Family Room

While I’m working hard on painting the craft room, I thought I would show you some before and after shots of my family room.  I still have a few things I want to change, but it has definitely come a long way!
These pics are not the best, but it’s all I had of the before.  You get the idea…

 
 
The room was really dark and it had beige grass cloth wallpaper.  If the wallpaper were in better shape and a different color, I would have considered keeping it.  Under normal circumstances, I love grass cloth.  But, we had the stippled ceiling smoothed before we moved in.  In case you’re wondering, that means we made a HUGE MESS!  The wallpaper was covered in sheetrock dust, so it went bye, bye.



I painted the walls Light Pewter 1464, by Benjamin Moore
What a great neutral!  This color goes with everything, which works out wonderfully since I change my mind a lot!


We considered painting the paneling, but in the end, we decided to keep it the stained wood tone.  I’m thinking one day we will bite the bullet and paint it, but for right now it works. 
Instead of painting the paneling, we opted for painting the brick on the fireplace.  I know lots people out there who just can’t seem to bring themselves to paint the brick, but what a huge difference it made.  It changed the whole look of the room. 



I used Revere Pewter HC-172 by Benjamin Moore on the brick.  It’s slightly darker than the walls.


Here’s the rest of the room.



Baskets make for great storage.  I pick them up whenever I can.  I got these on 2 different trips to Goodwill.  They are perfect for storing baby dolls and trucks!



Looks like I’m missing a shot facing the sofa.  I’ll snap one and post it later this week and I’ll show you where I put this great rug I made from a paint drop cloth!


Katie

Sneak Peek!

I picked up the paint for the book cases and I started painting today.
I was a little nervous when I opened the paint…

Wow!  That’s really blue!
Let’s hope this project doesn’t come out as flat as the bread I made today!

Katie

Idea Quickie!

If you’re looking for a project you can do this weekend, I’ve got just the one for you!
Every week my girls are bringing home wonderful art pieces from school.  I LOVE their art and what better way to show them just how proud I am, than to display them on the wall in frames! 
Now, changing the art in and out of frames every week would be exhausting, so here is what I’ve done…
The Revolving Art Wall:

I had all sorts of frames in the basement.  Non of them matched and some were either missing the backs, or the glass was broken.  So, I gathered them up and painted them the same color as the wall.  I chose to do them the same color so that their art would really pop.  But, of course, you could paint them any color you like.  Then I hung them with Command Strips, so that if I ever wanted to move them around, it would be easy and no holes to fill.  I just hang the art inside the frames with painters tape.  It comes off without damaging the wall and allows me to change out the art as often as I like.

Easy-peasy!  You could definitely finish this in a few hours and it cost next to nothing!
Looks like I need to add some more frames!!!
Have a great weekend!
Katie

Craft Room: The Plan

Here’s the plan for the craft room. 

I’ve gotten the room pretty much cleaned out and ready to work on.  My supervisors gave me the OK to get started!
I’m going to keep the book cases, but I’m going to paint them Loyal Blue SW6510

I’m having a hard time deciding on a wall color, so I think I’m going to leave it as is and paint the trim, Martha Stewart Talc, to match the foyer and dining room.


 

As a  side note, I love Martha’s paint!  She has some really beautiful colors and she has them all on a folded card that is so easy to use.  If you are one who feels overwhelmed when you look at a wall of paint chips, pick up her card.  She’s narrowed it down for you and all the colors are good!  I’m normally a Valspar girl, but I have used Martha’s paint in two other rooms and I really like it.  It goes on easy, dries quickly and its super easy to clean up.






So, If you’re wondering what I’m doing for the next few days, I’ll be painting.  Hopefully I can show you some progress soon!
Katie

Wall Stencils

I had a sweet friend e-mail me over the weekend to tell me how much she liked the wallpaper I had in my foyer.  When I told her it wasn’t wallpaper, she couldn’t believe it!  I wish I could have taken a picture of all the blank stares I got when I told people I was planning to stencil my foyer.
When I came across this picture in Traditional Home, I knew I wanted the same look.  It’s from my favorite designer again, Tobi Fairley. 

I love the pattern and the neutrality of the black and white wallpaper, but I’m sure that it is out of my price range.  So, when I was at Hobby Lobby one day, I found this all over wall stencil:

I immediately thought of the wallpaper in Tobi’s foyer.  I liked the graphic-damasky feel of the stencil pattern and I thought if painted it in black and white, it would do the trick.  Plus, it was half-off, a sign no doubt!
It took an abundance of patience, but I love the way it turn out.  Here’s the transition…
Note:  It’s not your eyes, you do not need glasses.  I took the pictures on my phone, so they are a little fuzzy, sorry!
    

