Bedroom Mini Makeover (Again!)

It's been a while since I tackled a bedroom makeover.

 I must admit I have a short decorating span when it comes to my bedroom.

Because I spent so much recuperative time in said room this summer,

I felt it was time to brighten up the place!

 I am not sure if you remember what the "before" was because there have been so many "befores"...

 but most of my "makeovers" are just small ones, as is this one.

Before:

This is the bedroom before...quite adequate...but in need of a perking up.
Before blog:
http://amcinnisartworks.blogspot.com/2011/01/master-bedroom-makeover.html
Further Before drama blog:
http://amcinnisartworks.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-wrestle-alligator.html
                                                

                                                       

Here was my "jumping off " point...a Waverly comforter set.
I LOVE the color apple green and paired with several shades of
 clear blue...I am doubly happy!



You see it coming, don't you?

Blue Willow as an accent is a must!



This heavy green herringbone fabric would be used as
a small pillow for my chair and shams positioned behind
the Waverly shams. See below.



The blue and white fabric was edged with dark and light blue and yellow

trim. I loved the way the blue brought out the blues in the comforter. 



I found this fabric at Hancock's...it was pricey (because it is reversible),

but it was 50% off and

I only needed 1/2 a yard.

This would be a pillow and cover

a small stool.



The bedskirt that came with the set was striped...I had had quite enough of stripes.
So after much internet searching...the Coach took me to Bed, Bath and Beyond
and HE found this sage matelasse skirt! I think he might have a future in decorating!



I "shopped" my house and came up with lots

of  blue and white. I shopped my

shop and found this lovely pair

of glass birds.

I went slightly overboard on the Blue Willow, so I backed up
and  began swapping out the "too much blue" and added
more green and neutrals.
In the above two pictures you see the "too much".
Below you will see the pared down version.

A little blue and white goes a loooong way.
The extra pottery tones down the "in your face" look.

I found this great old bird print at the Flea Market Saturday.
Not only was is a great price, but all I had to do was
clean it and add a very thin navy mat and it was done.

Here's the finished look.

I added a vintage button for detail on my linen chair pillow.
(and of course, a furry throw.)

I like this look for spring.
It's fresh and happy!
I am delighted but not surprised at  how well the paint color, August Dried Grass,
once again is such a neutral backdrop for new colors.
This is my "go to " color when I want  versatility.
(BTW: right in the middle of this blog we had a horrible hailstorm!)
I have been waiting on insurance adjusters and contractors all day! :( 

Hope you have a happy Spring!
Angela









Oh, We Had Hot Dogs and Potato Chips!

Most men are more or less defined by their jobs...whether this is right or wrong, (understand that I am not speaking in a religious vein, but in a practical everyday one). Men derive some of their self worth from being able to provide well for their family.

Women, on the other hand, seem to derive some of their self esteem by the state of their homes. (Now, you know it's true)...Once, when my son was about 8 or 9, he called me at work to let me know that he and Daddy had brought home a visitor for lunch. I thought he was referring to another child, but he was referring to a very well known coach from a university! I almost died. "What did you have to eat?" There was NOTHING in the refrigerator remotely worthy of someone famous. I had that beginning panicky feeling. "Oh," he replied, "We had hot dogs and potato chips. And don't worry, I put out a clean towel in the bathroom." Yes, that thud you heard was my heart hitting my feet. How could he do such a thoughtless thing?...You see, my house was a semi-wreck that day, and I was mortified. Were the men? Not mine...probably not the "famous" coach either, but I will never know.

So keeping my house in decent condition has always been a priority to me. (Never know when you might entertain royalty.) I noticed that every few months I grew tired of the way something looked and began a "search" for something to perk up the atmosphere. Nothing wrong with that...right? But to do that over and over seemed like it was bordering on obsession and never being satisfied. I began to feel uneasy ...was something wrong with me? And then something happened that changed my perspective... I got a room decorated and it stayed that way for several years. Wonder of wonders, I still liked it. What was the difference?

