What We Have Been Up To...

I have been on task trying to spruce up our house after taking out the lovely wall-to-wall magenta carpet. Here is a before pic of our entryway (please excuse the boxes):
Stairs leading up to the second floor...which is also covered in glorious magenta!


And here is after!
I just ordered that great wool rug from Pottery Barn last week and realized after I got it that this entryway is really BIG. There are also four holes next to the door where the old radiators were located. Luckily, someone nailed down lids from old cans to cover two of the holes. I am sorry, I don't think I laid the sarcasm on thick enough with that "lucky"part. We will eventually repair the holes and redo the floors but that is WAY in the future. Also, we propped an old door up to block off the stairway because we are not using upstairs right now.

Anyways, I had two old bamboo mats from our last house that I threw down to cover all the holes and lids and I have to say that I kind of like the look of it. I don't know if I am crazy and just reaching here so I need to know what you all think. Too much?

(Holes in the floor a.k.a. Jack's new piggy bank. )

On to the second line of duty, I am in desperate need of a new light for the entryway. I really, really, really dislike this one. Not only is it ugly, but it hangs down almost a foot and a half from the ceiling and I constant smack my head on it. It needs to go so I am on the prowl for something new. I have no idea if I am supposed to tie it in with the dining room lighting or what...HELP!

And last but not least, I found more dining room chairs! Yes they need to be worked over a bit BUT I got six of the for $100. The thing is, they almost match the two that I found from the Salvation Army to a T. That makes the grand total $105.90 for 8 really sturdy chairs. Nice. Now I have to figure out how I am going to re-finish them (and no it won't be to match the pretty calico indoor/outdoor carpet seen here).