Fireplace Mantel Progress

We've had some big wins in the fireplace department lately. Remember how I wanted something more traditional for the mantel, but with cleaner lines? This image from House and Home was my loose inspiration.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo showhome-study.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/showhome-study.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5835.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_5835.jpg" /></div><br />Jason worked on framing out the fireplace surround for me while I went to Home Depot to figure out trim to make the new mantel with.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aIMG_7199.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aIMG_7199.jpg" /></div><a name="more"></a><br />I want a really rounded out molding - something to mimic the curves of the inspiration image's mantel. I felt like I was sort of striking out, until I spotted this hand rail. The rod had been planed so that there was a flat surface on one side - perfect for getting the look of that rounded, tube-looking molding that also sits flat.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7215.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7215.jpg" /></div><br />I picked up a few other moldings - some crown and chair rail - and also some of this smaller circular trim below, which gives the effect of a rounded beading. We used a small pinner nail gun to hang the molding after cutting it to size with a miter saw.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7291.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7291.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7274.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7274.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7272.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7272.jpg" /></div><br />We built up the outside of the mantel with trim and molding so it would stick out more than the inner-most frame of the mantel.<br /><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0494.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0494.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7308.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7308.jpg" /></div><br />You can get a better sense of the angles of the mantel frame by looking at the floors here above. It's pretty subtle right now, which I like and I wanted, but I think once the mantel is painted it will look really special. I love it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7304.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7304.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7300.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7300.jpg" /></div><br />I'm working on filling the nail holes today and prepping for the paint job the whole fireplace will be getting soon. And actually the whole room needs to be painted (especially that ceiling) before we hang the sconces and the tv. Also, I still need to go shopping for some dark stone remnants for the firebox surround. We're quite a few steps away from finished here, but I am crazy-excited to have this much accomplished! Project progress is so good for my soul.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7298.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7298.jpg" /></div>

Fireplace Mantel Progress

We've had some big wins in the fireplace department lately. Remember how I wanted something more traditional for the mantel, but with cl...

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Project ADD and Honing Countertops On Site

We've been living here in the middle of renovations for a little over two months now, and I'm starting to notice a pattern where I start a big project and work like crazy on it for a while and then I get a little burnt out on the labor or stuck on a decision or we'll need to order something to move forward. So rather than pushing forward with the one mess I'm already in the middle of, I'll do the least helpful thing - I start another major project. Like the stairs. I started the stairs this weekend. Why? Why wouldn't I finish the floors before filling and sanding and painting the stairs? Just dumb.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aIMG_7128.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aIMG_7128.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Then last night I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water and I ended up prying off the rest of granite backsplash. WHY.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7467.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7467.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I told myself that I wouldn't dedicate even an ounce of creative (or physical) energy to the kitchen until after the floors, stairs and fireplace are finished. But we're about 90% done with each of those projects (I knocked out a good two coats on the stairs this weekend!), so it's hard to avoid thinking about the kitchen more and more. I think it's because I'm a little stumped.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7455.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7455.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I'm just aching to have an all-new kitchen (I know - diva alert), but I think I'm still committed to the plan of doing what I can with the space as it is now. After <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/08/making-plans-for-kitchen-with-keepcom.html" target="_blank">posting about the kitchen last</a>, my friend <a href="http://hi-and-low.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Abby</a> emailed over a link to <a href="http://food52.com/blog/4072-renovating-the-food52-kitchen?utm_campaign=6fbce989ab-8_19_128_17_2012&utm_medium=email&utm_source=FOOD52+Subscribers+List" target="_blank">this fabulous kitchen reno</a> that was done on a budget. The owners had a really nice kitchen before but one that didn't really fit their aesthetic, so they tweaked it. I LOVE what they decided to do with their polished green marble countertops. They had a stone specialist come in and hone the marble on site.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 7641371208_4ef4a375f7.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/7641371208_4ef4a375f7.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><i><a href="http://food52.com/blog/4072-renovating-the-food52-kitchen?utm_campaign=6fbce989ab-8_19_128_17_2012&utm_medium=email&utm_source=FOOD52+Subscribers+List" target="_blank">Food 52</a></i></div><br />Isn't the veining beautiful? I love the honed finish. The owners decided to leave the newly honed marble unsealed, which I know isn't for everyone, but sounds completely lovely to me. The author summed up my feelings perfectly when she wrote that she loves her paint jobs to be crisp and perfect and her counters to show wear and tear of use.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 7641370656_d02c67becf_z.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/7641370656_d02c67becf_z.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><i><a href="http://food52.com/blog/4072-renovating-the-food52-kitchen?utm_campaign=6fbce989ab-8_19_128_17_2012&utm_medium=email&utm_source=FOOD52+Subscribers+List" target="_blank">Food 52</a></i></div><br />Of course Abby's email and the article got my wheels spinning so I called a few stone guys in our area. One of them quoted me $200-$250 to do the whole kitchen, which was a total steal. He hasn't been good about returning my calls though and my confidence in his skill-level is iffy at best after our one conversation. The other guy I spoke with, who came highly recommended by friends and who I feel most comfortable using, told me his company would charge about $900.<br /><br />I need to do some more calling around, but it's nice to have a range in mind. I don't want to totally cheap out here and be sad about the finished result, but I won't be paying a grand for tweaking countertops that I don't even love in the first place.<br /><br />As I was pulling off the splash guards over the weekend, I noticed part of the unpolished underside of one of the cuts probably looks a lot like what my granite would look like after having it honed. I love that it is chalky and matte, and I like that the color is lighter, for sure, and those things alone would be worth forking over the $200. But I think it's just the speckling (and the yellow color) that doesn't sit right. I have a feeling these countertops might not change enough with the honing, especially not enough to merit anywhere near $1000.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aIMG_7478.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aIMG_7478.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I do like how things are looking with the splash guard off though. It's less yellow on the eyes and it's a cleaner look. Maybe once the cabinets are painted and the new backsplash is up, the granite as it is won't bother me so much. What do you think?</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7463.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7463.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

