Creating an Entry Where There is None

When you walk through our front door, you step into a narrow hallway with a wall to your left and the stairs to your right. We have zero entry space. No where for a dropping point. We do have a closet in the hallway and I would love to take off the doors and make that a mud room type area someday. But that day is not today.

Nope. Today is a day for turning a dresser that wasn't intended for the living room {but it landed there anyway} into a small entry area. It used to be the dresser/changing table in Little Man's room. It was my very first DIY project. A beaten up, solid wood, Pottery Barn dresser and changing table that I found for $60 at the Salvation Army.

I sanded it down, primed it, and painted it Partridge Gray by Glidden and Better Homes and Gardens. The same color on the walls in our master bedroom. I have funny memories of sanding and painting this dresser because, when you're 8 months pregnant, there are just some positions you can't get into or out of easily. My back was very thankful when it was done.

We moved the dresser downstairs after we moved the nursery and Little Man didn't need it anymore. I originally planned on putting it in the kitchen to use as a sideboard/coffee bar area but it got set in the living room corner "temporarily" while we were getting the kitchen and leak issue fixed up And there it has stayed. I don't mind the extra storage, but it definitely needed to be styled up a bit.

I had these two mirrors that I was planning on getting rid of and decided to use them instead. They aren't really my style anymore {I'm still planning on getting rid of them eventually} but they will do until I can find a better mirror that I love. For now, they really brighten that corner up!

The vintage leaf bowl provides the perfect place to drop keys and phones. And I added a plant that a toddler couldn't easily destroy: a fake Ikea plant in an Ikea planter. Someday I will figure out how to have real plants around without ending up with dirt and leaves all over the floor.

The white baskets are from Ikea and actually hold DVDs in our TV armoire. I just wanted to see what they looked like in there before I went out and bought a few more. So when I get those, the baskets, instead of DVDs, will hold gloves, hats, scarves, and maybe mail. I'm planning on using the drawers for extra DVD storage. We are avid movie watchers and have run out of room to store them in the armoire.

And there you are. Creating an entry where there was none. I'm kinda liking it a lot. Has anyone else struggled with the lack of entry in their home? What was your solution?


I may be linking up here...

Of Toddlers and Lamps

Little Man has pretty much killed every lamp in the house. Every lamp except this one that is up out of his reach. He is a regular lamp knocker-over. Turn your back and BAM! There goes another one.

Oh, he knows better. But this is the same kid who, after a year and a half, still has to be told to keep his feet off the table at every. single. meal. The need to make sure the rules are still there is strong with this one.

*sigh* He is my child.

Anyway, lamps.

Let's start in the living room, shall we?

The metal is bent or broken so they just do this. I can straighten them, but they stay about 2 seconds before they flop over again. There are even a couple dents in the shades. But we've only had one broken bulb so far! 

I hadn't even had this one for 6 months...at least it was only the shade. Who am I to complain about making another trip to Ikea? 

This lamp in the guest room is leaning. It is almost 10 years old though so I guess I can't blame it all on him. I can blame this on him though...

Missing beads and a missing ribbon around the top. That was all Little Man.

The lamps in the master bedroom look just fine. Until you turn them on. The light bulbs are tightly screwed in but you would never know it. They flicker rather badly.

Oh, toddlers and lamps.

The things they can manage to do when you walk out of the room for a minute. 

They're quick, they are.

The toddlers, that is. The lamps...eh, not so much.

What I'm Reading...

In the past few weeks since the Kid was born, I have been taking all the resting as an opportunity to read voraciously. Oh, how I have missed my reading marathons! This time I had a whole series to read! I will unbury my nose from my book just long enough to tell you what it is.

I'm already on the last one! Hubby gave me the complete set of Harry Potter books for Christmas and I have been tearing through them. It is my first time around reading them though I've already cheated and watched the movies. 

I have been spending every spare minute reading these books. Maybe once I'm done, I'll actually get back to doing dishes, house projects, and blogging. I will miss reading these books though. There's something about a good book that leaves you feeling rather lonely when you're done reading it. 

I hope you all have a great weekend!

February Review 2014

Wow, and it's already March! February was very full of goings on for us. So full that I didn't post as often as usual. There will be lots to fill you all in on this month! So here's a review of February!

We ended up with a pretty bad hot water leak that needed to be fixed. But we ended up with a new floor and all new bathroom fixtures as a result so...I approve. I'll be posting some updates on the whole fiasco later this month!

I tested two soups on my family and shared the taste test result. Which one do you think won my guys over? Links to the recipes are in the post too!

I wrote myself some encouragement right before baby arrived. Just a little reminder for moms that the craziness is all worth it! You are a super hero mommy!

We welcomed our littlest little last month! 

I'm looking forward to seeing what March has in store! What big events happened in your February? Share in the comments!