Home Tour (Our Old House)
Happy New Year, y'all!
2017 was a year of big changes for us. Most notably, my husband started his non-profit for military veterans, Act6 Missions, and we moved from what we believed would be our "forever home" into our current house. These two events caused joy, stress, excitement and hope for the future, tears and grief for the past, and all other sorts of emotions. I am hopeful that 2018 will be our year of rest and reflection as we learn where our journey will next take us. But that is all a story for another time.
Once we realized we would be moving, I hired a photographer to take pictures of our home, specifically the spaces we had worked on the most to make our own, as well as pictures of our girls playing in their rooms. I wanted for them to be able to look back and remember this house, and how much we loved it - it was the house in which we became a family of 4, and it was the first house that felt like home to me after my mom passed away. We have moved several times over the last 14 years, and while we have loved them all, this house was special. We spent many late nights working on projects, painting rooms, dreaming up plans for the future, etc. It drew us closer together, and deepened our connection to our home.
Our kitchen was one of my favorite rooms. I sure am missing all that counter space!
We were lucky that the previous owners did the major renovation work, so all we had to do was come in and make it our own. The major changes throughout the house were:
Thanks for taking the trip down memory lane with me! We loved so much about that home that it is still bittersweet to see these pictures and write this post. The fun part is looking back at what I would have changed if we had stayed long term, and then applying those insights to our new home. Most important are the other three people who live within these walls, and that together we have made each of these houses a home. ❤
2017 was a year of big changes for us. Most notably, my husband started his non-profit for military veterans, Act6 Missions, and we moved from what we believed would be our "forever home" into our current house. These two events caused joy, stress, excitement and hope for the future, tears and grief for the past, and all other sorts of emotions. I am hopeful that 2018 will be our year of rest and reflection as we learn where our journey will next take us. But that is all a story for another time.
Once we realized we would be moving, I hired a photographer to take pictures of our home, specifically the spaces we had worked on the most to make our own, as well as pictures of our girls playing in their rooms. I wanted for them to be able to look back and remember this house, and how much we loved it - it was the house in which we became a family of 4, and it was the first house that felt like home to me after my mom passed away. We have moved several times over the last 14 years, and while we have loved them all, this house was special. We spent many late nights working on projects, painting rooms, dreaming up plans for the future, etc. It drew us closer together, and deepened our connection to our home.
Our kitchen was one of my favorite rooms. I sure am missing all that counter space!
We were lucky that the previous owners did the major renovation work, so all we had to do was come in and make it our own. The major changes throughout the house were:
- paint (the entire exterior, most walls, some cabinets, our daughter's ceiling)
- lighting in all rooms (including my favorite Sloane pendants, shown above the kitchen island)
- custom woodwork (board & batten with a picture ledge in the nursery, beadboard in the laundry, pantry, & garage entry, and a faux shiplap mudroom nook)
- the addition of built-in bookcases in three rooms (the living room, the dining room, and my oldest daughter's room, seen below)
Some of these changes were due to our participation in the One Room Challenge. You can see the befores and afters of our dining room here, laundry room here, and guest bedroom in the basement here.
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| DIY Canvas Art in our oldest daughter's room |
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| One Room Challenge Basement Guest Bedroom |
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| One Room Challenge Laundry Room |
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| One Room Challenge Dining Room |
Spring Dining Room with Arhaus
I absolutely love to dine outdoors. There is something about it that makes every meal feel special, even if we are just throwing hot dogs & burgers on the grill. However, the heat of GA summers allows us only a few weeks each spring & fall to enjoy our meals al fresco. I felt inspired to design an indoor space that would make us feel like we were eating outside, minus the bug bites and humidity. :)
I decided the best way to freshen up for the season was to bring spring inside. The vibrant color & print of Schumacher's Chenonceau wallcovering in Aloe was the perfect starting point.
I added Arhaus' Wilhelm table in a natural wood tone, along with the gorgeous Alice dining chairs for contrast & comfort. Circa's Armillary Sphere Chandelier is yet another nod to the outdoors. And what's a great dinner party, indoors or out, without a bar cart for serving custom cocktails (or a cold glass of Chardonnay, as is my preference)? The faux rattan of the Revah outdoor cart adds a fun & casual vibe to the room.
Finally, I would be remiss to design a Southern dining room without monograms & plates on the walls. These acrylic wine glasses are perfect for parties, and I love the scalloped edge of the Avignon dinner plates. You can visit Arhaus here, or click here for more dining room inspiration.
Thanks, Arhaus, for giving me the chance to dream up a fun space for spring. Cheers!
I decided the best way to freshen up for the season was to bring spring inside. The vibrant color & print of Schumacher's Chenonceau wallcovering in Aloe was the perfect starting point.
I added Arhaus' Wilhelm table in a natural wood tone, along with the gorgeous Alice dining chairs for contrast & comfort. Circa's Armillary Sphere Chandelier is yet another nod to the outdoors. And what's a great dinner party, indoors or out, without a bar cart for serving custom cocktails (or a cold glass of Chardonnay, as is my preference)? The faux rattan of the Revah outdoor cart adds a fun & casual vibe to the room.
Finally, I would be remiss to design a Southern dining room without monograms & plates on the walls. These acrylic wine glasses are perfect for parties, and I love the scalloped edge of the Avignon dinner plates. You can visit Arhaus here, or click here for more dining room inspiration.
Thanks, Arhaus, for giving me the chance to dream up a fun space for spring. Cheers!
NEW SERVICES! The Mini-Consult and Design for the Military
I am SO excited to announce two new services I am offering for 2017! I've actually been providing the mini-consult service for a few years, but am just now making it an official option.
The mini-consult focuses on only one area of your room. You can choose from a large range of options, including but not limited to:
The mini-consult focuses on only one area of your room. You can choose from a large range of options, including but not limited to:
- art/mirrors
- window treatments
- rugs/flooring
- paint
- accessories
- styling
- fabric
For example, one of my more recent mini-consults was for a client who needed help freshening up her living room. She didn't want to change the furniture or the stained built-ins, but she wanted to make the room lighter and brighter. She hired me for a paint consult and an accessories consult. Simply changing the walls from a dark yellow to a light neutral and swapping out the hardware on the built-ins for a more modern pull instantly updated the entire room. And she paid a fraction of the price of a fully designed room.
The mini-consult allows you to pick and choose which spot in your home needs attention without paying the price of a full-room design. It is the best way to get professional advice at an affordable price!
The other new service I'm offering is design for the military. As a veteran's wife, I understand the challenge of moving often, of every new home being entirely different from the last in both size and design, and of losing items in transit from one home to another.
Design for the military focuses on providing items that will transition from one duty station to the next or on creating an affordable, temporary solution for each home. All active-duty military and veterans receive a 5% discount.
I would be so honored to help you design the home you love. Click here to find out more about any of the services I offer or contact me at hcbinteriors@gmail.com to get started!
Honoring Bobbi - Philanthropy & Design
We are nearing the anniversary of my mom's passing, and while she is never far from my thoughts, these days she is always on my mind. She was the kindest, most thoughtful person I have ever known, and I've been thinking a lot about her life goals. She accomplished almost everything on her list, but one thing she always wanted was to be a philanthropist. I've been trying to figure out how I could continue on with her dream, and I realized that no act is too small when it comes to promoting kindness.
