The floors are all refinished, and the rooms are starting to take shape. While most of the rooms are partially completed, we are starting to see what the end result will be. Today, I am sharing the progress on the powder room and my office. Here's what they look like: My Office: After searching online for what seemed like hundreds of prints, I settled on three from a French magazine   named La Vie Parisienne , founded in 1863. I am still working on the placement of the desk I may end up angling it for more room. Finally, the light fixture was my mothers-in-law's. She was never a big fan, so I “inherited” it. Lucky me!   Powder Room: The wallpaper that everyone helped me choose is now up. I'm planning to paint the lower part of the wall a darker gray, similar to the background, and will separate it with a chair rail. I added a touch of blue to the ceiling paint in the powder room. I've done this in other rooms; it adds a special touch and gives off a soft glow.   I also refinished an antique frame some time ago. It looks perfect with the wallpaper; I just need to get the glass installed, and it will be ready to hang. It is slowly starting to come together, thanks for letting me share the progress. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

In my previous post, I mentioned my mother-in-law falling ill and my trip to Binghamton to care for her. I am still in Binghamton, while my husband Matt has returned to Rochester, N.Y. He is urgently working to complete my mother-in-law's room so she can move in as soon as possible. During my stay here, we have started packing up her home. We have developed a system: I clean the items, set them out for her to review, and she decides their fate. We are proceeding slowly, not only due to her health but also because these items reflect her life over the past sixty-plus years. I wish we could keep everything, but she has a large old house and has been collecting for a very long time! To help facilitate the process, we created three categories: 1. absolutes (can’t live without), 2. maybes (not ready to let go), and 3. it can “go bye-bye.” Meanwhile, the addition and renovation are progressing. They've installed the range hood (it looks great) and will be focusing on the hardwood floors this week. We preserved the existing wood floors, and where there are gaps, unfinished flooring will be integrated, with the new areas also receiving unfinished flooring. Once installed, everything will be sanded, stained, and coated with polyurethane. This process includes the kitchen, dining room, pantry, powder room, and my office. The floors are the last major task for the trades. We still need to paint, stain, build shelves, hang wallpaper, clean, clean some more, and reassemble the house! Plus, we have to pack and move my mother-in-law from her five-bedroom home to her new space. I'm already exhausted! My husband sent me some pictures via his phone so I could share them with you. In my dream kitchen, there was always a gorgeous range hood. Of course, in dreams, there is no concern about cost. Did I get a wake-up call (no pun intended); the price was exorbitant! Thank goodness for Nick from VHI Cabinets. He was able to show us hoods in our price range. We found one, and truth be told, I love it just as much! I can’t wait to see it in person! We ordered our new stove, and it will be installed next week. We have not had a stove for months. I can’t wait to cook! Hopefully, the floors will be done next week, and I can share them with you! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

The much-anticipated day has finally come! My dream of a white kitchen is coming true. The cabinets were delivered and installed over a few days. First, the wall cabinets, followed by the island. Each day, I would return from work to find a new cabinet installed. It felt like Christmas every day! As the cabinets were being put together, we had our final appointment to approve the quartz slab we selected for the countertops. Although it was still hard to visualize it in the kitchen, its beauty was undeniable. Like all the professionals who have worked in our home, Mike from VHI Cabinetry was outstanding. He answered all our questions and completed the installation efficiently. I know I've been consistently praising every tradesperson who has worked in our home, but it's true; they've all been excellent! Once the cabinets were done, it was time for the stone to be delivered. I took the day off for this. I wanted to be there as my vision of white cabinets and countertops became a reality. The cabinets have arrived, and they are gorgeous. After Mike, the installer, got set up, we left him to do his work while we went to give final approval on our quartz slab. We arrived at North American Stone and looked at the slab again. It is still as beautiful as the first time. Approval most definitely granted. I did not want to leave I kept touching the stone it was so smooth. The counter tops are here! Jeff, Rob, John and Sam from North American Stone made quick work installing the countertops. They made it look very easy. I have a white kitchen, and it is beautiful. There is still so much to do before we are done with this project, but every time I see this kitchen, not only will it bring me joy, but it will also motivate me to keep moving. At this point, I honestly do not know what next week will bring, but I promise it will be worth coming back! Thanks for letting me share with you. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. As always, I love to hear from you. Do you like the style? The layout? Let me know.

