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This blog afforded me the ability to connect with extended family and friends in the long-ago days of our adoption journey, when we knew the kids would need some quiet in the home and yet anticipated our loved ones wanting to be along for the ride. It is also a record of my sojourn of naivete and learning as I attempted to make sense of it all.  It's personal and pedestrian and even includes images borrowed from the web -- nothing professional about it.  Because there were painful, hard-won lessons, I've left here the evidence of my ignorance about international adoption and childhood trauma and my efforts to appropriately appreciate a foreign country and its people.  I leave it unedited as an honest archive to give a humbling reminder that we never get all of life figured out.  To quote one of my students, "Don't you wonder what we're doing now that's wrong and we don't even realize it?"  Yet, it also serves as motivation that it is worth trying to get things right as much as we are able so as to reduce the harm and increase the good we might do a la Maya Angelou's "when you know better, do better."  My use of Facebook has gradually surpassed this place for my personal exchanges, and it is time to draw this spot to a close.  I am working slowly on a new and entirely different blog project that I will share once I have it ready for you.    

Home -- The Big Reno.

So, before-and-after pics of my projects are a satisfying pause point for me -- to sit in gratitude and to put closure on the job done, annnnd I also tend toward nostalgia (I want images of our past to look back upon every once in awhile).  The punctuation at the end of a process, however, is the main driver for my psyche.  Since some peeps have commented that they enjoy the shots of paint and design, and I love to see others' homes, as well, I'm continuing the habit of posting them; how-EV-er, I want to underscore that this creative outlet for me is about the best design I am able to conjure (admittedly amateur) and then capture when things are actually (and rarely) tidied up the way I'd like.  AKA "it-is-not-intended-to-be-a-pretty-facade-of-our-family-life," as we all know too well that reality is full of messy efforts to thrive, and some days it's a task just to survive with some of our sense in tact.

Decor is mere hobby, but one that feeds my quasi-sanity.

Most days, we have browning bananas in the kitchen just a few steps from the almost empty roll of paper towels that nobody will use for fear of -- gasp! -- having to labor at getting out the new one.

And the design of the mudroom is almost always graced with these finishing touches:

Sports bar, living room, and family room furniture ward off our furry inhabitant with the beeping sensors, or, in the case of the center chair, a look-alike (black garbage bag).

As for my escape into the world of design and tending to pleasant surroundings when I am able, first, I must recognize that this was not entirely my and Chad's project.  Without many professionals on the scene, this would have been nothing more than a pencil sketch, and most notably, Jeremiah LaBelle as our general contractor and lead guru on the site every day is deserving of a ginormous "Thank you!" for his expertise, attention to detail, integrity, and for being so darn easy to work with.  I never felt shy about discussing our need to be on a budget, and he was mindful of reducing costs for us without sacrificing safety, durability, or overall visual effect.  His workmanship was beyond impressive, and the level of trust we had in him to take our home to it's next phase could not have been more solid.

Additionally, I want to state for the official (?) record, here, that we are plainly aware that this project was also made possible by the fact that this house, with all of it's ~150-year-old charm, was in remarkable, restored condition when Mark and Marti Bramstedt passed it into our hands 2 1/2 years ago.  Having left a beloved, old home in Forsyth after 10 years, we know well the amount of one's self that is poured into a home and also what it is to move on before we finished all of our long-term plans for that house on Ruehl St.  We hope the touches we added to the back end of this old home in Watseka are worthy of what we've inherited here.

First, some demo -- of the small, detached garage and the rubble from the front walk Chad and Jameson ripped out from the front to make use of the excellent pavers that we wanted to save from the demo in the back, which made for a nice, old-style brick walk to the front door.

We were able to extend the house to create a sports bar area for all of Chad's memorabilia that had been in storage since the move and also a mudroom that could attach to a new, larger garage -- without losing much yard space by extending just a couple of feet past where the old deck had been.  (And a new deck will go in the side yard next spring near the koi pond that we also plan to get back
 up and running.)

Wright Concrete created our foundation.

BEFORES AND AFTERS

Before and After -- the view when coming in from the old back door of the house...

