Going Green

Weekend accomplishment: My first compost bin! Made out of stakes and garden wire. It's ugly but it should work. Now to collect my kitchen scraps!

I also transformed an empty plastic coffee container from work into a simple compost bucket for the kitchen. I've seen cute ceramic and stainless steel ones at various kitchen supply stores but it seems more than just a tad silly to spend $20 on a container to hold decomposing food!

Open Up and Say Ah!

Our house, built in 1965, still has some *lovely* original details. Like these louvered slats in the living room.We'll I'm assuming these are original. I seem to recall a phase in the 80s where design elements similar to these enjoyed a revival. We have two sets dividing the dining/living areas and the others are on the wall overlooking the entry way pictured below. After being gifted a reciprocating saw for Christmas (thanks, Harriett) it was time to attack these babies.

Here's the before:

And the after! Doesn't it open up the space so much? Now we have to refinish the top of the 1/2 walls with a little wood filler and paint but that's easy-peasy.

We actually dig that light fixture hanging in the entry way. It's definitely original and one of the elements we want to preserve.

Next Project

As much as Jake hates it, I've got a new project brewing. We have some really sloppy paint in our long and skinny hallway. With popcorn ceilings, it's hard to get wall paint neatly applied in the corners AND the previous homeowners did a cruddy paint job. Sadly, it's a bit of a wreck. Solution! Crown moulding! But, its a little scary to put up. My Google-fu revealed high-density foam crown molding is available via vendors such as SoSimpleCrown.

This image is an inspiration, though I think I will stick with white trim for a simple look.

photo

I ordered some samples and am settling on a profile. Hopefully I can attack the bedroom first as a test and report back.

Wknd progress

Our home has some quirks - some great and some hideous. These Godawful brass light fixtures graced the hall and guest bedroom. These are practically the cheapest fixtures available in LowesDepot and they sure look it. The one in the guest bedroom was even falling apart at the (poorly soldered) seams, threatening to rain glass shards down on our unsuspecting guests. Welcome to our home, care for a scratched cornea? Ugh. Brass.

I finally convinced Jake that we could easily DIY this job and picked up some rubbed bronze flushmounts today. They are also cheap but much classier, no? After a small amount of CFL bulb drama, we triumphed!

Now that 2010 is officially here, I'll state my resolutions for the record:

• Not blow off exercise and perhaps even develop a running habit.
• Cut back on snacking.
  
• Make home improvements (crown molding, take down louvers, replace light fixtures).
• Get Dad out to visit or go to see him.
• Advance my career.
  

These are all fairly easy and achievable -- hopefully I'll come back with all this shizz knocked off the list.