The old [dog] couch has gone.  R.I.P.

It has breathed its last breath … and ate Arriba for the last time

After getting gradually stinkier and stinkier (it was primarily used as our basset hound’s bed during the day – do you know how much bassets smell?), it has finally been laid to rest at the dump. Now we have a blank canvas…

In case you’re wondering where the rest of the furniture has gone to (from the first photo) …. the little glass crescent table is currently being used in our DVD nook until we find a more suitable replacement; the small TV was initially moved to the other side of the living room before being replaced with this beauty (it is now living in the game room upstairs); the keyboard is currently situated in the office.

For now, we’re putting one of the leather sofas over there until we figure our the final furniture configuration.  You know, when we get floors, a rug, side tables, curtains, redo the fireplace, install crown molding and baseboards, replace the windows, did I mention floors?

We’re still a long way from finishing this space, but hey at least it is now 100% less stinky (and probably at least 80% less ugly).

My memories of you
are like the sweetest smile
in the midst of ones deepest depression.
like golden laughter
ringing out on my worst possible day.
Being near you
is as familiar and warm
as a steaming cup of cocoa
after a tiresome day of play in the blustery snow.
You are the raging fireplace of my heart.
Your arms embrace,
the ones I yearn for every moment
of everyday and every night.
All I need to see me through
whatever may block my path.
You are Love.
The light of my life.
Happy Valentines day
from the depths of my soul.

© Misty A. Roff

and 90% perspiration ~ Thomas Edison.

Whilst we’re working hard around here trying to beautify our abode, I thought I’d simply post a few pics that are currently rocking my world on the design inspiration front.  Enjoy the random menagerie of eye candy…

Sources: drum chandelier | clock – source unknown  |  map art |   black on black stencil |   board-and-batten bathroom |   floating nightstands

The reupholstery project on our free Queen Anne chairs has begun!

This little beauty has been stripped naked and the legs are currently being stained a dark ebony color.

We even managed to find some luxurious looking faux-leather fabric… at 50% off (marking it down from $14.99/yard to $7.99/yard).  Score!

I snapped a pic on my iPhone of the material in the store.  I couldn’t decide between the black or red color.  You’ll just have to wait and see which one we ended up choosing.  Stay tuned!

I’ve mentioned before that back in May 2010 I scored this Queen Anne chair for free on Craigslist:

Fast forward to the beginning of January 2011.  I was perusing the free section on Craigslist and spied another Queen Anne chair on offer.  The photo looked *very* similar to the chair we picked up back in May.  I talked to Rick about whether we should try and get a matching pair.  Free things in decent shape tend to go very quickly on Craigslist.  So we were pleasantly surprised that within 1 hour we were headed into town to pick up the chair.  As we neared the destination, we both had a feeling of deja vu.  Had we been here before?  No, surely not.

As we headed up the drive, it became apparent that this was the exact house we picked the first chair up from.   The guy even remembered us.  He said he had a pair of these chairs that had been mauled by their pet cat (in the exact same places on both chairs – around the bottom of the seat and on the left wing). The first chair was in worse shape which is why he let that one go first.  The second chair was in better condition … until their cat had its way with that one.

Either way, it came home with us.  So now we have two of these beauties just waiting to be recovered.

How strange that out of all the thousands of people that check Craigslist and could have responded to the ad, that we were the ones to get both chairs offered 6 months apart. Do you have any funny stories about getting things from Craigslist?

We currently have one of these serving as our alarm clock in the master bedroom:

It’s a great clock, except for one thing.  See that little circular dial on the right?  You have to “twiddle” it to set the time for the alarm clock.  It’s not too bad when you have to reset the alarm, say from 7:15am to 7:30am. A few circular finger motions and the deed is done. However, when you need to reset the alarm from 6.15am to 9am, it takes f..o..r..e..v..e..r.  I don’t know if all of these clocks do it, or if its just ours, but most of the time when you are trying to move the time forward, the time actually goes backward.  Making the twiddle time even longer.  That takes away important sleep time, peeps!  Not good.  So, we’re on the lookout for a replacement alarm clock with iPod docking station (this one will go live in one of the guest bedrooms).

This one could work:

It has a dual alarm so you can set two separate wake-up times with the option of waking up to your iPod, iPhone, CD, AM/FM radio, or buzzer.  It comes with a remote control that lets you access all the music on your iPod or iPhone from across the room. Where the iPod sits is on a hidden sliding dock tray, so if you don’t have the iPod hooked up, the tray stashed neatly away.

This one has all the functionality as above,but a slightly more sophisticated, sleeker design:

This one has dual iPod docks and an in-built weather alert system:

Do you have any suggestions for an iPod dock and clock?  I’d love to know which make/model works for your family.