Rick is making fantastic progress sanding the stairs, gradually removing the old pine color from the treads and railing (eventually we’ll be replacing it with a darker stain).  It’s been a huge job to tackle on his own.  But given the amount of dust that this project has generated, maybe it is best that I have been away for this part (we don’t want a replay of the asthma attack following the carpet removal when we first moved in).

Here are a few pics taken by Rick to document the progress he is making.  The one dark stair tread was a test run on a replacement stain color. Check out those doggy footprints in the dust!

In this pic, Rick has totally removed the stair railing and all the spindles in order to finish the sanding.  It looks so open and airy without stair railing – it’s a shame it’s such a death trap!

I love that there is so much dust in the air that even the camera has little specks of dust in the lens.

You can really see the difference between the sanded stair treads and the original orangey color of the floor.  I think that using a rich chocolate brown on the stairs will add depth and sophistication, and hopefully the “wow-factor”, to the entryway.

The next decision we have to make is what to do with the stair risers.  Keep them white as a nice contrast to the darker stain on the treads?  Or stain them for a cohesive look?  Or do something daring such as paint them a different color, add wallpaper, or even tiles?  What do you think?

Ok, this is not strictly to do with DIY stuff, but it looks so gorgeous I just had to share…

Yummy. During my stay in the UK, I’ve been buying a popular DIY magazine to get some British-based decor inspiration (in fact, one of the magazine issues has given me an idea for the spare bedroom – more on that later). Whilst perusing their website, I came across this recipe.  And started drooling.  This looks L.U.S.H.  And so easy to do. 

How great would this be for dessert on a summer’s eve, sitting out on your dream deck?  I think I’m gonna have to make these soon!  Here’s the recipe…

You will need (serves 4):

For the towers
150ml whipping cream
8 shortbread biscuits (cookies in the US)
350g hulled and halved strawberries
4 tsp strawberry jam (not jelly)

For the raspberry sauce
350g raspberries
25g icing sugar (powdered sugar in the US)
1 tbsp lemon juice

Directions

First make the raspberry sauce, sprinkle the sugar over the raspberries and lemon juice and leave for 20 minutes. Then force the mix through a fine sieve to remove the seeds. Cover and refrigerate until needed.

When ready to serve, whip the cream to a soft peak stage. Place a biscuit on each plate and spoon a heaped tablespoon of cream onto the centre of each. Take 4-6 strawberry halves of roughly the same size and arrange in a circle, cut side out, around the rim of each biscuit, pressing into the cream to hold them in place.

Add a teaspoon of strawberry jam in the centre of the strawberries, spoon a little more whipped cream on top, and crown with another biscuit, pressing down gently to make sure the cream and strawberries merge together – but not so hard that the cream comes out the sides. 

Top with a little dollop of cream, and a half strawberry, arrange more strawberry halves around the outside of the plate, and drizzle with raspberry sauce.

Wallpaper seems to be making a come back.  The designs are graphic, bold and modern – a world away from those popular in the 80’s.  However, wallpaper can be expensive.  And, in a few years when you’re ready to change the scenery, it’s a major pain in the #&!# to remove. That’s where stencils come in.  Stencils are much easier to apply and can create just as much impact in a room as wallpaper.  Plus, when its time to redecorate, you simply paint over the design and move on.  Simple. 

If stenciled walls evoke images of tacky bathrooms and kitchen borders – think again! Stencils are hot right now.  Lots of people are using them to update their living spaces. I’ve noticed a number of stencilled decor projects popping up all over blogland, so I’d thought I’d share some of the eye candy.

Image sources:    1    |    2    |   3    |   4    |    5   |    6    |    7    |    8

Do you have a favorite? I love them all, but could see using the muted tone-on-tone stencil in the first image in our master bedroom. Could you see using one of these designs in a room in your house?

If all goes according to plan, we should have family from the UK coming to stay for the Thanksgiving holiday.   Although it’s not on our list of renovation goals for 2010, we really need to make a start at getting at least one of our spare bedrooms more visitor friendly by November. 

 Until recently, the spare bedrooms have been empty shells… well, apart from a few boxes of junk that we’ve never sorted through since our move in 2009:

A couple of weeks ago, I worked up a inspiration moodboard for this room.

It involves repainting the walls a lovely duck-egg blue color, and bringing in some sumptuous chocolate furniture, with touches of turquoise and silver and contrasting red accessories.  I also talked about having a dark bedspread, but funking it up with some graphic black and white sheets and punchy pillows.  Throw in some modern sleek lined furniture and an architectural light, and we had an initial plan for transforming this blah space.

Well, phase 1 of the bedroom makeover is currently underway. We’ve yet to paint the walls – I think this will make the biggest transformation in the room.  When I return to the States at the end of this month, the search will be on for the perfect duck-egg hue (any suggestions?). We have moved some furniture in to the room, making it decidedly less storage-room and much more bedroom.

