If one measured the time between now and my last post in terms of months it would measure two.  However, if you counted the number of boxes moved, paper cuts gotten and pulled muscles received during that time, it feels more like a lifetime.

Lizziebare now has to go to physical therapy for tendinitis in an elbow.  It appears that I lifted too many book boxes…  But all that work has finally paid off.  We’ve settled into the space and it now, after nearly a year, feels like home and not the warehouse of the last post.

Renovations are a huge disruption and there are so many decisions that go into the planning and execution of a project.  I feel like a walking, talking Franklin Report (a great website that rates painters, plumbers, decorators, carpenters and other vendors) so if you have any reno questions, give me a shout.  lizziebare@gmail.com

Here are some pictures…

Dining room table & chairs found in Hudson, NY.  Antique Capitol of New York State.  Check it out on 1stdibs.com!

We built 21 ft of bookshelves in the living room & a library ladder is in the mail…

The light fixture was made by David Weeks.  It floats in the middle of the two floors and anchors the space.

Curtains in the bedroom really absorb noise from the street.

The snake light on the left is perfect for reading at night while Hubbybare sleeps & it’s LED so it doesn’t get hot and will probably burn for a lifetime.

The Lizziebare den in NYC has been going through an extensive renovation for the last six months. It’s become a running joke of sorts. We moved into Dove Meadow Farm in two weeks, but our Tribeca loft still seems more like a warehouse (as Hubbybare affectionately calls it) than a nest.

I’ve been trying to get into hibernation mode, buying a warm cape from Anthropologie and contemplating the return of the turtleneck, but the boiler in our building keeps interrupting my long winter’s nap attempts. We are in a new construction building that is built soundly. Thankfully I can’t hear my neighbors Euro-Trance music unless I am waiting by the elevator. But as soon as the heat turns on, everything starts to rattle and the noise at night is almost deafening.

In order to combat these things that go bump in the night, I’ve cut a 2 foot square hole in my bedroom wall. Behind which I found a metal shim that was installed as a brace for a column and never removed, a 4 foot piece of dry wall scrap and not enough insulation. Just as we opened the wall, the other side of the room started moaning, as if jealous that the other was receiving such attention. How will I get behind that wall, which is covered in closet, mirror and wallpaper without undoing the only progress we’ve made in the apartment?

This question kept me up last night from 2-4:30 am. So today, I’m searching for some noise proofing help. If anyone has any suggestions, please send a comment.

Past the noises and the boxes, which are holding a collection of books that are waiting for bookshelves, is the empty crate. The crate is perhaps the most exciting unfinished, empty structure in our apartment. It’s the future home of Boomer, a 2 year old Chocolate Lab we’re rescuing from All About Labs. Boomer arrives in two weeks and I’ll surely dedicate several posts to his arrival. Winnie’s World, the column, as well as his actual world, will have to adapt most to this canine invasion. We hope Boomer gets some space on Winnie’s blog to introduce himself once he settles into his new home. Until then, all the boxes, crate and holes in the walls reset as peacefully as Winston.

Not for long!

Strip, Clean, Paint

Before for you get turned off by the “instant-ness” of Tuesday’s post and begin to think that I set out to decorate this farm house from catalog, internet and big box stores only, I think I should back track and explain how I approached this, and every, decorating project.

I don’t want Dove Meadow Farm to have a French Country, Agrestic Chic (yes, the ticky tacky suburban enclave of copycatting made famous by the TV show ‘Weeds’) sensibility. There’s nothing worse than being overcome, upon stepping into someone’s kitchen, by the aroma of Ballard Designs instead of fresh baked apple pie. Your style should be on display, not a catalog’s. Everything, even the pie, should be consumed in moderation. That’s how I use staples like Pottery Barn in my design planning.

Let’s call what I’ve done thus far at the Farm: Foundation Decorating.

I believe, wholeheartedly, that in order to decorate a space well, you must live in it first. Only then will you be able to pick paint colors (where the sun sets and rises effects your choice) and create furniture floor plans that don’t cut off your fastest route to the bathroom or fridge and show off details like mantels or windows, or the garden beyond. During the “getting to know you period” doesn’t mean you have to live in a relic from owners past.

1st Steps of Foundation Decorating include:
Striping, Cleaning and Painting

When we moved to Dove Meadow, the house was in near move in condition, (it was clean and nothing was leaking ) which was a terrific starting off point. The first thing I did, about an hour after I left the closing, was remove every last picture hook that the previous owners had left behind. The remnants of an extensive stamp collection, the hooks had left a multitude of holes behind- making the wall look like Jarlsberg cheese. After that extraction, I took off all the heavy drapes which covered windows all over the house and let in little light, even drawn open. Once the walls and windows were totally bare, and the light was shinning in, it was as if the entire house took a deep, restorative breath.

