Pottery Barn Pretties Friday, Jul 17 2009

While I don’t own a single thing from Pottery Barn, I adore their catalogs and their website for ideas and clean and beautiful design trends. They recently added over 500 new things to their site and here are a few of my faves. Happy Friday!

I’m digging the woven fabric on the top and the distressed red color really makes it pop.

I love the unique shape of these lamps and the rich green shade.

Even though I just bought new bedding, the blending of the blues and grays and the swirly design of this one still made me take a second look.

The twisted wire of these candleholers is just so different and a touch on the antique or rustic side.

These big vases look great in a group with the different shapes and shades of glass.

What a neat idea to hang vintage keys on the wall. You could probably find these at an antique shop or flea market. These look like they are a bit larger though.

This grouping of black and white typewriter pictures is another unique art display for your home. I’m sure you could make something similar by printing out clip art and sticking it in a cheap frame or over a stretched canvas.

And finally these beautiful roman shades. The colors and design are exquisite.

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More Beautiful Baths Wednesday, Jul 15 2009

I still keep going back and forth between which project I want to tackle next, but our master bath is starting to drive me crazy. There are no drawers in the vanity and no good way to organize things or even have a place to put your toothbrush. The floor is scratched and stained and the huge mirror and bright Hollywood dressing room style lights are so dated. Who ever thought those type of globe lights actually were a good idea? So here’s a few more bathroom makeover idea photos I’ve collected.

I’ve got to get one of these star pendents some time. I just love them.

House Beautiful

I love chandeliers over bathtubs although I think it has to be one with candles and not electricity. Otherwise it might be a code and safety issue.

House Beautiful

Can this bathroom with its board and batten walls get any cuter?

Country Living

Simple elegance.

Country Living

How awesome is that round window? And they added a chair with a circular back to tie in with the window.

House Beautiful

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Stars and Stripes Forever Monday, Jul 13 2009

Well, stripes anyways. I’ve noticed that painting vertical or horizontal stripes seems to be a hot trend these days. I see it all over online and on HGTV. Horizontal stripes help stretch a room and can make a small space feel much larger whether the stripes go all the way floor to ceiling or just one or two stripes in the middle. Vertical stripes can also add visual interest and make a room feel more cozy. Even a floor can be painted with stripes to jazz it up a bit. Here are some examples of some wonderful spaces that have been livened up with stripes.

This one is a really fun space with all the different colors. The furniture and curtains are kept more neutral so as not to compete and clash with the walls.

Remodeling Center

 

Even a piece of furniture can get on in the striping action to add some drama to a space.

Country Living

 

How lovely are these contrasting stripes. Some are bold, some more subtle tone on tone.

Country Living

 

Country LivingHouse Beautiful

House Beautiful

 

And how about some nice horizontal stripes to enlarge these bathrooms.

Coastal Living

 You can visit Young House Love for a tutorial on how to paint stripes like the room below. (This is the blog formally known as This Young House, shhh don’t say that out loud or they might get in trouble. Head on over to their site if you don’t know the story yet)

Young House Love

 

The creative youngsters at Young House Love also did this wonderful porch transformation with stripes. While time consuming, the end result is amazing.

Young House Love

And finally if you have a wood floor that’s seen better days and can’t be refinished, why not paint it with some gorgeous stripes like the room below.

My Home Ideas

I don’t have any rooms I’m planning to paint stripes in right now, but it’s something I have considered trying whenever we get around to makeover our office space.

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Light and Bright Living Saturday, Jul 11 2009

Since I’m on a lightening and brightening kick lately, I thought I’d share a few lovely fresh spaces to enjoy and start off the weekend. Here are some living rooms decorated with a airy feel. Enjoy!

House Beautiful

 

Coastal Living

 

Coastal Living

 

Coastal Living

 

House Beautiful

 

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Weekend Projects Part 3 Thursday, Jul 9 2009

Ok this one isn’t really a project, just a small change. I had bought a table runner at Old Time Pottery and while I liked the fabric and design, the color was a little dark.

Then I was at Target on Friday and I found another runner that pulled in the lighter tans and creams as well as the darker browns so I bought it. I think it was $14.99. Luckily I still have thr receipt for the first runner, so it’s being returned to Old Time Pottery. I also visited World Market and snagged the two white and green candle holders on clearance for $2. I still need to add some candles, but you get the idea. I still have some fussing to do with the centerpiece, I may be putting a lantern in its place, or a different vase. Well just have to see. But here it is how it looks  right now:

I’m not sure what happened the night after I added this new runner, but I guess the cats were chasing each other or fighting on the table, because this is how it looked Monday morning:

As long as nothing breaks, we’re still good. I guess it’s good practice for any future kiddos that might come along. So that’s what I did over the weekend. I already have plans for this coming weekend that involve doorknobs and spray paint, so we’ll see what happens next.

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Weekend Projects Part 2 Thursday, Jul 9 2009

I’m back with the next change I made over the weekend. The first part of this mini project was free, it just required some superhuman effort and some hubby help. All we did was some minor furniture rearrangement. Previously, the TV cabinet was in the corner. I never liked it there because it blocked the window and I like as much natural light into a room as possible. Unfortunately, the thing weighs a ton. And it has a heavy TV in it. And a DVD player and stereo equipment. And stacks of movies and CDs in the bottom. Well, taking all that out and unhooking all the wires is a great big pain. So we huffed and puffed and shoved that big boy over along the wall.  The couches were much easier, just a little tweaking there.

