Valley House Tour: The Music Room

Just past the library is the room that's currently set up as the formal dining room. The room is not huge though, and in the kitchen (which I will probably show you next) has plenty of space for a long dining table. I think the only time we would use a formal dining room is when we have company over, and in that case we would need lots of extra seating. A small formal dining room just doesn't seem useful for us. And I love having everyone in the kitchen anyway. It doesn't bother me to not have a more formal eating space.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0378.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/DSC_0378.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />We thought it would be so cool to make this little space a music room. We'd put a piano centered against this back wall:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0379.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/DSC_0379.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Probably a little settee here under these windows:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0381.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/dDSC_0381.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />And maybe <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-new-leather-source.html" target="_blank">this chair</a> in the corner here?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0383.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/dDSC_0383.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 3DSC_0344copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/3DSC_0344copy.jpg" /></div><br />And a wall of hanging instruments here to the right, probably over a storage piece:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0380.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/DSC_0380.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0389.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/dDSC_0389.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Sort of <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/01/hanging-guitars.html" target="_blank">like what we did in the brownstone</a>, but with Michael's other guitars up too:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0071.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/aDSC_0071.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 0DSC_0114.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/0DSC_0114.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I'd love to put in a really huge, special light fixture in the tray ceiling and maybe do something with the trim to beef up the moulding. Maybe a lacquered ceiling?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0382.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/dDSC_0382.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Speaking of lacquered, I want a really simple, modern piano, like a studio upright in high gloss white or black. And then I want to go unconventional on the bench, like tufted hot pink velvet or something. Here are some of my piano style inspiration photos:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-24at123007AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/ScreenShot2013-06-24at123007AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/dckolb/debora-caruso-kolb" target="_blank">via</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-24at122451AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/ScreenShot2013-06-24at122451AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/optimisedesign/optimise-design" target="_blank">via</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-24at122229AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/ScreenShot2013-06-24at122229AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/consistence/incorporated" target="_blank">via</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-24at122052AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/ScreenShot2013-06-24at122052AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/ointeriordesign/o-interior-design" target="_blank">via</a></div><br />I spotted a few simple (but well-made) pianos on Craigslist that I think I could paint myself. I know some people don't like the idea of painting their own pianos, but I've asked two different professional piano restorers here in New York and both of them said it won't ruin the sound at all (think of all the pianos that are sold already painted), just that it might effect the piano's resale value.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-24at124142AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/ScreenShot2013-06-24at124142AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-24at124658AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/ScreenShot2013-06-24at124658AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-24at123820AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/ScreenShot2013-06-24at123820AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 3K23M73N85L85Gd5F5d5i52ab4e8572e21c6d.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Album%206/3K23M73N85L85Gd5F5d5i52ab4e8572e21c6d.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm so, so excited about this little room. Right after Michael and I were married, one of our first big purchases was a piano (which we ended up having to leave behind when we moved to Boston). I can't wait to have one again now. It's at the top of our "to purchase soon" list (right up there with a <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/05/mattress-recommendations.html" target="_blank">new king mattress</a>). :)</div></div>

Valley House Tour: The Music Room

Just past the library is the room that's currently set up as the formal dining room. The room is not huge though, and in the kitchen (wh...

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Valley House Tour: The (Soon To Be) Library

