A Haven for Vee

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Getting Restless

For whatever reason, when the weather has been unpleasant, I find it a challenge to do anything productive. I don't sew. I don't organize. I don't clean. I don't accomplish things. I don't read. I don't talk on the phone. I don't go anywhere or do anything. I become a total slug. And you know how disgusting slugs are!

Soooo, even though this is day eight or nine (I lose track) of foul weather, I am going to DO SOMETHING today. I think I'll take a quick refresher course with FlyLady. I'll run around the basics and perhaps even do a 27-fling boogie. Wheeeee...

This is one of the the many things that needs doing:




These photos were borrowed from Barn Homes and Beyond, an amazing place to spend some time browsing. Lots of wonderful photos of interiors and exteriors and a great resource of ideas and advice. Please do not pin these photos from this post. Go directly to the source. Thank you!

So my humble haven is never going to look like any of these photos, but I would like to pickle my wood plank walls and ceilings. They grow darker by the day and I have always wanted to paint them from the beginning. This would be a nice compromise with my darling who worked hard to put that wood up and rather likes it as it is. What is it with men and natural wood?!

Any projects you're thinking about as spring starts to turn the corner?

37 comments:

  1. Not thinking about doing a project, actually doing one, today is day three of wielding a paint brush, painting kitchen/dining nook...the handy man finally finished the sheet rock...it only took him um, let me see, almost two years! Happy puttering and I hope a little ray of sunshine lands your way.

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  2. I am in LOVE with that family room! I also love painted wood too! I'm officially done with winter too, I declare Spring!

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  3. I have found that men don't like to paint wood either! Hmmm

    I am dreaming of repainting some rooms inside and creating an outdoor room space in the front garden.

    Deanna

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  4. Looks like you have been busy *doing*. You've been getting wonderful ideas!. I think I'm going to enjoy Barnes Homes and Beyond. I've been trying to clear out since Mr. Dragon's passing. Books. Boy do we have books. Despite taking boxes of books to half-price books at least half a dozen times, I don't think anyone can tell that any books have left the house! I will continue ... slowly but surely ... i keep the shredder busy with paperwork. ...every drawer i open i find something else -- out out -- shred shred!

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    1. Oh, Snap, I know the shredding story so well (the book one, too, I'm afraid). In fact, there's a pile of shredding I could do right now.

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  5. Oh, a color wash like the one in these photos would be wonderful! It's accomplished by watering down regular latex paint, so it is easy peasy (except for the messy part, LOL). John gets the wood, you get the color selection. Sounds like a good compromise to me! Isn't that home divine? I do miss the grand scale of our great room vaulted ceiling and beams at our former house, but I am loving our lower utility costs at our new place even more. Those ceiling look fabulous, but they are nightmares to heat and cool!

    Have fun with your decluttering activities today! And don't forget to treat yourself to a nice warm cup of tea for your efforts!

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  6. I am the same way with the weather, it kind of drags me down. But I am feeling more spring-y these days, have lots to do, too. xo

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  7. I'm an organizer to a fault...and it drives me crazy that I haven't had the time to keep on top of things with my schedule. I'd also like to pickle or even paint in white, the bookcases that straddle the fireplace to brighten that end of the family room. I'm hoping with daylight savings time coming up soon I will stop feeling like a slug and get to the projects I WANT to do, XOXO

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  8. I'm a slug in inclement weather, too. I would really like to get all the windows and screens washed for Spring!

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  9. It seems to be a 'sluggish' time of year. I think I'll just hire 'fly lady' to come get the job done. I wish!

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  10. LOVE LOVE LOVE the way that dining room looks! Your right, my man has this
    "thing" for natural wood too, haha. Still working on him for those kitchen cupboards. Oh, and your also right, (at least with me!) foul weather = slug! haha Enjoy your day!

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  11. I am heading over to that sight as soon as I finish here! Your walls will look wonderful like that Vee! I am very lucky that my man does not have a problem with painting wood, but I know most men do.

