|

I’m Joining The “Imagine” Challenge

It seems that I need a bit of a kick start on completing some of my projects, and I think I found just the “kick” I need.  I’ve decided to join the “Imagine The Impossibilities” challenge…

I love working on projects, but I find it more motivating when I know I’m taking on this challenge with other people, and we can share in each other’s triumphs when we all complete (or come closer to completing) our projects.  Of course, I’m getting in kind of late on this challenge, so I had to really think about what I project I wanted to choose.  With only 16 days left before the challenge ends, I wanted to choose something that would challenge me while still being attainable.  So, the project I chose is…

My hallway! Remember my hallway and my utility closet? I know, I know…a more appropriate question would be, Kristi, do you remember your hallway and utility closet?

I had such good momentum going for a while, and then it fizzled out…completely. But I’m determined to have this finished by January 31st. There’s quite a bit of work that needs to happen.  The most obvious thing is that I need to paint the cabinets.  I’m still undecided on a color, but I’m inching closer and closer to a decision.  In addition to painting, there are about a hundred other medium-sized projects to small detail projects that need to be completed.

The floor is still not finished. I still need some tiles around the edges and corners, and then I need to grout.  Then then baseboards need to be installed…

This closet that contains the washer and dryer has been a real frustration for me.  No matter how hard I shoved, I simply couldn’t ever get the washer/dryer pushed into the closet enough to get the doors closed.  So, off came the doors, and I’m going to hang some sort of curtains over the opening.  I also need to sand and paint the trim, and find some way keep the washer/dryer from scooting forward when the dryer is on.  There are still a few inches back there, but every time I dry something, the entire thing inches forward.

The cabinets are out of control…especially my paint cabinet.  I have things shoved in there haphazardly, and finding anything I need is virtually impossible without at least partially unloading the cabinet each time.  Probably half of this stuff could just be thrown away.

And because I don’t have a countertop on my lower cabinets, I’ve just piled stuff on there, making the drawers completely useless.  I definitely need to add a countertop!

This wall needs to be prettied up a bit.  Perhaps it’s time for me to round up my paint samples again and create another piece of artwork!

My light fixture needs some attention.  Can you see the problem?  The “cage” is about three inches lower than it should be.  That’s what happens when you try to put together a DIY lighting project with painters tape!  It’ll be a simple fix, but definitely needs to be addressed.

And the last thing that I’ll include in this hallway challenge is my bedroom door (since it’s the only one that can be seen from the front door/family room area).  I’ve already made one change–I swapped out the plain hollow core door for a six panel door.  The problem?  Even though they were both 36″ doors, for some reason the new one is about 1/4″ too narrow.  When I pull the door all the way closed, you can see a sliver of space, and the space is just enough so that the door closure thingamabob won’t reach the thingamabob hole in the door facing.  In other words, there’s no way to keep a dog and two cats out of our bedroom at night unless we put something heavy in front of the door.  I’m still not sure how I’ll fix this problem, but I’m sure there’s a solution. (And wow…check out that filthy moulding! How embarrassing!)

So that’s my challenge, and one that I hope to complete by January 31st.  Think I can do it?  We’ll see!

Have you joined the challenge?  What are  you working on?  If you want to join the challenge, it’s not too late to start!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

16 Comments

  1. Yeah Kristi! I’m not the only one who showed pictures of the ugly truth!!! I love it. I have a triple ugly project and I was afraid of putting the before photos out there but I ended up posting some so people could see how far we need to come to complete this project. I just went for it. I do remember another post about this space of yours, and I remember thinking, how nice that Kristi can be real and show us the not-so-pretty spaces and aspects of DIY blogging along with all of the fun and pretty stuff you do. Yeah for you!

  2. Yippie Kristi! So glad you are joining our challenge and thanks for posting our button! Looks like lots to do but I’m rooting for you! I love that you showed us the room so we can be wowed (and I know we will be) with the transformation. Can’t wait to see it!
    Kelly

  3. Wow! I’m so excited that you’ve joined our little challenge. And what a great project you have chosen. Have you seen those shower curtain rods that bow out a bit? I wonder if something like that would work in front of your w/d. Without, you know, looking like a shower. 🙂 And too funny about the light fixture. I do that all the time and then just hold out until the last minute to make a more secure change.

    So fun to see our challenge button up here and have you part of the adventure!
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

  4. What a great way to spark people to finish a project in January. I know you can do it!!!!!! Can’t wait to see the finished project.

  5. Wow! More like Wow x 2. So glad you are joining in on our “Impossibilities” challenge. Looks like you are going to be very, very busy over the next 16 days. And spelling it out like sends a shiver up my spine … I am still stuck on picking a paint color … that’s it. Tomorrow a paint color will be chosen, even if I have to close my eyes in front of all the paint chips I’ve amassed and point!

    Welcome aboard …

    Linda
    [email protected]

  6. I think I need some kind of challenge like this to tackle some of the projects of mine that are in this condition! You should see my laundry (actually you shouldn’t, it’s embarrassing). Good luck with your project and I’m sure it’s going to look fantastic 🙂

  7. Yeah Kristi! so so glad you are joining the challenge and thank you so much for sharing the real deal! you are going to be one busy lady but i know i for one and really looking forward to your finished masterpiece!!!! Anticipation is building for sure and i think the 31st is going to bring a lot of surprises — just so glad that your transformation is one of them! thank you so much for playing along! hugs…

  8. I am in love with that light fixture…..I mean I can see what you pointed out…..but really…..let’s stop for a moment and declare the fabulousness of that light fixture! I am so excited that you are joining us in this challenge and I CANNOT wait to see the after. Seriously. I think I would marry that light fixture if I were available!
    blessings,
    karianne

  9. I love your honesty. It is one of the many reasons that I love reading your blog. I think you should paint the cabinets the brown color in your plaid wall. Good luck with your challenge. You are a brave girl!!

  10. Hi Kristi! I am new here. My name is Charle and I have actually been following your blog for some time now. I just love all your amazing ideas and advice on decor. I think it is awesome that you are doing this Challenge and wish I had the time to join it as well. I just wanted to offer a little extra hint maybe to aid in your project. You said that you have had trouble getting your washer and dryer pushed back far enough to close the doors but couldn’t so you took the doors off and will be trying to hang a curtain to cover the machines. I think this is an awesome idea. Have you ever heard of appliance paint. You could find a color to match the area which you are designing and paint your washer and dryer so if they do tend to slide out from hiding they would look brand new! Thanks for letting me comment and I hope I didn’t step on any toes. 🙂

    1. Ha! Nope, no toes stepped on here. 🙂 I’ve wanted to replace our washer and dryer for quite some time now, but the problem is that (1) these still work fine, so it’s hard for me to justify the price, and (2) I can’t find new appliances that are small enough to fit the closet!!!! It’s been quite frustrating. I had actually thought of painting them, especially after seeing the painted washer and dryer over at Killer B Designs. You can see them here in the eighth picture down: http://www.killerbdesigns.com/floorplan/ They turned out amazing! I’ve had that in the back of my mind ever since I saw them. If I end up doing that, it’ll probably be a while. I don’t think there’s any way I could get it done for this challenge by the 31st of the month!! 🙂

  11. Yay for you!!! It will come out gorgeous. There is something about finishing a daunting project when you know you have accountability to it. I need to figure out how to do this with every single DIY project I take on around here. I wrote out my list of DIY to-dos for 2012……let’s just say it took two papers to get it all in. But! I have already started on the 1st item, and it is a doozy. Can’t wait to see your entry transformed.