Farmhouse Bedroom

Elizabeth tells me that I should post a tour of my house.  This is a daunting task because I don’t think that I have a single room in my house that I could consider done enough to post pictures. Ah well, we have lived here for more than 20 years and I guess that this is simply the way my home will always be. It is constantly in flux, constantly in need of a good vacuum and constantly being tweaked.  But in the spirit of all the bloggers who have opened their homes to the blogosphere, I will post a room occasionally until I cover every room. Maybe this project will spur me on to finish some rooms that are on the list.

Today, I am posting some photos of our master bedroom. It is a wonderful room with expansive views of the rolling farm fields and wetlands that surround our home.

This is what I started with this morning…clean sheets!

I made the bed and started to look at it critically.

So…I hunted around the house and brought in the wrought iron tree from Potterybarn; the lamps are from there as well.  The  throw is a vintage bedspread. The toile coverlet is from Charter House. Everything else is from various estate sales, everything but the cherry bed. That was purchased 20 years ago.

This vintage dresser was free. I found it 25 years ago. The photo of the tree is in my post on trees .

Liz’s brother, Sam made the clay head in high school art class. The old brick is from Chaska brick which is from our local quarry.

This is my added touch to make the photo a little more interesting.  I made the sock and the pin cushion. The bulbous thing is a vintage sock egg that helps you mend socks.

This is Sathi’s doggy bed where she sleeps every night. To be honest, she sleeps during the day on the bed but at night she gets kicked out and is resigned to sleep in her basket.

This is one view from the bedroom. The upstairs of the barn was a playhouse for Liz when she was a little girl!

So, that is the bedroom tour.  I couldn’t possibly show you my disastrous walk in closet – yet. Maybe I’ll get the bug to clean it up. The master bath is also connected and I will take photos soon. I promise.  - Peg

Romantic Love Letter Bedding

I have a weakness for bedding, if you didn’t know that already.

Sometimes I come across a product that I don’t need, but wish I had a need for. Maybe you do?

I wish I had an extra bed for these beautiful and romantic Love Letter sheets (that are on sale!) from anthropologie.

How cozy would it be to wrap yourself up in these sheets on a cloudy Sunday morning?

-Liz

How To: Paint A Lattice Border

One of my favorite DIY elements in my newly decorated guest room is the lattice border I painted around this basic mirror. It was simple to do, but took a bit of time taping and waiting for layers of paint to dry. I was inspired by a feature in Martha Stewart Living that suggested painting this border on a door to spice it up.  I’m embracing the theme (see my new blog logo) and used it for this wall.

First, I prepped the walls by painting them gray. Then, I taped out a border equidistant around the mirror with a strip of painters tape. This tape would become the width of the single rectangle (in white), of 1 inch. Then I took two pieces of tape and placed them on either side of the first to create a stencil. I removed the first piece and had a nice, even line around the mirror. I painted a few coats of white glossy paint and removed the tape while it was still wet. The white is the same paint as the trim in this room (and the rest of the house).

For the second layer I decided that it should be the same width away from the first line, so I just used one strip of tape to be a buffer. I wanted the second layer to be slightly wider than the white part (1.25 inches) so I measured 1.25″ away from my piece of tape to place the second piece of tape. After both of these pieces were in place and lined up, it looked like this:I painted this ‘stencil’ Behr Eucalyptus Leaf turquoise in a glossy finish and removed the tape while the paint was still wet. I got crisp lines both times, for the finished look below!

Alternately, you could switch the colors, or make the solid rectangle be on top of the angled one by switching the order of taping and painting.

This project was not hard, it just required a bit of measuring and basic math.

I think it’s a very classic design done in a simple way. I’ve come to appreciate geometry in home decor, and would like to design a room with only references to geometry at one point, mainly inspired by this painting. I could use the golden rectangle, the Pythagorean theorem, geodesic domes, spheres, tessalations, I could go on. Maybe geometry was my favorite math class…

-Liz

The Big Reveal: Guest Room Before and After

The guest room is finally together. I have a few things left to touch up, but it is finished and awaiting its first new guest! Remember when I started working on the guest room? I cleared everything out and started with a ‘White Box Challenge,’ just like on Design Star! Well, this season of Design Star is now complete (yay Meg!), and it took me a lot longer than an HGTV designer to get this done. I was in no hurry, but I may want to reconsider thinking about going on Design Star, ever. Remember what my guest room looked like before it was cleaned out? It was boring and not cohesive and not welcoming to my guests.

