Shore House Before and Afters

Well, 2008 was a big year at the shore house. Mostly because it was our first year at the shore house. One year ago, we were sleeping on an air mattress, watching television on a 13” set with rabbit ears. We had a card table and two metal folding chairs in our living room. In fact, our insurance company dropped us in February because when they drove by to check up (I didn’t know they actually did that) they deemed the home uninhabited. Good times.

I thought I’d have more “before and after” DIY projects, like painting furniture found at thrift stores and yard sales, or rewiring lamps. But the truth is, most of the stuff I found just needed a (really) good scrub and some TLC, like the dresser my new boudoir lamps (from my last post) are on. It was a steal at $125 if you ask me.


The wood isn’t perfect but I love the patina so I’m sticking with her, as-is.

However...the rooms themselves have gone through some big time transformations in the year since we bought the shore house. We looked around this weekend, a little awestruck by how much we were able to accomplish in one short year. Maybe not awestruck. That sounds a little much. Anyway…

I wanted to share some of our progress for Southern Hospitality’s Top Ten Projects blog tour. I'll start with our latest completion (or close-to completion. Is a room ever really done?!), the office.

Here’s a look back at the raw before – dark, crazy, deep knotty paneling. Which actually looks better in this photo than it was. Clearly an homage to the 1970s:

And here's the room now:

Back in April, we started by “distressing” the walls (as if they weren’t distressing enough!). I’d like to say we did something fancy, but we used leftover white paint used for our ceilings. Volia; distressed driftwood. You can read my original post, which was midway through the project, here.

We’re not thrilled with the sleeper sofa, but it was the smallest, most comfortable we could find. And at the time, we had no furniture so were desperate to purchase something to sit on while we shopped for our living room furniture. I wish it were lighter and a tad more mod, but I’ve covered it up with pillows to “hide” it as best as I can. Plus it took four guys to wedge it through the door, so we're quite literally stuck with it.

I also have a couple of black and white sailboat prints from HomeGoods that have already been replaced by the more colorful vintage-looking amusement park poster, which I’ve had for years. I re-framed it in a $25 frame from Michael’s (got to love those 40% off coupons) to breathe a little life into.

I just bought the lamp this weekend (HomeGoods, mais oui), and left the tag on just in case I change my mind. Which happens. Often.

And I really do love the New Jersey school map I scored on one of my adventures:

Other re-dos in 2008 that were big for us include “The Green Room,” our guest room that started out as a bright blue boys’ bedroom for the prior owners, seen in these photos (what you can't see is the blue paint splattered ALL over the woodwork. Tape, people!):

And, less than $500 later (right down to the doorknob) it became our beachy keen guest room. Here’s a few photos, but click here to read more about where all of the stuff in the room was found:

Then, there’s the room that started it all – our living room. Here she is before:


And after, back in April. Our first room done:



I need to stage another “after-after” shot that includes our newer round dining table (the dining table in the above picture is now my desk!) and the fabulous china cabinet.

Next up, “The Napoleon Room.” That’s what we call it, and soon you’ll see why. It’s one of our biggest transformations, mostly thanks to the undoing of some serious floral wallpaper. And I mean serious. I still need to take photos of this room so come back on Friday and I’ll hopefully have my act together. (Actually I can’t guarantee I’ll ever have my act together, but at least I’ll have photos of the room taken.)

Last but not least, I have to give a huge thank you to Tam over at Yakiddy Yak Yak for kicking-off my new year with an award!

"This blog invests and believes in proximity"...which I read online to mean, "nearness in space, time and relationships." I went on to read that, "Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated." Well isn't that just the sweetest thing ever? I think everyone who is kind enough to come here for a visit deserves to cut these ribbons, too. Thank you all...and here's to more bloggy friendships and DIY fantasticness in the new year!