30 Days of Gratitude (Day 4) White Paint.

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Today I'm thankful for a very simple thing.  White paint.  Imagine what our world would be like without it.  It lightens and brightens and is a formidable color (shade) in it's own right.  White is the go-to color for all decorating styles.  Especially for modern, farmhouse, vintage or shabby chic.  Adding white paint to an item instantly updates and even transforms it.  And for a few years now white has been an extremely popular choice for kitchen makeovers.

I have gone through my share of different shades, brands and finishes of white paint, myself.  One of my favorite projects was a chalkboard that I made for a wedding gift.  I made many chalkboards before that but this one turned out so nicely and was a wonderful gift.  Frugal Girls featured it on their blog and added it to their section of wedding gift ideas.  (It still brings some of the highest traffic to my blog.)

Another project that had a great transformation with white paint was my His and Hers nightstands.  I  found them battered and neglected at a Goodwill for next to nothing.  I learned a lot while working on these and loved how they turned out.  (They work perfectly in our bedroom now.)

So here is my salute of gratitude to a very basic but well used item.  White paint.  (Gotta love it.)



(photo credit: Judy Elliott Design)

30 Days of Gratitude (Day 3) Helpful Bloggers.

In becoming part of the blogging community, (either by hosting your own blog or just being an avid blog reader) you have the opportunity to become inspired, entertained, taught, moved or unimpressed by the myriad of blogs in existence.  I am so thankful for the gracious, helpful bloggers that I've come across. 

Almost a year ago a friend of mine on Facebook posted a picture from a blog of a grouping of plates on a wall.  I followed the link and my life changed forever.  (Not really, well maybe just a little...)  Up until that point I had NO IDEA that there were blogs purely devoted to design, decor and DIY.  (And yes, I do live under a rock.)  The only blogs I was aware of were family blogs and those dedicated to stirring up arguments and discord (through largely worthless opinions.)  Suddenly my eyes were opened to a whole new world of like-minded individuals--people who loved design as much as I did.  I knew I wanted to start my own blog right away but waited a few months to get a feel for it and also because fear was holding me back.  I knew next to nothing about blogging or even basic computer functions like how to post a picture.  (Remember the rock?)

One of the first blogs I started reading was Funky Junk.  Donna's style was so original and unique.  And now almost a year later her blog is still one of my favorites.  But it's not just because of her funky style and beautiful photos.  Donna has a big blog and is extremely busy but she is very gracious and helpful.  Her post subjects are positive and full of encouragement and information for other bloggers.  Reading a Funky Junk post was what gave me the inspiration and courage to start my own blog in March.  

So, I am thankful for Donna and other bloggers like her who are positive, helpful and especially gracious.  They continue to inspire.

(photo credits: floral (bhg.com); Donna (funkyjunkinteriors.blospot.com)

   

30 Days of Gratitude (Day 2 ) Mistakes in Decorating.

 I am so very thankful for the ability to make mistakes in decorating.  Truly, I am.  (Because I make enough of them...)  Design is an evolving process that needs or even requires mistakes along the way to improve, focus and develop.  Decor is such a personal and subjective thing that it is impossible to ever reach any sort of consensus on perfection.  Many times it's like a science experiment.  You try different combinations of color and technique until you deem your project a success.  And that success may be only temporary until you decide that your decor needs some updating or a different look.  I've painted every room in my house (some numerous times) as well as rooms belonging to friends and relatives.  I feel comfortable painting a room (even though I really don't enjoy it.) and choosing color but that wasn't always the case.  The very first room I painted I made so many mistakes with technique, supplies, paint type and color.  I hated every second of doing it and wasn't pleased with the finished result.  (Considering my first foray into painting it's a wonder I ever tried it again.)  I've learned that many times when I try something new there is a learning curve and that I will improve with each go at it even if the first time is an epic fail.

 Let me share my most recent decorating mistake.  I had a brilliant idea (or so I thought) about a month ago of adding pattern and a little shimmer to the hutch in my kitchen.  I thought of adding paper or fabric to the interior backs of each shelf.  Many people have done it with great success and I thought that I would love it, too.

I found some shiny silver wrapping paper with flowers a few weeks ago that I thought would be perfect.  I excitedly removed all the holiday decor the day after Halloween and got started with measuring and cutting the paper.  I decided to do just a temporary attachment to the hutch with tape to see if I liked it first.

Talk about mistakes...  It looked horrible!  Just like wrapping paper stuck to the back of the shelves.  (Which it was.)  It was too shiny and just wrong.

Putting everything back in made it look even worse.  Luckily, I was able to remove the paper in about 2 seconds and use it for it's original purpose-wrapping gifts.  Now I can still try another paper or fabric with a different color and pattern.  I actually think with my new crystal chandelier installed and the Halloween decor put away though that the hutch doesn't need anything else right now.  So my mistake with the paper was a good thing because it helped me focus on the design direction I needed to go.  Many design mistakes I'm not too thankful for at the time they happen.  (Like spending hours repainting a room.)  But usually after the fact, I've learned a technique or skill or just basic knowlege on what NOT to do that tends to be quite helpful on future projects.

