I wish I had thought to take some “before” pictures, but I didn’t so all you get here is the finished product! I will tell you a little bit about how I did it though.

We had a boring, brown leather cocktail ottoman that came with a sectional we no longer have. While it served it’s purpose, I was more than tired of it and have been actively looking for a new coffee table instead. A couple of months ago I bought this great cowhide rug from IKEA and although I LOVED it, I decided that with all the hardwood in the house, I really wanted something more cozy & fluffy on the floor. A few weeks went by as I looked at these two pieces and finally it clicked — I should re-upholster the ottoman with the cowhide rug! It was perfect — I got to keep my cowhide front and center in the living room, plus we didn’t lose the functionality of the ottoman and the floor space was clear for me to find the perfect fuzzy rug for underfoot.

My friend Pam came over to lend a hand with the project and it basically went like this:

1. Unscrew wood feet from the ottoman

2. Position cowhide on ottoman right-side-up to make sure it is aligned the way I wanted it

3. Flip hide & ottoman upside down

4. Use staple gun to attach cowhide to underside of frame on the middle of each side (one person stretched the hide tight by hand, the other stapled)

5. Trim off as much excess material as possible & fold in corners, attaching with more staples

6. Staple hide along underside of the frame, making sure it is securely attached

7. Screw wooden feet back on and flip right-side-up

Finished!!!

Now I love my new ottoman and just have to find the perfect area rug to complete the room. Oh, and by the way… we only have a small percentage of wallpaper left to peel in the living/dining room. We will officially have one room finished before you know it! And — in case you were wondering, that handsome devil in front of the ottoman is the newest addition to the family, George. He is the sweetest, most snugly 10-year old Rottweiler you have ever met, adopted from the county animal shelter at the beginning of February.

Stay tuned for more updates on the house!

Projects around the house continue and although seeing the results is rewarding, it’s also easy to get burnt out. As I’ve mentioned before, we have already learned the value of the “quick win” and a sure path to success is the ability to see results along the way.

That said, it seems priorities (as far as projects go) are easily changed. As first time homeowners, some of the projects that sounded so simple now look incredibly daunting. The wallpaper for example. Yikes! However I think today will be the day to start working away at that wallpaper in the guest bedroom…

Last weekend when Z was in LA for work I had every intention of peeling wallpaper but I found myself down in Zack’s office and realized that I could make a huge difference in that room with just one afternoon. So… with a little work on the floors & the fireplace plus a few accessories I felt like I really accomplished something! The room isn’t finished by any means but it has taken leaps and bounds in the right direction.

We’ve been watching “Mad Men” quite a bit as of late so I used that plus the era of our house (1957) for a bit of inspiration. The floor is a checkered dark & light brown tile and while we’ll be replacing it eventually I thought it wise to embrace the pattern rather than fight it. The curtains we already had, the chair (similar to the one pictured) will be handed down from my parents. I had an old wooden tray (similar to the one pictured) and used some leftover gold spray paint to spruce it up for Zack’s requested bar area (think Don Draper’s office in Mad Men) and added the monogrammed low ball glasses I had given to him several years ago.

Other details: Side table. Lamp Shade. Lamp Base. Clock. Rat Pack poster.

pinned here

On the first night we moved into our new house I knew I was not going to bed without removing the hideous monstrosities masquerading as living room window coverings. I’m sure at one point they looked fabulous and were much-loved by their previous owners but their day in the sun had long since come and gone and I would not rest until they were gone.

The to-do list of home improvement projects has quickly multiplied since we moved in. I mean, the wallpaper… my arms become fatigued just thinking of the endless peeling. And the baseboards in the bedroom? I thought I could re-mount those suckers NO problem. Then I realized I had no idea how to use the finish nail gun… one look at that air compressor and I decided I had better wait for Zack. Although I have a feeling I’m going to end up giving it a try tomorrow.

Projects have become divided into the more labor intensive and the “quick wins”, projects completed relatively easily with an impact can be felt immediately. For Zack, it was the boxing gym in the basement. For me, it was getting the master bedroom in order (next is that awesome pendant pictured above for the dining room!). Sprinkling in a “quick win” here and there is helping us keep our focus throughout all the other things on the never-ending to-do list.

But… it’s starting to look like home and that, my friends, is more than worth the work!

Any tips or tricks to share when it comes to home improvement?