So, I am offering you a deal: if you write to me by Monday, Dec. 5* and tell me about a philanthropic act that you have performed for others in the past week (or email me by Mon. about something you did over the weekend), I will send you a design idea board, at no charge. These boards are already designed, so they are not custom, but there will be a few different ones to choose from (i.e. farmhouse, neutral, mod traditional, etc.)
All you have to do is perform a philanthropic act and let me know about it, and you will be sent the design board of your choice. Pretty easy, right? Now go spread a little hope and love in this world - just like my mom did every day of her life. :)
*email me at hcbinteriors@gmail.com
Holiday Home Tour
Every year, I look forward to the many holiday home tours that pop up in blogland. There is so much creativity and inspiration out there!
Yesterday, I hosted a small brunch at my home and decided to snap a few pics after the fact (had to document a time when the house was clean!). We haven't finished decorating (we don't even have a tree yet), but I wanted to share just a few snippets of our home during my favorite season. I've incorporated more fresh greenery this year, and it makes such a difference; it has a presence that allows you to decrease the decor throughout the rest of the room, providing the cozy & simplified feeling I was after.
(As an aside, if anyone has a photography class or book they can recommend, please share! Our home faces south, meaning some rooms are always too bright and others are always dim; a challenge when shooting interiors. I'm always trying to improve my novice skills, and would love to learn more!)
Welcome to our home! This year, I finally found a local source for the temple bells I have admired for years. I love their soft clanging sound, and the contrast of the bells against the greenery.
Our O Holy Night sign from Between You and Me signs always takes a place of pride on the mantel. I added fresh garland on the mantel this year, and it smells so good. See the plant on the fireplace? Had to move it up there when little fingers kept pulling all the leaves off ;)
Not sure if I've ever shared a full shot of this side of the room, or at least not a finished shot of the built-ins. I am so happy with the way they turned out, and even though a few contractors scoffed at me for designing them in a space that only allowed for them to be 8 inches deep, I think they add so much character to the room.
Fresh greenery, a mini tree in an antique pot, and my girls' silhouettes. Simple changes to the room that make me love it even more.
Found this pot over Thanksgiving while visiting my in-laws 200 year old farmhouse, and it is a perfect home for this mini-tree that we will plant in the yard next spring.
The garage door all dressed up with a boxwood wreath (an ineffective attempt to hide the clutter in the garage lol). And a handprint Santa to send us out the door each day.
The master bedroom received a few small touches of Christmas for the first time - my favorite pillow on the bed and a small wreath hung on the door.
Hope y'all have a wonderful Christmas season! Thanks for visiting our home!
Giving Back - National Philanthropy Day
I am so very grateful for the opportunity to follow my dreams and help others create a home. I am also very passionate about giving back. From now until the end of the year, I will donate 10% of all proceeds to one of three charities: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, CURE Childhood Cancer, or Folds of Honor.
And, I will continue to donate in 2017, if you contact me before Dec. 31, 2016. It's a win-win: you get a new space, and someone in need benefits. If you're interested, or would like to see more examples of my work, please contact me at hcbinteriors@gmail.com
Thank you for helping others!
And, I will continue to donate in 2017, if you contact me before Dec. 31, 2016. It's a win-win: you get a new space, and someone in need benefits. If you're interested, or would like to see more examples of my work, please contact me at hcbinteriors@gmail.com
Thank you for helping others!
One Room Challenge, Fall 2016 - The Big Reveal!
Now on to the reason why everyone is here - the Before and After!
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| Our Mess |
I love the look of the drapes behind the bed. It creates a layer of coziness and warmth in a room full of hard surfaces and no natural charm. It also gives the impression of a wall of windows, so it's not quite as obvious to our guests that we are sticking them in our dungeon. ;)
In addition to the lamps placed around the room, we installed this plug-in sconce on the wall right next to the door. Now you can turn on a light the second you walk in the room, as opposed to walking across a dark room to turn on the lamp on the nightstand, the only option previously for lighting the room.
Every good Southern room needs a little blue and white. This large wall across from the bed needed something to fill it, especially because this is the view when lying in the bed. One of our favorite paintings by a local artist of the Georgia shore, surrounded by some of my Blue Willow collection, adds a fun boost of color in a mostly neutral room.
Before of the wall across from the bed, aka more storage
I added a little seating area/reading nook in this previously unused corner. Hope it provides a spot for our guests to relax and escape the hubbub of a home with small children. :)
As always, I am so glad we participated in the One Room Challenge. Thank you so much to Linda for creating the ORC, and for providing encouragement to create a space in your home that you truly love. Be sure to check out the other participants; there is so much talent out there!
*Edited to add sources and budget
SOURCES
Drapes: P Kauffman Buffalo Check
Bedding: white coverlet - Pine Cone Hill, white shams with monogram - Pottery Barn, blue/gray quilt and shams - Tuesday Morning
Tablecloth: Lacefield Designs Pagoda for Ballard Designs
Sconce: Pottery Barn
All other lighting, furniture, artwork: family pieces, gifts, or thrift store finds
BUDGET (about 95% of the room was recycled from other rooms or storage)
Drapes: bartered with a client for design services $0
Bedding: white bedding was outlet or garage sale finds, blue/gray from a discount store $80
Tablecloth: purchased on FB garage sale group $35
Pharmacy style floor lamp: thrift store find $7
Curtain rod: $20
Total Budget: $142
One Room Challenge, Fall 2016 - Week 5
Well, you may have noticed that I skipped right over Week 4 in the ORC. There just wasn't enough progress to warrant a post. But, we've gotten a lot more accomplished this week, and I am excited to reveal our revamped guest room next week. It's not going to be the most dramatic of reveals, but I am so pleased to be able to offer our guests a welcoming space instead of the cluttered dungeon-like room it was up until a month ago.
We hung the drapes along the back wall, and it makes such a difference in the coziness factor. My dad (who is fairly oblivious to all things design) even commented that it makes it seem like there is a wall of windows hiding just behind the bed - exactly my intention! The dimensions are a little off since I had to work with what I already own and wasn't able to customize the drapes to the space, but I think it is still as step-up from a windowless room with drop tile ceiling. :)
I also set up a little reading/relaxing nook in the corner of the room that previously held all of our junk. Just a tiny bit of an improvement, I'd say. Still waffling over my accent fabric choices (the pillow and throw pictured are just stand-ins), but since it's down to the wire, availability may become my most influential factor.
We hung the drapes along the back wall, and it makes such a difference in the coziness factor. My dad (who is fairly oblivious to all things design) even commented that it makes it seem like there is a wall of windows hiding just behind the bed - exactly my intention! The dimensions are a little off since I had to work with what I already own and wasn't able to customize the drapes to the space, but I think it is still as step-up from a windowless room with drop tile ceiling. :)
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| ignore the wrinkles ;) |
I also set up a little reading/relaxing nook in the corner of the room that previously held all of our junk. Just a tiny bit of an improvement, I'd say. Still waffling over my accent fabric choices (the pillow and throw pictured are just stand-ins), but since it's down to the wire, availability may become my most influential factor.
