WELCOME TO MY HOME REVAMP vol.1

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AFTER

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“BEFORE”

Welcome to my newest home decor revamp! I’ve decided to post in increments because the entire house was redone before we moved in, about 3 months ago.  There would be way too much to post all at once in order to show the fun before-and-after pictures.  Time is really hard to come by so it will be easier to post a room at a time!

We were only vaguely considering moving when we came across this house.  My husband fell in love with the location and the lot, but after recently finishing the remodel on the last house, I was not in the mood to do it all over again, so I struck a deal with him.  I said we could buy the house, IF he would let me remodel the entire thing BEFORE moving in.  He agreed to a budget I could use on the remodel, agreed to let me do whatever I wanted.  All he cared about was getting the house.

Although this property was well taken care of, and pristine, it just wasn’t me.  The family we purchased the home from, were very nice people.  They had an open house, and a few people making offers within the first day – including us.  My husband is not perfect. At all.  That being said, I can say this…he is a very hard worker.  He deserved this house that he wanted so badly. We had no debt, no children to put through college so if the man wants this house, I wanted him to have it. All I ask is for some style. So we entered into our arrangement.  He was busy and wanted nothing to do with contractors and tile shopping. That worked out great for me!

To save money, I was the contractor and I hired out the workers and purchased all materials. By this time I had done 4 homes so it’s pretty simple…don’t get screwed over. I believe in buying your own materials so that you can more clearly see exactly what labor is costing you.

The guest bathroom in this house was modified for handicapped usage.  It, had a roll-in shower, and french doors for ease of access.  The french doors went into a bedroom that we turned into a media room, so I needed the door hole closed because it wasted a needed wall in that room.  I knew the bathroom remodel would cost the most.  I needed the french doors taken out, all tile removed, and something done with the shower.

GUEST BATHROOM "BEFORE", Texas bathroom remodel, handicapped bathroom

Guest Bathroom “BEFORE”

I decided that I needed marble.  Instead of putting in a white claw foot tub, I opted for black and white marble walls.  A walk in spa shower, with a raining shower head would be acceptable for a guest bathroom.  The money saved on a tub, was used for the marble instead .  Honestly, since it’s very rare that anyone comes to stay and even if they do – most people take a shower rather than a bath when staying at someone’s house anyway.

Marble wall tile was also another way of avoiding water splatter on painted walls.  My husband shakes his hands like a dog so water gets everywhere. Marble would be glamorous and have the added benefit of being easier to clean.

I had the tile guys build a wall to keep shower splatters inside the shower area, but again, one of the great battles in life in shower glass.  I loathe shower glass.  Shower curtains are common.  This was my answer. No glass door.

ZGallerie, mirror, Chloe Mirror, Home Depot Vanity, Marble bathroom, marble walls, black marble bathroomrevamp (1 of 1)

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I chose the mirror from ZGallerie.  It’s named Chloe. The chandelier is from there as well.  I found the vanity on line at Home Depot.  Materials cost me about $3,000 for this bathroom. That doesn’t include labor obviously.  I love the way it turned out.

I was inspired by the trip to Paris earlier in the year.  I do not like trendy glam because it’s appeal fades quickly.  Old world glam is more fun to me. I don’t think black marble can ever be a bad thing. A little over the top? Of course.

I used spare marble around the fireplace to connect and flow, but I’ll show that in a living room post coming up!

-SDS

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED…

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TOP TWELVE SHOTS of 2016

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This year was the best year of my entire life. We all go through those times where it seems as if absolutely nothing we do works out.  This year wasn’t that.  This year was fabulous! I mean…I quit working out every week and therefore gained 10 pounds…but other than that…evil was thwarted on every level so it ended up being an amazing year!

There was a trip to Paris with a sweet, kind-hearted man who is in love with me, a job that I enjoy, a precious new little fur baby who needed a loving home, and a purchase of a dream home which we are now in the middle of remodeling before we move in the first week of January!

Life is hard. It’s a mine field at times. One wrong move and you can blow yourself up. I can’t imagine what having two fabulous years in a row would be like…but I’m poised and ready for 2017. Despite what a bitter Michelle Obama said about America not having hope anymore because Hillary didn’t win, I’ve never heard of a First Lady saying such a petty, shitty thing about the future President and First Lady…but I do have hope.

