Hi everyone! Hop on board my renovation ride and let me take you around to some of the projects that have been keeping me busy. I’m pretty excited to show you what we’ve done so far. These are not “afters” – they’re more like the midway point.
First, my husband is concerned that the house is too yellow. We love yellow walls and have had them in every house we’ve owned. But to appease the yellow haters that will be contemplating buying this house (nobody on HGTV seems to like yellow walls) – I added a chair rail in the dining room. I love how it looks and it’s something I had always planned on doing anyway 🙂
I’m going to paint the bottom half of the wall white and keep the yellow on top (my husband wants me to paint ALL the walls in the house white – not going to happen). Or maybe I should keep the yellow on the bottom and do white on the top? What do you think? Of course I’ll show you when it’s all done as I also have some new lithographed trays to hang!
Since I had to empty my petite china cabinet to move it so we could put up the molding – I had to fiddle with it when I put it back (of course)! Here are a few pictures:
A few white pitchers and two old silver coffee pots.
Let’s move on to the bathroom reno. We removed the old tile baseboard and installed beadboard paneling with a nice wide molding on the bottom and chair rail on the top.
I’m just priming it now. We also installed a new vanity & taps. Took out the old medicine cabinet – I’m just going to hang a mirror (which I haven’t picked out yet). We also need to pick out a new light fixture and of course accessories.
The walls above the beadboard are in bad shape mainly because whoever originally put wallpaper in here didn’t prime the walls. So I’m going to use a Venetian Plaster on the top. It leaves a fairly smooth surface but covers imperfections (used it in another bathroom that’s how I know). So the beadboard will be a semi-gloss white and the wall above will be a light taupe in Venetian Plaster. Trying to keep it light in there as there’s no natural light.
Last stop on the reno ride. The darn family room paneling is back up!!! Everybody say it with me…woo-hoo!! The concrete walls were sealed with Dry Lock (by me…with a brush I might add – that whole long wall…did I mention I used a brush) and the paneling and baseboard are up. We just have to re-attach the molding on the top. I then have to prime the new panels and paint them. Also touch up the paint on the other panels where needed and then hopefully this pain in my neck saga will be over!
We’ve made good progress on the inside projects. We also have quite a few outside projects we’re going to tackle now that it’s cooler.
All the deck stuff is in the porch because I pressure washed the deck, steps and concrete patio today. This weekend we’re starting the staining of the deck and patio. Nothing fancy – just one color for it all. I’m too tired to try to do anything else!
My goal is to have the majority of things finished by Thanksgiving so we can enjoy the holidays and then finish up after New Year’s. We would like to list the house in March (basically spring here in Georgia) and hopefully be in a new home by the summer! Wouldn’t that be great!
Well, that’s my update! I’ve missed not being able to devote more time to my blog and also to visiting your blogs. I have thought about just shutting this one down but every week I get at least one email from some nice person that tells me how much they like and enjoy this blog and that keeps me going! Thank you to all of you that are still sticking around even though I post so infrequently!
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Everything looks lovely. I love doing reno work…well, the decorating part anyway…not so much the work part.
I think you should keep the bottom part of your walls yellow and do the top white…but not to white.
Oh my gosh, Manuela, you have been busy! I'm tired just reading about it LOL! But I know all your projects will look wonderful and help you get the house sold!
It looks beautiful now at mid-point. Can't wait to see the finished project. ~Alana~
hi – i love your blog! hope you keep doing it. i need to be doing a lot more of the things youre doing, so you inspire me. i think the yellow walls are great! i never understand people who dont want yellow in the house. to me it is just like letting the sunshine in.
I vote for yellow on the bottom and white on top. The house I lived in before I got married had bright yellow walls in the kitchen, which I miss so very much! One day, I will have a yellow kitchen again!
Bless you…what a lot of work you are in for! It takes so much to get a house ready for the market doesn't it? I hope all your hard work pays off! 😀
I think if you are worried about yellow haters then I would go with white on top and yellow on the bottom.
Don't close your blog…we would like to keep up with you, even if you don't post very often!
Manuela don't go. I love your blog! I won't shut mine down if you don't. I've thought the very same thing lately. I feel like I'm boring everyone but have come to the conclusion that I only post a few times a week anyway. Oh well. Plus it's great to connect with friends this way and get decorating inspiration in the process.
Your home is looking fabulous! You really are working hard. We may be joining you on a move and house hunt by next fall. I only wish I had a crystal ball to know if and when we are moving. No such luck with a military hubby though.
Happy week. ~Melissa 🙂
I've missed you so much, Manuela! But I'm glad to see this update.
I'd vote for painting white BELOW the chair rail in the dining room. As for doing white walls throughout, I'd say NO WAY! Did you happen to see a post I wrote about my last house? I didn't tone down the colors at all, and the house sold on the day it was listed. 🙂 Let me know if you'd like to see the post–I'll send you a link.
