Projects For Your Weekend.

Happy Friday friends!

This weekend I am hoping to tackle some fun diy projects (very hopeful about finishing up the handmade touches in baby Adelee's room!)

One such project would be to add a bit of art and color to our bedroom. I love the master bedroom in our new home and I especially love our new bed, nightstands and dresser. When we moved in January I sold our bedroom set with the hopes of getting something that fit our style a bit better. We slept with the mattress on the floor for a few months until we finally decided on the bed we have now. I was kind of in love with the idea of a this bed but realized that a fabric headboard in a home where little ones are often wrestling and jumping and playing on your bed with their cute little sticky faces and hands might not be the best solution.

So we opted for the one we have now and I am super happy with our choice. Although the room is very bare (besides the art above the bed) it is a beautiful room with amazing lighting. I can see the room from our kitchen and it makes me smile when I peer in... the mark of a truly great space. :)

So, this week I was on the hunt (have been for awhile) to find a replacement accent chair for the one we sold when we first moved. I had not really been actively hunting (i.e. perusing craigslist every once in awhile) until I realized the other day that the little one growing in my belly will be here in less than 4 weeks and I have no where to feed her in the night. Although our previous chair was not our style and we both kind of hated it over the years, it was super perfect for feeding all my little ones throughout those long nights. Upon this realization of really needing a chair I scoured craigslist and really found nothing and then hit the shops on Monday morning. Much to my joy I found this little gem at Ross on clearance. LOVE it. Funny how it brings in the character of the original bed I wanted...

And now that we have that little beauty I want to actually decorate the rest of the room. Isn't it terrible how making a purchase leads you to want more? ugh. I plan on spending no more money on decorating the rest of the room and instead plan on making some art and accessories to finish the space. 

 

Do you love it? 

P.S. The ottoman has storage space, perfect for a little changing station for baby!

I found this idea on Pinterest and think it could be perfect in conjunction with a few other pieces.

I love the idea of keeping neutral tones since our bedroom already has that feel. Lots of grays, tans, creams, and whites.

Tutorial via Young House Love

Do you have any projects you are working on this weekend?

Projects For Your Weekend.

I am still (and probably will forever be) working on this project for baby Adelee's room (DIY Pom Poms.) It has been such a labor of love that if I ever do finish I am making her take it with her to college. :)

I have a few other little projects I want to finish as well, one of them being some type of paper flower mobile that will hang from the net that is centered above her crib. I found some beautiful inspiration you can see below.
 

Magnolia Flower Mobile by Pink Perch

 Flower Mobile by Pottery Barn Teen

 Swarming Butterfly Chandelier by Heartland Paper

(but in flowers, not butterflies)

I found this sweet tutorial from Bliss! for making tissue paper flowers that I think would work really great. Inexpensive and lightweight, perfect for hanging from the netting.

What are you up to this weekend?

Inside Real Homes: Nate (Part 3)

Nate's Home (Part 3) 

Master Bedroom & Bath

In case you missed Part 1 or Part 2!

Inside Real Homes: Nate (Part 1)

Inside Real Homes: Nate (Part 2)

 

All photographs by Kortni of Kortni Marie Photography

 

Nate's bedroom had beautiful bones that worked well with his taste and style. The lighting and view from this master bedroom is to die for. The flooring was the same light wood as the rest of the house and the walls were the same creamy neutral as well. Although Nate was drawn to an airy, neutral and calm palette we definitely needed to add in a bit of contrast and color for the sake of pulling the room together and creating a cohesive style. 

I added two gray panels to the two large windows. It was very important to Nate to not obstruct the view outside so instead of two panels on each window, I added only one to each therefor keeping your eye moving across the wall of windows. The gray panels are perfect, adding interest but still remaining within that neutral palette. 

On the floor, I added a slate gray area rug. The rug does a couple of things for the room. It provides a softness due to its texture, both visually and also under your feet. It also helps to visually define the different spaces in such a large master bedroom and it also breaks up all the cream that is found in both the floor and wall color.

For the bedding I paired a light gray, beautifully textured duvet with slate gray sheets. Two creamy throw pillows pull the bedding together.

