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stroup mansion

living room update!

by Kaylah Stroup July 31, 2022

This spring I was looking for some projects to keep my mind busy. I mean, the house is full of projects I still need to finish and tons I haven’t started yet but I needed something ‘easy’ to occupy my mind. I wanted a quick flip with great results to give me a boost! (This did not end up being a quick fix but it was definitely an excellent mental boost!)

Although the green on the walls in here was what inspired my whole ‘paint everything green!’ addiction, I realized that it was the wrong shade of green. (There are some shots of it at the bottom of this post.) It was more of a blue-based green. I didn’t realize that I was super picky about my undertones but I am definitely a yellowy green gal! So, that was the number one thing I wanted to change.

Then in true ‘if you give a mouse a cookie…’ fashion, I decided if I was going to do anything in this room, I ought to do everything else that was bothering me. I patched some decent sized cracks in the wall, re-finished the floor, and picked out new furniture!

The living room wasn’t terrible with what we had in it… but it wasn’t great. The blue couch I had been moving from apartment to apartment over the last decade no longer felt like me. Fast forward to this finished living room? It perfectly encapsulates my design style at the moment. I am OBSESSED with our living room.

Green couch in a green living room

PS. Peep the matching bandana Professor has to my leggings! Both are from Redbubble. You can use code ‘RBC-P22-thedaintysquid’ for 15% off your order.

sources + info!
couch is Sven in grass green
paint color is ‘Sweet Annie’ by Glidden
rug
snake lamp
hand chair
hand curtain tie backs

Of course, we can’t end an updated room post without a little peek back at some of the room’s previous looks! The first photo, with the red rug and curtains was the living room on inspection day. (I think all of this stuff, other than the tv and wall art, were all here when we took ownership of the house too.) The second photo is what it’s basically looked like the whole time we’ve lived here.


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stroup mansion – hallway 2022

by Kaylah Stroup February 27, 2022

shirt from Redbubble. PS. You can use code RBC-V22-thedaintysquid for 15% off your Redbubble order, good now til June 30th.

Just dropping in to share some current photos from my hallway from the last month. Every tiny project that happens around this house reminds me more and more how important it is to document the house at every stage. So, even though this space isn’t finished here it is!

snake lamp // bird leg table

giant mirror

Although the hallway got a fresh coat of paint when we moved in, the real renovations aren’t something even close to the top of the priority list. I kept thinking that I’d wait until I did the big stuff (namely the floor) before I worried about hanging anything on the wall or even decorating.

Jeff and I kind of had an ‘aha!’ moment recently though. We decided that we should add to our tiny collection of portraits of strangers and that all of those should fill our hallway. I bought a few more portraits from Etsy and couldn’t resist hanging them. I’m not one of those people that plans out a gallery wall before hanging it so I’ve just been adding pieces as they arrive. Each new piece has made my love for this space soar. Aaand that’s how this all started. After that I added some new plants, picked up a clearance rug and splurged on my dream mirror.

There are still renovations I want to do up here but I truly love this room exactly as it is today. Honestly, I’ve felt that way about this space since the first time I saw it. It just keeps getting better and better!

rainbows made with this.

Can’t end this post without a little flashback to what this space looked like in 2013 while it was abandoned! I can’t lie, that wallpaper is pretty rad. I’m almost glad it was gone before we moved in or else I’d have definitely been tempted to save it.

This post contains affiliate links.

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stroup mansion halloween 2021

by Kaylah Stroup November 1, 2021

I knooow, It’s November already. Halloween is over, sadly. BUT I have to document this on the blog. I turned the sweet little rose garden in the front yard into a graveyard for October and I am OBSESSED. I truly can’t believe this is mine. Seeing this daily brought me so much joy. I even bought a set of solar-powered spotlights so people passing by at night could enjoy it too.

Looking forward to doing it even bigger and better next year. Fingers crossed I can get my hands on that stupid 12-foot skeleton. He’s what this place is really missin!