I know the answer to this age old question...WHY CAN'T WOMEN BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE? Answer: Because we are so used to putting others first, that we have to skimp on details of the home that would make us feel comfortable...finally. For example, a new couch is needed. The old one is well, old and dirty and fraying. But Junior needs braces, so we throw a slip cover over the couch and make do until Junior's bite is corrected. All the while, avoiding eye contact with said slouchy couch. There is this underlying feeling of dissatisfaction in "that" area of the room...but we do our best to bury it.

 Get to the point, mam...just the facts, please. Ok, here it is. When I am able to decorate even in a modest way, it makes me feel better temporarily. But when, I decorate in a more substantial way (aka spending more AND GETTING SOMETHING THAT WILL LAST) I feel more settled longer...maybe even for several years. Maybe forever!  So, the answer to feeling better about your home is this...besides cleaning it...SAVE UP FOR WHAT YOU REALLY WANT AND MAKE PURCHASES WISELY. Make do with inexpensive trendy items until you can do what will give you lasting pleasure. Does this make sense?

Here is an example. Swags I made 15 years ago were still doing their job.
Did I love them? Fabric, yes...style, uh, no.



Whala! New updated drapes and I love it! Makes the room seem larger and lighter.
Even though I feel guilty for letting the old swags go...they served us well.

I added this centerpiece after the pictures.



A friend gave me this toile planter years ago...it works just right now!

I updated the buffet lamps with shades that have a leaf design on the lining.
They came from my bedroom.  (The value of using a similar color palette throughout
your home is re-arranging is so much easier.)

Cloche with nest and Peter's Pottery bluebird add "the hope of Spring" touch.



I brought out a small glass cabinet and added my lambs, some redware and
my great grandfather's little Webster's dictionary.



My hutch needed a good cleaning and I added some painted metal hearts that sport tiny bird's nests.





February signals time to bring out some of my vintage Valentines.
One of my favorite holidays!!



Even the bathroom got a little touch of spring.
I found the print bath cloth on sale for fifty cents...
The bottom line is trendy is ok, in small doses...but saving for a substantial
upgrade is more satisfying in the long run.

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY,



Part I: Virtual Christmas Tour

It's that time of year! You are cordially invited to my virtual Christmas Open House! (Not that you don't know how, but I thought I'd throw out a few decorating pointers as we tour...)

Decorating your home for the holidays can be exhausting... because our house is small and there's not lots of storage, I've stored all the decorations in the attic in marked storage containers. The day before I begin the task at hand, the "hubster" cleans off the carport area, brings out several folding tables, and then hauls all 12 or 14 boxes down the stairs. We set the boxes on the tables and I begin the "sort". I keep all boxes on the carport except THE ribbon box. This keeps the house relatively straight as I progress from room to room.

I know that this will horrify some of you, but I change my decorations yearly. As much as I love some of my things, sometimes it's just nice to play outside the sand pile and do it up differently. I do NOT use every decoration every year. (12-14 boxes? Are you kidding?)

This year, my woodland themed animals wandered into the living room rather than hanging out in the dining room. With that change, came some color changes...even though I am a traditional green and red girl through and through, this year, I used turquoise in the living room area.

My foyer is Annie Sloan duckegg blue, so this color selection blended nicely.

I love birds and through the years I've collected bird ornaments, many, many nests (many) and bottle brush ornaments. I have a special place in my heart for the little owl fellow below. I buy most of my Christmas items AFTER Christmas..love those sales!



Pictured below is just one of many (nests)...
you know the old legend...
If you have a nest in your Christmas tree,
you will have good fortune in the new year.
Well, I'm not superstitious, but it never hurts to
have a few nests in the old tree.

 

I bring in a huge box of ribbon. I have kept every scrap of ribbon I've ever used at Christmas through the years. Speaking of bang for your buck...that's wired ribbon. And at 50-75% off....it's a steal. And yes,

I untie each bow every year, wrap the ribbon and put each type ribbon in a zip loc bag.

I work out of the ribbon box every day that I decorate...did I mention that while my house is small, decorating it is a labor of love and takes as long as the White House to decorate?

I know, I know...when are we going to lose the brass fireplace screen?

Well, let me tell you a little secret, while I love birds, I have a horror of them swooping down my chimney. So the answer is...never.