Above the bed I painted two canvases with shades of gray and a slight pop of rust orange. The rust orange is the same color of fabric used in the accent chair across the room in a small reading nook. I love that slight hint of a bold color, it adds so much interest without being too heavy.

 

We found the accent chair on craigslist and I was in love! Nate already owned his bedroom furniture that was characterized by very clean, modern lines but he really had a taste for a more vintage, worn look. So by simply adding this chair as well as pieces from his world travels I was able to add some creative balance to previously very modern room. A side table, reading lamp, and stack of old books creates the perfect reading nook.

On the opposite wall, I used his travel treasures to create a large focal point gallery wall. The idea is that he will continue to add pieces to this gallery wall and it will become both a beautiful and meaningful display.

 The master bathroom was relatively simple. Again, great existing bathroom with beautiful cabinetry, counters, flooring and even hardware and lighting. I really only needed to pull it together so that it was styled and cohesive. I added a soft painting that helped carry in that vintage feel. I added rich espresso towels and rugs. And lastly, I brought in an accent table to house a few gray/blue accessories.

 

Despite the challenges of being a mommy while trying to finish this project I very much enjoyed it,

especially the finished product!

Next week I hope to introduce you to another Real Home... mine. :)

Have a happy Tuesday!

Inside Real Homes: Nate (Part 2)

Yesterday I posted Part 1 of Nate's home featuring his open concept living and dining room. 

The next space I tackled was the kitchen area that included a large space he wanted to turn into a study area. His kitchen already had great features with upgraded maple cabinets, dark granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. The overall look of the kitchen before I even touched it was already a masculine one. Since the kitchen and study area are only separated from the living/dining room by a half wall it was important to continue the feel from that space into this space.

Welcome to

Nate's House

{The Kitchen}

 

Nate already had the eat-in kitchen table and chairs which were a dark espresso wood with clean lines. I found bar stools that had the same color and same clean lines to add to the bar area. And I added the same espresso curtains with stainless steel rods that we used in the living room to the two large windows in the kitchen.

 

  

I used Nate's existing desk but added a new chair that coordinated with the bar stools. I definitely wish I had a before photo of the chair that he used to have... :) I framed another antique map which did two things for this room: 1) carried the look from the living/dining room through to this study area, and 2) created a perfect focal point above the desk that filled the wall area exactly. I staged the desk a small accent lamp and another stack of old books from a thrift store.

 

In the study area we added two leather club chairs that we found for a great price on overstock.com. The color and feel of the chairs are perfect. They are masculine and comfortable with great lines. I found a gem of a side table at a discount store. I need a detailed shot of it, but trust me, it's amazing. It has an industrial, vintage feel and is wonderfully unique which is a nice quality to find when you are decorating on a budget because at times your space can easily become too matchy-matchy. We also added a dark espresso area rug, inexpensive coffee table, a throw (to soften the chairs a bit) and an accent lamp (it's all about the lighting.)

 

On the wall we framed and hung more antique maps. Again, the wall was large and in order to create a focal point and to fill that space for relatively no money, this was a perfect solution that turned out amazing. Nate had an old calendar featuring beautiful maps that we simply had matted and framed. We used a total of 9 and later he added two larger ones on either side of the collection for an even bigger impact.

This space turned out really great. I could definitely see myself spending many a morning in those chairs drinking my coffee and reading my Bible. 

On the same level as the living/dining room and the kitchen/study area is a guest bathroom.

Welcome to:

{The Guest Bathroom}

In the tiny space I wanted to add a bit of color, so I painted the walls a beautiful gray (Granite Boulder from Behr) and added hand towels in a darker slate gray with a dark red one as well. I think art even in the tiniest and seemingly unimportant of spaces is vital. So I found this beautiful painting on at a discount home store thought it was perfect. It has a vintage beach feel while not being overly beachy. I added stainless steel accessories by the pedestal sink and a really yummy smelling candle (a necessity in a house of men. :))

A friend once told me that guest baths are like throw pillows, an accent to the rest of the living space.

Best advice ever on decorating bathrooms. 

What do you think? How do you decorate your bathrooms?

Inside Real Homes: Nate (Part 1)

Months ago. Literally. I hinted at a new kind of project I had taken on. 

However, posting about said new project took months since the actual completion of the project took a little longer than anticipated.

