Waste Not, Want Not or Indoor Project #2.

This project was actually completed at about this time last year; my first significant indoor project involving something other than paint and (not unrelated to that) was actually my idea.  We had a large landing at the bottom of the stairs leading down to the basement that was not really part of the family room.  It has been said that nature abhors a vacuum and I felt that this space needed to be filled with something.  What better to fill it with than cabinetry topped off with a nice color-coordinated counter top that the kids could use for homework and various creative projects?  We love it.  It makes the otherwise useless space functional and makes it feel a little more like our house, which is a good thing given that we have lived here a relatively short time so far. 

The Great Indoors

Since outdoor labor seems to consume most of our spare time in the summer, it should be no surprise that we have more free time to pursue other projects in the winter.  We're not smart enough to just sit back and kick it until spring so the previous post and several to follow summarize some things we've tackled on the inside during the long, cold, bitter, barren, dark, dreary and in all other ways - useless winter. 

Adults With Painting and Decorating Experience Wanted or Winter Project #1

 

This is what it looks like when a very interesting 9-10 year old gets to create the look for his personal space.

This is what it looks like when grown-ups with lots of painting experience and some sense of aesthetics and who love that interesting 10 year old very much get involved.  This was part of M's birthday present when he turned 11 this year.   

M has always been into nature and nature stuff so why not a small mural of a tree and a picture of the Tetons and some new nature-inspired colors?  What you can't see in this picture of the tree are the small white dots of glow in the dark paint which are luminescent when the lights are off reminiscent of Lehi's description of the fruit of the Tree of Life.

M has done a great job of keeping his new space clean.  Kids can be well - let's just say "not-so-neat" at times.  Yet, they love it when the space they occupy is clean and orderly.  Now if we could just get everyone on board with the rest of our space.