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stroup mansion – halloween dining room

by Kaylah Stroup October 12, 2021

Even though this is our second Halloween in Stroup Mansion, it feels like the first. We had only been in the house a little over a month last year at this time. Decorating for any holiday, even my most favorite one, just wasn’t a priority.

Halloween this year though? It feels SO exciting. I’ve been hunting for decor for months now. Living in our small apartment with tiny closets and no extra storage space meant that I basically had nothing for any holiday. I’ve been stalking the big box stores as well as thrift stores, antique malls and well, literally anywhere else that might possibly have something I like. My collection of Halloween decor is still quite small but I definitely picked up some neat pieces this year.

When I was in my early twenties I distinctly remember thinking “I wish I had kids to decorate for!” I don’t know why but I felt like I needed en excuse to celebrate big for any holiday other than Christmas. I’m so happy to have realized how dumb that was because holy smokes, this makes me so happy. Just out of frame, my dining room is still a work zone. There is drywall that needs mudded, an ugly fireplace that I need to spruce up and gosh, I hate the fabric on the chairs but every time I walk into this room I’m filled with joy.

I hope every year here Halloween can be bigger and better! I’d love to add more skeletons, more spiderwebs in here next year. I want to be able to share more than just one tiny spooky corner!

For this year though? 10/10! Would haunt!

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our new windows!

by Kaylah Stroup September 29, 2021

This post is sponsored by Universal Windows Direct.

Patio door off kitchen before + in progress.

We just celebrated one full year of living in Stroup Mansion. In these last twelve months, I’ve accomplished SO much. I’ve refinished original hardwood floors, hung new drywall, gone through gallons of paint but honestly, one of the most exciting things we’ve done for the house is get her new windows and a functioning patio door!

I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work with Universal Windows Direct the last few months and wanted to write a little bit about my experience and how easy it was to update our windows (and doors)!

The laundry room before + after.

We had a total of six windows replaced by Universal Windows Direct. Three in the attic (you can see those in this video!), two in the hallway (above in the photo with Klaus), and one in the laundry room. The laundry room window is one of my favorite improvements. It was one of the worst windows in the house. It hadn’t been replaced by the previous owner despite the fact it was cracked. I knew it needed to be replaced just based on that but I truly wasn’t expecting how much better a new window would look! I swear, it’s like the room has a whole new view of the yard now simply because you can actually see out of the window now.

The whole process was a breeze. Universal Windows Direct offers free estimates. They’ll come out to your home, show off product samples and talk everything over with you. They even do a neat little demonstration with a torch to show how their windows keep extreme temps from coming into your home. After you’ve picked out what you want, the next step is a measure tech visiting. This literally took no time at all. He came in, measured everything up, and then the order was sent to production.

Installation day is what you have to look forward to next. Can I just start by saying that when you’ve been DIY-ing everything it is SO nice to watch someone else work on your house. The install team was courteous, friendly, and super efficient!

Patio door off kitchen before and after.

Universal Windows Direct not only does windows but doors as well! Off our kitchen, we have a little concrete platform, absolutely perfect for plants and coffee breaks, but when we moved in it wasn’t accessible from the inside. The opening had been filled with two large windows that were held together and in place by boards. They were clearly placed like this with the intention they wouldn’t be opened.

Before this collaboration, I was a bit at a loss with what to do about this opening. I absolutely wanted it to be a door but quickly discovered it was a weird size. I would never be able to just find a door waiting for me at the store. The good news is that Universal Windows Direct makes everything custom. My goofy-sized door opening? Not a problem!

I don’t want to admit it but winter is well on its way here in Ohio. I’m not excited to have to turn our heat back on but at least I know our bill will be lower now that we have new windows that will keep the cold out!

Now is the perfect time to get new windows! Universal Windows Direct is offering buy one get one free on all windows (with no limit! Literally you could buy ten and get ten free which is pretty amazing!) Their windows have a lifetime warranty and if you sell your home that warranty is transferable to the next homeowner for 30 years! Can’t forget that they are also offering 24 months no payments, no interest!

