From a cold hallway to a warm home

Hallway Before

Here's a view of the hall and the burgundy carpet.  We thought at first that we would refinish the original floors but in the end having newer engineered flooring just made more sense.  

Here is one of the reasons why we replaced the original floors.  I have no idea why it had this hole but the duct tape didn't do much to hide it.




Below is how the hallway looks today.  It feels much warmer with a bit of paint and new flooring.  I know the picture looks like it is cut off at the top, but that is in fact where the sky light opening starts.  The open door at the end of the hall is the sewing room.  Actually its where all kinds of crafty things happen.  Sewing is one activity but also, knitting, weaving, embroidery, cross stitch, basket making, and Robert does leather work.   

Hallway After

 Under the sky light I'm trying to grow some house plants.  Trying is the key word here.  I was never very good with indoor plants, but ever optimist.   The cabinet is an old fish tank stand that was found on the side of the road. I keep the watering can and plant food behind the doors. The top was gone but a bit of scrap wood fixed that.  
The two boxes came from my daughter who picked them up during her waitress days at a well known dinner house on the coast.

The boxes were a bit too deep for the plants, so Styrofoam wrapped in black plastic bags were placed in the bottom of each.  Then decorative smooth black rocks covers the plastic bags.  Besides the pots, the rocks were the most expensive part of the entire set up.  

The hallway  has a much more inviting and homey feel to it with the plants.  Eventually I would like to add some hanging plants as well.