Bye, Bye Birdie

There has been a death in the family

Cause of death:  unknown

Authorities have found certain small children operating a fort building practice without a proper building permit, using illegal and inappropriate building materials.  Current ongoing investigations are occurring.
 

Our birdie was a beautiful addition to our family and frequently graced the piano top vignette.  He will be greatly missed. 

Rest in peace dear sweet birdie!

New Draperies?

So since the fabric of my dreams is a little out of reach, I have been trying to find something else a little more affordable in the colors I wanted.  I found these at Pier1 the other day and thought I would try them out.  These seem to help lighten the space and even bring in some of the blues I wanted to add to the color scheme.

They even had pillows that I fell in love with.  The pillows have different tones of green that seem to go well with the olivey green of the couches.  The drapes on the other hand do not.  They feature a brighter green that we were iffy about, however, in person {and during daylight} they seem to coordinate well with them.

My only concern is whether I am all of a sudden getting too matchy~matchy with the pillows and drapes.  What do you think?

~ ~ ~

Here is a semi-before shot.  I'm trying to figure my way around on my new Mac ~ I'm converting over from a PC and I'm having a little technical difficulty.   One of these days I will have to dig out a real before shot before we ever knocked the wall out!  Linking up to Sugar and Spice's Drab to Fab party! 

My Head Is Going To Explode

This family room is beginning to consume me!   The howling wind woke me up this morning around 3:30 and I haven't been able to go back to sleep yet.~my mind keeps thinking about what to do in the family room.

The fabric I want is too expensive.  Of course!  But I haven't totally exhausted all my local more reasonable fabric haunts yet so I'm still on the prowl.

We went out for the first time to look at furniture last night.  I was pretty disappointed in what I found.  My husband jokes that I get ideas and images in my head that I want that just don't exist anywhere.  But at this point in the looking I feel like my options are still wide open and there are so many possibilities of what I could do in the space that I haven't necessarily ruled anything out.  Yet it doesn't help because I don't have a clear idea of what I do want either so that the sales associate can help me locate it.  I guess I was kind of hoping that I would just see something that made my heart flutter and I would just know that was the piece for me!  That actually has happened to me before in the past.  Several times, in fact.  But that didn't happen this time.

Fortunately our lovely sales associate took us into the back room to look through the books and fabric swatches so that I could see that I had more options than what was just on the floor.  I appreciated that.  For some reason I thought this particular store didn't do custom pieces ~ I thought my only options were what I was seeing out in the show room.  That put a whole new light on my choices.  Now I need to get clear on the design lines I want and then we can work on the fabric choices.

But I still don't know what I want yet.   Today I will be trolling the internet to find inspiration pictures.  And I think I will be pulling some of our old furniture and bookcases into the room temporarily to play with some layout options.  {Boy, my husband is going to love that!} I want to actually see more what it would feel like in the space even though the pieces aren't exactly what will end up in the final room.

So that's what I will be up to this weekend.

What are your weekend plans?

Working on the Family Room

The family room feels a little dark now ~ I have dark carpet, dark furniture, dark curtains ~ and I really feel like I need to add a little more lightness.  I was thinking of adding more lightness through the window treatments and switching those out.

I found the perfect fabric. I mean the fabric of my dreams! This is exactly the fabric I have been picturing in my mind for months now.

via

A large graphic trellis print ~ green on a white background.  Oh it is perfect!  And lovely! {I would be ok with chocolate on a white background too if the green doesn't mesh well with my couches.  The couches lean a little more on the olive side but the green does feel more muted and not too bright in this photo though I haven't officially seen it in person yet.} 

I want long luscious panels.  But hello!  Do you know how expensive that fabric is?  And do you know how many floor to ceiling panels I want?  Oh, you know, not much, just 10-14!  Ten on the minimal side, you know, just to get by and cover the windows, and fourteen if I want to beef up a few spots with more fullness!  Or about 3 yards a panel, so you know, nothing much!  Only like 30-42 yards of fabric!  Aaaaahhhhh!   What am I going to do???  I think fabric is so important in a room! But ouch!  That is going to add up!

