Downsizing – Spare Bedroom 1: Library

The summer of 2017 was officially the start of Phase 2 of our fixer-upper.  This means we had saved enough money to conquer partial bathroom renovations, master closet makeover, a cooling vent and insulation for the garage (I didn’t really get this but Jeff thought it was a priority) and doing something with the two spare bedrooms.  After a year and a half everything had found a place but it wasn’t organized in a way that felt like home.  This was especially true in these two bedrooms which were filled with a hodge podge of what we had brought with us and most of it was oversized for this house which made the rooms seem smaller than they were.

It took me a little while but with some strategic thinking I began to list what I’d like to use each of these rooms for which helped me envision what would be needed to make that happen.

Bedroom 1 which measures 11′ x 9’10” was to have 3 purposes:  a place to hold books and read (aka – the library),  exercise and to sew. 

This is how the library portion of the room came about.  I love books and often read a favorite more than once.  There is something soothing in tangible pages to flip through, being able to mark the margins and turn down the corner when something touches my heart.  Yes – I have an iPad and think it is wonderful, especially for travel, but I don’t ever want to live in a house without my favorites:  A Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindberg, Adventures in Prayer by Catherine Marshall, Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard, The 10 Faces of Innovation by Tom Kelley, Live Carefully by Jerry Traylor, Beautiful in God’s Eyes by Elizabeth George and so many more.

We had brought two bookshelves with us – one was ours and the other had belonged to our daughter.  They were different woods and heights but when we first moved in they had the most important quality,  providing a place to remove books from moving boxes and store.

I began to dream about furnishing these rooms with a focus on function and price.  I didn’t need brand new and when my friend, Angie, introduced me to Facebook Marketplace, I found a resource that fit those goals.  As I found a few pieces for other parts of the house and learned how to use chalk paint, my confidence grew.  Soon I was ready to move the mismatched bookshelves out and begin my search for matching bookshelves.  Fortunately for me someone else was ready to say goodbye to two Broyhill units for $200.00. 

It is fun getting something new (well, new to me) but it also means some effort is required because the bookshelves that were there now needed to be emptied and moved to make room for the new.   In a very short time I went from organized to chaos.  This is often the point in a project where I ask myself “What was I thinking?”

One of our bookshelves we sold on Facebook Marketplace for $35.00.  The other bookshelf which was sturdy, well made and solid wood still had some life in it and soon I was placing two coats of white chalk paint and later distressing before a clear coat of wax was buffed in. As if I hadn’t created a mess already, I decide to add painting to the mix. There are times it is good that Jeff is at work.  

Here it is in its new home in the den waiting for the wax to dry before books are placed on shelves.  I am happy to say it now holds a variety of books, including my cookbooks.

I need to give a big shout out to my dad who is always available to pick me or my husband up in his truck as I procure another treasure.  My son-in-law, Josh, has also come over to move some of the heavier pieces.  It takes a village to make a house a home.

Finally, the bookshelves were picked up, dusted and vacuumed (let’s just say they came from a house with cats) and it was time to move the bookshelves in.  Not shown in this picture but new brushed nickel knobs replaced the bronze ones.  The shelves have lighting and are 19″ deep which allows for a nice display.

One of the last pieces for this room, has been the chair.  I wanted a comfortable chair for reading and hand sewing.  I found this one on Offered Up (another site to look for treasures) for $50.00.  It had recently been recovered in gray  and fit into the corner.  

I will be showing completed pictures of the room after I have shared the different sections.

What was Jeff doing while I tackled the room?  This guy is such a hard worker and is as committed to making this house our home as much as I am.  He replaced all our baseboards – so much work but what a difference this has made.

Coming up next – Spare Bedroom 1 – Exercise

Related Posts

Downsizing and Our Kitchen Makeover

What’s In My Library

signature

A Week In Review – 5/17/14

Funny how sometimes the first time we see something, someone or try a new thing, it doesn’t make much of an impression.  In fact we may feel beauty can’t be found.  But I received flowers for Mother’s Day which are a lovely lesson that we should not easily toss something that hasn’t reached it’s full potential.   

MD 2014 - unopened

Let me set the stage – it’s about 3:00 p.m. the Saturday before Mother’s Day and my doorbell rings.  By the time I get to the door I can hear a truck’s engine moving down the road and see that someone (my son and girlfriend) has sent me flowers.  I open the overheated  long, rectangular box on my kitchen table and am not surprised to see a wilted looking bundle of stalks that are tightly tied.   My first thought is “What a shame – the heat has done a number on these.” but then I see a note tucked next to the gift – “Give your flowers several hours in water and watch them bloom.”  Truly I wasn’t at all sure water and a few hours could do anything but there was something about that message – It’s a 4-letter word – H O P E.  You see on that day I could relate to how these flowers looked because I was in a bit of a “wilt” myself.  So I cut 2 inches off the stems as instructed and into the vase of water they went.  I wish I had taken a picture of them at this stage – maybe you can just trust me that they were pretty sad.

The picture above was taken about 4 hours later and they are looking about 75% better than they did.  Water is amazing in the way it can take something tired and start breathing life back in.  I think this is why Jesus says he is the living water.

MD 2014 - Opened

But day after day a miracle took place – the leaves became greens and the weathered looking blooms began to open into glorious beauty.  After a week the blooms began to droop and I began to think my enjoyment was coming to a close.   Then my genius husband placed fresh water in the vase and they were as good as new. 

Pipe - Monterey

Picture taken in Monterey, California

I’ve been doing some reading this week – The first book is, Calm my Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow   I’ve read this book many times  and continue to glean nuggets I want to practice in my life.  The other book is one that was recommended after I attended a course at work The Resilience Factor by Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatte and I’m learning a lot from that also.  Resilience is a word we don’t hear that often – we hear strength, courage, buck up buttercup (well maybe most of you don’t hear that one) but you get the picture but resilience is “reaching out” in both hard times and new adventures.  

Chocolate Coconut Smoothie

If you missed the posted recipe this week, here it is one more time.  Chocolate Coconut Protein Smoothie  In this link I’ve listed my favorite blender and protein powder choices. 

Cookie Add Ins

This idea was inspired by ice cream and yogurt stores and even salad bars that allow you to “have it your way.”  When you want an assortment of cookies but don’t want to be in the kitchen all day – try this Cookie Tip.  Start with a chocolate chip cookie batter  but don’t add the chocolate chips in yet. Divide batter into thirds and mix in different combinations of chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, dark, white, mint and butterscotch), shredded coconuts, chopped nuts,  cut up candy bars (snickers, milky way, etc)  Bake and soon you’ll have a nice variety of cookies with just one batch of dough.  I use my scraper/chopper for so many tasks in the kitchen.

saying - gratitude

I hope you had a good week. We are excitedly waiting the arrival of our sweet princess granddaughter.  It’s my hope that next week I’ll be able to share what I have packed in my Grandma Hospital Bag – hey mamas of mamas need to be prepared when that happy call comes (especially if I’m at work and in a dress). I’d love you to share something from your week in the comment area.

signature