I originally published this post on April 28, 2019. And now I’ve made some updates on April 1, 2020.
Here are some improvements that we’ve made in our salon and staircase, compared to what it looked like when we first viewed our house two years ago, and moved in a year and a half ago. We still have work to do, but it’s better!
Below:
Before – this is what it looked like when we viewed the house.
Arrow #1 – see that partition? It was held up by only furniture. When we moved into the house, the owner and his kids (who are our age) removed the furniture, but stuffed the partition in a hallway. So we had to break it up and get rid of it.
Arrow #2 – the chimney area was in awful fuchsia wallpaper, as were other parts of the room.
Arrow #3 – there was a wood stove here, which we knew we didn’t want to use. It’s a romantic idea to have a wood fire, but a lot of work hauling wood around, getting chimneys cleaned and certified, etc., and the stove took up valuable room.
Below, what it looked like in April, 2019
- Our new carpet and dining room table! Jeff found the table and chairs three months ago, to celebrate our six months of living here. The table seats six the way it is, and with its leaves, it will seat 12!
- Jeff has painted all the walls in a lovely tan, and the baseboards in white.
There’s still work to do – we want to paint those fuchsia doors white. It needs curtains, and we’ll replace the red couch with our leather couch. But it’s come a long way!
See that armoire at the upper left of the photo? The previous owner left it behind – it was stuffed into a tiny hallway. Jeff knew right away that it needed more space, so now it lives in our salon.
Below: And now what it looked like in March, 2020
(but this photo was taken before we “closed” the stairs in March, 2020)
Below: What it looked like when we moved in.
Below: What it looked like in April, 2019
Someday to the left of this salon will be a new kitchen! (It will be in a space that doesn’t show in the photo.) We’re hoping for June. We can’t wait!
Below: What it looks like in April 2020
Below: And now there IS a kitchen in the room to the left!
Below:
We love the “new” ceiling lights that we installed in our salon in October, 2019, before the winter nights became long. Prior to that, there weren’t any ceiling lights in the salon, and we used only table lamps, so our first winter here was very dark. We love the way these lights light up the ceiling – we’ve installed five of these lights throughout the house.
Below: This is what our staircase looked like when we moved in.
Gaudy animal wallpaper. What were they thinking?
Below: Staircase in April, 2019
Wallpaper is gone, and our staircase looks so much nicer! Yes – it really is the exact same staircase!
Below: Another view of the OMG what were they thinking wallpaper:
Below: What it looked like in March 2020.
Below: What it looks like in April 2020.
Below: When we moved in
The staircase at our ground floor had lemon yellow stripes.
Below: April 2019
Now, our staircase is all the same color.
Below: When we moved in
The staircase to our third floor.
Below: April 2019
There’s still a little painting to do, including painting the doors white, but it’s definitely better!
Related
April 22, 2019
January 17, 2019
January 18, 2019
Dear Vibeke,
It’s absolutely magnificent! Lots of work but how very rewarding! Love seeing and reading your stories!
Love,
Karen
Thank you so much, Karen!
What a difference a year makes! Oh, yes—and bunch of €!
On your way to beautiful!!
Thank you so much, Bonnie!
Wow, wow, and wow! Your home really is becoming an expression of both of you! <3
Thank you so much, Nancy! We can’t wait until you come visit – whenever that is! Lots of love, Vibeke and Jeff
Heureuse de pouvoir regarder ton blog Vibeke toute mon amitié