New York Renovator

… when you just HAVE to expand.

This is my book area in the office. UGH. The monster is growing and growing! Not in the photo are another two bookcases of books and stacks of books around the room. LOL. Hey, I like books! But I also need them, because I used them for the writing business I maintain. Because I write about so many different topics– everything from WordPress PHP to gardening — I need a variety of resource books. And those resource books are usually 20-pound mamas. Sheesh. My cheapo Chinese MDF bookcases are burgeoning. Time to crack out some serious plans.

So in between all my jobs, I am reading books (yes, books!) and watching online videos of how to make a huge built-in bookcase. I just can’t wait!

I want to turn this ugly, inefficient area

into something more like this. I know the sketch is pretty rough, lol. It’s still in development form.

I’ll use stock cabinets from my local discount lumberyard. I may find something that is similar to the ones in the kitchen, which will lend a bit of continuity between the two rooms (my office is just off the kitchen). I also have plans to install a nice gas log fireplace as a “focal point” for the room.

I’ve already got some fabric material for making curtains. I’m going to change the decor of the room to make it a sunnier, more colorful room– English country style.

I may even be able to get some carpeting, too! There’s a budget carpet center in the area, and they sell remnants very inexpensively. Or maybe I can get a nice area rug. I wouldn’t even mind getting one used, as long as it is as clean, rug cleaning round rock tx style. Ha ha!

Yes, yes, all dreams. But the kitchen was once a dream, too, and I got it! I hope to work on this built-in cabinetry when the kids finish school later this summer and I have more time to devote to the project.

Do you have any home or yard projects planned this year?

My daughter snapped this on her cell phone. Where could that skulking kitty be?! She’s doing it rite! LOL

Well, another year is winding down. I haven’t been thinking of any thoughts on renovation lately until about a month ago. It was about that time that I really “let” my desk “go.” I have always been a neatnick with a super-tidy desk, but I’ve been SO SO busy the past few months (since October, really) that my desk is a SHAME. A cryin’ shame. I even took a photo for you to see how bad it is. lol

Yes, everything but the kitchen sink and the diamond necklace. Yow.

The desk is actually one of the best ones I’ve ever had, The thing is solid wood, an old teacher’s desk from the 1940s. But it’s not exactly computer-compatible, as you can see. I just juggle way too much stuff on this desk, and with all the paperwork for the home business, I’ve run out of places to put things.

Which leads me back to thinking about renovation again. I’m going to create a built-in bookshelf and desk system in the living room. We have tons of books, most of them in boxes, still! I think my living room will look beautiful with some elegant shelves and a nice tidy area to work. I’ve ordered a few base cabinets and am waiting for them to arrive. Once they finally do, construction begins. I will have to reroute one wall sconce light and make a bit of a mess with the existing furniture, but we can handle it. I think I’ve finally got a vision for the room. It will probably take us about a year to or more to finish it, as it also involves removing an existing gas heater and installing a gas fireplace to a more central part of the room. Because a large portion of this room is my “home office,” I can deduct some of the expenses on my taxes. Thank God.

Anyway, I’ll have more updates about this later. I intend on building my own shelves from wood, so the project will certainly take some time. But when it’s done, it will look and function SO MUCH better. And the new shelves will give Livvy all sorts of amazing new places to hide!

Besides being a clock freak, I LOVE signs. I love retro signs, safety signs, traffic signs, goofy posters, everything. I’m just as happy having a framed copy of the U.S. Constitution next to my tin sign “DRINK COFFEE! Do stupid things faster with more energy!”

Finding funny signs is another matter, though. I have located a very few online stores that sell retro signs, but they charge an arm and a leg!! But I just found a new website called http://www.safetysign.com/. This is neat! They have EVERYTHING– parking signs, stop signs, facility signs, recreation signs, OMG the lists are endless. AND I can create my own sign! *snicker* So I can be as eccentric as I want, and they’ll make it for me. This is very cool. Hm, I’m currently looking for a “Toxic Waste” sign for my kitchen, lol. Or maybe hang it over the dog’s area. :-p

I liked this one. Ha!