That's my quick update for now. See you next week for the reveal!
As always, don't forget to check out the other participants in the One Room Challenge!
One Room Challenge Fall 2016 - The Most Boring Week in the ORC (Week 3)
So this will probably be the most boring One Room Challenge update in history. Aesthetically, nothing much has happened to the room. But, we cleaned it out and began organizing the closet. It felt SO good to purge and put things where they belong, instead of tossing them in a pile and slamming the door shut before the pile escapes. Lol. It doesn't seem like we've made a lot of progress, but when I look at the empty space in the closet, it helps ease my ORC jitters.
We had hoped to hang the drapes, but they were full of wrinkles (not surprising, given that they were at the bottom of the giant closet pile), so we will hang them as soon as possible, hopefully this weekend. I also realized that we need to switch out one of the nightstands as there is too big of a height difference between the two we currently have in the room, so we may have to steal a table from elsewhere in the house (or hope for a lucky estate sale find?). This will also hopefully happen this weekend, although my husband does not get as excited about moving furniture all over the house as I do. And since a narrow flight of basement stairs is part of the obstacle, I don't think I'll be moving anything by myself.
And that is about all folks. Not too entertaining, but at least it was short and sweet. ;)
Be sure to check out my fellow participants here. And thanks as always to Linda from Calling It Home for hosting!
We had hoped to hang the drapes, but they were full of wrinkles (not surprising, given that they were at the bottom of the giant closet pile), so we will hang them as soon as possible, hopefully this weekend. I also realized that we need to switch out one of the nightstands as there is too big of a height difference between the two we currently have in the room, so we may have to steal a table from elsewhere in the house (or hope for a lucky estate sale find?). This will also hopefully happen this weekend, although my husband does not get as excited about moving furniture all over the house as I do. And since a narrow flight of basement stairs is part of the obstacle, I don't think I'll be moving anything by myself.
And that is about all folks. Not too entertaining, but at least it was short and sweet. ;)
Be sure to check out my fellow participants here. And thanks as always to Linda from Calling It Home for hosting!
One Room Challenge Fall 2016 - Guest Bedroom Design Plan, Week 2
Welcome back to week 2 of the One Room Challenge! A quick synopsis - we are participating in the Calling It Home blog challenge, and updating our guest bedroom in just under 6 weeks. This week, I am presenting my design plan for our windowless basement guest room.
To be upfront with y'all, the only way my husband (aka my electrician, carpenter, and sometimes plumber) and I could fathom being a part of this round's ORC was if we agreed to tackle the room that would take the least amount of effort, time, and money. So, the majority of the room's elements are things we already have, and we are repurposing them (aka stealing) from other rooms in our home. Sometimeshoarding collecting pillows, lamps, etc. can come in handy.
We've also made zero progress on the room this week; we escaped to the mountains for a few days during my daughter's fall break, and it was totally worth it. I'll just have to put that much more effort into this upcoming week!
As for the design of the room, I mentioned in week 1 that I was going for a Southern coastal look. We love going to the beach, and I wanted to bring the relaxation we feel during our trips to our guests. It also helps that my in-laws gifted us a painting of the coast that has been in the family for years, and I can use it to tie many of the elements together. When we researched the name on the back, we discovered that the little-known artist has actually become quite the collector's item. And while it's not worth millions (or even close), it's neat to know that it does have a history.
The design brings together some of my favorites: buffalo check, toile (either classic or chinoiserie - haven't decided yet), and the color combo of creams and blues. To address the lack of lighting, both natural and overhead, I'm bringing in a lot of lamps. In addition, the room will have mirrors on two walls to bounce the lamplight.
The inspiration image is a room I have loved for a long time. It was designed by Lisa Whitley for a Southern Living home in South Carolina. I especially love the painting over the bed, and the windows and drapery behind the bed. That got my wheels turning, and I realized I could give the impression of windows by hanging drapes behind our farmhouse 4 poster bed. I happen to have some P. Kaufman buffalo check drapes that did not work well in our home but I just couldn't let go of them, so they are getting a second life in this room. The other fabric in the room will most likely be either Pottery Barn's Matine toile in porcelain blue, or Lacefield Design's Pagodas Seaside. The walls are Benjamin Moore's White Dove (my go-to white).
Check back next week to see our progress (or lack thereof), and be sure to visit the other participants in the One Room Challenge!
To be upfront with y'all, the only way my husband (aka my electrician, carpenter, and sometimes plumber) and I could fathom being a part of this round's ORC was if we agreed to tackle the room that would take the least amount of effort, time, and money. So, the majority of the room's elements are things we already have, and we are repurposing them (aka stealing) from other rooms in our home. Sometimes
We've also made zero progress on the room this week; we escaped to the mountains for a few days during my daughter's fall break, and it was totally worth it. I'll just have to put that much more effort into this upcoming week!
As for the design of the room, I mentioned in week 1 that I was going for a Southern coastal look. We love going to the beach, and I wanted to bring the relaxation we feel during our trips to our guests. It also helps that my in-laws gifted us a painting of the coast that has been in the family for years, and I can use it to tie many of the elements together. When we researched the name on the back, we discovered that the little-known artist has actually become quite the collector's item. And while it's not worth millions (or even close), it's neat to know that it does have a history.
The design brings together some of my favorites: buffalo check, toile (either classic or chinoiserie - haven't decided yet), and the color combo of creams and blues. To address the lack of lighting, both natural and overhead, I'm bringing in a lot of lamps. In addition, the room will have mirrors on two walls to bounce the lamplight.
The inspiration image is a room I have loved for a long time. It was designed by Lisa Whitley for a Southern Living home in South Carolina. I especially love the painting over the bed, and the windows and drapery behind the bed. That got my wheels turning, and I realized I could give the impression of windows by hanging drapes behind our farmhouse 4 poster bed. I happen to have some P. Kaufman buffalo check drapes that did not work well in our home but I just couldn't let go of them, so they are getting a second life in this room. The other fabric in the room will most likely be either Pottery Barn's Matine toile in porcelain blue, or Lacefield Design's Pagodas Seaside. The walls are Benjamin Moore's White Dove (my go-to white).
Check back next week to see our progress (or lack thereof), and be sure to visit the other participants in the One Room Challenge!
One Room Challenge Fall 2016 - Guest Bedroom, Week 1
Welcome to the Fall 2016 One Room Challenge! For those of you new to the concept, Linda from Calling It Home created a blog challenge in which participants make over a room in a short 6 week period. It's chaotic, stressful, and exhilarating all at the same time. Many have compared it to childbirth, and while I can tell you that it pales in comparison to an unplanned natural delivery, it definitely brings a mental anguish and exhaustion that you forget all about when you reach the finish line, beaming with pride over your creation. A short time later, all you remember are the good times, the successes, and the beauty of your space, so you decide that it would be a great idea to do it all over again. And that's how you become involved in the cycle of the One Room Challenge. Ha!
