Attic Progress

What was a small hole in the wall has turned into a big dusty mess.
We used a crow bar and hammer to remove a relatively small area of the plaster leading up to the attic. We also removed the ugly railing with made the hallway really dark, as shown in the last post. Our hope is to match the existing stairs in the house with new hand rails and rungs and add an additional light fixture in this space to brighten it up.


Here's what is left of the old railing and carpet!

Attic

Our third floor is a great space where we like to watch movies, do the occasional workout, and just hang out. There are a few issues and major room for improvement though. The plaster is cracking, lacking insulation, lighting is...uh well gross, broken windows, leaky flashing, dirty carpet, broken futon & blinds just to name a few (wow, this room is embarrassing).
The game plan is to slowly start fixing this beast up, on a budget of course. First on the list: refinish the stairs by removing the carpet and stain to match the existing stairs in the house. What seemed like it would be a relatively quick project has grown. Intentions were to rip out carpet and start the steps. Shown here: But I just couldn't resist taking a look at what removing the plaster would entail! Shown here:

Now it's no turning back. Looks like we will start this project a little sooner than planned:)

What I've been up to

2010 was a crazy year. Between buying our first home, 2 jobs, one freelance design job, and our wedding - We were busy! Details to follow:)

DIY Headboard

My parents are super handy and flip homes on the side for the pure enjoyment of renovation. They recently purchased their 12th home and have started fixing it up. In fact, they like it so much they are going to keep it as a weekend getaway. Doesn't hurt that it is right on the lake!
Recently Mom and I created a DIY upholstered headboard for the guest bedroom.
We used an old cheap interior door from the house, a little padding and 2 yards of fabric. There are tons of DIY tutorials to create a headboard on the internet, but here are a few photos of our progress:

Knickers Part II

The project consisted of a total over hall of the interior, all new fixturing and furniture, and a new fitting room & seating area. Working with both the designers and carpenter, I was able to sketch this rendering of what the wrap desk could potentially look like:

The exterior got a major update as well. New exterior paint & trim, new awning, front door, window lettering, and cast iron urns were added. A new sign also tops the building front now! The project only took about 2 months from start to finish and the grand opening is the first week of October!

Here are a few final shots before the merchandise went in:

Pardon us while we change our Knickers...

I recently had the pleasure of playing project manager on a local boutique redesign. The store is located in Hyde Park square, only a few blocks from our house! We were given the job of taking the tired, worn store with a mom and pop feel and turning it into something glamorous and sophisticated. The boutique specializes in lingerie and custom bra fittings.

Here are a few before shots:

Inspiration for the new interior and branding image was drawn from the fabulous Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, California. The kelly green accents with the traditional black and white architecture are stunning! The crisp details, all the way down to the molding and pillows, inspired the design.

*All project images are property of ShanahanWildermuthInteriors*

Furry Friend

Meet Brody, our furry friend!

Brody can usually be found curled up in a lap. He is quite friendly and has never met a stranger. His favorite spot is his kitty bed or on a window ledge, especially on a sunny day. He has made the perfect addition to our family:)

We're engaged!

It's official! After 5 great years of dating we've decided to tie the knot! The count down is on and only 2 months to go. I've been busy planning, budgeting, designing my own invitations, and trying to stay sane. I'm working on putting an inspiration board together, but for now here are a few engagement photos!

It's been a while...

I can't believe it's been a whole year since I last posted. Seriously, Where did the time go?!

A ton has changed in the past year that has kept me pretty busy.

- got engaged!

- purchased our first home

- added a furry friend

With all of these changes, I definitely have plenty of DIY things to share!

New Job!

This week has been a busy and exciting one. I was offered a job as a Sales Consultant for a local apartment complex. I start next week! 

I am definitely sad to be leaving the design world but am excited about the opportunities and experiences to come. Design will always be my passion, and I will continue to share my projects and inspirations with anyone who will listen!

Getting Organized

Recently I picked up these two white ceramic dishes to organize my most frequently worn jewelry. I'm trying to bring a more feminine and organized feel to my bedroom. Small details like these are a great way to do this.

The leaf shaped piece was only $1.00 at Home Goods and the small sauce bowl was $2.00 at Target. 

What are some of your organizing tricks?

The Modern Moving Sale

It's becoming a trend among my friends to have 'moving sales' within their apartments. It's a great way to socialize with friends while purging and making a little extra cash at the same time. Try a Happy Hour approach by inviting friends and coworkers over after work. Having wine and cheese and a little music won't hurt either! Make sure you label what you are willing to part with and start selling.

This weekend I picked up a few things from my friend who is moving to NYC next month and is doing some major downsizing. I managed to get gardening gloves, a large soup pot, a camping lantern and this beautiful fern all for $20! 

Here's the fern I purchased -- Of course I'm going to miss her tons, but a little part of her will live on here in Cincy!

Hamper turned Side Table

Here's a cheap alternative to purchasing a new side table. This is actually a clothes hamper that I had picked up at TJ Maxx for around $20. I took the measurements to a local glass repair shop and had them cut a tempered piece to fit the top. I'd prefer the $119 table from Crate&Barrel, but this a nice substitution for only $30!

Desk Project

So my desk is almost complete! It only took a few hours to sand and paint, but the rain has been delaying me. 

One of the legs was pretty badly damaged. To fix it, I filled it with wood filler and had to saw about an inch off the other three legs to level the desk. I'm still in need of a knob for the drawer, but I found one I really like at Anthropologie.com for $8.00. 

Here's the break down --

Desk: Free

Wood filler: $2.49 at local hardware store

Paint: $8.49 (Lowe's Olympic - Plantation Moss)

Hardware: $8.00 at Anthropologie

Total project cost: $ 18.98 

Lettuce Sprouts!

Look what sprouted up! A variety of lettuce I planted a few weeks ago. Each spring I plant tomatoes, cilantro, and basil, but this is my first time ever growing lettuce. Hopefully I'll be making fresh lettuce wraps in a month or so! 

Bathroom Redo

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my apartment. But take a look at my current bathroom situation - it could use some major updating.  I've always wanted to completely gut a room down to the studs, though I don't think my landlord would appreciate this!

Because I can't rip that hideous maroon and gold tile out, I've pulled together a 'dream bathroom' material board. Maybe not quite as budget conscience, but hey, a girl can dream!

What I'm Craving

This beauty is way out of my price range, but I have had my eye on a tripod floor lamp for a few years now.  

Here's a more affordable option from CB2. Still a splurge at $199.00, I might have to save up!

Upcoming Project

Another found object. 

This desk has seen better days. My next project will be to sand and paint...Check back soon for progress!

DIY Tree Stump Table

I am in love with my most recently completed project -- a tree stump side table. I got the inspiration from ceramic garden stools but I just couldn't bring myself to pay $50 for one.

Using a chisel and a hammer, I removed the first layer of bark. This was very time consuming but I wanted the rustic warn look. I then used the Black & Decker Mouse Sander (120 grit paper) to sand the entire piece. For a more modern look, I chose a high gloss white enamel paint that I found at Walmart. 

The only downside of this project is the weight - the stump weighs 80 lbs! Here's the final product:

Log - free, thanks to a neighborhood tree

Chisel - $7.99 at Walmart

Sander - already owned ($49.99 investment)

1 quart of enamel - $8.00 

Total project cost: $15.99