Oh, this would be PERFECT over my desk!

And I’d put this in all the kids’ rooms. (And in mine, ai chihuahua).

So there’s a sign for every body for every situation, lol. I there are a gadzillion different signs. The prices are actually pretty good, and you can order U-Channels Posts with mounting hardware in different colors. VERY COOL! Because I need to place a few “DO NOT PARK IN PRIVATE DRIVE” in my front yard. I live near a popular ice cream store, and all summer long I am asking people to please move their cars so I can get out of my driveway.

Check out the site! It’s cute. The site has mostly safety signs and such, but if you like quirky decor, or are in need a of gentle reminder for traffic passers-by, it’s a great place to get some signs!

Here’s the latest update for all you who wait breathlessly for the continuing saga in my pitifully mundane life!

I FINALLY got a clock.

Woooo I live dangerously, don’t I??

Seriously… it’s been a long time since I started chattering on about this. EVen before we gutted the dining room, I didn’t like the cheesy $5 plastic clock that hung there. After we renovated, I wanted something very elegant. It had to be readable, large, but traditional looking. All the ones I saw at my retailers were upwards of $40. Whoa.

I found a beautiful Kalvin Large Clock in Brown Cherry by Howard Miller at CSN Stores! They sent it to me for my review! Aren’t they totally swell!!! Here it is.

It looks so pretty in my dining room with the Grecian accents.

I LOVE the large numbers. No more squinting when I need to know the time!

It’s a very simple clock– it runs on one “A” battery and has the traditional plastic wheel that you spin to rotate the hands. The clock has a second hand, too (I love those). The case is acrylic. It’s a big clock– over 15 inches. The price was a little over $27 (it’s on sale) and that included the free shipping. Shipping was fast and the packaging was good. I’m pretty impressed, a clock this large and this nice for such a price.

Thanks to CSN Stores for sponsoring me. CSN Stores is a great place to shop. They have everything– home decor, furniture, bed and bath stuff, kitchen stuff, pet supplies, lots more. Prices are good, the selection is incredible, and the shipping is, in many cases, FREE and FAST. I kept the UPS man hopping this past week. I recommend CSN Stores, my experience was very good there. I’m going to become an affiliate, I like them so much.

So. IT’S DONE! I finally got my clock!!

I hung my beautiful giant clock up in the kitchen. I had promised myself to wait until the kitchen was completely finished, as a means of motivating me to keep on keeping on with this endless project, but I just couldn’t wait. I couldn’t!! The clock was BEGGING me to go up on the wall.

The thing is huge, and weighs perhaps 20 or 30 pounds. I was no mean feat hanging this sucker. Because there is no central stud on this wall, I had to cut open the drywall, insert a block of wood between the two flanking studs, and patch the drywall back in. It took about 4 days (spackle had to dry, we had to repaint the area, etc etc). But FINALLY, it is up! I absolutely love it.

It goes with the kitchen design so well, has that bronze-y finish and an “Old World” feeling. It matches the ceiling fans exactly. Now all I need is some custom mugs and a few nice shelves to make the area perfect!

Below the clock will be a long mantle-like shelf. My iPod dock will sit on it. Yes! We got an iPod dock! My Hubs picked it, and it is really high-quality. I’ll have more on that, later. And oh yeah- under this mantle shelf will go a heater… whenever we get those installed. The forecast calls for flurries on Friday! I’m a little nervous because the basement window is still not filled in, and we have no gas lines for heaters yet. :S Both The Hubs and I have been totally swamped at work, and have absolutely no free time at all. *sigh*

I got my towels from DonnaKaranHome.com last week. They are super!

I’ve never had such luxurious towels. I am getting so spoiled, I tell you!

These are from the Bamboo Boucle Towel Collection. And they are in *ahem* plum. LUSH, I tell you. LUSH!

