Ho ho ho! I’ll have lots to blog about after the first of the year. Until then, I’m going to take it easy over the holidays and resolve to be a better blogger in the new year. From my home to yours, Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season to all (5 of) my readers!
Subway tile makes a fine backsplash in a kitchen for a few reasons. First, it’s a classic American look that is as timeless as a Rolex watch (but much cheaper). Second, it is white, so it complements pretty much any color scheme. Finally, it’s so easy to install that even a moron like me can do it. And did.
I ordered my tile from Andy at Magnolia Home and had Dave help me install it. Dave kept insisting that it was easy enough for me to install by myself, but with no knowledge of how to run a wet saw or spread mastic or anything else related to installing tile, I insisted that he help me.
Between the two of us, we knocked it out in a matter of hours. I even learned how to use the saw and only almost cut my finger off once!
As you can see from the photos above, the finished product turned out real nice, especially once Dave came back and grouted it this past weekend. It especially looks nice with the addition of the under cabinet lighting that Dave and his wife Veronica installed as a housewarming gift to me. They truly are the nicest people on earth. With the exception of you, of course.
Now to test the backsplash. Any of you have a recommendation for a kitchen project messy enough to ensure that the subway tile gets splattered?
While I wait for my new countertops to be installed in my kitchen, I will show you a little project that I just completed in my bedroom. The ceiling fan light fixture. The existing light was a three globe chandelier-type thing that just wasn’t my style. So I had Dave replace it with an old school schoolhouse globe. I think the new fixture not only looks better, but also casts a more even distribution of light. What do you think?
Sorry I haven’t written lately. Between the beach and trivia and work, I haven’t accomplished much to report. I’m still in the unpacking phase, so until I get that completely out of the way, the painting will not commence.
One thing I can report is the sad fact that I have to buy two new chairs for the living room. I was counting on being able to use two green chairs from my grandparents’ house for my living room, maybe getting them recovered one day down the road. In my mind they were in good enough condition to use in the meantime one way or the other.
When I moved them in, though, I realized that I was sadly mistaken. Not only was the upholstery stained and shredded by the claws of my grandfather’s cat B.G., the springs and the “guts” of the chairs had long since given out. To have them rebound and reupholstered would have cost more than buying new chairs, according to my mom, so the decision was made to get some new ones.
Luckily for me, Malouf Furniture just so happened to be having a mega double blowout bargain basement rock bottom prices sale of the century with twelve months no interest, and while shopping there, I spied a retro-modern style chair that I liked. After going back and forth on the fabric, I decided to wait until the new swatches come in to custom order the perfect pair for my living room.
The pictures above show the old green chairs I currently have and the new sweeping armchair that I intend to purchase. They are very similar to a chair I like from West Elm, but much less expensive.
What was that sound, you ask? It was the sound of more money leaving my wallet.
I’ve been looking into getting a programmable thermostat for my HVAC system, since I’ve heard all about how they save you money on your electricity bill. I had already picked out a Honeywell 7-day programmable model and added it to my ever expanding list of things to buy in the near future.
Then I stumbled across the Nest Learning Thermostat.
Unlike every other programmable thermostat, you use the Nest just like you would a normal thermostat. You turn it up when you’re cold; you turn it down when you’re hot.
Then, like magic, the thermostat begins to learn your habits and adjust the temperature for you. No programming needed. It even knows when you are gone on vacation and adjusts accordingly!
Another thing I like about the Nest is that you can control it with an iPhone or on the web. And when you consider the fact that your HVAC use comprises 50% of your utility bill, you can quickly see that having a programmable thermostat that actually does its job is worth the initial investment.
It also doesn’t hurt that the unit itself is a marvel of industrial design. Simply beautiful.
Add that to my Want List.
Like singer Mary J. Blige, I prefer a new/like-new toilet seat. That is especially true whenever I move someplace new. When I moved to Chapel Hill, I immediately replaced the toilet seats in my apartment. When I moved to the Fountain Apartments, I sanitized and sterilized the one they provided.
Likewise, it should come as no surprise that my first new home purchase was two new Kohler toilet seats. The new seat in the pink bathroom was the more dramatic transformation of the two bathrooms, as the existing seat was equipped for handicap accessibility.
The pictures above show the evolution of my guest bathroom’s toilet: before, during, and after.
One month after closing on my house, moving day is finally here! You’ve seen what has taken so long on the pages of this blog. Two weeks of carpentry and two weeks of floor refinishing have kept me from moving in until now. But I’m happy to say that it has been worth the wait!
My realtor and friend Tish Goodman loaned me the Bowie Realty van for my big move. I’ve got two guys coming to help move the big stuff and friends and family helping move the rest. The fall weather should be perfect for moving furniture and unpacking boxes.
If you are in the neighborhood of Four Zero Two, swing by. Beware, though, because I might put you to work!
A few weeks ago, mom came home from Big Lots with this little guy. She said it only cost $10 and she “just couldn’t pass it up.” I used it to decorate my campsite at King Biscuit two weekends ago and after the festival I decided it would be a nice addition to East Monroe Avenue. I’m sure my neighbors are just thrilled that I’m moving to the neighborhood, tacky lawn decorations and all.
The only thing standing in the way of me moving into my new home is the hardwood floors. Victor is working hard to get them done by Thursday, but from what I understand, it is a ten step process. Victor’s motto when working on hardwood floors is that when the job is done, the floors will be “furniture that you walk on.” I really appreciate the pride he takes in his work.
I went by the house today at lunch and got my first glimpse of the floors with the stain. It really looks great! We tested three Minwax colors: Provincial, Special Walnut, and Dark Walnut. The Dark was too dark, the Provincial was too red, and Special turned out to be the perfect compromise between the two. I think you’ll agree that it is an improvement over the original, slightly orange, finish.
Tonight, he screens the floors and starts the polyurethane application process!
I just found out that I had been spelling the name of Dave’s dog Allis wrong the whole time I’ve been writing this blog. It’s Allis, not Alice. Come to think of it, I’ve been thinking of Allis as an Alice the whole time I’ve known her too. Turns out she is named after Dave’s Allis Chalmers WD45 tractor. Great name. I’ve since corrected it on the blog.
Incidentally, the spelling and pronunciation of a name go a long way in helping me associate and remember a person and their personality. In other words, I think of people (and animals) in terms of how their names are spelled and pronounced. For example Katie is completely different from Katy or Kady, just as Zach is different from Zac or Zak. Even though those sets of names are technically pronounced the same, they’re just not the same to me.
Which is why my Alice mistake is such a bummer. It’s almost as if I’ll need to spend more time with Allis so I can get to know her as an Allis and not an Alice. I guess I’ll have to find something else for Dave to do at my house once those donations to the “Tile Thomas’ Kitchen and Den Fund” come rolling in.
Four Zero Two 
