Saturday, October 8, 2011
Friday, November 19, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
A partner in design
Small spaces have always been my specialty and now with the recent designing partnership of my husband, Greyson Taylor, whose thoughtful planning combined with my blatant disregard for rules has proven to be an inspiring combination of talents. Here we demonstrate the transformation of a small 2 bedroom, one bathroom house, approx square footage 720.
Before: The outside of the house. Photo taken 2010
After: It was suggested by a friend that I put a railing on the deck and it was obvious some attention to the windows needed to be paid. I used the left over railing materials to construct a planting boarder (painted to match the deck railing) around the sunflower under the front window.
I also added two railroad ties in front of the propane tank to indicate where to park, since it was pointed out to me that how it looked before, "you could park anywhere"?
Before: The outside of the house. Photo taken 2010
After: It was suggested by a friend that I put a railing on the deck and it was obvious some attention to the windows needed to be paid. I used the left over railing materials to construct a planting boarder (painted to match the deck railing) around the sunflower under the front window.
I also added two railroad ties in front of the propane tank to indicate where to park, since it was pointed out to me that how it looked before, "you could park anywhere"?
How I turned a horrible little 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom into a cute and cozy, updated retreat.
When I say "horrible" I mean horrible. I was looking for a new residence when I found this little 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom fixer-upper. Well, actually it was more like a burner-downer, but at the time I was naive to the "trailer home" market, so it didn't look too bad at first glance. I now know to take a second, third and fourth glance before buying such an endeavor, but hind sight is always 20/20.
Here is the trailer, as it was when I bought it, in a trailer park in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Before: The living room. (The front door is immediately to the camera's left) Now it hasn't been determined if the previous owners were in fact color blind, but yikes! The living room features dark wood paneling and a bright pepto bismal wall!
After: A warm color on the walls, featuring the entertainment center I designed and built myself...going with the whole "less is more" philosophy. I also replaced the two windows on the left with new insulated glass windows and got rid of the second window on the right.
Before: The kitchen (You can now see the front door on the right) and another hideous color choice. The room feels cramped and is very outdated. And look! Another lovely bright pink wall. Yeck! The dark wood cupboards over the island were only 20 inches off the counter, leaving hardly any usable room and blocking the view from the kitchen to the living room.
After: The same view as above, after remodeling. I replaced the two small windows with one large custom picture window. The warm wall color and updated vinyl counter tops give the house a fresh and inviting look. I refinished all the front of the wooden cupboards with a dark cherry stain and replaced the hardware with updated nickle handles.
The house is now located on 40 acres of pasture grass with a beautiful view of Bear Butte, SD in the distance! That picture window was the best decision I ever made with this house.
Before: Yes, that is an avocado sink with mint green walls. The small storm window above the sink leaked in the winter and was drafty in the summer.
After:
After: New window, new stainless steel sink, fresh paint and stained cupboards...what a difference!
_____________________
The Bathroom
Before: Peach sink and toilet, shiny white walls, lack of any color or coordination were what this room told me.
After: A soft cream wall color, sheer curtain instead of blinds, new sink, new toilet, new counter tops, new floor...
Before: I would have loved to put in a pedestal sink, but that would have taken away much needed storage space.
After: New white sink with a new faucet, new stone tile counter tops, a dark chocolate paint on the cupboards with new hardware...
_____________________________
The Master Bedroom
Before: This room felt small even without furniture. The dirty walls were a light wood paneling and those are the dark wood closet doors on the floor propped up against the wall. The carpet is a light tan color. 
After: (showing a Queen size bed) Drywall and a warm color on the walls, painted the ceiling and basic furnishings really makes this room feel relaxing and enviting.
(another view of the master bedroom)
Before: The master closet was dark wood paneling with odds and ends of shelving.
After: I lined the back of the closet with cedar and it now has a closet organizer that makes sense!
__________________
Sam's Room
Before: The smaller of the two bedrooms had dirty white walls and a small window that was completely closed off with an air conditioner. There was a large dark paneled closet in the back right corner, making the room feel smaller and only leaving one option for a bed.
After: A light khaki color on the walls and moving the closet to behind the door really opened the room up.
_________________
The Hallway
Before: This view of the hallway is standing in the doorway of the Master Bedroom looking toward the living room. This was all dark wood paneling with the same dingy and stained cream colored carpet as the living room. Thanks to my shepherd mix, Kee, ripping a section up one winter it later became nothing but subfloor (bare plywood) for almost a year!
After: Above, same view as the Before.
After: The Hallway
Now it is a nice, neutral vinyl tile pattern that matches the bathroom.
_______________________
The Laundry Area
Before this was another section of dark wood paneling. The dryer came with the house, the washer is one I added later. This is located at the end of the hall before you get to the master bedroom.