Love you, girl! Take care of yourself!
Oh, Manuela! Don't shut down your blog unless you absolutely dislike blogging now. The ones who matter will still be here and besides, who cares. A lot of times bloggers blog for themselves, not for others.
About your dining room, well, I do it for a living so you'd think I'd say paint it all beige, but I'll tell you right now that I am leaving most of the "colors" in my house as is. I have quite a bit of yellow, too, and I'm not painting it. This is not horrendous yellow and neither is yours. You could wait after its listed a week-10 days and make sure the realtor gives you the feedback. If yellow comes up, maybe paint it then.
I'm going back on the market in January, which is probably not the best time, but I'm ready to move on. I can work a part-time day job once we down-size but for now the expenses in this house keep me working full-time. So, we'll see what happens. Really ~ I think it's all about price anyway {at least here on Long Island}. Sorry for the novel! : )
Im going for white on top with yellow on bottom…NO! to all white…yeek!Much too sterile if you do that!Shall look forward to what you decide in the end.Its all still looking grand though..:)
People don't like yellow? What people? Where? I think that anyone walking into your home would fall in love with yellow, but that's just coming from a yellow-lover. I have no idea which part of the wall should be yellow so I will leave that with you. Wait. Which color looks heavier? That one should be on the bottom??? I don't know. What's easier? Leave it yellow on top so you don't have to take down all your pictures. Whatever! You've been a very busy gal with a brush and everything. Take care and we'll catch you when you come up for air.
You are doing great Manuela! Just for the record, we sold our last house, with almost all of the walls yellow and we got our asking price. Not one perspective buyer said they did not like the color…
Please keep your blog. Even if you only post once a month….
Hugs,
Penny
Please don't shut down your blog. I show it to friends when they visit me. What on earth would I do without Manuela's colorful home to show?
Brenda
Yellow on the bottom & White on top. Looks and sounds like you have got a lot done.
Don't shut your blog down – just post when you have time. Those that follow will get an update on reader when you have a chance to post.
Have a great weekend.
Love what you are doing to the house. The yellow walls are wonderful.
Please don't stop blogging. I love stopping by and visiting. Anywho, that's a lot of painting to be done. Good luck with it and your new home.
Manuela you are such an amazingly energetic lady! You have gotten so much done! please don't close the blog. Just post when you can, you are on my reader and I am always excited to see that you posted. Life happens, it isn't about how often we post:>) Keep hangin in there!
I'm very glad that you haven't shut it down. I do look forward to your posts. This is interesting and yet MORE chance to share your creative work.
And I like what you've done so far. All of your changes are sure to "stage" the house well for sale.
Post when you can and don't worry about visiting while your busy.
Oh… almost forgot: Wooohooooo with you in the family room!
Oh, my friend, you have done a lot of hard work! It's looking great and I know you won't regret all the 'blood, sweat and tears' you put into it. Please keep you blog – we will wait for you!
~Adrienne~
Girlfriend, you have been busy busy busy!! Don't even think about shutting down your blog!!!!
I like yellow but I think I would keep some of the yellow and paint some white! I love the reno so far and can't wait to see the rest:)
You just post when you can and I'll be happy to see you when you do!
Hugs!
I have painted dry-lock on cinder block walls. Ugghhh…your arms and hands hurt after a while from trying to get it into every little pore of the block. Kudos to you for not just covering up an issue but fixing it right!
As for your painting project…my two cents…keep the lightest color on the top.
You will be so glad when you are settled into your new home. It will make all of this worthwhile.
Becky K.
Dear Manuela, Woo Hoo! for the family room! Oh, it looks fantastic, love the chair rail. Looks spectacular as is, but if you are going to do some white, I vote for white on top (so i'ts not 'top heavy' color wise) but really, I love it just the way it is. People will love your house, I mean wait till they see it! I will have to come back to tell you how much you have inspired me, that's a comment in itself, but you have! Hugs, Joyce
And also, I would read your blog even if you posted once a month! Hugs, Joyce
I love yellow walls too. Personally think yellow below chair rail and white with a hint of grey on top. It's a fresh combination! Please keep yr blog going. it's inspiring to read about renos before home sale and the process of moving into a new nest. GOOD LUCK!
I love yellow walls too. Personally think yellow below chair rail and white with a hint of grey on top. It's a fresh combination! Please keep yr blog going. it's inspiring to read about renos before home sale and the process of moving into a new nest. GOOD LUCK!
