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You’re right! This problem initially was solved by shielding the light with a metal shield. My neighbor begrudgingly put this up at the insistence of the property manager, but he left that darn light on 24/7/365. They sold their home last year and I contacted the new property manager to discuss fixing the problem before he was allowed to get his estoppel for closing. She made sure he removed the floodlight permanently. All is well that ends well!
Turn the nightstand 90 degrees, parallel to the bed vs perpendictular.
Dig Doug, not a fan of that, too squashed against the house, for me.
Currently the high contrast brown is not flattering, so definitely use your paint scheme and steer away contrast. Bulk up your columns, and maybe consider a light scheme, especially light color on the garage and front door.
This is my 1957 MCM ranch LR botice the huge FP that honestly I thought I might cover in concrete to begin with. Now it is my fave part of the sapce it also is the back wall for my range in the kitchen I love the rugged stone next to all our very contemporary stuff.I guess what I am saying is wait to deal with the FP it might not need much other than cleaning . I scrubbed ours with TSP rubber gloves and a scarub brush , it made a huge difference in how it looked
Mrs Pete has provided some great insights.
I would start with finding some wood bedsides, then address the vertical blinds. Take it step by step to see how things improve with incremental adjustments.
I like your tone on tone, see what Paul F did, adds a lot to room, maybe all you need.
How often do you open the blind the behind the bed? Daily, never? If never, I'd add more curtain panels to fill in the gap in the middle and cover the window entirely.
The skinny support post has got to go. There needs to be some architectural statement there.
Thank you, yes I’ll start with the cushions as it’s the most inexpensive way to change the look 😬👍🏻
Love the peacock feather cushions. Gives the room a lift. The sheepskin doesn’t look right as it has a Scandi feel whilst the room has a more luxe look. Love the brass elements. If the budget allows then an ottoman/footstool in a lovely navy velvet will look perfect. Don’t add more grey. Are you now saying you want to paint the walls? I wouldn’t, the navy is lovely.
Congratulations on your new home.. The red is confusing you and the good thing is you know this. Once that red disappears the beauty in your space will emerge. The floors and even the counter will look like they were married to begin with.
Why not bring that soft blue color on the other walls into the kitchen?
Here is a pretty gray one too...
You got this! It will look fantastic once the red is gone.
If you use the back door a lot, removing that wall and shifting the range over creates a major traffic pattern right across the front of the range, which is a problem that you do not have with the wall in place. I don't think you gain as much as you lose by doing so.
You could put a waterproof shutter over it if you don’t like it. The slats can adjust for light and you won’t see the window. I’m with Sonia in that it looks fine to me, but we each have our preferences!
Have a look at leggy furniture. Items that have legs which lift them away from the floor, over items (say beds) that sit on the floor. You could stay with lighter colours, either painted or blonde woods to keep the furniture feeling light.
An industrial sander will easily remove the dark paint, but if that’s too much of an effort then a nice big rug situated under the bed will add cosiness. As far as decor goes, this is where we need Laura Ashley! Although all the shops have shut, Next sell a lot of their products so worth a look. Here’s some country cottage style images to inspire, I hope! Pinterest is a great place to get cottage style ideas.
As Sonia says your room is quite busy but it looks comfortable and welcoming. I have a few suggestions which you can take or leave as you wish. Would the wooden chest fit under your TV instead of that table which seems low? Is the alcove on the left wide enough to fit a small console table with a shelf underneath for your logs? The ‘hare’ lamp could then sit on top in the corner thus leaving the small window ledge free. A large round mirror or some colourful artwork would brighten the space above the fire. Your sofa and armchair look comfy but there’s an abundance of cushions which are all the same colour. I’d keep only a couple of cushions and add a couple in a complementary colour from your rug. By tucking the TV cables out of sight and removing some ornaments you’ll have the room looking uncluttered and calm.
Great job, your tenants will be happy! Clever idea with the radiator cover.
Hey Chris, this refurb looks excellent - great job to you guys!
What a great transformation. I love seeing before and after pics
Hey SN,
I have a couple of questions about the room - do you have any non-negotiable, furniture you have to use and activities for the space - will it be the TV room, is it the only TV room in house?
Thank you - Jessica
It seems a shame to block up a window. Might be worth covering it with thick cardboard to give an idea what the room would be like if it was closed up.
There are dozens of articles on Houzz about bathroom remodeling, and thousands of pictures of remodeled bathrooms for inspiration. Create an Ideabook and save pictures that you like. Once you have a couple dozen pictures saved, your style should emerge. This is helpful for conveying your vision to a contractor. Read all the articles you have time to read to educate yourself.
It's impossible to determine a budget without finishes specified and without knowing where you are. Costs vary considerably across the US. But I will say that in general, in a small bathroom you should be keeping things simple. Sometimes we can't fit all of our good ideas into one room. :-)
If it were me, I’d leave the shower alone since it’s neutral and just do the floor tile plus a new vanity—I think you could get a lot of mileage out of that to change the look and feel of the space, and of the two tiles, the flooring looks much more dated to me. If you really want to do the wall tile, then I’d just do the whole thing—the flooring will stick out even more if you update the rest. Whatever you decide to do, wait a year to make decisions so that you can see what you like and dislike after living in the space. You can use that time to start collecting contractor recs.
