Dining Room Reveal

Good Afternoon!

 

I am so happy that I have finished giving our dining room a fresh update.

You can see what it looked like before here. 

 

 Changed the placement of the mirror and the space feels so much bigger.  Paint colors add to the space being able to breathe.

 

 The art is actually vintage tv trays.  I love the pattern and how it adds life (I don't have a green thumb at all)

 

These chairs I got for $10.  LOVE!  The fur is from Ikea.

 

 A Mexican blanket on table makes it feel inviting like you're on a picnic.

 

 

 

 

Changed curtains to simple and white.  

 

And our view to outside.

Little changes can make a big difference.  

What updates are you doing?  What changes have you done in your home to welcome in the summer season?

Touches Of Christmas ..So Far

Good Morning!

We have been decorating here and there for Christmas at our house.  I still have so much more to do.

I wanted to share with you what has been done so far and what I want to do still..

In my foyer..

Love this little guy I bought from Ikea.  He makes the space not feel too serious : )

Miniature Christmas Tree I bought for $6 and wrapped in extra burlap I had.  The little stool was a garage sale find and I spray painted it red.

Close up of when it's lit up.  Love the dipped pinecone!

Living Room..

I have two feather wreaths hanging inspired by Sarah Richardson.

Pinecone garland on my credenza.  Sprayed them metallic silver and gold.  The gold came out bronze, which I love!

Pops of red with a cute little owl on birch.

What I still need to do..decorate fireplace..

I will be taking care of that today.

Dining Room..

Natural centerpiece 

and then I added..

Burlap table runner that I just cut from extra fabric I had.

Then to bring in the red from living room I hung red beads from chandelier.

This room done.

My daughter drew this tree for my laundry room and was inspired by CB2.

Done : )

Now for my family room ...so not done

 Put some string lights up on railing..

 This room still needs our Christmas Tree.  Yes, I am behind and for good reason.  I will let you know in a future post.

 Are you at all behind on decorating this year ?

Patching And Building

Good Afternoon!

There have been major decisions made concerning the Byron Forest Preserve.  I decided to go with this..

This carpet is made to handle snow, dirt, etc.. and will be adhered to the floor as soon as you walk through a small entry way into the building.  This works better than a mat because you can replace the carpet tiles that have gotten worn over time.

Here is my decision for the granite..

I love this color.  Since we are dealing with a forest preserve these colors call out the richness that you would see outdoors, very earthy.

Went into Chicago for this..

Yes, art for the space!  I am a true believer in go big or don't even try.  This picture brings me into the simplistic beauty of nature.

So while I was out and about doing what I love (ahem..shopping) major work was going on at the building.

Old lighting had been removed.  I have a hate for fluorescent lighting.  It never makes a space or anyone look any better.  Do you see the space in between those double doors?  That's where that carpet will go. 

Down the hallway that leads to bathrooms, kids mudroom and vending machine.

Old tile taken up : )  No more Burger King tile.

This is another hallway and it goes to elevators.

Here is the receptionist area.  A complete difference to how it was before.  The counter that my husband and I designed is being built.  As you can see the holes for the recessed lighting are getting ready to be put in.

You can read about the process thus far in Out With The Old and Demolition Gotta Love It.

BTW...

I was just at the school I was volunteering with Sharefest and saw the table top I had designed for the teachers lounge.  Here it is..

 
Easily wipeable (vinyl).  So excited.  It made my heart glad to hear from the teachers how much they like it.  

Well, I hope you have a great rest of the day.  I am off to organize my bedroom.

How Do I Start?

Good Morning!

Everyone looking forward to Memorial Day Weekend?

I know I am : )  

I always look forward to those little breaks and get some time to refuel.

Right now I am in the middle of some projects..some for others and for our home as well.

I have had some people ask me how do I come up with a plan for a space?

I know it might be different for some but for me..I go for what inspires me at the moment.  

For example

 We were at the mall and my daughter saw this picture.  When I saw it I knew we had to have it and that it belonged in our living room. It really spoke to me. This would be the starting point for the direction of the room and for the rest of the house.

I took this inspiration and the rest of the elements came.

First step..find something that inspires you.  Find something that you absolutely love.

Another example..

I saw these pictures online

(architectural digest)

(unknown)

 This was a starting off point for my kitchen.

All we have done so far is paint the walls gray and the trim is bright white. 

Next will be either to get new appliances or to add the carrera marble.

If you don't know what direction to take a room in..start looking around at what you love.  Now you have that first building block to start to make a room into what you dream of.

You can do it : )

Wishing you all a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Living Room Coming Together

Good Afternoon!  

I am really excited to show you more on the living room and the pieces that are making it all come together.

Not long ago we had our birch tree in our backyard come down in a windstorm

and I had an idea : )

The wall in my living space was totally empty..

I decided to make them into sculptural light pieces that would also expand the height of the ceiling.

We cut the birch to 9ft and placed them in wood containers that I got at Pier1 for $15, placed marble chips from Home Depot for $3.99 and placed Grundtal lights in the center from Ikea.

I had been wanting these curtains from Ikea for 3yrs after I had seen them on an episode of Sarah's House on Hgtv.

I bought this lamp from Pier1 as well from their clearance section for $25..now the other lamp I was borrowing from my family room could be returned..lol.

Here is my son asleep and after I looked at this picture the chair was calling out for a pillow..and so was my sofa.

The pillows we bought from good ol' Ikea.

My eye caught this piece at a consignment store..

hmmm...

Have a great weekend everyone : )

Can It Be : Dining Room ( Finished)

Good Morning!  

The dining room is complete.. well, almost.  

Here is a recap from where we came from..

My husband put down Hickory flooring and painted walls

put dining table in space

And here we are now...

The tablescape..very simple.  

1. The pumpkins I bought from Hobby Lobby for $1 

2.  The table runner is from Crate and Barrel Outlet for $15 

3.  I use the wine bottles on the table to hold candles

The mirror we already had.

The bar we bought from Ikea about 7yrs ago.

The owl is from Hobby Lobby that I bought for $5 and it's on a piece of birch that came from my tree in the backyard.

Here is our view to our backyard.  The curtains are from Ikea.

It's good to see a room go from an empty space to a functioning one. Would love to hear your thoughts.

Have a great week all : )