In The Mood

I told my husband I was in the mood to move things around. I asked him what his thoughts were. His reply, “Not today. Or ever for that matter. We’ve already done that.” He’s right about having already done that. The most recent move around was for him. To make room for this:

After twenty-four years with his Roland RD-300S digital piano, that he literally wore out, and another year and a half without a piano at all, it was time to go shopping. The boy definitely worked hard for this piano.

After six years of classes, recitals and a bear of a dissertation in order to earn that piece of paper that says he has his DMA (Doctoral of Musical Arts), he deserved new ivories. He did his homework and found a great deal, saving close to four thousand off full retail. Plus they threw in the padded, adjustable piano seat and a set of headphones (mainly for me for those early morning, late night practice sessions).

So, we finally had the new keys, the next step was to find a place for the piano. Which means, in the mood or not, we were moving furniture around. Over the past few months (due to being gifted with other people’s stuff, long story) I have become quite creative with furniture arrangement. And according to my sister, I am the only person she knows who can move more furniture in and yet make a room look bigger. It is a gift.

My husband’s music is also a gift, so I am happy we were able to make room for his new toy. You may remember my post about our little French Country Dining Room that wasn’t. As it turns out, good thing it wasn’t, because as much as I love my husband, having to deconstruct the room I had imagined would have hurt worse than giving up the room that was. And, for the foreseeable future may never be. However, we will make music and I’d say that’s a great trade-off. Life is all about giving up plans for the better good.

I thought you might enjoy a picture of the little room from it’s very humble beginnings to where it is today, which is still humble, but fresher.

This is sort of a before - the ceiling had already been replaced and some paint. but the blue was original and the original ceiling was popped and cracking in places. — This is sort of a before – the ceiling had already been replaced and some paint. but the blue was original and the original ceiling was popped and cracking in places.

This was after the walls were painted and the floors refinished. — This was after the walls were painted and the floors were stripped / sanded. Why yes, we are from the future. (not sure about that date)

After the floors were finished. I originally wanted to stain the floors dark and leave them with a matte finish. Due to their age and other arguments from my contractor brother, we went with the natural finish and a more traditional gloss finish. For the age of the house and the shape they were in they turned out great.

100_1030 — This was before we moved in full time, back when it was just a weekend get away. This room was mainly staged, holding the place of the French Country dream that was to come.

100_1042-001 — Other side looking into the kitchen.

The view after we officially moved into the house in June of 2012 (this picture was taken at Christmas 2012) - the bookshelves were not intended for this room originally, but they had to go somewhere when we gave up our apartment in Louisville. — The view after we officially moved into the house in June of 2012 (this picture was taken at Christmas 2012) – the bookshelves were not intended for this room originally, but they had to go somewhere when we gave up our apartment in Louisville.

After we made space for the piano. (ignore the messy kitchen through the door - it became a catch all for a few hours that day. — After we made space for the piano. (ignore the messy kitchen through the door – it became a catch all for a few hours that day.

And, after the piano arrived. Due to the size of the room etc, we placed it in the middle facing out, so that when Rocky plays he doesn't feel like he has his back to people walking through. So, for now this is our teeny, tiny music room - kitchen to the left, library / workroom/ dining room to the right and bathroom straight across. It works for now. — And, after the piano arrived. Due to the size of the room etc, we placed it in the middle facing out, so that when Rocky plays he doesn’t feel like he has his back to people walking through. So, for now this is our teeny, tiny music room – kitchen to the left, library / workroom/ dining room to the right and bathroom straight across. It works for now.

I apologize for the quality of most of these pictures – I am not a professional photographer and If I have a picture that turns out great it is usually by accident, or with some help from picmonkey.com. There were too many for me to edit tonight. I just wanted to give you an idea of the journey of my little French Country Dining Room that never was. Maybe one of these days I’ll get brave and show you more of the Little House – aka StoneLeaf Cottage.

In the meantime, I feel that restless moodiness that speaks of change. Change that usually involves moving furniture.

Moving in Grace,

Teresa

Click picture below to hear Mr. Piano play.

7 thoughts on “In The Mood”

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Mindy says:

February 21, 2014 at 10:07 am

Your husband has a gift and he is blessed to have a wife who supports it by sharing her space : ) (By the way, listened to his song – a lovely way to start the morning..)

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1. Teresa says:
  
  February 21, 2014 at 1:33 pm
  
  Thanks! The song was from a CD he recorded back in 1999 – it is one of my favorite songs that he plays. I think having beautiful music makes up for not having my little French Country Dining Room 🙂
  
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Jennifer says:

February 20, 2014 at 11:57 pm

Such a nice space as you’ve spiffed it up. Quite an improvement. I can understand your hankering to move things around. I feel that way, too, sometimes. 🙂

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1. Teresa says:
  
  February 21, 2014 at 12:47 am
  
  Thanks! I get the hankering for moving things around too often 🙂
  
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tanguerabeth says:

February 20, 2014 at 11:33 pm

I like your narrative of the dining room dream that never was. The piano is pretty and deserving of the space. You could put a low folding screen–not higher than the piano–done up in toile as a “wall” between the back of the piano and rest of the room. That would be a nod to your Country French Dining Room dream.

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1. Teresa says:
  
  February 20, 2014 at 11:35 pm
  
  I like the idea of a panel. Maybe you can help me with that when you’re home this summer. Also, I have updated with a link to Rocky playing if you want to click on the last picture (of the notes).
  
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