Well, I cleaned it out and took everything out (and gave away that awful, ugly treadmill) so I could start anew. The Guest Bedroom Whitebox Challenge was born! I gave myself a strict $200 budget to make this into a welcoming, warm, colorful space.

White Box Challenge

I managed to stick to the budget by using things that I already had, making things that I needed to add, and using one Crate and Barrel gift certificate to add a few new things.

Things I kept:

• Bed (Ikea)
• Bedspread (Dwell Studio from Target)
• Side Table (Estate sale find)
• Chair (Crate and Barrel, part of my 6 piece dining set)

Things I made:

• Paint chip art
• Pelmet
• Marshmallow bench
• A few pillows
• Mirror border

Things from ‘shopping’ my house:

• Mini desk (Ikea, used to be my sewing table, but I barely used it)
• Artwork (other than paint chip)
• Lamps (Vintage)
• Vase and Billy Button flowers (from the garden)
• Books
• Typewriter
• White bedspread (Vintage, replaced from my bed with a brand new steal of a deal from C&B.)

Totally new things:

• Carafe (Crate and Barrel)
• Mirror (Home Depot)
• Gray paint (Home Depot)

Take a look at the new space.

I love it! But there are still a few things I would change. I like the lattice border around the mirror (see way below), and I think the pictures above the bed are a bit small in scale, so I might paint a border on that wall too, or add some new or different art. I think there needs to be art above the tables on either side of the bed as well. Also, the wall by the floor lamp, below, needs to be filled with something, too.

The bench isn’t quite finished yet. I still have to put the tufted buttons on. There was a delay since I didn’t have any upholstery thread, and my other thread just snapped. That is on the to do list.

I have a white garden stool outside, that might look good in this room, but I’m not sure if it needs it, or where it should go.

Here are a few more detail pictures. Yay!

Doesn't it look comfy and colorful? Just how I like to decorate!

Will you come visit me? You’re welcome to stay in my new guest bedroom!

I hope to share a few of my projects more in depth over the next few weeks, so be on the lookout!

-Liz

Linked to: Flaunt It Friday, Amaze Me Monday, Creative Bloggers Party and Hop, Sunday Showcase Party

Choosing Guest Bedroom Colors

 

I told you last week that I’d share the color scheme for my ongoing guest bedroom project with you. Despite a short delay due to a broken water heater, here it is: turquoise, yellow, and gray, with white accents. The bedroom is not done yet, but I have most major elements in place.

I’m still not going to spill what colors or fabrics go where, but the colors were inspired by a trip to JoAnn fabrics and the discovery of this (slightly crazy) wavy patterned fabric in the home decor section. The yellow matches the duvet set (which isn’t changing) perfectly, and I really wanted to introduce a third color into the scheme, and the turquoise works really well.

I’ll let you in on a secret though–the turquoise ‘eucalyptus leaf’ paint chip is not the color of the walls!

Any other guesses on what I have done and what I have left to do?

-Liz

 

Housekeeping

I haven’t posted about any of my home projects for a while, and I’ve been doing just a few odds and ends. Plus the house is a mess. It’s hard to motivate when you first have to clean. And hard to clean when you’re out of town on the weekends, since Brentan and I have been traveling to Mendocino and Pittsburgh the last few weeks.

Progress on the guest bedroom ‘white box challenge’ is coming, but my brother has been staying in it on and off all summer since he’s been doing an internship in San Francisco. So just when I start making some progress he stops by and dumps some stuff inside! (It’s ok, I love him!)

In the guestroom I’ve painted and made window treatments and hung art and made some pillows. I still need to find some furniture (perhaps make some furniture??). And I really hope I have some cool tutorials to show you how I did anything but I probably need to take some photos for that though! I’m planning on sharing my color scheme with you this week, so be on the lookout!

In other news, I did some housekeeping for the blog, too. I made myself some business cards, just so I can promote the blog, and to have for the Pinterest meetup that I’m going to tomorrow. (Are you going? Let me know in the comments or shoot me an email!) I also made a cute little monogram logo for the blog, that you can see above. I’m working on my Photoshop skills, and I think it’s classy!

Hope you’re making progress on all your projects!

-Liz

 

Bedroom Decorating: The White Box Challenge

In honor of HGTV’s premier of Design Star tonight, I have a special new project of my own: the Guest Bedroom White Box Challenge.