For 2017, I will plow ahead, and try to be happy and do better in all aspects of my life.  I will eat less, save more, love better, learn new things, take more time for gardening, cooking and resting. I will not eat candy after my morning health shake. I will post more frequently on my site.  I will start a small business I’ve been working on all year. Oh gosh, I feel busy already, but life is a business and should be run as such if you want to succeed in things big and small.  There can’t be 3 hours a day wasted in front of the T.V.  I have realized that spare time is so hard to come by, that you almost have to plan out your free time…which defeats the purpose of free time.

There is a Saturday Night Live spoof on Ivanka Trump, in which Margot Robbie says, “Every day I schedule 20 minutes of fun.”  It was so funny because it seemed so true! You have to schedule your fun because time is so hard to come by.

I love my blog because it is everything that I love…and I am sticking with it another year! I am excited to share the new home remodel because I am doing exactly what I want. No beige tile for me! My soul craves marble, crystal , mirrors and gold, and so it shall be.  My dad said, “Only fancy people put in flooring like that.”  Exactly, I thought. Paris and Versailles are a decor influence on this latest project so it’s going to be fun sharing with everyone.

I still am a cosmetics mini-guru and I’m working on some things this year that will be fun. I hope to make more videos this year, that is super fun!

Here are some highlights from 2016 and I hope you come back for 2017! Thank you for coming!

-SDS

December 31, 2016

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Cafe de Flore, Paris, travel spot in France,

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HOME DECOR REVAMP: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

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2016-03-21 09.53.37 (1)

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I have a few home remodels and revamps under my belt.  This latest one is finished.  It was just a small nest, but my husband let me do whatever I wanted so I ended up changing it from an all white bachelor pad that didn’t look lived in and transformed it into a fun, cozy nest for two.

Pretty much the only thing that is left over from his single days, is the dining table with nude angels on the base.  I mean, who doesn’t need naked angels around the house? Oh, and the single guy, creme leather sofa set in the front office.  It kills my soul, but he won’t part with it.

We took two bedrooms, and made them into our separate offices because it was a total waste of space to have spare bedrooms when literally no one ever comes to stay over night! We have sold two beds in the past 6 months, and I have one more in the garage to deal with.

This commercial grade flooring was completely scratch resistant and made life so much easier than the previous carpeting that was there before. I am using this same flooring in the bedrooms of the new house we are remodeling because it goes with anything, doesn’t show dust like dark wood flooring does and is so extremely durable and scratch resistant.

The kitchen was probably the best part of the house, with a large center island that makes cooking a lot more enjoyable.  The large crystal chandelier over it was the focal point of the area.  Black granite was used in the kitchen, as well as in the two bathrooms.  We could not bear the thought of having different counter tops throughout such a small home.

When it came time to list this home, it sold within a week. In the mind of a new homeowner, there was literally nothing a person would need a to repair or change, except perhaps the paint.  Paint is the cheapest, easiest fix for a new homeowner. Of course it is the first thing we are changing in the new place we found, along with the flooring throughout and a bathroom revamp.  (I’ll share those pictures once it’s complete!)

I had been wanting to share this little revamp of mine for months, but never had the time!  Now that we made the decision to sell, it seems the perfect time to share! We are super excited about the move and can’t wait to share the progress on that project!

-SDS

MAYBE YOU MISSED…..

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Easy Date

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I am an easy date.  I had been off all day running errands, but we had scheduled time together for a quick dinner out and a movie. We have a new favorite theater close to home, which has those reclining seats so we are super jazzed to go to the movies now more than ever.

There is a salad I love, at a restaurant he never wants to go to, so I offered to pay for dinner to make the prospect more attractive.  (Just a life lesson here…men absolutely love it when a woman offers to pay for something here or there. They melt.)

Which brings me to the big event near the end of our movie date. No, not that big event.   Throughout the movie, there was a girl next to my husband, who was clearly not that into the guy who brought her.  She was literally texting some other dude on her phone the entire time.