Before and After -- We moved the island a bit south, enlarged it, and added the sink and dishwasher.  You can see that the couch presently sits on the border where the old back wall had been, where the new addition begins.

         Before and After -- The old galley alcove for the fridge and old sink were framed-in with a
                                                      pocket door to create Chad's office.

Before and After -- Some careful demo and decisive construction made way for a traditional 

wall of cabinetry and stove where a built-in pantry had existed.  Thank you to Kingdon's for their trustworthy help and impressive expertise in bringing to fruition my master plan for using the space of this kitchen to it's maximum potential despite many doorways and stairwell entrances.

For those of you not yet asleep, the detailed tour begins...

I wanted a city-chic modern energy to contrast (yet coordinate adequately) with the wood floors and woodwork throughout the rest of the home by way of some traditional elements.  This fun, black flooring is easy-care vinyl, also from Kingdon's.  I got to pull out of storage my mirrored window (top) and picnic and fruit baskets (picnic a wedding gift that has stood the test of time and fruit from a yard sale years ago).  Needing more light in this area of the kitchen, I snagged for just $5 another old window from "Ma & Pa's" on 5th street and added some mirrored spray paint to the back.  (Thank you Big R for having many of the quirky things I need for my projects). I love to look through my tea collection in the basket when I'm in the mood for something lighter than a latte.

But when it is latte time (when isn't it?) this little cabinet area below holds all the goods.  (The gaping hole under the counter is awaiting our repaired, old stainless microwave for which the part is on back order.  THIS is the reason I procrastinated calling this big, big project "done," but it's long past time.  "Done" enough.)

This is my favorite part, however.  It mimics the open-shelving set up we had on one wall in our old Forsyth kitchen that didn't come with cabinetry, and then we fell in love with what was intended as a temporary storage solution.  This pot rack was a simple online order, and the shelf below is just a board of pine cut to specification by Alexander's before I applied a coat of poly.  It's installed by use of some metal thingies like mending brackets, but are L-shaped; they had the perfect industrial look and shape for me to pretend they're shelf brackets.  Pendant lights found at Lowe's...nice price, simple look.  (BTW -- Josh Hoy of B&D Electric -- props for all the wiring and expertise on the placement of lights, switches, outlets -- things that make a huge difference in the feel and function of a space that are difficult for homeowners to come up with on our own.)

As strange as it may sound, I love this little portion, as it feels like home with the towels ready at the reach and the perfectly-scaled wall art from friend Amy Curry.

This mirrored window came from our Forsyth home -- it had been in the wall above a shower in the old, downstairs bathroom (a tiny room that is now a pantry in that house), and it opened out to a lean-to back porch that was in the spot now occupied by the new downstairs bathroom in that home addition.  Not that I'm nostalgic or anything....

Big R -- burlap coffee bags (actual bags used for shipping coffee beans that sometimes has a stray, unroasted, dry, green coffee bean..or a few)...that I cut and sewed, because, um, I like all things associated with coffee (even though I'm a weirdo who always drinks decaf).

                               Gorgeous pink poinsettia courtesy of the WCHS FFA flower sale,
                                                and the fine selling skills of Cassie Peters.

The industrial, sleek sink and faucet that I just love -- one of the indulgences we allowed 

ourselves in this big project.  (Shout out to C&C Plumbing for all the water works and HVAC.)  Because I'm not particular about counter tops, we stayed with our typical laminate type, 

but selected a new design with a pressed bamboo look.

                                                                Room for 6 -- finally!

  My favorite crockery we purchased in Galena on our honeymoon just a few --ahem-- years ago, and       my much newer mortar and pestle for making Indian chai via my dear friend, Archana's, recipe.

                                                    More coffee art from the Big R bags.

The transition space from contemporary coffee-zen (?) kitchen to sports bar.  I think we made it work with the color choices, paint placement, and continuous flooring.  When it was finally time to unload the storage shed in late spring, it was like Christmas for Chad (even though this pic was taken a few days ago during the actual holiday season), as he got to rediscover all the wonderful memorabilia that had been packed away for two years awaiting this new room.

