We only planned on cleaning the carpets, but....

I try to steam clean our carpets at least once a year to keep them looking nice.

Dogs and kids wreak havoc on carpets! 

This weekend Brian and I decided to bite the bullet and get it done since we have guests coming next weekend.   I found a $5 coupon for Bissell steam cleaners at Lowes and so off we went Friday night to rent one for 48 hours.  The Bissell was great - and only cost us $34.99 for two days after my coupon - woot! 

We cleaned out the family room Friday night so it was looking like this.  I'll try to give you a 360 degree view...

 The room was awkward to try and place furniture because we have two big couches and two chairs and the TV was placed between the windows - which was the only place we could put it. 

Although we had to run the cable to it (that cord used to be tucked between the trim and the carpet).

That's the dining room through the pocket doors (with all the family room furniture piled high)

The sliding door to the right of the pocket doors goes to the breakfast room and to the kitchen.  The sliding door is on a barn door track.  The door came from my former office, a huge old historic home (I snagged three of them and a few other little goodies before the office was demolished) and probably dates back to the 1920s. Brian and I stripped it, stained it and put a patterned film on the glass until I can afford to replace the glass with colored/stained glass. So, chances are it'll stay like that forever ;)

The door to the right of that door leads to the bathroom.

  

Bathroom door again,with the guest bedroom door to the right 

 Looking in from the breakfast room, guest room on the left.

Got the lay of the land now? 

 

Forgive the quality....I'm pretty sure I was a few cocktails in at this point.

Of course, that's usually when I can convince Brian to go along with my brilliant ideas. 

It didn't hurt that he was a few cocktails in at this point too.

Anyone else out there like to have a few drinks while they are deep cleaning - at 11:00 at night on Friday?

Anyone?

Bueller?   Bueller?

Ok, maybe it's just us.
  

Anyway, I looked at Brian and said "You know what would look great...."

And he was totally on board with what I suggested.

(It should be noted that I have been suggesting this for about 5 years now....)

Never underestimate the power of suggestion boys and girls.

And liquor.

NEVER underestimate the power of suggestion - after someone's been drinking liquor.

This is starting to sound like a PSA for all those young actors on the Disney channel.

Moving on.....

The next morning we got up and started hammering and drilling....

And vacuuming saw dust - Sydney was in charge of that.  

The end result was this - we removed the middle of the double bookcase (which was surprisingly easy) and reran the cable and electric through the bottom cabinets,  so we could put the TV in there and the cable box and DVR in the shelf above.

Later, after the carpets were cleaned (and dry) we moved everything back in - but now it looked like this:

I mean really - why didn't we do this years ago???


 We still have to get some window treatments up there, finish the shelf for the TV (which was quickly thrown together when we realized the TV needed to be higher), and get a bigger TV according to my husband (not gonna happen).

It's so cozy now.  I have claimed the chair to the left (below) as my spot. 

So there you have it - a quick, easy project we should have done years ago.

And now I want to repaint and stain the built-ins darker and do some sort of ceiling treatment.

I just have to convince Brian.....