Ten minutes before the film is over, her date curses her loudly, threw her purse and phone down as he ran out of the theater calling her terrible names.  All of which were probably accurate.  My husband helped her pick up her MAC makeup that was all on the ground at our feet, before she left.  She had a sheepish look on her face as if…oh crap, he caught me, this is super embarrassing.  

As we left the theater a few minutes later, I’d looked around to offer her a ride, but then decided that the guy she was texting throughout the movie needed to come pick her up.

Back to me.  I’m an easy date for my husband.  Females do not really think enough about how much a simple movie and dinner night out costs these days.  My husband and I are so glad to not be part of the single universe. I know men hate it. My male friends…yes, even the rich ones constantly bitch about how expensive it is to date these days.  And they really hate it when the woman doesn’t think twice about the cost.

I literally got ready for my date in 25 minutes.  In and out of the tub, throw on a black Johnny Was Tunic and pretend it’s a dress, a scarf to look like effort was applied, and the coolest new Uggs  that will be a staple this winter because they are so comfortable.  My mean work peeps are like, “…but there’s maroon fur stuff on them” and I’m like “I will deal with it for the comfort factor.” I’d come across them at Nordstrom Rack and decided they were wonderful.

I love my life right now. I love my husband right now. We both are so happy which is kind of scary because you don’t want anything to happen to mess it up.  I tell young people all the time, that you do not know what love is. You can’t. You think a crumb of cake is exciting until you have an entire cake. Until you have an entire cake, you don’t know that a crumb is just a crumb.

A female friend of mine that’s almost 60, and about to get married again, after divorce and grown children recently said, “I have literally never been so in love and happy.”  This confirms my belief that we don’t know as much when we’re young. Generally speaking.

We left our movie date telling each other how much easier life is to not have to deal with dating people and hoping to come across a decent person. He then calls me an Easy Date which I can assume has a lot of different meanings.

-SDS

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED….

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SIX SHOTS OF THE MONTH

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PARIS.

Ever since I met my husband, he has always expressed  desire to take me to Paris.  It was never anything that was on my personal bucket list.  He suddenly decided at Christmas that we were actually going to go within a few months.

As for me, I decided to let his dream become a reality and after all…if a man is dying to take me to Paris who am I to snuff out his dream?  It seems like we could just hop on a plane with little planning since we do not have sucklings (as my brother calls them) but actually it’s a hassle when you have jobs, business, pets coming out of your ears and a home you don’t want to worry about when gone.  My brother come to babysit the girls when we’re gone and house sit as well.  (Be ware and don’t show up unannounced when we’re gone because he’s like me in that he will shoot and ask questions afterward.) As it should be. But back to the joy of travel…

Paris was not what I’d expected.  The French were kind. The art was amazing and the Palace at Versailles was sad to me.  Every indulgence was magnificent in it’s beauty, yet disturbing at the same time because of where the money came from origianlly to fund it. Just sayin.  My heart is for the people of France, yes…even the ones who lived hundreds of years ago and were suppressed by a greedy governmental system with a hand in the pockets of the people who work.  Oh wait…that sounds familiar.

Of course the Eiffel Tower is the beautiful symbol of Paris and France.  The romantic, cultural city and country.  While I was very glad to go and share time with my husband while he showed me around…I realized in many ways they are just like America. Tittering on the edge of financial health and worrying and wondering what the future hold for the globe.

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LOVE.

He took me to Paris.  He wanted a romantic time.  I was that girl for once. I was the girl who never had a Valentine or a boyfriend.  It was as if there was no one else on the planet except us.  I had decided before we left that this was a once in a lifetime trip, so I’d wanted to be that couple in front of the Eiffel Tower, all dressed up and living the life.  It sounds stupid, but as a person who dabbles in photography…I just had to get him all dressed up and ready for a mini Paris photo shoot.  I figure pictures are the best souvenir.

The really funny part, is that we chose a day in which the wind was crazy and the air was bitter cold so truthfully, we could barely hold our eyes open due to the wind and icy cold tear drops flying out of our eyes. This is sort of why he has squinty, tight looking, Kenny Rogers type of eyes but that we got a halfway decent photo in at all is a miracle.

