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Post by shescrafty on Jul 1, 2020 17:37:07 GMT
Weird title I know.
Is there an area of your house, inside or outside, that has received a fresh look or make over due to being in quarantine?
For us it is our backyard and outside area. The patio has gotten an overhaul. We have added café lights that are enabled with Alexa, lots of new plants, a solar fountain, and fresh seating options. We typically go to the beach most of the summer but this year I have been home a lot more.
We have decided to make our outside Our fun zone. We have a new movie screen and projector, and just bought a large fan to keep things a little bit more comfortable in the air moving around us while we are outside. My husband is even looking into getting a misting system to go with it so we have even cooler out there to eat. We added multiple birdfeeders so we have something to look at while we’re out there. There is one bird that has a funny feather on its wing that we have nicknamed Tuft and he is very mean to the birds around us, LOL. Obviously we lead an exciting life. 😉
What area have you revamped (if any)?
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peaname
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,389
Aug 16, 2014 23:15:53 GMT
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Post by peaname on Jul 1, 2020 17:40:57 GMT
My formal dining room, which was typically used twice per year is now DH’s work from home office. He will not be back to his real office until September at the earliest.
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scrappert
Prolific Pea
RefuPea #2956
Posts: 7,741
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Jul 11, 2014 21:20:09 GMT
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Post by scrappert on Jul 1, 2020 17:43:49 GMT
We are in the process of update all insulation in the house. We have totally ripped out 2 bedrooms so far and have almost finished dry walling both rooms (ceilings and walls). You can tell the difference! Next is tape and mud. Once we have done the knockdown and paint we will move to carpets. Then on to the next bedroom, hallway, living room, bathroom, dining and kitchen. Should be done in about 2 years! Not as relaxing as your sounds!!
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,577
Location: In the leaves and rain.
Jun 25, 2014 19:57:33 GMT
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Post by stittsygirl on Jul 1, 2020 17:55:17 GMT
Our living room, dining room, and entry way have all been redecorated, and my backyard finally received some professional attention it desperately needed (and that my landlord had been ignoring). My proudest achievement is getting rid of the old vertical blinds we had in front of the sliding glass door to the patio and making pretty new drapes (there’s a big discount advantage to having a kid who works at JoAnn ). I’m currently working on the garage .
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,272
Location: Michigan
Jul 13, 2014 12:40:31 GMT
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Post by iluvpink on Jul 1, 2020 18:00:13 GMT
Well dh made the columns on our porch wider and added a porch railing which I have always wanted. Now he's out there putting on new siding. And in a week or so he is installing new kitchen cabinets. And I will finally have a (wall) pantry.
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Post by AnastasiaBeaverhausn on Jul 1, 2020 18:01:57 GMT
Not sure I can say one room but so far, we added a couple of solar tubes in our living room, an inflatable hot tub on our back patio, a couple of raised garden boxes in the backyard, added handles to all of our cabinetry (over 60 doors and drawers) and we are talking with landscape people to add stone around our front yard trees and flower beds. Not sure that we wouldn't have done this regardless of the quarantine but we are doing more outside since that is safer.
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,740
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Jul 1, 2020 18:03:17 GMT
Yes, two actually!
1. I finally talked dh into making me a mini deck. Our house has a weird outside layout so we’ve never Had an outdoor seating area. Our garage is detached and the backyard is behind that. Between our garage and house is an asphalt area we use for parking. Anyway, we carved out a space where the house had a cut in to build a small slightly raised deck and got some really cushy chairs, fire pit chat table, new grill. Dh added electrical and so I have an outlet high up for stringing the cafe lighted that is powered by a switch as well as a regular light. Also added an electrical outlet with USB slots because I have to charge my phone while out there. 😂 He also had the natural gas lines extended so the fire pit and grill use that rather than propane tanks. Dh also plans to add a small roof over it made from solar panels (that’s his job so he knows what he’s doing).
