Phase 3--Week 2: Den and Basement hall/closets and Yard Sale Success!

It's over. Every bone in my body is totally sore. I really could sleep for a week!

The sale was very successful. We made lots of money and we got rid of nearly everything. I have one box to donate and my son's outgrown clothes will go to two boys at our church. I am going to list my maternity/nursing clothes on Craigs list.

And that's it! My husband said the house feels lighter. I think he's right.

We were at church today and ran errands this afternoon. This evening I'm going to begin the process of house recovery. Tomorrow will also be a "setting things to right" day along with homeschooling.

Speaking of homeschooling, Tuesday we're celebrating "Cinco de Mayo." We've been studying Mexico and this will be our finale. My sister and her daughter will be joining us. We'll be making Mexican food. There are lots of calories in Mexican food. Especially this Tres Leches cake.

This week's "Beautify" area will be the Den and the hall/closets area of the basement. In the den we need to:

• Hem one curtain
• Repair trim on two footstools
• Attach light to ceiling (see pic below)
• Figure out SOMETHING for the fireplace corner (see pic below)

The basement area is pretty much cleaning and organizing as there's nothing to "decorate" there.

My husband brought this light home. (A customer was throwing it out.) I thought it went well with my colonial-inspired den decor. I don't exactly know why it's like this. I'm sure there's a reason:

Now, the fireplace corner. Bare and boring. From the door you see this:

But when you're sitting on the couch you see this.

Recommendations?

Phase 3--Week 1: Upstairs bathroom and Basement Pantry

We've almost finished up on Week One's mission. I finished the pantry in the basement and then began to work on the other area: the upstairs master bathroom.

We remodeled it in January...a year ago. Yes, the time has come to finish it.

The tasks were/are:

• Paint door trim
• Touch-up wall paint over shower
• Make Roman shade for the window (from previously bought fabric and trim)
• Change or refurbish the lights above the sink
• (Maybe) add a fabric topper to the shower curtain (from same fabric as shade)

We finished the trim and the touch-up paint. I made the Roman shade. (Yay! I don't have to turn of the lights to get out of the shower anymore!) It turned out pretty well though I don't recommend trying to put piping into something that doesn't have closed off ends. I tried hand tacking them, but they WILL be unraveling in the future. Here it is up:

And down:

I haven't made the topper for the shower curtain, yet. I'm trying to decide how I want to do that. I considered echoing the bottom of the roman shade (scalloped bottom with the piping), but the unraveling situation has me stumped. Ideas, please.

Now, those lights. They are circa 1974, I think. Since moving in 9 years ago, we have often referred to them as "chicken warmers." (You know, like you'd see in a fast food restaurant.) They're made of aluminum it seems. We took one down to take to a vintage lamp shop later this week to see what they they think of them. I took a picture of the one that is still attached to the ceiling:

I'm of two minds about them. (I know, don't be double-minded.)

• Paint them black on the outside and either white or chrome on the inside.
• Chuck them and get new ones.

ETA: I forgot to mention that my color scheme is white, yellow and black. The beadboard is white and goes up five feet. Above that is a nice clear yellow. The floor is wood, the rugs and towels are yellow. The accents and curtain are black and white.

So, with that information, what do you think I should do about the lighting?