Habitat for Kris

My first bathroom remodel!

2011-02-14T21:01:00.001-06:00

Kevin and I helped our friends remodel their bathroom. It looks great (if I do say so myself) and we didn't kill each other!

http://smillers.blogspot.com/2011/02/our-new-basement-bath.html

Guest room night stand?

2011-01-24T20:34:00.003-06:00

I bought this little nightstand for the guest room. It's been primed, but I can't decide how to finish it. What do you think?

I am planning on making new shams in this fabric, which picks up the pink and the aqua.

The rug (a better picture)!

2011-01-24T20:27:00.001-06:00

I really like it!

The rug!

2011-01-19T21:05:00.002-06:00

The rug finally arrived! I think I like it. It seems HUGE, I think the change in size is what is throwing me. The giraffe spots are a mix of brown and black, so it is definitely later than the living room rug. And the white sections are raised, so it has a real texture. Do you think it is too busy near the curtains?

The never ending rug discussion

2010-12-31T19:02:00.002-06:00

Based on the excellent recommendation I got, I am thinking of purchasing this rug for the dining room. What do you think?

I'm famous!

2010-12-14T19:37:00.002-06:00

Not really. But I sent my dining room rug dilemma into a designer with a blog that takes questions and she answered mine!

http://mollyloot.com/tuesday-morning-mailbag-10

So what do you think?

Living Room Wall

2010-11-28T21:50:00.002-06:00

I finally added the gallery wall to my living room. I like how it balances out the big lamp but isn't one large piece of art. It is composed of various places that I have lived: ND, IU, Spain, Detroit, Minneapolis as well as a few vacation spots, Alaska, the Grand Hotel, Boblo Island.

The rug is not grey.

2010-11-28T21:48:00.002-06:00

It's blue!

I don't think it works with the blue of the curtains. I couldn't take a picture because the sun was shining in the windows.

I pulled the trigger!

2010-11-15T21:35:00.001-06:00

And bought this rug! We will see how it looks when it gets here. Thanks for the comments!

More Dining Room Rug Options

2010-10-31T21:39:00.003-05:00

2 more rug options for the dining room. Thoughts? Do you like them better than the ones in this post?

http://habitatforkris.blogspot.com/2010/04/dining-rug-room-options.html

Why can't I make a decision?

Rug options for my room

2010-09-27T21:40:00.003-05:00

With the new purple blanket, I am thinking of getting a new rug to go on either side of the bed.

Which one do you like better?

My room - an update

2010-09-27T21:26:00.007-05:00

This is how my room has looked this summer. I couldn't find a night stand for the far side of the bed, apparently mine is abnormally tall. So Kevin and I built one. I found a lamp on Craigslist that matches the one I already had and bought fun new lampshades.

This is the winter version using the original bedding.

However, I wanted to mix things up, so I bought a purple blanket to be more 'wintery'. What do you think?

Guest Room

2010-09-27T21:18:00.005-05:00

I got a old card catalog off Craigslist for the guest room. I painted the box, top and base white, but left the drawers stained wood. I also added a mirror at Barbie's assistance and built a trash can out of scrap wood.

I finally have a nice duvet in the guest room. Actually I've had it for quite some time, I just forgot to post pictures.

Night stands and new lamps are next!

New Mirror in the Dining Room

2010-09-27T21:12:00.003-05:00

Big Dave built me a pretty new mirror for the dining room.

I like the way it balances out the curtains.

This is a crappy picture with the sunlight reflecting, but it gives you an idea of the size.

Where do we like the red painting?

2010-06-26T10:02:00.003-05:00

My gay decorator wants me to move my red painting to this wall. What do you think? Also, why is all this typing underlined?
Here it is today.

Purple Door!

2010-06-01T21:46:00.004-05:00

Now my front door is pretty!

Old door:

New door! Purple, minus the jail bars!

Dining Room curtains with good lighting

2010-05-31T21:15:00.002-05:00

Here is a better shot of my dining room curtains. I still love them, even after 6 months!

New Chandelier

2010-05-31T21:08:00.003-05:00

I finally took decent photos of my new chandelier.

Close up.

Far away.

Right in the middle.

Question: Dining Rug Room Options?

2010-04-20T12:43:00.006-05:00

I am finally getting a nice dining rug! Not that there is anything wrong with my $5 garage sale special. Anyway, which rug option do you like?

Option #1

Option #2

Option #3

Option #4

Option #5

New Dining Room Curtains

2010-03-10T20:13:00.003-06:00

I made new curtains for my dining room before Christmas. Pardon the crappy lighting. I really like the fabric, it gives a lot of life to the room!

Finished Kitchen Photos

2010-03-10T20:00:00.006-06:00

I am extremely tardy in posting these, but here are the 'done' pictures of the kitchen. I love my pretty backsplash. Having a dishwasher is awesome. The instant hot on my sink is one of my favorite features. I can have hot tea instantly!

My new dining room chandelier!

2009-11-20T12:22:00.001-06:00

I found it on eBay. I can't wait until it arrives!

