Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Reading Room Reno Continues...



Our reading room may look fine and dandy at this angle...



...but the ceiling is another story...



Not to mention, there is some trim work that needs finishing too...



(You can see what color the room used to be up there by the ceiling. Eek!)

So starting tomorrow, Kevin plans to rip down the drywall on the ceiling...



...and expose the original, tongue-and-groove wood ceiling underneath.



As well as remove this light fixture...



...and replace it with this one...



So after lunch today, I took all the bedding off the bed...



And all the pictures off the walls...





...and moved it into the guest bedroom.

Of course when I saw all the pillows piled up on the guest room bed, I couldn't help but play around with a few different looks, just for fun...







Sorry.
70's flashback.
I hoping you remember him....



Ahhh, the good ol' days.

:-)

Anywho...back to the reading room.
After Kevin finishes removing the drywall on the ceiling, painting the wood planks "barely blue", installing the new light fixture, building and installing the cutest little custom shutters on earth (no pressure honey), and putting up crown moulding- I'll get in there and finish painting my quote...



It's going to say,

“Draw on the walls, read every day, believe in magic, laugh a lot, have wild imaginings and transformative dreams and celebrate every gorgeous moment”.

And when that's all done, I look forward to re-staging the room a little too.
(That's the best part, isn't it?)

:-)

One new addition I'm excited about displaying in the room (if I can get it framed in time) is this awesome photograph by Tim Irving...



It's called "The Button Tin", and I adore everything about it!
If you haven't see Tim's work before, you must visit his Etsy shop.
You will love it!

The room has to be camera-ready by next the end of next week.
(That's enough time, right?)
I look forward to documenting our progress here on our blog throughout the next couple of weeks, so y'all come back and see us, ya hear?

:-)
Layla

74 comments:

  1. Looks like someone has alot of work ahead of them. I love your reading room, I'll be excited to see the changes! Lisa

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  2. I'm tired just reading all of that. I can't wait to see the end results though.

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  3. Sounds like a busy week, but I'm sure the end result will be fabulous! I love that quote, and I also remember those tootsie pop commercials!

    Kat :)

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  4. Looking good already. I can't believe they would cover up the ceiling like that. Just like they used to cover up wood floors, Crazy! Wood is so beautiful! Thankfully now everyone is ripping up the carpeting.
    Good luck on your project.
    Blessings,
    Molly

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  5. Can't wait to see it all done. {then I'm emailing THAT post to Mr. FgH, we have the ugliest ceilings ever!} Lidy

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  6. I'm lovin' the 2 toned striped walls...our bedroom is 3 different shades of green in 3 thick horizontal stripes...but I never thought about being a little more subtle for the living room! Thank you for the inspiration :)

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  7. This is my favorite room in your house. Makes me wish for a little narrow room to fill with a mattress. I'm sure it will be even better once you've redone it...but it is my favorite so be careful.

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  8. Good luck on the reno. I LOVE that Owl commercial. :)

    D

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  9. I love the walls! So cute...and can you tell me what that patterned bedding is? Its so adorable!!

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  10. Oh it's great. We have popcorn ceilings in part of our old farmhouse. Taking it down is "on the list". :) I'm looking forward to seeing that finished nook. Lisa~ www.livingmybestlifeii-lisa.blogspot.com

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  11. That will look beautiful!

    I do remember that tootsie roll pop commercial...ahh, the day of being a kid...

    Back to your room...The light fixture is going to look great!

    I am laughing because we too are in the middle of remodeling our home and I only show the good parts of the after and yet there is still so much that needs to be finished. lol

    Oh and the ceiling being "Barely blue" great minds think alike ;) I took a flat white for our ceilings and added some of my other blue paint to give it just that..."Barely Blue" I labled my ceiling paint that color. I didn't want to do a stark white and in order to make the ceiling appear taller I painted all my main ceilings that color(the wall color is filigree(light grey blue) in the entryway/parlor/dining room and my Whimsy French Blue(more blue than grey) I created is in the great room~living room/eat in kitchen/ kitchen). Love it! Can't wait to see how yours turns out!

    Have a great week!

    Hugs,
    Victoria

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  12. I remember that owl! I like A-three. :)

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  13. I can't WAIT to see. I so love your little reading room. I want one of my own!

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  14. It's going to be gorgeous! We had those textured ceilings in our living/dining room, but NO tongue and groove underneath, so we had a painter scrape them smooth and paint them. Your wooden ceilings will have so much character--and I LOVE your new light fixture too. Can't wait to see the finished product!

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  15. You are doing a great job in the reading room. I'm sure you will be spending alot of time in there. Can't wait to see the ceiling after Kevin takes down the drywall.
    I have to say I'm favorite picture of the pillows is the one with the little blue and brown pillow in front.
    Love your blog, very inspiring...Have a blessed day!!

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  16. 1) I did a science fair project on how many licks it took... :)

    2) I'm excited to see the coolness become even cooler.

    3) You like a little pressure, don't you? It keeps me very motivated myself.

    4) Have a super day!