            Dry-erase paint -- idea courtesy of Coach Gisinger.  The black wall quotes were my
                          surprise for the Cluver who waited so long to have a space for his things.

Baylor's Bulls memorabilia is shared where all of us can enjoy it and where it can have a safe home now that her bedroom is undergoing it's last-ever make-over with a Broadway theme (to be finished and posted some months from now).  And a felt gym banner won by Chad's brother, Rennie, at a WCHS Warrior golf outing that Rennie has now passed on to Chad for this space.

                The old, homemade bar with state series nets gets an upgrade with a new glass top.

                                          Mostly Hoosiers, but Sherry's Boston photo, also
                                     (actual photo not blurry like this photo of the photo)...

        Another piece of another "home" by way of friends who have become family -- a wonderful
                                    framed graphic gifted to us by the Dales of Forsyth.  LOVE it and them!

         Go Cubs, Go!  The bottom print is especially lovely, as it was gifted to Chad by one of his
                  ballplayers who went to Chicago for the day-after World Series Celebration.
                                                       (Thank you, Brendan Fletcher!)

                                                                          Memories.

                           The 1957 Maroa-Forsyth team above, and below, WCHS's Eddie Dene.

   A Wilkey creation (Phil Wilkey of WCHS Ag/FFA) -- industrial-styled coffee table made with sections of the old Glenn Raymond Middle School court!  This could not be more perfect
                          for our new room -- a little bit Sherry, and a little bit Chad Cluver.
                                     (You know you were humming to the Osmond's old tune...)

Behind the wall.  Be afraid, be very, very afraid...  

Yes, mama new what she was doing in designing this right where it is -- hahaha!

Ah -- I love the fresh-air feeling of natural light and lots of bright white.

Basil, because it is delicious.  Mint because it always reminds me of Grandpa Jones and is soothing
               in hot tea.  Rosemary because it's the only other fresh herb plant sold at Walmart.

   My favorite wall quote and old, old framed pics of our first two kids -- this four seasons project
                     could also finally come out of storage, and I still love how it came together.

                             This one below includes two of their cousins, Nathan and Ethan Garard.

                                   Shoe bins.  That are used sometimes.  When I hollar about it.

Before and After -- the 1/2-bath.

The in-the-wall medicine cabinet with mirror was in perfectly good shape; so, I simply dabbed the metal hardware with my "magic" silver paint on a tiny, artist's brush and hung the open-back, black picture frame around it to lend more visual weight.

                      Yup, the same Lowe's stock vanity we installed in our old Forsyth home,
                                          but with an upgrade on the faucet just for kicks.

                  An unconventional light fixture for a bathroom, but it works for a sleek sports look.

               The inner sanctum of practice prep, game planning, and Calculus grading -- as seen in
                                      the full, messy chaos of the in-season teacher and coach.

Some favorite notes -- from Coach Edwards of the '57 MF team and Coach Crawford of T-Town.

                                                  More memories with special people...

                      The puzzle poster I bought Chad the Christmas he and I started dating...

So, not so glamorous, but in some ways one of the most exciting parts of this entire project -- an attached garage -- whoot-whoot!  In the old neighborhoods of Watseka this is difficult to come by, and something we had finally acquired in our mid-30s back in Forsyth and to which we'd grown accustomed and gotten spoiled.  Amen and hallelujah, we do not take this for granted when it is time to drop off and pick up kids from busses or unloading groceries in rain, sleet, and snow.  Gra-ti-tude.

You know what this is -- it's a door to the back yard -- where we can let out our dog...without him coming directly into the house without being wiped off, and a space to put an extra, old fridge and chest freezer.  I'm old.  This is exciting stuff.

And this mama made a few whimsical things to lighten and brighten an otherwise utilitarian space...Some positive, Harry Potter bravery of "go get 'em" on the way out the door...

...but for now, I most like the notes for on the way in -- referencing the comradeship of my two favorite sets of sitcom character wherein they, however sarcastic or silly otherwise, ultimately have each others' backs.  After all, that is what we call "home."