This will be our third round of participating as a guest blogger in the ORC. Every Wednesday, 20 featured designers post their updates, and every Thursday, hundreds of guest bloggers join in on the fun. You can find our Fall 2015 makeover of our laundry room and back entry here, and our Spring 2016 ORC of our dining room here. Fun fact: we recently revamped the spaces from our Fall 2015 ORC; the office space is now a shiplap mudroom, and the mudcloset is storage for cleaning supplies, household goods, etc. You can find those updates on my Instagram feed, hcbinteriors.
Life has been more than a little hectic lately; if you check the date of my last post, you'll see that it was the final post of the Spring ORC. We didn't even decide to commit to this round until today. But the lure of whipping yet another space in our home into shape was strong, so here we go again.
We will be focusing on our guest bedroom. It's located in the basement, and has no windows, no overhead lighting, and the outlets the lamps are plugged into are not connected to the lightswitch, so the room is a dark cave. Not very welcoming! It's also tends to be our clutter collector, the space where all items go to live until I have the time and space to put them away. This room, and my husband's cluttered office, are my secret rooms of shame. Because they are in the basement, I don't have to look at them until someone is coming to visit. And since those visitors are usually my very understanding in-laws, the rooms are usually just barely cleaner than the pictures shown below.
The Before (can't believe I'm sharing our mess!):
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| Extra furniture that has no home. Clothes my kids have outgrown piled on the bed. And a whole bunch of random stuff (don't even know what) under the bed |
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| Mirrors and art that are waiting to be hung (and have been waiting for months) |
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| At one time, this closet was organized. Until we just started tossing stuff in, with the idea that we would deal with it later. Now you can't even get in there |
Ok, now that everyone in American can feel better about their own mess, come back next week to see my design plan. I'm thinking Southern Coastal, hoping that I can turn this into a welcoming, organized retreat. Thanks for visiting, and make sure to check out everyone else participating in the One Room Challenge!
One Room Challenge Week 6: The Grand Finale, Part 1
Well folks, our room is not fully finished but I'm happy with how Phase 1 turned out. And as of 1am last night when we got home from the beach, it was not photo-ready, so please excuse any poor lighting or staging. As a professional, it grates on me that we didn't finish the room as planned. As a mommy & wife, taking the past week to go on a desperately needed family vacation after weeks of the stomach flu, budget woes, and high levels of stress due to personal circumstances beyond our control, was absolutely more important than finishing the room. My mantra for this project has become, "it is what it is". This season's ORC has been an exercise in patience and acceptance, two lessons which I seem to continually need to learn ;)
And now for the before and (mostly) after:
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
I am sooo pleased with our built-ins. They add so much character to the room & to our home. This room has odd dimenstions; it is a small square with a bay window on one wall & doorways on two of the walls that limit furniture placement and size. We now have storage for a bar area, our books, board games, art supplies, and even some serving pieces. My husband is in trouble, now that I know he has this kind of talent. His to-do list just got a little bit longer. ;)
BEFORE
AFTER
As for the other changes to the room, I am thrilled with the wall & trim colors, and absolutely adore my homemade abstract art. I feel like they balance the classic/historical feel of the federal mirror, sconces, & lantern.
Phase 2 will take time & money, so it will be a while before the room is truly "finished" (my husband doesn't believe I consider any space in our home to ever be finished; he may be right). Still on our list to accomplish:
And now for the before and (mostly) after:
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
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| Pretend not to notice the spots on the ceiling. A little touch-up is still needed :) |
I am sooo pleased with our built-ins. They add so much character to the room & to our home. This room has odd dimenstions; it is a small square with a bay window on one wall & doorways on two of the walls that limit furniture placement and size. We now have storage for a bar area, our books, board games, art supplies, and even some serving pieces. My husband is in trouble, now that I know he has this kind of talent. His to-do list just got a little bit longer. ;)
BEFORE
AFTER
As for the other changes to the room, I am thrilled with the wall & trim colors, and absolutely adore my homemade abstract art. I feel like they balance the classic/historical feel of the federal mirror, sconces, & lantern.
Phase 2 will take time & money, so it will be a while before the room is truly "finished" (my husband doesn't believe I consider any space in our home to ever be finished; he may be right). Still on our list to accomplish:
- drapes. The charcoal linen drapes in the room are a pair I had in storage, & pulled out for a visual reference. I think a white background with subtle pattern would do better at highlighting the beauty of the bay window, but I haven't found just the right one yet
- antique table & chairs; there's a reason I have a tablecloth on this one & it's not pretty ;)
- custom shades for the sconces. I'm 99% sure I know what fabric I'm going to use for these, but have yet to bite the bullet since I'm so wishy-washy on my drapery choice
- finish the plate wall with silhouettes of my girls
- move our antique dark wood buffet up from the basement & switch out with the painted one. No one felt like moving heavy furniture after a stomach bug
- knobs for the cabinets on the built-ins. They arrived but didn't quite make it to install
- more pops of blue and green to bring color into the room
A couple last shots of the room:
If you've stuck around for the entirety of this post, thank you. And I would love it if you'd follow me both here & on Instagram (hcbinteriors); please continue to check in to see our progress on the space. Big thanks to Linda of Calling It Home for creating this fantastic blogger phenomenon. This round promoted 20 featured bloggers and over 200 guest particpants, along with House Beautiful magazine as a social media partner. So impressive!
Also linking up to Thoughts of Home via Laura at decortoadore.net Thanks Laura for hosting!
Also linking up to Thoughts of Home via Laura at decortoadore.net Thanks Laura for hosting!
One Room Challenge Week 5: Calling "Uncle"
If you're new here, welcome! To my regular readers, thank you for checking back in! We are in the final countdown of the One Room Challenge, a 6 week event hosted by Linda of Calling It Home to makeover one room in your home (or someone else's. With their permission, of course).
We have made some amazing progress in some areas, and not so amazing in others. After two weeks of the stomach flu making its way through our home, and losing a large amount of my budget to the unexpected expense of a new car, I have finally come to realize that we will not have a complete room next week. It is what it is, and I am surprisingly okay with it (well, mostly. There have been a few moments of frustration & one near tantrum, but overall, I'm satisfied with what we've been able to accomplish despite the challenges.)
The bookcases, which I shared last week, received even more attention after my post. My husband decided he wasn't 100% satisfied with them, so he added more trim and detailing, and I am SO glad he did. I thought they looked great before, but they truly look professional now. One coat of primer and two coats of paint later, and they are ready for styling. We also decided to paint the crown molding to match the bookcases. I had initially been concerned that painting the molding gray would shorten our already low (8') ceilings, but it looks much more polished now.
Our vintage federal mirror arrived, and I love the character it adds to the room. I'm trying not to overwhelm the room/walls, so even though I had originally thought about a gallery wall for this space, I'm really happy with the quiet, clean look of the mirror on its own. Plus, this is the main wall that my girls bang against as they run through the room during their daily races, so the less to be knocked down, the better. :)
We happened to have a picture light laying around in the basement from another project, so we added that above my girls' painting. It gives the art an extra sense of importance, and my 5 year old thinks it is so neat to be able to turn on the "special" light so it shines on their painting.
