Tasks Are Mounting

Black and White Checkerboard in Laundry Room

Valspar Billow Blue

Posting has become more difficult than I imagined during this summer. We are involved in lots of projects on our new addition as well as plans for our son's upcoming wedding. That does not even take into consideration trying to keep up with Ebay, Etsy, website, sewing and decorating projects and time spent with my daughter while she is home for the summer.

Updates: We have almost finished painting our great room, former kitchen and upstairs back hallway. I have used the "Tobacco Road" color that so many other bloggers have used and/or suggested. We love it. We have had to use a double tier scaffold and our "Little Giant" extension ladder to reach the many high places since the great room has the lofted ceiling. We have also been painting all of the trim (a soft, bright white) around the many windows, some that are about 2o-25 feet in the air, which is extremely tedious work. My husband has begun to build the stove hood/mantel/chimney over our new range (which will have to reach high into the air).

We installed black and white vinyl tiles in our new laundry/mud room. I was never able to find affordable porcelain tile in the black/white "faux" marble checkerboard look and went with the vinyl "peel and stick" tiles that we found at Lowe's, which were suggested in a former post at Southern Hospitality. I used a white-washed wooden hutch and three shelf units that were displays in our store for storage along the walls. I decided to paint them with a soft white semi-gloss paint so that they would be more striking and easier to keep clean. We are almost finished painting the walls a Valpar satin blue color, "Billow," which has turned out great, especially since the white furniture pieces and appliances, Closet Maid shelving and trim paints are great contrasts against it.

My husband has been trying to get control of a large portion of our backyard by tilling and re-seeding sections in hopes of at least installing the floor of our new patio, that will be outside of the french doors of the new sunroom. Of course, we are also trying to at least tape and prime the walls of the sunroom so that it may be used for the bridal shower at the end of August. We might be able to finish the window and door trims, but I doubt that I will be able to finish-paint them in time.

We are trying to at least install the new frameless glass shower stall in the former downstairs powder room, which we have gutted and enlarged a bit. Finding a porcelain/ceramic tile that I am happy with has been grueling. I am trying to stay away from too much gold and brown. Finding a "white" tile that incorporates some gray or gold tones has not been easy. I wanted to use 2" by 2" or 4" by 4" tiles inside of the shower but the cost is ridiculous. I have compromised with a 6" by 6" tile instead. We will re-position the toilet and old vanity so that they may be used until we continue the renovation as time permits.

Our son and fiance will be coming to stay with us the first of August. I have to finish small paint touch-ups and re-decorate his room during the next week. We have had major air conditioning problems in the older portion of our house up until two days ago and it has made working in his room insufferable up until now. Thankfully, they have made a "temporary fix" to the wiring of the system (disconnecting the heat...no heat come fall?) so that we can get through the rest of the summer. Why do I have the feeling that a new system may be on the horizon?????????

The bridal shower is scheduled for the end of August and the pressure of construction/decorating is mounting. Finally, both Vicky and I have been able to find "mother of the bride" (in her case) and "mother of the groom" (in my case) dresses for our upcoming fall weddings. We were down to the wire for ordering so that we will receive them in time for the weddings. In fact, this coming weekend is the first bridal shower for Julie, Vicky's daughter, so the time is flying fast!

Time to finish my tale and get back to work. Will update on shower preparation and recent thrifting "finds" tomorrow.