~it's just a box~

About 5 years ago I was watching an HGTV show where they were featuring a primitive early american style home. 

 It looked completely authentic.....rustic flooring (way rustic), homespun curtains, super primitive shelves and cabinets in the kitchen....
the whole 9 yards...


{very similar to this one}

What was so interesting about this home was the fact that it was built in the late 60's ~ early 70's.  You know when charm and architectural interest was at it's peak.....not!

~*~

The homeowner's husband was an architect, and when they were trying to decide whether or not to buy the house, and the wife balked at the current state of nastiness being all 70's-ish orange and green....

her husband simply said.....

"it's just a box~and you can do whatever you want inside the box" 



 oh how I bet my hubby wished I had never watched that episode!!!

that has completely stuck with me!
 (sorry honey...)

{our bedroom transformation}

so this post is based on the fact that ~
although many of us probably don't live in the exact era of home we yearn for....

there's hope because....



"it's just a box girls!"

~*~

 

I thought I would share with you some of the components of my 1991 home transformation to the home I yearn for.....

{  f  r  e  e  flooring off craigslist for our room...."fir paneling"...flipped it over
and paneling becomes flooring! }

have I told you my whole house. from chandeliers to floors to pets, {no not my children!} was from Craiglist? 

well the floors in our main level are from craigslist~  but, not sold as flooring....

the listing just said "1x5 fir planks" 

 good enough for me! 

Of course, every flooring person, contractor person, and general public person said "that will not work, fir is too soft..."  yadda yadda yadda. 

I just thought, "too soft?
 it will get dents and dings? 
....perfect then!"

so for $150~
 I bought enough for the whole first floor except our family room.
  We laid it, top nailed it down, sanded it and put a clear finish on it....

 and......... I love it!
 
I have not regretted it one time for the last 5 years!

~*~

You all know the lovely 90's oak cabinets look like right?  If not feast your eyes below...blek...

eww..... I hate even posting that......

 sorry everyone ~ I know it's not eye candy....

 I bought a distressing kit from Lowes...
 and some trim.....
 and no more ugly cabinets!

  phew...what a relief....

{I know the corner trim isn't perfect....that was before I knew about caulking....}

the next casualty was the lovely light blue countertops...

I won't show you the before.....just imagine...light blue laminate....oooooh yummy....
can you see it???

  OK.......

 I found some gorgeous travertine tiles

for $5/ a square foot.....

and much to the tile man's dismay...

shhh don't tell......

put them on my kitchen counters~

{you just don't do that ya' know!}

I love it.....

  they're perfect.....

and I know you must all know what it looks like when builders put in "dropped ceiling kitchens" with the flourescent lights behind the plexiglass panels??

{quite the design statement....}

 you guessed it... I had that too....

 ~tore it out when hubby wasn't looking~

{lighting from IKEA}

I like the utilitarian look mixed in with the rustic

{stainless shelves also from IKEA}

and the upper cabinets....had to go...

....yup hubby at work...poor guy ~ I don't deserve him!

{in case you're wondering, I don't do marriage counseling on the side! ;-) }

and do you remember these?

  they have got to be the most disgusting lighting fixture known to mankind......

our house was filled with them~

not anymore......ahhh much better....

and the powder room ....
this room used to have light pink counters....

this was the first room I remodeled~

{try a little project first to build your confidence!} 

so, if any of my bloggy friends out there are wondering how they can possibly transform their "whatever era" house into the house they want......

you can! 

 {of course while the hubby is at work.... no just kidding.....}

just remember ~ you might have to

think outside the box, and not necessarily "in"

the home improvement store!

Go for it girls!

xo,

Shellagh