new home design

Who doesn't love a good before and after?

I can't get enough of "before and after" pics -- if they made books or magazines with just pictures and pictures of every little detail before and after, I would be in heaven. (Kind of like the look and find books my son is obsessed with right now -- I'm all about the details.) I found some older pictures from our house the other day, and thought I would share some of my own transformations with you. <br /><br />I'm always growing and expanding decor-wise. Especially working in the decorating field, I feel like I've gotten more creative over the past couple of years. Sometimes I look at old pictures and want to cringe...I hope I don't feel that way a few years from now! :)<br /><br /><div></div><div>One of my favorites is our corner fireplace in the family room. We both thought a corner fireplace would be great and put it there on purpose. And then I realized what a pain it was to work with. My solution was (SHOCK) molding!<br /><br /></div><div>BEFORE:</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxJDNzLPgFBrI9WOQxgUBNd4myxPYfR2FurarPbqtgzFXicwuUTfTopPUuOitBwjZk3xmFppRjnC8yu5LUTF-XZasjgDbjHiQOLwzkNFZmZ0kT9ImIbPZD9KkTZ0otnsy5iOEtfvbxFg/s1600-h/Im000433.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="462" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240894235184472066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxJDNzLPgFBrI9WOQxgUBNd4myxPYfR2FurarPbqtgzFXicwuUTfTopPUuOitBwjZk3xmFppRjnC8yu5LUTF-XZasjgDbjHiQOLwzkNFZmZ0kT9ImIbPZD9KkTZ0otnsy5iOEtfvbxFg/s400/Im000433.jpg" style="height: 387px; width: 299px;" width="377" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>AFTER:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4LLY6Gf1v9Mu2yObmbEOre0Lnh3pjJCisKtn64DYPuWkir-OUVpF0WQ0UJx_EEV-E-5py0b3RVxxOwtDjdsPX8FQHdYrkHMEi9Ej99NCP6Nca3UCzgAvIB1ABLqN8mZ-qK4gykHgsQo/s1600-h/46df50a6-fe93-4aa2-9786-122e78f114ea_player.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240894237517591122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4LLY6Gf1v9Mu2yObmbEOre0Lnh3pjJCisKtn64DYPuWkir-OUVpF0WQ0UJx_EEV-E-5py0b3RVxxOwtDjdsPX8FQHdYrkHMEi9Ej99NCP6Nca3UCzgAvIB1ABLqN8mZ-qK4gykHgsQo/s400/46df50a6-fe93-4aa2-9786-122e78f114ea_player.jpg" /></a></div><div></div><div><br />I'll share more of my own before and afters soon -- there are some doozies!! Yikes. </div><div></div>

Who doesn't love a good before and after?

31Aug2008

Cheap art

I needed something to fill a large wall in our powder room and came across a print I thought would work well. It was in those bins of posters/art at the back of the craft store -- the bins I haven't rummaged through since college!<br /><br />I found a $10 poster...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhWtQPW5b1D6bYnSAlZ-4lh8HBtKNnEdy9b0YxMi0e8EIlj2UGa9wD2AC-lvaWO-S4XvhskhXvQHaQJ_aiFUr2yqhKRrv8Wdgg33m-pW5S8Y1asMZxhL-XEVsikHALsdLTdOYiV_3sok/s1600-h/DSC04537.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="190" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238659247668526018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhWtQPW5b1D6bYnSAlZ-4lh8HBtKNnEdy9b0YxMi0e8EIlj2UGa9wD2AC-lvaWO-S4XvhskhXvQHaQJ_aiFUr2yqhKRrv8Wdgg33m-pW5S8Y1asMZxhL-XEVsikHALsdLTdOYiV_3sok/s400/DSC04537.JPG" style="WIDTH: 416px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 161px" width="509" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />And used frames I had to create this...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnNyJPqQcVmNh_4MS8AkGNHK8jejqNVn7_qmXg9efFitpYYIASyOIzZ-cudx2kRcYpS6mEpgyZfiqFF9uBCvfgN19OQ_PTjADAjhZOcTVoclSZroUx5Hvsl7NfEZyk2vWmPyCg_ANdoE/s1600-h/DSC04541.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="351" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238659255409074162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnNyJPqQcVmNh_4MS8AkGNHK8jejqNVn7_qmXg9efFitpYYIASyOIzZ-cudx2kRcYpS6mEpgyZfiqFF9uBCvfgN19OQ_PTjADAjhZOcTVoclSZroUx5Hvsl7NfEZyk2vWmPyCg_ANdoE/s400/DSC04541.JPG" style="CURSOR: hand" width="461" /></a><br /><br />I bought poster boards, painted them chocolate brown, and then cut the photos down to the size I wanted. I placed the photos on top with double sided tape. If you want to spend a little more, you could have actual mats cut for the pictures, and then paint them. But I'm a thrifty decor chick and I'm impatient. :)<br /><br />Total cost for this project was $6 for the art (I had a 40 percent off coupon baby!) and $1.50 for three poster boards. If you don't have the frames, look for them at half off. Or use a bunch of smaller frames you already have and cut one large poster/picture/image into smaller pieces. Cheap, one-of-a-kind art!

