Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Dining Room, Take 2 ...

Happy Wednesday ... we're halfway through the week!  It's getting quite chilly here and, unfortunately, 'tis the season for getting sick.  My poor kiddo has strep.  Not to worry though ... a little bit of Keflex and a lot of TLC, and he'll be good as new!
Well, I've slowly been attempting to transform our dining room from dark and cozy to light and somewhat shabby chic (I think)!  This lighten and brighten kick I'm on has attacked almost every room in our poor house!

BEFORE: The walls were painted RL Metallic Paint/Lush Brown ... area rug in red/black and traditional hutch buffet: 


NOW:  Yes, this is the same room, I promise!  (Please go easy on me.)  The walls are now BM Manchester Tan ... smaller sisal rug ... hutch buffet replaced by antique sideboard and one *ha-uge* mirror, and I slipcovered the side chairs in cotton duck slipcovers: 


BEFORE:  Window treatments done in gold and red that just seemed to get lost against the dark wall color:


NOW: A new "mis-treatment" done in a gold satin *swirly* material.  I raised the height of the panels to compliment the high ceilings and added a few tassels for fun. 

This bench used to sit at the foot of our bed.  I placed it in the window and added a fun grain sack pillow from Tuesday Morning:


On the other side of the room, I decided to make my first attempt at a plate collection.  And, of course, I had to steal PB's idea of adding the twine and pictures:



I found this beautiful sideboard and mirror at my favorite antique store.  I *really* want to paint the sideboard cream and glaze it, leaving the top its natural color.  Okay, all of you painting experts ... whaddaya think?  Paint it or leave it?


Love the detailed edges on the mirror:


The tea service was also purchased from the same antique store:


I found the floating shelves flanking the mirror/sideboard at Lowes and asked our friend to add small, simple molding to them to dress them up *just* a tad:  And, while I love the clean look of them, I may end up adding small corbels underneath as I'm just *waiting* for the shelves to all to come crashing down!



I also found the *perty* silver vase and candlesticks as well and love it on the table, mixed with the burlap runner:



I'm not done in here yet (imagine that), as I'd love to replace my existing chairs (which are on their last legs ... no pun intended, lol) with french country chairs, along with adding crystal magnetized charms and beaded chain to our chandie.  So, stay tuned ...


I'm off to join some fun parties!  Come on over and visit these wonderful blogs as there are so many inspiring and creative sights to see:

The Shabby Chic Cottage

Color Outside the Lines

My Romantic Home

French Country Cottage

Southern in My Heart

Funky Junk Interiors

BNOTP for Metamorphosis Monday

Thanks so much for stopping by,








Sunday, October 10, 2010

Lighten and Brighten

Hope you all are enjoying the day.  It's absolutely gorgeous here ... I have *no* business being indoors, let alone playing on the computer!

So, I'm taking you into our sitting room today.  Some of you may remember that it used to look like this:


It was a yummy metallic chocolate brown (Ralph Lauren Metallic paint in Lush Brown), which I absolutely loved.  However, because the furniture in there is dark, the room began to close in on me. 

After:  I painted the walls BM Manchester Tan, switched out the furniture, the rug and window treatments. 


The chairs and ottoman are from the great room (which also has a new look). I've ordered natural colored slipcovers for the chairs ... hope they work.  And, a smaller jute rug replaced the larger, darker one we had.  I like having more of the wood floor exposed:

I found this silver tray at a local *ha-uge* antique store called B&B:


I've moved things around in the bookcase and have added a few Fall touches there, as well.  Love the vintage Tequila bottle (also found at B&B):


A baby white pumpkin is perched on a nest of shredded paper which all sit on top of cute bowl I just bought at a friend's awesome gift shop called Crazee Birds:


Fun textured pitchers (and, yes ... a-NOTHER bird plate).  I also lightened some of my books up by wrapping them in painter's paper (from Lowes):


This fancy mirror once *lived* in the dining room, but has since moved here:


And, a fun find from Home Goods:


We're really enjoying the new look in our sitting room, especially in the afternoons when the sun pours in through the windows.   


Well, I hope you have a wonderful day!  I'm off to finish up the dining room:


I'm linking up to:

BNOTP for Metamorphosis Monday

Make it for Monday

It's So Very Creative

Transformation Thursdays

Inspiration Friday

FJI for Saturday Nite Special


Thanks for stopping by,


Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Fall Buffet

Happy Tuesday! It's almost *chilly* here today, which I love!  Since finishing my Fall tree that I shared with you yesterday, I've been tweaking my Fall buffet that sits in our great room.


This is the view of it from the foyer (feel free to click on any pic to make them larger):


A little closer:


A cream pedastal bowl sits in the center filled with pumpkins,  pinecones, leaves, a starfish and a baby pumpkin tucked on top of a little nest:


A vase from Willow House holds sprigs of little leaves, flowers, pumpkins and feathers:


 A cute bird plate from Home Goods:




Continuing the touches of the bird theme, I love this rustic birdhouse I found at one of our local gift shops:


This pumpkin sits on top of a vase I wasn't using.  At the base of the pumpkin sits a round wild *spray* that is supposed to be used at the base of a candle.  Oops:


And, there ya' have it!


Thanks for stopping by,


Monday, October 4, 2010

My Fall Family Tree

My poor husband ... he's such a great sport when it comes to supporting my decorating obsession hobby.  He'll make countless trips up into the *sauna-like* attic for me when it's time to decorate for the holidays.  HowEVER ... he wasn't quite prepared to pull a Christmas tree down ... in Sept-EMBER!  lol

I really wanted to do a *family* Christmas tree again this year ... I'm just putting it up a tad bit earlier.  And, it's not *really* a Christmas tree, per se ... more of a FALL family tree, with rustic, muted ornaments (and, okay, a few sparklies mixed in, too)!

I wrapped it in both burlap and grapevine garland and added lots of bird feathers ...


gold and copper-y ornaments (WalMart), and a picture of one of my older sisters and her family while visiting her husband's family in France ...


a few sprigs that have birds' nests on them (with a little gold birdie perched in one now).  The glittery topped acorn sparkles away in the lights ...


gold layered balls (have them in copper and apple green, too).  I found them at Dollar Tree last year ... 2 for $1 ... score!) ...


a baby owl, who found another empty nest to rest in (alongside a picture from when my husband and I renewed our vows in Punta Cana for our 15th Anniversary, this past July):


pinecones scattered on branches and a burlap *skirt* peeking through (you *know* I love the sparkly leaves) ...


Annnnnd, you'll see branches and more feathers sprouting up from the top, along with bows in pretty colors of browns, golds and creams (gotta add more birch):


But, the most important *embellishments* on our tree are the family pictures and sayings that grace it, reminding us what this season is about .. being thankful for family and friends.  I've included pictures of generations past, and I love having them as part of the tree ... part of the season.  Even though I'm not good about visiting my family in Virginia, they mean so much to me.  I get sentimental putting these pics on the tree, especially as I see members of my family who are no longer with us.  Years gone by ... moments that are now memories.  

Here's my younger sister (now 35) surrounded by my late grandfather and other relatives, while she models a lovely purse (*ta-da*) at a family gathering.  She's always been the stylish one!  And, my most treasured picture ... the moment I first held and met my son.  Okay, where are my tissues?


Thanks for visiting!