Just to the left of <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/06/valley-house-tour-entry.html" target="_blank">the entry</a> in our new house, through a glorious archway of fanciful gingerbread trim ;) is a (sunken! boo!) formal front room. While the gingerbread is coming down first thing, the step-down is staying. Looking past its quirks, I think the room has so much potential though! The windows! The light! The high, high beamed ceilings! But first, a little back-story:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo sDSC_0362.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/sDSC_0362.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I came to Arizona a couple weeks ago with Michael to get some client work done while he was interviewing for this dream job opportunity that had sort of just fallen from the sky and into his lap. His work has been pretty tied to the bigger financial markets, so we never really thought there would be a really great job for him in Arizona, where we both grew up and where almost all our family lives. And, truthfully, we didn't have our hearts set on getting an actual offer - Michael thought it would be a long shot. So I went only half-hearted-house-hunting with my sister, Ali, while Michael was interviewing. It was mostly out of curiosity for what was available in Arizona. I wanted to see if I could find a house that suited my taste a little more than what you usually find here.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0368.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/dDSC_0368.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0367.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/dDSC_0367.jpg" /></div><br />We ended up finding three houses in the area we wanted. Two of them looked great on the outside (much nicer than the Valley house), but they weren't quite right on the inside.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0366.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/dDSC_0366.jpg" /></div><br />There was one house that I really liked. Its owner was an interior designer and she had done a lovely job, but she had priced the house high (and rightfully so), and I still would have wanted to change a lot. Still, we might have considered that house more seriously, except for the fact that it was majorly lacking in living space, even though it was the same size as the Valley house. There was just one common hang-out space, that wasn't all that big, and which you basically walked into right when you came in the front door. It was a bit of a head-scratcher. But it made it easier to feel good about pursuing the Valley house whole-heartedly when Michael's job offer did come in.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0370.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/dDSC_0370.jpg" /></div><br />The interior designer's house was an interesting foil to the Valley house. Where that house lacked multi-purpose rooms, our house has them in abundance and almost to a fault. With the exception of the master, the bedrooms are pretty modest in size, which I really like. I'd rather the girls have smaller bedrooms and save the square footage for a big play room, where they can spread out with blocks and art projects. It wasn't clear from the get-go what we were going to do with all the big living spaces, though.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0361.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/dDSC_0361.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />We have three big gathering rooms in the house (front room, family room, game/play room) and it seemed silly just to fill each one with sofas and a tv, right? (not that I would have). It was especially tricky to figure out a purpose for the front room area. Since the family room is just a couple steps away, it seemed like anything we'd put in that room would just be place holders, collecting dust.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0387.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0387.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Originally we were planning on building bookshelves for all our books in the office. After putting up <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/01/making-billy-bookshelves-look-like_7.html" target="_blank">the built-ins in the brownstone</a> though, and realizing how much I really love having easy access to all our books, I was a little sad about hiding them away in the office. So, an idea was born. We decided to build a huge, floor to ceiling bookshelf on the back wall of the front room, so that one of the first things we'd see when walking into our house is a giant wall of books. The furniture in the room will be cozy and loungey and not as formal as maybe a "front room" would call for. I'd love a little game table in here as well. All things "library" are welcome. Not welcome? That gingerbread trim.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo librarybookshelfwall.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/librarybookshelfwall.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I'm working on sourcing a rolling library ladder (while out here in the land of good-and-plenty antiques), which I might regret putting in later. I'm having visions of neighborhood kids climbing... :/ We'll see - it's just that I've wanted one for so long! And the ladder + chevron floor combo would be so, so pretty.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DVF.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DVF.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">InStyle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 6f9119b7e384dfbeec6e27dccb710bf7.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/6f9119b7e384dfbeec6e27dccb710bf7.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo whitebookcaseandladder.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/whitebookcaseandladder.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-21at102745AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/ScreenShot2013-06-21at102745AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo saragilbaneslider4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/saragilbaneslider4.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sara Gilbrane</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 4aeae99be8f3256bc5d247e832a7aa6c.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/4aeae99be8f3256bc5d247e832a7aa6c.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Living Etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-21at102638AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/ScreenShot2013-06-21at102638AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-21at103031AM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/ScreenShot2013-06-21at103031AM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/339682/Willow-Glen-Residence-eclectic-living-room-san-francisco" target="_blank">via</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Because of the way the side walls are sort of notched out, the shelves are going to be slightly set in, not totally built-in looking. It will look more like a massive piece of furniture I guess - a little like <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/03/make-shift-dining-room-hutch.html" target="_blank">the shelves I installed in our dining room</a>, but on a much larger scale and in a different style. I think we'll be glad to have a large bank of closed storage for board games, magazines and the like.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0387.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/DSC_0387.jpg" /></div><br />Over the weekend in between cleaning and organizing for the move (one week from now! eeps!) I'll be <a href="http://www.1stdibs.com/search/?q=credenza" target="_blank">combing 1st Dibs</a> for vintage credenzas to get inspiration on door and footing styles so we can order the bottom cabinet. Have you seen anything special around?<br /><br />Happy weekend!!

Valley House Tour: The (Soon To Be) Library

Just to the left of the entry in our new house, through a glorious archway of fanciful gingerbread trim ;) is a (sunken! boo!) formal front...

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Alt NY, MS Weddings and a Very Pretty House

This month might be killing me! Don't they say moving is at the very top of the things-that-cause-stress list? I've never been stressed much about moving before, so this anxiety level is a pretty new feeling for me. So much to do, so much to cram in to these last New York moments!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo viaFROMTHERIGHTBANKDSC_11081copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/viaFROMTHERIGHTBANKDSC_11081copy.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Today will be a fun day though and all the cares of the move will be on hold. I'm co-hosting a crafting session at the Martha Stewart offices with the <a href="http://bklynbrideonline.com/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Bride</a> and Mara from <a href="http://www.ablogaboutlove.com/" target="_blank">A Blog About Love</a> (who is also my dear, dear friend). We'll be there for <a href="http://www.altitudesummit.com/alt-summit-nyc/" target="_blank">Alt New York</a>. Are any of you going too? Please stop by to say hello!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo viafromtherightbankDSC_1123.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/viafromtherightbankDSC_1123.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Also a little later this afternoon I'll be chatting with Darcy Miller from Martha Stewart Weddings on their Sirius radio station. My segment will start at 1:30 pm EST, so tune in and feel free to call us with your decorating questions. I'd LOVE to hear from you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo viafromtherightbankDSC_1138.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/viafromtherightbankDSC_1138.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />(All images via one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://www.fromtherightbank.com/" target="_blank">From the Right Bank</a>. The rest of this amazing Atlanta house tour <a href="http://www.fromtherightbank.com/2013/05/exclusive-home-tour-of-closet-coutures-founder/" target="_blank">here</a>!)<br /><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo viaFROMTHERIGHTBANKDSC_1copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/viaFROMTHERIGHTBANKDSC_1copy.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