Cheap art

25Aug2008

Uh oh.

This could be a problem...I may have developed a new obsession today. I decided a long time ago I wanted to redo the tile on our master bedroom fireplace. We picked out the tile when we built the house, but it's always bothered me. It had a peachy tone that drove me nuts...<br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV32CcJB1UevOyP4SvaH8uFaaTnv1Fsp1mlHWINN0cXXZXHOKwDEnQqBgJ-pnFkgUByFlJRD9APVTQrZqqXZHZbiWOrxnWJoyUzPjJMlG01QfIek3M7CcwJkUFWxulZyWLMnWCSGDZ0tI/s1600-h/fpbefore.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236821779916643666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV32CcJB1UevOyP4SvaH8uFaaTnv1Fsp1mlHWINN0cXXZXHOKwDEnQqBgJ-pnFkgUByFlJRD9APVTQrZqqXZHZbiWOrxnWJoyUzPjJMlG01QfIek3M7CcwJkUFWxulZyWLMnWCSGDZ0tI/s400/fpbefore.jpg" style="CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div></div><div><br /></div><div>I thought it would be a relatively cheap project. But after looking into it I realized it had the potential of costing hundreds of dollars, even though only about 20 square feet of tile was needed. The tiles I found (I was looking for something unusual) were going to end up at $600 or more.<br /><br /></div><div>So I took another trip to trusty Lowes and found just what I wanted. A tumbled stone in small mosiac squares -- it had all the colors in it that I wanted and I found slate tile to go on the hearth that worked perfectly with it. Total cost was $90 for the mosiac tiles and $22 for the slate.<br /><br /></div><div>I was going to try to do the project myself but my father-in-law insisted -- he is an expert at it (used to do it for a living) and I was happy to have him do it. They did the work today and I am THRILLED with the result:</div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTY4b7dnbCwfLAfLMfCpKHU6gPWDrm_myphAdgYtkwg5UH1hCJc26Pqy_IlN1hLI6V4xmqodV0PoMiHW6utftKYyazASCGBzmWAWsxp60UC_EW5CvdO8KYztVLoJ1etVwIzMoJV6_nz8/s1600-h/DSC04453.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236821119812689362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTY4b7dnbCwfLAfLMfCpKHU6gPWDrm_myphAdgYtkwg5UH1hCJc26Pqy_IlN1hLI6V4xmqodV0PoMiHW6utftKYyazASCGBzmWAWsxp60UC_EW5CvdO8KYztVLoJ1etVwIzMoJV6_nz8/s400/DSC04453.JPG" style="CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Ohhhh my goodness, I am so excited. They will grout it tomorrow and then in a week I can seal it. Sealing makes it look like it's wet and makes all of the colors even deeper and prettier.<br /></div><div></div><div>Problem is, I'm looking all over the house to find places I can tile now. I have extra scrapes of the mosiac tile and I am dying to use it somewhere! I think our foyer may be an upcoming project now that I've seen the difference tile can make. I think I may be able to do it myself too. This is not good! :)<br /></div><br /><div></div>

Uh oh.