I moved from the walls to the kitchen. There Middlebare, who was on hand to help me post closing, and I looked at our greased encrusted Everest and began to devise what turned out to be a 4 day plan of cleaning, shelf papering, hardware stripping, counter sanding, cabinet painting and appliance replacing. Hubbybare and I want to redo the kitchen, but not until we understand how we intend to use the space. Are we cooking on the BBQ year round? Do we need double ovens for Thanksgiving dinners? Will we want to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the same table, or move around a bit? Should there be a coffee station? Ok, I could go on and on… Before we could execute on all the aforementioned plans, we needed to cook a meal in the kitchen and it was clear that that wouldn’t happen until we used a little elbow grease to remove the grease that pre-dated us, and maybe even our parents.

Middlebare and I logged many hours shelf papering and to this day I don’t think he’s recovered from the intricate, labor-intensive, monotonous task. I think I’ll wrap up a roll of that innocent white paper covered in cheery little green leaves, and give it to him for Christmas. Hey Middlebare, if you read this, sorry for the spoiler. To add insult to injury, my DYI hardware replacement project was equally painful. I went to Home Depot and bought some standard brush stainless steel knobs and pulls and set out to change all about an hour before our guests arrived for the family weekend. Guessing my way through the placement of the knobs was one thing, but when I got to the drawer front pulls, I waved a paper towel in surrender.

While Middlebare and I were in slaving away in the kitchen, a team of painters that we had hired, re-plastered and painted the entire interior from the top floor down. I needed to see what I was working with, and in order to get the best sense of the house, I knew it needed to be painted and painted white. The lemon, teal and magenta palette was masking the bones of the place.

Take a look at the before and after pictures from Step 1:

Guest Bathroom:

Foundation Decorating at it’s best! Newly painted walls and vanity (Benjamin Moore Cotton Ball), new pulls on the cabinets & new hand towel holders (Home Depot), a colorful bath rug & hand towel.

By painting the bathroom white, the eye can focus beyond the bathroom to the beautiful views outside.

Foundation Decorating at it’s best! Newly painted walls and vanity (Benjamin Moore Cotton Ball), new pulls on the cabinets & new hand towel holders (Home Depot), a colorful bath rug & hand towel.

By painting the bathroom white, the eye can focus beyond the bathroom to the beautiful views outside.

Hubbybare and Lizziebare closed on a house in the Northeastern section of Dutchess County last month. As the ink was drying, Lizziebare began an intense two week renovation of the house. Why such a sprint to the D-I-almost-Y finish line? The Bare’s were hosting a family weekend two weekends later.

Nesting 1.0

I am a world class procrastinator without a looming deadline. I wrote book reports on index cards in the car on our way home from our summer family vacations. I’d wait till the free period before a French class to memorize tenses when the scent of a pop quiz was in the air. And, what’s the fun of studying art history without a 24 hour cram session before an exam to learn the subtle differences between Latour and Caravaggio?

I believe that fear is a natural form of Ritalin, and it has always kept me on course towards completions big and small. Book reports were handed in on time (but usually on the wrong size index card) and those tricky French tenses and Old Masters’ brush strokes were mastered too.

So, knowing that I operate best under pressure, Hubbybare and I invited our families to come up for a fall foliage weekend, two weeks after closing, to a basically empty house.

The goal: paint, patch, carpet, bed and stock our new house with all the amenities 14 family members (and one dog) might need during their stay for our Fall Homecoming/Birthday/House Christening Weekend!

I had an absolute blast, to put it every so simply, planning, crafting, organizing and getting to know our house and its greater environs. It had been such a long time since I’d moved to a new place. In fact, I migrated from a childhood in Philadelphia, to collegiate years in Schenectady and then on to New York with only a few trips in between. For the most part, I have been in the same routines and environs for decades at a time.

And now, nearing my 29th birthday, Hubbybare and I have begun marking new territory in Wassaic, NY, and the journey to discover new standbys beyond our front-door has been as enjoyable as the nesting we’ve done under our new roof. (Speaking of roofs, it’s actually not so new. Note to self to get that checked out by a professional)

Needless to say, with the obsessive compulsive nature of my birth sign behind me, we created the outlines of a home in two weeks time.  In the process our UPS man, Paul, confessed that never in his 30 year career working for the Brown had he delivered as many boxes to a residential address as he did to us in one week. Thank god for internet shopping!

Here are some of the links that formed my rescue chain:

1-800mattress.com (beds)

potterybarn.com (linen closet items)

charlesprogers.com (bed frames)

williams-sonoma.com (kitchen gear)

sundancecatalog.com (goodies)

drugstore.com (soap, medicine, Nars blush)

Lizziebare’s back with an exciting fall editorial line up.