You've done so much work! It's inspiring to see all of it. That chair rail looks great 🙂
Blessings,
Marcia
I am for the below chair rail white. But here is my 2 cents anyways. I am really sick of seeing neutral colors and even white walls on Hgtv when they are selling there house. Yellow is so bright and happy. If it is a pale yellow i would keep it. And if it is a color that matches the era of your house ( if that makes sense) > if it was a brand new house or 5 years old i would maybe paint neutrals but if it is a cottage style or a bungaloo i think u could keep it yellow. But i know my husband is not a fan of yellow either. But it happens to be my favorite color. lol. And sometimes in small houses with small rooms it can open them up. Your house has character! And this is coming from a women who is sick to death of painting but somehow keeps doing it. mishelle
Yellow is my favorite go-with-anything neutral. I'm glad to see I have lots of yellow-loving company 'cause I thought I was all alone, lol!
I enjoy seeing what you're up to as you prepare to sell. I'd buy it "as is" myself–it's so wonderful inside and out!
Hi Manuela, you certainly are keeping busy. But all the work will certainly be worth it. I just love your yellow and can't imagine anyone walking into your home and not being amazed with every detail. You are a girl after my own heart — not many empty spaces to be found. It's such a shame you had to dismantle the garden but a girl's gotta do what a … well you know how it goes. Love your pumpkin book — although I'm with your daughter, I thought it was a pear at first, too. Either way, it's fabulous! Have a great weekend. 🙂 Tammy
Manuela, our house is up for sale, too, so I know the delimma of paint colors. Our living room is a rich mustard yellow (gold?) #198 by Ben Moore, and it will stay. I prefer the white below the chair rail. To me it draws the eye up, not down, for color. Just my 2 cents. Linda
Everything looks wonderful Manuela!
And who cares what HGTV thinks, so much of their stuff is ugly anyway!
Yellow is warm and soft and fairly neutral too.
Please keep your blog. It's ok to scale back and we love to visit your posts when they do come up.
Cindy
Our house we live in town has a lot of color because the people who owned it before us said they "love color".
We walked in the door for the first time and LOVED the deep greens, yellow, lavender, etc. (not in the same room).
I'm praying there will be just the right family that walks in your house and feels right at home with your lovely colors, so much so that they immediately buy it. 😉
That should be "live in now". I should not type before my second cup of coffee.
What a busy girl you are! Everything looks great!
I LOVE yellow walls too. I think that going with the chair railing and painting half white is a good compromise when you are selling. 🙂
I bet you are VERY tired. I'd be dead. Just thinking about all of that work is wearing me out. But of course, I hate painting so… 🙂
Take care and if you shut this blog down I'm coming after you! 😛
(my scary Halloween threat!)
((Hugs))
Laura
Wow! You have been busy! I am a yellow girl myself, but I'm feeling a little shaky after reading about the "yellow of the
90's"! What does that mean? Is sunshine ever out? Is a sunflower ever out? Whatever. I love it.
My only comment is that be careful how much you put back up. I have a friend who just sold her house in 5 days!!!! Yes, the house is wonderful, but after she cleared out what she thought was enough, her realtor friend told her to take 60% more out! You want to support the look of space and openess and opportunity to fill it themselves…. just a thought!
Good luck!
Everything looks great Manuela! Don't you dare shut this blog down!
Take care,
Mary Ellen
Good for you for being so on top of everything! I would put it off saying – oh, the paint will look better if we do it right before – and then run around like a mad woman trying to get it all done. Good luck with everything!
You've been so busy, Manuela! I like all the changes. I vote for white on the bottom – yellow on top!
xo
Claudia
Okay, you asked..
I agree that yellow is a fabulous colour, so cheerful and light, but too much of a good thing is..too much..
Perhaps your idea of painting yellow to the chair rail and white on top is a good thing, because nothing will set off the colours in those trays and pics like white..and yellow tends to fight it more..just a thought- as usual, your arrangements are breathtaking..
Don't think I would go through all that if I was selling and moving- I'd probably fall in love again and want to stay!
Oh Manuela, I hope y'all don't erase the personality from your house. I totally understand when Realtors say keep it generic…like nobody lives here:) Your home is beautiful and anybody would walk right in and love it! The bathroom renovation–okay with that:)
Hi Manuela-
Thanks for the updates on all your projects! I can't believe how much you have done already=)
If I were you, I would read thru all your comments carefully because there seemed to be a lot of good advice from professionals that cared enough to write. I thought they were all right on target. I wouldn't depersonalize your home too much either, but be careful with the amount you put back out. Most people get overwhelmed with detailed displays… think department store windows. You have such a wonderful eye for color, texture, and arranging items, but most people don't have that gift, so for them it can be hard to imagine themselves in your home living. Just a thought! I'm sure you will do exactly the right things for best displaying all the advantages of your home=)
It all looks wonderful so far, so I for one hope that you will continue to blog when time allows for it!
Love you!