If you’ve been wondering where to get some really exceptional linens, home accessories, and window treatments, look no further than DonnaKaranHome.com. Wow! The selections are superb. Donna Karan is a high-quality brand name. The towels I got are practically heirloom quality– well-made, thick, meant to provide not just “use” but “enjoyment” and “beauty” as well. The bedding is especially beautiful. I love the decorative pillows, but look at the sheet sets! Aren’t they sweet as anything? That’s the DKNY City Clover Sheet set. So perfect for a little girl or teen.

There’s a lot of such beautiful home accessories at DonnakaranHome.com. You can browse the website to order, or use the store locator to find a store in your area. It’s very easy to order online, and the photos are very descriptive. Warning: Resistance is futile. The stuff is SO beautiful it will be very, very hard to choose just one thing!

Just so you know: DonnaKaranHome.com sent me these towels for free in exchange for mentioning them here. All opinions are absolutely my own!

My new curtains from CurtainWorks came in! They go marvelously with my living room, don’t you think?

I am ecstatic at how beautiful they are, and how very well made they are. The kind folks at CurtainWorks gave me three sets for my living room. I absolutely LOVE these curtains! They are the perfect color, the perfect style, the perfect size!

Well, they don’t go with that lousy pink/blue couch we have. I greatly dislike the color of the couch (we got it used). We are going to be replacing it with something more suitable for our room. I want the living room to have a beige and red color scheme, with maybe some green accents.

About these curtains– they are the Arlington Jacquard Wide Width. I LOVE THEM, and I will be buying more for the rest of the house. They are of excellent, durable material– thick but not so thick that they are ugly. These will be perfect as both summer and winter curtains. They come in several colors, and are VERY affordable. These 84-inch drapes are usually $25 per panel, which is very comparable. I had shopped and shopped around a great deal this summer, looking for proper window treatments; and I think CurtainWorks has the best selection for the best prices. The material is really exceptional, I’m just so happy with these curtains. I have been to dozens of stores both online and locally, and I just haven’t found anyone who can compare with CurtainWorks. I’m really, really impressed with them.

In the past, I have always sewn my own curtains, because curtains at the stores were always so expensive, and I had the time to sew my own. However, I am too busy to sew my own stuff now, and the price of bulk material has really gone up in price recently. In my local craft/material store, I spotted some curtain fabric for $50 a YARD! Whoa!

CurtainWorks also sells curtain accessories. They sent me this absolutely exquisite iron birdcage finial drapery rod. It’s so beautiful. As soon as I get the curtains for the other rooms, I will use this rod for my kitchen window.

So I’m very impressed with CurtainWorks. I recommend them heartily! The prices are good, the curtains are EXCELLENT. And they sometimes have sales. Currently, there is a summer clearance sale going on, so it’s a great time to nab some nice curtains for very low prices. Next time you’re looking for some beautiful curtains or curtain accessories, definitely check out CurtainWorks!

So you know: CurtainWorks sent me these curtains and the finial rod for free, in exchange for me writing about them. All opinions are absolutely mine! And I mean it when I say that I love CurtainWorks and these curtains! I personally recommend them!

I spent a LOT of time renovating the downstairs of the house. I also spent a LOT of time comparison shopping. Ugh! I am so sick of shopping I could scream. It was hard work, believe it or not! I hadn’t known that a neat website called ShopWiki could have saved me a ton of time (and money, no doubt!). ShopWiki is exactly how it sounds– it is a “wiki,” or collaborative website of multiple resources, for shopping. ShopWiki is unique because they don’t just dump you with search results that are bought and paid for by advertisers (like, *ahem* some other search engines)– ShopWiki REALLY searches for WHAT you are LOOKING for.

You can search ShopWiki for anything. and come up with relevant results for your shopping expedition. ShopWiki will search for all sorts of basic and unique items. Need a particular indoor light fixture or a very special line of home decor products? Search ShopWiki. How about Victorian style lamps, or maybe a very quirky lava desk lamp? ShopWiki will find them!

It’s pretty cool. Now that I have started the decor phase of the renovation, I’m on the search for Norman Rockwell prints, and other nice furnishings. ShopWiki to the rescue!