Project ADD and Honing Countertops On Site

We've been living here in the middle of renovations for a little over two months now, and I'm starting to notice a pattern where I s...

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The Staircase: Dread for Treads

<center></center>We're getting close with the floors. We were all a little sore and tired, so we took a little break and focused on the fireplace this week, but I think this weekend we're going to start laying the chevron in the library (yay!). So, since our floors are just about done, my eyes keep floating over to the staircase, which hasn't been touched yet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aaDSC_0438.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aaDSC_0438.jpg" /></div><br />The plan was just going to do paint-grade wood in white on the risers and matching white oak planks on the treads. We will have to order oversized custom treads for the bottom three steps. They're extra deep on the right side because of the curve of the staircase.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aaDSC_0463.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aaDSC_0463.jpg" /></div><br /><a name="more"></a>The lead time was a little longer on these and they were <i>much</i> more expensive that I was hoping, so I haven't made any progress here. I feel sort of stumped and sick of spending money. And when I've felt like that in the past, I usually just end up painting the whole dang thing and calling it good. And truthfully, it might be a good interim option for us.<br /><br />I could paint the whole shebang from rail to tread white or black or a combo of the two and then add a thick runner to the stairs to hide the planks on the treads, which bother me (I wish they were solid planks).<br /><br />Or I could take apart the railing and replace just the baluster spindles with something a little cleaner-lined? It looks like all I'd have to do is pop off the little covers to access the screws. Seems like an easy enough job.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo qDSC_0481.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/qDSC_0481.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo qDSC_0473.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/qDSC_0473.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo qqDSC_0468.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/qqDSC_0468.jpg" /></div><br />The curved rail is pretty simple and would be hard to replace, so I would plan to reuse it for sure.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo qDSC_0459.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/qDSC_0459.jpg" /></div><br />And I'm thinking it would be way easier to paint the whole thing disassembled, so that's another bonus. The prep would be a pain and all those curves and angles on the balusters are terrifying to think about covering at every angle.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0455.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0455.jpg" /></div><br />It's a hard choice, since these stairs are like the first thing you see when you walk in. It would be fun to have something special here. Then the other (lazy) part of me thinks, you know, whatever. Those balusters aren't so bad. A little paint would go far there. And maybe black would be really cool (although dusty looking? Hopefully my house will never be this dusty again. blerg.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ffDSC_0444.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/ffDSC_0444.jpg" /></div><br />Well, now I think I've officially talked myself into painting everything first before looking into anything else. Why not? It could look cool and worst case scenario is I'm out a little paint and some time, and then I can just move forward with ordering the expensive treads and replacing the balusters.<br /><br />What would you do?

The Staircase: Dread for Treads

We're getting close with the floors. We were all a little sore and tired, so we took a little break and focused on the fireplace this we...