    I am starting to think about landscaping and planting my kitchen garden at this new home of mine.
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  12. Vee, I think pickling your wood interiors would be awesome. They would lighten the house up but it would still be cozy. I don't know why men love wood. Mine is the same. When we had our bookshelves and bannister painted white last summer he wasn't pleased. They aren't even nice wood - just plywood and the bannister was pieced spruce. I think it looks better and brighter and updated. I have a big list of things/renos we need done this year and the front entry is the most expensive one. I haven't done a thing towards looking into it. I'm being a slug too with this snow, snow and more snow!! Sending hugs. Pam

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  13. Oh to have a home like those shown in the pictures. Beautiful!

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  14. You're way too hard on yourself. I seem to recall a lovely Valentine party you hosted with lots of beautiful and tasty looking goodies. If you didn't do anything you wouldn't be showing pictures of your home. I thought you did sew. Didn't you make a table runner awhile back? Spring will soon be here, it's March!! Projects I'm working on? Anything I can do while sitting on the couch with my foot elevated. Waiting for a sprained ankle to heal is like watching nail polish dry. Although I do have to say I get a tad bit of enjoyment out of watching hubby do laundry and cook. He won't be reading this, so please don't tell him I said so. ~ Abby

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  15. I think pickling your wood is a great idea, and I bet your man would like it in the end. I am in the middle of painting an empty room upstairs. I'm going with Behr's Gentle Rain (790E-2), which is a cool gray. Visions of what the room will be are still blurry, but with a grandchild coming in June, I'm thinking of warm yellows and whites in there maybe. I can relate on the foul weather moods. When it's cold here in Texas, all I want to do is stay in and eat. Ugh.

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  16. I want to have the carpets cleaned at home. Just the living room and dining room and hall. I plan to schedule with a company for the week we are home. I would LOVE to paint and redo my dark hall at home. And refinish the cabinets in LD's bathroom. AND redo a table in my sewing room, take out my old desk and fashion it into more of a sitting room - as it once was long years ago. Yes, I am chomping at the bit to get some things done. But for now I must wait!

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  17. I've got a kitchen cupboard to clear and as the weather starts to get nicer, I want to go through my winter things and sort out those things I didn't wear.

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  18. I am definately in the running for slug of the week!! I just need to get the basics done. The sun finally came out this morning and I could see the dust much better!

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  19. "...pickle my wood plank walls and ceilings..."

    And what might "pickling," be????

    "Auntie"
    (Who went wild with color, after my dull, dull, dull, dull late winter post.) ,-)

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  20. Going to jump right into your domestic "difference" of opinion. On painting your wooden walls, etc.

    1.) You said you always wanted to paint them.

    2.) You had him do these walls, BEFORE marriage.

    3.) Sooooooooo, I think you can still paint them.

    4.) Since I would not care to live with that much
    natural wood, myself.

    5.) You know I live with a woodworker, who
    doesn't want to paint old wood. But he did
    go along, with painting wood paneled walls
    here.

    6.) I hear John saying; "That's not the
    same!" "As all the work I put into these
    walls!!!"


    7.) Sorry, but I'm still with Vee.

    "Auntie"
    (Who went wild with color, after my dull, dull, dull, dull late winter post.) ,-)

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  21. I'll be watching with interest for more info on pickling walls. That is, if you care to share it. I've got a room with knotty pine walls that are pretty dark with whatever stain/varnish (I don't know a lot about finishes, obviously) they put on and I've hated them since the day we bought this house 20 plus yrs ago. Everyone else in the family loves it. Friends that have seen it love it. But I DON"T!! It's time for a change and I'm really contemplating painting this spring.

    We have a different wood paneling in the living room that were very dark and we painted them shortly after moving in and it looks fine to me. Some have asked why we don't sheetrock the walls. Well, I don't like to create more work if it's not really necessary. However, the dark, ugly knotty pine is bugging me, so it's time to do something about it.

