Began work on the Ma'am Cave today!

We're changing the family room into my office, which I've sort of been doing for years. Hubby has his own pc in his den upstairs; I use mine here. I've been doing a lot of artwork, for which I need my pc and printer, so it makes sense.  Also, we had to tear up the old wood laminate, as it is very warped, so we decided to re-tile the kitchen, and tile the FR. I'm also getting a bi-fold door, so I can keep the cats out while I work (they like to flop down on the keyboard).  Since it's a man cave for a woman, I've dubbed it the "Ma'am Cave"!

What a MESS! The laminate had old sheet vinyl under it. There is no Hell on earth such as the stripping of sheet vinyl adhesive. It's a pity that more things are not made as strongly as that danged adhesive!  It took us EACH 7 hours of scraping with putty knives last week. I found out that Home Depot rents a grinding machine, similar to a floor buffer. DH got one today.  He also tore up the kitchen tile. We still have to finish the FR floor, as all of the patches of glue must be removed, and the kitchen floor needs to be smoothed down before tiling. You have to really wet the floor down before grinding, so we stood in a slurry mess of tan stuff, which is all over the place. Cats!

The white faux leather chaise arrived today, but we have nowhere to put it! The walls will be painted Gentle Fawn, by Glidden. I've used that color in my downstairs bath, and in the guest room. I have to buy 4 bookcases, and we will adapt 2 vertical file cabinets to having a half bookcase mounted on them, to flank the fireplace. I will attach faux stone to the brick fireplace surround later. Everything will be white/off-white in the furniture. 

Here's a very similar room layout to mine, in the Glidden room visualizer. The color is Gentle Fawn. I plan to do a very similar treatment to the fireplace, and we'll build the bookcases:

http://www.glidden.com/tools/room-visualizer

I can't link my photo it seems, but go into the site, choose the living rooms column on the left. The photo is in the far right-hand column, 6th photo down (with white bookcases and a stone fireplace). If you hover over the tan paint swatches, Gentle Fawn is a few colors down, on the left. You save it, then drag it to the walls in the photo, and it "paints" them.

Here's a pic of the chaise I bought:


Bookcases:


data:image/png;base64,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

I wanted to post pix, but my tablet is not sending them to me for some reason. There's a cute pic of tiny paw prints on the stairs. Seems like someone  forgot to take their "shoes" off!

Very nice! I love your wall color....our bedroom color is a little deeper than the color on that wall. Those bookcases will be gorgeous.

Ma'am Cave. I like it! I'd love to see pictures when you've finished. 

"Ma'am cave" is great! :lol3: That's a lot of work, but I bet it'll be beautiful when it's finished. that the grinder is a big help.

Winchester said:

 
Very nice! I love your wall color....our bedroom color is a little deeper than the color on that wall. Those bookcases will be gorgeous.

Ma'am Cave. I like it! I'd love to see pictures when you've finished. 

Click to expand...

The color that you see online seems more gold to me. Perhaps it's since I had the chip done in Behr, instead of Glidden. Anyway, it's prettier--a tiny bit more brown. It's a dramatic shade of tan, but doesn't seem to make the rooms look smaller. We've had Behr Parisian Taupe for 10 years. A nice color, but I'm getting tired of it!

It took all weekend to grind two floors.What a MESS. It becomes tan-colored sludge, which gets on everything. The cats got into it again, so there were many trails of paw prints!  The sludge is now drying, so I have to spend each night sweeping up the dry bits, then mopping--over and over again, so we can actually lay tile next weekend.

I hope to patch and paint the walls of the Ma'am Cave this week, before we tile. That way, there won't be a lot to be done, and I can start to set up the room again. The rest of the stuff is pretty cosmetic, so the furniture can be moved to work on it. I'm sick of having my kitchen and my family room stuff in my dining/living rooms! It looks like a Hoarders episode on TLC!

I had to register to be able to save the room image. Keep in mind, it's not my actual room, but very similar (once the stonework and bookcases are done). The paint is Gentle Fawn:

Love the color!!!

Thank you! I think it will look great in the Cave.

I misunderstood. Our color is quite like the all color in the picture of the lounge. I see now that your color is brownish, goldish. I like it. 

Ma'am Cave!  I love it.  

betsygee said:

 
Ma'am Cave!  I love it.  

Click to expand...

Thanks!  DH hates the term "man cave", so I call his room "The dudeoir". He hates that, too! 

MargeCat said:

 

Click to expand...

Oh that's priceless!     I'm going to have to remember that one.  

DAMN the Ma'am (Cave)!   I started painting at 6:30 PM tonight, and am only half-way done. (It's 20x12 ft., so it's big.) I HATE, HATE painting! There's a reason the word "pain" is part of it. I'm rushing to get done tonight, so DH can start tiling tomorrow morning.

The good news is, the color looks fantastic with all of the white trim. I may decide to keep the mantel surround, and just put stone over the brick inside of the enclosure, as I like the white contrast so much. That will save both time and money!

My bad knee is starting to hurt from getting up and down from the step stool constantly.