Sherry
Gosh Manuela, I am tired reading your post. You are a ball of energy. You go girl. It will all look amazing, you only do amazing xoxox Clarice
Manuela, if you ever shut your blog down I would just cry! I can't even count how many times I pop in here for inspiration, and I enjoy reading through your old posts as much as the new ones! Hang in there, we're happy to see you whenever you have time!
xo Andrea
Everything looks so pretty! I know how you have to keep working on your house – even though mine isn't on the market it's a never-ending project. Thanks for sharing! Your blog is so full of inspiring ideas.
Oh Manuela I love coming here, I'm hoping that you stay with us, but understand the daily day to day can sometimes get in the way:)
Love all your projects, I'm trying to get DH to let me put up beadboard in our bath, but it's a battle.
And if you want my opinion, I'd do the white on top in the DR.
Enjoy your weekend!
Leann
I have yellow in my kitchen, and a different shade of yellow in both my FR and hall. So, if you MUST, lol, paint…then cream (will let the trim still pop) on top and yellow on the bottom. Yellow actually reflects light better than white.
The bathroom wall (removing the cabinet) has given me thought for my powder room as well!
From one GA girl to another, spring will be upon us before we know it! 🙂
Don't go! I haven't been around much but October is a bad month for educators. I am back and promise to visit more reguarly. I like the ide of white on top. It is what your husband will notice so he will like it too.
Your reno's look like they are coming right along. Good work! I look forward to seeing how you finish everything off in the "after" pictures.
Carry on!
Jody
You are a whirlwind! Where do you find the time and energy?? So pretty what you are getting done! And, it still has your fingerprints all over it! Very pretty!
My gosh you have been busy -I know that certainly can not be easy -i bet your fall into bed at night! I really hope you don't shut the blog down you have too many great ideas on here that I often refer to when I need an idea to decorate.
Oh no…please don't close this blog. Even if you only blog occasionaly I still would love to hear what you are doing, but I still love to look back at all your before/after photos, it gives me lots of inspiration. I love how your house looks and am slowly making changes like you have shown.
Manuela….I love yellow too…but understand trying to market your home to them masses…still don't loose the charm…I Love your home and someone else will too….Please, Please, please don't close your blog …fewere posts from you is better than none at all!!!! Please!!!
Andrea @ Big Creek Cottage
[email protected]
Please keep your blog up! Even if you can only post once a month, it's better than nothing. I'm also looking forward to you posting from your new home, so we can see all your decor in progress there too.
I love your blog so I hope that you don't shut down. Some of you is better than none.
The projects look great.
🙂 Michelle
Good work. Please tell your husband that white walls don't sell ( at least not in the northeast), too cold looking. I know you are in Atlanta, but maybe check with a Realtor about what sells in your area. A paler yellow, taupe, gray…any light neutral sells fine here. Just my retired Realtor two cents!
I think the yellow on the dinning room walls should be on the bottom as it is the 'heavier' color than the white. Make and sense? Oh
Manuela we all do love your blog. You are so real and sooo talented too! If you have to stop blogging for a while just tell us and we will check back off and on till you have time to blog again. If lack of time right now is the reason you tought you might shut down. Whew! You sure have been busy! It must be hard to take some of your own decorating taste out of the house yet keep it so pretty and interesting. then where do you put the things you will be moving that you won't be using to show the house? Decisions , decisions! Thanks for sharing all this time. Sarah
What a LOT of work Manuela!! Be encouraged…all your hard labour will pay off!! You have a good eye for making things lovely. I like what you've been doing in that bathroom…the new cabinet is lovely. 🙂
Blessings,
Camille
I really don't envy you! I hate to do this kind of renovations and moving stuff around! I must say you're doing this with grace and great attitude.
A lot of work and it is being done so beautifully. I have been blogging less and getting a little more work done around here myself but I love to stop in all my favs and see what your all up to.
Hmm, well, I like yellow tooooo! It just plain makes me happy. So maybe someone will like it enough to buy it just the way you have it!! We have just put our house up for sale , but in our area there is nothing moving! This economic downturn is continuing to hit our area in SC very hard. House are for sale everywhere, and business are continually closing.
Looks like you've been a busy little bee! I say keep the wall colors. The last 2 houses we've sold on the very first day the sign went up. Each time the buyers said they loved our house because it wasn't bland like all the others they'd looked at. Your house is adorable and will sell fast too. Mimi
Noooooo…please don't say the words "shut it down". 🙂
I have you on Google Reader so it shows me when you have a new post and that works great for me!
I am constantly amazed by the projects you get done in the amount of time you do them. You go girl!
Hi Manuela,
Somehow I missed this post, not sure why. Anyway, it looks like you have been terribly busy, hopefully your house will sell quickly and you will know it was all worth it. It does look really nice, though. I like all of your yellow walls, but I really like the yellow and white together. I have white beadboard on bottom and the yellow on top. It does look really nice.
Love Cindy