Home Renovation: Quarantine style

“When life gives you lemons cut them up and put them in your sweet tea”

With the Coronavirus becoming a more public health issue and now that we all are staying at home to help flatten the curve. Spending more time in our homes is leaving us lots of time to look at those spaces that just don’t feel like home.

While I’m spending time designing for my wonderful clients I usually have a long running list of renovation ideas I’d like to work on at our personal home. Sometimes it’s in the area of updating lighting with a new statement chandelier or brightening up the mudroom with new colorful fun wallpaper. Just as we finish a project, I always seem to get inspired to add something else to the list (as my husband reads this he is probably saying… yup, that’s Melissa).

I thought I would take this moment to share that I have those same thoughts as you and share a glimpse into my own home. With time on my side, my mind started to run through that old project list. I pulled out my “mood” board (design inspiration pictures) and convinced my husband that there is no time like the present… and off we went! The goal of this project is to add character to the “vanilla box” called the Dining Room. When we moved in five years ago I added some window treatments but it lacked charm. The rug wasn’t the right size since it was from our old home and the walls and the ceiling is all the same vanilla color. Although not a bad space, it wasn’t me.

The first step was the design of the wainscoting. I measured out the walls and began to draw them out - for this project I went old school style and used paper and pencil.

Once the design was set and the materials list created, I marked the walls with the dimensions from my drawings. And my husband was tasked with cutting the wood. Remember - measure twice, cut once!

The wood was attached to the walls using liquid nails and finishing nails….man that was a fun toy to use!

We added a top cap that mimicks the top cap moulding on the doors. This helps to make the wainscoting feel natural to the space.

After spackling and sanding, the home stretch arrived. Painting. I had been pondering for a looooooong time on whether to wallpaper or paint the coffered ceiling…..a light blue high gloss paint is the winner. A soft blue paint has been filled in each segment to create a more dynamic fifth wall design treatment. The focal point of the space is a painting that has been passed down in the family for generations. I used that painting to find the best shade of blue for the ceiling to feel continuous with the sky in the painting. [While not pictured, this became a family painting project with little helpers joining in on the painting.]

We still have some work to do for the final touches: installing wallpaper and updating the window treatments. You can see how during this quarantine, we can still tackle those home renovations. Even a small change can make a huge impact. The room is already looking brighter and more flavorful! My vision is finally falling into place nicely.

BEFORE

AFTER

You most likely have a list like mine and Mathe Design is here to help you with those lists. We can do digital room design and procurement as well as have sub contractors, who have been screened to help on the inside, too.

Cheers!

Melissa Mathe