2. Turned a spare bedroom into my exercise room. It’s also a guest room with a bed so I wanted more of a bedroom, peaceful to me look. But I painted, wallpapered one wall. Yesterday home goods was finally open so I was able to go and find the perfect curtains and a Pretty basket to store my rolled yoga mat and bolster.
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Post by belgravia on Jul 1, 2020 18:05:18 GMT
Our bedroom got a new bed, mattress and linens. Also, we are in the process of completing a wall of walnut cabinetry in there. Our formal dining room is in the process of becoming a library/dining room with the addition of a wall of bookcases. Love it all, can’t wait until it’s finished...these things take time! We also got a tv for our covered deck so we can have movie nights out there, which has been awesome.
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Post by bc2ca on Jul 1, 2020 18:09:33 GMT
It's the patio for me, too. We finally put some time, energy and money into the backyard and now have an outdoor living room. We also set up a permanent puzzle space in the living room that has worked out better than I thought it would.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 24, 2024 1:57:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2020 18:10:29 GMT
I'm slowly overhauling the room that holds my desk and the kids toys. We created a second seating area. We've always only ever had one tv but the kids' ages have grown disparate enough that they don't want to watch the same things. It's been great to have a second area. Or the kids can watch a movie in there and DH and I can sit in the living room in quiet. It's been nice.
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Post by ~summer~ on Jul 1, 2020 18:18:36 GMT
We have completely redone the exterior of our home - how did you enable your patio lighting with Alexa?
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,871
Location: PNW
Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
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Post by breetheflea on Jul 1, 2020 18:31:23 GMT
Where to start...
Bought DH a desk, so he can work from home in comfort. It's in the corner of our dining room which meant the things in the dining room had to move which had a chain effect around the house.
Built an entertainment center (we had the wood for it already) just had to buy paint. It's now finished and the TV is on a different wall, which meant we could move another chair into the room so there's more seating.
I'm currently painting our downstairs hallway, wall up the stairs, and eventually the upstairs hallway. A project we started when we moved in 7 years ago... I'll probably paint the downstairs bathroom too... and I am considering repainting the dining room.
All the trim in the house needs to be sanded and painted, the previous owners painted over stained wood and the minute we moved in it started to peel plus it's a gross off-white color...
Worked on adding more insulation to our attic (about halfway done) until it got too hot in there. We'll finish in the fall...
And I took all my kitchen cabinet doors off. I painted them a few years ago and made a mistake with the polyurethane (don't use oil-based!) and it made the aqua color a horrible puke green. It's hideous and I have time to fix it...
So long story short, lots of sanding and painting going on around here.
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Post by needmysanity on Jul 1, 2020 18:35:31 GMT
We have done quite a bit of work in the back yard. I now have a little hammock space with flower barrels and a side table. It's my relaxing space at night. DH has been working a lot in the garage too.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jul 1, 2020 18:39:54 GMT
Yep. We ripped the carpet out of our extra bedroooms, put in hardwood floor, and painted.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jul 1, 2020 18:42:47 GMT
Our areas getting attention are not so much quarantine related as just due to moving into this home in January. It's our first spring and summer so lots to do.
A lot of our focus has been about the outdoors as well. I've bought new furniture for the screened porch, poolside, and the pool gazebo. Planted lots of flowers. Added landscape lighting. Created a new walk-in herb garden with stone flagstone pavers down the center to be able to access all the plants easily. We've tamed all the landscaping (lots of pruning and mulching). And still have a few projects to go...
Inside it's been mostly finishing touches. Replacing a few pieces of furniture to suit the new spaces better. Finding just the right art for a few walls. Arranging and re-arranging my pantries and storage areas to get it just right (I *love* to organize).
