Ok Here I go!!!!! The flip flop has begun. Took down the Christmas decor and removed all the stuff from the walls in the dining room. I am going to start there.  This dining room will now become the family/living room.

Bye Bye dining room!!!!

Getting everything down and ready to paint.

Only bad part about the flip is everything from the dining room is everywhere now!!!! Stay tuned for updates. I am excited to get this project under way.

 

 Happy New Year everyone!!!! As the new year approaches and I detox from all the yummy and rich foods consumed these past few days I started to think about the months of January and February.  Yuk!!! Here outside Chicago January and February can be so cold and a little dreary.  I kind of have a hard time in those months with the holidays over so I decided to work on a project in my home that I have been thinking about for awhile.

I want to share my ideas with you and I welcome any input or inspiration you have.

When my husband took the job as Fire Chief up this way about 5 years ago and we also became empty nesters, we down sized our home and bought this smaller cottage ranch when we had to move North for the hubby's new job. This house did not have a formal dining room and it had a family room and living room. We hardly ever used the living room so I decided to make the living room into my formal dining room.  I have to say that was a great thing because I have so much room when I have family and friends over for holiday and parties.

My family room was a beautiful addition the previous owners put on the back of the house. I have loved this room as it houses my office and my family room. Very sunny and bright.  The problem with the family room is the layout.  Only one way to put my sectional and TV. I would love to have a little more seating since this is the only seating we have with not having a living room anymore. 

So my brainstorming idea is to flip flop the family room and dining room.  I still would have plenty of room for my dining room in the back and actually the room would work better as a dining area.  It will be right off the kitchen so I could see my guests as I am preparing food etc.  The living room that is now my dining room is wider and bigger so I could add additional seating.

My hubby is so good about all my reno projects and jumps in to help me make these things happen so I really would love to get him a special recliner to relax and enjoy his tv viewing in.  Flip flopping the rooms would give me the opportunity to have more seating.  He really is a trooper with all my cottage chic decor and doesn't mind all the white, creams and ruffles found in my home.  So I would love to give him a nice comfy chair of his own. 

The misson (if I choose to accept!!!) will be to find a nice recliner that will fit with my cottage decor!!!! Ha Ha and still stay masculine for him. Misson Impossible maybe not we will see!!!!!

Here are some pictures of my rooms now and I will keep you posted on my journey to change things around and redo the rooms. Any one in the Chicagoland area is welcome to come over and help!!!!!

Here is a picture of my dining area that use to be my living room.

This is the back of the family room.



This is the family room as you can see the only space for seating is taken up by the sectional. No room for a hubby chair!!!



This is the back of the family room to the left. The previous owners had this all blocked off as a closet. What!!! That lovely window was blocked off too. Had to open that up. This is a weird space and worked as a storage closet but I like it better as my office. That makes more sense to me to have my office back in that space instead of a closet. I will leave my office where it is and come up with a creative way to separate it from the new dining space.

Well dear blogging friends I will keep you posted as the journey of the flip flop begins.  I am excited to be having this project under way.
Kris
:)

Merry Christmas my blogging angel friends.  I have so enjoyed getting to know each of you in my short time in blogging world.  Many thanks for all your help with my blog and your sweet comments and inspiration.  I wish each and everyone of you a Happy New Year and much inspiration and creativity in the year to come.

Kris:)