(Something to do with seeing Hitchcock's The Birds when I was younger.)

My garland is laced with mushroom hummingbirds, blue birds, nests and a butterfly.

The Peter's pottery vase was an anniversary present and holds feathers, seed pods and glittered curly twirly things...the "hubster" is a glitter hater. Can you imagine?

I made and beaded the crazy quilt stockings several years ago.

My sister gave me brush deer...ever one to help me along with the "annual theme".

Also, notice the large containers of Christmas ornaments. Speaking of a thrifty way to decorate!

They add pops of color everywhere. You will see them throughout the house.

So you don't like themes?

Let me explain. Sometimes they are overdone and I don't like that either.

But themed decorating, if it's used correctly, can be a wonderful "jumping off" point when you are having decorator's block.

So don't frown so when I mention the "T" word!

I am not a purist in the purest sense of the word.

This vignette has absolutely nothing to do with woodland animals,

but every woodland needs a gnome with red underwear.

This was my mother's secretary and some years I gussie her up and some years I don't do as much.

This year I just added a chickadee tassel, some greenery, and a checked bow.

The mercury glass heart says "Faith" and I think that's a guiding principle..so Faith it is!

Here we go again...when are we going to let go of the oak entertainment center?

It's too great for storage...again, never.

It houses my redware plate collection, my salt glaze pottery, books and on the top in the middle is the "hubster's" grandmother's dough bowl...no, it stays.

I have a thing for Mackenzie Childs...however, due to champagne taste and a beer budget...this bird box

(on deep sale) is the only thing in the whole catalog I could afford...but look at that detail!

She sits by my chair in the living room..oh, the stories she can tell about the rich and the famous.

More of those ornaments!

Because this is such an involved process, I decided to invite you back tomorrow for the dining room and kitchen tour. I think you've really had quite enough of me tonight..

We will tour and talk about editing tomorrow.

Thanks for coming along...

BTW: pardon the autumn blog header...it was the tour or the header...I went with the tour!

Laurie Is Correct

One thing I've really "zoned" in on recently is a particular look I LIKE and one that I do NOT like. As far as this "stage" in my life...I am becoming more and more restless in a room filled with clutter.

I call it "visual clutter."

My eye needs space to rest and guess what? So does yours! 

Sit in different chairs (or sofas or beds) in your rooms and check this out. Are there "things" on every surface? (Including walls.) Move about and see the room from different vantage points. Is one vantage point more pleasing than another? Why?

I have arrived at this conclusion....we all have too much stuff to just fill space.

I began asking myself this question..."Is this item really necessary? Does it have a purpose? Or is it strictly aesthetic?" There is nothing wrong with having something pretty displayed just because...but when every surface is covered with pretties "just because"..your home becomes a museum and not very liveable.

Enter Laurie Smith and her first book, Discovering Home with Laurie Smith.

You remember Laurie from TLC's Trading Spaces.

By far, she was the most talented designer on the program, and this book which takes the reader through her renovation of a mid century home in Jackson, Mississippi is proof of that.

One statement that she made has really made me stop and think.

Here it is...

This statement seems like a paradox to my statement above concerning your home being liveable rather than museum-like. After all a curator is in charge of a museum or a collection of things.

Examine the statement more closely.

She is making the point about furniture, not necessarily "collectibles". (But it could apply to collectibles.)

Furniture (and collectibles) should be the best quality and most pleasing you can afford.

So much of today's furniture is particle board...

fine for a college dorm maybe, but NOT fine for the long haul.

Smith advises "waiting" on the right piece. She covers a table with a floorlength cloth until she can find the right chest in her living room...

uh, oh....WAITING?!

That word seems to have gone the way of the dinosaur.

We live in such a fast paced world that we expect to have a room furnished and lovely in a matter of days, certainly NOT months.

I have found that purchasing something for the sake of filling space almost always results in becoming bored with that piece because it really wasn't EXACTLY what I wanted.

Times change and so do tastes. Updating is easier to do today.

But if a room is curated with good pieces that don't go out of style over time AND THAT SERVE A PURPOSE...you will find yourself more at ease and more satisfied with your choices.