Big Money, Big Money, No Whammy!
There are several big house projects that we’d like to work on, if only we had the cash. Maybe a $5000 bonus would help? (Hint, hint, have you voted yet today?)
We need a new window in Eleanor’s room.
The one that’s there now is actually falling off of the house — yikes! While it isn’t quite at the point of being dangerous (it’s still sort of attached), the gap does let hornets and other bugs in. If we had a proper functioning window, we could actually open it for some fresh air. What a concept!
And I know, I know. I really need to post the finished nursery.
We would like a new light in the library.
The one that’s in there now is just plain ugly, and it doesn’t even cover the hole in the ceiling for the junction box. The ceilings in the library are only 7.5′ tall, so we need something that doesn’t hang down very far.
I’ve had my eye on the Chase Ceiling Mount for a while now, but they keep pushing the availability date back. I’ve been patiently waiting, but perhaps it’s time to find another option.
Our bathroom needs some serious help.
It was bad when we moved in.
We did do a minor update about a year and a half ago with paint and accessories for about $300…
And while it’s much cuter than it was, that was just a temporary fix. We want to make some structural changes and relocate the toilet a few feet over into what’s now a closet space. Oh, and um, maybe we could have a white tub and toilet instead of blue?
The outside of our house also needs some serious help.
At the very least, we need to paint the trim. We also would like to resurface the dormers to match the stucco on the rest of the house, change the color, and add some landscaping. Basically, I want our house to look like this:
Matching seating out back would be nice.
I talked about this not long before the whole BHG 48-Hour Challenge started. Basically, we have a mish-mash of seating around our table.
While I can appreciate that look when other people do it, I would prefer a matching set of chairs.
Eventually, we would like to refinish the basement.
This will probably have to wait, but it’s definitely on our list. I won’t post pictures because it’s too scary. Well, maybe just one picture. Would you like to see our indoor outhouse?
Yeah, we’d like to remedy that (and the rest of the basement) at some point.
*Sigh.*
A girl can dream, right? Wanna help out? We’re in the running for a $5000 bonus, and I’d really appreciate your vote every day from now until June 12!
Got mine!
we totally have the same blue toilet and bathtub! well, not the toilet anymore since it mysteriously stopped working. we had a peach one, too, which was accompanied by orange and brown tile. it was lovely!
I feel your pain for wanting to redo your basement. We have a very similar indoor ‘outdoor’ bathroom. Many of the walls in our basement are covered in old billboards instead of sheet rock and the ones that aren’t are covered in pirate ship wallpaper. We just don’t go down there. haha.
Why don’t you just paint the patio chairs the same color? That way they would look intentionally mis-matched.
What do you use your basement for right now? Growing up, we had one of those weird bathrooms, too! It was my dad’s bathroom… No further comment.
We don’t use our basement right now. It’s just full of random STUFF. Oh, and the washer and dryer – that’s an important function.
you have the cutest house ever. even with all it’s little quirks! i want one :O)
off to go vote!
The indoor outhouse made my day. The exterior comp is stunning.
I’ve been voting everyday when I wake up. Good Luck!
Ok ok, I finally registered and I voted. And now I’ll vote everyday. :)
Wow, I love that Ballard design light fixture, thanks for turning me on to their lighting.
Can you share the source info for your shower curtain? Is it a purchased curtain, or did you make it out? If so, what fabric? Thank you!!!
PS I have been voting for you EVERY day!
For lighting fixtures – have you looked at Schoolhouse Electric? I have lower ceilings in my house too, and they have lots of different options, that are relatively affordable. Good luck with all your projects, I have a monster size list too.
Shannon, the shower curtain was from Bed Bath & Beyond, but I bought it in 2007.
Yay so glad you posted whatcha going to do. I love your new light fixture, ssoooooo chic!! You have my vote everyday with my friendly outlook reminder.
I was pleased to see that it’s actually so easy to vote once you do the initial registration at BHG…every day after that, you are remembered and don’t have to log in. Well worth four seconds of anyone’s time!
Your little Miss Eleanor certainly deserves a fresh breeze every now and then…I hope you win!
Voted again today!! I’m happy that the #1 item on your home improvement list is Eleanor’s window! I totally heart your library nook, so the Ballard light fixture is icing on the cake.
Everyone – please vote. Let’s pin Eleanor’s #1 ribbon back on Nicole’s porch today and every day through June 12th.
YIKES! I was not expecting the basement outhouse, you should have started with that photo and it would have been enough said!
I have the blue bathroom too, (and a 50’s black one, and a 50’s yellow and black one) they totally suck, but yours looks nice now. Hope you win!!!!!!!
