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Are You Sitting Down?

Are You Sitting Down?

I hope you’re sitting down. This is going to be a post of pictures.

I am not 100% finished with the stairs, but I get so excited to see the Afters from other blogs, that I didn’t want to keep you in suspense any longer.

So without further delay…..

17 beautiful wooden steps. I love them, every single one of them.

What’s that? You want to see a side by side before and after? Your wish is my command.

Don’t you think that they now have a personality? I mean before they looked like, well….beige carpeted stairs. Now they have definition and depth and make a statement.

What? Now you want to see a before, a middle and an after? Twist my arm.

Say it again? You want to see some different angles and close ups? I would love to.

A wrap up post will be coming for those of you that want to know the details. Details such as cost, time, process and supplies.

Also, I bought a camera today. You might be saying to yourself, Wendy, you just posted 10 pictures you already have a camera not to mention that Spencer takes amazing photos for you.

Very true statements.

80% of the photos used on my blog are taken from my iPhone. The other 20% that I get compliments about everyday are from the monthly photo session Spencer and I schedule.

Spencer lives 45 minutes south of me and has many other clients besides myself. Although he would love to take all of my photos, it is not logical that he be here everyday, all day, incase I need a photo taken.  🙂

So today was the day that I purchased my very first camera. I bought a D7200 Nikon. At this point of my photography career, this means nothing to me.  ha.

I picked this camera because the box said “the choice of professionals worldwide”.

Kidding. Spencer and I had discussed the basics I should start with and then I got a couple of bells and whistles.

Some day I will write a post about some photography tips and tricks using all of the lingo.

Some day. 🙂

Until that day, I hope you notice a steady improvement of the quality of photos and maybe someday you won’t be able to tell if Spencer took the photo or if I did.

Wendy

THE APPLE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE (38)

Monday Update

Monday Update

Updates on this Monday will be a mish mash. A true pot of this that and another thing.

Consider yourself warned. 🙂

First off, I have received so many wonderful notes about the metal signs that Jack made and then sold in the Old Lake George shop.

I wish he still had access to the machine he used in his high school metals class. He could make enough money to pay his tuition this fall.

Thanks to everyone that ordered and to everyone that has asked and wished as much as me if I could re-stock the metal signs. I still haven’t found a fabricator that can keep the cost anywhere near the price that Jack was originally selling these signs.

Boo.

The other day I received a lovely email and photos from a customer. Sandi had purchased two signs from the shop. She gifted one to a friend (Jacklyn) and kept the other for herself to place on her storage shed.

Here is the back story from Jacklyn and the wonderful gift Sandi has been in their lives.

Thank you Sandi for taking the time to share your story and sends pictures. The signs look great!

Next on the Monday Update menu, the status of the stairs.

Steve is scheduled to come over today, Tuesday and Wednesday if needed to put everything back together.

I have finished my part with the removal of the carpet and pad, the staining of the treads and the painting of the risers. My skill set is maxed out. Time to leave it to the professionals.

The last thing on my list to share today is that I was asked by a reader and friend about paint.

She wrote:

Hi My Dear!
You may have already done this once, but I am wondering if you could do a blog on paint! I am beginning to get things together to repaint our bedroom, but I am wondering about paint. We usually go to Home Depot, but it is a bit of a drive. I noticed you use or have used Sherwin Williams, and since we have one in town that would be nice but it is expensive. Is it worth it? And why?
Thanks, and I LOVE your blog!

Thanks for asking Michelle. (We need to get together.  It has been too long.)

Let me start by saying that this is my opinion only. This post has not been sponsored by anyone.

In a nutshell, my opinion is YES. It is 100% worth it.

I have painted and repainted a lot of rooms in my life and it is very easy to tell the difference between quality paint and shall we say, not the best quality of paint. The coverage, the splatter level and the application process make any project more enjoyable when using quality paint along with quality brushes and rollers.

Before you even start to paint, an important step that will make all of the difference in the world, no matter what kind of paint you use, is prepping your walls. Sherwin Williams has a great video about this.

Regardless of where you purchase your paint, talk with the store employ about your project. Their guidance and suggestions are always helpful.

One last thing. Always ask for a coupon.  😉

I hope helps. Thank you for asking.

That’s a wrap for today.

Wendy

 

Happy 3rd Day of Spring!

Happy 3rd Day of Spring!

It’s Spring! Even better, it’s already the 3rd day of Spring! Each and every day will be a little warmer, a little sunnier and a little greener.

Spring makes me want to open up windows, clean out closets and throw out and donate stuff!

Spring also puts me in the mood to decorate and redecorate.

I am contacting a contractor tomorrow to hopefully start my stairs project.

Stairs are an awkward thing to photograph. These stairs are on the “backside” of the family room and lead to the other bedrooms in the house and my studio.

The carpet is in great shape, but there is no wow factor to what could be a magnificent staircase.

Here is an example of my vision.

Imagine the risers painted with a creamy white and the treads having a dark walnut stain. The runner on the stairs will be a neutral woven fabric or I will only have a stair tread only rug.  I am teetering back and forth between the two ideas.

So excited! I’ll keep you posted.

My other Spring obsession is wrought iron. More and more of it keeps popping up in my décor.

For example:

These wrought iron tractor seat island stools.

The kitchen cabinet pulls and knobs.

As you may have noticed, the spindles on the staircase are black painted metal.

And of course my all time makes me smile every time I look at it Metal Orb Chandelier.

Well, I am so excited to show you that I have added a few more metal orbs to my collection.

I am going to hang these in the bedroom, one on each side of the bed. There is a handy on off switch on the 8 foot cord. Perfect for turning the lights out after finishing a good book and falling asleep.

These would also look great hanging over the kitchen island but then that might be a little bit orb overkill in my house. And no one needs orb overkill.

Maybe I will sneak one into the corner of Wade’s office. It will be fun to see how long it takes him to notice it.

So many options and options are always good to have when decorating!

One of the last Spring things I am going to undertake is a garden. Well, not really a garden, but more like a few tomato plants and basil plants over in Nikki and Jimmy’s garden.  🙂 They are amazing gardeners.

I hope your Spring is off to a great start also. Any big projects coming up or garden plans started? I’d love to hear from you.

See you on Wednesday,

Wendy

And by the way, if you are in love with the Metal Industrial Orb lighting as much as I am, you can grab a couple here from my shop.