A brand new queen sized mattress and box springs has been topped with a simple black bedding set and a few cute pillows.  The bed is flanked by two glossy nightstands (that were bought on clearance, score!).  The generic drawer handles were replaced with some funky crystal topped ones, which I think tie in nicely with the brushed nickel finish of the lamps.  The black bedding is only temporary until I can find a more exciting set like one of these.  I do like the graphic pop of the black-and-white sheets and pillow that peek from behind the more subdued cover.

Opposite the bed, an Ikea Hopen dresser (another Craigslist bargain) is topped by three mirrors found at Target, which are great for bouncing light around the room.  The dresser is actually quite large and so has plenty of space for guests to place their foldable items (the door to the left of the dresser is a small walk-in closet).

A few small red accessories have been placed on the dresser, including the very first photo taken of Rick and I when we began dating (10 years ago – eek!).

So, we’re starting to make progress transforming this room in a more liveable space.  There are many things left to do in this room: paint the walls, lay some flooring, change the bedding, bring in some artwork and figure out some cool lighting.

Eventually, I’d like to think about installing a built-in bookcase in that wall where the roof line comes down (instead of that small door).  It might also be cool to install some window seats under those two windows.  That would add a little extra storage and create a nice relaxing space for our guests to chill with a book or to look out the window at the scenery.

I am still looking for design inspiration for this room.  Do you have perfect duck-egg blue paint on your walls?  How about a great architectural light fixture?  Have you built a fab window seat? Help a girl out here and spill the beans!

How cool is this eco-friendly alarm clock?

The clock is powered by water.  Yep, H2O only.  And it also has a thermometer and calendar. You simply add water to the cell to activate, and enjoy free energy to run your clock.  I could see having one of these in each of the guest bedrooms, not to mention the office  and the front rooms.

In addition to being good for the planet and pleasing on the eye, it’s a steal at only £14.99 GBP (approx. $25 USD).  Want one (or five)? Check ’em out here!

It is a common sight in many modernized households to see flat screen TV’s mounted above the fireplace.  Technology has progressed so much in the last decade making TV’s thinner and thinner (could someone find a way to apply that technology to me, please? Pretty please?!?).  In many homes, the mounted television has replaced the omnipresent mirror as the go-to accessory over the fireplace. Our house is no exception:

I’ve talked before about wanting to get a larger TV to replace our modestly-sized older model.  I know for a fact that Rick would love any TV over the 50″ mark. Whilst that is a whopping-sized television, I have to admit that it would fit the space above the fireplace much better than our current one.  Here’s a mock-up of what the fireplace might look like if we invest in a larger TV:

But here’s the problem.  When the television is not in use, it can become a big black eyesore.  So what are some of the options out there for covering the TV? A quick googley  and a common solution pops up.  Turn the television into a piece of art!  The simplest option is to frame the TV in, making it look more placed and grounded, rather than randomly floating above the fireplace.  Or you can go a step further and cover the TV with artwork of your choice.  It can simply be hung in front of the TV, or you can invest in a mechanized system that, at the a touch of a button, rolls out the artwork when the TV needs hiding, then rolls back in place when the footy comes on.

These systems can be expensive, but there should be a way to DIY this set-up for less moolah.  Another fab (but expensive) option is to cover the TV with a two-way mirror:

Advanced beam splitter mirror technology (which I don’t pretend to understand!) enables you to watch the TV as normal when it is turned on, but when you turn off your TV, it is transformed into a decorative mirror.  I’m not sure if it would be possible to DIY this set-up given the speciality glass, but this solution definitely combines function and style well.

What solutions are you using / have you come across that hide the TV?  Do you prefer the artwork idea, or the mirror one?  Or something else? Or maybe you’re not bothered that the TV is on display when not in use.  Spill it.

Over the July 4th weekend, Rick has been keeping himself busy working on one of our 2010 renovation goals (which is surprising given his penchant for starting new projects, like staining our stairs).

He’s been braving the North Carolina heat and clearing out the brush at the back of our yard:

He’s been making fantastic progress, stopping every now and then to snap a few pics to send to me. At the very back of the brush, he’s made a good clearing…

And between the trees, he’s starting to make headway clearing out smaller trees and brush:

What’s taking the most time is clearing out the random menagerie of bricks and breeze blocks that have been long buried in the undergrowth…

These leftover bricks must be a gift from the previous owners (and builders of the house).  I guess burying them in the back yard was easier than getting rid of them the normal way. Rick says they must have been there for years because the trees have actually grown around some of the bricks…

So far he unearthed a truck load of bricks…

Oh yeah, and a copperhead snake.

