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We are thrilled and humbled to have our renovation journey of Content. featured on Design*Sponge.
Also, click here to read all about the lore of this historic house, and view before + after images of the work we have done, so far!
Twice a year, in October and April, Linda from
and
hosts a One Room Challenge. Over the course of 6 weeks, 20 select designers and bloggers tackle renovating or redecorating a specific room, and share their
progress with weekly blog posts.
When the April 2017 list of selected designers was announces, I was so inspired by how many of the participants are blogs and designers I admire. I knew I wanted to participate too!
The One Room Challenge encourages Guest Participants, so I'm joining the fun, sharing the magic of an Annex Guest Room makeover we have yet to tackle.
What's even more exciting, is this is a linked event, which means that all the Guest Participants will share a common link and you'll be able to easily surf through a ton of room transformations. You'll find that link at the bottom of this post!
Warning: The following "before" images are scary!
I often share this 'before' image with people who don't know the
state in which we acquired Content
.
I suppose this
Annex Guest Room
image was taken during the bank's repossession of the property prior to foreclosure.
Luckily, when we closed on Content in October 2014, the trash and junk had been cleaned out.
But, it always amazes me that just 5 short months after this picture was take, two knuckle heads (John + I) showed up bright-eyed and bushy tailed, and jumped feet first into the biggest renovation project of our lives.
Even though we've done a lot since 2014 (i.e. the blood, sweat and tears chronicled throughout this blog), nowadays the Annex Guest Room has mostly been used as storage.
Here's John and my Dad, likely discussing how I'm a closet hoarder of second-hand furniture.
Over the coldest winter months, I did spend a few days replacing all of the window weight mechanics so all the windows now properly function.
A post shared by c o n t e n t + c o (@contentandcompany) on Feb 6, 2017 at 5:28am PST
Overall, the Annex Guest Room has awesome bones, just like the rest of the house. This space features a brick fireplace (which needs a mantel), exposed beam ceiling and four original, double pane windows.
The original wide, hardwood pine floors are still in this room. And the space has beautiful ceiling and baseboard molding too!
The overall goal of this makeover is to clean up the walls and ceilings with fresh paint, and create a "disappearing" guest room. Huh?
Stay with me... We refer to this as the Annex because it attaches to Guest Suite #1 and the Great Room. We think this would be the perfect space to provide friends and family, traveling together, with additional accommodations.
But we want to reserve the ability to remove the beds should the space be needed for a special event, in conjunction with the Great Room.
So far, I have a vintage camp theme in mind. I think this will lend itself well to the "disappearing" beds, as well as to a lounge setting.
I have a bunch of ideas floating around, and can't wait to see this fun, quirky makeover come to life.
Be sure to follow along with our progress and comment below with your thoughts!
KEEP IT GOING!
You can connect to all the
One Room Challenge Guest Participant week 1
updates here! #oneroomchallenge
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There's nothing better than finding a great light fixture at a flea market or antique shop. But chances are, the electrical components won't meet modern standards or code.
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Get ready! I'm about to spill the beans... The #PreCivilWowHome that John + I have been renovating, is actually in my parent's house!
As kids, my sisters and I did our fair share of ripping my parent's house apart. Sorry parents.
Even though John and I did a lot of ripping and demo, the difference now is we put it back together a heck of a lot nicer.
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Here's the background on this project.
UPDATE: You can now view this renovation Before & After feature on Apartment Therapy here!
For the entire 20 years, plus the time that John and I moved back in with my parents before we got married, this was the only full bathroom in the entire house.
Growing up, my mother, two sisters and I would battle for our turn. Don't ask what my father did (poor man), let's just say he was outnumbered and resourceful.
Then, in 2013, John + I added another full bathroom to the their house which is now ensuite to the master bedroom.
A little flashback, that original, master bathroom project was the first construction job that John + I ever tackled as a team!
Once the master bathroom was complete, this "guest bathroom" became the black sheep of our loos. The only new thing added, in the last 10 years, was a stackable washer and dryer.
INSPIRATION
Day to day, this space will function as a laundry room. John + I used that as our design inspiration aiming to make the space feel clean and airy, like fresh laundry.
