Sandy's Little House

[Janet]

You're such a caring person Sandy. I'm glad your new home will be safe.

[gja1000]

I've been worried about your new home too, Sandy. I'm glad to hear that it is safe!

[DianaB]

I'm glad that everything's safe too.

[Tiramisu]

It worked ... front when I first saw it 3 months ago and last weekend ... out my kitchen window ... back side of house where I cut down the overgrown gardenia.

[Tiramisu]

Back with new AC, dining room looking into kitchen (need suggestions on remodeling this) dining looking across living to bedroom area.

[gja1000]

Oh I just love the pics of the new house! I am really bad at remodeling or decorating, but one thing I would do is paint the paneling. We had one wall paneled in our old house and I was simply amazed at how good it looked after I painted it. I loved being about to see the wood grain, even though it was off white. It will brighten up the house so much. I'd also put a nicer bar area between the dining and kitchen and I would paint or take out that paneling that is there now. I would leave it open at the top but put a half wall there with a snack bar that sticks out toward the dining room where I would put some bar stools for extra eating space. One side of our kitchen island sticks out and we have two bar stools there and I eat there a lot, even though we now have a little table in the kitchen as well as a table in the dining room.

[Tiramisu]

Thanks Gayle ... So you painted the paneling thinly to let the grain show through? My plan is to paint the paneling all eggshell, then paint some of the "boards" in a glaze or gloss to make the ceilings look higher. I want a crafty bar top, maybe a big slice of a tree with unfinished edges. Then, I want to either leave those cabinets over the bar open or put glass panels in.

Obviously, I've dropped the retro design since I wasn't having luck finding furniture in my price budget. Now, I'm trying for country comfy!

[gja1000]

No I didn't paint the paneling thinly, but the pattern of the grain showed through the paint, not the actual brown grain. Sorry for the confusion. I think your idea of glazing some of the panels is a great idea.

We constructed a bar (only about 4 foot long) that was a slice out of a cedar tree (actually two slices glued together - and you couldn't see the seam) - it was about 2 feet wide. We left the edge a little rough, but we had it all heavily lacquered (we had it professionally cut and finished) so that it looked very rustic, and the edge looked rough, yet was completely safe to eat or work on. Gary got two Y-branches off cedar trees, striped the bark off and I varnished them and then he used them as supports under the bar. They looked really cool.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of have glass doors on the kitchen cabinets. I think that is very cool.

[Lindsey]

Love the house Sandy! I can't wait to see how it looks when you start working on it! I have painted panelling a couple of times. In my condo, there was panelling around the fireplace and it was pretty dark. II wanted it white. used two coats of primer and two or three coats of paint to cover all the dark spots that kept showing through!

I also love glass panels in upper cabinets! Two cabinets in my kitchen have frosted glass... It looks really nice but you can't really tell how cluttered things are behind it

[Janet]

I love the glass doors on the cabinets too. I couldn't have them though...my cabinets are so packed with things, I need to get them cleaned out real bad....lol.

You might just get you some magazines and see if there is anything in them you like or look at images in the style you're interested in online.

[DianaB]

I really like Gayle's suggestions!! My daughter has painted her paneling and it looks really nice. It would really brighten your house! I like the idea of glass doors in the upper cabinets. You can buy glass that has designs in it and is harder to see through if you're worried about seeing things through it.

[Tiramisu]

Thanks for all your ideas. Jeff tried to talk be out of painting the paneling, but I told him I need to do it!!!!!! He said it won't be a problem working the cabinets and suggested lowering the bar area. I liked his ideas.

Awesome couple of days ... Jeff came in last evening so we went out to eat and goofed off a little. He got my water heater lite, put the outside step handrails in, fixed a couple of loose doors, put all new lightbulbs in, and headed home before noon to do his chores there.

The central ac is in and working really well. All I have left to do is get the carpet cleaned andi can move.

[gja1000]

Yay! I do agree with lowering the bar!

[Tiramisu]

I didn't do much more at the house, but didn't want to come back to the apartment, picked up for the carpet cleaners. I'm about to start going through my closet to minimize clothes. No need to keep moving things I can't wear.

I've decided to spend the extra money for the stove top and wall oven and not lose cabinets. I'll lower the bar to cabinet height and either leave the top cabinets open or glassed.

[judy]

I missed a few days...who is Jeffrey?

The house is going to be perfect! Looking at the pictures, it is amazing, sitting there with that beautiful lawn!

Good appliances are so important. I think you are making a good choice. IK bought a low end dishwasher last year, and the door hinge is broken already. It doesn't pay to fix it because the whole thing has to be moved out from under the counter, and the side taken off. My advice....buy good stuff!