I need to figure out how to use less of that particular fabric but still include it somehow.  I think I can get away without it in the bay window and maybe just use a small portion of it to trim out some white ready mades somehow.  And I won't need too much to replicate a window treatment similar to this no sew treatment I did over the kitchen sink.

I also really want to use this photo I took in Hawaii a few years ago.

It's one of my absolute favorite stops along the Road to Hana!  It mesmerizes me!  I could sit here for hours ~ no probably more like days just watching the water crash up against the dark rocks!  And I think if I had some major life crisis that I would need to go there to help heal my soul!  {Hey, its good to have a strategy just in case! ~wink~wink~}

I was thinking of having it printed on canvas.  Here is a mocked up version in photoshop though I think I would want to go for a cropped square view of it like the picture above instead of the regular rectangle version below:

So that's where I'm headed currently, though I still need to find new, coordinating furniture for the other side.

Man this is all starting to add up!

So what do you think of the design plan so far?

Any ideas on my fabric dilemma?

Nester's Home Goals Party

Nester once again has challenged us to post our goals for our homes, so before I get to posting goals for this year, I thought I would review last year's first.

Backyard Patio Spruce Up:

Not much happened in the yard this year other than cleaning it up a little and finding I had a cozy little corner under the pergola since the plants have grown a little more mature.  Aaaahhhh!   None of the other goals I posted were completed!  :)

Master Bedroom:

I actually accomplished the new paint, the new dresser vignette and getting rid of the tv which is coming back {because otherwise I don't see my husband at night so I'd rather fall asleep next to him even if he is watching something on the tv}.

Update the Teen's Room

Loft bed was removed, new furniture arrangement created but no new bedskirt yet ~ I have the supplies, I just need to finish it. 

Update the Toddler's Room:

Loft bed was put in and then was taken out because it took up too much room.  And the toys were organized and decluttered.  Hip, hip, hooray!  But!  We had to repaint and the airplanes had to come down ~sniff~sniff~.  Now he wants a fireman room. Guess I will be working on that this year.

Update Family Room: 

 
Well, we certainly DID update it!  We knocked the wall down.  I'm getting the plantation shutters I wanted and even getting a few new pieces of furniture.  Hooray!

So my goals for this year?

I'm still going to hope to finish off the basement and get built-in cabinetry for the study.  But realistically, I want to get things more organized and simplified and decluttered.  I need to finish decorating the new family room, and redecorate the toddlers fireman room.  So those are the major goals I'd like to accomplish this year.  I'm sure lots of other little things will get done along the way so we will see what this year brings!

What are some of your home goals?

Thoughts On Home Improvement

So we started our little home improvement project a week or so before Halloween.  It always takes us 10 times longer than we think it will!  We are DIY'ers and we're pretty slow at it since most of our actual work time is done on weekends and my husband can be a perfectionist and really takes his time to get it perfectly the way he wants it.  To be fair though at least three of our weekends were taken up by other things such as a health crisis or a wind storm!

My husband enjoys doing projects like this and is good at it.  I don't have the patience for it.  I can't stand the extended mess it creates.  And I can't stand painting.  I'm not good at it.  And I'm not afraid to admit it.  I have accepted this fact.  This is why I am a lifestyle blogger instead of a decorating or a crafty blogger.  I just don't enjoy doing that crafty stuff.  I can appreciate it and admire others who do it.  I mean, I really don't mind hiring others or buying from people who do enjoy creating that kind of stuff and are actually good at it.

It kind of reminds me of this scene from Downton Abbey:

Matthew {the young guy}:  I've been meaning to speak to you about Mosley.  Would you find me very ungrateful if I dispensed of his services?

Lord Grantham:  Why?  Has he displeased you in some way?

Mathew:  Not at all ~ it's simply that he's superfluous to our style of living...

Lord Grantham:  Is that quite fair?  To deprive a man of his livelihood when he's done nothing wrong?

Mathew:  Well, I wouldn't quite put it~

Lord Grantham:  Your mother derives satisfaction from her work at the hospital I think, some sense of self worth...