But, before we begin with our newly, and more regularly scheduled programing, Lizziebare would like to dedicate a post to a furry feline friend named Spanky.  (Click the title in red letters to read others comments)

Spanky, or Sir-Spank-A-Lot, to his loyal subjects, was the prince of Rosemont, PA. He ruled the den of Lizziebare’s family for the last decade. First as a kitty that was accidentally locked in the attic for a weekend, then as a handsome adult cat who learned, ever so reluctantly, to share the his castle with, gasp, a dog.  Spanky was the light orange light of our house.

He was a true adventurer. He loved to catch little creatures and bring them home as a reward for his princess, my mom. Spanky followed Motherbare around the house like a shadow when he was hungry, wanted to be let outside, or simply wanted her to sit on the couch for a stretch so he could take a nap in her presence. However, unlike many pets who are loyal to the hand that feeds, Spanky had a loyalty and a unique relationship with every member of our family.

Starting with Lizziebare’s mom, all the way down to his best friend, Lizziebare’s youngest brotherbare, Littlebare. Littlebare, now a freshman in college, spent his formidable growing up years with Spanky. Both night owls, Littlebare always had a co-conspirator in Spanky. Maybe they weren’t out on the town together, but they were both out, late at night, and as the sun rose, on many occassions, I’m sure they met at the back door to exchange stories from their prowls. When Littlebare and Spanky weren’t following the moon, they were sleeping together in Littlebare’s bed.

Fatherbare was always the next in line to see Spanky on any given morning. In the cold quiet kitchen, Fatherbare would prepare for the day ahead before the sun’s rise. In the quiet moments before he’d leave the house, Spanky would linger with him. I am sure on most mornings Fatherbare would have loved for one of his two legged family members to rise and join him in a cup of tea. Instead, we all slept soundly, comforted in the knowledge that Spanky was escorting Fatherbare out the door.

Brotherbare, who falls in the middle and perhaps should be named Middlebare from here on out, also had a nightowl relationship with Spanky. However there was another side to Middlebare’s kinship with Spanky that should be noted. Middlebare himself should have been born a house cat. His quiet approach, deep stare, cat eyes and love of kitty paws was brought out and celebrated in Spanky’s company.

So, how is it that fate twists and turns us and makes us do the things we do? Having not been home in some time, I, Lizziebare, jumped on Amtrak and stole home for two days to see my grandmother, family and some friends (who are in various stages of gestation and birth) last week. While I was home I also caught up with Spanky who had had the misfortune not long before of having been sprayed by a skunk! His coat did smell a bit off but he still approached me with pride. When I had a minute after dinner on Wednesday night, I rubbed farheads with Spanky and heard his strong, happy purr. He’s always greeted me with a head rub.

On Thursday, I woke up and took a shower. When I came back into my room, there sat Spank, curled up in the unmade bed. As if sucking the last of my body’s heat from the covers, Spanky began to fall asleep.  As I came and went all day, I’d find him, at each re-entry to my room, asleep on my bed. (That is why, Motherbare, I didn’t make my bed on Thursday morning!) Spanky looked too cute to move! It’s an excuse every member of my family can relate to and therefore accept.

So, it was with great sadness that I learned of Spanky’s death on Sunday. True to his character, out on an adventure, he was hit by a car. But to me, he’s still curled up on my bed in my mind’s eye and that’s where he’ll stay.

To Spanky, with love,

Lizziebare

Domino’s Girl About Town Blogger, Rita

Unlike my cousins, the Grizzly, Polar and Black bears, Lizziebare had a bit of a reverse, off season, and slightly un-planned hibernation period. Perhaps I was feeling the effects of global warming, or maybe I was re-kindling an old “school’s out for summer” vibe. Whatever it was, I took some time away from the keyboard. Where did I go? What did I do? Was Winston in charge whilst I was away?

Well, for my few blog reading friends, should you still be out there, I’d rather not bore you with the details of July, as it really wasn’t a momentous month, but instead, I’d like to send a should out to a blogger who’s column I read all month. I was “studying,” you might say, the art of blogging. Her name is Rita. Lovely Rita Meter Maid? Nope, Darling Rita, Domino’s “Girl About Town” domicile blogger.

As you may know, my husband and I just moved downtown to Tribeca, in New York City. I’ve been running on Nesting 1.0 software since the moving van pulled away from the curb on that March afternoon. We sanded, painted, electrified and caulked our way from March straight into July, and with August two days away, let’s just say there’s still a Baker* in the living room and gip** board in the hall. (See footnotes for definitions. Needless to say, these nouns were new to me too!)