Tune in next week to see our "finished" space. And be sure to check out the other 200+ guest paticipants!
We have made some amazing progress in some areas, and not so amazing in others. After two weeks of the stomach flu making its way through our home, and losing a large amount of my budget to the unexpected expense of a new car, I have finally come to realize that we will not have a complete room next week. It is what it is, and I am surprisingly okay with it (well, mostly. There have been a few moments of frustration & one near tantrum, but overall, I'm satisfied with what we've been able to accomplish despite the challenges.)
The bookcases, which I shared last week, received even more attention after my post. My husband decided he wasn't 100% satisfied with them, so he added more trim and detailing, and I am SO glad he did. I thought they looked great before, but they truly look professional now. One coat of primer and two coats of paint later, and they are ready for styling. We also decided to paint the crown molding to match the bookcases. I had initially been concerned that painting the molding gray would shorten our already low (8') ceilings, but it looks much more polished now.
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| Excuse the grainy photo. Computer issues :) |
We happened to have a picture light laying around in the basement from another project, so we added that above my girls' painting. It gives the art an extra sense of importance, and my 5 year old thinks it is so neat to be able to turn on the "special" light so it shines on their painting.
Tune in next week to see our "finished" space. And be sure to check out the other 200+ guest paticipants!
One Room Challenge Spring 2016: The built-ins are finished - but the painting may never end
Welcome to Week 4! For those of you just joining in, we are participating in Calling It Home's One Room Challenge, a 6 week revamp of one room in our home. You can catch up with weeks 1, 2, & 3 to see where we started and how far we've come.
I am fairly sure that this time around, we will not be finished with our room when the clock stops. And that's ok because we have made some major changes to the room, and as we are working with a tighter budget, I want to ensure that we (I) make the right choices, not pressured choices.
The most obvious change to the room are the incredible built-ins that my husband has worked so hard on. It is so neat to watch someone that you know so well grow in a talent that they weren't even sure they had, only to find major success after challenging themselves. The bookcases add tons of character and style to the room, not to mention much needed storage in our smaller home.
We also have all new lighting in the room, but I was able to keep it all budget-friendly. I purchased the sconces with gift cards saved from my birthday & Christmas (sometimes being a holiday baby comes in handy), and I simply switched the lantern in our breakfast area with the chandelier in the dining room. It's a little unconventional to move a crystal chandelier from a dining room to a kitchen, but I'm a big fan of the contrast it provides to our kitchen's antique farm table. And the lantern better fits my vision for the design for the dining room.
The custom shades for the sconces will most likely not make it here before the end of the ORC, but I'm sure they will be worth the wait. Although when I showed my husband the design, he said, "I really like them. They remind me of a Hawaiian shirt". Definitely NOT what I was going for, but I'll focus on the part where he said that he liked them. Here are some inspiration images to give you an idea of the direction in which I am heading:
This next week is going to be a hot mess of frantically trying to finish as much as possible while still searching for those "perfect" items that will make the room. But unlike my younger impatient self, I am willing to settle for an unfinished room, and wait for the right time/chair/table/fabric to come along.
If you'd like to see how the other amazing participants are faring, check out callingithome.com. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
I am fairly sure that this time around, we will not be finished with our room when the clock stops. And that's ok because we have made some major changes to the room, and as we are working with a tighter budget, I want to ensure that we (I) make the right choices, not pressured choices.
The most obvious change to the room are the incredible built-ins that my husband has worked so hard on. It is so neat to watch someone that you know so well grow in a talent that they weren't even sure they had, only to find major success after challenging themselves. The bookcases add tons of character and style to the room, not to mention much needed storage in our smaller home.
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| With one coat of tinted primer |
We also have all new lighting in the room, but I was able to keep it all budget-friendly. I purchased the sconces with gift cards saved from my birthday & Christmas (sometimes being a holiday baby comes in handy), and I simply switched the lantern in our breakfast area with the chandelier in the dining room. It's a little unconventional to move a crystal chandelier from a dining room to a kitchen, but I'm a big fan of the contrast it provides to our kitchen's antique farm table. And the lantern better fits my vision for the design for the dining room.
The custom shades for the sconces will most likely not make it here before the end of the ORC, but I'm sure they will be worth the wait. Although when I showed my husband the design, he said, "I really like them. They remind me of a Hawaiian shirt". Definitely NOT what I was going for, but I'll focus on the part where he said that he liked them. Here are some inspiration images to give you an idea of the direction in which I am heading:
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| oka.com |
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| Bunny Williams Home |
This next week is going to be a hot mess of frantically trying to finish as much as possible while still searching for those "perfect" items that will make the room. But unlike my younger impatient self, I am willing to settle for an unfinished room, and wait for the right time/chair/table/fabric to come along.
If you'd like to see how the other amazing participants are faring, check out callingithome.com. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
ORC Spring 2016: Week 3 - Progress & Paint
First, to those of you who offered kind words of support and encouragement after last week's post/Instagram, I so appreciate it. Despite some challenges, we have made real progress this week, and even if we are unable to fully finish the room, the biggest changes will have been made, and that is worth a lot! I have to keep reminding myself that this was supposed to be "Plan A" all along, so if parts of "Plan B" don't come to fruition, that's ok - they were never part of the budget or planning anyway. Surely I'm not the only one who gets carried away in this challenge? ;)
I need to give lots of recognition to my husband - with just a tiny bit of experience and a lot of gumption, he finished the frames for the built-ins in just a few days after work! I am so proud of him! They aren't quite complete, but I think by the end of the weekend we will be able to start priming.
While he has spent his time building, I have spent my hours painting. Both the walls and the trim are requiring a minimum of three coats each. I guess that's what happens when you are painting white over walls that have previously been green, dark blue, and even black. I have painted many, many walls in the past - as a military family, we moved multiple times & I painted each home we lived in. But this time, I have discovered something that has made a difference in the ease, quality, and time in which I get my painting done (which is sadly still very slow, but much faster than it used to be). Purdy was kind enough to share some brushes and rollers with me, and I am a true convert. I do not endorse a product if I don't believe in it, and I was so impressed by the quality of the Purdy brushes that I went out and purchased another brush on my own dime. And having an arsenal of brushes and rollers has come in very handy since it seems like that's all I do in my spare time now. :)
When I was designing the room, I was hesitant to do white walls. Almost every room in our home has white walls, but they are white woodwork - shiplap, beadboard, board & batten, etc. Something to give the white character. The dining room is one of the few spaces that is just drywall, and I worried that it would read as flat and lifeless. But I absolutely adore the warm white accented by the gray/blue/green trim, and find myself wandering in there to just check it out and enjoy the contrast. Next I just have to convince the hubby that the rest of the house needs to be repainted to match. ;) If anyone is wondering, the walls are Swiss Coffee and the trim is Fieldstone, both by Benjamin Moore.
And finally, my favorite piece of the room is the giant DIY abstract art that my sweet babies made for me. Other than choosing which colors of fingerpaint they could use, I let them have free reign. And while it may not be something that would sell in a gallery, it means SO much to me, especially the tiny handprints hidden in one corner. I propped it up on the piano in the adjoining foyer while we've been working in the dining room, and ironically, I like it so much there that I think it will probably stay instead of hanging in the dining room as was the original plan.