20Aug2008

Falling in love.

I love our home. I know everyone has affection for their homes, but I am IN LOVE with our home, like it's a part of our family. It's not surprising, as I have quite literally put my blood, sweat and tears into it. I hear about families who lose their homes to floods, fire and other natural disasters and my heart absolutely breaks for them.<br /><br />Your home should be where you feel completely comfortable, where you can play with your children (and not be devastated if something breaks!), and where you can totally relax. When we walk into our home, it feels like a big hug. That's totally goofy, I know, but it's true. I wish that feeling on everyone and that's why I share ways to make your home <em>YOURS</em>.<br /><br />As I work on updating different rooms in our house, I fall in love with it even more. The latest is our master bedroom. They say the master is always the last to get the decorating attention and that's true even of me. I have paid more attention to the master closet than the bedroom! But just by finishing up the paint, moving some things around and getting new bedding...I am falling in love. Now as soon as we walk in there, it feels so warm and cozy and US.<br /><br />A little goes a long way. So far I've paid $36 for bedding from Ebay (although I'm still not sure if it's staying yet) and $20 on canvases for art above the fireplace. Everything else I rearranged or pulled from other rooms. I can't believe the difference.<br /><br />I've said it before and I'll say it again -- it doesn't take much to put your personal touch on your home. Don't hesitate -- you won't be sorry, I promise. Your house will give you a big hug for it. ;)

Falling in love.

19Aug2008

The easiest window treatments. Ever. Period.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCENbmkHsXPjzLde2O6hMXcdhUSDVFnPyR0HZmHQkaIwmOs71kW7ibzAzW4KhU9t2OKSHAfQHWT6LDbsXvEDp8S9QNw9K4ThNrGvYBrhd047tpBYcGweyYs-3AklS_CGrzEV7RP7q3To/s1600-h/window+treatment.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233464567986518882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCENbmkHsXPjzLde2O6hMXcdhUSDVFnPyR0HZmHQkaIwmOs71kW7ibzAzW4KhU9t2OKSHAfQHWT6LDbsXvEDp8S9QNw9K4ThNrGvYBrhd047tpBYcGweyYs-3AklS_CGrzEV7RP7q3To/s400/window+treatment.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYvAS-EOvGWR7_mPHeQ3XbLAnCCHVRetzfrNn0oxBXR_odKzsNNqHOECjqn9XXmHqcWXXpQA9ADmggOvMgqtHDNAGIWHSCEyDIp5YmOueL6wEmF8MqQjDe_2sSGhBUeDhfx59iuy1Bn8/s1600-h/window+treatment.jpg"></a><br /><div>This window treatment is easily the simplest one I've done. You'll need fabric, a rod, ribbon and hemming tape. It will take you 30 minutes, tops. </div><br /><div>Start by picking out your fabric. You won't even need a full yard for this one, unless you'll want it to be operational (if you want it to cover the window, you'll need more fabric). Make a rod pocket at the top and then hem the sides with the hemming tape. I used a tension rod for this one, but these can also hang outside the window from a pole.<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div>Then just hang the fabric and use your ribbon to figure out how high you want the fabric to drape. When you figure that out, just cut both ribbons to the same length and tie them up.<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div>That's it! Get creative with your fabric and the ribbon. You don't always have to use fabric by the yard -- if you see a drapery panel you like, cut it down to size and use that. Try using a fabric shower curtain or a sheet with a cool design on it. Even a cute towel would make this an adorable window treatment in a bathroom. The sky's the limit!! </div></div>

The easiest window treatments. Ever. Period.

This window treatment is easily the simplest one I've done. You'll need fabric, a rod, ribbon and hemming tape. It will take you 30 minutes, tops. Start by picking out your fabric. You won't even need a full yard for this one, unless you'll want it to be operational (if you want it to cover the wind…

11Aug2008

Progress!

