Before and Ahhh-fter

I can't tell you how much I love to look at before and after pictures in magazines, blogs, etc. I am so excited that I can finally post one.

It has been a year -- I officially unloaded the first load of junk out of our bonus room Martin Luther King Day last year. Now, after finally tidying things up this week I took some shots of our complete bonus/craft/fly-tying/ computer gaming/sewing/memory keeping/hoping-to-do-homework room.

The embarrassing "before" picture 2010

The completed project

David graciously accommodated me by building me this bookshelf. Would you believe we haven't owned a bookshelf the entire 15 years of our marriage?

Ample drawers to store crafting supplies

I bought these card catalogs several years ago from an old elementary school. David thought I was crazy and begged me to get rid of them. My cabinet guy drooled when he saw them. I was fearful he would steal them when he took them to refinish them. Instead, his son/worker just stole a big load of cash from my money jar -- another story (I have his fingerprints on the jar, but the police don't care). Yeah, I am still reeling.

Stools where I hope my children will sit to become smarter while doing their homework. Yeah, right.

The fly-tying side of the room. I left my skeptical husband a set of drawers for his gear.
I think he is happy now I kept them.

And cubbies to store children's momentos in hopes of making it into binders before they marry.

All in all, we replaced carpet and lighting, repainted, installed cabinets and countertops. I was hoping to splurge on furniture on which to lounge and possibly a TV, but since my cash was ripped off I will have to wait. I am project-ed out. But, I do have one in mind I might have enough energy for! :) We'll see if I can enlist my hubby's help again. He's such a great sport!