Reclaiming the Abandoned Room

Since my daughter moved out I have been fixing up her old room to use as a sort of library/reading room-quite space-guest room. I found a small chest of drawers about the size of a night stand at a used furniture store and picked it up for $15.00 (US). It is a well made piece, and from the style is probably from the 1950s. I got if cheap because someone had started to paint it, then changed their mind. Half of it was still the original blond wood grain color, the other half was forrest green.

I brought it home and decided I would paint it a dark red to match the cover I made for the day bed. I went out and found the paint and supplies. Then I got busy sanding and filling holes. Someone had nailed something to the top of it at some time, then took it off leaving the nail shafts in the top. I pulled them out with pliers and filled the holes.

When I started painting, I realized quickly that I was going to have to get some primer and prime it first. It took two coats of primer to get an even color base and so far I have put on 3 coats of paint. I will do at least 2 more coats today. After that I am going to decoupage flowers and butterflies on it. I haven't done decoupage in years, but I always enjoyed it. When I get finished, I should have a rather nice piece of furnifure for the few dollars I spent.

I put up her old day bed with, made pillows for the bed and a valance for the window. Still have a number of things to do like move a bookcase and books upstairs. It keeps me busy so I don't have time to dwell on my empty nest until I get used to it.

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Jesus is the joy of living
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Linda

Linda, when my daughter moved out I mae her room into a sewing room. It's great to have that big space to work in, and not have to move everything around when I want to sew, or finish sewing, or not to have to clear things away in order to cut out fabric, etc. And that room is the sunniest room in the house, so I am especially happy to have it for my own use.

I'm sure you'll really enjoy your newly redone room. That is one plus of having our kids grow up - more space for ourselves. You'll get used to her not living there, and learn to appreciate the extra quiet. She isn't dead, only living elsewhere, and I'm sure you two will keep in touch and get together all you can.

In a way, it can be better for them to be away from home. When my daughter was here, we were in each other's physical presence more, but were always busy with our own individual tasks and didn't take a lot of time to stop everything and just relax and talk. Now when we do see each other, we aren't doing anything else.

I remember the day after Bethany's wedding. I was at the kitchen sink in late afternoon, looking out the window, and the color of the late afternoon sky prompted the thought, "It's almost time for Bethany to get home from work." Then of course I realized that she wasn't going to be coming home from work any more.

Of course I still have my boys at home, and I talk to them a lot more than I did when she was here. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle it when they go too. I won't have anyone left around here that I can have a really intellectual discussion with. My husband isn't a deep thinker, he's the hands-on type of guy.

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The Lord is the strength of my life and my portion forever.

I am getting used to her not being here. She'll come home on the weekends when she doesn't have to work Saturday night or have an invitation somewhere else.

I only put on one more coat of paint, making 4 total and called it quits. It really looks good. Then I took some of the same fabric I made the valance from and covered the lampshade. I searched the internet yesterday looking for information on recovering lampshades. I found quite a bit of information.

Today I am moving bookcases upstairs, plus the books. It's going to be a "back-breaking" day. Since this is an old building, the steps are quite steep. I'm sure they wouldn't be up to today's codes.

Cathy, when your sons finally leave home, you may have to find your intellectual stimulation on the forums.
Well, I've got to get busy. Those books won't move themselves upstairs, though I wish! After they are moved, then I will have to do some rearranging of the living room. Keeps me busy.

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Jesus is the joy of living
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Linda

Well, I have things in fairly decent shape upstairs. Most of the books that were in the living room are now upstairs. I need to get one more small book case and things will be pretty complete.

I set my knitting machine up upstairs and I will probably move my scrapbooking upstairs and leave the basement room for my sewing and other, more messy, crafting. With the holidays coming up, I think I will make most of my gifts this year. Costs less, but gives more.

I rather like going up there. It's quiet, out-of-the-way, and fairly uncluttered. I don't have anything but a clock radio/cassette player up there. And a telephone. I don't want to have to race down those steep stairs if the phone rings. I think I can get used to this.

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Jesus is the joy of living
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Linda

[This message has been edited by Linda Sutton (edited September 04, 2001).]