Since we’ve moved the placement of our bed in the master bedroom {see the old/new floor plans here}, I’m giving the wall of windows new curtain rods and panels.  I’m thinking cozy linen flowing from a chunky black rod hung at ceiling height.  But before I can start on any decorating, I’ve got a few holes to patch.  Few = 17!!!!  Why?  Because the old curtain rods I used were way too short {only a few inches wider than the windows themselves} and hung way too low {only a few inches from the top of the windows}.  Live and learn.  The new furniture arrangement has meant taking down a couple of frames from the walls, too.  One frame previously hung above a chest of drawers on the now bed wall.  Goods news = no more chest of drawers, I got Handy Hubby to purge his stuff and fit it all into our closet.  Then we sold the dresser via Craigslist today.  Bad news = holes above our bed. Nothing a little spackle can’t handle.

Pardon the unmade bed.  My lil’ guys decided to romp around in the pillows while I spackled.  And since it was already 4:00 p.m. by the time I finished removing all the old curtain hardware and sanding/filling the holes, I figured, “What the heck?  We’re closer to bedtime now anyway.”  I’ve yet to hang the custom headboard.  Here’s the window wall in all its pock-marked glory.

That’s just half of the wall.  Yup, I have some touch-up painting to do!  I’ve been perusing thrift, antique and online stores for the perfect mirror to hang between the 2 windows.  I wanted something with an interesting shape.  Up until today, everything I’d found was way too pricey.  I managed to squeeze in a quick trip to one of my favorite outlets {Ballard Designs} this morning and found just what I was looking for. Not only was it marked down just because it was an outlet piece, but all wall decor was an extra 30% off!  Sweet.

I love the geometric shape and the way the dark metal frame contrasts with the lighter capiz tiles. I’m itching to get it up on the wall, but in the meantime I’ll be waiting for my spackle to dry, sanding, re-spackling, waiting some more, re-sanding and painting.  Pretty monotonous stuff.  Looks like I’ll have a dusty bedroom for another few days.

images: all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

A kind House*Tweaking reader, Lisa, emailed me a few weeks ago about her sunroom.  Here are some pictures she attached in her email…

Lisa’s sunroom is located right off her kitchen and opens up into the backyard.  It serves as a dining room, craft area and somewhat of a mudroom.  {The hutch holds art and office supplies.}  Lisa had already decided to paint over the bright yellow walls with Valspar’s {Lowe’s} Bonsai.  She also knew the honey stain of the dining table wasn’t working and that it would look more polished in a darker, richer stain. To provide more seating and allow for better traffic flow, Lisa plans to build a corner bench seat in the left-hand corner of the first picture above.  Lisa asked for advice on how to incorporate her favorite color, turquoise, into the room along with her kids’ artwork and a bird or branch or two…she loves birds and branches.  Like anyone, she was on a budget and looking to tweak her bold sunroom into something a little more clean, simple, and fresh.  Here’s the mood board I came up with for her…

1 – To go along with the Bonsai paint color for the walls, I suggested that Lisa sand, prime and then paint her dining chairs in Sherwin William’s Meander Blue.  This grayed-down turquoise hue will add a pop of color and contrast with the darker stained table {more on that in #8}.

2 – Lisa didn’t specifically mention anything about a light fixture, but pendant lights are a great way to define a dining space.  I chose this IKEA one because of the texture, lighter wood tone and simplicity…and price.  (My sister owns the table lamp version of this light and says it casts pretty designs on her walls/ceiling in evening light.)  This IKEA Böja pendant could be hardwired into the current ceiling light box and then swagged over to the center of the dining table once the table is moved closer to the corner.  Just use a ceiling hook to secure and swag the wire.

3 – I suggested grabbing up a trio of IKEA’s square RIBBA frames in white to showcase Lisa’s kids’ art in style.  (Displays look better when done in 3′s.)  Hung along the wall in the first image above the chair rail and spaced closely, these frames would house artwork that could be changed up quickly and easily whenever Lisa’s heart desires.  Keeping the spacing between the frames tight – no more than 4 inches apart – gives them the feeling of one display versus 3 disconnected frames.

4 – This inexpensive geometric door mat would be a good spot for wiping shoes when placed in front of the doors.

5 – I found this bubble glass bottle/vase and thought it would look darling on the dining table paired with some branches…either real or faux.