I love home decorating and styling.

Love.

I am the girl that when given 'fun' money from our family budget will 9 out of 10 times spend it on our home. It's my favorite. Even over clothes. (Although, tiny little pink things seem to be giving this habit a run for it's money.)

So when a friend moved down to Florida last July and bought his first place, he offered me the job of decorating his house. I said 'YES!' of course and jumped at the opportunity. His only real request was that I design the home in such a way that created a cohesive and put together look; he wanted it to be comfortable but with style and purpose.

He purchased a beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood and asked me to design the living spaces that included a living room, dining room as well as a library/study area, a guest bath, and his master suite.

I learned many things about myself during this process. The biggest thing I learned was that no matter how amazing the end product was (and it is rather amazing! too bad I don't have before photos!) and how much I love this hobby, I cannot delve into interior design during this season of my life. I can relatively easy run my graphic design business and shop from home in my cute little office with little ones running around me. If I need to stop to play blocks or fix lunch or read a book or rock and sing lullabies that works without any real delay. But attempting day long shopping trips, hauling furniture up multiple flights of stairs, painting bathrooms, or even making little diy projects in an environment not my own is not conducive to a mommy of little ones. So, for now this hobby will stay just that, a hobby. 

Over the next few days I will be showing you rooms from Nate's home and will be adding a 'Inside Real Homes' decorating feature on this blog. I have a plethora of rooms to show you from our new house we just moved into in January. And I heard from a bird that a friend of mine who is an amazing decorator is moving in the next few months as well. I am positive she will give me plenty to post about! I am excited to incorporate my love for decorating in a way that still works for me at this time in my life. 

Note: all photography, with the exception of one or two, is by my sweet friend Kortni of Kortni Marie Photography. She not only photographed the entire home for me when the makeover was over but was also my design assistant giving me that extra design insight (and set of hands!) when I really needed to get this project completed. Thank you Kortni!

So, without further ado, welcome to:

Nate's House

{Living Room}

Working with a budget and his existing furniture the goal was to create a cohesive look. He went through a number of my decorating magazines marking his favorite rooms and every one of them were neutral, airy palettes. That look worked very well with his home that has perfect lighting all throughout the day making it a naturally airy space. We left the wall color as it fit nicely into that neutral palette and added pops of deep espresso and white.

Nate has a love for old maps so I used a portion of his collection here in the living room above the sofa. Framing the maps and then hanging them as a collection was an inexpensive way to fill up such a large wall and give a focal point as soon as enter the living room.

 

Little details like large green plants (per his request!) and accent lamps add character. For the smaller lamps I stacked them on old books found at thrift stores to give height to the lamp as well as bring in more vintage details, which he was drawn to as well. 

{Dining Room}

The living and dining room are an open concept so everything needed to work together. (This photo was taken before the dining room was made complete with a little diy project you will see below.) I found this table and chairs at an overstock, scratch & dent furniture warehouse. It was perfect for his home. It has great lines and the bulk adds to the masculine feel while the chairs still allow it to be comfortable and casual.

I scored the mirror (obsessed! and wish it were mine) from TJ Maxx. It looks like it's made out of driftwood. So perfect for this space. Another antique map brings cohesion to this side of the room.

 

I needed a large focal point on this wall but it needed to work with the framed map collection above the couch. It took me some time to figure out exactly what I wanted to put here. In a perfect world with an endless budget I would have loved a buffet here. But a buffet for a single guy seems kind of like pointless spending. So, my next option was to create something massive to fill this space. I decided to do my very own stick artwork. A few of my friends have created art very similar to this and I thought it would be the perfect solution. It has this wonderful natural element that ties into the dining room chairs, the shape filled the empty space providing a great focal point, the color worked perfectly with the collection of maps in the living room and the nature of the art creates movement forcing your eye to move across the room ensuring there are no competing elements in the space. Just beautifully balanced pieces that work seamlessly together.

So, what do you think of Nate's Living and Dining Room? 

I plan to reveal his library/study and guest bathroom tomorrow!

Projects for Your Weekend

 I found these amazing little DIY projects on pinterest. 