What don't you like about the shower area tile? Will you be ripping out the tub as well?
Your bathroom is boring but I don't think it needs a gut reno. Cosmetic changes will make a huge difference. Paint, lighting, mirror, shower curtain, cute bath rug. Done.
I'd get new light fixtures, new mirrors, and new cabinet hardware. Then, add a large white rug that sits from the entry door to the end of the vanity, and paint the room white.
I love recycling and if this is old it’s better wood than the new ones. That said you need to buy a heat gun to strip the paint. For the rot look at abatron wood epoxy- it soaks into the wood and hardens it. Too much work for a screen door but it’s a great project to practice on because it’s just a screen door.
My feeling is to leave the window at the same height as the fireplace wall. Yes it is low, but that doesn’t mean you can’t place a sofa in front of it.
How does the window size work with the exterior? That needs to be taken into consideration as well.
IMO all the windows in that space should match both in style and height off the ground Please post a pic of the whole space then you get real help
"- Is the backspash outdated? The green looks very random?"
The green goes really well with the cabinets, counters and flooring. A backsplash is a very difficult challenge to choose correctly. I doubt you could easily find something else that goes with your cabinets, counters and flooring that would look as good. It would probably look like the ubiquitously popular "Bland Look of 2022", and not be an improvement at all.
"- Would you paint/replace the cabinetry?"
NO NO NO. Please no.
"- Would you replace the counters? If so to what?"
I think the counters look nice with the whole kitchen. If you replace them with some Quartz with the fugly pattern of varicose veins that are ubiquitous, it would not be an improvement.
That is a gorgeous kitchen - lovely and functional!
I think the green tile is beautiful, and it suits the cabinets and counters.
Agree with everyone who says leave everything alone.
With that corner fireplace a built in will always look awkward. I would get a nice wood credenza and mount the tv over it.
Still need some landscaping completed but this how we tackled it. We went with the asymmetrical look, better to just own it, but tried to create some balance and a purposeful relation between the columns and the house. They no longer cover the door or windows.
I would move sectional to the corner facing TV. Lamp on a side table or floor lamp on the corner.
I've tried the same thing--using blues to soften pinky-brown bathroom tile I hate. One of the pros here said that complementary colors highlight each other, not soften each other. I realized that was going on in my sad pink-brown bathroom. Taking all the colors out didn't make it great, but it did make it as good as possible.
Gray seems like an odd fit with the tile color. The beauty of white is that you already have a lot of it in the room. Plumbing fixtures, wall color, shower curtain. Changing to white linens keeps everything really simple. I think you're right though to keep the vanity cabinet as is.
I'm not sure why people didn't chime in. Your door is LOVELY, and the the whole entrance looks wonderfully inviting. I think you made great choices. Spring is here! You have nice hardscape and I love the way it looks.
Bondia I like your naked table top! Rather than a cloth, use some brightly colored circular mats and let the wood show! You know, we all really DO live in our homes. They are not stage sets for photo shoots. I am NOT a pro but I love design. At the same time, I live a real life. In a house with lots of flaws. Which I love, by the way. With a puppy who chews rugs and woodwork, and a constant whirl of activity that means I am rarely photo worthy. Don’t sweat it. We get it. 4 chairs. White, if possible. And let that natural table top shine! ❤️
I wouldn't choose any of those tiles. I'd forget tile and continue the hardwood into the kitchen and family room. It's a classic look and really very easy to care for--just damp mop with Bona hardwood floor cleaner. It will warm up the spaces unlike the white/gray tiles which are very cold looking.
Sorry, no. What is your goal? To make the room look bigger or better? White tile floors with white cabinets are cold and uninviting. Wood will make it better by warming it up.
Which kitchen looks more inviting to you?
If you want more input to this topic, here's an old discussion that still has a lot of merit:
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2406093/can-you-have-white-cabinets-if-you-have-a-white-floor#n=12
are you the only home in the neighborhood with the unique brick pattern?
I think I would embrace it. I would Paint all the white, trim and garagedoor, soffit, a rich rust red and highlight / lighten up the porch area by painting the front door and ceiling.
So, your only dining table is the island counter? I think I'd forgo an island and have a kitchen/dining table instead. Are there any constraints on where the sink/plumbing can go?
I also vote for a kitchen table in an historic house. I can picture a nice Shaker style table (maybe with with side panels that can be raised to widen it) and matching wood chairs. A kitchen table can/will be used for cooking as well as eating, think rolling out pie or cookie dough.
I also suggest that you might want to include some kitchen storage in your mud room.
I like the wood.
I’d sand it to remove some of the glossy texture it has and change the hardware. It’s a beautiful piece and I think the wood tones will add warmth to the space.
Slow down, live in the house at least a year before you decide to take on a major project of adding windows. And I’m not sure that would achieve what you want. For every decision you make there are consequences, some you may not fully realize at this point. take your time to get to know your new home. In the meantime concentrate on your furniture and art (even taking your time with that). Consider that a mirror might help optimize the natural light you already have.
