So long dancing folks of the 1800’s

You don’t know any dancing people from the 1800’s?  I will share mine with you then…

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All in pink as well, with plaid trim to boot!  Look at them with their carefree dancing, looks like a blast.  In case you are wondering this is the border that our guest room was sporting.

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You didn’t know that their were dancing people on that border did you?  Lets get one more close up…

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The previous paint job is great as well, they didn’t get any of the wall color on the ceiling.

I decided my first step in improving this room would be to remove this border.  First things first, I had to select what method I was going to use to remove this wallpaper border.  My mom had told me that my sister had used liquid fabric softener diluted with warm water.  I had never heard of this before, but I had both of these things on hand, figured I should give it a shot.  Also, I would like to add that my sister purchased a home with wallpaper on every surface and has successfully removed all of it and lived to tell the story. I figured it might be a good idea to take her advice.  So, I got my supplies ready…

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and

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Pretty complicated stuff I’m working with here.

I just added approximately one part liquid fabric softener to 6 parts hot water and came up with this….

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Wallpapers worst nightmare!

First I moved all of our junk/furniture to the middle of the room.  This room is currently being used as an extra storage/junk room.  I then grabbed my step ladder and got to it.

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I just sprayed the concoction directly on the border and let it sit for a minute.  In the meantime I was wiping away all of the drippage. which you can sort of see in the unclear photo below:

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I grabbed a towel immediately and kept it with me the rest of the time to clean up the dripping of my fabric softener and water concoction.

From there I started peeling the border back with my metal putty knife.

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Like so.  Once I got a good corner up I just used my hands to pull the paper away from the wall.

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Most times this is what would happen…

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The top layer of the wallpaper would pull away easily but the glue and second papery layer still remained on the wall.

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So I went back and sprayed the second layer of paper, which seemed to soak up the fabric softener mix a lot better.

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This time around I was able to peel up an edge and pull the paper right off.  A few peices usually stuck on the wall but I just used the putty knife to scrape those right off.  I continued with this method peeling the first layer and going back to get the remaining paper backing in my second attempt.  After about a half an hour I was well on my way and had a good pace going.

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And I was also leaving a pretty decent mess in my tracks…

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After about an hour and a half total I was left with this…

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And this mess to clean…

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From there, I went to town cleaning up the shredded wallpaper that was everywhere.  I also cleaned the walls and all of the trim and then removed all of the switch plates and old nails from the walls.

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I now have a blank slate and I am ready to start painting!  Wahoo I am on my way to my own art/office/storage room! Would you like a list of to dos? Okay fine!

To do:

  1. Remove border.
  2. Clean walls and trim.
  3. Paint trim and walls.
  4. Update outlets and light switch.
  5. Make window treatment.
  6. Make shelves for walls.
  7. Get new desk.
  8. Figure out a storage system for all of my art/craft supplies.
  9. Organize all of the art/craft supplies.
  10. Add decorations!
  11. Enjoy my new room!

There you have it, a new to do list to accomplish.

How About a Whole House Tour?

We have been in our home for three months now!  Already!  I have no regrets whatsoever with this house, I love every nook and crannie of it. If we had settled on one of the other homes we were considering buying I don’t believe I would be as happy with our choice.  So Woot Woot! Three months in and we have no buyers remorse!

That being said, I think we have made enough updates in this house that it would be an appropriate time to give you all a whole house tour, complete with before and after photos(my fav).

I decided to go ahead and include photos of the very first day I laid eyes on this house(the photos are from my phone and they aren’t too clear, sorry!), also I will include photos of the house the day we moved in and lastly photos of our progress! I will also explain what we have done in each area of the home to date and what we would like to do down the road. So hold on to your hats cause here it comes.

Front Yard:

Here she is! The first time I laid eyes on her, it was love at first sight.

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And here she is today, this photo is a bit closer. I did not get a photo of the front yard on moving day though! poop!

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What we have done:

  • Removed dying sago palm on the left side of the garage door.
  • Removed holly bushes, stumps and all.
  • Dug out all remaining plants.
  • Removed all garden rocks and pavers around gardens.
  • Trimmed back remaining sago palms.
  • Added in new red mulch.
  • Added solar lights.
  • Power washed house and driveway.

What we still want to accomplish:

  • Add more plants/flowers to the gardens.
  • Paint front door.
  • Get new house numbers.

So far were off to a good start with the front yard.  I am sure this to do list will expand. Next up…

Dining Room:

This is the first time I saw the dining room at my walk through with our realtor…

photo(156)Here is moving in day…

377and today…

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What we have done:

  • Prepped and painted the walls and trim.
  • Changed outlet covers, door handles and hinges.
  • Steam cleaned the carpet.
  • Removed the chandelier and installed new light fixture.

What we still want to accomplish:

  • Get rid of old couch.
  • Remove carpet, replace with new carpet.
  • Get furniture.
  • Find art for walls.
  • Add window treatments.

We are still unsure what we would like this room to be, we do not necessarily need a dining room.  We already have our table in our little eating nook in the kitchen and we now have the new patio set.  We are contemplating another living/sitting area.  We are not really formal type of people, so a formal dining or living room isn’t really for us.  We still have a long way to go in here.

Office:

First day I saw it…

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Then on moving day…

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And then here it is today…

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What we have done:

  • Prepped and painted the walls and trim.
  • Changed outlet covers, door handles and hinges.
  • Steam cleaned the carpet.
  • Added our desk, printer table and lamp.
  • Added some wall art.

What we still want to accomplish:

  • Remove carpet, replace with new carpet.
  • Add walls and french doors to close off the room.
  • Get new corner desk.
  • Get book shelf or hutch for storage.
  • Add window treatments.