I originally was planning to paint this cabinet black and white like the inspiration photo.  But in the end, I just couldn’t bring myself to go all black and white.  The dining room and crap future craft room  on each side of the foyer were still blank slates.  I love to use inspiration photos to get my juices flowing, but I think you should add your own style to the final design.  No one likes a copy cat, just ask my girls!  So, I chose Persimmon Red, by Martha Stewart.  It’s one that she offers color samples of and it only took one container and cost less that $5.




Here it is all finished!  The chest is a true coral color although it looks a little pink here.  I love that the pattern on the walls is neutral enough that if I ever wanted to switch up the furniture piece, I could do so easily. 
If I had one tip for doing this project it would be to buy 2 stencils.  It will make the project go much faster! 













 BTW, the hubs picked this up on the side of the road the other day. 



He’s planning on using it for storage in his shop, but all I could see in front of me was the means to this…

Isn’t it lovely!  Don’t you think he should hand it over?! 
Katie

Pink and Red

Have you ever heard that if colors are together in nature, then they are a perfect combination for design?
This is what I saw in my back yard this morning.  

I’ve never been able to grasp the whole pink and red combo, but people, this was beautiful!  The picture doesn’t do it justice.  Here it is before me,  Pink – Red – Nature. 
So just out of curiosity, I searched pink and red on Pinterest and here is what I found.



SJP is rocking it.  But let’s face it, she’d look good in a potato sack (cinched at the waist, of course!).

Now this red and pink combo I can dig, yes please!

Last but not least, if I had Photoshop, I would totally insert my face here!
What do you think?  Do pink and red live in harmony?
Have a great weekend!
Katie

The Craft Room

I’ve had a hard time deciding which room to work on next.  It’s been between the Master Bedroom and my Crap Craft Room.  We aren’t formal living room kind of folks and our house just happens to have a HUGE formal living room.  I’ve always thought it would make the perfect room for sewing and crafts.  Before I finished the dining room, I pretty much just kept that part of the house closed off.  It actually made the perfect hiding place for all my crap treasures that I found when I was out thrifting. 
Two things recently happed that sealed the deal for me on which room to do next.
1. Have you ever notice in magazines when they picture one room that shows the transition into two adjoining rooms?  It has always mesmerized me and I have always wanted that in a home.   Look how beautifully these rooms from Martha Stewart flow.

It wouldn’t matter if Hannibal Lector was waiting for me in that beautiful sage colored room, I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame!   
Take a peek at the picture of my dining room looking out into the foyer, notice anything? I noticed it when I was taking pictures of the finished dining room and I’m giddy with excitement!

I just realized my life long dream of the three room transition already came true!  But wait, take a closer look..
WARNING: Viewer Discretion is Advised!
I think Hannibal Lector has been in my Crap future Craft Room.  Not so “moth-to-a-flame-like” at the moment.
But I have to say that damask stencil (I’ll post on that project later) up top looks really good even in “scary night vision” mode.  Moving on…
2.  I found the most perfect fabric for this room at the crazy fabric sale I told you about yesterday and I’m dying to see it up! (Oh, and this room is not only dangerous, but its slightly embarrassing.  But, those facts did not make the top two reasons why I chose to redo this room over the master bedroom.)
Here is what I was planning to use for my inspiration prior to my fabulous fabric find. 

But let’s be honest, although beautiful, its a little to serene and elegant for the chaos magic that is going to happen in the room.
Here is what I’m thinking now:



I think the neutral walls and pop of color in all these rooms is so much fun and just what I’m looking for.
Here’s a sneak peek at some of the totally fantastic fabric I found yesterday:
 
I’m so excited!  I’ll share the game plan next time!
Katie

The Thrill of the Hunt

I went to a fabric warehouse sale yesterday.  Remember the smoking deals I got on my dining room fabric?  I got a post card in the mail last week advertising a similar place that was selling designer fabric by the pound.  Fabric by the pound?  I never heard of such!  So, I had no choice but to go.  Check out the loot!

I snapped some quick shots of the all the crazies. (I do consider myself one of them, I’m just not in the pictures.)  This is not for the weak of heart!
  
I can’t wait to show you what I got!

Katie