The sky light idea on the screened porch is worth considering. If one story house and if more natural light is all you want consider a solatube skylight in the living room.
I wouldn’t rebuild this as a massive utility room because I think it’s a barrier to the garden. I think I would probably take part of this for the main house and replan in order to get a better kitchen.
Ideally you don’t want the kitchen to to be a thorough fair so I would more it to the dining room. Then I would rebuild the outhouse with a higher roof, insulation and move the windows and doors wherever is convenient.
And lastly I would replace the glass link with a better structure. It could have the same roof as the outhouse or you could make it another glazed structure that connects the main house with the garden.
Try viakal limescale remover spray . Spray , leave on for a bit then scrape off. Also brings up chrome shiny!
I like your idea of built in wall storage at the back for the little ones. I would avoid an L-shaped sofa as the ottoman part is usually fixed and will cut into your living room space. A 3 seater sofa with a loose ottoman or footstool is much more flexible. Do you already have your furniture? If not be sure to get the measurements of any sofas you are considering and then mark them out on the floor so that you can get the best arrangement for the space. Just keep playing around with it and don't put too much in there to start with. Build it up slowly. A good idea is to work out how you will use the space first.
Your bed looks like a double or king sized so will be 135cm- 150cm. I suspect 2m is it’s length. So I think it will fit on the chimney breast. You might try it to see if you like it.
Match a color in your brick, for paint color and paint the top peaks in the same color that you paint the body of the house. That is what is wrong right now, is those redish peaks. They should have been the color of the house.
I think I’d use the lightest color from the stone, and use the mauve as accents in the decor.
Short term rental as in Vrbo / AirBnB or 3-6 months? The sleeping & bath spaces are almost more important than kitchen no matter how long / short the rental term is. What do they look like? Agree that house looks neat & clean from outside. Garage a plus & sounds like location is too. Kitchen is fine - wood cupboards are nice & hold up better than painted ones would. Assume kitchen is well stocked with dishes & small appliances. Is there back yard space for BBQ or just sitting? The LR needs rearranging for comfortable TV viewing & a comfortable chair would be a plus. I wouldn’t replace dining furniture but would spend $$ in LR furniture. The colors are fine - bright & cheery, Larger art to replace the multiple small pieces would decrease the ’art clutter’. If there’s architecture or historical places locally I’d get art showing them. Get brochures & info from local Chamber of Commerce & place them on coffee table. Bedroom? Bath? Is there a laundry room? What do they look like?
Let's start with Architectural Digest style since you mention that. A 100" rise up screen implies there's room under the floor. Have you considered a trap door system for the components which would remain hidden and ventilated below? The speakers could also rise up from the floor when you turn on the system, and sink gently back when turned off. No cords, no tripping over ankle-high components.
https://www.pinterest.com/jamesmccusk0453/trap-door/ has some photos. Google
"hidden trap door in wood floor" for other images.
Boxerpal for the win.
More than half the people in my family are professional musicians and audiophiles, and all their equipment is housed in furniture or built-ins designed for the task. None of it obscures views of the outdoors from any angle, and none of it sits on the floor, where it would be liable to attract a great deal of dust. I hope you will seriously consider housing your equipment in cabinetry similar to what others have pictured above. I second Etsy as a possible source. If you can find a local cabinet maker, you may be able to get something custom-made, something both handsome and unique.
I wish you many happy years enjoying your music, AND a beautiful, unobstructed view, in your lovely home, with a contented spouse.
You have to decide if you’re gutting or not, before we can offer design ideas.
If you resell,
You probably want to ask a local realtor if it’ll add enough value to gut.
You also want to consider the rest of the home.
I personally wouldn’t need a brand new, fully glammed bathroom if the rest of the house was in the same era/ condition as the bathroom is right now.
I’d prefer a cohesive home rather than an updated bathroom and an older kitchen…
Does that make sense?
As stated already, decision depends on budget, what the rest of home looks like update wise & your current plan for length of time you’ll stay in this home. You could change the look & feel of this bath with a frameless glass shower surround, new drop in tub - skip the jacuzzi, new counter top, mirror, lighting, cabinet hardware & fixtures. This leaves current cabinets & all tile in place & they do appear to be in good shape.
I’m another person not seeing what you’re seeing….and think maybe the dislike for this is partly adjusting to change and partly second guessing yourself before it’s actually finished. It’s big, but doesn’t look like it overwhelmed the space and is far better than walking in to find scattered shoes and a pile of backpacks. You lived for a period of time before it, I’d try living for a period of time with it after it’s painted and finished and then judge it.
Outside of home if that matters or affects style choice at all
Missed that part about the business. IMO dark bronze for a nice elegant understated look is the right choice the breeze block can stay but a much nicer walkway to the actaul entry .
It's all about the presentation. Mine are hidden under a wood valance DH made. They open and close and hang sooo nicely. Do what works! "Very home Joe look, starter apartment " POSSIBLY but they are a HUGE monumental step up from any sort of shades.
Jonathan .. thanks again !So clever…. wouldnt have thought of above. Got me thinking out of comfort zone