Cat's Weekend Project...

Here's the dining room pre-paint. Dark, dark, dark. Our dining room table top almost blends in with the walls, ceiling, and floor. It's definitely in need of a makeover. The window you see looks out on the front yard. This room is directly next to the kitchen---the wall with the buffet actually backs up to the kitchen wall. I'm standing in the doorway that goes out into the hallway/foyer. Again, the paneling is gorgeous, just SO cave-like. I already have white/black draperies and rugs for in here, so once the paint goes on and we can put out the rugs and drapes, and it will feel much more done. The exact paint color hasn't been decided, but I'm going with a coral. Also painting the ceiling in here---possibly just a glossy white, but I love the thought of going gold. Ralph Lauren has some neat metallics. I think one is called champagne. A possibility.
I'm now standing in the doorway that goes into the kitchen area...
Painting the grooves in the paneling---a LONG process. We use Zinsser Bin primer. A good tip for anyone that has paneling and wants to cover stains (and knots in the wood). This is better than Kilz because it's shellac based and we don't have to do any sanding to get it to stick. A bit more expensive than Kilz, but worth it (again, worth it if you have paneling---otherwise, go with Kilz).
And, again, finishing up the grooves and the trim pieces. Hopefully we can get the rest of the primer rolled on the walls this week so that it'll be closer to being ready for paint.
Another view---also notice the chandelier. Tiny and usual. I'm looking for something over-sized and unusual. I found a very contemporary chandelier at the Ballard Designs Outlet last week, but I just wasn't sure---it was 4-armed and had white with black trimmed shades that fully encased the lightbulbs. Very NYC looking. I'm very traditional but at the same time really like the unusual, so this will be an interesting search for the right chandelier!

Brooke's weekend project...

Brooke rips out the stairs...already better!
Then he reassembles with new wood bases and places the stained newell post (notice Boone had to show off his legs in the pic).
Here are the stained steps. Once installed, the back of the stairs will be in white. This is the same stain that's on the kitchen floor.
And, he started priming...

And, he finished priming the entire room and painting the trim in white gloss. Next step is the paint on the walls and ceiling---Roxbury Caramel by Ben Moore on the walls and the same Palladian Blue on the ceiling that's on the walls in the kitchen.

Crown in mudroom/laundry room

First, I'll aplogize that it's been almost a month since I last posted! I guess things have been busy around here, and we haven't been working on the house as much. But, that will change. This weekend will be more working on the mudroom and I'm going to try to at least get primer on the dining room walls! We got a steal at the Ballard Designs Outlet this weekend in Alpharetta---a great new chandelier for the breakfast room nook---very exciting! I could have spent hours at that place. I think I loved the rugs the most. Good to know they're there when I need them!

Brooke puts up crown around the mudroom walls. Looks much better just doing that one thing!
He also framed out the window---it was missing several pieces of wood, so this too made a big impact.
And, another view of the crown and window.
These are the gross and disgusting steps up from the mudroom into our kitchen! We've bought the wood to replace these old steps---oak, and we'll stain them in the same wood tone as the kitchen floor. Also, new handrail, banisters, and newell post. The backs of the stairs will be white. I'm thinking of painting the mudroom walls in a color called Roxbury Caramel by Benjamin Moore and paint the ceiling the same color as the kitchen.
Here's a better view of the finished paint job on the fireplace. The plant to the right normally sits on the hearth area. Obviously, I need some window treatments and something on the mantel. There's an outlet on the mantel, so I'm thinking 2 skinny lamps would be perfect...