New dining room light?

2009-11-11T16:45:00.002-06:00

I will be making new curtains for my dining room out of this fabric.

If I were to get a new chandelier, which of these lights do you like better?

Almost done!

2009-04-13T19:51:00.002-05:00

Just a few pieces of trim left!

It's coming together

2009-03-25T21:55:00.001-05:00

These pictures suck...sorry, I don't have lights in there yet.

COUNTERTOPS!!!

2009-03-15T20:59:00.001-05:00

Question: Do I need 2 handles on my big drawers?

2009-02-25T17:54:00.002-06:00

The first wall with drawer fronts added

2009-02-25T17:53:00.005-06:00

Question: Guest room duvet fabric

2009-02-25T17:46:00.004-06:00

Do you like this fabric for a duvet in the guest room?

Question: Knob placement?

2009-02-25T17:43:00.002-06:00

Where should I put my knobs?

The arch from farther away

2009-02-25T17:42:00.001-06:00

Here you go Dad.

The rest of the cabinets are installed

2009-02-25T17:39:00.003-06:00

Cabinets!

2009-02-19T18:46:00.001-06:00

I have cabinets! This is so exciting, they are beautiful!

It has taken 10 days...

2009-02-17T22:09:00.005-06:00

and 2 tries, but I have an archway!

The first attempt - way too flat.

Mid-reconstruction

It's pretty!

Hardware

2009-02-12T21:41:00.003-06:00

I bought knobs and pulls on ebay today. I hope they are as pretty in person!

Light!

2009-02-12T21:32:00.003-06:00

I got a wicked deal on this light, a smaller one for over the sink and a medium size one for the nook.

Living Room

2009-02-04T21:50:00.003-06:00

I finally hung my favorite painting. And Barbie made me some pillows for the couch!

Guest room - It's a real bed!

2009-02-04T21:45:00.003-06:00

I finally got a bedframe and built a headboard for the guest room. It's starting to look like a real bedroom!

Jewelry Wall

2009-02-04T21:41:00.005-06:00

I built this to store jewelry in the dead space in the center of my closet. So far, it is keeping everything organized. And I realized I have lost several pairs of earrings in the last few years. I wonder where they went?

Instructions - Earring frame
1. Removed the glass and mat from a picture frame.
2. Drilled holes through the board that forms the back of the picture frame and poked matching holes in cardboard padding.
3. Covered cardboard with wrapping paper and taped it down.
4. Used small hooks to poke holes in wrapping paper

Instruction - Necklace box
I used 2 utensil holders from the kitchen section at Target.

I painted the utensil boxes with white lacquer spray paint (2 coats).

I drilled holes in the corners for the support screws and then holes for the knobs. I used the old knobs from my kitchen cabinets.

Then I added the same wallpaper as the earring frame and some fancy paper to cover the back of each section.

I hung the frame, the boxes and an old shelf from my house in Royal Oak and everything is organized now!

Question: Backsplash

2009-02-04T13:37:00.004-06:00

Which backsplash tile do you like better? Ice (top) or Vapor (bottom)?

(my tile sounds like the cast of Top Gun)

Soapstone

2009-01-28T16:45:00.002-06:00

Here is a slab of the soapstone for my countertops. This is what it looks like without oil, I will post a picture of the small sample they gave me after I oil it.

My faucet

2009-01-28T16:44:00.000-06:00

I think I am going to go with this faucet (without the plate on the bottom).

My room

2009-01-26T20:21:00.001-06:00

I finally hung some new art in my room!

Tile Options

2009-01-26T20:19:00.001-06:00

Many different tile options for the backsplash.

Cabinets with Bronze Pulls

2009-01-26T20:14:00.002-06:00

Do you think the bronze pulls look good with white cabinets?

Dining Room with chairs!

2009-01-26T20:11:00.001-06:00

Question: Backsplash

2009-01-05T14:50:00.002-06:00

I ordered samples of these tiles as possible backsplash materials. Which one do you like (if you can even tell the difference)?

Breaker

Vapor

Pool

Question: Which faucet shape do you like better?

2008-12-03T16:36:00.002-06:00

Faucet #1?

Faucet #2?

Knobs for my cabinets

2008-12-03T09:23:00.002-06:00

I really like these knobs!

Question: Dining room opening round 2

2008-11-18T17:50:00.002-06:00

Here is a taped off version of the proposed opening between the dining room and the kitchen. It would definitely open the space up. I'm just not sure I love the keyhole. But the upper part of the opening is 2 feet wider this way.

Question: Painting in the living room?

2008-11-18T17:43:00.003-06:00

What do you think of hanging this painting over the couch?

House numbers at night

2008-11-18T17:41:00.003-06:00

Look how bright they are! Sorry the photos are blurry.

New dining room table!

2008-11-14T23:58:00.011-06:00

Here is my new table!

Here it is expanded into a square.

So these are two examples of the type of chair I am considering. Which one do you like?

