Slap a Coat of Paint on It

Yesterday I got to go back in the house again with our contractor and a couple of his guys to discuss in more detail some of the projects they are bidding on for us.  Any day now I will receive the estimates for all of the things we would like to have done, and I'm absolutely certain at this point that we will have to cut out half-- if not more-- of what's on that list.  Added to the group of things we will be doing is some behind the scenes repairing, which I know is to be expected in an old house like ours.  

Still, somehow it just doesn't feel as fun or satisfying to spend our money on extra insulation than it would on, say, gorgeous hardwood floors in all of the bedrooms or a pro style range in the kitchen.  Sigh.  Trying to be a responsible grown up can be such a drag:)

One way we're thinking of cutting costs is with the flooring.  The taupe, shaggy carpet running up the stairs and in all of the bedrooms must go-- no question.  I would just to install hardwood floors everywhere, but now we are thinking of some money saving plans B & C.

Medium-cost plan: we could have the floors installed just in the hallway, with new, low pile wall-to-wall carpet in the bedrooms, which gives a similar feeling to the upstairs without the cost of actually having the wood extend throughout.  

Super low cost emergency plan: Underneath the carpet we have old pine floors, which can be really beautiful sanded and restained.  Unfortunately, ours are not smooth enough to make refinishing an option... but painting might still be.  I have always been a bit intrigued by the look of painted floors, and with all of the other updates we're trying to do now, this might be our chance to try them out.

This whole project could cost us less than $150 for the whole upstairs!  I'm thinking that painted floors are suddenly my new favorite thing.

xo

Liza