Here is the trailer, as it was when I bought it, in a trailer park in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Before: The living room. (The front door is immediately to the camera's left) Now it hasn't been determined if the previous owners were in fact color blind, but yikes! The living room features dark wood paneling and a bright pepto bismal wall!
Before: The kitchen (You can now see the front door on the right) and another hideous color choice. The room feels cramped and is very outdated. And look! Another lovely bright pink wall. Yeck! The dark wood cupboards over the island were only 20 inches off the counter, leaving hardly any usable room and blocking the view from the kitchen to the living room.
After: For me the room with the biggest transformation was the kitchen. First removing the dark cupboards above the island and after that?...The sky was the limit!
Before: The kitchen and end of the house with the air conditioner blocking the right window. Until I could fix the window and remove the air conditioner I would leave the blinds down, blocking the horrible view of raw wood. At first glance I had someone remark (from a photo) Oh! You have marble counter tops! But no, that is actually contact paper, covering the laminate counter, that once uncovered was all scratched and chipped from age.
After: The same view as above, after remodeling. I replaced the two small windows with one large custom picture window. The warm wall color and updated vinyl counter tops give the house a fresh and inviting look. I refinished all the front of the wooden cupboards with a dark cherry stain and replaced the hardware with updated nickle handles.
The house is now located on 40 acres of pasture grass with a beautiful view of Bear Butte, SD in the distance! That picture window was the best decision I ever made with this house.
After:
After: New window, new stainless steel sink, fresh paint and stained cupboards...what a difference!_____________________
The Bathroom
Before: Peach sink and toilet, shiny white walls, lack of any color or coordination were what this room told me. 
After: A soft cream wall color, sheer curtain instead of blinds, new sink, new toilet, new counter tops, new floor...
Before: I would have loved to put in a pedestal sink, but that would have taken away much needed storage space.
After: New white sink with a new faucet, new stone tile counter tops, a dark chocolate paint on the cupboards with new hardware..._____________________________
The Master Bedroom
Before: This room felt small even without furniture. The dirty walls were a light wood paneling and those are the dark wood closet doors on the floor propped up against the wall. The carpet is a light tan color. 
After: (showing a Queen size bed) Drywall and a warm color on the walls, painted the ceiling and basic furnishings really makes this room feel relaxing and enviting.
(another view of the master bedroom)
Before: The master closet was dark wood paneling with odds and ends of shelving.
After: I lined the back of the closet with cedar and it now has a closet organizer that makes sense!
__________________
Sam's Room
Before: The smaller of the two bedrooms had dirty white walls and a small window that was completely closed off with an air conditioner. There was a large dark paneled closet in the back right corner, making the room feel smaller and only leaving one option for a bed.
After: A light khaki color on the walls and moving the closet to behind the door really opened the room up._________________
The Hallway
Before: This view of the hallway is standing in the doorway of the Master Bedroom looking toward the living room. This was all dark wood paneling with the same dingy and stained cream colored carpet as the living room. Thanks to my shepherd mix, Kee, ripping a section up one winter it later became nothing but subfloor (bare plywood) for almost a year!
After: Above, same view as the Before.
After: The Hallway
Now it is a nice, neutral vinyl tile pattern that matches the bathroom.
_______________________
The Laundry Area
Before this was another section of dark wood paneling. The dryer came with the house, the washer is one I added later. This is located at the end of the hall before you get to the master bedroom.Saturday, June 6, 2009
Greyson's apparent talents of design:-Master at wall color selection - I have learned through experience not to doubt the man in this area!
-Amazing at choosing coordinating color pallets and fabrics - I swear, he makes me green with envy at the way he can pick out a seemingly random fabric and it ALWAYS looks great with our project.
-Handy with the tools - Watch out! Brains and brawn? Yes and Yes! He is the muscle in this team and even though I pride myself on being stronger than most girls, he has put me to shame with his strength.
-Great at planning - Every project needs a project leader and as much as I fight for this title, he somehow dominates with an incredible foresight and planning.
What I bring to the table:
-Master of furniture arrangement - Call it a skill or maybe just dumb luck, but I can quickly survey a room and find the most advantageous placement of furniture. Appealing to the eye and practical for everyday use. What else could a room want?
-Great with finishing touches - Ahh the details. My area of preferred skill. All the nick knacks have to go somewhere and arranging them to flatter a space is one of my favorite projects.
-Plumbing and electrical - Don't even ask how I became so experienced with this line of work, lets just say I know more about plumbing than the manager at our local hardware store.
-Demolition - Not one of the more romantic sides of remodeling, however someone has to do the dirty work and I love to swing a sledge hammer. Ripping out drywall? Tearing out rotted wood? Yes! I don't mind getting my hands dirty.
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