house #5: entry-before/after

just over two years ago, we bought a 

great house in a great neighborhood.

 the house didn't have anything "wrong" with it. 

the floor plan worked for us. 

it had plenty of space. 

it had heating and air-conditioning 
(unlike the LAST house we remodeled). 

it was just a little...

"VANILLA". 

that's what i like to call homes that 
need a little...style/zip/personality.

so, we started changing things.

adding trim. 

changing out tile and carpet 
for hardwood.

painting.

replacing light fixtures.

besides finishing the basement, 

and knocking a small hole in the wall between the kitchen and family room,
everything we did was cosmetic.

here is a picture of the front entry of the house 

before:

so, there were a few things about 
the entry that i wanted to change. 

i wasn't crazy about the soft 
yellowish color of the trim,
 so i knew i wanted to minimize it. 
and the green door next to the yellow trim? yuck-o.

also, the brass door handle, light fixtures and 
kick plate needed to be updated. 

so, the solution was simple:

after:

i painted the door and the entire surround 

the same color. 

this makes the door read as one large unit. 

it gives a little 
more presence to the entry.

the light fixtures were replaced, 

as well as the door handle. 
(both purchased at lowes)

the brass kick plate was removed. 

i also gave the urns on either side of the entry, 
a soft glaze of the door color.
 they were originally a terra-cotta color.

life since then...

sometimes, i wish i still lived in this house.. but, like many people out there, we were severely affected by the downturn in the economy. 
sometimes life throws curve balls at you that you couldn't see coming from a million miles. 
that's what happened to us. 
a big, fat, stinky curveball, right in the shnoz.
(actually, a few of them...)  
so, we shut down our business, packed up our stuff, and moved across the country. and now, i am living in a "totally remodeled" rental house. unfortunately, to some people, "totally remodeled" means "really ugly wallpaper, 1970's light fixtures, and an oven that won't even fit a cookie sheet." 

oh well. life goes on, right?

some days i miss my "old life". i miss this house. i miss my friends. i miss the south. but, i realize that there will be another house for us to bring back to life, new friends yet to be discovered, and new memories to make. so, i'm trying hard to be open to all the possibilities that life will inevitably bring. 
and this blog will serve as a place for me to DUMP all of my ideas and inspiration. because, hopefully, next year at this time, i will be in the middle of another remodel. i can't wait!


my personal favorite picture of the entry:

shadow, sweet pea and g-man.

 tomorrow:

before/after pictures of the foyer!