Mathew:  Well, certainly -

Lord Grantham:  Would you really deny the same to poor ol' Mosley?  And when you are master here ~ is the butler to be dismissed?  Or the footman?  How many maids or kitchen staff will be allowed to stay or must everyone be driven out?  We all have different parts to play Matthew.  And we must all be allowed to play them.

Yeah!  I mean, who am I to deprive people the chance to create, make beautiful things and be paid for it so that I don't have to???    "We all have parts to play!" and I am willing to play mine.  Next time, I want to hire out our home improvements!  Gosh!  I'm so "noble" ~wink~wink~.

By the way, Season 2 begins on January 8th!  I am so excited!!! I can.not.wait!!!!  If you haven't watched it yet and love period dramas then hurry and get yourself caught up!!!

Now was that a crazy tie-in or what? 

What about you?

  

Are you a DIY'er?  

Or would you rather hire things out ?

Sneak Peek of the Remodel

Here's a sneak peek at the mini remodel.  

We are almost finished - the carpet was installed earlier this week and I have slowly been trying to put things back together.  The main portion of our remodel was knocking the wall out between two rooms to make a larger family room.

We didn't really use the formal living room in the front much anyway so it was kind of wasted space.  Believe it or not, even though we still have a portion of the wall left {it has all sorts of wiring and duct work running through it so we had to leave it} we have a lot better traffic flow through here.

We beefed up the baseboards and 

trimmed out the openings.

My husband did all of this himself.  

I think it looks pretty awesome!

Everyone thinks I should put some sort of vinyl something

up there above the window opening.

But I'm not sure what I would put.

Suggestions are welcome!

I think my husband did a fabulous job!

We still have a few other projects to finish like hardwood on the stairs and landing area and new railings but this was the main focus of the remodel.  More pictures later when I have found some new furniture and have put everything else back together again!

When Christmas Comes To Town!

My poor little guy has been dying that we don't have our tree up or Christmas decorations out yet, so I decided I needed to get out at least a few things.  Our carpet is supposed to be in next week sometime {which is freaking me out because we are behind schedule now with the things we needed to get done around here first before it comes! {~gulp~} so once that is in we can get everything put back into place and get the tree out finally!

So in the meantime, here are a few things we have brought out to try and bring a little Christmas cheer to the remodeling mayhem, I mean, um, house:

These fresh evergreens were saved from the big storm cleanup.  They were smelling so festive and delicious that I stowed a few away in the car to bring home.  My little guy thinks the tall one looks like a tall tree, so we decided to use it like one and placed one of our nativity sets underneath it.
 

I created this little vignette for the piano:

The quote in the frame is a printable from Dear Lillie.

I also gussied up the light in the kitchen a bit:

The Santa hats and the bells for the doors

that I showed last year are out again too.

Last year I had decided to switch the Christmas decor to a chocolate, green and cream color scheme.  In fact, I even picked up a bunch of things for it on clearance after the holiday but I honestly just can't help myself ... I love the traditional reds and greens!  Plus I think the kids might revolt if I got rid of the door bells or Santa hats.  They love them!  Maybe next year, when I'm not in the thick of remodeling,  I will put the chocolatey stuff to use in a different part of the house!

Merry Christmas

from our house to yours! 

~ ~ ~ 

Want some more holiday cheer?  

Visit the following linky parties to 
ooh and aah and a fa-la-la with us!

A Thoughtful Place
The Inspired Room's Christmas Home Tours
Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes 2011

Under Construction

I just realized that I haven't blogged in almost two weeks!  Yikes!  I admire those of you out there who seem to be able to manage frequent, sometimes daily blog posts!  I just find myself busy and forgetful!  This time I've just been pretty busy....

I have been living under construction.

What started out as simply repainting 

a few rooms before we get new carpets ...

Has turned into a minor remodel

where we have been knocking down walls...

And trying to decide what sort of trimwork to use.

We plan on beefing up the baseboards, and

I want to trim the openings out in 

something like this or this. 

My husband wants to trim them out

in something real fancy using

something more like this.