My thoughts cycle from permits to paint chips all day, and when I am at the computer, I cruise my favorite sites: homedepot.com, apartmenttherapy.com, franklinreport.com and even though I subscribe to Dominio magazine, I’ve also become a frequent visitor of dominomag.com. That’s where I met Rita! Well, I didn’t actually meet Rita Konig, but I did discover her blog and I began reading about her adventures and have made constant visit backs to “see” her a few times a week. When I read a new post of Rita’s I feel like I’m in the kitchen of a wise friend, having tea, peering into her Day Planner. I can hear myself saying, “Rita, how do I make my guest room more cheery?” She’d flip open her diary, which is probably peony pink and from Smythson of London, and say, “paint the floors or just buy a cute chevron throw from Target!” I don’t know her posting schedule, but she covers decorating and travel and gives practical tips like how to keep hydrangeas from withering. Cut the stems? Nope, SMASH EM’!!

I’m not trying to lose my readers to Rita (please don’t go, I promise to blog more frequently!!!) but I do suggest you check out her column if you, like me, have a nesting itch!

I’m happy to be out of hibernation. Log onto Domino right now and, joy!!!!!, you can have a tour of Rita’s house!!!! Maybe someday, once the scaffolding is down, I’ll post pics of my den. Till then, cruise into Rita’s, and tell her I said hello.

LB

*Baker: A brand of scaffolding

**Gip Board: Like Sheet Rock, I think…

Submitted by Newton Aloan Grogan (above), via email on 6/15/07

Winston,

I heard tonight about your “incident” at the vet’s today. As you can tell from my photo, I have a few pounds to shed, but I can safely say I haven’t passed the 20lb mark. I think that what you need to do is convince your parents that you should go outside. In fact, I have a harness and leash that I’d love to send you. I’m not using it these days because I get to roam free and be the vicious killer that I am…I actually brought a bird home a couple of days ago. Just don’t tell anyone that I spend 11.5 of the 12 hours a day that I’m outside sleeping in the shade on the porch. But still…the fresh air does a kitty body good. You need to get out more man.

Yours in large kittiness,

Newton

I’m fat.  I need Atkins.  If I continue on this path I will, inevitably, get diabetes.  Last year, at my check up, I weighed 16lbs.  This year, 22lbs.  30% weight gain in 12 months.  What’s happened to me?  Am I an emotional eater?  Do I look to food as a source of entertainment?  Do I eat when I am lonely?  Do I have a fear of abandonment?  I was a rescue, it makes sense.  But still, I am so happy in TriBeca, I love Lizziebare and her husband.  I’m spoiled with love and affection everyday.  Sometimes I feel suffocated with the amount of attention I receive.  Do I turn to food then, as a means of escape?

Perhaps I should hit the stairs.  Climbing up and down a full staircase without pausing for a hour in the middle to watch the action below would get my heart rate up and maybe lift my belly a few inches too.  Maybe I need to engage in more playtime, but how boring.  What should I do, chase my tail?  That’s dog stuff.

There’s a prescription on the table for Purina DM wet and dry cat foods.  It’s lingering on the table like a “Welcome to Weight Watchers” manual.   What’s worse than the threat of the new diet is the reality that the new food will be placed in my bowl and I’ll have no choice but to eat it.  A forced diet.  What’s next, they’ll tell me when I can and can’t use the litter?  I live under tyrannical rule.

Lizziebare asks five LBF’s (Lizziebare Friends) what they are doing on Tuesday, 6/12/07 at 11:11 am, via AIM and asks them to make a wish.

LBF #1: I am trying to retreive a presentation that I saved in that black hole called “temprary internet files”. I know it’s there I just can’t get it out!!! I wish I get to see Lizziebare soon!

LBF #2: I’m sitting in my Brooklyn office, putting together press kits for my editor event tomorrow. Wish the AC worked in the office.

LBF #3: I am listening to a girl friend complain about her relationship issues with a guy I know, who doesnt really like her that much and finally told her but of course she was so emotionally involved and LOVED him and now she can’t sleep and is very upset. What is the deal with you women? I wish women would just look at things for what they are and not always try to “fix” things. Always think to yourself “if this guy really liked me would he do what he is doing?” If the answer is no then move on!
Oh and for world peace!

LBF #4: Negotiating a deal with a European retail consultant. I wish it was June 29th at 6PM. (Release of iphone)

LBF #5: I’m wishing the maintenance guy is fixing my hot water heater today like he said he would (which means he won’t). It’s amazing how quick you can shower when the water is 31 degrees! Brrrrr. Also wishing someone would deliver lunch to me so I wouldn’t have to make all those choices outside. I’m definitely going on the sushi salad side after eating a death bomb burrito in my hood last night. Yikes. Not the brightest thing I’ve ever done but who said I was bright…