While we have moved in to the kitchen, the dining room still has no floor, and we are eating meals at the coffee table in the living room. I still have a good amount of work to do, especially the trim work. I have to have all the trim installed and painted before I install the flooring. What a job! The dining room has more trim than all the other rooms, combined. There are FOUR big windows and SIX doorways. Yahhhhhh! All need new jambs, pediments, and side trim. Plus, there’s the crown moulding and the baseboard moulding. Plus, there’s the restoration of some broken areas: the window sill broke off during demolition; the sub floor has huge gaps to be filled; etc etc.

Moreover, the kitchen is not completely done, either. I have a half dozen shelf systems to build and install yet. The trim work is not done in there, either, and I have yet to finish the window seat/bench, install another cabinet, install baseboard moulding, and build a cabinet system under the stairwell. It’s enough to keep me busy, full time, until Christmas. Lord, help me to get this all done…..

So we aren’t DONE just yet. I am waiting for the crowning moment– the moment that tells the family that WE ARE DONE with the project. It is the hanging of The Clock. [trumpets blast]

My husband got me The Clock for my birthday, months ago. All my life, I have wanted a huge clock in my new kitchen. And- thank You, Lord– I got one! But I cannot hang this clock until the kitchen is DONE, to mark this historic moment. That, and I don’t want it to drop off the wall if we’re still banging nails on it! It’s been difficult to restrain from hanging it, but I must!

I am a clock freak. I love clocks! I am going to indulge my love of them, and start collecting them. I only have a few paltry plain ones right now. I am going to hang them in the dining room and the family room (when I build it). I love all sorts of clocks, even cuckoo clocks and clocks that tick noisily. I find them very soothing. Buy.com has a smashing collection of the quirkiest clocks!! I have made a little wish list (after all, I expect to have many more birthdays yet). Aren’t they deliciously whimsical? I love them!

I totally, totally love this Math Class Wall Clock! And the Kirsch New Haven “Melting” Clock! LOL

Aren’t they cool? That’s only a smidgen of the clocks on sale that I saw. Wow. A girl could go cuckoo over so many! Buy.com is mostly known for their superior deals on electronics, but they really have everything under the sun. They allow vendors to list their products, which offers consumers a very wide variety of products. On many things, there is free shipping. And I think Buy.com’s customer service and fast shipping is superb.

So it isn’t OVER until it’s OVER. When you see a photo of a clock hanging on the wall, THEN you’ll know.

Well, the trim work is still not completed (geez Louise, this house has a TON of trim), and there’s no floor down in the Dining Room yet… but we’ve reached the point in this adventure where I am starting to think about decor for the kitchen, living room, and dining room. FINALLY. I really haven’t decorated the house at all in the 13 years we’ve been here. I knew we’d be renovating at some point, and the color schemes of the rooms were very disjointed until now. So, I’m hunting for decor, and trying to create a “theme” as I do.

Personally, I am (probably for the first time in my life) SICK and TIRED of shopping. Can you believe it?! Well, the reason is that for the past four months, that is all I have been doing, for the kitchen and dining room renovation: cabinets, lights, flooring, hardware, paint, etc etc….. but this kind of shopping is fun.

Because my house is so old, I’m trying to stay with the “Greco classical” style of architecture. You know: fluted trim, triangular pediments, acanthus leaves, colors red, green, and ivory…. but I don’t want the house design to be too stuffy and formal. We like our whimsy. And right now, we are REALLY into vintage tin signs. LOL. Buy.com has a bunch of them on sale, for really good prices! Click on the image to view them separately.

I really like the Hamburgers vintage sign best, but I also like the Take Off Shoes one (a much-needed sign here). I have another one that says “I’m sorry, you must be confusing me with the maid we don’t have” that is going to go right in the kitchen, LOL. So I think we are incorporating plenty of whimsy around here.

Besides funny vintage signs, Buy.com has a whole section devoted to home and garden stuff: posters, prints, lighting fixtures, furniture, rugs, garden accessories, and loads and loads more stuff. The shipping on many items is free or very affordable, and believe me– the shipping is fast! Definitely check them out for good prices. Let the decorating shopping begin!