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Peacock Blue Leather

<center></center><center></center>I got to thinking about <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-john-widdicomb-louis-style-chairs.html" target="_blank">the new Widdicomb chairs</a> and what I want to use to cover the seats. I like the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-john-widdicomb-louis-style-chairs.html" target="_blank">gray bonded leather</a> I got at Home Fabrics - the color was nice and neutral and the material would wear really well. But I think the gray is probably too close to the floor color and I don't want the space to get too neutral (most everything else in our kitchen will probably be a neutral color other than the red lanterns and the accessories). I was looking through inspiration images and I came across this oldie-but-goodie from David Jimenez.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo davidjimenezbedroom.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/davidjimenezbedroom.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Such a great space. And the blue leather was calling out to me as a great option for the louis chairs. I thought ideally I would want something a little more on the green-blue side to work better with the lanterns and the gray floors. A quick eBay search later and I found this beautiful peacock leather.</div><a name="more"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img alt=" photo zzDSC_0434.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/zzDSC_0434.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo zDSC_0457.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/zDSC_0457.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whenever I'm trying to imagine the way a fabric or leather will look on a piece of furniture I just search online for images of chairs or sofas or whatever in that general type of fabric. "Peacock Blue Leather Chairs" brought up a couple of chairs in the exact shade of teal that I'm considering. I think the color is really nice!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Interiors-Chairs_N1808L-b.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/Interiors-Chairs_N1808L-b.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo HCH4K1K_mx.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/HCH4K1K_mx.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I like that it is definitely not a neutral, but it isn't too in-your-face either. And I think it will pair beautifully with the red lanterns I'm planning on in the dining area.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0463.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0463.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I ordered a sample and used it to conduct a little testing with a bit of ketchup, some soda and a dripping-with-condensation cup. I left everything to sit for a couple hours and I was surprised that it all wiped off without so much as a shadow of a stain.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7217.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7217.jpg" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_7224.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7224.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If I order the hide or two that I'll need for the six chairs, I might be tempted to change the finish a bit on the chair frames. I'm committed to living with the chairs as-is for another week or two while I get the leather ordered, just to really give it a chance. But the last two days we've been using the chairs at the table and I'm sad to report that the finish is not sitting so well with me in here.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0437.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0437.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(but doesn't the whole set fit the space perfectly?! I love it)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0460.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0460.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The finish is just a little to bespeckled and glazed. And upon close examination, there are some chips in the caning that would help justify my cause a little too.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0486.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0486.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If these were antique chairs, I definitely wouldn't touch the finish, but these are mid-century chairs and the finish just screams "bad vintage paint job!" to me right now, but I know I'm being overly critical.</div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0482.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0482.jpg" /></div><br />If I do paint them, I'll lightly go over the green with a pale gray paint and then dry brush the whole chair white, just to brighten up the glaze. I still want an antique look to the frames though - and I think the combo would be so pretty with the new leather color.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0471.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0471.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

Peacock Blue Leather

I got to thinking about the new Widdicomb chairs and what I want to use to cover the seats. I like the gray bonded leather I got at Home F...

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Trim Designs

<div><center></center>Remember how we pulled out the front door and bumped up the pass-through in the entry that goes into the living room? The new eight and a half feet tall entries felt great - so much more in proportion with the high beamed ceilings.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0357-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/1DSC_0357-1.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6523.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6523.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6785.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6785.jpg" /></div><br />The challenge was to give the entries a little more horizontal presence, especially for the pass-through to the living room.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0352-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/1DSC_0352-1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The new taller entrance was still getting a bit lost on that wall.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6521.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6521.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vDSC_0448.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/vDSC_0448.jpg" /></div><br />So I went to the hardware store and I played around a bit in the trim aisle of the lumber section and found a couple of combinations that I liked. I wanted something about eight inches wide.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6667.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6667.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6659.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6659.jpg" /></div><br />The piece of trim that I kept wanting to use over and over again was this casing moulding. I loved the profile and the chunky proportions.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aIMG_6652.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/aIMG_6652.jpg" /></div><br />I ended up buying a handful of short sections of the pieces I liked best, so I could keep playing around at home.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6787.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6787.jpg" /></div><br />Then I saw this photo on Houzz while I was looking for kitchen cabinets inspiration and I remembered my Architecture 101 teacher talking about eared architraves and how they help visually widen and open up a passage surround.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-18atcopy.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/ScreenShot2013-06-18atcopy.png" /></div><br />I wanted something a little slimmer than the kitchen inspiration photo, and I wanted to incorporate the casing trim I was liking.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7192.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7192.jpg" /></div><br />Jason helped me come up with this layered series. My favorite casing is on the very inside, layered on top of a primed pine plank, which we just made wider at the eared part, and capped off with a pine plank turned sideways with a smaller piece of trim set inside the elbow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo sDSC_0457.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/sDSC_0457.jpg" /></div><br />I love how the pass through and the front door look together now from this angle:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7197.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7197.jpg" /></div><br />And what a pretty frame for the view into the new fireplace that will hopefully be finished this week!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7199.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7199.jpg" /></div><br />We did a taller version of the eared architrave for the big pass-throughs that go into the library and the music room.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0460.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/zDSC_0460.jpg" /></div><br />They are far from done - there are hours of prep work ahead of me (spackling, sanding, filling, sanding, repeat) before we can paint, but I'm actually pretty excited to start that work. I think it will be one of those completely satisfying before and afters that make it worth the prematurely arthritic hands. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ssDSC_0463.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/ssDSC_0463.jpg" /></div><br />We are using the casing by itself on all the regular doors too, so I think the moulding all around the house will really look cohesive and really pretty. Trim is not exactly cheap, but wow, what a difference it has made in the feel of our entry space, even now before it's close to finished!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7210.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7210.jpg" /></div>

Trim Designs

Remember how we pulled out the front door and bumped up the pass-through in the entry that goes into the living room? The new eight and a ha...

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