While I like fancy capitals, I"m not sure

they feel appropriate in this house.

I like the simpler, cleaner lines of what I chose.

 I hope my choices win out in the end!

{fingers crossed!}

We shall see I guess!

Only time will tell . . .

Inspiring Interiors: Way To Be in the Kitchen!

So I stink at doing things on a schedule apparently and forgot to post a new Inspiring Interior on Sunday!  Oops!  So here you go!

{click to enlarge}

I told you the Way To Be theme had multiple design ideas, so this time I am showing you another kitchen design, this one a little more cutesy.    I envisioned it in a cute black, white and green type of kitchen sort of like the inspiration picture shows, but I wanted the walls painted in a fun green color.  I would keep the black and white tiled floor just because it is so fun and then I would obviously pair all this with white cabinetry and furniture.   I would actually place vinyl decals of the 9 Be's somewhere prominent on a wall and then bring in some fun bee accessories in on things like dishware, hand towels or some other cute little bee decals randomly placed on the walls even. 

To me this would be a fun, playful reminder of how to live your life!

Inspiring Interiors! goes to Provence

I really liked the name Vanessa from Luxuria came up with for this new little series of mine.  She said she wasn't creative with that sort of stuff but I beg to differ!  She really came up with some great options for me!  Thanks Vanessa!  You are a sweetheart!  I really appreciate it!  Now  I know a lot of my readers already know Vanessa, but if you don't,  then please get to know her and check out her lovely blog!  I think you will enjoy her as much as I do!

So in this little series I am showing you design ideas I have come up with that are either centered around gospel themes, scriptures or positive thoughts, so this time I thought I would do one that is focused on the nine Be's that I try to govern my life by and have even named my blog after.  They are taken from a darling little book that really encourages you to be a better person!

This one is easy to jump off with different ideas from ~ in fact, I have several different design ideas and styles to show you for this theme alone.  When I think of Way To Be!  it is easy to jump into a theme with bee's, which for some reason reminds me of Provence, so that is where this particular board will take us.  

Click on picture to enlarge

The dining room on my inspiration board evokes the sort of feeling I would try to achieve for a kitchen or dining room. I like the rustic, old world mix with beautiful fabrics that seems to welcome and envelope you in the imagery of a beautiful French country home.  I would bring in the Bee reminders through small elegant touches like the lampshade, on the glassware or a decorative bee skep.  To me, the bees are rather subtle reminders in this particular style instead of the main design feature.  A French Country or Provencal theme can be a very beautiful way to remind yourself of the nine Be's to govern your life by.

Stay tuned until next Sunday

for my next design idea for  you!

Au revoir!

Need something catchy for this new series...

A few months ago I taught a class of women at my church about creating a Christ centered home.  One of the things I thought about from that lesson was how we choose to decorate our homes.  Do we decorate them so that our children know what we believe?  Are there subtle / sneaky / subliminal {or not so sneaky} reminders throughout our homes so that our families "do not doubt what we know"? 

A few years ago I started coming up with ideas to decorate around gospel centered themes or scriptures.  It all started with the following scripture. . .

"Fear not little flock; 

for it is your Father's 

good pleasure to 

give you the kingdom". 

~Luke 12:32

And a nursery idea was born!

I love the imagery this scripture gives me, and that we are called his little flock.  So the theme I came up with was a darling little nursery decorated in creamy pinks and greens with sheep accessories and pictures of  The Good Shepherd on the wall.  It seems like such a comforting theme for a baby.

So each Sunday I will post one of my idea boards for you until I run out of ideas.  Now I just need a catchy series name.  So help a girl out and give me some ideas!   Ready...set...and GO!

My home away from home!

In my last post you could see a tiny bit of the room I stayed in.

So today I thought I would show you

where I stayed while I was gone.

I loved our room!

It was so totally my style!

I loved the simple chocolate, white and 

creamy yellow color scheme

with its hip and graphic 

trellis wallpapered wall and 

white drum shades.

A beautiful little sitting area

and a small kitchenette finished off the space.

It was a nice place to come home to every night!

