I realize that this is an extremely lame blog post. But it is meant to demonstrate that I am extremely lame about finishing what I started. Perhaps you share the same m.o.: All excited, get a super fun project started, but then… your interest fades, you move on to the next before you finish the first. And then it’s December and you see you have… 20 unfinished projects. If you weren’t afraid to count. This little series is meant to keep me focused on finishing that darn Mahalo Lounge, one stinkin’ day at a time. Perhaps it is inspiring you to finish stuff, too?
Oh. I went 10 months without a door knob on the door from the hallway into the living room.
Cheat: My husband put the doorknob back on, on Sunday. He was excited. We actually close this door every single night and open it again every single morning.
We couldn’t figure out how to get the escutcheon to fit. I admit: I didn’t work at it too hard. I was so disgusted with myself. Just get that knob on.
It wasn’t as boring a project as you would think, though. The first time he put the knob in… he put it in “backwards”… there’s a hole in the other knob, where the locking mechanism had once been… previous owners took the locking mechanism out. Anyway. So at first it was in backwards (knob with hole facing into living room). and I was going to accept it as is, I was just grateful the job was done. But then, I closed the door… and it was locked… and we could not get it to unlock. So DH had to remove the whole knob set in place and figure out how to unlock it internally. He then reinstalled it, holey knob facing the hall. This whole doorset is pretty icky — not “fabulous original” — so some day we will replace it, we decided. Buhahahahahah. As if.
Meanwhile, I couldn’t stand all these house projects taunting me. So I went shopping at one of my favorite local vintage shops, Finders Keepers in Lee, Mass. I only bought a few things… but took photos for you!
Onward.
Linda says
THANK YOU! I’m not alone…. I look around and see a dozen different half-done projects – and that’s just the view from the couch! ;> Thank you for showing me I’m no alone & inspiring me to complete the little things.
As always – love your site – thanX
Barbara says
Pamela,
Cool treasures!
I have been shopping for a front door retro door knob. Still looking!
However, I have our 50s aluminum tree (I never take down the tree) sitting in its original revolving tree stand. I’m always looking for ornaments. I need to go hunting!
p.s. sounds like your hunting excursion is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Again, cool treasures!!
Karin says
I don’t agree that this is a lame post. The doorknob story is hilarious. I’m glad I’m not the only one with multiple projects on the go.
Kudos for your dogged determination. It’s lots of fun to look at your Xmas finds. Great post, made my day.
Pam Kueber says
I joked with DH that if we had our own HGTV show it would basically showing us making mistakes with all our projects, moving stuff to get at other stuff, and … cursing.
Kate says
*cough, cough* dollhouse(s) *cough* hehe
Pam Kueber says
I’m up to 7
Paige says
I love knowing that there is another person who also does exactly what I do, it makes feel like less of a procrastinator! That child’s tea set is to die for!!!
Jay says
The doorknob story made me laugh because as they say “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping”! Looks like an interesting shop. I would have grabbed those bells as well. I’m sure many of your readers have been inspired by your get-it-doneism.
Could we possibly see a Christmas treat of the lounge decked out in its Christmas finery?
Faith says
I have the real thing — well, sadly not a complete set — to match that child’s tea set!
Anne says
Its inspired me. Every day we’ve been working on all the small stuff that we let slide while we were working on major projects. (We moved into a 30 year old house a few months ago.) Now my project is to find some matching tiles for the laundry room. Previous owners tiled around the water heater, leaving a big space of concrete flooring, and I want to replace the heater with a tankless one. No idea where to start looking for the tiles!
Pam Kueber says
Hi Anne, here’s our story on where to find vintage style tiles https://retrorenovation.com/2012/07/16/12-places-to-find-4-x-4-ceramic-bathroom-tile-in-vintage-colors/
Also hit ebay – there are sellers now who have large collections/warehouses
Christine W says
I feel your pain Pam – it’s exactly the same way as I feel with our bedroom which I started at the end of October – one stinkin day at a time. I’ve only got the walls left to paint (20 square feet, which is nothing!) I promised the bedroom would be finished weeks ago – yeesh – I think I’ll just google stuff instead. Lost the Mojo!
(I love all the cute items you pictured)
KStacey says
Sometimes it’s the little things that can make the biggest difference! Particularly when you are ‘almost’ done, and the finishing touch is delayed for extended periods of time!