Contractors and Repairmen...oh my.....

I know I  have lamented about these guys (n gals) in past posts. I really, really, really dislike WAITING ALL DAY FOR REPAIRMEN/CONTRACTORS TO ARRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have spent 2 days now waiting ALL day for a service call that was supposed to be "between 10 and 2" and another "between 1 and 5" The first one (closet) arrived at 3:30. The next one (refergerator ice maker repair--we have not had a working ice maker for 2 years now... can you spell p-r-o-c-r-a-s-t-i-n-a-t-i-o-n...) was supposed to be here already. It is now 5:27pm. I want to start on dinner. I want to leave maybe. He called 15 minutes ago and told me he's "on his way". When I reminded him I was supposed to be between 1 and 5 he said "they just now told me about your call" Hmmmm. This is a major retailer.

I saved up my pennies to get a major closet company (I will name them when I see how this turns out) to redo my teen's closet. I know, I could have done it probably, but I just thought, oh we will do it professionally and not worry about straightness, saws, lugging heavy pieces upstairs, dust and all the rest of it. It looked great after he left, but when I went to adjust one of the upper bars, it was so tight it would not budge. I can't get it back to where it was, nor can I move it. Now, this might be acceptable had I done this myself with a Lowe's closet organizer off the shelf, but this cost a pretty penny. You'd better believe I want the bar to be fully adjustable and easily changed. So, had to call them and now I will have ANOTHER day of waiting, waiting, waiting for them to arrive to fix what should have been perfect in the first place.

What say you out there about contractors? I think that is probably what motivates a lot of us "do it yourselfers" to tackle projects. When I remodel my closet, I am definitely going to try it on my own. But knocking down a wall? Remodeling the master bathroom?  I think I have at least another day of waiting in my future.........................

Ut oh...there's the door. It's the repairman..I hope!

Make it a great day!
Ann

Sunshine Awards!

Thank you to Michelle of House Changers for my Sunshine Award!!

If you have not already, go and see absolute MAGIC at her blog--- the before and afters are a-maze-ing!

These are my Sunshine Awards!

ReStyled Home
Linda has so many tips and ideas you can roll thru her blog all day. One of the first blogs I discovered, she got me hooked! Her kitchen ideas and pictures alone are pure joy.

HouseChangers
OK, OK, Michelle gave me a Sunshine award, but I have to go right back at her  because her ideas are out of the box, ambitious, and, well, you gotta go check it out. She is blogging about totally rehabbing houses, so if you are hesitating about painting your kitchen (I am right now) because you are lazy too busy, see what she's done in the last week and see you don't have it so hard!

Anything Pretty
Jenny's house is amazing and her posts are so much fun. I love her kitchen..that's how I found her... our kitchens look kind of similar with the dark cabinets. Her makeovers are fantastic.


Cote de Texas
Joni's blog allows you to enter the world of high style and check out the most gorgeous houses around, especially Texas...it will make you wish you are a Texan, I swear. She's always got amazing designers on hand to lend advice and swoon-worthy tours. She herself is an interior designer extraordinaire, so check it out.

Clover Lane
Design Inspiration? Check. Do It Yourself projects? Check. Incredibly inspiring reads on life, family, and making a happy home? Check. I love her blog and you will too.

Centsational Girl
Kate's house is crazy-gorgeous and her kitchen is a dream --you gotta go check it out. She has great projects and a tremendous sense of style--all done by herself and on a budget.

Its Always Something Around Here
The name alone makes you wanna go check it out, right? Go. She's great.

Nesting Place
She is so funny I laugh out loud at many of her posts. And her tutorials are the best! Her window "mistreatments" alone are worth the hours you will spend browsing through all her amazing makeovers.


The Byrd's Nest
This is the sweetest blog that will tug at your heart while you browse the many creative projects she  has tackled.

Arren Williams Design

Arren is amazing and I love all his ideas and designs, he will even help you if you ask! I have gotten some great design advice from him. Check out the reno he is doing in a clean, mid-century vibe which I love.

Addicted2Decorating

See how Kristi is decorating her place on a budget... her kitchen is to die for and she did it all herself! Unbelievable you gotta check it out!


The Stories of A to Z
I love this blog for many reasons...one of them is, Beth doesn't have a 6,000 sf home on 20 acres of pristine pasture.. No, she lives in the city in a lovely historic home and has a sweet little backyard and terraces. What she has done in her spaces is just delightful. Her sense of style has a city-vibe that I really dig, but she has integrated that into a warm, homey style that suits her adorable family.

His House; Her Help Great chronicle of a house being redone, reborn, plus great design inspiration.

Thanks!!

. If you'd like to play along, here are the rules for the Sunshine Award!
1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
2. Pass the award on to 12 other bloggers.
3. Link the nominees within your post.
4. Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Link back to the person from whom you received this award.

Here it is... pics of The "Before" House

OK, Here are the befores--- hopefully this blog will be more interesting when I begin to post the "durings" and the "afters"... any advice, suggestions or references.... please comment!!!!


I was going to try to post these "in order" as you walked into the home, but I am not good at posting photos I admit! So, here they are... there is also a powder room, kids bath, master and 3 more bedrooms upstairs but I'll get to those later---

Inspiration for master bath:

Den... connects w/ kitchen overlooks backyard....nice beams, dontcha think? and the wall is all windows after those hideous verticals come down.....

cabinets are staying for now..... but I am having them professionally painted an offwhite... counters will be Ikea butcherclock in Oak (hubs choice) or Birch (mine)... Hopefully with the big white double bowl farmhouse sink..... white appliances...... Floors will be Pergo in a dark cherry finish.

Thinking of re-doing cabinetry on this side with open shelves above fridge and a small bar-area with base cab, counter and top glass-front cab to add to counter space...in place of that huge pantrycloset.... and build-in the fridge so the whole right side can be a blackboard!

Nice size peninsula...will have 4 barstools.... will look good with the new counters, yes?

Dining room--- sad now, I know... blinds: gone!(Those are corner windows- very midcentury....) Replace with: rattan shades and muslin curtains? My chandy from Overstock! My newly refinished dining room table? Yes!!!!!

Hmmmm... yes I am working on a plan for this monster. Any insight appreciated.....

Looking from Dining room to formal Living room- faces front of home, will be the first room you see upon entry so I want it to be my showplace.. The light will increase so much once those verticals are gone gone gone!!!!! This is my inspiration room:

Sigh... I love that room... its actually the lobby at my fave little hotel in Santa Ynez Valley in Central Cali....Hadsten House

Stairwell- sigh.. what can I say? I will have to think on this................... but nice double entry doors I love that and the fact there is a proper entry / foyer!!