Unintentional, Slightly Intentional Bathroom Remodel

Look at these before photos. That bamboo wallpaper had to go. (No offense to bamboo wallpaper enthusiasts). I was just tired of looking at it's dated appearance.

The original short term plan was to strip it and give the room a fresh coat of paint and a new mirror. I had other ideas in mind for later down the road such as new flooring, vanity and tiled back splash. For now, my budget would only allow paint and a mirror.

It didn't go down like that. 

Welcome To The Dust Mite Jungle: Time To Rid The Abode of Carpet.

I despise carpet. I hate the dirty, grimy little secrets it holds and the microscopic clans of creatures that take up residence. I know it can be cleaned, and I've done it countless times. Is it ever really clean though? Really clean? Perhaps. Probably not. Regardless, I've decided to rid the place of the dust mite jungle.

The first room I chose to do was a smaller one. There were two reasons. One is that I'd seen a really cool flooring idea on Pinterest that I wanted to try, and secondly, if I messed up, I'd only messed up small scale.

Before And After-From 1800's Barn to Updated Frame

An older gentleman came to me last week with a canvas painting of a houseboat. The painting was dangling from three slats of old wood, and a fourth slat completely removed.

It belonged to his wife, and he, in the process of moving it, dropped and broke it, then hid it from her. Now was looking at me in desperation waiting on me to tell him I could make it all better.

Shadowboxes And Romance

As I mentioned, I am a professional framer. One of my favorite things is when a customer comes in with a unique, 3 dimensional object or two, and wants to have it framed. Not only do I love the challenge, but also the stories that are often behind the items. Here are a few of my favorites from the "romance" category.

An older gentleman brought in a small box with two wedding bands and two necklaces. He said they belonged to his wife, and seeing that he wanted both wedding bands in there, I rightly assumed that she had passed away. I started working with him on the design, and when I looked inside the top of the box, I saw a small note. I asked him if he'd like to include that in the shadowbox as well.
He didn't know what I was talking about.

Shadowbox's And A Mother's Son

This one was hard to do. All throughout the process, all I could think about was how this was all that was left.

Even in telling the story, I find it difficult. I'm the mother of a young man and I can't imagine what it would feel like to have only memories, photos, and a shadowbox left of what was the child you birthed and watched grow into a brave young man, a brave young soldier.
The customer was actually a former employee. I did not know her when she worked there, it was before I came on board.
I didn't even meet her until after she came to pick up what I had framed for her.