Alt NY, MS Weddings and a Very Pretty House

This month might be killing me! Don't they say moving is at the very top of the things-that-cause-stress list? I've never been stres...

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Valley House Tour: A Case for New Floors

Some of you commented yesterday that you really liked the dark wood floors on the stairs and in the family room and that I should just replace the ceramic tiles with dark wood to match and call it a day.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0352-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0352-1.jpg" /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3078.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_3078.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />That was definitely my Plan B. My problem with this flooring is that it's engineered wood and for some reason it has that sort of swishy, sticky, hollow sound to it when you walk (drives me nuts). Also, it's made to look hand-scraped, which can be really pretty when done subtly, but ends up being a bit too much texture I think in a large space.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3188.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_3188.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo fDSC_0440.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/fDSC_0440.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Also, I really, really dislike the way they did the stairs, where you can see the individual pieces of wood instead of cut-to-fit planks. Even if we were going to keep the dark wood floors, I'd pull those off the wood on the treads and risers and have new planks cut. This look is not my favorite.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ffDSC_0419.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/ffDSC_0419.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 11DSC_0359-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/11DSC_0359-1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />For the record, I still really like the look of dark stained floors. I think it's classic and the contrast against light color walls is so pretty! My mom has really dark floors <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-mothers-living-room.html" target="_blank">in her house</a> and they're lovely. The stain shade on the wood in this house is almost the same as my mom's and I really like it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo fDSC_0415.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/fDSC_0415.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I actually spent a few days at the new house recently working on a pre-closing project (photos coming soon! Can't wait to share.) and the dust on the floors ended up being a daily chore to tackle. The footprints!! They were everywhere. I was practically married to my swiffer when we lived at <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/08/loft-living-good-bad-and-ugly.html" target="_blank">the loft</a> with the white epoxy floors, and the idea of having endless years ahead of me wiping up the dark floors every time the kids come in from playing in the backyard sounded like a nightmare.<br /><br />And while it would be less than half as expensive to replace the tile with the same dark engineered wood (assuming we could buy more of the same wood), I feel like it would be a little like throwing good money after bad. Since there's a good chance we'll live in this home for a long time, I'd rather put a bigger chunk of my renovating budget toward doing the floors right from the get go.<br /><br />So what am I envisioning? A light golden gray. Basically the color of dust and kid smudges. :) This first photo here is my inspiration.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Komendaflooringinspiraticopy.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/Komendaflooringinspiraticopy.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I'm shooting for a more classic "Paris apartment" color on the stain, which I think might be a little more trend-resistant than the really light grays (which are so, so gorgeous).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-18at113055PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/ScreenShot2013-06-18at113055PM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>World of Interiors (I think? Dang Tumblr!)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-18at113404PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/ScreenShot2013-06-18at113404PM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Arch Digest</i></div><br />We're putting in an order for 3.5" unfinished white oak. The bulk of the order will be sent in random lengths for all the straight-laying we'll do in most of the house. But in the library (which I'll show you next) I want to lay the wood in a herringbone pattern.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-18at113241PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/ScreenShot2013-06-18at113241PM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>above and below <a href="http://www.abkasha.com/" target="_blank">via</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-18at113251PM.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/ScreenShot2013-06-18at113251PM.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The floor in the library is sunken about 8", which is not my favorite look normally, but it works pretty well to define the three different spaces we have going on in the front part of the house. It was going to cost thousands and thousands to fill in the step-down and we would have had to wait for 60 days for the concrete to cure before laying flooring down on top of the fill. I was on the fence about filling it anyway, so problem solved!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0358.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/aDSC_0358.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3093.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_3093.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0368.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/dDSC_0368.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Doing a herringbone will make the step down look more intentional I think. And actually, it's really a chevron pattern we're doing, where the planks aren't offset, but meet at an angle - just like in all the example photos above. I'm sort of getting ahead of myself though. More plans for the library and the parquetry in a bit.<br /><br />What do you think of our stain choice? We need to test some more samples, but it's looking like three parts golden oak to one part gray stain is just about right.

Valley House Tour: A Case for New Floors

Some of you commented yesterday that you really liked the dark wood floors on the stairs and in the family room and that I should just repla...

