Basement Update: The Carpet

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Nothing terribly exciting to report folks, but I DID make my way up to Highway 400 and Langstaff to pick my carpet for the basement.  Our sample piece that we had kept to show the insurance people and contractors had been thrown away - a fact I discovered as I rushed downstairs to get it on my way out the door.  Oops.  No biggie, I grabbed some heavy duty scissors, pliers and screwdrivers (leverage) and yanked and slashed a piece from the stairs.  I guess we're doing the stairs.

The designer I met with pulled this one (above) out almost before I had shown her the old one.  I liked that it was a bit darker (the old one shown spots super easily) and had a tighter weave.  I am hoping the tighter weave conducts the heat from the in-floor heating a little better than the plusher one did.  I looked through a handful of other samples, but this one worked for me.  I was also distracted by grilling her about her background and how she got into interior design (she had a background in marketing and no formal schooling).  Sadly, there were no extra samples to bring with me, but I left feeling pleased.


Of course about 11:30 pm last night I couldn't sleep worrying that it was too dark, too grey, too muddy.  I only had my iPhone photos, and around midnight I got out of bed, went down and interrupted the DVD Chris was watching to check the photos against the pictures of the former finished basement.  He was less than impressed.  Then today I sent my mom the iPhone photos and she reassured me that it would look fine and reminded me to trust in myself.

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Jeepers, how long will it take before I get to be confident in my own decisions, and not always second guess them?  Or is that simply my nature?  The bigger the commitment, the more I stress (just ask my husband). Anyway, I put together a bit of a moodboard on Olioboard with the new carpet and a new paint colour, plus a few new accessories to go with the 'warm, cozy' vibe I was hoping the new carpet would bring.


The carpet here is a screen grab from the manufacturer website, which (incorrectly I hope) shows the colour I picked as being much darker than I had in my photos.  But maybe if I add lots of textures (anyone want to get me some Mongolian fur pillows for Christmas?  Or maybe I'll try the fake ones from Amazon...and yowza, that throw from Anthro!) and a beautiful warm kilim carpet it will make the place more of a cozy den.  I have my darker David Hannan painting (similar to the one pictured here) and the sepia photos of Prague from an old calendar that I framed.  And Dad made me a gorgeous full length mahogany-framed mirror (or rather made it for himself and I stole it) ... But... I just liked how the light carpet reflected the light from the pot lights and made it feel less like a basement.  SIGH.  Stupid tree.

Amazing how I have no problem making other people's decor and design decisions, but am completely stymied by my own.  Never-the-less, there are supposedly people coming tomorrow to start fixing the drywall, so maybe it will be done in time for the in-laws after all!  The sooner the damn carpet is in, the less time I will have to stress about it.

24 comments:

  1. love the colour Lisa! it's going to look great :)

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  2. I love a grey tone with wood accents. it takes me forever to make design decisions (especially something permanent like flooring or paint) good choice!

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  3. Lisa, it is going to look great; I think, maybe, even better. I remember reading an interview with Debbie Travis who said she would get up at night and sit with colour samples (all neutrals), fretting over which was right. I remember that because I felt better about painting and re-painting. Designers/decorators don't always get the colour right and have to re-do. Wish I were there to go out and find things with you; not cos I don't think you can do but cos I think it would be fun. I think this new room is going to have more depth...isn't that what "they" say.... Just go with it and you never know what you might find or decide on once the carpet is in and the new colour on the wall. It will just come to you.....xo

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  4. Of course you have to trust in yourself! Your work has gotten national exposure (I'd literally kill to get on Steven and Chris! Seriously) and your site rocks! In a world bursting at the seam s with designers, you stand alone.

    Do you realize how cool that is?
    Keep up the good work, Lisa!

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  5. Kelly @ JAX does designDecember 10, 2012 at 9:04 AM

    It's always harder to make design decisions for yourself - I'm always second-guessing my colour choices. Your board looks great, and I'm sure if you go ahead with the darker carpet, you'll love it :-) Change can be scary, but it's almost always a good thing :-) Have fun with it!

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  6. Lisa! It's going to look great. Totally get your second-guessing (I feel your pain - I do it too and it's soooo aggravating). I think the grey with wood accents will be warm and inviting. Oh, and nothing you design would ever be less than awesome.

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  7. Lisa, I too always second guess. When we redid our kitchen, I pulled all my samples together then, brought in a designer to spot check my plans. Needed reassurance. Anyway, your plans work well, all my best for making it all come to life ~

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  8. Thank you so much Meg! If you think so, than I think so. :)

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  9. Thanks Julia! I know... when I think about the consequences of me not liking it... that's when I freak!

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  10. You are so awesome. I love you. This is the perfect thing to say and now I feel completely fine with it, and I also wish you were here. Just cause, I miss you. :) xo

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  11. Wow, thank you! Jeez, I should really blog about my insecurities more often, this is AWESOME.

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  12. I am so glad to know that I am not the only one who does this! You always seem to have such clear direction for your projects. I guess there's always more to the story! Thanks Kelly!

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  13. Michelle, you rule. You have to come over RIGHT away and tell me what you think once it is in. :)

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  14. REALLY? Oh Wendy, that makes me feel about 1000% times better, because you are amazing and have fabulous taste! Thank you! :)

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  15. I am the same way with pretty much everything when it comes to our home. I LOVE the new carpet!

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  16. Hooray!! Thank you Sarah! It's funny, I don't remember freaking this much when I did our kitchen... but I probably did. :) Maybe it's like childbirth, and you just repress the memory...

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  17. I think the darker carpet is going to look amazing. It's going to anchor the room and really make your white sofa and pale cabinets pop. You're going to love it.

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  18. Hooray! Thanks Emma, I truly appreciate the comment - if all you experts I admire so much think it is good, I will stop worrying immediately. :)

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  19. I agree, the darker carpet will ground the space, and anchor the room! And I also frame Czech calendars too! The Czechs put together such great calendars, don't they?

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  20. Home renovation is a tough job to do specially when it comes to flooring, your new carpet is looking nice by the way.

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  21. Really very nice post thanks for share............

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  22. Such a nice post.. i was looking for something like this from a long time..

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Thank you so much for your comment - they always make my day!