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  17. I like the new light fixture! I've always liked how cozy this space is -- like a huge window seat. I love it as a reading area.

    (And that 70s commercial is one of my favs!)

    Kelly

    p.s. That quote is great! I've never heard it. Wouldn't it be great on a kid's chalkboard wall or paint space, too?

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  18. You have such a fabulous vision for this room! I know you are so excited. It will be so beautiful when you are finished (and I can't wait to see it!).

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  19. I can't wait to see the finished project. I know it's going to be fabulous!

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  20. Hi Layla,
    I love that light fixture! Can you tell where you got it? Good luck with the ceiling!
    Court

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  21. Layla, your design has been exposed. Is that a pallat on the bottom? Very ingenious idea. I would of never thought that was what was holding up the matress and boxspring.
    I think the tongue and groove will add a lot of texture to the room. Love the print you plan on hanging up....and wow, Kevin has a big honey-do list. LOL, no pressure Kevin. : )
    Looking forward to rhe reveal next week.

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  22. That was my favorite commercial of the 70's! Wasn't that just the greatest time! :)
    I hope you can get all that work done by the weekend. Why does it have to be camera ready.....who's coming to photograph it......another magazine shoot? :)
    Love your saying, hope it all fits! lol
    have a great day and enjoy every moment, they are so fleeting. :)

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  23. LOVE that you threw in the Tootsie Pop Owl. Takes me back!

    Your reading room is already fab, but I'm looking forward to seeing your end result.

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  24. I'M SO EXCITED!! Thank you for posting all of those pics! I've been so in love with that original photo you posted that I've used it for my bedroom makeover inspiration and now I'm redoing my half bath and still can't tear myself away from it. So having all of those photos to deepen my inspiration is just awesome! Keep up the good work, I can't wait to see the finished result!

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  25. Can't wait to see it! The hubs and I just made the treck to IKEA to get those lights for our kitchen. After I saw them on your blog, I had to have them, especially at that price. We are going to hang them from some iron pipe spray painted black to anchor the lights from the ceiling. should be a fun project. Loved the tootsie pop owl.

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  26. I feel your pain with the ceiling. I have an entire house of ceilings that look like that :( Can't wait to see the finished result!
    By the way, I'd love to see a post sometime about your ideas to makeover horrible popcorn ceilings.

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  27. I can't believe you're hand painting that quote!! Amazing - do you have a tutorial on that?!

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  28. Uh oh...it's spreading. You know, that tongue in groove is infectious... soon it will travel to the living room! Ahem, perhaps I should stop by for a visit. I heard it's contagious, maybe I can bring it to MY house!

    Deborah

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  29. I am trying to imagine the previous owners of your house putting drywall over that tongue and groove ceiling, having it textured, putting that little light up, standing back, looking at it and thinking how much better it looked. HA! What were they thinking!??!? Sorry you have to deal with the mess, but it will look great when you are done.

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  30. YOU AND KEVIN ARE MY IDOLS.
    IT'S SO MUCH FUN TO DO, AND REDO, AND DO IT AGAIN TILL YOU LOVE IT ALL. I LOVE THE IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION TOO.
    YOU HAVE GOT ME HATING EVEN MORE MY LOVING MOVIE THEATER CEILINGS, FILLED WITH "POP-CORN".HEHE
    WILL RELISH EACH DAYS PROGRESS. GERI.

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  31. Layla, that room is so pretty and peaceful...it will look so much better with the new/old ceiling. The new light fixture is WONDERFUL too.
    have a lovely day filled with creative excitement (i'm telling myself this as well).

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  32. We have the same ceiling in a spare bedroom and I DO NOT LIKE IT! So I understand... The room is so pretty! Jennifer

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  33. Cant wait to see the results!

    buh-bye popcorn ceiling!! talk about 70's flashback!

    (ps: Did I miss the bathroom reveal post? will have to go look!)

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  34. Can't wait to see it :)

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  35. I'm so in love with your reading room!! Can't wait to see the exposed ceilings and the end result! You guys are so brave to keep subjecting yourselves to drywall dust. : )

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  36. Ohhhh,how exciting! I can hardly wait to see the ceiling transformation and the new improved reading room all back together :o)
    ~Des

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  37. Can't wait to see the changes!! (also I am so happy to see your pillow pics, been looking for some inspiration and as always...here you are!!) :))

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  38. Can't wait to see. So, is that a pallet under mattresses or did Kevin build that frame? How about a tutorial on that? It would be perfect for a bed in my loft. Thanks.

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  39. Love this little darling room. I can not wait to see how you perfect it even more. Hope all is well in your corner of the world. :)


    Cheers~
    e

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  40. I envy your mad skills! Looking forward to seeing it during and after reno.

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  41. Layla, I've been reading your blog for a few months now, and I love it. The way you threw the Tootsie Roll Pop owl in there was, pardon the pun, a hoot! So that got me starting to leave you a comment (my first), but while I'm at it, I just want to tell you that I admire you; you are so full of life and inspirational in the way you go after your dreams. Thanks for doing what you do. -- L in Michigan

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  42. You have OVER a week!!
    PLEASE---in that time you and Kevin could have THREE rooms finished!!
    annie

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  43. Wait--what happened to the bathroom?! Weren't you still working on that? Or did I miss a reveal somewhere?