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Valley House Tour: The Entry

<center></center>I only have rough measurements of <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/06/big-news.html" target="_blank">the new house</a>, so this floor plan is not completely accurate, but it might help you get a sense of the layout. Here's the first floor (I'll share the second floor a little later, still working on that one):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo VALLEYHOUSEFIRSTFLOOR.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/VALLEYHOUSEFIRSTFLOOR.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like with every house, there are some funny quirks in this place, but for the most part I love how our new house is laid out. A part of me is dying to just get in there and get started, but we're really enjoying our last couple of weeks here in New York, so I'm not actually thinking about the new house too much. (PS some of you emailed about renting out the brownstone and luckily we found another family about 12 hours after we listed the house on Craigslist a couple weeks ago, which was a huge relief. I'm glad another family gets to enjoy this space and the yard we worked so hard on.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So like I mentioned earlier, I'd love to share the new house with you in its before state, room by room. Might as well start at the entry. Here's the front door again:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0348.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0348.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And as a reminder, I'm planning to rip out that faux balcony situation so you can actually see the front door from the street better. I might need to leave something up high for the roofline and for shade, but I'll figure that out later.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Wouldn't that green color from yesterday's post be so pretty on a new door? I'll probably have to keep this one for at least a little while, so I'm thinking I'll just paint it out and see how I like the color before committing to it on the new doors. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0351.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0351.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then here's the front door from the inside. The previous owner, who is just about the nicest a person could be, actually spent a lot of money on the house, getting it just how she liked it before putting it on the market to move into her new-build home. The look is actually pretty tame for most of the homes you see in Arizona (which almost across the board aren't at all my style). The ceramic tile here in the front of the house is about the worst offender, but everything (including the tile) is an easy fix. The things that weren't easy or even possible to fix with most Arizona houses weren't an issue with this home. Things like having smooth, not highly textured walls, really high ceilings without plant shelves and good, but not super-scorcher light with north/south exposures - these were all here with this house. I feel like I won the AZ lottery in that the house needs work, but the work it needs is just perfect for us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0357-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0357-1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can see some of the gingerbread moulding continued on the inside of the house (awesome), but I'll talk about that when we get to the library post. Here's the view as you walk in the front door.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0352-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0352-1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is one of the walls that I want to rip out and rebuild. I can't stand that picture window cut out above that low walkway. We're looking into how much we can change the opening there without having to do major electrical work. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also you can see here how the owner put in dark wood floors in the family room. The tile is just in the entry and hallway and the front common rooms. Probably only about 800 square feet of tile and the rest of the house is that dark wood, with the exception of the playroom/guest suite area on the other side of the house, which are carpeted.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 11DSC_0359-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/11DSC_0359-1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm going to do a separate post on the floors, because there's a lot to say there, but the operating plan is to replace everything now, before we move in our furniture. I care more about the floors than about putting in a new kitchen right away, just because it's so hard to change all the floors down the road while actually living in the space. And I think beautiful floors really just set the tone for a home. Anyway, more on that later.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0355-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0355-1.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The stairs will get a fresh coat of black and white paint and I think that will go so far! I'm still debating whether or not to do a runner on the new wood we'll be putting down, but it's probably a good idea with the kids. (those are their bedrooms upstairs)</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0354-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0354-1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think the previous owner was starting a paneling project that was never finished. (see those two boxes next to the coat closet?) I'd love to do something similar on the walls in here, but with an even more dramatic moulding. Also all the moulding and floor boards will be replaced when we do the floors and I'd love to replace the doors while we're at it, but we will probably need to wait on those. I might just do my old trick of painting them black to take away from the hollow-core look.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, a recap of my entry plans:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">- Paint the front door exterior a fun color, like jade green.</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Replace front door eventually with a taller, more modern double door. Maybe something with glass to bring in more light.</div><div style="text-align: left;">- New wood floors on the stairs and to replace all the ceramic tile</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Maybe a stair runner</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Paint the stair rail black and the balusters and stair risers white</div><div style="text-align: left;">- New entry light (something really big and unique)</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Strip and stain the ceiling beams?</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Rip out and reframe the entryway into the family room</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Trim out the walls with paneling</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Replace the door frames and floor boards with more substantial mouldings</div><div style="text-align: left;">- New solid wood doors eventually, but paint the existing doors black until then</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Cool rug in front of the door</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Hang a mirror and maybe a small, wall-mounted console table next to the coat closet</div><div style="text-align: left;">- Paint the walls - maybe a glossy white on the paneling? Would help it feel brighter for sure.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What do you like to see in a home's entry way? I think it's such an important space! For visitors, it's like a little summary of your home style.</div>

Valley House Tour: The Entry

I only have rough measurements of the new house , so this floor plan is not completely accurate, but it might help you get a sense of the la...

Read more »