I think the white chair would lighten the room more, but I love the nailheads on the darker chairs.

Question: Kitchen to Dining Room opening?

2008-11-05T16:24:00.004-06:00

I am wondering if I like this 'keyhole' proposal from the architect. It would be for the opening between the kitchen and the dining room. Which photo do you like better?

The left and middle photos here shows the proposed shape.

I think I might like a straight opening better?

Question: Copper Appliances?

2008-11-02T21:15:00.006-06:00

I am trying to decide if I should get these copper appliances for my new kitchen. What do you think? I like them with the lighter wood cabinets. Like here. Only with cabinets like the ones in this photo.

Here is a photo that shows the appliances.

House Numbers

2008-11-02T21:05:00.003-06:00

I finally got my house numbers done today. They have solar LED lights so they will light up at night.

I have drapes!

2008-11-02T21:02:00.004-06:00

Look at the pretty drapes that Barbie made me! Now I need some new pillows for the couch.

2008-09-04T17:58:00.008-05:00

Here is the living room. I just got the lamp behind the couch and the mirror over the fireplace. I am waiting for bronze silk drapes to arrive, hopefully they will help the lamp, it isn't doing much for me right now.

Should I hang the big red and yellow orchid painting behind the sofa?

I really need to figure out what to do with the space over the buffet. Mutiple little paintings? Some other kind of art?

My Bedroom

2008-09-04T17:57:00.001-05:00

Here is my bedroom. Once the attic finished, this will be the guest room.

Bathroom

2008-09-04T17:54:00.002-05:00

The bathroom is a million times better than the 'before' picture. Snaps to Barbie for painting it.

Guest Bedroom

2008-09-04T17:52:00.003-05:00

This is the guest bedroom/room of random stuff (ignore the pile of paintings on the bed, I can't decide where to hang them). It used to be dark red, but the new paint really makes the room look bigger. It will be an office once the attic is finished.

Candy!

2008-09-02T21:35:00.002-05:00

I made candy for Renee's shower. We started out with a lot more, but they were tasty.

I grew tomatoes

2008-09-02T21:34:00.002-05:00

Look!

WAHOO!!!

2008-03-31T20:42:00.000-05:00

They accepted my offer!

Cake!

2008-03-31T20:40:00.001-05:00

Here is the cake I made for Easter. It was tasty, but I think I need to work on my cake decorating skills. I also made cinnamon rolls, you can see them in the background.

My House, the outside and kitchen

2008-03-29T18:08:00.005-05:00

Here is the house that I am putting an offer on. The front has new landscaping and new sidewalks, driveway and patio. You can see the back of the house has a 1 car garage that is attached.

The second 2 photos are of the kitchen. It has a new slate floor and a newer fridge and range, but older cabinets and counters. And no dishwasher! I would like to see if it is possible to extend the eating nook off to the right side so that the back door doesn't open into the basement door. And also that would open up the back of the house to the patio.

My House, the living room and dining room

2008-03-29T18:01:00.003-05:00

The first 2 photos are a view from the dining room looking towards the front of the house. The second 2 photos are standing in the living room looking into the dining room. In the 3rd photo, you can see into the kitchen, in the 4th, you can see into the hallway leading to the bathoom and the 2 bedrooms.

My House, the bedrooms and bathroom

2008-03-29T17:55:00.005-05:00

The first 2 photos are of the bathroom on the 1st floor. As you can see, it has retro yellow-beige tile, but it is in pretty good condition. The vanity is a cheap piece of crap, but it can be replaced with something that fits the room better and is a little wider.

The second 2 photos are the bedrooms on the 1st floor. They are a good size, with decent (relatively speaking) closets. They would work to live in while the upstairs is being renovated and then become a guest room and an office or TV room.

My house, upstairs

2008-03-29T17:41:00.004-05:00

Here is the upstairs. Scott and Jane are standing in the completely unfinished part. Through the door, you can see the '3rd bedroom'. The cedar lined closet (2nd photo) is in the unfinished part of the attic. The last photo is the view of the closet from inside the bedroom.

My house, the basement

2008-03-29T17:40:00.004-05:00

Here is the basement, not very exciting.

What I said about my house during my house hunt

2008-03-09T17:21:00.006-05:00

My house - This house was very similar to the house on Knox. It had a nice foyer, living room and dining room. The fireplace was pretty. The kitchen wasn't new but it was in good shape and had a cool new floor and new appliances. It did have a pot rack, those things scare me. The 2 bedrooms and the bathroom on the ground floor were fine, nothing exciting. Upstairs was unfinished, but was big enough that it could be made into a nice master suite. The basement was unfinished, but it was laid out so that it could be finished at some point. There was a one car tuck-under garage and a small yard. I wish it had a better opening between the back of the house and the yard, but I really like the location. Comparing it to the house on Knox, the living room was larger, this kitchen hadn't been redone and the upstairs needs major assistance. If I could get this place for $275-300K and finish the upstairs and possibly the kitchen, it would be worth $385K (assuming the Knox house is priced right).