Still plenty to accomplish.

Long Hallway:

At first sight again…

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Then on moving day….

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And today…

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What we have done:

  • Prepped and painted walls and trim.
  • Changed outlet covers, door handles and hinges.
  • Removed lighting at front door.
  • Added small hanging fan to front entry.
  • Added carpet runner.
  • Added long hall table.
  • Let Charlie live here.

What we still want to accomplish:

  • Paint inside of front door.
  • Add glass storm door.
  • Add art to walls(possibly gallery wall).

Kitchen:

At first sight…

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Then on moving day…

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And then today…

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What we have done:

  • Cleaned grout.
  • Prepped and painted walls and trim.
  • Changed outlet covers, door handles and hinges.

What we still want to accomplish:

  • Paint cupboards white and replace doors with new white ones or replace cupboards completly with new white ones.
  • Add granite counters.
  • Replace island with butcher block.
  • Get stainless steel appliances.
  • Add art to walls.
  • Re-grout tile(it’s all discolored).

Kitchen Eating Nook:

At first walk through…

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On moving day…

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And then today…

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What we have done:

  • Prepped and painted walls and trim.
  • Cleaned grout.
  • Added our kitchen table.
  • Changed outlet covers, door handles and hinges.

What we still want to accomplish:

  • Re-grout tile.
  • Add art to walls.

Living Room:

At first sight…

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Then on moving day…

371

370

And today…

133

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What we have done:

  • Prepped and painted walls and trim.
  • Changed outlet covers, door handles and hinges.
  • Purchased new couches.
  • Purchased new TV console and TV.
  • Made cornice for window.
  • Added area rug.
  • Added art to walls and mirror above fireplace.

What we still want to accomplish:

  • Mount TV to wall.
  • Add decorations to nooks.
  • Possibly add a matching cornice above french doors.

Guest Bedroom #1:

First sight…

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Move in day…

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Then today…

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What we have done:

  • Prepped and painted walls and trim.
  • Changed outlet covers, door handles and hinges.
  • Steam cleaned the carpet.
  • Purchased queen guest bed and bedding.
  • Added wall art.
  • Added rocking chair and small stools for tables.

What we still want to accomplish:

  • Remove and replace carpet.
  • Get nice antique dresser.
  • Add more art to walls.
  • Make window treatment.
  • Get headboard/footboard for bed.

Guest Bathroom:

First…

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On moving day…

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Today…

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What we have done:

  • Prepped and painted walls and trim.
  • Changed outlet covers, door handles and hinges.
  • Added shower curtain and rugs

What we still want to accomplish:

  • Repaint walls(I do not like the color).
  • Replace vanity.
  • Possibly add bead board.
  • Purchase new shower curtain and rugs.
  • Add wall art.

Guest Bedroom #2:

First sight…

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Moving day…

359

Today…

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What we have done:

  • Steam cleaned the carpet.
  • Added junk.

What we still want to accomplish:

  • Remove border.
  • Prep and paint walls and trim.
  • Change outlet covers, door handles and hinges.
  • Replace fan.
  • Get shelving/furniture for storage.
  • Remove and replace carpet.
  • Get desk for myself.
  • Purchase easel for painting.
  • Organize and store painting, sewing and crafting supplies.

I have a lot of plans for this room since it will be my office.  I am waiting until I find the right furniture and art.  I want unique things in here! I can’t wait to get going.

Master Bedroom:

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Moving day…

382

384

And today…

052

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What we have done…

  • Prepped and painted walls and trim.
  • Changed outlet covers, door handles and hinges.
  • Got new bedroom furniture.
  • Added art to walls.
  • Purchased new bedding.
  • Added area rug.
  • Added rocking chair and old trunk.
  • Made throw pillows for bed.

What we would still like accomplish:

  • Add one more piece of art on the wall between the bathroom door and the bedroom door.

Very close to done! Woo hoo!

Master Bathroom:

First sight…

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Moving day…

385

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And today…

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What we have done:

  • Add some decorations.

What we would still like to accomplish:

  • Remove shower and tub.
  • Remove linoleum.
  • Remove vanity.
  • Remove walls around the toilet.
  • Lay new tile and grout.
  • Add storage closet.
  • Add new vanity, mirror and light fixture.
  • Add glass shower stall.
  • Tile and grout shower.
  • Add art and decorations.

Basically we have done nothing in here.  We would like to change the whole layout of this bathroom.

Back Yard:

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moving day…

393

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And today!

159

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What we have done:

  • Added screen.
  • Replaced ceiling fan.
  • Power-washed the house.
  • Painted doors.
  • Dry-walled, textured and painted back of house inside screened area.
  • Tiled and grouted floor.
  • Bought patio set.
  • Bought plants for inside patio.
  • Re-sodded yard.
  • Trimmed bushed and trees.
  • Removed holly trees.
  • Planted palm tree and magnolia tree.
  • Made garden around patio.
  • Mulched all gardens.
  • Bought Big Green Egg grill.
  • Added patio pavers.
  • Had new gutters put on back of house.

What we would still like to accomplish:

  • Add trim between grout and wall of house.
  • Add wall decoration in patio.

Laundry Room:

First sight…

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Moving day…

376

and today…

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What we have done:

  • Prepped and painted walls and trim.
  • Removed old shelving and added new shelves.
  • Added decorations and wall art.

What we would still like to accomplish:

  • Add art to wall on opposite wall.

So that’s our whole house!  I think we have gotten a good start on changes we want to make.  Of course we still have a few huge projects like the kitchen and master bath, but so far we have made some good improvements. What do you think?  Please share!