Lots of changes this week, and even more painting in our future. Ha! Then on to the fun part of decorating and accessorizing! Be sure to catch up with the other guest posters here. Have a great weekend!
I need to give lots of recognition to my husband - with just a tiny bit of experience and a lot of gumption, he finished the frames for the built-ins in just a few days after work! I am so proud of him! They aren't quite complete, but I think by the end of the weekend we will be able to start priming.
While he has spent his time building, I have spent my hours painting. Both the walls and the trim are requiring a minimum of three coats each. I guess that's what happens when you are painting white over walls that have previously been green, dark blue, and even black. I have painted many, many walls in the past - as a military family, we moved multiple times & I painted each home we lived in. But this time, I have discovered something that has made a difference in the ease, quality, and time in which I get my painting done (which is sadly still very slow, but much faster than it used to be). Purdy was kind enough to share some brushes and rollers with me, and I am a true convert. I do not endorse a product if I don't believe in it, and I was so impressed by the quality of the Purdy brushes that I went out and purchased another brush on my own dime. And having an arsenal of brushes and rollers has come in very handy since it seems like that's all I do in my spare time now. :)
When I was designing the room, I was hesitant to do white walls. Almost every room in our home has white walls, but they are white woodwork - shiplap, beadboard, board & batten, etc. Something to give the white character. The dining room is one of the few spaces that is just drywall, and I worried that it would read as flat and lifeless. But I absolutely adore the warm white accented by the gray/blue/green trim, and find myself wandering in there to just check it out and enjoy the contrast. Next I just have to convince the hubby that the rest of the house needs to be repainted to match. ;) If anyone is wondering, the walls are Swiss Coffee and the trim is Fieldstone, both by Benjamin Moore.
And finally, my favorite piece of the room is the giant DIY abstract art that my sweet babies made for me. Other than choosing which colors of fingerpaint they could use, I let them have free reign. And while it may not be something that would sell in a gallery, it means SO much to me, especially the tiny handprints hidden in one corner. I propped it up on the piano in the adjoining foyer while we've been working in the dining room, and ironically, I like it so much there that I think it will probably stay instead of hanging in the dining room as was the original plan.
Lots of changes this week, and even more painting in our future. Ha! Then on to the fun part of decorating and accessorizing! Be sure to catch up with the other guest posters here. Have a great weekend!
Thank you to Purdy for providing the products used to accomplish the painting
for this challenge
One Room Challenge Spring 2016: The Plan...Or What's Left of It
Earlier this week, I had an entirely different post ready to go. And then Murphy decided to pay our ORC a little visit. Isn't it a little early in the game for such antics? You might be thinking, well at least at this point you have time to scramble for a solution. But some of the issues will not be solved until well after the finale, if they are solved at all. And one of them is my fault. Our big vacation of the year, the already paid for, non-refundable, dates-absolutely-cannot-be changed-vacation, occurs during the ORC. So, instead of 5 weeks to complete our room (the ORC is 6 Thursday postings, but actually only 5 full weeks), we only have 4. That was a fun conversation to have with my husband. Oops.
If you follow me on Instagram, you saw that my husband decided to tackle built-ins (which made the timeline convo afterwards even more awkward). I'm so grateful that he loves to take on projects like this. He's never done a project this big before, but that was true of the built-in office and the "mudcloset" in the last ORC, so I am confident he will knock it out of the park. This time he even has an assistant; my 5 year old, who loves to help us with home projects, and wants to open a renovation company a la Fixer Upper. So my husband sweetly included her in the demo stage, and she was so excited. We kept the first piece of molding she removed, just in case she decided she wanted it as a souvenir for her future self. Let's just pretend they (mostly her daddy) didn't put a big hole in the sheetrock.
On to the design...
White walls, gray trim, and traditional lighting accented with an incredible piece of abstract art like this beauty by MECArt on Etsy (except my version will be a lot more personal, and a little more budget friendly). If you notice, there is something important missing: beautiful fabrics, my favorite part. :(
My window hardware and drapes were part of the Murphy mess, and probably the largest part of my budget, so I don't want to be hasty in choosing a replacement. We may have bare windows for a while, although my husband has offered his college solution of flags and towels, so at least we have a backup plan.
Check back in next week to see what progress we've made, and make sure to visit the other participants to see how they're faring! It's an exciting (?) ride to be sure!
Also sharing with Thoughts of Home, so please stop by and visit those sharing there as well!
If you follow me on Instagram, you saw that my husband decided to tackle built-ins (which made the timeline convo afterwards even more awkward). I'm so grateful that he loves to take on projects like this. He's never done a project this big before, but that was true of the built-in office and the "mudcloset" in the last ORC, so I am confident he will knock it out of the park. This time he even has an assistant; my 5 year old, who loves to help us with home projects, and wants to open a renovation company a la Fixer Upper. So my husband sweetly included her in the demo stage, and she was so excited. We kept the first piece of molding she removed, just in case she decided she wanted it as a souvenir for her future self. Let's just pretend they (mostly her daddy) didn't put a big hole in the sheetrock.
On to the design...
White walls, gray trim, and traditional lighting accented with an incredible piece of abstract art like this beauty by MECArt on Etsy (except my version will be a lot more personal, and a little more budget friendly). If you notice, there is something important missing: beautiful fabrics, my favorite part. :(
My window hardware and drapes were part of the Murphy mess, and probably the largest part of my budget, so I don't want to be hasty in choosing a replacement. We may have bare windows for a while, although my husband has offered his college solution of flags and towels, so at least we have a backup plan.
Check back in next week to see what progress we've made, and make sure to visit the other participants to see how they're faring! It's an exciting (?) ride to be sure!
Also sharing with Thoughts of Home, so please stop by and visit those sharing there as well!
One Room Challenge Spring 2016 - The Dining Room
Well, here we go again. We truly loved every gut-wrenching, sleep-deprived, nail-biting, exhilarating second of last fall's One Room Challenge, so I knew from the minute I hit publish on the final post in Nov. 2015 that we would be participating again. The biggest challenge (hehe) would be deciding which room we would tackle. And for a while, it seemed like the foyer was going to win out, mostly because it is small and my husband, aka electrician aka carpenter aka handyman aka jack-of-all-trades, was looking for something a little less hectic than the 3 spaces squeezed into 1 that we did last time. But as they say, the best laid plans...
Let me back up for a second, though. For those of you new to the One Room Challenge (or ORC), it is an intense, fun-filled, teeth-gnashing, tear-inducing challenge to makeover one room in your home (or someone else's!) in 6 short weeks. Linda from Calling It Home created this incredible program, and this year, House Beautiful magazine has joined her as a media partner. Every Wednesday, 20 sponsored bloggers/designers post their latest adventures, and every Thursday, guest bloggers (like myself) do the same. It is a great catalyst for finally getting those things crossed off your to-do list, and while you may be a little shell-shocked at the end, you will have formed new friendships, challenged yourself creatively (& possibly physically if you're a DIYer), and you will be so proud of what you have accomplished in such a short time frame! If you've ever considered joining in, I encourage you to give it a try! I will be here to cheer you along all the way.