Our largest project is still looming. We want to re-do the master bathroom.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jul 1, 2020 19:05:43 GMT
I have an ongoing "work in progress", photo wall shelves. I started about a year-ish ago. I saw the idea here on this website and on pinterest. www.ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/picture-ledge-beginner-project-ten-dollars-full-length-shelfPhotos and cute signs. Plus candles, photos, signs, decor, etc...on the the top of a 1 x 5 cube unit laying horizontal below the photo wall. My scrapbooks are inside the cubes. It's been a work in progress, spreading out the costs weekly and bi-weekly. I only buy frames at 50% off, I only print photos at 50% off, so it's taken awhile. I have been purchasing the same exact picture frames in various sizes, using an M's 50% off coupon or when they had buy one, get one free.... for about the last year or so when I first saw the idea and thought "I am going to do that". www.michaels.com/format-frame-basic-by-studio-decor/10274962.html#q=4in+x4in+format&start=1I've also been purchasing digital e-file signs(sayings and quotes)from etsy, and printing them as a photo. My favorite little (photo size 4x4) sign that I printed is "because someone has to be the crazy Aunt". I also purchased a custom made digital file "it was them I had the best moments of my life with". I also had a couple metal signs made that say "History: and "Story of my life". It is turning out even better than I ever imagined and envisioned.
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tracylynn
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,860
Jun 26, 2014 22:49:09 GMT
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Post by tracylynn on Jul 1, 2020 19:15:55 GMT
I had the grass dug out from around the foundation of my house, yard fabric put down, a concrete border and filled it with river rock. Much better.
I'll probably have some fencing installed before the summer is over as well. And a step added to my deck.
Inside, I'm working on putting up my pictures/artwork. I added sheer curtains to my bedroom windows and added a "lounging" chair.
Little things here and there.
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Post by supersoda on Jul 1, 2020 19:18:54 GMT
We just moved in last year, so we were still in the process of decorating when everything hit the fan. The biggest change has probably been the pool/patio area. It's all hardscape and was pretty boring, but I am trying to turn my black thumb green and have filled it with container plants and string lights. I love to sit out there!
We were looking for bedroom furniture before all this and not having much luck. I finally broke down and ordered a headboard and nightstands online, and it is coming together well. I just don't know how to fill the rest of the space in the room. It's a big room and I don't need any more dressers or shelves to decorate.
The kids have also been working at making their spaces more homey. We moved right before they left for college, so they hadn't had a chance to really settle in.
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Post by Merge on Jul 1, 2020 19:45:14 GMT
We turned our formal dining room into a music room.All our guitars and basses, my mandolin, the piano, our music stands and microphones,etc.
It had all been shoved into my office, but we also turned my office into a small sitting room for the teens with a TV, and that area was really too small for all the music stuff we'd accumulated, plus I don't really have much use for an office. Younger DD does still keep her viola, stand and music in their smaller sitting room because she prefers to practice where she can shut a door. I put a table in the corner of the music room that I used for a desk when I was teaching from home and that worked well.
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Post by stargazer on Jul 1, 2020 20:02:12 GMT
Moved & improved our tiny patio ourselves (nearly killed ourselves doing it!). Lots of gardening & pruning done & several new plants purchased. Everything has been power-washed, the fences have been re-painted, a touch of spray painting to spruce up lanterns & the patio heater & solar string lights added too.
We’ve had some amazing weather (for the UK) so we’ve already made the most of it. Looks like we won’t be going away this year (no Alaskan cruise for us) so we’ll be out there as much as possible I guess.
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,685
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
Jul 22, 2017 4:59:41 GMT
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Post by luckyjune on Jul 1, 2020 20:06:47 GMT
I converted my DD's room to my office. I moved the treadmill in there and DH bought me an overstuffed chair for my birthday. I haven't really transitioned to being up there, as I'm used to being in the middle of everything downstairs, but I'll use it this fall, especially if I'm teaching from home again.
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Post by chitchatgirl on Jul 1, 2020 20:16:24 GMT
We have completely redone the exterior of our home - how did you enable your patio lighting with Alexa? I think you can get outdoor rated smart plugs that work with Alexa now. I feel like I saw them for sale on Amazon around Christmas.