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  22. My dear husband began asking me what I need for the new workspace today. It will come to be soon if he is starting to think about it. :-)
    Some things I just can't or won't do myself. So....this is very exciting.

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  23. I DO know what you mean about men and natural wood! I dropped little hints about painting my kitchen cabinets for years before Ron thought that it was a good idea! (In fact, he did not even want to drill holes in that natural wood to put knobs or handles...so we lived sans knobs for 15+ years. Sheesh.)

    I also agree that it is easier to get motivated when the sun is shining! Maybe that's why my Saturday to-do list has lots of unchecked items still. It is dreary here.

    Happy weekend, rain or shine!

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  24. What beautiful rooms!!
    We are just waiting for better weather to get back up to Happy Trails. So much fun stuff to get done up there. I am so looking forward to building our cabin, though we have much work to do before we can even start it.

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  25. These are beautiful pictures. We had very dark paneled walls and celings at the lakehouse and went over them with unfinsished wood to lighten them up. Big difference. I've been down in the dumps with our gray, wet weather, too, and I really have to force myself to be productive. Baking cookies and then the eating part always cheers me up! :)

    XO,
    Jane

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  26. I know what you mean about bad weather rainy and cold days do leave you flat where sunshine does inspire the urge to do something.
    Men never want to paint or change things, I think that is because we might want them to do it if you do it yourself they usually agree it looks better.
    Merle......

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  27. Another dreary day here in Central Ky. also. Will it ever end? Of course and the next thing we know it will be so hot will have to stay inside in the AC. I am enjoying the two afghans I am making for my grands going into college. The afghans are getting big enough to keep my legs warm now. Oh woodwork is all natural, the reason HH wanted to buy this particular house, and I would love to have it white so I can give it a real Cape Cod look.
    QMM

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  28. Everyone needs a change for a pick-me-up, liken it to a woman getting her hair done and how good she feels. See if John will buy into this way of thinking. :-)
    Judith

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  29. I've been a total "slug" lately too and feeling quite guilty about it. Happy to hear that I'm not the only one. Those lovely pictures give some brightness to the day for sure! We went to Ikea today and I picked up some closet organizers - I might start that project this week ugh! Or, maybe not - who knows! I might have to go check out SkyLady for some inspiration.

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  30. Ooops - that would be FlyLady!!!

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  31. You are right about men and natural wood walls. I love yours how they are, but I think they would be beautiful pickled too!

    Our cabin has (old) varnished, wood walls. My husband LOVES them. We compromised --- with one wall being painted and the window trim painted as well. Then --- I just cover up the spots I don't really like with --- things. :D

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  32. Vee
    I like the pickled effect too. I think I'd be too chicken to do it myself.This must be another sign that I'm getting old!
    My only project is to line the sheet curtains I've had done for over two weeks for my g'daughter.
    Now who's a slug?

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  33. I've got to go check out your link. I truly like natural wood, but this effect truly brightens the room and adds to a feeling of cheerfulness.

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  34. Pickling your walls sounds very ambitious and most un-slug-like. Will the man about the house allow that much tinkering with beautiful wood? I don't think mine would.
    I have the decorating itch to. Today, while the family was over for dinner, our son helped his father rearrange our bedroom furniture. I'm making drapes for the room and want a whole new look - with the stuff I have on hand. Now I have lots of organizing to do.

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  35. Me thinks men realize wood stays wood and requires very little else but painted wood is likely to need painting over and over again as tastes change and wear occurs. Can't blame a guy for wanting to head off work!

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  36. Isn't if funny that in summer I think that when winter comes and I'm indoors more, I'll get more done? When winter arrives I keep thinking the longer sunlit days of summer will make me do more? Right now I have a lot of furniture yet to buy before I can finish organizing. My formal living room is completely empty as is my guest bedroom and my basement. I will enjoy looking at the website you suggested, Vee. I love this style of decorating.

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