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plant room 2021

by Kaylah Stroup August 14, 2021

Throughout the history of this blog, I have always loved documenting and sharing the spaces I call home. Now that I actually own and am learning to renovate a house of my own, I feel even more inclined to do so. We’ve been here just shy of a year now and already SO much has changed. I’ve shared photos of this room, my plant room, a handful of times before but it’s always changing. So, despite the fact these photos are a little over a month old, I want to give them a permanent place here on the blog. Something I can come glance back at in the future.

sources –
love seat
plant stands
arch mirror
brass hand
lamp
circle shelf (similar)
dress

For good measure, in case you’ve forgotten, here’s what the room looked like when we moved into the house! If you’d like to see more of this room check out these posts – plant room renovation + plant room update. I even made a video about it.

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floor transition mini update

by Kaylah Stroup August 9, 2021

There are tons of tiny details around this giant old house that I want to change. For example, the floor in the living room needs a lot of love. Until I’m a bit further down my jumbo to-do list, it’s something I’m totally fine with putting off for a while. Listen, I’m already knee-deep in a giant kitchen renovation – no more starting big projects at the moment. The transition pieces between the living room and each of the other rooms off it though? I can’t stand the way they look. Beige marble. Ick. Honestly, anything beige doesn’t really fit my vibe. I’ve hated them since the first time we saw the house.

Randomly, one evening, it hit me. I’ve seen a ton of contact paper DIY projects over the years! Why not give it a try on the awful beige marble transition pieces!?

I ended up purchasing this black marble contact paper. For less than ten bucks per roll, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. (The price seems to vary a bunch but always stays cheap. Right now you can even get two for less than ten!)

It was super easy, took less than an hour, and only required the contact paper and an exacto knife. Honestly, most of that time was probably just wasted with me fiddling with my camera since I was trying to film the process.

above – before // below – after

I don’t know how long it’ll end up lasting but I’m certainly happy with it for now! Of course, eventually, I’d love to replace the beige marble with real black marble transitions. Marble isn’t exactly cheap though and we have a lot more pressing matters to take care of in this old home so who knows when it will get done. This is the perfect little hack for the time being!

A Squid approved project!

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before + after // closet door

by Kaylah Stroup July 11, 2021

this post contains affiliate links.

Another before + after post. This time, the closet door in my bedroom! I know that doesn’t really sound wildly exciting but I am truly jazzed on this little update.

All of this started when I decided to paint my closet gold. I actually wanted to paint it three different shades of gold. I bought my three shades but after getting the first coat on, I realized they weren’t different enough. You couldn’t really tell at all. I ended up mixing them all together for the second coat. For the third coat, I chose my favorite of the three and bought a fresh gallon. I decided I liked the color so much I’d paint the back of our bedroom door with it. I LOVED it immediately.

There was a part of me that thought I should probably paint the closet door the same color but I was nervous I’d end up hating it. It’s definitely a bold color choice, and I didn’t want the gold to be overwhelming. I figured I’d just leave it white and if at any time in the future I thought it felt right to paint it, I would.

Well, it finally hit me the other night while lying in bed, the door needed to be gold. I woke up the next morning, cleaned it off, fixed some holes, and painted it! I could not be happier with how it turned out!

when we purchased the house // after removing the carpet squares and starting to repair the walls.

finished room with the white door // & now with that gorgeous gold door!!!

It’s kind of wild how much a couple coats of paint can really change the whole room! I’ve already decided on a few more spots around the house that will be getting the colorful door treatment at some point. Can’t wait to pick out more colors.

Clearly, I still need to hang things on the walls. As I mention every single time I point out my kind of naked (at least for this maximalist) home, I definitely think that finding the right pieces takes time. While I really really would like stuff on the walls right this second, I don’t want to just throw any old thing up there. Gotta find the pieces that speak to ya, you know? It’s our ‘forever’ home, there’s no rush.