So, back to my room. I've been pinning and designing my foyer ideas for months, since hubby said no to the dining room as it was too involved for his time commitment. And I completely respected that. But because my brain doesn't shut off, ever, I created a Plan A & a Plan B for our dining room, just for fun, although neither were to be a part of the ORC. Plan A was a short-term plan, on a budget, and would tide me over until I could budget for Plan B, and until we had the time to commit to Plan B. If you're curious, Plan B includes wallpaper, built-ins, custom window treatments, new table and chairs, and a few other miscellaneous items. Definitely not something for now.
If you follow me on Instagram (hcbinteriors), you know that a few weeks ago, I started on Plan A, because I had some white paint in my garage, and when you're on a budget, free is your best friend. When I started to look more at Plan A, I realized with a little creativity I could actually make some major changes, so here we are: a tweaked version of Plan A, and the hubby has signed on to help with the dining room. Hooray! I'll share my actual design plan next week, and how I plan to work with a smallish budget. I'm aware that budget means different things to different people; what may seem small to one person is huge to another, and vice-versa.
And now for the part everybody loves (please excuse the instagram photos, my computer is in the shop so I am using my iPad until next week):
BEFORE
And because I pulled out my free paint and got started before realizing this could actually work, I have 2 coats of white up, but need at least 2 more. So, we'll call this the BEFORE PRIMED :)
Let me back up for a second, though. For those of you new to the One Room Challenge (or ORC), it is an intense, fun-filled, teeth-gnashing, tear-inducing challenge to makeover one room in your home (or someone else's!) in 6 short weeks. Linda from Calling It Home created this incredible program, and this year, House Beautiful magazine has joined her as a media partner. Every Wednesday, 20 sponsored bloggers/designers post their latest adventures, and every Thursday, guest bloggers (like myself) do the same. It is a great catalyst for finally getting those things crossed off your to-do list, and while you may be a little shell-shocked at the end, you will have formed new friendships, challenged yourself creatively (& possibly physically if you're a DIYer), and you will be so proud of what you have accomplished in such a short time frame! If you've ever considered joining in, I encourage you to give it a try! I will be here to cheer you along all the way.
So, back to my room. I've been pinning and designing my foyer ideas for months, since hubby said no to the dining room as it was too involved for his time commitment. And I completely respected that. But because my brain doesn't shut off, ever, I created a Plan A & a Plan B for our dining room, just for fun, although neither were to be a part of the ORC. Plan A was a short-term plan, on a budget, and would tide me over until I could budget for Plan B, and until we had the time to commit to Plan B. If you're curious, Plan B includes wallpaper, built-ins, custom window treatments, new table and chairs, and a few other miscellaneous items. Definitely not something for now.
If you follow me on Instagram (hcbinteriors), you know that a few weeks ago, I started on Plan A, because I had some white paint in my garage, and when you're on a budget, free is your best friend. When I started to look more at Plan A, I realized with a little creativity I could actually make some major changes, so here we are: a tweaked version of Plan A, and the hubby has signed on to help with the dining room. Hooray! I'll share my actual design plan next week, and how I plan to work with a smallish budget. I'm aware that budget means different things to different people; what may seem small to one person is huge to another, and vice-versa.
And now for the part everybody loves (please excuse the instagram photos, my computer is in the shop so I am using my iPad until next week):
BEFORE
And because I pulled out my free paint and got started before realizing this could actually work, I have 2 coats of white up, but need at least 2 more. So, we'll call this the BEFORE PRIMED :)
Thanks for joining in on another ORC. It feels slightly similar to the experience of having a second child. With the first, there is so much excitement, and then total shock at how much harder and exhausting the whole thing is than you ever thought it would be. This time around, we are just as excited but also aware of what we are getting ourselves into, and we know there are sure to be surprises along the way. ;)
Modernizing Traditional Family Pieces
It is common in the South for families to pass pieces down for generations. I am blessed to have something in almost every room of my home that belonged to a family member at some point in time. However, the challenge comes when mixing those pieces with today's more modern, laidback lifestyle. Even the current traditional style is much more casual than our grandparents traditional tastes. It can be especially challenging when the piece you've inherited is completely opposite your own design choices, or is a treasured family heirloom that cannot be altered in any way (ie. paint) ;)
However, in my opinion, the best rooms are a balance of new and old. Older pieces have a patina and character that cannot be replicated, and often have a quality not found in today's furnishings. They add a sense of warmth to a room. The new keeps those older pieces from looking shabby, outdated, or dowdy. The design board below shows an example of this mix:
However, in my opinion, the best rooms are a balance of new and old. Older pieces have a patina and character that cannot be replicated, and often have a quality not found in today's furnishings. They add a sense of warmth to a room. The new keeps those older pieces from looking shabby, outdated, or dowdy. The design board below shows an example of this mix:
Two commonly inherited items are rugs and buffets. To balance out the traditional heaviness of these two pieces, I added in fun lighting (love that Sputnik style chandelier!), abstract art, and upholstered seating. I pulled the blues and golds from the rug, and used them in the art and lighting so that even though the pieces are very different stylistically, they still share a commonality.
To further ensure the space would read as modernized traditional, I used Farrow + Ball's Wevet (white) on the walls, and Worsted (gray) on the trim. By using color on the trim, instead of traditional white, the design continues to contrast the seriousness the older pieces bring to the space.
Hope this helps some of you who may be struggling with mixing those family pieces in with your own style. On a sidenote, Farrow + Ball released nine new colours this year, and they, along with Paige Minear at The Pink Clutch, are generously giving away a gallon to the reader who creates their favorite mood board. Head over to Paige's blog to find out how to enter. Good luck!
One Room Challenge Laundry/Mudroom/Office: Sources
First, thank y'all SO much for all the love, comments, Instagram likes, etc. regarding our One Room Challenge. We poured a lot of love, sweat, and even a few tears into this project, and we love it. It makes it even more fun to know that y'all like it too. We truly appreciate the support!
