Function, fashion, function

Well it's really sort of official now. Today I went and picked up the wall color paint and finally got a start on patching the holes in the south wall. I would have gotten much further but the weekend was taken up with a Boy Scout fundraiser and 4-H meeting. Oh well, it's not warm enough to take the furniture outside to paint yet anyway. If I get desperate enough I'll throw down an old cloth and paint indoors. . . if I get desperate enough, not likely though since I plan on using spray paint on it. Oh well that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

Left over joint compound to fill holes and gouges

This wall had lots of holes

Let me explain what functions this roughly 11' x 11' room has to perform. First and foremost, it is the entryway into the house. It is the first room people see when they come in. So I am concerned about first impressions. As such it is also the most convenient place for coats. I don't say shoes because I finally got everybody in the house trained to put their shoes in their own rooms. The muddy boots come in the back door (which is an entirely different project down the road . . . shhhh don't tell my hubby).

The next function it must perform is a reception area for my sewing customers. This is where they drop off and pick up the items I alter or repair for them. I have a good system for this process in place, it just needs to be in a better spot and look much nicer. The current south wall that I am working on is where I will be putting up adjustable bracket shelving for the plastic cubes I have to keep customers items separated and well organized. This wall is sort of the priority at the moment because I constantly have customer items coming in and going out. It is also the easiest wall to access at the moment.

In addition to a reception area, my plan is to put window coverings on all the windows, including the front door and the door into the living room. The room will then be able to double as a fitting room by simply locking the front door and pulling the curtain over the living room doorway. Then I will not need those curtains you saw hanging in the middle of the room in the previous posts.

So that is three functions for this room so far. Next it also has to work as my office which includes a computer, printer, and filing cabinet. Eventually, I will be able to purchase a really nice wireless laptop but for now I'll make due. The filing cabinet and the computer equipment is also slated to go on this south wall.

The fifth and final and biggest function of this room is for scrapbooking, of which, I am WAAAAAY behind. All the shelving and elements for that area are going on the west wall. Which will also include a really cool custom made scrapbook paper organizer shelving system from some upcycled materials. I am also going to make my very own light table that will double as a work surface. After cruising Pinterest until midnight last night I may even add a sort of rolling slide out work table that will roll in under the light table. . . maybe . . . we'll see.

When I get back around to the north wall it will have been cleared away of all the other clutter and be replace with very minimal items. I like the window there and want easy access to it. But behind the  front door on that north wall I am going to put the coat rack which will be kind of lower with a shelf on top of it. The shelf is going to hold baskets for hats, gloves, and scarves. The jury, (me) is still out on whether or not I want a shoe rack underneath it. When I did that before no one took the time to put their shoes on it neatly and it mostly became a dumping ground for backpacks, bags and anything else they didn't feel like carting off to their rooms. Sometimes you could hardly get the door open. Talk about coming "unglued". So I'm guessing probably no shoe rack.

Now before I put all the furniture back in I am going to probably put in a new chunk of carpet. I'll have to measure and shop around for an inexpensive remnant. Anybody got a free piece about 11' x 12' in a fairly neutral tone?

So there you have it a very tiny small room that had a former life as a front porch serving no less than five functions. Wish me luck.

It's a start

Well I didn't post yesterday like I wanted to but I wasn't ready. Now I'm ready. I cleared off the south wall of the office with the exception of the mirror. I wanted to put up paint chips to see what I thought I wanted. 

Here is the semi empty wall it is currently a light green color:

View from living room.

Beat up wall

I left the mirror and
picture frame temporarily

Behind that curtain is the east wall for your viewing pleasure on another day.

I had a piece of scrapbook paper for inspiration but couldn't quite put my finger on what I wanted. Because originally I had other ideas. Basically, I needed a three color scheme. One neutral style color for the walls another semi darker color for the furniture, and a splash of color for the fabric treatments (curtains and stuff). 

Here is what I was trying to choose from and it wasn't tripping my trigger very well for some reason. I think it was because I had this other color scheme in my mind for so long:

I didn't want the furniture to stick out like a sore thumb so I was looking to paint it with a hammered silver gray but I couldn't tell what it might look like with the wall and the fabric color I had in mind. To find out I spray painted a paint chip with the paint to get a better idea. Then I remembered I had some fabric in the color I was thinking about in a really contemporary texture and I have plenty of it. Not sure if it is enough for all that I want to use it for but I will get to that after I write this post.

Anyway here is what I ultimately came up with:

The brown color at the top is called Meadowlark. It is a tan color with a green tone in it. It is more brown than green. The middle one is the hammered silver color made by Rustoleum. It makes what ever you paint with it look like hammered metal. I am using this on the furniture and shelving for a contemporary clean look. The third color is called Spinnaker which is sort of a blueish green color which is really popular right now. It is also a perfect match to my already on hand fabric. By the way the paint chips are from Glidden.

The textured fabric is woven with a grid pattern with gray/white/silver threads making it a perfect fit with my hammered silver paint. 

By the way I am keeping track of costs and will give you all a breakdown and final cost at the end of the project. So there you have it, I am ready to proceed. Tomorrow I am going to bring home our left over joint compound we loaned out to our church so I can start filling in holes and gouges. If the weather is warm enough I will paint the metal brackets for some of the shelving too. Right now I am going to measure windows and do some calculations. 

TTFN (Ta Ta For Now)

God Bless,

Nancy

New Year . . . New Look

Yes I know it has been ages since I have posted here. But alas, things are going right and the stress is lessening around here. I'm getting my many hats organized and ready to move on to new projects. I know it's only February but spring fever has hit me already. Besides being a secretary, a news writer, a seamstress, and a mom of two teens and a tween, and a wife, an archer, and a not so hot cook, I am going to add blogger to the collection. I am going to make a weekly or even daily effort to blog in some way.

To start with I have three blogs:

www.rethreadearth.blogspot.com

www.fearlessgrace.blogspot.com

and a blog at one of my websites

www.nelsonsewing.com

So I am going to try and blog on at least one of these each day. Today is Rethread Earth's turn.

I am starting a series that will follow the makeover of my office/front room/customer reception room/coat room. Yes, that will definitely be a challenge but I have a plan . . . see?!

I have my floor plan laid out complete with measurements of furniture that will remain in the room. In addition to that I laid out what each wall in the room is going to look like.

As you can see from the following pictures the room is extremely messy. I am embarrassed to even post them here but I want you to see the before so you can ooh and ahh over the after. 

Northwest corner

Southwest corner sideways . . . sorry.

Southeast corner with doorway to living room.

Door to outside on east wall and customer shelving on north wall.

UGLY carpet! May have to search for a remnant

North wall showing better shot of customer shelving and computer area.

Like I said messy, cramped and kaos! So here is the plan. First, I will use nearly everything in this room although it may be used or rebuilt differently than you currently see it. Second, the room is going to be completely emptied so I can patch nail holes, remove the dated border, and put on a coat of fresh paint. Third, all the furniture and shelving will be painted the same color to lessen the look of kaos. The color will coordinate with the wall color. Fourth, this series of blogs will take some time because there are only certain things I can do until our chilly northwest Iowa weather turns warm. But I will keep you posted on all the little things I do. 

Hey by the way if you have any suggestions or tips feel free to comment. Nobody has ever placed a comment and I would love some comments.

Thanks . . . and by the way HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Many Blessings,
Nancy