My Dream Spa

When I was in junior high I wanted to own my own health and fitness spa in the hills of Northern California.  I imagined it nestled among peaceful green rolling hills.

Now I just want to go to one.  Like the Hotel Royal in France.  In fact, I would say it is my dream destination spa.  I have been dreaming about it ever since I saw it in Architectural Digest years ago.  It was committed to memory and every time I thought about my own spa, I decorated it like that one.

Like a cool glass of water! 

Speaking of water,

did I mention it is nestled
near the lake and mountains
in Evian, France?

Yes, where Evian water comes from!

See?  With my love affair with water,

could this place not be anywhere more perfect for me???

It's heavenly!

Like a breath of fresh air!

Oh those soaring cathedral ceilings!

The only change I made in my head

was to treat the ceiling with gorgeous clouds.

Someday I will go there.
Mark my words!

Easter Preparations Underway

I've been busy as a bee getting things ready for Easter.

Planning my Easter table:

In years past I have set  "Sea of Galilee" and "Easter Island"  tablescapes with my leafy platters, seashell chargers and creamy white dishes.  I will probably be doing another version along those lines again.  I hope to post pictures of that on Sunday!

Planning our church clothes:

The girls will be wearing white and blue ensembles this year.  I bought a new ribbon and flower to add to my white lace dress.  My daughter will be wearing a pale blue skirt and a gorgeous new white top.

The boys in the family will be looking handsome in their white shirts and new coordinating ties!

Preparing for the Easter Egg Hunt:

We have been filling 20 dozen extra Easter eggs for the neighborhood Easter egg hunt to be sure that there will be enough eggs for everyone.  Sometimes we get kids who show up and have forgotten to donate a bunch of eggs to the cause.  We want all the children to be able to get some eggs. 

Hot Chocolate Peeps at the Ready:

It's not the healthiest of our traditions, but it's a fun one we enjoy for breakfast one day each year.

Setting the mood:

I have had this version of Beautiful Savior by Becky Williams practically on constant repeat all week long.  It is the most beautiful version I have ever heard!  Such an angelic voice and I love the instrumentals along with it.  I tried to find a YouTube version of it for you, but alas I could not find one.  So trust me when I say your .99 cent iTunes download will be well worth it!  You need this song!

 via Dear Lillie

I have also downloaded this beautiful  "He Has Risen" graphic from the ever lovely Dear Lillie to frame.   She has provided it in various colors for you to choose from.  Definitely go check her out!

How are you preparing for the Easter holiday?

Inspiration Pieces

My husband is very traditional in how he likes to decorate.  And masculine.  You know, dark woods, leather and traditional fabrics.

Me?  Well, I go for a more relaxed vibe.  I'm thinking of taking the main living area towards a British Colonial type of look because it would marry his traditional aesthetic with my more casual, beachy love.  I think it would marry both of them quite well.

Here is some of my design aesthetic:

This is one of my favorite places on the planet!

This stop along the Road to Hana in Maui

is absolutely breathtaking!

It mesmerizes me every time I go!

I could spend hours just sitting here watching 

the water crash against the dark black rocks!

And the blues of the ocean out there?

Amazing!

And so incredibly beautiful and varied!

Just look at all the different shades of blue!

I want to bring in pops of blue into the color scheme I think.

Green is my favorite color.

I collect green leafy platters and bowls.

I love paintings from the 1500-1600's.

Especially these paintings of colonial Brazil.

Brazil is special to both my husband and I.

We both lived there for a while.

It's where we met.

We lived in a region of Brazil that could be compared

to the deep South of the U.S.

I should have bought these benches

from NapaStyle a few years ago when I saw them.

They make my  heart skip a beat

~ even still today!

via NapaStyle a few years ago

I love large statement pieces

like this great statement art:

I've had this image in my inspiration file for years ~ not sure where I got it anymore!

Or this simple statement artwork

(that lamp over the table is kind of fun too!}

via Pure Style Home ~ she shares my love for lime!

So those are some of the kinds of things I hope to go over with my friend today while we're making plans to update our main living area.  More to come!  Stay tuned!