girl at large

I Hate My House

I hate my house. But I shouldn't. I spent the last twenty years enamored with modern design and architecture. I ran a modern design shop, worked for a modern furniture store, grew a huge modern design library (and moved it multiple times), read every magazine (I miss Echoes), read every blog and haunted every real estate listing. Palm Springs felt like heaven. Three family members have had places in the Mies buildings. My grandfather built two modern gems. Even my Nebraska photographs are love letters to simple farm vernacular. How did I end up in a dark and detailed Milwaukee craftsman bungalow? I know nothing about this house. That's the problem. I know nothing about arts and crafts architecture, nothing of the forces of the time shaping design, nothing of the manufacturers and makers who made a mark. It didn't interest me before, but now I have a vested interest. (Though mortgage rates are at a historic low I'm told). Now I start learning.

Nice Mama!

So much for taking it easy this weekend...I woke up wanting to get this corner of the "Wedding Cake" room done. This will be Viv's bedroom, so some cuteness is in order. The wall decal is the same one I installed in her nursery at Wildwood the week she was born. I was so sad to leave that lovely little nursery that I ordered the exact same one for her Kenmore room when we moved. It only took me a year to get it up!

When the fluffy rug went down, Viv immediately sprawled out on it and said "It nice mama!"

 

 

 

 

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Fresh and Cream

AFTER:

The painting has made a huge difference. The upstairs hall, staircase and "wedding cake" room are now clean and bright. It would have taken us months to just do the trim; it was worth hiring a crew to get it done. The upstairs moldings and window frames are all Natural Cream. Each room's trim was previously painted in a variety of shades of dreary. Though I would prefer to strip and refinish the wood to natural tones, the amount of work that would require (and chemicals and time) just didn't seem worth it. Now, it's done and we can enjoy the clean feeling (and safely sealed lead paint remnants).

After treating ourselves to professional painters, it's time to do more work ourselves. Paul installed four new light fixtures today. Things are looking brighter!

BEFORE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Display

Someone forgot to tell me our block is a flag block. Augie, our 80-something neighbor, was putting out a large porch flag at 6 this morning. By the time I finished my coffee, two rows of matching little yard flags had marched down his front walk.

We are woefully unprepared. Do gas line flags count?

 

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If They Can, Toddlers Will

The Vaseline is winning! Four days, three baths and every type of soap in the house has done little to repair the slick mess that is Viv's hair.