Still pretty bare but a definite improvement from this, eh!?

sources
wall color – White Batten by Sherwin Williams
door color – Gothic Gold by Glidden
ceiling fan
rug
curtains
TV stand – thrifted
gold plant stand

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before + after // office corner!

by Kaylah Stroup June 27, 2021

this post contains affiliate links.

Just a little before and after of one corner of my office. This was the first room in the house that we tackled when we moved in. After the initial renovations, it sat mostly undecorated for quite a while. I needed to figure out the best way to set up my sewing area and computer desk. My office in our last apartment was so small I had a desk for each of those things on opposite walls and was able to roll in my chair back and forth between the two. This room would clearly call for a different set up. Aside from that, I was hesitant to put any screw holes in the beautiful walls I had just repainted and organizing my shelves never felt quite right.

Check out the original before + after video of this room on my Youtube channel.

Slowly but surely, she’s coming together and morphing into a gorgeous room. Decorated exactly my style! Yesterday, while sitting at my computer desk, I glanced over at the far corner and realized I needed to take a photo. Even if it’s not quite perfect yet, it’s come a heck of a long way!

I love it here.

sources
chair
throw
rug
side table
light fixture

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About Me

About Me

Hello!

I'm Kaylah! Renovating a 150-year-old home in Northeast Ohio. Likely found in my garden.

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my favorite four books I’ve read so far this yea my favorite four books I’ve read so far this year! ✨ have you read any of these? any great reads in 2023 yet?! 📚🖤

(As always, I’ve got them in my stories if you want a screenshot. If you see this after the first 24hrs, they’re in my saved stories under ‘books!’ along with a bunch of others. 🖤)
Combining my old interests (cemeteries!) with my n Combining my old interests (cemeteries!) with my new interests (this old house!) 👻🏚️ Can’t tell you how excited I was to find that the original owner of our home is buried a short drive away. Had to go say hey and let him know about the heavily tattooed, green haired gal working on the house now. 😜
🐢!!! Okay, now to make stands for everything el 🐢!!! Okay, now to make stands for everything else that isn’t easy to display because this turned out so cute!!
the spare room throughout the years! ✨✨✨ 1. the spare room throughout the years! ✨✨✨
1. Today. 🖤
2. 2022 - Refinished the floor, handmade custom trim, fresh walls I spent 99 years mudding and sanding to smooth out and repair.
3. 2021. Peace out carpet squares. See you NEVER!
4. 2020. The room on the day we moved in. 
5. The room in 2013 while the house was abandoned.
just a nice little photodump ✨✨✨ cats, the h just a nice little photodump ✨✨✨ cats, the house, rainbows, lake erie 🖤
now vs when we bought ✨ plus some bonus plant ph now vs when we bought ✨ plus some bonus plant photos because yesterday was plant maintenance day and everything is looking 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻!
slowly but surely! 🖤✨ slowly but surely! 🖤✨
If you never hear from me again, it’s because I’m embossing all my books! 💁🏼‍♀️📚📚📚✨ For real, I’m obsessed! I’ll share a link in my stories as well as a better shot of what mine looks like.
So nice I thrifted it twice! 🎉 Seriously though So nice I thrifted it twice! 🎉 Seriously though, what are the chances?! I’m so excited to have found this comforter again. It might be *a little* much with the wallpaper mural in this room but I’m living my best maximalist life! 💁🏼‍♀️✨✨
heard this audio and instantly knew a kitchen floo heard this audio and instantly knew a kitchen floor video needed to be made… because woweee did it take forever to get this far. That doesn’t matter though because it’s DONE! The kitchen floor is laid, grouted and daaaang, it looks fly! 😍😍😍
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THE DAINTY SQUID
  • blog
    • all the posts!
    • stroup mansion
    • some of my favorite posts
    • plants + gardening
    • beauty, fashion + hair
    • reviews
    • window shopping
    • explore everywhere
  • about me
  • contact