Asthmageddon 2011

Well folks, apparently I'm not working on my stuff as hard as I should be (see previous post).   I've really struggled with the control part and am currently seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  

With that being said - several tears, an Urgent Care Clinic, a breathing machine and some steroids later - my asthma finally seems to have calmed down a little.  I was even able to go to the gym today... though I didn't last as long as I would have liked.  It was rough!

With all that time at home I have some new exciting ideas for our home :)   We finally got a receiver at a local pawn shop that is awesome!  Which means we can finally listen to all our vinyl!  I used to have a huge selection but lost it all in the Break-up of 2005.  I've slowly been building it back up but never had much of a reason since we didn't have a record player... well problem solved!  And many new additions to our collection:

With the new record player rockin',  the design bug bit me in the butt.  Man oh man!  I have so many new ideas for our house.  I spent six hours a few minutes on Pottery Barn's design site, planning out my next masterpiece.  J and I were originally going to live in our house for 3 years then get a new one.... but now we're thinking we might stay (pending career relocation at some point).  Which means - this brick storage unit will finally become a home!   Beyond excited to actually put long term work into this place :)

Here are the current pics and the design ideas:   

(I'm wanting to stay with our intended industrial/modern theme so I'm thinking a lot of neutral colors and steel/iron additions.  Please forgive the mess and the overall disorder... it is DEFINITELY a work in progress).

Living Room:

And... does anyone know a cheap way to recover this chaise lounge?  It was my grandpa's and I can't part with it but it needs some SERIOUS love.

IDEA:

 Tan walls, buffed/stained wood floors/ white trim/ black door/new curtains.  Piano moved to outer wall/ new area rug/ table and chair added where Piano was/chaise covered/storage added by fireplace Awesomeness!

Kitchen:
Our kitchen is HIDEOUS!  No working dishwasher, MINIMAL countertop space, very few cabinets and NO pantry.  It's basically a girl's worst kitchen nightmare!  Terrible.

IDEA:
We're planning on getting IKEA countertops... they have some that look like stainless steel but are a THIRD of the cost... ohhh I can not wait! 

Cabinets added above fridge area and a dishwasher put in near the sink.  Same tan paint as living room with white trim and black cabinets. Add curtains of some sort.    Stainless steel counter tops/ dishwasher/slate floors/new light fixture  perfection!


Back Yard:
J's main point of excitement - an outside bar!  My main excitement - a fire pit!

Tomato plants near edge of house, flower bed along fence, awning from garage to cover grill area.  AND a weeping willow in the corner of the lot because I have wanted a weeping willow since I was about 6 years old.  That is bar/seating/fire pit/grill/ WeepingWillow heaven! Complete with new six foot fence around perimeter and stone patio.


GOAL:  I'm putting it out there... and this would be a BIG commitment from us but ... I would like the inside of the house to be done by CHRISTMAS!  That's right folks.... hoping for some love and funds to make all this excellence done in a 9 month span.   It seems ridiculous that it would be that far in the future but let's face it...  no current job + living here for 1.5 years and still not having it done = A DAUNTING DEADLINE.  But I am excited!  Let's bring on the housework!

We have a spare room in the basement that is currently set up as a drum room... pending some possible changes, it would look like this:

A storage area for excess music gear/instruments/giant cello  AND  my office.  With cabinets added on the shelf area for additional storage.  AND... if this actually happened, it would free up my office which would become a guest room!   I know I know... I'm going a little overboard... but how cool would that be!?

  Ignore the random piece of furniture in the middle of nowhere... not sure how that happened.  I feel like a four year old who just finished a coloring book... SO fun!