That’s a new critter to add to our list! (read about the deer, moles, bats, spiders and bugs).

I love my husband.  Insert gratuitous picture here:

Wishy woo. I married him because of his body mind DIY abilities.  My grandmother constantly reminds me how lucky I am because he saves me so much money.  You know, in gigolo fees.  Oh yeah, and not having to hire a plumber, electrician, or general contactor during our house makeover. What can I say? He is multi-talented.

When I left to visit my family in the UK for 9 weeks, I left him a to-do list, written on some old whiteboard we had hanging around from my PhD days:

Ok, I didn’t expect him to do ALL of this stuff.  Just most some of it.  I thought of the list as a good way to focus his attention on specific projects around the house.  You see, I know my husband.  Over the past 10 years of being together, I think we both have a pretty good handle on each other’s great and not-so-great characteristics.  Rick tends to have a little bit of “need-a-bit-of-get-up-and-go-itis” (aka “my-get-up-and-go-has-got-up-and-gone”), coupled with a smidge of DIY Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.).  I wasn’t too concerned about the former – Rick usually likes to keep really busy while I’m away as it makes the time go faster. I was a little worried about the DIY A.D.D.  In the past, he has had a tendency to start new projects… and there are many around our house … rather than finishing old ones.  Seeing as we outlined our renovation goals for 2010, I thought it would be useful to focus his more-than-capable DIY skills on these projects, rather than starting a new one.

It was a great idea. In theory. 

Two days after arriving in the UK, he informed me that he was working on a surprise project.  I need to mention for anyone that doesn’t know us as a couple, typically I am the pragmatist and Rick is the creative dreamer.  So a new project can range anywhere from “surprise, I installed a new faucet!”  to  ”surprise, I ripped down the garage and am building a new 3 story extension!”.

So, needless to say the surprise project was  not on the previously mentioned to-do list.  After a few days of working on said project, he finally let me in on the secret.

Yep, he’s sanding and restaining our stairs! The orangey pine-ish (that’s a word, right?) color is being replaced with a lovely deep chocolate walnut-ish color.  And eventually those white wooden spindles will be replaced with wrought iron ones.

So far, he’s done most of the sanding and has stained the rails…

I think it’s going to look fantastic! When it is finished. So, I guess we’ve just added another project to our 2010 to-do list

I’ve been spending a lot of time with my mum here in the UK. That means I have been going shopping.  A lot.  And after visiting every single shop within a 100-mile radius from her home in Chepstow, I am starting to get a feel for the current shopping trends.  One thing I’ve noticed is that black and white seems to be “in”. The ol’ monochrome is cool. Wicked. Sweet.  Bangin’.  Slammin’. Totally dizzy makin’.

A quick googley of black and white decor brought up many inspiration photos, like this one courtesy of Laura Ashley:

The great thing about black and white decor is that it is an easy way to make your home look sophisticated, elegant and let’s not forget dramatic. It is versatile and can be the backdrop to a variety of styles and accent colors. The stark contrast and sleek lines make the room seem more orderly and clean, not to mention giving it an modern edge.

If you’re concerned about making too bold a statement with solely black and white decor, try incorporating an accent color: a photo on the wall, a pillow case or a few small accessories.  Another design tip to bear in mind when using a monochrome scheme – only use one or two items that are both black AND white. Have some pieces be only one color to avoid making the room look too busy.

Check out some of these fab black and white finds:

1. Graham & Brown Deauville Linen Canvas Art ($119), 2. Salton table lamp ($159.99)  3. Normann Swing vases (from £15), 4. Sophia wallpaper in Charcoal ($74.99), 5. Asterisk clock by George Nelson ($300), 6. Alberto Mantilla salt & pepper shakers ($30), 7. Coach House leisure chair (£366), 8. Modern Dose flower mirror ($615).

Do you have a favorite? Personally, I love that floral mirror and the chair/footstool, but they are way beyond my budget.  What is it they say? Champagne taste on a beer budget. Yep, that’s me.

For those of us living in the Northern hemisphere, today marks the summer solstice; the beginning of summer and the longest day of the year.  The weather in Chepstow this week is uncharacteristically good:

Maybe the UK might actually get a little summer weather this year?  Wonders will never cease.  Of course, it’s nowhere near the temperatures Rick is having in North Carolina…

You’ll notice that the current temerature in Bahama (22 degrees Celsius – about 72 degrees Fahrenheit) at 8am is about the same at 1pm in the UK. In other words, it’s gonna be a scorcher in North Carolina today.

Wherever you are in the world, I hope you’re having a fabulous sun-filled day. Well, unless you are in the Southern hemisphere and today is your Winter solstice.  Or, if you’re in Eastern Asia and it’s currently night time. But hey, you get the idea.