purchase over a decade ago. the ply would was warping and bubbling, and the plywood was showing through. A can of spray paint in satin granite was used to cover all the white and the peeling and looks much fresher. Still flimsy, I bought some Velcro furniture pads that I can stack to stabilize the footings. Once I stack a couple brand new white with gray trim bath towels on them, plus a wicker basket that will hold assorted hand towels, it will update the bathroom.
I haven't been grocery shopping in nearly two weeks, other than milk and some farmers market produce,and supplies are dwindling.  I'll need the space for party food next Sunday so am trying hard to make up meal combos that use up what we have and only buy essentials like for DD2's lunches. Today will be some sort of bacon and egg dish, plus hash brown potatoes for brunch, and some sort of soup with a pasta dish for supper. We do have hamburger patties and I used them to make Salisbury steak Friday night with the last of the potatoes, but I have 8  more, plus  two pounds of sweet potatoes, so I'm thinking burgers and sweet potato fries. We have a lot of hauling to do to clear the basement for the tile guy, so I'll menu plan in my head while working. 

What's new in your world? Are you tired of your surroundings and channeling your inner thriftiness and renewing what you already have to create fresh looks? Anyone else pouring cash into keeping a roof over your head as we seem to be doing right now? Things are too gross to take before pictures.I don't want to remember the rooms this way. I'll try and remember to take some photo's of the afters.

12 comments:

  1. Tile is definitely bloody expensive. We covered a very large area in the kitchen with tile as backsplash and it was over what we thought too. So glad we did it though, one of my favorite part of the renos

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    1. Your redo was stunning. I know I'll be happy with result but so much money.

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  2. We really need to dump some $ into the main bathroom now but I can't seem to pull the trigger. I don't want to spend much or make it too nice as the 3 adults using it will ruin it.....plus nice bathroom=less motivation for them all to move out! lolz

    Good luck on your redo and your party/house guests situation. Thank goodness I have no family that wants to come visit. ;-)

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    1. LOL.Both baths need more but this will have to suffice for now.

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  3. Ohh! Renovations are exciting.
    I understand the " before" picture taking aversion, but I think I am going to go ahead and bite the bullet and take some pictures of my laundry room. Maybe some blog shaming will force me into action.

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    1. Less renovation and more emergency trigger going on. I know my shame is great so would just retreat and nothing would get done.

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  4. As you know I'm revamping the hall and stairs at the moment. The 'new' curtains for the front door are being constructed from 5 other curtains that cost me £4.20 and there will be enough fabric left over for me to recover my Ercol chair. Other 'pretty bits' are being done with the magic of paint and thrifted items. I can't wait for it all to be done - I just hope it will look as I imagine!

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    1. You have such a good eye and hand, I'm sure it will exceed your expectations. Mine are low so will appreciate where I arrive.

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  5. We have project after project in this house. It actually might be cheaper to just build a new one. Not kidding-this was the convo Den and I had this weekend. Oh did I mention the garage door is falling down. SIgh.
    You are not alone in the house madness. Does that help any? Just eat the elephant one bite at a time. :)

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    1. Getting tired of this elephant and I want some fruit! Progress was made as well as a few steps back but as long as it is 2 steps forward 1 step back I'm ahead.

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  6. My house is on the edge of wood and common land it's in a lovely place so when I got together with Lovejoy instead of selling and buying something else we decided to keep it and renovate. God was it a job. I had been living in it with my four kids on my own and very little money for 15 years and the whole place whilst clean and comfy was in a really bad state. We started by knocking down the garage and extending to give us a lovely new garden room a wet room and a utility. We then had a whole new kitchen/ diner with new appliances and a walk in pantry which we did by blocking up the old downstairs loo and knocking through from the kitchen I absolutely love this and along with my huge American style fridge freezer means I don't need wall cupboards in the kitchen making it look much more spacious. We had new Windows throughout the house the whole downstairs floor was tiled meaning no more horrid carpet and a wood burning stove and flue gave more character in the living room. New furniture new boiler and rads and decorating brought the spend to over £100,000 but omg it's like living in a new house. We got rid of so much junk and now it's light and bright and although I would love to buy a house with Lovejoy at some point he has made his mark on this one so is happy to stay for a while. however houses need constant maintenance so I think we will probably downsize at some point I absolutely hate housework and that hasn't changed even in a nicer house there is just more to clean lol. In the end of the day if those living in the house are happy and contented that's all that matters.

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    1. That sounds like a nice retreat! Having space that makes a person happy is most important in a home. It sure sounds like you have that. I'm wanting that feeling back.

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