Stair Landing Makeover

I have several projects going on at once which really is no surprise to anybody who knows me. That is just life around here. I added to my list by redoing our stair landing this week. I had been wanting to freshen things up for awhile now. I had a vision in my head of just how I wanted it to look. 

Here is how the landing looked about a year and half ago when I redid it. Since then that rug has landed in the foyer as well as the little white table. The panels I made were faux panels. I didn't even sew them on the bottoms. They were attached to the wall by upholstery tacks. Though I enjoyed this look I was wanting something more classic and simple.

Sorry this pic is awful but at the time I was frustrated because this project was taking a 100 times longer than it should have. I could not find the right bit for our drill so I had to hand screw everything into the wall. Anyways, I was trying to transform the landing spending little to no money. I had these white Ikea panels and figured they might work. I tried them several different ways and though lovely it just was not the right look. I searched and searched the internet for other options. I almost order some panels from Pottery Barn but I really didn't want to spend $65 a panel and not know if they were going to be exactly what I wanted.

The boys and I went to HomeGoods and waiting for me where these beautiful sheers. They have been there for about a month now just patiently waiting for me to take them home. At first I did not think they would work thinking they would be too short but I read and they were 108 inches long! Wow! So I grabbed two packages thinking to myself that I didn't really care that it would cost me $60 because I was positive they were the "ones". I read the package again and turns out it was $30 for a set! I was doing the happy dance in my head.

We brought them home and I immediately got to work putting them up. They are rod pocket but I chose to hang them from clips. I purchased the clips at WM for $7 a package. I needed two. I also purchased the rod at WM for $13 which I didn't think was bad at all so I was okay paying $7 a package for the clips though I remember when they use to be just $5 a package.

I finally added this faux beam that The Papa had cut for me back in the spring. Yes, I have been wanting to redo the landing since way back then. I love this look but I am thinking I may need a little wider board.

I pulled out this beautiful little mirror I got back in the summer while treasure hunting in Atlanta.

A little touch of fall.

I had just a plain pillow here and wanted something a little more so I pulled out this french inspired grain sack and just wrapped it around the pillow.

Lets go on up and see how it all pulled together shall we.

Simple and classic is what I wanted and that is just what I got. I love how airy the landing feels now. The panels actually are very similar to ones we have in our living room so everything flows so much nicer now. I am trying to talk The Hubster into ripping the carpet out on the landing and into putting the flooring down that we have put away for this space. It will be divine if I can talk him into it soon but he knows I will then want to rip the carpet off the stairs and that opens up a whole nother can of worms I am not sure we are ready to tackle just yet. 

See that pot light up there in the ceiling. It is just screaming to be turned into a ceiling mounted chandy!! Now to try and figure out how to make that happen without it costing an arm and a leg. If there is a will there certainly is a way!;)

This project ended up costing me just $60. 

Here is a sneak peek at the half bath I am in the middle of transforming. It will probably be a week or two before it is completed. I am hemming and hawing over which sink I want for in here.

Linking up to the following link parties:

Feathered Nest Friday

Inspiration Friday

Potpourri Friday

7 Year Old & Sleep

Oldest is having issues with sleeping upstairs lately. He goes thru spells where he just would rather be down here with The Hubster and me. Now is one of those spells. I have debated on wether or not to just move the boys downstairs and then put the guest room upstairs but that would involve redoing two bedrooms and two baths. The guest room is much much smaller and so it would be a tight fit for the boys especially once they get older. I know they will want back upstairs so upstairs is where they will be staying. 

So what do I do to try and get them to stay up there every night? I lay down with them till they fall asleep which usually is within 10-15 minutes. I figure they will be grown and gone way too soon so I cherish every moment I have with them at night.

Well last night Oldest popped back up while I was mulling around in the sewing room. How did I get him to go back to bed at 11:30 at night?

I started on this! Yes, I started on making curtains for our landing so Oldest would go back to bed. See my sewing room is in plain site of the boys room so I promised him I would stay in there and work. It worked and thus so did I till almost 1 am!

I am in the midst of transforming this valance.

I was inspired in part by this. 

This is what we worked on today for 6 hours straight! The foyer is finally ripped out. 

Why the drop cloths you may be asking!? Well this is what is under them. The easy part was ripping the old wood flooring up. The pain in my tukus part is getting the old glue and leveling up so we can properly prime and level for the new flooring. Ladies this is going to take us forever!!! 

This here mess resulted in a minor break down. (Okay maybe a huge break down where I said I was done and was getting a quote on how much to have somebody else finish it in between major sobbing. I was tired and my bones in my hands and arms literally hurt from working with the rotating hammer all day. A nice warm shower and some Ibprofen cured that thankfully and thus my sanity slowly crept back in.) Now back to the mess...

It also resulted in this! Please wish me sanity and luck so we can get this flooring project under wraps by August!! I am truly way over it and will never tackle a huge flooring project again. A smallish one maybe but never a huge one!

How was your weekend? 

I cheated!

I started on our guest bathroom last June. You can read all abt it here. First it started with painting the cabinets black and adding hardware all while hoping The Hubster was not going to declare me insane and divorce me. Then that led to painting the toilet seat. Yes, I said I painted the toilet seat. I also threw up a piece of bed skirt to see how I would like it as a valance. It all has been the same since last summer. I figured since both sets of grandparents will be heading this way this month I would fluff things up a bit more.

Here is the before after I did some revamping last year. Sorry for the bad lighting. This space is super small and thus makes lighting hard.

Here is the after.

First thing I did was finally take down the ribbon shower curtain holder that were suppose to be just temporary!;)

I replaced them with these cute holders from Target. They say Hot and Cold. I am hoping to one day soon change out the sink faucet to one that says the same thing.

Next I turned the piece of bedskirt into a real valance with an actual curtain rod and no tacks.

This is where my cheating came in. I attempted cheating on the cafe curtain portion of the window treatment and lets say that did not go so well and thus I had the rejects left over. I was using a curtain from Ikea and though the original intention for the curtain did not pan out I decided to  cut off the rod pocket portion from it and sew it to the back of the new panel. This saved me time and actually enabled me to still have the desired length I wanted for the valance. 

Here are the cafe curtains that I ended up making from scratch since my first two attempts went awry. I just used the bottom portion of the Ikea curtains that was left over.

I spent my free time this past Saturday making almost 30 yoyos which if you have ever made yoyos before is not a task that goes quickly. I then stayed up till 2 am to sew them on the sides of the curtains cause I just had to see what it was actually going to end up looking like. Crazy? Maybe a little but I know I am not the only one out there am I ladies?!;)

Here is the final set together! I decided that I wanted to add a little more color so I took some grosgrain ribbon and made tie backs. I think they turned out just adorable and helps me achieve my whimsical cottage look I am going for in here. There was some debate though on where exactly to sew the yoyos on. 

Oh, and today while I was at HomeGoods returning the other table cloths I found this darling bath mat. I had to have it because it was the prettiest shade of pink and it had a vintage feel to it. I normally would have gone white but I will NEVER buy a white bath mat again. I had bought one for in our master and it is now in the trash.
Anywho, thanx for stopping by! I hope your Monday was a great one! Oh, and hello to my new followers! I am so grateful to have all you stop by!


I am joining in the following linky parties!


Metamorphosis Mondays- Between Naps On The Porch


Wow Us Wednesdays- Savvy Southern Style


Inspiration Friday- At The Picket Fence


Feathered Nest Fridays- French Country Cottage