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Post by scrappintoee on Jul 1, 2020 20:29:22 GMT
OP--- I loved everything about your post, and I was picturing everything in my mind, thinking I'd LOVE to see piks (even though I truly HATE summer, I would LOVE to be on your patio in all the OTHER seasons!) It was fun to read all the other posts, too---would love to see piks! My favorite little (photo size 4x4) sign that I printed is "because someone has to be the crazy Aunt". I also purchased a custom made digital file "it was them I had the best moments of my life with". I LOVE both of those ---I might copy your idea!
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,657
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Jul 1, 2020 20:43:50 GMT
Kinda? My mom helped me re-stain my front door and cedar posts. The front of my house gets direct afternoon and evening sun so this has to be done every couple of years, so it wasn't necessarily a quarantine project. I bought new chairs for my back porch, new patio lights, flowers, and a colorful poof. I've been enjoying it - until this week when the heat and humidity kicked in.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jul 1, 2020 20:53:34 GMT
OP--- I loved everything about your post, and I was picturing everything in my mind, thinking I'd LOVE to see piks (even though I truly HATE summer, I would LOVE to be on your patio in all the OTHER seasons!) It was fun to read all the other posts, too---would love to see piks! My favorite little (photo size 4x4) sign that I printed is "because someone has to be the crazy Aunt". I also purchased a custom made digital file "it was them I had the best moments of my life with". I LOVE both of those ---I might copy your idea! They are not my original ideas, I saw it etsy and pinterest, by many posters. I did choose the font and colors though. Enjoy yours!
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Jul 1, 2020 21:26:59 GMT
We are in the design process of remodeling our dining room to be an official office/study. It will also entail doing a remodel of one wall in the kitchen. It's needed to be done and since we aren't traveling this year, decided to put the vacation funds towards this project.
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
Jun 25, 2014 20:06:48 GMT
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Post by freebird on Jul 1, 2020 21:46:43 GMT
Remodeling my house has become my (literally) part time job since all this started.
Getting a new bathroom (that's been in the works for quite a while). New HVAC system. Painted all my upper kitchen cabinets Installed shiplap behind my kitchen desk/office area. Painted all the trim in the dining room. Having a fireplace surround built for my living room (working in the antique fireplace mantle I've had for years) Hung 2 sliding barn doors (one bedroom, one bathroom). Repainted the guest bathroom.
Current project: trimming windows. (sucks. I'm not great at it)
Next project: painting ceilings.
Also.... I'm about 75% through my second quilt top and about 50% through my second major painting.
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Post by ~summer~ on Jul 1, 2020 21:53:26 GMT
Kinda? My mom helped me re-stain my front door and cedar posts. The front of my house gets direct afternoon and evening sun so this has to be done every couple of years, so it wasn't necessarily a quarantine project. I bought new chairs for my back porch, new patio lights, flowers, and a colorful poof. I've been enjoying it - until this week when the heat and humidity kicked in. I absolutely love my outdoor poof - it is so comfortable to put my feet up on out on my deck
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Post by Princess Amy on Jul 1, 2020 22:03:06 GMT
We redid all our ceilings( got rid of the popcorn texture) painted all ceilings and rooms throughout the hose. We’re still working on all new woodwork and interior doors.
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Post by AussieMeg on Jul 1, 2020 23:59:12 GMT
Mine would be the backyard too. Around the time of the start of the pandemic, but way before we realised how bad it was going to be, we bought an outdoor lounge and a fire pit. We have been using it a LOT - Friday Night Sippers by the Fire has become a thing. We (and when I say "we" I mean DSO) have tidied up the garden, pulling out out several sick or overgrown shrubs and planting a new passionfruit vine. When I realised that I would be working from home for probably 7+ months I tidied up my office. Unfortunately I haven't been able to maintain that tidiness. I have a week off work next week, so I will have to put some time into tidying it again. Skellinton is going to come over and clean out my shed for me, she is, she is. I can't wait.
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