Confession // DIY’ing ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.

I’d be happy if I never had to look at this room again…for real!  Despite being the tiniest room in the house, it’s been the biggest pain in the you know what to fix. What’s even worse is that we haven’t really started with any of the real transformation stuff. All I’ve managed to do is chip paint for the last month and I’m so over it!  But since this space is destined to be Mad Hearts headquarters  (aka the office), the DIY’ing continues – albeit begrudgingly!

But onto better news, the stair are finally complete!  Though I was never a big fan of the wrought iron railing, we decided to keep it because a) it was original to the house b) we didn’t want to spend the money on a new one. Kleber took on the hefty task of refinishing the rusted railings and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Every time I saw him covered in a black spray paint after spending hours working on this project, I thanked my lucky stars for my hardworking guy! Next step will be replacing the gold accents and fixtures, as well as adding picture frames and wall art to make the space a little more inviting when visitors walk in – we’re making progress!

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March 28, 2012 - 11:00 pm

Life with Kaishon - I can’t imagine!!! You are the hardest worker I know Maddylicious!

March 29, 2012 - 12:06 am

yummychunklet - The stairs do look fantastic!

March 29, 2012 - 12:27 am

Punctuation Mark - i need to get some home improvement done and I’m procrastinating about getting it done!

March 29, 2012 - 2:16 am

Tiera - The stairs look great! And your office will look great too, soon enough :)

March 29, 2012 - 7:29 am

Amy - Poor Maddy! Don’t you just hate it when you start a project that seems to never end?! Just remember, this too shall pass . . . and then you’ll be working away in your fabulous office, look at a wall, and think, “That chipping wasn’t so bad.” Okay, maybe you won’t think that last part . . . but the office will be fabulous! :)

March 29, 2012 - 7:52 am

lou - good luck with the room even though i can understand that you’re fed up with chipping. but the result will be awesome. i’m sure! heads up!

March 29, 2012 - 7:56 am

Home GIrl - Great progress…remember slow and steady wins the race. THe room that you are chipping paint in….please tell me that you are using a heat gun or a blow dryer to soften the paint before chipping?? If you do, it shouldn’t be that hard to take off. Try it and let me know if you are still having problems. Keep up the good work. It will pay off.

March 29, 2012 - 8:26 am

The Guilty Hyena - The iron railings look good as new, I can imagine all these projects need plenty of planning and oodles of patience but it will all be extremely rewarding !! :)

March 29, 2012 - 8:32 am

Cafe Fashionista - Your staircase is just beautiful, Maddy! And I absolutely adore the hardwood floors – they would be perfect for dancing! Though I truly cannot imagine the amount of work that DIY’ing a house can be – I don’t know if I’d have the patience for such an undertaking. :/

P.S. I was a huge dancer as a child (and my mom has about nine billion pictures to illustrate this – all showing me in a different recital outfit :P); but I didn’t stick with it the way I wish I had. I recently took it up again, however, and everything I learned back then is flooding back to me, and I love it. I feel free when I dance! :)

March 29, 2012 - 9:14 am

Priscilla - It looks great!!! Can’t wait to visit : )

March 29, 2012 - 10:15 am

Piper - I couldn’t agree more!!! After 5 years working on our almost 100 year home, I’m just about done with the whole DIY/renovation thing!! But look how beautiful they came out – it was worth it :)

March 29, 2012 - 10:38 am

Maddy {Mad Hearts Photography} - No ma’am….I had no clue that would help! But I will be busting out the blow dryer tonight to see if we can speed up chipping the remaining part of the room!

March 29, 2012 - 10:39 am

rooth - Everything looks like it’s falling into place though. Kudos to you all for taking on this type of project

March 29, 2012 - 10:39 am

Maddy {Mad Hearts Photography} - I’m not sure I have the patience for it either, but I’m taking it one day at a time. And how cool that you were a tiny dancer growing up! I’m not surprised though, you’re such a girly girl – you were born to be a dancer! :)

March 29, 2012 - 11:22 am

Maddy {Mad Hearts Photography} - Wow! 100 year old house! Very cool! We saw a few of those beauties and fell in love , but we also knew that we didn’t have the time (or patience!) for such a massive undertaking. We’re barely managing with out 1930’s home :)

March 29, 2012 - 11:25 am

Piper - hee hee, maybe i over exaggerated – but we’re close – we have a 1926 house. only a few more years though until it hits the century mark :)

March 29, 2012 - 11:34 am

Tiffany B. - Love, love the stairs. I grew up in a house with a iron railing and i love it.

March 29, 2012 - 11:45 am

Maddy {Mad Hearts Photography} - Well, I’m sure it still possesses all the charm of a century-old home :) That’s why we decided to go with the older house – charming one-of-a-kind features. Even though I complain about all the work involved, I know it’s going to be great once it’s all done :)

March 29, 2012 - 12:03 pm

Maddy {Mad Hearts Photography} - The iron railing is growing on me :) I’m sure once we change the ceiling fixture, it will look much better!

March 29, 2012 - 2:23 pm

Emily - Dude I can totally relate to being over a home improvement project. Don’t get me started on the backyard project that took 11 months.

The stairs looks great though!! Awesome job Kleber!

March 29, 2012 - 4:00 pm

Elle sees - Such patience! But such good results to come.

March 30, 2012 - 9:36 am

Mindy - the house looks great! those floors look ripe for some sock skating :)

March 30, 2012 - 11:52 am

Adrion - looking good! I love the transformation.

March 30, 2012 - 3:31 pm

Bonnie - This place looks GORGEOUS. I’m in shock and awe. :)

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March 30, 2012 - 4:40 pm

Sabine - You’re working to such a high standard, Maddy, the staircase looks amazing. The small room might take time, but I’m sure in the end your office will be the jewel of the house.

March 30, 2012 - 4:51 pm

Gloria - Haha I say throw some cute wallpaper up and call it a day :-) The stairs look great!

March 30, 2012 - 5:30 pm

Christina Lee - Oooh pretty stars. *pets* And that room is going to ROCK!

March 30, 2012 - 10:39 pm

Sarah - Wow, the stairs look amazing! Gosh I bet you can’t wait to get that room done. What a project!

March 31, 2012 - 3:55 pm

camille - i like the railings! and i think your office it’s gonna be great! you’re always so creative!

April 1, 2012 - 9:37 am

Audrey Allure - The stairs look really good! Good luck with finishing up your soon to be beautiful office space! :)

April 1, 2012 - 10:40 am

Buckeroomama - Just think when you finally have that room done up… I’m sure it will be just as beautiful as the rest of the house. What would make this (all of it!) all the more precious is that you guys did it yourselves!

April 1, 2012 - 1:52 pm

chavonne - I hope the blow dryer tip helped you out a bit. And yay for Keebler!!! A helpful husband makes a big difference :). I’ve pretty much put our home plans on the back burner due to all the traveling but I’m hoping to get back on track this summer since I’ll be off of work.