So what do you say?  Is there a decorating mistake you've made that you are thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude (Day 1)

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In addition to my regular repertoire of home decor and DIY, I've been inspired to do a post a day on thankfulness for the month of November.  Not just gratitude for the big things like family, faith, health and safety but for the little things that I may take for granted or overlook.  I'm really going to make an extra effort to look for the good in not so good situations, too. 

So that brings me to the wonderful happening this evening that gave me the opportunity to be grateful.  One of my sons plays middle school football and tonight was the last game of the season.  It was held at a school that has seemingly narrow parking spaces so I made sure to park exactly in the middle of the slot.  When I returned to the minivan (my cool ride) after the game I noticed that a big white truck was parked unusually close to my vehicle.  Sure enough, there was a small dent with white paint on it on the side of my van from the truck.  I was quite irritated.  Especially when I had to inch out so I wouldn't hit the truck which also happened to be parked at an angle.  So instead of leaving a nasty note, slamming my door open on the truck, carving a naughty word on the hood or waiting to meet and start something with the owner, I decided to try to find the good in the situation and to get rid of my negative feelings.

Here is what I'm thankful for:

1) I'm thankful that it was just a dent and not a crushed bumper or something worse.
2) I'm thankful I have a vehicle that runs.
3) I'm thankful I was able to return home safely.

In choosing to be thankful, I was able to enjoy the aftermath of the football game (they had a big win) and not dwell on the damage caused by a careless (or minivan hating) driver.

(I wonder if my husband will be thankful when he sees the van...)


(photo credit: yankeemagazine.com )

Vintage Chandelier

It's no secret that I love crystal chandeliers.  (The more bling, the better I say.)  A few months ago my sister was combing through her local antiques store for treasures when she happened upon a vintage (over the top) crystal chandelier.  It was expensive and the price was firm so she just admired it (snapped a few photos) and moved on.  About a month later she visited the antiques store again and the chandelier was still there.  It had dropped in price and had a sign on it that said "price negotiable."  Well, needless to say, the chandelier came home with my sister and was my birthday present last month.

   

I dropped the chandelier off (sans crystals) at Tipler's Lamps and Lighting in Austin for repairs.  It needed to be rewired, hardware added, the chain lengthened and the middle post repainted.  Here is a picture of the chandelier back from the repair shop.  It has an unusual design that I haven't seen before.

I removed the existing builder grade gold chandelier in the piano room (dining room) and installed the vintage chandelier.  After what seemed like hours of washing each crystal by hand, the chandelier shone in all it's glory.   I ended up painting the gold frame of the mirror white.  It harmonizes much better with the chandelier and the rest of the elements in the room.  It's a little old fashioned but I love it.

Home of Designer Ralph Lauren

The multitalented fashion and interior designer Ralph Lauren and his wife, Ricky had their simple and classic Manhattan apartment photographed for Elle Decor last year.  The vintage lamps in the dining room are one of my favorite things in the apartment.  (They almost look like giant searchlights.)  The chairs are from the Ralph Lauren Home collection.

 

 The kitchen is very sleek and modern.  (I wonder if they do much cooking in there or if everything is catered.)  I do love the Wolf double ovens.

The understated living room with more furniture from the Ralph Lauren Home collection.  It looks like there is a telescope near the window.  (Bird watching, perhaps?)  I really like the silver cylinder end table.

The entryway shows that the couple has a sense of humor.  Complete with a life-sized stormtrooper standing guard.

An incredibly beautiful bathroom with a mesmerizing view of Central Park.  (One of my favorite rooms.)  I bet the skyline view is amazing at night.  (It's all about location...)


(photo credits: all photos from elledecor.com )

Halloween Goodies

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It's almost the night of all hallows eve.  Of creepy, spooky, scary and wary.  Of tricks and treats, bats and shrieks.  Here are some of my favorite Halloween goodies.

                                         

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An adorably spooky table setting amidst a lonely forest.  (Love the galvanized horse trough turned table.)

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A very unique halloween treat.  Orange and black.  Imagine that.

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Such a delightful twist on Cinderella's coach using rusty hardware complete with mini pumpkin mice.  (Apparently the clock did strike twelve...)

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Probably the cutest (maybe itchiest) candy corn ever seen.

                                                                           pug-clothes.dogdresses.co.uk

I'm sure Rufus (an avid Trekkie) was waiting with great anticipation for the moment when he could finally be decked out in his Spock costume.

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Some folks have to deal with an infestation of ants or roaches or even mice.  But no ordinary vermin for Brooklyn Limestone.  Imagine if you had this problem, an invasion of agile skeletons.  Mr. and Mrs. Limestone were able to banish the bones but now they are under siege from the sinister element of an insane asylum.  Check out Brooklyn Limestone and meet some of their ghoulish guests.


Have a wonderful Halloween!