The red dress I was planning on wearing, was see thru red lace and it was so insanely cold and windy, I threw on a black feather dress that I’ve used for clients before in photo shoots, so the whole thing went pretty sadly. It’s so funny though, because in this photo, it seems as if all is perfect.  My canon camera fell in the mud, because the wind knocked down the tripod, and I was just ready to go home with no great Eiffel Tower photo of us together…but a nice woman who was picnicking alone in the park decided to help us out and snap a photo or two.

The best thing about this photo is that he dealt with me on this terribly cold, and windy day and tried to help me get the shot I wanted.  Is the picture perfect? Nope.  We were too close to the Eiffel Tower.  I’d wanted to be further away so that the entire thing would be off in the distant background.  I didn’t want to be a whiny bitch because he had the taxi drop us off too close. I had the man put on a suit and tie and unless he’s getting married or buried he acts as if a tie is a straight jacket. Since he wore one for me, I figured I’d better shut up and hope he doesn’t begin to rip it off like the incredible hulk. We had to walk another quarter of a block in the wind just to get further away. My new red satin shoes got messed up in the mud as I ran to catch the camera that was falling to the ground.  But we made a memory to last a lifetime and we have something to laugh about forever.

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PRADA RED

The red dress I’d had created for Paris…didn’t end up in a glammy Paris blog session.  We did, however use it immediately upon returning to U.S. soil.  This is his favorite picture that he took and he’s very proud of his blog shoot.

You must understand my situation.  You know how you can have a very impatient puppy that has the desire to please you, however…he’s just a hyper puppy so he can only control his rambunctiousness to a certain degree?  Well, that’s who takes my blog photos.  He’s a super hyper, well meaning, happy, athletic, high energy type. He’s the hare to my tortoise. So, since he did so well and enjoyed himself on the Prada Red blog session… he keeps asking when we can do more.  That’s great! Finding time is rough. He was not jazzed about the red dress until he figured out that it was basically transparent. Well, and that it matched my new Paris Prada bag perfectly.  And my red shoes.  We went on to Sunday brunch afterward and I was the reddest woman in the room.   I am glad he accepts me.

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BOATING

Paris has amazing dinner boats.  This was a last minute Paris boat ride in the cold and rain.  It was our first night there.  It was surreal.  All you have to do is Google Paris photos and you can see tons of shots…many much better than mine.  The shots I share are just ones that mean something to me…and they take me back.

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THE ARTISTS AT MONTMARTRE

There were a few things on my bucket list once I realized that we were really going to Paris.  One of them was to get an original artwork from Paris.  As we looked around at the different art that the street artists were offering… my husband decides he wants me to sit for a portrait artist.  I am terribly shy.  Ugh.  I wasn’t emotionally prepared.  He’s very demanding, so the next thing I know, he’s discussing price with an artist and there I am. Alone. Sitting.  For two hours.  My husband leaves me to go have lunch and do more sightseeing in Montmartre.  I was sitting trying to not let my lazy eye droop, because I wasn’t really wanting it documented in my art.  I was trying to smile, yet not over smile.

I have to say…this village was my favorite part of the trip.  It is an adorable village located at the base of the Sacre Coeur Basilica, shown below.

About the artwork above? Well, Ken thinks it’s beautiful and that it looks just like me.  It’s framed and it’s in a corner of our living room. I say, she is beautiful and I only wish I looked like her.  It seems the artist forgot to add wrinkles and lines.  Either way, I got my Paris art and the memory is priceless.

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CHURCH

Sacre Coeur Basilica is a Paris landmark.  It’s a church dedicated to Jesus Christ.  It’s an amazing sight from an architectural perspective.  All of that, and it just feels like a good place to go have a conversation with God.  While I am not Catholic, from a historical perspective…the building was amazing to see and experience.  Must you be in a beautiful, luxurious place for God to hear and Jesus to come? No.  Jesus can come to you when you’re in your modest garden in East Texas tending to your flowers. I support my church but I don’t believe it has to be decorated with fine art and gold to be sacred to God. But gosh this place sure was beautiful and majestic and I’m glad I got to experience it with Ken.

-SDS

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