You are hilarious! Are you back in Alaska?

That is so funny. Aren't husbands a riot! We have been working on some remodeling. Part of that is rearranging, redoing, re-something to my living room/office combo. I posted this week and received many, many wonderful ideas I cannot wait to implement. So after figuring this out in my head, I approached him this morning wanting to tell all about the posts and suggestions and how I can't wait to make some changes --- I got ---"It looks fine now - but just tell me what you need moved - I'll be back in a few hours". He will do whatever I want, just never shares the enthusiasm! One of my sons is getting married this summer - he cannot understand why I need to buy a new dress (two actually) --- "you have a closet full - surely there must be something you can wear" --- uh, don't think so!

And I have to convince my husband why me making the bed is important...

igloo - I'm confused too - maybe a before and after of the table would help? I'm assuming you painted it b/c you wanted a certain color, not just to make an antique table look antique??

no-green-thumb - my DH would think that way too.

bumblebeez - You mean you don't trust him to make the bed? My DH makes our bed (drives me crazy when he only makes his half) and sometimes DD's. Wish he would make DS's top bunk! That's OK as long as he just straightens the covers. But whenever (rarely) he puts new sheets on a bed, he always gets the top sheet upside down! He doesn't get that the finished edge is supposed to be folded over the blanket.

Of course, I'm a lot pickier than DH and DS. I'd rather have the bed unmade than made with pillows showing b/c the bedspread wasn't pulled high enough (preferably tucked under the pillows then pulled over the tops), or not even on the sides.

My DH had to learn the hard way about the decorating "Domino Effect" LOL! :)

Once upon a time (about 1997-98 or so):

Start with a simple swtch of fabric to recover the dining chairs. Buy fabric. Check.

Recover chairs. Lovely. Decide that the pale walls don't work with the rich plum/gold fabric now on the chairs. Check.

Paint walls in Laura Ashley Old Gold #6. (the room has since been repainted again) Check.

Decide to change out the chandelier and find one on deep discount at Home Depot Expo. Change and add ceiling medallion. Check.

Decide that the living room chair needs to be re-upholstered. In deep gold to work with the adjoining dining room. Check.

After re-doing the chair -- come upon two leather sofas in plum. On sale. Free delivery. Only Today. Last Day of Sale. Check.

Find TV cabinet and TV - on sale etc. Last day etc. Check.

Score old Heriz rug on EBay. Happens to work with plum/gold. Check.

....... and so out story continues on .......

And SO my friends ..... that is why my DH loathes the very syllables of the word "swatch" -- he does a whole body shudder ... and the veins stand out on his forehead .....

2) Another unsettling moment for the DH -- when I announce that something (like an object, artwork, fabric etc.) does not (or will not) work in a room and he asks "Whadda ya mean it doesn't work -- is there a THEME to this room?"

"No theme dear," comes the reply. "It simply will NOT work"

"Why NOT?"

"Because I say so -- End of Story. Period." My eyebrows are starting to rise to my hairline.

"Oh."

Jan (evil grin) at Rosemary Cottage

I think it started when DH decided that we needed a new umbrella for the table on the patio. So when we went looking for an umbrella, somehow we decided that we should buy a new table, and of course, new chairs to go with the table, and oh, yeah, we had to get a matching lounge chair. Oh, but why stop at one, so we bought two lounge chairs. And of course, the patio was now too small, so we built a deck, which meant that we were not going to extend the inside living area, which is why we built the two story addition.

But it all started with DH's decision that we needed a new umbrella.

After those two stories, I think we need to start a "It all started with a small change..." thread LOL! I'd love to hear stories of how one thing led to another (decorating/remodeling wise)!

Uh, no aj, the bed would never get made if I didn't do it.
He just doesn't see the reason why it ever to needs to be made unless company is coming.
He is quite peremptory over my behavior and time!

Oh Igloo the poor mistaken dear! what you were doing makes perfect sense to us!
My DH always stops dead in his tracks when I say ooh, I have an idea... because he knows it will lead to a new kitchen or refinishing downstairs hardwood floors and the purchase of oriental rugs or perhaps just his blood sweat and tears!
and oh yeah what's up with the no pics? eh? how was the iditarod? ya'll win??? LOL

Beat me to it, Cooper. That is exactly what makes my husband shudder-"I have an idea..." Of course, most never get done (well, except the garden/patio/walls which I do and pay for), but I do have many visions-and they are really good ideas, too-teehee!

Sue, that is hilarious!! Igloo, my mom used to antique old antique furniture. She also did the kitchen cabinets. I wonder if you're doing the same thing?

But get this! Before she antiqued the antique table, she took a heavy chain and beat it over and over again to get dents in it. LOL. I thought she was nuts, but boy did it ever look nice.

She painted it "turkey red", which was an orangy red, then went over it with a black glaze. It was stunning.

Do people still do that?

Oh, and my small story is we lost power about 8 years ago for three weeks due to an ice storm. We had a generator but no fireplace.

So we built a big room with a custom made, cooking fireplace, and remodeled the whole public area of the house. Thanks ice storm!

DH's famous last words..."whatta' ya' wanta' do THAT for????????"

LOL jaybird-THAT is funny!!!

I thought I responded to this the other day but my computer has been all screwed up since I loaned it the housesitter....but that's another story :oP

So yes I was in alaska and am now back in Washington :) It was cold there LOL I was trying to "finish" the kitchen so after four years I could post a "finished" (which it really isn't but it's so freaking close I give up) kitchen in the finished kitchen forum/blog whatever that is LOL

I had painted the base of that table years ago when I didn't know what type of paint to use. It was too glossy and new looking and bothered me, and the top was too faded after I stripped off the gunk of 130 or so years. The top was literally gross so it was worth removing but it was too white.

So I repainted it with an antiquing kit that had a flatter black paint as well as this clear antiquing stuff that turned the sanded off areas kind of redish brown. I stained the top with some fabulous all in one product that rocks (wipe on, wipe off stuff..can't remember what it is but I'll use it again if I do LOL). It's a nice rich red oak again :)

old table...

new old table...

Could be a better picture but its hard to take pics in that kitchen (too much sun shining against the snow).

dwarf morgue drawers, eh? and yes the table looks good now.

LOL Sue, yes we chop up the bodies in alaska :oP It's so last year to stuff the whole thing in the drawer at once.

Igoochic is that picture on a yacht or sailboat?

....Jane

LOL Jane that's the second boat comment...no it's our new kitchen in alaska :) I guess I should go into boat design LOL