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before and after

throughout the years // dining room

by Kaylah Stroup April 3, 2023

One of my favorite things to do with the very few old photos I have of my home is take updated photos of the same view. It’s something I plan to do for years and years to come so that I can watch as things change, and document how those views look throughout the years. I normally just share those over on instagram but we’re starting a new series here! This way they’ll be easier to find, I can write more about each photo and so that photos are larger.

First up – this view of my dining room!

2010

This is the dining room in 2010. The house was listed for sale but never sold. I’m not sure why it didn’t sell. Perhaps the listing price was too high? I don’t know! It seems bonkers that no one would snatch it up though. After being on the market for a year, it was taken down and the house was abandoned.

sometime between 2011-2016

Someone reached out on Youtube a while back and sent me photos of the house they took while it was abandoned! He sent me a ton of photos. Every few months I go through them and find some new detail I hadn’t noticed before. It’s really fun. Love being able to see the full view of this mural that you can only see a peek of in the previous photo. (Thanks again for the photos, Dave!)

2020

Ten years later. This was easily one of the nicest rooms in the house when we bought it. The whole house has potential, obviously, but this was the room where that potential reeeeally shined. I loved the wall color, the portière, the furniture! Ugh, it’s all just so good.

When the previous owner offered to let us keep the dining room furniture I was just kind of like “yeah, that’d be cool, thanks” but now I can’t imagine a more perfect furniture set for the room. This feels like a bold statement but I don’t foresee this furniture set ever leaving this room. When I die and haunt this house, I will not allow the next owners to move these piece out.

2023

An actual dream! I still can’t believe this is my house. It’s so much more than I could ever have imagined.

We kept the blue the previous owner chose for the room, although it got a fresh coat and a nice tight cut in job! I’m not really a blue gal but there’s absolutely no color that could fit this room better. It’s so moody!

Can’t wait to continue this little throughout the years series and have a real excuse to take more replicate photos. xo

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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

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

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Finally biked the abandoned PA turnpike again over Finally biked the abandoned PA turnpike again over the weekend. 🚲✨ My first time was just shy of ten years ago. I had been on a bike maybe twice at that point so it wasn’t an easy ride for me. This visit was SO much more fun. We biked, picnicked outside a tunnel and had a grand ole time. Highly recommend making a visit if you’re anywhere nearby!! 

Ps My husband made a whole video about it which you can find over on his channel - climbing the fence. I’ll throw a link in my stories too! 🖤
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10/10 recommend growing on an arch so you can walk 10/10 recommend growing on an arch so you can walk under your plants. It’s so magical. 😍 

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I finished laying the floor in here this week but I finished laying the floor in here this week but wanted to share this picture (and those other ones too!!!) before I do a floor reveal (💁🏼‍♀️) just to celebrate how far it’s come.

Renovations take so much SO much time, money, effort, knowledge, passion, etc etc etc so you’re dang right I’m proud. 

With the floor done, my last big hurdle is hanging a whole bunch of custom trim in here. I can’t believe it’s almost done! 😊

paint color is Secluded Woods, wallpaper by @xwallcolors 🖤

#stroupmansion
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Ps if you prefer longer form video of just didn’t get a good enough look at how incredibly ridiculous my bathroom is looking so far - YouTube, baby! I’m back!!!

#stroupmansion
an accurate representation how quickly it feels th an accurate representation how quickly it feels the last THREE years have gone. ✨ Three years ago, Jeff and I became the official owners (and caregivers! ❤️🏚️) to this big spooky place. Best decision ever. 

Here’s to many many more! 🥂
just a little now vs then (then being 2020 when we just a little now vs then (then being 2020 when we bought!) I still plan to refinish these floors some day but to be honest, I really enjoy how they look currently. ☺️

#stroupmansion

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THE DAINTY SQUID
  • blog
    • all the posts!
    • stroup mansion
    • some of my favorite posts
    • plants + gardening
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    • reviews
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    • explore everywhere
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