Things I Learned: The Last Project

• Be Flexible. You can know where you want your lighting, but that doesn't mean that pipes, beams, etc. won't be in the way. You have to be flexible and know that it will look good regardless.
• Label your light switches. Tell them up front what you want each switch to do.
• Think about the future. We closed up all of the previous holes (they weren't electrical any longer - they moved it to where we needed it). However, i'll make sure to note where they are in case owners later (or us if we get rid of the pool table) want to add a fan. We know where it fits, where the support beam is, etc.
• Have one person do the whole job. I'm SO glad I didn't piece meal to different vendors for painting, carpentry and lighting. It was great for the team to work together to get the job done and come when they were needed. The schedule changed a lot so if it had been different companies it would have been very frustrating. It was also nice to have one contact.
• Get more than one quote. That's easy, but it really helped. I was able to get this one company to match a lighting quote from a different company, and to get them to match a carpentry quote from yet another company. Basically, I liked this company's painting quote and they matched on the others to do the whole job. Then they did extras, like painting our hall closet for $70 and putting crown in our half bath too for only $145. I hope I can use them again. Later, if we stay here longer, I could see adding crown to the 3 bedrooms upstairs and 2 bathrooms that lack it, and, when I can no longer stand the satin, i'd bring them on in a heartbeat to paint repaint the interior.
• Get buy in. Austin was so supportive. We made the choices together with where lights would go, which lights we would buy (pendants) and worked with the vendor together, especially once they were on site.
• Have a plan. We drew out the room in PowerPoint and indicated where we wanted 6" recessed cans, 4" recessed cans, pendants, etc. We got feedback from lighting peeps and adjusted based on their ideas. Before they came, we sent the diagram we all agreed on and when they arrived they had copies of it and we all knew which direction we were heading in.

I think that's it! Every project is trial and error but I always walk away feeling so much more knowledgeable and comfortable, though i'm never in the mood for another project for a while! LOL

Before & After: Lighting, Painting & Crown Moulding Project...

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE


AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Three Words: I'm So Excited.

Three More: We Love It.

Three More: Hope You Do! :)

Three More: Reuben does too...

The Renovations Have Commenced...

I know I still owe a bunch on this blog - eek! But for now, know that the lighting has commenced - yay! I took some 'during' pictures last night. He was at the house from 3:30 until 9 p.m. He has cut 8 holes for the 8 6" cans so far and has run all of the wiring. He's arriving at 9 a.m. today to cut 5 more holes (for 3 more 6" cans and 2 more 4" cans) and to hang the 3 pendants. Then the lights go in... then the switches are fixed... i'm SO excited!

UPDATE: 12 p.m. Austin sent a few pics. NOTE: These were taken with a blackberry. Also, once the ceiling is white we think it will look SO much better! (so the cans will be flush)

UPDATE: 4 p.m. Austin sent another pic. Note: These were taken with a blackberry. Also, he insists that they just look close together due to the angle. We like.... eee!

Update: 4:40 p.m. Austin sent another pic

Update on Lighting Project!

I signed a contract for our new house project! I'm still working on the date, but I have a remodeling company coming in to do the following:

• remove 3 lights from our kitchen/seating area/pool table area (i.e. large rectangular room)
• install 13 recessed lights and 3 pendant lights
• patch/prime/paint the ceiling (currently tan- I want it WHITE)
• paint our walk-in hall closet/mud room (currently white - I want it TAN)
• Remove crown molding and install thicker crown in entire room.

That pool table light (and the track lighting in the kitchen and chandelier over the seating area are OUT!)

3 of these will be installed over the sink! (sink below!)

The curtain will be replaced with a bamboo roman shade and the three lights will hang above it. Note that dark ceiling and lack of crown - not for long!

I SO hope they can come and do it next week! I can't wait and think it's going to make a big impact!

Who Doesn't Love a Pendant?

Three of these will be mine in 5-7 business days per Pottery Barn.

I can't wait! Here's a pic of them in action:

Now, let's just cross our fingers that we love them as much in person, so we can have the lighting guy install them over our sink.... eeeeeee!!!!!!

Let There be Lights

Austin's little lights came out great! He said to let them get even more light he's going to cut those bushes back this weekend! Either way - they worked out great at the party and i'm so happy we have them!

They look like bridesmaids here. hehe


And here they are in context...


Yay!!

Bye Bye Brass

So many moons ago Devon (sister!) and I went to Lowe's for a small white fan for one of my guest rooms. It's since been installed.... incorrectly... so Austin was working on fixing it.... and now it's done! Turns out the fan was missing a part (bless his heart). So he replaced the fan and we're in business now! I'll have to take a pic tonight!

Whilst at Lowe's I saw a box of 6 "small lights" - AKA closet/hallway lights. Currently our hallway has 3 of these heinous brass/crystal doo-dads and I despise them. Then there's more in our closet, the walk-in in my scrapbook room, the bathroom stall area, the laundry room, the pantry, etc. Anyway - I buy this 6-pack of lights and they've yet to be installed. But I begged Austin to JUST do the 3 in the hallway. That's it - not all 6 - just 3! I was just SO ready to say bye to at least some of the 90's brass that permeates this home!! (primarily dominant in bathrooms but STILL!)

So he did it! He installed 3 new ones in the hallway and 1 new one in the pantry. He even tried to do the closet one but it ended up being a 2-bulb light not a 1... so boo! He was about to start the laundry room when I was like nah - the end!

Sadly I don't have pics, but I will take some. I love the new ones - so presh!!!

And Another One Down: Outdoor Lighting

Austin had gone to Home Depot and Lowe's to find solar outdoor lights. But there was like no in between - either $20 for 6 (plastic, low-quality ones that got bad reviews online) OR $100 for 2. Um, no.

So Austin mentioned Frontgate in Phipps- a super nice outdoor store. He heard they had reasonably priced outdoor lighting from his friend Phil (they're doing some sort of outdoor challenge or something - they both bought houses around the same time - boy shit).

We looked online and found a set of six Arlington Solar path lights for only $130. They come in a bronze finish, they're glass not plastic and stainless steel. We really liked them! So we called and they didn't have it in stock but the store manager was so apologetic that they're sending them to us - free shipping - to be here by Thursday at the latest - WOO! And guess what?! As I was checking out they showed up as 20% off - some 20-year anniversary special! So they'll be here for FREE for only $110!! Here's the item online. Here's some pics. I'll take some of them once they're in the backyard!

Here's the style...


Here's the color we chose...


Hope you like! Can't wait to get these out in the yard. Will also help us keep an eye on Reuben!