White Box Challenge

I started yesterday by emptying out the guest room of everything except the white bed (yep, even that mirror left after I took the photo), so I could paint and redecorate. It may take me more than 2 days, and I will shop at stores other than the dollar store, but it’s my house and I set the challenge rules! My budget: $200.

It took 3 trips to Home Depot to get the right color and painting into the night, but I’m keeping it a secret so you can see a dramatic reveal when I’m done. It may be months, so I’ll try to give you a few sneak peeks as I go along.

But what do you think I’m going for? The original idea from last year of a modern, urban oasis:

A feminine vibe with florals and antiques, like the mood board here:

Or something else entirely?

Wait and see!

-Liz

Weekend Updates: Swing Arm Lamps and New Crystal Knobs

I didn’t tackle everything on my list, but I did make it to six (I think that’s a record) estate sales and to the Sunset Celebration weekend. As for my checklist, I made huevos rancheros (yum!), found some great succulent containers (post coming soon!), and hung up my Home Depot swing arm lamps and installed new hardware on my bedside tables.

Sorry for the dark pictures, they were taken on rainy Saturday.  No need to explain how I installed them, since all the direction I needed was on the instruction booklet. Except that you always always should measure twice and cut (drill) once. Luckily, my little mistake was within the margin of error. That and things are not always symmetrical, like the backing on these lamps!

-Liz

New Knobs!

Saturday Morning Thoughts

It’s 9am, Saturday morning and I have the whole weekend ahead of me. It feels wonderful! I’m feeling ambitious and thinking of tackling a few projects over the weekend. I went to Home Depot last night to pick up a few supplies already.

• Install swinging arm lamps next to the bed from Home Depot (inspired by Jane from her pretty bedroom pictures)
• Install new knobs for new old nightstands (Done last night! Pics to come later)
• Make a ladybug house to attract them to eat all my garden aphids, like the one here
• Find some cute little containers to plant all my succulents
• Cook some kick-ass huevos rancheros and learn to make sushi rolls
• Oh, and maybe finally finish a cafe curtain for the bathroom

What are your weekend projects?

-Liz

Korin’s Modern Bedroom with Vintage Touches: Mood Board Ideas

Modern Bedroom with Vintage Touches                   

Colors: Sliver, plum, dusty rose, and a little chocolate brown

(I’m helping Korin decorate her new condo. You can see the suggestions I’ve made to her living room here, and background about our project here.)

Vintage pieces and accents make the modern bedroom a bit homier and more lived-in. I suggest a 60’s era 6 drawer dresser, like the one pictured from Craigslist, and a few vintage decorative pieces like a milk glass vase or old mirror. The centerpiece of the bedroom is a wall decal or mural in the shape of the flowers inspired by the shower curtain in the adjacent bathroom—silvery-cream silhouettes on a plum colored wall. The rest of the walls can stay light (something shimmery and soft) or all go plum. Hang a mirror above the dresser and a full length mirror leaning against the wall.

The room can be lit with two table lamps, perched on awesome West Elm Random tables (citing back to your side tables in the living room), with vintage silhouettes, and a classic or vintage chandelier hanging over the end of the bed.

Add purple and silver throw pillows on your bed to tie it all together.

The overall effect is soft and feminine with a few organic touches, but overall modern lines that mimic the lines in the living room.

Mood Board Sources:

West Elm Random Table $149  http://www.westelm.com/products/random-base-side-table-g202/?pkey=cdressers-nightstands

Reflections shower curtain http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=120590

Vintage 1960’s 6 drawer dresser—this one is from craigslist, $180 http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/fuo/2345576283.html

Meryl Lamp from Crate and Barrel, $69.95 http://www.crateandbarrel.com/decorating-and-accessories/table-desk-lamps/meryl-table-lamp/s577297

Charles Nickel Chandelier from Crate and Barrel $399, http://www.crateandbarrel.com/decorating-and-accessories/chandeliers-pendants/charles-nickel-chandelier/s170286

White vintage milk glass vase, Etsy, $10 (with some fresh lavender blossoms!) http://www.etsy.com/listing/59769460/milk-glass-hobnail-vase?ref=sr_gallery_8&ga_search_query=white+flower&ga_noautofacet=1&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_facet=vintage%2Fhome_decor

West Elm blackened metal mirrors- round above dresser and rectangular on floor for full length ($149, $349) http://www.westelm.com/products/blackened-metal-mirror-collection-c182/?pkey=cmirrors

Anything else you’d add or change for Korin’s bedroom?

-Liz

PS. You can check out the progress I’ve made in helping Korin decorate her new condo here and here.