After five months of construction, we have finally reached the point where the beautiful herringbone tile will be installed in the hallway and laundry room. I have always wanted a herringbone pattern in my home. I can't wait to see the results! We were asked which way we wanted the direction of the tile. I chose to have it pointing toward the garage entrance, showing people the way out. The laying of this much tile took several days to complete. The installers were extremely precise when it came to the positioning and spacing each tile. When they started to go into the laundry room, they used a board to walk back and forth. You aren’t supposed to walk on it until it sets. They also had little scooters. We chose light grey grout so the tile would be more defined. The rest of the grout needs to be cleaned off, but oh so pretty!    I am in love with this floor!    Now we have to hang wallpaper, put in a utility sink, build shelves and paint. Stay tuned for more updates. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like' and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

We often wondered what the addition would look like on the outside when it was finished. In the beginning, my husband and I were both afraid it would end up looking like a box jutting off the back of our house. It was one of the first things we talked about with our architect, Chris Hennessey. We asked her if she could make the addition look like it was always there. We were lucky enough to find Chris through our contractor. The minute we met her, we knew she was the one we wanted to work with. She was very down to earth and made us feel comfortable immediately. When we asked her about the exterior aesthetics, she suggested different roof lines to create interest and make it look purposeful. Everything she has done for us has been amazing. She was able to give my mother-in-law the space she wanted, fit in a first-floor laundry room, relocate the powder room, and carve out an office for me, all while keeping the space feeling open. It wasn’t until now that we can appreciate her attention to detail on the exterior of the addition. It ties into our home beautifully and absolutely feels like it could have always been there! Recap of where we started from: We began the project with the laying of the foundation in June.    Once the foundation was finished, the floor joists and subfloor were installed, which is where we left off. After that, the father-son duo of Dan and DJ from Dan House Construction began the framing process. Once the framing was done, the trusses went up, and we began to see the different roof lines that our architect put in the plan. The exterior portion of the addition is complete, and it is amazing and very overwhelming at the same time. Now we begin the interior portion of the renovation, which I plan on sharing with you as much as I can. If you enjoyed the post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created.

I've always dreamed of having a white kitchen. For me it represents a traditional and timeless look, much like a classic white shirt that never goes out of fashion. When it was time to select cabinets and countertops, we went to a big box store. The cabinets were nice, but they didn't quite match what we were looking for. Our contractor suggested we consider custom cabinetry. We were hesitant, thinking custom meant expensive, but our contractor assured us they would stay within our budget. The next day, we met with Nick from VHI CABINET. To our surprise, custom cabinetry was within our reach, and Nick guided us through the process. When we arrived at VHI Cabinets we faced an overwhelming array of choices: door front styles, glass inclusion, and trim options. The only certainty we had was choosing white, but, surprisingly, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of shades of white. So much for our sure bet. After spending many hours examining samples and visiting VHI Cabinets, we made our decisions. The small square, known as (Designer White), was selected for both the upper and lower cabinets. The door behind the square is painted in (Hearthstone), which we chose for the island cabinets to add contrast to the white. The white cabinets shown above represent the cabinet design we picked. We will also include glass doors to showcase my dishes. Lastly, the vent hood above is identical to the one we will have. We are a long way from being done, but I am beyond excited to start! Our trip to North American Stone was much simpler than I anticipated. We were browsing quartz samples when I stumbled upon one that resembled marble. As soon as I picked it up, I was in love. It was quartz with a honed finish, and the texture was amazing. My husband liked it too, and since they had it available, we wrapped up our visit in under an hour. Boom! If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created

Apparently, what everyone told us about renovations was true. That we had no idea what we were doing and were two steps behind every decision that had to be made. Which became very apparent when our contractor and electrician arrived to work on lighting for our addition/renovation. The moment they got their equipment set up the questions started. How many outlets do you want in the kitchen? Where should they be located? Where should the recessed lights go in the ceiling? Where do you want the pendants over the island? Each time they asked, my husband and I exchanged glances and stammered, I…uh…um…we’re not sure. Eventually, we gathered ourselves, combined what the contractor and electrician suggested with a bit of our own input, and hoped for the best! On the plus side we did have many our lighting choices made. Before the renovation started, we began looking for lighting in architectural salvage places. I really wanted to bring character into the renovation and save money at the same time. Architectural salvage places are great places to do both! As luck would have it, on a trip to Pittsburgh to see my son, we struck gold. Let's see what we found:  These are the fixtures we discovered at the salvage location. They are sturdy and in excellent condition. Although they require new wiring, the price we paid makes it worthwhile. We have designated the sconces for the dining room and the globe lights for the hallway leading to the garage. We also discovered lighting options for the laundry room. I really wanted a schoolhouse light there, but they were expensive. I came across this Hampton Bay light at a large retail store for $40. The globe is not glass, but you can't even tell. Additionally, I needed a light above the utility sink in the laundry room. Rather than purchasing a new one, I reused our old kitchen sink light by painting it black and replacing the shade with a new one for $10.  Next week, I will be showing you our choices for the kitchen cabinets and counter. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and subscribe to get new posts as they are created. As always, I love to hear from you leave a comment and let me know what you think. Next week, I will being showing you our choices for the kitchen cabinets and counter!