Sorry, I didn't post much last week, did I?? I will make up for it, I swear. I have made a ton of progress on our powder room and for the most part, now comes the easy stuff...<br /><br /><div>Here are the before pictures. I used to love the burgundy and tan walls, but the colors were getting old, and this room is where I first tried my hand at chair rail...I was a novice and it showed. I didn't know how to miter corners, so I used base board pieces on all the corners. It looked OK but now that I know how to do it <em>for real</em>, it had to be redone. :)<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233107632205587618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlUkkzHblzciYWH8ubwZ9J7R2vOIY1xQd-q8g0vWFXzhnEqoorHLneuP6e98NUhjLX0rdWYQB-5La2krBDnqUO9WHh6qfeWxwr7cshQ69e_hCX2UGQKZXGPht9F4PaY5ug8lSF6JRJfo/s320/DSC04175.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233107636521396130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIM7JKGj4uRdERt4LrgpZ1Enzux8YIf2aYQamtuDFjwIcXRaznAy9UdCIyRPhtfmKvx5BP6woCedJWtBnIzgqvfGwTwMxitjWpUBy80-KoEs2guBSxlop6Pf-UKyBntl0byT2geAs3Rc/s320/DSC04176.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><br /><br /><br /><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233107640206218306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNczwftgJDtpUpjWFwYVcrgQ0sh-NUDa7yeGBp5g48vtbkOSEp1WbsCDooZJVi24-LoWFemKGxBSQwwaXrezwwqOmLBkwJmDGvyqodMVb1gqk_28ynzkTYGLSyL_EN5WF3q8Oggv55-xA/s320/DSC04177.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></p><br />The mirror was way too big for this space, the light fixture was a very nice one but I didn't love it, and I had never placed the chair rail at the right height, so it didn't continue on the sink wall. One thing I did love about the room were the empty frames. They were always a topic of discussion when someone went in for the first time! I loved them! But I'm planning on using them in our bedroom now, so it's a good way to save money.<br /><br /><p>Here are the after pictures. I redid everything -- chair and crown molding, the light, paint, the ceiling and even the light switch covers! </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitiAkjy2x8qdHgT4qJ1lTtT4doyTtEhw0ATuFx4btN-xfH40LFpgg1ZiBdyBVwzcimUFwQE-gYMdBjP8U54WcrLnTZLCTJZF9VJoYMcR_yGRvfrBZcpHmbXVJhhWeCCx5JufiS4Io3Bo/s1600-h/DSC04290.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233109286868174802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitiAkjy2x8qdHgT4qJ1lTtT4doyTtEhw0ATuFx4btN-xfH40LFpgg1ZiBdyBVwzcimUFwQE-gYMdBjP8U54WcrLnTZLCTJZF9VJoYMcR_yGRvfrBZcpHmbXVJhhWeCCx5JufiS4Io3Bo/s320/DSC04290.JPG" style="CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpoaPRqcr0zOLxUSO6B4rf5nvwp_qZREzv4fqoBHeLBrQ0yesBYTyCzB1G9tGWopEejVNAPeCWn16IQLBiJEDsh0YSrHhuFVUyRC-A9E69OaS54KGGISKAqUDA-cqUQbdZcMoMp3YRcQ/s1600-h/DSC04291.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233109290962654642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpoaPRqcr0zOLxUSO6B4rf5nvwp_qZREzv4fqoBHeLBrQ0yesBYTyCzB1G9tGWopEejVNAPeCWn16IQLBiJEDsh0YSrHhuFVUyRC-A9E69OaS54KGGISKAqUDA-cqUQbdZcMoMp3YRcQ/s320/DSC04291.JPG" style="CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk2Q-czHIveBlyM8XwU_GCTJiLR0L5JtufPTLVn5w2FyaXQRFBvx99kfFds1WSHZUwTowVRiEjDL5HgwtpN-LLu2c6cNoGdzhU-dc4fIiKF0J5kaWrXobavFwgl6WWpWqDpwTFnJrdL0/s1600-h/DSC04292.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233109301499746754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk2Q-czHIveBlyM8XwU_GCTJiLR0L5JtufPTLVn5w2FyaXQRFBvx99kfFds1WSHZUwTowVRiEjDL5HgwtpN-LLu2c6cNoGdzhU-dc4fIiKF0J5kaWrXobavFwgl6WWpWqDpwTFnJrdL0/s320/DSC04292.JPG" style="CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ek1Wk5KnYRfMkIMB_X9IWoIRgLCJ40N0wxB11fY2CNnQUJmUImtY49hJ5ZEdFdnVT_eu9sqXDJeDRvNPzVJ8ZodBwdO-hUqqxbowGzXVaO0W84a4CAxxaQshbplG2_laID3-mP-Iva0/s1600-h/DSC04296.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233109301603469698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ek1Wk5KnYRfMkIMB_X9IWoIRgLCJ40N0wxB11fY2CNnQUJmUImtY49hJ5ZEdFdnVT_eu9sqXDJeDRvNPzVJ8ZodBwdO-hUqqxbowGzXVaO0W84a4CAxxaQshbplG2_laID3-mP-Iva0/s320/DSC04296.JPG" style="CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br /><p>I think it is completely different, which is what I needed! The only thing that bothers me, that I can't really get around, is that I couldn't put the chair rail high enough to clear the sink. The molding I tore done left damage to the walls, so I had to put the new chair rail up exactly where the old was. What you can't see here is that I have raised stencils I had put above the sink, so they help to distract from the molding not continuing across. I'm going to paint the stencils the same bronze color as the mirror and light fixture so they will pop a bit. </p><p></p><p>I still need to paint all the molding, but other than that, it's the fun stuff -- accessories! I need a new rug, and definitely something for the walls. Believe it or not, this room has perplexed me more than any when it comes to the walls. Even though it's tiny, there really is a ton of wall space and it's hard to get a nice balance between too much and too little. Thanks for looking, and I'll be back this week!! </p>