You’ve got my vote everyday! And I am dying, just DYING to see the nursery, so get on that, okay? I don’t know what could possibly be keeping you so busy ;)
Thank you Nicole! Bummer… I am having the HARDEST time finding a shower curtain. That one would have been perfect. Ah well, the search continues. :)
You just got my vote!!
The toilet made me think of outside bathrooms in the mountain cottages in Norway xD you freeze your butt off xD hihi
Voted – again. Sorry to say I slacked off there for a week, but I’ve been voting and keeping fingers crossed for you! I think your porch has much more personality – nevermind I’m an original Park Ridge girl myself :). I had a shower in my basement for awhile – had to use it when I was pg with #2 and was NOT happy. I think your indoor outhouse takes the cake though!
There is a lot of pink in your house – is there an area that is for your poor husband? Or does he get the basement toilet?
Hi Making it Lovely. I agree with Jab, I can see that you are super proud of your girly pink house, but has your husband had a say in this? No vote from me I am afraid, sorry.
I have been voting for you everyday! I’m so sad you are in second, I really believe your design is the best. Good luck!
If your house still has the original windows, please, please, please don’t replace them!!! They can be rebuilt to work just as well as they did when they were brand new and it will likely cost less all while maintaining your house’s original character. The forums on oldhouseweb.com are full of good information on rebuilding old windows or finding a local handy(wo)man who can do it for you. Of course if your windows have already been replaced, then it doesn’t matter, but original windows with wavy glass and vintage hardware are just soooo cool.
You may already know this, but your blue tub and toilet are likely worth something should you decide to replace them. If you have any architectural salvage stores in your area, I’m sure they’d be interested. Color coordinated bathroom fixtures were HUGE in the 30’s and 40’s, and there are many weird people like me out there who like them for their old homes.
Oh and re: the pink/husband thing… I once took a class in college about woman in antiquity. It was taught by one of the most serious feminists I’ve ever met. She went on a tangent one day about how society has dubbed the color pink=girl and blue=boy and how sexists and stupid it is. A color is a color, there is no reason why colors should be masculine or feminine… so she dressed her son in all pink. I’m not a feminist by any means, but I thought she had a good point – if we are taught that color of skin doesn’t matter – why should the color of anything be judged?
I voted for you again, the porch is great. Good luck, looks like it’s going to stay a close one.
C’mon peeps — the last stretch! Let’s get voting for N every day!
Jab and Lisa, sorry if there’s too much pink for you. I do run everything past Brandon, and he’s very happy with our home.
Kellie, the windows on the second floor aren’t original to the house so I’m fine with replacing one. And we’ve actually had inquiries for our tub and toilet before, so I know there’s some demand for colorful fixtures!
I’ve been voting every morning. thanks to the post-it notes on my work & home computer :) Is it weird that it is stressing me out to see how close you are to first place… I can only imagine how you feel! Good luck & keep reminding everyone to vote so you can pull off a last minute win!!!
ps. please post the nursery. please please please :)
Honestly, it’s very reassuring to see the not-yet-lovely parts of your house. Otherwise, it’d all seem so intimidatingly perfect… and so far from my house!
I’ve voted lots, and with the time I’ve spent on the BH&G website, I ended up getting a subscription – surely that deserves extra votes for you, right?? Good luck!
Thumbs down to negative blog comments. I don’t care much for pink, but so what? You and Brandon have done a wonderful job making your home your own, and sharing it all with so many interested readers. I think your porch redo was fantastic, even if I might have made different choices. I am happy to support you! You’ve had my vote every day.
I voted! I voted! Have been voting daily. Frankly, I’m keen for new babies and the families that love them. I don’t agree with ALL of your design choices (not like I should!), but I love that you do what you do how you do it and allow us all to tune to it.
And your family is just LOVELY. Am really rooting for you all!
The BHG site is down. I tried voting back can’t!!!! I’ll try again in the morning!
I love your blog. Congratulations on your little girl, she is so precious!
The nursery is so dreamy! I cannot wait to see what you do with the rest of your projects! I’m going to vote! Good luck!
Thanks for the reminders – sadly, I can’t promise to remember without them.
Oh my goddess, the bathroom in the basement…my parents have lived in 3 houses in NE Ohio, and each one has had one of these. Two of them did not even have walls, just a toilet sitting in the middle of the basement! Oh these modern conveniences! OK, now I’m going to put in my daily vote.
Voted, like always:-)
You’ve got both of our votes every day! Love that Ballards light fixture, it is you! Also, where did you get that great curved cabinet over the blue toilet? I rue the day someone figured out to add color to porcelain! I finally got rid of my blue and brown toilets last year, hooray!
I’ve been voting every day, hopefully your reminder can put you back in the lead, it’s SO close!
