(Before It's News)
While I work on finishing Ashford's room, I wanted to share the little transformation in our typical '70s ranch' hallway. Here is how it looked when we first moved in. Dark, boring, empty….but accessorized with a cute kid! To be fair, this is an awful photo, so it's not really a fair representation.
We do get some decent light in this hallway during the day, as you can see in this photo from the floor refinishing project.
This beauty was in there, with broken bulbs stuck in the sockets. I had already thrown away the glass cover, but I'm sure you are all familiar with this style of light! I liked the brass, but the style was not ok…so I replaced it with a $10 special from Menards until I figured out what I really wanted.
Here is the boring, dim replacement, complete with medallion to cover the peeling popcorn texture.
And months later, I finally found the light I wanted…brass to match the door knobs and hinges, flush mount, not a boob light, stylish, unique, wide enough to cover the peeling popcorn, and bright as the surface of the sun with 4 bulbs! Find it here, but be sure to call them to get the best price! I got it for $120 so I am pleased. It's not great quality, but it's fine and too far away to notice any flaws. (It isn't quite flush on the edges due to the weight of the fixture)
I actually had to reduce the wattage because it was too bright with four 60 watts. I also found cute round bulbs to increase the style of the fixture.
With the new light, I was inspired to finally get a runner for this hall. I am using our zig zag runners in the lower level because they didn't go well with the wall color up here. I went to my old stand by Overstock, and found this
beauty!
I wanted a tufted rug rather than a flat weave, and it needed to look good with the orange rugs in the living room, and the gray on the walls. It was a happy bonus that there is red to go with our little cabinet in the hallway. Here is everything all put together…
It looks so fresh and clean now! I also love that the yellow in the runner echoes the yellow moorish tile rug in the guest room.
My fancy white mirror found it's home at the end of the hall, and the little vegetable cabinet got a mini makeover with some gold spray paint for the knobs. I may paint the entire thing one day, but for now it works. I have to repair the doors and mesh, after that happens I have some baskets that fit perfectly and will hold some miscellaneous items.
I have plans to add a gallery wall to the large area between the bedrooms, but I'm not sure what that will look like yet.
For now, I'm really pleased with how nice this dark hallway turned out! I would love to add some can lights one day, but that is on the 'would be nice, but probably will never happen' project list.
For this space, I spent around $25 in trim, $120 for the light, $70 for the rug (after Overstock rewards) and $25 for the gallon of SW Popular Gray that we used throughout the main level. Not bad since most tufted wool runners cost at least that amount! Still to do in the hallway – clean and shine up all the doors and casings. I may have to restain, some of them are in pretty bad condition. I'm not looking forward to that project!
Source:
http://www.russetstreetreno.com/2015/02/the-hallway.html
