house #5: study before/after

sorry the before pictures are not the best quality. 

i grabbed them from the original mls listing. 

(i never intended to include them in a blog. heck, at the time i was remodeling this house, i didn't even know what a blog was.)

before:

again, nothing offensive...but nothing great either.

cream colored carpet, white walls, 

and a green chandelier...

but, the room had large windows, a set of french doors leading into the family room, a single french door leading into the hall, ALL topped with transoms.

i love, love transoms.

plus, the room already had crown molding, 

so it had a lot going for it. 

but, we just couldn't leave it alone.

oh, no.

we really wanted something unique in this room.

we wanted to do "something" 

with the ceilings...

but we weren't sure what.

we know we were putting a coffered ceiling in the 

family room, so we didn't want to repeat that in here.

we talked about beams, but that just didn't seem to fit 

the character of this house.

we went back and forth for several weeks, 

discussing options, coming up with ideas...

then, my brilliant husband/construction man 

came up with a brilliant idea...

here he is, laying out the floor...

and THIS is what he came up with.

isn't it pretty?

it's a rectangle, that 

eventually

becomes

a

square.

and we repeated the same detail 

on the ceiling.

another view...

yes, i realize the light box is off center. 

don't worry, it will get fixed.

one more "during" shot

now,

onto paint colors.

there were a few items that i knew would be 

going into this room,

 and those items really influenced the color 

i chose for the walls. 

i knew we were going to have our two, large bookcases, as well as a piano. 

and they were both black. 

i really didn't want either one 

to dominate the room, 

so i chose to paint the walls black. 

yes, BLACK.

the ceiling is painted the same color as the family room, (brandon beige) which is one shade lighter than the entry and halls.

after:

the french doors

(as well as all of the main level and basement doors

 were painted

onyx black.

the floors are red oak, with a minwax stain called "provincial".

the walls are onyx black.

ceiling is brandon beige

i found the light fixture for around $200 on sale at a local lighting store.

a closer look at the ceiling...

another view into the room.

this room was never quite finished either...

i wanted to have a long slender credenza between the two bookcases, 

and a comfy reading chair near the window.

a closer look at the floor.

a view into the family room.

see how the piano and bookcases dissapear?

that's exactly what i wanted.

looking towards the front of the house.

the curtains are made of dupioni silk in alternating bands

of cream and a color called butterscotch.

the striped silk curtains were custom made from

village workroom.com

the stripes are in "ivory" and "light gold".

they are made from one width of silk,

and are lined and interlined.

this room reminds me of how much fun i have working with my husband. 

you always hear that if a marriage can survive remodeling or building a home, it can survive anything. the two homes we have built and three houses we have remodeled have only brought us closer together. we love the creative energy that it brings. we have a great time coming up with ideas and discussing options. we really trust each other, and respect each other's opinion, and have come to realize that we each have our strengths and areas of expertise.

i love you sweetie.

i can't wait for the next remodel!

*hint*hint*

tomorrow:

before/after pictures of the powder room