    I've always loved how cozy your reading room is. We have a room int he front of our house that would be a perfect reading room. But I gave it to DH as "his" room, and now it looks like a military surplus store threw up in there. ;) One of the hazards of marrying a Marine I suppose!

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  44. Love the quote, and that button photograph is too cute!

    haha aww I miss that owl :)

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  45. Love that new light fixture- beautiful! And the button photograph is awesome. I'll have to check out Tim Irving's stuff. Excited to see the reno!

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  46. Okay. I know that the point of this post was reading room prep, but I got lost at the pillow part. Seriously. I have a problem. ;)
    Good luck, guys. I can't wait to see the finished product.

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  47. You guys are amazing. "Oh yeah, we're just going to rip out the ceiling, install a light fixture...oh, and build fab new shutters while we're at it." Ha - amazing, I tell ya :).

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  48. How fun!

    I may have to borrow that bed frame idea!! :)

    Liz
    Loving This Mom Stuff

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  49. If anyone can get it done by next week - it's you two. Good luck! I love the light fixture and can't wait to see the new ceiling and everything all put back together.

    Roeshel

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  50. Fun fun! Sounds like you have your work cut out for you! And how is the bathroom coming? I'm anxious to see the reveal!

    -Gail @ the nurtured nest

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  51. Thanks for your comment on my blog. I posted pictures of my "problem area" for you to peek at. I loved the reading room before the re-do so I can't wait to see the magic of the after pics.

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  52. Very exciting! I can't wait to see the new ceiling.

    Where did you get your new light fixture? I've been looking for something like that.

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  53. Hi there - I have given you an award over at my place, hope you don't mind! You are such an inspiration and I wanted to share you with my fellow English readers..

    ELS

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  54. All so pretty! I love that little room. We will come back now, ya hear?

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  55. I ADORE your blog! It's so inspiring and energizing! Wow.

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  56. Oh I will be back, ya hear:)

    I LOVE watching the progress on your house & getting inspired to do things to our house! Oh, how I wish I had original wood under our ceiling...

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  57. I love the stripes on the walls!! I've been trying to come up with something to do in our living room... and I really, really like this - would you mind sharing your colors?

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  58. Layla,
    This little room is adorable! Lovin' the rippin' out the ceiling idea...so cookie cutter with that popcorn stuff going on along with standard contractor light fixture. BTW...wherever did you find the new fixture???? I'm lovin' it and can't wait to see the reveal. I too am amazed at the work ethic you two have when it comes to renovating. Can you tell I'm jealous? lol
    ~judi ;)
    the1829farmhouse.blogspot.com

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  59. I LOVE everything about your reading room. That quote along the top is such a great idea!

    Looking forward to the reveal!

    Have a lovely day!!

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  60. wow. I love the way that reading room is looking

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  61. Love your reading room- with the stripes- FABULOUS!!!

    FYI- I'm having a really neat giveaway on my blog-Please check it out-thxs

    http://kellyannstudio.blogspot.com/

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  62. Good luck Kevin! I can't wait to see how it turns out. I'm sure it will be fabulous! I absolutely love your reading room Layla!

    Lindsey

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  63. Best of luck with your project. I bet it's going to look great! I have a swirly 60's ceilings from the 60's(dur!) and we love them, do I dare say that!? They are crisp white and clean (my disclaimer) Can't wait to see the re-do!;) May the force be with you...

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  64. Tongue-and-groove? You are soooo lucky! I can't wait to see the new look.

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  65. you are too cute! what a great quote! i'm writing that one down! can't wait to see how the room turns out!

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  66. I saw a tiny glimpse of a rustic wood shelf in the pictures of the reading room...I've been wanting something just like that! Did you make it, or can you tell me where you got it? If you made it, where did you get the wood? Thank you!!

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  67. You'll be busy, but that is gonna look INCREDIBLE! What a fun little space, I'd love to relax in there with a great read and take a little nap maybe too! Love the tootsie pop reference, that's awesome!
    Blessings,
    Stacey

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  68. You just gave me an idea. Hmmm....wheels are turning.

    Can't wait to see how you do on your projects! Don't you ever sleep?

    Um, and you cannot be old enough to remember ANYTHING in the 70's.

    :-) Ok, back to thinking about the idea you inadvertently just gave me.

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  69. It never ceases to amaze me how you take something that already looks fabulous and make it even more so! PS Now you have me re-thinking my pillows! : )

    Melissa

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  70. I love reading your posts on the renovations. One day I hope to work on our house. We have 3 children 2 and under! Love the light fixture. Where can I find it?
    Thanks for the inspirations!

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  71. I know this is weird, but I am SO excited to see your revamped ceiling. I'm incredibly jealous that you have wood planks waiting to be rediscovered. PS - how did you know that's what's up there?

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