Foyer-Hallway Makeover Part Two
If you've ever watched Nicole Curtis' show 'Rehab Addict', you've probably seen the intro to her show, where she pulls off a piece of plywood to uncover a beautiful stair case. Remember how she gasps real loud and then says-"Why in the h....would anyone cover this up?"
I'm sure that wasn't the first time Nicole said something like that. After all-she's restored many old, run down home over the years, and I bet it's pretty exciting to uncover a treasure every one in awhile.
I have yet to ask such a question. You see-whenever I uncover something-I know EXACTLY why it was covered up!
Take our upstairs hallway for example.
Like several rooms in our home-the upstairs hallway had a drop down ceiling. Have I told you how much I HATE drop down ceilings? Well, I do. And I couldn't wait until this one came down.
The only problem was-there was a really good reason it was put up in the first place.
No. That is not water damage you are seeing in the photo. I took this after I began spraying the ceiling with a mixture of vinegar and water. So why I am spraying down the ceiling? Because there used to be wallpaper on the ceiling. Of course the wallpaper was torn down BEFORE they put the drop down ceiling in-but the backing remained!!! And let me just tell you my dear friends. It was NOT easy to get off!!
So why didn't we just cover it up with drywall and be done with it? Good question. One I asked myself many times while I cranked my neck and scraped for hours.
But....as hubby said more times than I care to remember. 'That's just not how we roll!"
You see-we kind of have the same belief in old houses that Nicole has. If something original to the home can be restored (regardless of how many hours it takes)-then we should do it.
So we did. And after all the wallpaper backing was off-we filled in all the holes that were left from the drop down ceiling. And then we painted. And painted.
It truly is amazing what paint can do.
But we weren't done yet.
Can you guess what this is? NO? Well.....let me tell you. THIS is a FAUX ceiling. Yes. You heard me right. FAUX. It's basically a hollow shell built over top of the foyer staircase. So you are probably asking the same question Nicole did. Why in the h....would someone want to cover up the opening to a staircase?
Hmm.... I don't know. Maybe because they got tired of scraping wallpaper??
Again it wasn't easy, and I held my breath several times while hubby hung precariously from a ladder to remove the wallpaper-repair the walls-and then paint them.
But he did it!!
Of course he will have to get back up there and put another coat of paint on-but that's beside the point.
The staircase is finally open-as it was when the house was originally built. But wait? What in the world is that square box on the far wall? Another...VERY good question.
This is what it looked like before. We 'uncovered' this little treasure after we removed the ugly orange wallpaper from the walls. It appears this is where the ONLY shut off valve to our upstairs bathroom lies. You kind of need access to that right?
Obviously, hubby is not done with this yet, (He plans on making it SO much prettier). But I'm so darn proud of him for coming up with a solution for the big GAPING hole in our wall.
As for me-I'm focused on getting the staircase done-and then it's time to put the finishing touches on the foyer and hallway. There is art work to put up-furniture to placed-pillows to be fluffed. You know-the really HARD work!! I've already started to plan out a gallery wall-but it's still in the 'work in progress' stage. Obviously-I need several more pieces-which I hope I can pick up this weekend while we are in the city.
No. This project has definitely not been an easy one folks. And there have been times when both hubby and I have just wanted to give up. But we didn't. Because we know-under the ugly wallpaper and worn plaster-lies a gem. Over 100 years ago-someone built this house with the intention that it would last forever. I guess it's our job to ensure that most of it does!
P.S. Did I tell you I get to see my precious-adorable grandson this weekend? Well I do-and I can't wait. I plan on kissing those chubby cheeks as many times as he will allow!!
Blessings,
CD
I'm sure that wasn't the first time Nicole said something like that. After all-she's restored many old, run down home over the years, and I bet it's pretty exciting to uncover a treasure every one in awhile.
I have yet to ask such a question. You see-whenever I uncover something-I know EXACTLY why it was covered up!
Take our upstairs hallway for example.
Like several rooms in our home-the upstairs hallway had a drop down ceiling. Have I told you how much I HATE drop down ceilings? Well, I do. And I couldn't wait until this one came down.
The only problem was-there was a really good reason it was put up in the first place.
No. That is not water damage you are seeing in the photo. I took this after I began spraying the ceiling with a mixture of vinegar and water. So why I am spraying down the ceiling? Because there used to be wallpaper on the ceiling. Of course the wallpaper was torn down BEFORE they put the drop down ceiling in-but the backing remained!!! And let me just tell you my dear friends. It was NOT easy to get off!!So why didn't we just cover it up with drywall and be done with it? Good question. One I asked myself many times while I cranked my neck and scraped for hours.
But....as hubby said more times than I care to remember. 'That's just not how we roll!"
You see-we kind of have the same belief in old houses that Nicole has. If something original to the home can be restored (regardless of how many hours it takes)-then we should do it.
So we did. And after all the wallpaper backing was off-we filled in all the holes that were left from the drop down ceiling. And then we painted. And painted.
It truly is amazing what paint can do. But we weren't done yet.
Can you guess what this is? NO? Well.....let me tell you. THIS is a FAUX ceiling. Yes. You heard me right. FAUX. It's basically a hollow shell built over top of the foyer staircase. So you are probably asking the same question Nicole did. Why in the h....would someone want to cover up the opening to a staircase?
Hmm.... I don't know. Maybe because they got tired of scraping wallpaper?? Again it wasn't easy, and I held my breath several times while hubby hung precariously from a ladder to remove the wallpaper-repair the walls-and then paint them.
But he did it!!
Of course he will have to get back up there and put another coat of paint on-but that's beside the point.
The staircase is finally open-as it was when the house was originally built. But wait? What in the world is that square box on the far wall? Another...VERY good question.
This is what it looked like before. We 'uncovered' this little treasure after we removed the ugly orange wallpaper from the walls. It appears this is where the ONLY shut off valve to our upstairs bathroom lies. You kind of need access to that right?
Obviously, hubby is not done with this yet, (He plans on making it SO much prettier). But I'm so darn proud of him for coming up with a solution for the big GAPING hole in our wall.
As for me-I'm focused on getting the staircase done-and then it's time to put the finishing touches on the foyer and hallway. There is art work to put up-furniture to placed-pillows to be fluffed. You know-the really HARD work!! I've already started to plan out a gallery wall-but it's still in the 'work in progress' stage. Obviously-I need several more pieces-which I hope I can pick up this weekend while we are in the city.
No. This project has definitely not been an easy one folks. And there have been times when both hubby and I have just wanted to give up. But we didn't. Because we know-under the ugly wallpaper and worn plaster-lies a gem. Over 100 years ago-someone built this house with the intention that it would last forever. I guess it's our job to ensure that most of it does!
P.S. Did I tell you I get to see my precious-adorable grandson this weekend? Well I do-and I can't wait. I plan on kissing those chubby cheeks as many times as he will allow!!
Blessings,
CD
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