The dessert stands are amazing and so wonderfully useful if you play hostess often.

 by Centsational Girl

Source unknown (if you know, please tell me!) found here

 Reupholster a wing chair on your own?! I'll let you know if I ever get courageous enough to try this on my $15.00 garage find that is roughly slip-covered these days.

by Creative Maven

 

I am using these to finish up a project this weekend. Hopefully photos to come. 

Working with this too... what could it be?!

Have a great weekend!

Bar Stools Updated

happy fall friends.

You may remember this post from a little while back. I dug these bar stools out of the neighbor's garbage. I simply sanded them down and gave them a fresh coat of paint that I already had on hand. 

They were cute but still looked a little unfinished for a kitchen/dining area. (I think they were designed for outside? Remember, they were free! And they do fold up which is kind of fun. :))

So my sweet friend, who has the BEST ideas suggested I cover them. Um, yes please! 

I took a little trip to JoAnn Fabrics and picked up this adorable orange patterned fabric. I took the legs off of the stools and added a layer of foam and then a layer of fabric. Then I staple gunned away. The entire project only cost about $10.00 and took about 4 hours (including sanding and painting.)

 

What do you think?

....

 I purchased the same fabric that I had recently used to do the before & after below.

 

I received this from a sweet lady at an antique store last November. I was tearfully looking through her store and realized quickly that I would not be able to afford anything there. She politely asked me what I was looking for (I am sure I looked a bit crazy... who cries in an antique store?!) I told her that on this day, 2 years ago my baby boy passed away and I was searching for a way to treasure his things. She instantly found this little box, that no one seems certain of it's past use or purpose, and gave it to me with a tearful smile... it now has a new and perfect purpose; a home for all of Aaden's little things.

Laundry Room Inspiration

I LOVE our home. Really. It is a good thing that I love it so much because we will most likely be in this home for a looong time (until God calls my husband to plant another Aletheia somewhere....)

My only complaint (and it's a super tiny one) is the lack of closet space and the unused space in the enormous laundry room. We bought this house for it's ginormous living areas which are amazing for our family's lifestyle.... but the closets are super tiny and I am reminded of that fact every time I put the boys clothes away in their shared 2 foot closet. It does work out because I am a 'I-hate-clutter-anywhere-I-clean-out-closets-once-a-week' type girl anyway. However, I still very much would love to have a designated linen closet. Right now our master closet triples as Asher's sleeping area (i.e. pack-n-play for naps), our closet and our linen closet as well. So I got to thinking... one of the super advantages of our home is the super size of the laundry room. What about a laundry room makeover  to make use of all of the unused space in there?! I am thinking a couple cabinets and storage shelves would absolutely create that linen closet that I am dying to have.

I'll let you know if I can convince my husband of such a necessity. :)


Take a look at my inspiration:

All images were found via pinterest. Take a look at my House and Home inspiration board and click on any of the above pictures there for more information on where each of these great inspirations came from.

Weekend Projects: Blank Canvases

What are you up to this weekend? 

I am hoping to finish a painting that I started last weekend. I am super excited about this little project. The paintings are for my master bedroom and will strongly resemble the gray/white chevron painting below. Our master bedroom needs some strong, masculine lines added to it and I think these paintings will do the trick. Hopefully I can do a little reveal next week... if I finish. :)

 {Chevron Painting by Me Oh My}

The above canvas was done with Doily Rub-Ons but you could easily create the same effect but in the reverse by laying down a paper doily, painting over it and the removing it to reveal the canvas color underneath.  I think a series of this dainty artwork would be perfect in a little girl's room.

Example

{Doily Canvas by Hambly Screen Prints}

 So, you can buy these or I am thinking DIY. Blank canvas with wood chip letters spelling of a word(s) of your choice and then spray painting the entire thing a solid color. My color of choice? White.

{Word Art by Not On The High Street}

 

 I am going to be making a little gem similar to this for my sister-in-law's new house. Her formal living room's walls are a beautiful gray (Granite Boulder by Behr - love that color!), the furniture is white and/or black. We thought yellow would be a perfect punch for the room. What do you think?

{hello yellow by decorista dreams}

I know this last one is not actually a canvas, but symbolically speaking it is a 'blank canvas'... 

and I love the pattern. And I love that it is a baking sheet. Really. That is genius.

 {Decorative Tray using baking sheets by Martha Stewart}