Here’s how everything was before:

And the new arrangement that’s more straight on:

But there’s something else different there. What else has changed between the before and after picture? One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesn’t belong…..Anyone else remember that from Sesame Street? There are actually five  things different that I see, can anyone find all the differences between the first and second photo?

I’ll give you a hint on the first and biggest which is my  new area rug! I found it at Old Time Pottery for $32. I wasn’t planning on buying a rug for there yet, but I happened to find this one on sale and it was the only green one left.

It’s amazing how simply a new furniture arrangemet can change a room and it’s a great free way to have a mini room makeover. So give it a try. Pull your furniture out from the walls, switch your couches and chairs around, and give a new look a try. So that’s part 2 of my weekend updates. Go here for part 3 with some changes to my dining room table.

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Weekend Projects Part 1 Wednesday, Jul 8 2009

Right after I posted this on Wednesday, I read about the DIY party on A Soft Place to Land. So I’m ready to join in with this post and a couple others of various weekend projects I had going on.

I had several projects over the long weekend to spruce up and decorate the house. The biggest project was painting our headboard. Our headboard is a hand me down we’ve had since we got married. Here’s the blah wood before shot:

Then after applying a coat of good old Kilz oil based primer and two coats of Behr touch of cream laytex paint I moved the new headboard back inside to show off it’s transformation. I also added our new Shabby Chic bedding from Target, a bit of a splurge (anything over $20 is usually a splurge to me though), but our old bedspread was falling apart and had so many rips in it from kitty claws.  So with all that here’s the cottage look after:

Even the dresser got a little facelift. I added some new handles from Target ($9.99 for a pack of six.) I’m still contemplating painting it as well. Maybe a soft tan color to pick up the color from the comforter.  What do you think?

So that’s part one of the projects I had going on around the house. Go here for part two of my weekend project about furniture arranging and check out my side bar for links to more projects. Thanks for visiting and be sure to check out the DIY party from ASPTL.

 

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Places of Rest Monday, Jul 6 2009

I spent much of the weekend working on arranging and decorating around the house. I painted my headboard, changed our dresser hardware, and rearranged the living room. I’m still getting everything situated so photos of my own rooms will have to wait. Since my master bedroom has been my main project lately here are some gorgeous bedroom retreats I have come across.

I just love how they draped the curtains around the bed and the window:

Country Living

Not sure what’s up the green shag rug, but I love the rest of the room:

Country Living

 

Country Living

 

Country Living

 

House Beautiful

House Beautiful

House Beautiful

While this room isn’t exactly a master bedroom unless you are in a 1950s TV sitcom, I really like the color scheme they used.  It feels like a tropical getaway in your own house. And how cool is that ceiling?

 

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Laundry a Chore No More! Wednesday, Jul 1 2009

Ok, does anyone really like doing laundry? I know I don’t. All the cramming of clothes into the washer and then pulling out wet clothes to stuff into the dryer and somehow make they all fit. Not to mention all the yucky dryer lint to clean out that sticks to everything in my laundry room and seems to multiply on every surface. I realize it’s a fairly simple activity that doesn’t require too much effort, but it’s one of my least favorite chores.

Of course, my laundry room is also the home of the cats’ litter box, so I have to work around that and avoid dropping any clothes in it. (Eww!) It’s also the only room in the house we never painted so it’s drab and dirty and full of miscellaneous clutter and cleaning supplies. Someday I hope to get a stackable set of front loaders so I have room for a mini mudroom area as well as hide that stinky cat box in the corner. But for now our 15 year old washer and 20 year dryer hand me downs continue to chug away. Of course it takes about 2 hours to dry a load of laundry so I’m not sure how economical it is, but until they finally give up and die or I win the lottery(not likely since I’ve never bought a ticket) I’m stuck with my little laundry room devoid of cheer.

I came across a few rooms that might make laundry less of a chore because of how bright and pretty they are. I love all the organization in these areas as well. Anyone else feel like washing some clothes now?

Remodeling Center

Remodeling Center

 

Remodeling Center

 

Remodeling Center

 

This Old House

 

This Young House

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Weekend Finds Tuesday, Jun 30 2009

For Christmas gifts, I received a couple giftcards to Michael’s. I don’t shop there too often since I usually go to Archiver’s for my scrapbooking needs and I don’t really do many other crafts. I decided to go by there Sunday to see if I could find anything fun.

First I found this cute little basket with a handle. It matches the color of my bedroom so I am using it to store the TV remotes. However, I plan to ditch the TV at some point so then I may put the basket in the bathroom to hold soaps and other goodies. (You can see a picture of my hubby in the background holding one of our cats. Aren’t they too cute?)

I also decided to purchase this fun vase and plant arrangement to decorate the fireplace. I love the vase, but I think the fake plant inside might be a bit too wild for what I was after. I’ll let it sit there awhile before I decide whether to keep it or take it back. I wanted something a little more straight and structured without all the leaves and stalks flowing everywhere.

Finally, I came across a few scrapbook goodies to buy. The paper was on clearance for 49 cents, the prima flowers were also clearanced for $1.99. I don’t remember how much the Making Memories stickers were, but they had all these fun vintage embellishments in this line. The stickers have little words and phrases on them.

Did anyone else have any great finds this weekend? I also lucked out at Old Navy and got 3 shirts and a pair of shorts for $27. I had a giftcard for there too (I have sooo many giftcards!) so I only paid $1.30. Can’t beat that.

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