Make my house *MY* house

and it worked. Yipee, it’s fabulous

I got a big round table cloth for $2 at the Goodwill blue hangar store and put that up around the ceiling fan. Started draping other textiles about. It’s starting to look really good.

We moved the bar acoutrements in there, wine storage for the stuff that isn’t in the wine fridge ($50 on craigslist! I’m still proud of that one!) It looks nice, decorative & festive.

I still need to figure out how to do an illuminated stained glass window in the entryway…the entryway definitely needs more light.

Haven’t done anything new with the floors.

But it’s lookin good & I am even getting to be OK with the idea of people coming over when it’s not 100% perfectly clean, thanks to my housemate and her active love life :)

Here’s my dining area

All this stuff is mine and it looks like mine and it is beautiful. Now I need to spend more time in here with my family and my stuff.

I have all kinds of space, I am just not using it very well.

I don’t have much free time, but what I have…I am not using very well.

I need to get organized and I need to get things done. I feel like I could get things done better and faster if I was organized, but yet I begrudge the time spent organizing because it’s not actually doing what needs to be done.

crazy. :(

My washer & dryer are kaput, so I’ve been on the hunt for a new one. I wanted a stacking unit so I’d have more storage space in the utility closet, but they’re expensive and I’m not sure it’s worth the ~$500 difference in price between a regular side by side and a stacking one, just to add in a couple of shelves & have an inconspicuous catbox location.

I just found out that the city of Austin offers a rebate program on washers, but you have to select from a list & submit a form and stuff. It’s normally “up to $100” but they’re running a summer special and doubling the rebate. let’s just focus on the “up to”...you submit your app and they give you what they give you. It’s not an automatic $200, it’s based on some internal formula that they don’t share with you.

The models they list seem to be in the $800 and up range. So…spending $300 on an unlisted washer and not getting a rebate may end up being better than spending $800 on a washer and maybe getting $200 back, at most.

Hm.

Anyway, I’ve got some time, so I think I’ll work up an XL spreadsheet and see if I can find a competitively-priced model from the City’s list.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watercon/sfwasher.htm

Tub:
57.5” L X 28.5” W Faucet is 19” from floor
W could be increased to 42”, L cannot be increased.

Wine Fridge for cutout in back of cabinet:
25.75” H X 19.5” W X 17” D

frame for Glass panel in entryway:
37 1/4 L X 6.75W (with sill), 4.75W (sill removed), X 47”H (with sill) 48”H (without sill)

Washer/dryer closet:
32” deep
61” wide
80” high

this is kinda awesome

http://www.amazon.com/Avanti-Complete-Compact-Refrigerator-Seperate/dp/B000FNMAKA/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-8356443-7733712?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1176413845&sr=8-1

but I will probably go with something more like this

http://www.amazon.com/Avanti-Mini-Kitchen-Burner-Top/dp/B000G1WB46/ref=sr_1_10/102-8356443-7733712?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1176413895&sr=1-10

converting Master Bedroom area to approx. 350SF efficiency-style apartment

objectives: low cost, maximum living space, use existing electrical outlets and plumbing as much as possible.

• install Exterior door from side yard to room.
  (can re use & reposition existing window to continue to allow light)

• Stained concrete floor

• paint walls (I am picturing a very very light sage green)

• change out counter/sink/medicine cabinet area to kitchen counter/sink type arrangement with cabinets for dishes/pantry above, maybe small fridge & more cabinets below.

• Change master bath arrangement to potty, shower & bathroom sink. (currently it’s potty, shower, and large linen storage cabinet)

• Change entrance to bathroom so that the door opens from main area rather than counter/sink/cabinet area.

• my friend e. has offered some light terra-cotta colored mottled & textured tile I’d like to use in master bath area, if possible.

• remove/resize walk in closet to give more living space

• Change doors from master area/apartment to rest of house so that they are heavier & more soundproof. (possibly also do something to soundproof between wall that is shared between master area & living room

• Put deadbolts on inside and outside of interior doors that must be opened simultaneously by people on either side, like hotel suite doors.

• IKEA furniture(?)

Appliances:

• Microwave oven
• small fridge
• 2 burner stove top or hot plate (saw 2 burner electric hot plates at oriental market on Burnet/Lamar)

I have been browsing at http://www.compactappliance.com
can also go to Fry’s or somewhere local & compare prices, etc.

Outside:

Enclose side yard:

• Fence/gate from front corner of house to neighbor’s fence (meter reader must still have access to that side of house)
• repair fence/gate at back of side yard that goes from side yard to back yard

Trim trees in side yard so limbs are not touching roof

trim/remove hedges for access to door into master bedroom

possibly landscape with more shade-tolerant & attractive plants (elephant’s ears, hosta, etc)

possibly create outdoor seating area for renter to use

as recorded on another goal.

I have bought a really expensive cooker.

It cost me several hours and lots of grey hairs getting hold of it – of course the manufacturers just produced a limited run of cream ones (“everybody nowadays wants black and chrome”)and I ended up phone chasing a phantom mystery model that was not on the stock inventory but ended up actually existing in a warehouse in Blanchardstown.

It doesn’t fit into the space where my present cooker lurks, so I will have to knock out a fitted press, install a new counter top, find new (and somehow matching) floor tiles, and numerous other things.

It’s crazy to think of such a thing, and especially on the spur of the moment. Just because I really, really like the cooker.

BUT I DID.

Enough of the timid “make do”, put up with what you have, its too much trouble to change philosophy that has left me living in drabness and mediocrity. I will forge an aesthetically pleasing and supportive environment with passion and determination!!! No more “it’ll do”!!!

I may even be inspired to keep it clean….......