This week has been challenging. My back gave out, and I was unable to get out of bed. After a few days, I managed to stand and walk around a little. Despite feeling better, I mostly stayed in our bedroom to rest. I know myself too well; if I were downstairs, I'd be tempted to tackle all the projects I had planned and end up back at square one. It took a full week, but I'm back to normal and ready to get going. The first thing I did was refinish an antique mirror. I'm planning to use it in the new powder room. I found the mirror at Rehouse Architectural Salvage in Rochester, NY. The mirror had great bones, but some of the detail work was painted, and there were side panels I didn't like. However, I knew it would be a beautiful piece in the end. Let's see what I did: To start, I applied a grey chalk paint (all products used will be listed at the end of post) on both the painted detail and the faux tortoise shell on the sides, being careful to avoid getting paint on the gorgeous, aged silver of the mirror. To highlight the details, I used black wax and wiped away any extra. I was astonished by how stunning the side panels appeared, resembling antique iron. To complete the process, I polished certain areas with steel wool. Here is the finished mirror. Look how beautiful it looks with the wallpaper we chose for the powder room. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Products used: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Paris Grey Annie Sloan Black Wax

Last year, while visiting family in Schenectady, I bought two beautiful leaded glass doors at an architectural salvage shop. They were originally part of a built-in cabinet from an old house. I had hoped to use them in our addition/renovation. However, our contractor, the crusher of unrealistic expectations, advised me they were not weatherized and would need to be retrofitted (which is code for a lot of money to install). Although it was disappointing, I couldn't justify the expense. I stored them away and forgot about them until recently when I saw a Facebook post where someone had used a product that made glass look like mirror. I thought about my leaded windows and decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, one of the windows developed a crack while in storage. The repair costs were too high, so I focused on the intact window, which was as stunning as I remember. To achieve a more consistent look and remove the hinge marks, I used a table saw to trim both sides. After the cuts were made, I sanded the window smooth. I loved the raw wood but felt it needed a little separation, so I painted the inside trim with an off-white chalk paint color. Next, I applied the mirror effect spray. I put on a mask and taped off the raw wood. Following the directions I sprayed light coats, applying a total of five. At first, I was nervous because it had a cloudy look. However, once it dried, the effect was amazing; it truly resembled a mirror. After the treatment was completely set, I cleaned the window/mirror using a Q-tip to reach the corners. It is gorgeous; the rosettes stand out even more, truly a one-of-a-kind piece. I will definitely be using this mirror effect spray again. Products used: Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint Rust-Oleum mirror effect spray

I have always wanted an antique utility sink, not only because they are cool, but also because I hated washing my brushes at the kitchen sink. With my new quartz countertops, there was even more reason for an alternative. So, when our addition renovation plan for my mother-in-law also included a first-floor laundry room and there was room for a utility room, I was beyond excited. I immediately started looking for sinks and found out quickly that we would not be buying a new one at a cost of a thousand dollars or more. So, I began looking on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace where I found them already pending or they were in terrible shape. Just when I had almost given up, I found the perfect cast iron sink at Rehouse Architectural Salvage in Rochester, NY. It was priced at $165 and in great shape. I bought it on the spot and took it home. The sink had no rust or holes; it just needed to be cleaned and reglazed. But just like I had been surprised at the cost of a new sink, I was equally surprised at the cost of reglazing at $500 or more. I did not want to pay that much, so I researched doing it myself. I found a refinishing kit (all products used will be listed at the end of this post) for $48 much better than $500. With the kit in hand, I got to work:                           The first step: I cleaned the sink with a mild abrasive cleaner and rinsed it thoroughly. The second step: I sanded out any rough spots and rust, rinsing thoroughly again. When it dried, I used a tack cloth to remove any remaining residue. As you can see, there is discoloration at the bottom. I checked the box for further directions, but there was no mention of this. However, I followed the instructions given so far and decided to proceed. After finishing the prep, the next step was to mix the epoxy. Can (A) is the activator and can (B) is the base. I stirred each one at the same time for a minute per directions. After stirring, I added the activator to the base and mixed thoroughly. Once mixed, I used a 1/4-inch nap paint roller and sponge applicator to apply the epoxy. They also said to wear a respirator mask and use gloves strong enough to resist chemicals. The directions said the first coat would be watery and they weren’t kidding. I have to say I was nervous after the first coat. It was streaky and uneven. I had to wait one hour for the next coat. Second coat was a little thicker, but still streaky. When I was applying epoxy, it became tacky and pulled the roller. I decided to let it dry for two hours and use a new roller for the next coat. The third and final and cost.    I am very pleased with this product and the results I got. Now that the inside of the sink is done. I have to decide what to do on the outside. My design plan for the laundry room will have this fun wallpaper as an accent wall and the floor will be a dark gray tile in a herringbone pattern. I also want to paint the base of the sink. I was thinking of yellow which will pick up the yellow in the wallpaper or black which would ground the space and draw your eye in. I just don’t know. Let me know what you think. I would really appreciate the input. If you enjoyed this post, please give it a "like" and subscribe to receive new posts as they are created. Products used: Soft Scrub Cleanser Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit