Thursday, November 19, 2009

Side Affects May Include........


I learned something about myself yesterday. A few things actually. #1. I can't sit still; B. I've started more projects in the nine months since I started blogging than in the entire 16 years I've been a homeowner; 3. I watch entirely too much HGTV; E. lastly and perhaps most importantly, never leave me alone in the house with a saw.

Case in point.

The railing that separates my kitchen and family room.

When our house was built, we decided to have a railing instead of a half-wall in this space. Now, 10 years later, the more I look at it the more I'm reminded of how difficult it is to keep clean. I began this year with a new perspective on life - low maintenance. I've followed through in many ways. Like in the Spring I didn't plant as many flowers as usual. That was helpful, but by the Fall, on a complete whim, I ripped out all of the shrubs surrounding my patio. Ah, no more pulling weeds!

So as I began to shift my focus to the inevitable - holiday decorating - I thought about scaling back there too. Every year for 10 years I have taken much pride in how I dress up my railings. But even that was getting old and tiresome. I decided that I couldn't NOT decorate them, so the next best thing was to rip the darn things out!

To you this may seem a little extreme.

But in my world (a sometimes frightening place) it made perfect sense.

Having never taken a saw to a piece of wood before, I had no idea how long this would take or what I was in for. But a half a pound of sawdust later I had accomplished this.


Which led to me taking out this.


By now, I was having a ball! There was no stopping me. My poor children were slightly worried when they saw Mommy take a sledge hammer to a permanent structure in their safe, secure home. But I was not to be deterred. With each swing I felt relief. I could envision myself sweeping the floor and not having to get down on my hands and knees and reach in between those skinny spindles.

I almost finished too.


Except for this.


I wanted to surprise my man and have it all completed before he came through the door to what was supposed to be a nice relaxing evening with the fam. And he was suprised. Very surprised. I would say shocked even. Maybe a little scared too. What with the mounting pile of sawdust and his wife weilding a sledgehammer while his DNA were crouched in fetal position in the corner. What man doesn't want to come home to that?

I tried to rationalize that it made the rooms look bigger, ya know, the "open floor plan" thang. And I was quick to point out that I had just saved HIM the trouble of having to do all that work himself. Cause I'm nice like that. Oh, but those two huge things sticking straight up out of the floor just waiting to impale some innocent person making the transition from room to room? Yeah, he was gonna have to take those out. Um, and the holes in the place where the spindles used to be? He would need to fix that too. The big gauge in the wall? Just slap some spackle on there - I'm just sayin'!

At the end of the day, it's just a big gap in the floor.

Also at the end of the day I was prepping for bed when I grabbed my handy-dandy-helps-me-get-to-sleep-prescription medication and suddenly it dawned on me. Actually it hit me like a ton of bricks.....................side affects may include compulsive behavior.

36 comments:

Unknown said...

LOL, you go girl! I wouldn't have the guts to do that. So glad you did! I admire people who "just do it". I really think it looks fine now. I know you'll like it. Change is good!

Nancy

southerninspiration said...

Oh my goodness, girl......you're pretty sassy yourself! :)

Suzanne

Unknown said...

You are one brave girl! My husband would probably kill me if he came home to find that. I think you'll like it a lot better though. And since I'm full to the brim with cold meds, I guess I should dispense with any more home improvement projects for the duration--or I might wind up with holes in the floor and gouges in the wall, right??

Tricia said...

Oh Kim, you are a crazy, crazy girl! I think that's why I love you!! ;) I think that the during is great. So the after will be fabulous!!! (Should I add more !!!!!!!!!!!!!!?) Good for you. Maybe not so good for traumatized children, but ya' know what I say? Kids bounce back. They'll be fine. Promise. ;)

XO*Tricia

Glenda/MidSouth said...

You are braver than I am! :-)

Karen/Elsie Eleanor said...

Ha! I love it!! Did your husband hide all the tools from you now? Mine would have!

It will look great when it is all finished!

Wendy said...

The first step is always the hardest and look at you...you did it and it is going to look awesome!!

There is no stopping you now!! You go girl. Love it!!

Jill said...

OMGoodness! Great job girl!
~ Jill

Melinda said...

Nice job--I hope everyone has recovered!
I'm not sure I'd be that brave.

Melinda

Sherri said...

LOL! Ok, that was great writing and wonderful visual! I've surprised my children (who are 17 and 22 with no known tramatizations) with strange ideas and actions around the house too. The oldest (my son) has moved out on his own and still comes back to visit. I take that as a good sign. LOL Can't wait to see what you do with the floor now.

Anonymous said...

I was laughing so hard reading this post. You're too funny. I've surprised my husband with a few DIY projects, but I would have to say they weren't as brave as yours! You're right though, it DOES open up the space.

pk @ Room Remix

Nancy @ Live love laugh said...

It is funny what you said about doing more projects now since blogging! It is like a drug! You see more creative ideas everyday and if you do something great-like knocking the heck out of a railing-we will all applaude you and be right with you on it!
It does make sense and will look great!
~Nancy

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Kim...

Ohhh my gosh, Girl...you crack me up!!! But I completely understand where you're coming from...I think that we may be alot alike! Hehe! Okay...after laughing my head off at the visual I got of your honey when he walked in the door...I bet that look was priceless! I've seen it on my honey's face too!!! I DO know that look!!! Hehe!

Anyway...love the nice open feel with the railing gone! I commend you...go forth and conquer!!! It looks fabulous, my friend!!! Bravo!!!

Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design

PS...a big hearty congrats to Beverly! Lucky lady!!! Girl, I'm keeping an eye on your new store...really, really love some of the items that you have listed! You just never know...you may be hearing from me one of these days!!!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Oh Kim you rack me up here...I'm thinking about the Helen reddy song I am woman hear me roar as I read this...I love the openness this made but seeing your Hubby face would have beed priceless my friend...Hey you got some great stuff at your new store...Where did you find it all...Mountain hugs to you my dear friend...Gl♥ria

Janean said...

yay! it already looks better, more modern....can't wait to see the finished results.

Free Art Printables said...

you are my saw-wielding soul sister!

Melissa Miller said...

~WOW! Kim you are one brave lady! You know what...I love it! Great job! *Smiles* :)

Melissa Miller said...

Okay no kidding the password to type in is "FARTI". Sorry I just had to share that piece of info. LOL!

bj said...

I'm tellin' ya..I laughed so hard all thru this adorable post. you are so funny..I just love you and your quirky personality.
Now, I am such a titty baby that I would have doubled up and died before taking a SAW to ANYthing in my house..but, girl,you are my hero!! You wanted that thang gone and, by golly, IT IS GONE!! (did you see Fried Green Tomatoes when she took down HER wall?) YOU ROCK, SISTER !!
xo bj

bj said...

I enjoyed this post so much, I made mention of it and linked back to you on my Monday post coming up..hope it's ok..I wanted others to get a chuckle like I did...:O)

Anonymous said...

Oh, Kim, you're so funny and so rambunctious! You are determined aren't you? Good for you - you did it!
Oh, I like your idea of the positive blessings journal! We do have so much to be thankful for.
I'm thankful for you, Dear One.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving,
Shelia ;)

Queenie's Vintage Finds said...

LOL! Girl, you are hilarious! I love your posts...You never fail to make me crack up laughing! Funny how in my post today, I was saying if there's something you want to do, just go for it! LOL! I had no idea that you already went for it last week! LOL! It's gonna look great by the way...I think it was pretty before with the railing too, but this will give you the open floor plan feel you are going for...It will be less upkeep for you too. I bet that was a full time job... keeping the crumbs from in between that railing. By the way...I love your wooden floors. Hope you have a great week sweetie!
Big Hugs,
Queenie

Stacey said...

You go girl!! I love it without the railing. I love your bravery too. That's the way to get things done.

I'm so tired of the red walls in my dining room but my indecision keeps me from making a move. The other day I thought about just taking some random paint can out of the garage and making a splotch on the wall so I'd be forced to move forward.

To Wanda!!

Connie said...

Sugar, I came over from BJ's blog and can't believe you had the guts to do that! Yeaaaaahhhhh!! Go for it, chick, I'm with ya on that one. Hubs never knows what he'll come home to in this house so I just keep letting him think things are okay and that whatever he notices "NEW" has been here foreverrrrrrrRRR, right? I like your fortitude and attitude, sweetpea, so keep up the good work. Drop over to th' castle sometime and see what we're up to. LOL LOL You just tickle me, honey.

xoxo,
Connie :-)

Oh, btw, did ya hurt yourself, sugar?

Connie said...

Thanks, sugar, but did ya hurt yerself, chick?!?! LOL
xoxo,
Connie

Amber B. said...

Oh, that is so hilarious. I can just imagine your kids. My son would be wondering what the heck I was doing!!!

Justine said...

OMG, I came by 'cause BJ told me to, and boy am I glad I did! This was hysterical! I cannot believe you smashed down a railing on a whim! I see two problems though. One, what is going to go in the place where the floor ends and that mess begins? Two. You have a drop-off there. With no railing, you could have dinner guest lean back in their chair and wind up in your family room. Just sayin'.

Justine :o )

Lisa B. said...

You do have guts..ha!! I agree with you about the 'open floor plan' idea, and I think it will turn out beautiful and spacious!! Love your hardwood floors!!

Lisa

Ticking and Toile said...

OK we must be fraternal twins that were separated at birth.......I do the same stuff helping out my hubby!!! too funny!!! love the open floor plan though! (of course I do!) thanks for stopping by today! I think you are right about the tree thing. Let them have it! They'll have a blast & who cares how the tree looks right? :0)

Shellagh

Iva Messy said...

ohmygoodness!! great job!!

Shannon said...

Oh my, you got guts girl!! But I agree, what a pain to clean. I think it looks fabulous. I'm glad your husband didn't suffer a coronary.

Oh, found your blog threw Building Your Dream Home. Love your blog!

Anonymous said...

What a hoot you are! Holy Cow...and I thought I was so avante guarde with my compulsive furniture rearranging.....I am nothing compared with you...smiles.

Paula@SweetPea said...

You are so brave to tackle a project like this! It really does open up the room.

Room to Inspire said...

You have me laughing out loud! Wow, love the photos and love how you just went for it! I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Chelsea

Gwen said...

I need to make sure that I don't have soda in my mouth when I read your posts. If I do, it is likely to end up spit all over my laptop from laughing.

I blame every crazy idea that I have on the ambien too!

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

Okay--I'm a little behind on reading posts and I just read through all of your most recent ones, but this one had me in tears! My boys came in as I was cracking up! I actually love the change! It looks fabulous. I'm thinking some trim molding flat on the floor with matching stain and you're done! Truly hilarious, girl!

I miss hanging out with you. Can't wait to get back to visiting on a regular basis.

~Misti