Just voted, have been every day. You’re 130 votes behind as of this moment. Sure hope you win!
What happened to the old rule – If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all!
Just voted – all the way here in uk
Sorry im behind on the voting front…will do it daily from now on =]
I think your house is bueatiful and i wish we had front porches here in the uk * sigh *
You’ve had my vote every day since the beginning of the contest — I will not rest til you win! :-)
Your project is really the most inspiring and original of them all and, as a mother of two, I am amazed you did it while only days away from your due date. You are so my hero. I’ve voted almost every day and will continue to do so. Go Nicole!
Good Luck in the contest!
I gave you a blog award today over at my blog.
When I first started reading your entry I was all ready to say, “And please post pictures of your nursery!!!” but then I saw you were one step ahead of me. Heh. From what I can see, it looks beautiful.
Great job on the inexpensive bathroom rehab.
Been voting everyday! Even enlisted my husband to vote…. crossing my fingers for you guys!
I just voted! I love what you’ve done to the rest of your house. It looks amazing!
To Jab and Lisa, what’s the point in negative feedback? Don’t waste your time criticizing Nicole, just avoid her blog if you don’t like what you see. Her business is called Pink loves Brown, so were you expecting to see an absence of Pink?
Hubby Brandon also has an artisitic flair and as a loving husband allows Nicole to express her talents within their own home. He’s no pushover though, so this is a joint effort. As I grew up with Brandon I can see bits of his childhood (starwars toy) mixed into the style. It is a strong and sensitive guy who can go beyond white walls with beer posters and appreciate a creative home.
Lots of sincere appreciation, Nicole for openly sharing your thoughts and efforts in your home remodeling projects.
I’ve been voting every day from the get-go. I can’t believe that you started to slip…What the hell!
For the record, I also love the blue toilet and tub. My bathroom came with all pink fixtures and I just love it. I’m not sure I can go back to a white toilet style life. haha
Opening your blog up for comments is a brave thing especially since someone always find the need to comment negatively so you get kudos from me. I love your porch and have been voting for you everyday, I love that you always step a little outside the box when it comes to your design approach! Thanks for the sneak peek of the nursery and good luck with the contest, I hope you win!!!
i will totally vote! i don’t know if $5,000 will cover ALL that stuff, but dang- your place will look AMAZING with all those things. the bathroom made me chuckle. we’re still renting, but the last place had yellow tub/toilet. it’s sooo gross to pee in a yellow toilet. now we have a brown. honestly- who wants to do their business in hardcore colored toilets? (my parents have a light gray and beige, and it’s never phased me… but whatever). i feel so sorry for your lil’ one (& you!)- not opening the window is the WORST. definitely the best upgrade in our latest rental.
i love reading your blog.
I have voted for you everyday! Please continue to remind your other readers to vote. You so deserve to win! Painting a porch while fully pregnant….gets my vote.
I voted…and I will twitter for people to do the same!
Hey, we have the same WC in our basement (although ours is a little bigger and actually has a window in it. But it’s still just a little basement room with a solitary toilet.
I rationalize that the laundry sink is also in the basement so that kind of makes it like a 1/2 bath…right? We also only use the basement for messy storage and the washer and dryer. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to cover the 1/2 of the basement that’s still dirt and rocks (they were apparently too big to move – a common problem in our neighborhood). What would you do with the basement toilet though. I don’t want to loose ours (it comes in handy during bathroom renovations) but it’s not very inviting shall you say.
You know, I kind of like the blue fixtures. If you updated the tile walls with that tiny glass mosaic tile that had a bit of blue in it, it could work!
Actually pink used to be a “male” color until the late 1800’s. It gradually became a unisex color and now it’s considered girly. Who knows, maybe in 2100 it will go back to being a guy thing. Nicole have you considered the slightly pricer but available Urban Loft light (in place of the Chase light) from Shades of Light?
Have been voting for you every single day! Your porch is absolutely gorgeous!
Please don’t let people like Jab and Lisa get to you. I’m sure you already know this, but most people don’t have the eye you do to pick complementary fabrics, paints, decor, etc. and to put everything together so cohesively without their homes looking like a Pottery Barn catalog. That’s what sets you apart from so many other design bloggers and that’s why people keep coming back (and should vote for you!). Who cares that your home has a lot of pink? Your vision and taste go so above and beyond what most people would think to do with their homes that you should win just for that (though it also helps that it’s looks like a lovely place to hang out).
Can’t wait to see the full reveal of Eleanor’s nursery. Just voted again today – haven’t missed a single opportunity to cast my vote. Oh, and I love the way you put your signature color on the porch by painting your table and chairs pink.
I think I really love the tiles in your bathtub area.
Can you post a close up?