PLANNING
The initial plan for this bathroom was a simple freshening up. But, we quickly learned under the linoleum floors was much more extensive water damage than we had anticipated. A few expensive hardwood flooring quotes for repair and sanding, had us looking for other solutions early on.
We decided on a floating laminate that we laid over the existing hardwood. John had helped install laminate before, but this was my first time using it. I have to admit.
This hardwood floor advocate can honestly say that every project is different, and in this case, it made complete sense!
My father was adamant (and we were happy to agree) to keep the original cast iron American Standard tub that he dates to be at least 75 years old.
A post shared by c o n t e n t + c o (@contentandcompany) on Mar 11, 2017 at 3:06pm PST
AFTER
The most dramatic change is the new shower enclosure which we designed with a standard white subway and decorative top trim.
All of the fixtures and hardware are matched in oil rubbed bronze.
To encourage stylish function, we designed this custom clothes drying rack.
I found these great vintage hangers in the coat closet, and love that even if they're out in the open, they still feel stylish.
We still don't have a vanity mirror, but on on the look out for the perfect vintage piece!
Sources
WALL PAINT: Sherwood Green by Benjamin Moore
TRIM PAINT: Linen White by Benjamin Moore
FLOORS:
TUB: Original American Standard
TILE: White subway, Platinum grout
SHOWER TRIM KIT:
CURVED SHOWER CURTAIN ROD: Signature Hardware
SHOWER CURTAIN:
VANITY:
30" Diamond FreshFit Webster Mink Espresso
series vanity available at Lowes with
VANITY COUNTERTOP:
available at Lowes
SINK FIXTURE: Moen Bronze
TOILET: Kohler
SCONES:
with
WINDOW VALENCE: Country Curtains
BRONZE SHELF BRACKET:
with John's custom design shelf and bar.
Let us know what you think in the comment section below?
I started reading Martha Stewart Living magazine, religiously, when I was a junior in high school. If there was someone I aspired to be, it was Martha.
During this time, we had a family friend who worked with her directly. She told us classic, Devil Wears Prada-esque tales about what a difficult person Martha was to work for, and yet, ever the loyal, 15 year old Courtney was enamored.
Most of my admiration was tied, and still is, to the monthly calendar she publishes within the first few pages of Living.
I remember daydream about all the planning and preparation I'd take to ready my (then hypothetical) home, for the coming season. Launder holiday linens and store for next year. Clean and organize the potting shed. Prune the fruit trees.
In retrospect, I realize that these daydreams were a tad lofty. But, I still aim to have a monthly plan for Content, though I imagine you'll never catch me touring our property on cross country skies.
So, here's what John and I have planned for March. If the weather cooperates, most goals are getting the exterior of the property ready for spring:
1. Install mailbox (finally!) and house numbers.
2. Submit Spring market vendor applications for Content Woodworking.
3. Weed garden beds, ready for mulch.
4. Order New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) to plant beside front steps.
5. Finish storm window construction (never finished for winter). Say "thank you" prayer for the mild winter...
6. Research Mountain Laurel for north-east corner of house.
7. Guest Suite #1 punch list (poly floor repairs)
8. Research stow-able folding bed options for the Annex
So, what's on your "get ready for Spring" list?
We're a bit out of order here at Content. We recapped the reveal of Guest Room #2, before sharing Guest Room #1 with you. But, if you anything about John and I, its that we'd rather get it done (right) than follow formalities.
Anyway, here's the big reveal of Guest Room #1
BEFORE
AFTER
BEDSIDE TABLES: I bought these matching side tables at a barn sale. In all honesty, I was going to paint them, but since I was crunched for time, I dusted them off and that's about it.
BEDSIDE LAMP: Amazon.com
MANTEL DECOR: Per the usual, a mix of thrifted items.
CURTAINS: Marshall's $19.99 for a set of 2.
WALLS: Freshly painted Cloud White by Benjamin Moore OC-130 in a matte finish.
CEILING: The ceiling in here has been previously drywalled between the beams. We used an Advanced White to freshen up the ceiling and left the exposed wood as it.
TRIM: As with the rest of Content., we used Advanced White.
So, what do you think of this transformation? Comment below!
Join us for the a Holiday House Tour of Content + Co in New Jersey. Sharing vintage and traditional Christmas inspiration for your home!
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