Stickin with the downstairs

 I'm a little embarrased showing this picture, due to the nasty stains that came with this lovely brown/green carpet but I can assure you those CAME WITH THE HOUSE!  I was right behind the camera saying "I can't believe you are doing that with no gloves!!"  That was just the beginning of the nasty smell....

But we were sure to get rid of it, little by little that is.  Here are some DURING pictures so you can see the process:)



This is the beginning of the hardwood.  We went with hardwood because honestly my dad said he would help if we put hardwood in (he is not a fan of anything but).  So we said "OK!"  We were not in a rush so we were able to wait for it to go on sale at good ol' Home Depot and open up a 0% for 1 year credit card and saved another 10%.  With this savings and Ryan and my dad installing it, is really the only reason we were able to afford beautiful hardwood.  But it is true, once you go hardwood you never go back!! We love it!



Here is my amazing dad, working like a 25 year old!



It was a lot of hardwood!  (That's or fridge we got from a builder who was going out of business, we had to store it there until our kitchen was done)

Before the decorating began
This table was actually Ryan's in college, it was a light colored wood.  I believe this is when I truly fell in love with spray paint.  I wish I had before pictures....It was a really easy project a little sand paper to rough the table and chairs up and then we literally spray painted the whole thing.  We spray painted the bottom white last, but separately (the table comes apart)  I like the white because it goes with our cabinets, which ties the casual dining area to the kitchen.



And a little love for all his hard work (don't pay attention to the ugly chandelier behind us, that is long gone)







The finished product, it really is always a work in progress.  More like "as of right now".