Front Entry Way Progress

So we have begun to address some of our wish list for the front entry way.

Wish List Item #1: Table to stash keys and mail or notes or...
  After some looking (lazy looking, only online and Ikea) we came up with this table on Target.com:
Things we like about the table: Size: it's pretty small, but it IS 12" deep, so it will fit in there without snagging your pocket on the way by + I like the little drawer. Sturdy/Well made.
Things we don't like about the table: natural wood, ugly wooden knob, kind of boring.

Luckily, we are able to remedy the things we DON'T like pretty easily: With the help of (you may have already guessed) our trusty friend SPRAY PAINT!, a trip to Anthropologie for a cute, new knob, and two little decorative wooden scroll details (that I glued on before we painted), we were able to get this table looking better in no time.

Voila!

Wish List Item #2: Mirror - We dug out the round mirror from the Mpls house - I think it's just the right size. This one is easy.

Wish List Items #3: Something to sit on to help get on/off shoes, etc. - something light weight though and small...
  Well for now, one of our little Ikea ottomans will do the trick - I like the pop of green with all of our gray.

and it fits right under our new little table too!

Finch approved!

Okay. More to come.

Master Bedroom Plan + Mykea = Cool

  We've been planning what we want to do with out new master bedroom. The master bath is complete (with exception of a light fixture and mirror still...), so it would be nice to move into the room soon. We are still living out of the guest room next door - it would be sweet to have a permanent bed (+ I have this new duvet that I've been waiting to use until we are for the fresh-start in the new room).

  We've selected a light gray for the walls of the bedroom (Sherwin Williams "Aloof Gray"), but recently decided that we need to choose an accent color to add some warmth. I'd been planning for all this gray and white, and according to Kevin it's going to "start feeling like a hospital" soon. And I agree - we don't want things getting too sterile and too 'cold' when we'd def prefer a cozy space. Accent of yellow? orange? green?

  So! the PLAN = sticking with some gray and white, but adding in some color and transforming furniture where we can, to make it unique and comfy - WHILE still being functional and with lots of storage!

 Bedroom To-Do List:
- Paint Walls Gray + New Accent color (the color we still need to select)
- Order new window treatments - I think we're going super simple with fabric honey-comb blinds. Maybe later we'll add a window panel - we'll see.
- Furniture: you know how much we love Ikea (yes, Ian, we ARE aware that there ARE other stores beside Ikea and Target...), we'd like to get a new bed frame and dresser, etc. and 'do stuff to them'. Spray Paint? Maybe. We'll see.
- Find a cool dresser for me - but NOT a dresser that is too matchy-match with the other furniture...
- Accessorize: artwork on walls, lighting, new duvet + we can't forget Finch's bed - perhaps he should get a new duvet too? hmmm..... I think I see ANOTHER new project looming...


  We have already purchased a big 'ole MALM dresser (the one with 6 drawers) to serve as Kevin's main dresser storage and holder of the bedroom TV. The main problem = that it's stark white. A big white rectangle.
 
  My first thought is to add some fun drawer pulls to alter the flat drawer fronts (although the drawers don't require them to open) - but then I found Mykea on a blog the other day. Mykea is a site, based in Amsterdam, that sells decorative decals SPECFICALLY to fit your Ikea furniture - beds, dressers, wardrobes, coffee tables, side tables, etc.

  Kevin and I have selected our favorite design, and we've ordered it up to fit the new dresser. Guess what? Big surprise: it's gray and white. Clouds!
This SHOULD be what it will look -  Before & After"

We will keep you posted on whether this turns out or not...

Plus! Here are some other pretty cool decal ideas from Mykea - would be great for transitioning kid's rooms.

Welcome to Our Home

  Our new house has an actual entry way space - a foyer if you will - unlike the Mpls House which barely had enough room to turn around in let alone take off your shoes + add Finch in there because he HAS to know everything that going on, especially when guests arriving = pretty tight on space. So now we have some more space - and get this! A front closet! People in 1923 didn't have those...but luckily for us, the good people of 1971 did.
  So we tore up the tile in the entry way when we did the kitchen since they're connected - so we have our new gray tile, and we painted the same barely neutral (Behr "Sandstone Cove") that we have out in the living room + down the hall - but that's it. Okay, we have a rug - but that's really it. "Welcome to our house! It's bare and boring!"

Wish List:
- Table to drop keys, mail, etc. The Catch: With this narrow space, the table will have to be pretty narrow. Most hallway and console tables out there are 14"-16" deep min. - We need to find something more along the lines of 12" deep.
- Wall Mirror - to check yourself on the way out the door :) We have a round mirror with brushed nickel frame from the Mpls house that might just do the trick.
- Little Bench? Something to sit on when tying your shoes or trying to get those stubborn boots off. Not too big, not too heavy...
- Artwork, Shelves... Something that might finally make the place feel like we live there. You know that when I see a wall I imagine a shelf on it - Shelves everywhere! - so perhaps a shelf and some framed artwork.

I don't think this is too much to wish for...

Stay tuned...

The Storm!

We experienced our first technical difficulty at the new house today due to the crazy storm (which produced a tornado a few miles away...)
Today we:
- cleaned the old fridge - aka "kevin's new basement beer fridge"
- assembled more kitchen cabinets (only 3 left to go!)
- wood paneling removed in downstairs living room to reveal some 'fine handy-work'...

Downstair's Family Room BEFORE:

Wood Paneling!!!

Torn Apart and In-progress!

   Cue the technical difficulty... tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap....ahh, the little pitter-patter of DRIPPING WATER!...Leaking was located in 5 different places in our new home. The roof was replaced in 2008 with what our inspector called "premium shingles" 
   Was all this leaking the result of some seriously out-of-the-ordinary storming? We will soon find out: We will have it all checked out soon + Realtor Shaun Gray is on the case (our home is "inspected and warrantied" so we will see what that means exactly...)

Moving + Demo = Sleepy

Friday = Kitchen Demo Day 1!
Yesterday = Moving most-things Day
Today = Cabinet Assembly!, pry off that old wood paneling...
  Wow - we are POOPED! Between moving pretty much all of our belongings, less the day-to-day essentials, and a complete kitchen demo - we've been BUSY! yikes! And poor Finch, had to stay home and miss the fun...


Completed:
- remove old kitchen countertops
- take out old appliances (fridge to basement laundry room, range + dishwasher directly to garage for prompt appliance recycling)
- remove old kitchen/front entry-way tile
- new cabinets delivered
- move stuff from Mpls house
- p/u furniture from Grandpa Fernando's out in Eden Prairie
- run new gas line for new gas stove - thanks to Jeff
- Begin putting new cabinets together - thanks to Roger, Ian, and Sara 


Extra special thanks to Elisa's parents, Bonnie & Joey, Jeff, Roger, Wes, Ian, & Sara for all of their help! Come on back tomorrow for Cabinet Assembly Phase 2!


Here's a peek at what the heck Kevin and the guys have been up to:


 BEFORE:

DEMO!!

now the place looks kind of gross...

more to come...

Move'n On Up!

The McBrides are moving from Mpls to Minnetonka, but we have lots to do before we get there...
- Closing = Today May 16th, 2011!!
- Tear out old kitchen - ALL of it! Appliances, Cabinets, Flooring - it all must go! We're ready to get going on the NEW kitchen right away, and the goal is to document our progress for all to see!
- fix up master bathroom - looks like a motel room right now...
- move *most of our stuff - coming up this Sat. the 21st.
- get Mpls house ready to rent!...in progress...


our minneapolis house (picture from when I first moved in over 7 years ago:
old front door and old crumbly front steps!)

the new Minnetonka House