Progress!

Sorry, I didn't post much last week, did I?? I will make up for it, I swear. I have made a ton of progress on our powder room and for the most part, now comes the easy stuff...Here are the before pictures. I used to love the burgundy and tan walls, but the colors were getting old, and this room is w…

10Aug2008

Remember when I said...

I wasn't painting anymore rooms in our house? Did I say that here? Well, if I didn't here, I told everyone I could -- I'm hiring out from now on. Well, I lied. My impatience got the best of me and I just couldn't take it...<br /><br />When we moved into our house, I painted a wall in our master bedroom above the fireplace. Then about two years ago, I painted the wall behind our bed and added two tone stripes. Well...the other three walls (we have five walls including the fireplace wall) were white for all those years since. I couldn't stand it anymore, and our painter I've been using was too busy. (I need him to say, "Sure, I'll be there tomorrow!!" Not happening.) So I took the paint I had in the garage that I bought TWO YEARS AGO to Lowes, had them shake it up a bit and went after it.<br /><br />Did I mention our bedroom has a high ceiling that goes up about 15 feet? Yeaaaahhhh. Turns out it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I got it all done (between naps and after bedtime) in a couple days. We were so thrilled with the result, and I am reminded again that no one should live with white walls!! You will be so amazed at the difference with color surrounding you.<br /><br />Then...I have been wanting to redo our powder room for months now and could not find a color I wanted to paint. It came to me as I was finishing up the bedroom -- chocolate brown! So of course, I am obsessed and I had to go to the store immediately to pick out my paint and started painting. I also tore down the old chair rail in the bathroom and bought new molding to replace it.<br /><br />So I apologize for my absence the past week, but I've been painting the bedroom, tearing down chair rail in the bathroom, painting two coats of chocolate paint, painting the ceiling, putting up new chair rail, replacing the light fixture and installing crown molding...and I'm still not done. And this is all during nap time and at night. I rock.<br /><br />Although my husband always loves the end result, he thinks I may have a problem. :) I think he may be right. I just get such a thrill when I get going on projects and I can't stop. I promise to post pictures (the camera was left out of town over the weekend) and promise to post more this week! Thanks for your patience.

Remember when I said...

05Aug2008