Getting all Christmas-y

Before I get to the fun stuff...

Our dishwasher seemed to be tilting and lo and behold...it has come undone and cracked my cabinet.  Called the 800 number and while they are out I want my driveway fixed, as well as my cracking stairs (again).

We finished up our fence and it looks great.  They have started the house next door.  It will be nice to get that one done so I won't have anymore noise directly around me.

We pulled out the christmas stuff!  Everything looks fab with my blue door (still obsessing).  I do need to sand it and roll it though.  It looks terrible when the sun hits it just right with all those brush strokes.

we got our lights up on the house too!!

my snazzy little mailbox flag holder and flag, both from Amazon

and my pretty mantel!  I haven't had a mantel to decorate in years so I am loving this!!  

We got our tree but we didn't have enough lights for it, so that is on our list to finish up today!  

So excited to have our new home this season!!

the man loft...and the hammock

So you can see for yourself...  :)

This should be fun...not

When our internet was installed, they ran a cable line from the box, straight back and around our property line all the way around to the other side of the house.   So basically this cable line has been hanging from our fence for 3 months.

I finally decided to call and they are sending someone out to bury it.

Looks like they came and marked where is going to go.   Hmm.  From the box through my front yard, under the driveway and around the side.   Not happy with what this will do to my yard!!!  I guess it's better in the winter while is dormant??

Driveway crumbling and paint colors

My son noticed this spot yesterday.  I sent an email to my PM to see if it's covered under warranty and he said yes, and it was up to me if I wanted it fixed now or at my 10 month, and he did advise that it may be good to wait it out through winter just in case it got worse or there were more spots.  So, on the 10 month list it goes.

Curious as to what my 10 month list has on it?

-fireplace mortar cracking from settlement

-nail pops throughout

-drywall tape showing on a kitchen wall

-floor creak near master bath

-powder room lower corner moulding separating

-caulking needed near laundry room moulding

-a few doors creak/squeak, need adjustment

-master bath tub faucet loose

-floor creak outside my son's room

-driveway crack/crumble

-kitchen cabinet separating at seam

As you can see, so far it is all settlement/drywall issues.  But I am leaving nothing off this list.  The 10 month is the last chance to get everything "perfect" before Ryan homes leaves me in the dust at 1 year.  After that it's all my problem.  So yes, I will definitely be having them fix EVERYTHING I see in the meantime.

I got a question but I can't find what post it was on so I'll answer it here.  Yes my upstairs spare bathroom has a vent on the ceiling by the door, which brings in heat and A/C.  That's strange that yours doesn't have one, and I'm guessing that is a mistake.

We bought the rest of the wood to finish the fence and only have the back left to do.  Once I have that done, then we are slowly going to begin some other cheap DIY projects that will be perfect in the winter with lots of down time. 

One I can't wait to do is paint all my interior doors black.  Sounds kind of strange but really, it adds such a richness to the interior and I can't wait to do it!

Putting knobs on our upstairs bathroom cabinets (both are espresso).  I thought about doing something a little more whimsical rather than just the plain knobs or pulls...

I'm thinking something maybe like these:

And as much as I'm dying to paint, I'm going to continue to wait until after my drywall fix.  I'm already thinking of changing some of the paint I've already done...As much as I originally loved the Revere Pewter in my living room, it really reads more tan than gray because of the lighting in my room, and I still don't love the Morning Room color which is too close to the kitchen color.  I'm thinking about doing a true gray, more like Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray.  Here you can see the difference between the two colors:

It's subtle but the revere pewter definitely is more warm and rarely reads "gray" to me.  The stonington gray would be a great neutral gray that I can use all over.  I am thinking of doing it in the morning room too...with maybe an accent wall at the back.  Oh gosh...this is why I hate painting...I'm so dang indecisive!!! 

BM Timber Wolf as an Accent wall?

I also love this BM Palladian Blue.

Or BM Wedgewood gray.

I think these two would look really pretty as a two toned wall in my office :)

BM Desert Green for the powder room?