I wanted to do a quick rundown of the sources for most everything we used. The main credit goes to my awesome hubby who not only did almost all of the physical labor, but even enjoyed it! Maybe he will become the next Chip Gaines; he's sure goofy enough to fit the part. ;)
Please excuse some repeat photos. I just don't have the energy to take new ones and edit. :)
Walls: Benjamin Moore White Dove
Beadboard and stencil: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
Stencil: Sari Paisley Allover Stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils
Boxwood wreath: Smith and Hawken at Target
Beadboard: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
Hooks: oil rubbed bronze, Home Depot
Artwork: local antique store
Chalkboard Wall: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze, coated with Martha Stewart Crafts Multi- Surface Chalkboard Acrylic in Clear
Trim: Benjamin Moore White Dove
Beadboard: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
Brass Sconce: Ethan wall sconce, World Market
Table Lamp: Pottery Barn (purchased many years ago)
Floating Desk with roll-out keyboard: Built by us (really, my hubby), finished in
Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray
Cubby: Target
Metal Trash Can under desk: Ballard Designs
Chair: Ballard Designs
Chair Pad: Ballard Designs
Striped Day Planner: Whitney English's Day Designer at Target
Jesus and Coffee Mug: Creations by Courtney
I wanted to do a quick rundown of the sources for most everything we used. The main credit goes to my awesome hubby who not only did almost all of the physical labor, but even enjoyed it! Maybe he will become the next Chip Gaines; he's sure goofy enough to fit the part. ;)
Please excuse some repeat photos. I just don't have the energy to take new ones and edit. :)
Accordion Drying Rack: Better Homes & Gardens, purchased via Amazon
Metal B: Hobby Lobby
Focus on the Good Canvas: TJ Maxx
Wall Mount Sink: Mustee Laundry Tub, purchased via Amazon
Faucet: Ikea (purchased many years ago)
Boxwood: Smith & Hawken at Target
Cabinet Pulls: oil rubbed bronze from Home Depot
Rug: HomeGoods
Apron: Anthropologie
Light: Hampton Bay oil rubbed bronze vintage flushmount Home Depot (excuse the grainy iPhone photo)
Walls: Benjamin Moore White Dove
Beadboard and stencil: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
Stencil: Sari Paisley Allover Stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils
Boxwood wreath: Smith and Hawken at Target
Beadboard: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
Hooks: oil rubbed bronze, Home Depot
Artwork: local antique store
Bulletin Board: HomeGoods (purchased many years ago)
Rug: HomeGoods
State of Georgia Chalkboard: local gift store
Brass Pendant Light: HomeGoods
Chalkboard Wall: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze, coated with Martha Stewart Crafts Multi- Surface Chalkboard Acrylic in Clear
Trim: Benjamin Moore White Dove
Beadboard: Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
Brass Sconce: Ethan wall sconce, World Market
Table Lamp: Pottery Barn (purchased many years ago)
Floating Desk with roll-out keyboard: Built by us (really, my hubby), finished in
Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray
Cubby: Target
Metal Trash Can under desk: Ballard Designs
Chair: Ballard Designs
Chair Pad: Ballard Designs
Striped Day Planner: Whitney English's Day Designer at Target
Jesus and Coffee Mug: Creations by Courtney
ORC Week 5: Denial is One of the Stages
First off, please excuse the look of my blog - I am in the middle of updating it but it's not quite finished. Second, how is this the last full week of the ORC?!? For those of you just joining in, the One Room Challenge (ORC) is a blog program in which almost 200 bloggers, designers, etc. commit to changing up a room in 6 short weeks. I have learned that pacing yourself is EXTREMELY important - at the beginning, it seemed like we had so much time, and now that we are down to the wire, I would say we are still just barely over half done with our projects. Eeek!!!
My sweet, supportive husband (aka contractor/handyman/electrician/plumber) has been working his tail off this week. In the past few days, he has installed the beadboard & trim in the laundry room, framed out the desk area, put in a new sink, and installed more lighting. I know I am going to owe him big time after this. And don't even think about telling him that I've already got plans for the Spring 2016 ORC up my sleeve ;)
Speaking of lighting, that has been our challenge this week. I think I've mentioned before that the lighting in our oldish home is quirky at best & downright dangerous in some areas. Luckily, I have a a great team of electricians on speed dial, & they have benefited from dozens of hours and thousands of dollars as we bring our home up to code. Our biggest snafu this week was when the junction box in the laundry room shattered into a dozen pieces while my husband was putting in the last screw of our new light. And while hubby is a super handy guy, installing a new junction box was something he didn't feel comfortable doing. So we had a last minute visit from the electrician today, and after he took a look at it, we were very glad we called in the professionals. It might have set us back in both time & money, but at least now we don't have to worry that old wiring will cause a fire.
I really liked the old schoolhouse light we had in here (see above photo for reference), but when I realized the laundry room light was directly behind the new glass & brass light we hung in the hallway, I knew we needed a more similar light for a cohesive look. HomeGoods did not have a second of my hallway light, so I found this one from Home Depot. It's actually huge (I thought it was a small pendant at purchase), but I think it works. Unfortunately, all that electrical work left a huge hole in the ceiling, and there's no time to fix it, so instead we slapped a coat of Urbane Bronze on an old ceiling medallion & it covered the hole perfectly. It wouldn't have been my first choice as the light fixture is simple, & the medallion is a bit much size-wise, but when you're in a time crunch, sometimes you just have to go with it.
I also scrambled to find new lighting for the office nook after realizing the picture light I had purchased previously was too formal for the space. Luckily, we snagged the last 2 of the sconces I found at my local World Market, & I also ordered these beauties from Lowe's. I think I will be going with the World Market sconces, but may have to find a different place in my home for the Allen & Roth sconces - they're just too great to give up! ;)
We still have yet to start on the mudcloset, and the desk & entry are only about 10% complete.. Yikes. It's time to up the coffee intake.
Let's look at our to-do list, shall we? Or maybe we shouldn't. Sometimes denial is a beautiful coping mechanism.
Install beadboard & molding // Paint & stencil walls (Praise the Lord I can cross this off) // Install hooks on molding // New utility sink // Pulls for cabinets // New lighting ? // Replace drying rack // Install shelf above washer & dryer // Install shelves above drying rack
Paint walls // New rug // New lighting // Install beadboard (added to the list this week)
Chalkboard or pinboard // Lighting (purchased but not yet hung)
My sweet, supportive husband (aka contractor/handyman/electrician/plumber) has been working his tail off this week. In the past few days, he has installed the beadboard & trim in the laundry room, framed out the desk area, put in a new sink, and installed more lighting. I know I am going to owe him big time after this. And don't even think about telling him that I've already got plans for the Spring 2016 ORC up my sleeve ;)
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| Finding a wall-mount utility tub with the faucet on the sink instead of mounted to the wall was a challenge. See all the open floor space? Now the dog's bowls can go under the sink instead of in the doorway. Hooray for small victories! :) |
I really liked the old schoolhouse light we had in here (see above photo for reference), but when I realized the laundry room light was directly behind the new glass & brass light we hung in the hallway, I knew we needed a more similar light for a cohesive look. HomeGoods did not have a second of my hallway light, so I found this one from Home Depot. It's actually huge (I thought it was a small pendant at purchase), but I think it works. Unfortunately, all that electrical work left a huge hole in the ceiling, and there's no time to fix it, so instead we slapped a coat of Urbane Bronze on an old ceiling medallion & it covered the hole perfectly. It wouldn't have been my first choice as the light fixture is simple, & the medallion is a bit much size-wise, but when you're in a time crunch, sometimes you just have to go with it.
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| Excuse the poor quality. This room is so hard to get a photo of, as there are no windows nearby. |
We still have yet to start on the mudcloset, and the desk & entry are only about 10% complete.. Yikes. It's time to up the coffee intake.
Let's look at our to-do list, shall we? Or maybe we shouldn't. Sometimes denial is a beautiful coping mechanism.
Laundry:
Entry:
Mudcloset:
Repaint // Lower top hooks so shelf is more accessible // Add shoe storage // Add more hooks
Office nook:
Floating desk // Install outlet // New printer // Cubby holes/storage for mail, office supplies