It’s very 1960’s/1970’s it could look retro in a “chosen” sort of way.
I too hope you win, I’m not sure how they passed you when you were over a thousand votes ahead of them for a while!
Not all men hate pink or dislike it when their wife makes it “girly” feeling in a bedroom or parts of the house.
My husband is very happy with any color patterns i choose or the way I decorate, as long as he can have the flat screen TV on the pink wall!
Looks like you are back in front – crossing fingers that you win! Good luck!
You’re back in front with a small lead!!! But that doesn’t mean we can all get lazy. We have to vote EVERYDAY. I want to see these projects completed!
I’ve been voting for you every single day. The porch floor is amazing and the hanging divider is a really creative use of budget-friendly materials to make a big impact. Well done Nicole! I’m rooting for you!
And for what it’s worth, my husband thinks your house is awesome!
I just voted and saw YOU ARE NOW AHEAD!!!! I would love to see you win and will be voting every day til the 12th. And Nicole … your house is not the least bit “girly”. It’s interesting, current, beautifully detailed and looks like a family with lots of love and good taste lives there!
Yeah! You’re winning!!! Let’s keep this up!!!
Back in the lead, YAY! But the numbers look lower than yesterday? Or am I crazy? Either way, lets keep it up!
Oh and I love the pink, its not something I could live with but its beautiful. I dislike negative comments.
Hi Nicole, I am so glad to see you slipped back into first place. I’ve loved your design the most from the beginning. I would also like to add that my husband LOVES your patio as well, he too agreed it was the best. He can appreciate great design even if there is pink involved :-) You have our vote!
I thought that lamp was cute, I know you find it ugly but in a thrift-addict house it could really fit in a small space (aka bathroom).
Yardsale it, I’m sure someone can do wonders with it (too bad Quebec is that far, I’d do something with it)
Good luck for the challenge
Interior architect / thrift store addict, Isabelle
Just voted and you’re up by about 270 votes!!!
you have my vote. I just I find your competitors’ style boooooooooring.
Nicole, where did you get that cute bedding, it looks like orla keily, is it?
You have my vote, always.
I vote (almost) everyday! And I just voted for today…and so happy you’re in the lead! Let’s keep it that way! woohoo!!!!!!! *you rock*
We’re winning, we’re winning!
I’ve remembered to vote everyday and i am thrilled you’re in first! 5 more days for us to keep you there!
ever thought of putting the toilet in the closet by the tub and moving the entry to the bathroom over to the right? You then have made room for an excellent long sink/vanity on the sink wall. I like a private loo, do you, too????
Thank you so much for showing your basement. Makes me feel a little more normal.
Good luck on the contest! I am voting for you every day and it looks like you are leading now!! I hope you win!! :)
My only comment–I LIKE your blue toilet and tub. I think it’s too bad that no one gets colored fixtures anymore. You can’t even buy new ones. That said, we may be buying a cape that’s being totally renovated to our choice, and I’ll probably put white fixtures in the baths. (The baths need to be renovated, they can’t be preserved.) It’s either white or vintage and I dunno if I want to deal with vintage.
And I’ve voted a bunch of times for you! Not every day, I have a baby girl of my own who takes up most of my time, but when I remember.
I love the blue toilet and tub!
[...] be the recipient of a $5000 bonus! We’re so excited, and we’re eager to get started on a few new projects around the house that will now be possible. Obviously, we couldn’t have won without your tremendous support. [...]
Hi, Nicole,
I loved your porch re-do and voted nearly every day for you despite also being a This Young House fan. I just wanted to say a few things:
1. I didn’t think the comments by Jab and Lisa were too harsh — they’re entitled to their opinions. But, I love pink, too, and have used it extensively in my house. I figure why not use the colors you love in your own home. Also, with pink, it can be a great neutral color on the walls when you pair it with dark furniture. In my bedroom, I have pink walls and have alternated between red curtains and bedding, green curtains and bedding and maroon curtains and bedding. The pink, although it COVERS the walls, is not the first think you notice at all. In my living room and dining room, there are different pink walls (the living room is actually a dusty rose), but the furniture is dark brown and you are not overwhelmed by pink but it makes a great backdrop.
2. I also love blue and LOVE those bathroom fixtures. That said, mine are white which gives you more options in decor.
3. And the basement toilet? We have one too. It’s UGLY, and is certainly on our list of things to remedy someday, just not a priority because we never use it and keep the little room it’s in (a water closet) closed.
Have fun spending your $5K!
I’m sad that you don’t like the bathroom. I think it is adorable!
hi! the pink little medicine cabinet over your toilet – where did you find such a cute thing?
what if you relocated the basement outhouse toilet to the upstairs bathroom and kicked the blue one to the curb?