Well this gives me something to think about!  Oh and I had a question about where I get Benjamin Moore paints...I actually just have them matched at Lowe's :)

Changing up the house numbers

So they put my house numbers on the house by the garage.   Not too bad but I realized everyone in the neighborhood had them in different places.   Some people have them on the porch post if it's square.   And then there are those with it on the door.  Love!

Since my original door was black it wouldn't work because the numbers are black.   But then it dawned in me last night, now that my door is the most beautiful shade of blue (still obsessing), I just had to move my numbers on it!

Here's a before and after shot.   For anyone wanting to do this take note.   I used a level but basically eyed them until they looked straight.   My door is metal so I couldn't just screw into it.   I hammered a nail in to the door and created a hole which then I used to screw in the screws.  

Sorry about the harsh lighting in the after photos.   I'm too impatient to wait ;)

formal living/office inspiration--help! {updated}

I am not ready to tackle this room quite yet but I am beginning to brainstorm.  I'm hoping by the first of the year we can start working on it.

Neither of us really wanted/needed a formal space in our home but all of Ryan Homes have them (at least in my neighborhood).  So since it automatically came with the house, I decided to snag it as my personal office/space.  My husband took over the loft and let me tell you, it is as manly as a man cave can be, complete with a hammock to swing in while watching TV (I can't hate on it too much, I took a nap in it one day and it was wonderful haha)...but that's a whole other post.

My formal living room is the room that you walk into when you enter the house.  I want this room to be fab because, as I said, it's the first thing you see, and second, because it's where I spend most of my time during the day while my son is at school.  I am about 12 weeks from completing my online degree so I'm doing homework, or I'm doing some contract labor for a company I work for.

The room is a 12' x 12' square and the perfect size for an office.  

Right now it's a disaster...we have a small desk that is working but it's not pretty.

I inherited this couch when the hubby decided he's rather swing in a hammock lol, but this couch is going to get sold because see that nice little chevron throw?  It's covering about 1' by 1' of duct tape which is holding the couch together lol.

Looking toward the front door.

So I have 3 ideas for this room and would love your input.  Forgive my "quick photoshopping" as I am running against the clock and have to go pick up my son in a few minutes :)  Otherwise I would have loved to make it look more realistic :)

Option 1 is a large built-in desk along the side wall with a small chair and little table on the back wall.  Window area is open.  This was my original thought but after looking around on pinterest, I am second guessing it.  I don't think it's the best use of the space, and leaves quite a bit of open, unusable space.

Option 2 is a built in shelving unit against the side wall, with a desk in the middle with a chair.  No additional seating.  Not my favorite idea but maybe more aesthetically pleasing to walk into?

Option 3 is my favorite so far.  built in along the back wall, either a built in or picture wall on the side wall, desk in the middle and two chairs with a little table by the windows.  Not sure how "to scale" this really is, but I think if I did it just right, everything can fit.

Now the one thing I keep thinking of...option 2 and 3 will have my desk in the middle of the room so how does that work with cords to the computer?  And do I really want to look at the back of my computer which is a big 24" Mac?  

So I searched a bit and found this idea:

Drooling over the striped wall...and I looooove the chandelier!

Which makes me think option 4 may be the best one yet?

It would give me a big built in along the back wall, where I can put the desktop, but a small side desk to use the laptop or just have a flat space to pay bills, do homework, or just put cute decor... :)  As well as a few cute little chairs and table for decor.  

And I found this online which I love...I already have a light blue rug in here but I love the coral accents.  It's the only room I can really make mine and use some pink tones :)

So I need your input, what room do you think would look the best in this space?

{updated}

Ikea has this massive beast of a desk for $648...it's kind of perfect though.  It would allow me and my husband both to have workstations, plus it would take up 11.75 feet of the 12 ft side wall making it look built-in.  I think even with this desk I would have plenty of room to add a chair or two.

Done. Until 10 month inspection

My itty bitty square tile was fixed today.  I am happy as a clam. 

I don't expect to have one more RH employee in my home until my 10 month inspection.   But I will say I have already started a list :)