6 – The capiz metal branch wall art just might be my favorite thing in this mood board.  I have shown it turned on its side for a more natural effect.  I would hang this on the wall opposite the french doors.  As far as placement, I’d hang it so that when standing by the french doors directly across from where the dining table will be {once bench seating is installed}, the pendant light doesn’t hang directly in front of it…some overlap is good.  That means moving the branch art a little further down the wall towards the kitchen.  Being across from all those doors, this wall art will reflect the light and sparkle.  To save money, Lisa could totally DIY something similar out of real branches and glue little mirrors or crystals to them for the same effect!

7 – I threw in a couple of decorative pillows for the future bench seating.  Guess what?  They’re from Etsy.  See the Moroccan inspired one here and the coffee sack one here.

8 – I agree that sanding down and staining the  yellow-ish table a darker tone would fit better into Lisa’s desired color scheme of gray, white and turquoise.  It would be a lot of work/mess but very much worth it. A walnut stain would go with the hutch but they wouldn’t have to match perfectly. This is just a picture of a table in a color of stain that I think would look nice in Lisa’s sunroom. No need to buy a new table.  The corner bench seating would look nice in white to blend in with the wainscoting and take up less space visually.  For added storage, the bench seating could be open underneath for shoe baskets or the top could be hinged to open up and hide seasonal apparel – coats, hats, gloves, scarves, beach towels, etc.

9 – Finally…the hutch vignette.  Moving the hutch over to the short wall near the kitchen, would balance out the room.  {Remember, the dining table and new bench seating will be in the corner diagonally opposite this wall.}  Say it isn’t so, but the hutch is great the way it is!  {I know.  Who’da thought I’d say don’t paint it?}  The wood tone will lend warmth to the light room.  I would just declutter the top and add some decorative storage boxes in white to disguise messes.  I found these at Target.  I think Lisa could scout out a bird figurine from a thrift store and spray paint it turquoise.  She said she likes birds, so I wanted to incorporate one.  {Even though I’m deathly afraid of them.  Weird?  Yes.}  Lastly, a nice white oval mirror hung horizontally above the hutch would really lighten up that little corner. I told Lisa to look for a mirror in the right size, shape and price range that could be painted white if need be.

So, that’s how I virtually tweaked Lisa’s sunroom.  I’m happy to say that Lisa has painted her room Bonsai and it looks 100% better already!  Not that it was that bad to begin with.  Did you notice those light-drenching doors OR the wood floors OR the wainscoting OR the bead board ceiling? So much potential!  It’s amazing what a little paint, some decluttering and a few accessories can do.  Really.  I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s finished.  Thanks, Lisa, for letting me play with your room!

images: 1 & 2) Lisa’s befores  3) Polyvore collage created by Dana Miller using images linked within

I finally wrapped a few presents today!  Whew.  It’s coming down to the wire here.  I really enjoy wrapping gifts though.  Just like home decor, I try to keep it simple, casual, neutral and budget-friendly.  I picked 3 different rolls of wrapping paper from Target this year: a neutral craft paper with pinstripes, a cream paper with mod taupe polka dots and a sparkly granite.  Each of these prints can transcend a realm of celebrations – not just Christmas.  {There I go again.  I even like my wrapping paper to multitask!}  I busted out my old Stampin’ Up supplies to craft custom name tags. I used a 2″ circle punch to cut my ivory tags, then embossed silver snowflakes onto them for a little glitz. Take a peek.

Instead of traditional curly-Q ribbon, I chose a roll of medium-thickness hemp twine to adorn the gifts.  {I found it at Wal-Mart for super cheap.}  I also finished up a roll of regular {thin} twine that I already had on hand.

A length of hemp rope strung round-and-round vertically is enough to add a special touch.  {Simply tape the free ends at the back of the gift.}  This is especially great for presents that must travel…no worries about smashed/lost bows…the hemp lies flat.

On a small jewelry box, I forwent {is that a word?!} paper all together and embossed an ornament right on top.

For unusually shaped objects, I make it easy and just cover the labels.  It saves paper, extra boxes and, ultimately, trees.  And have you noticed?  Complimentary boxes are hard to come by these days.

{That’s my favorite cleaning solution above.  It’s Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner in Lemon Verbena.  I bought a 6-pack and divvy’ed it up between our school bus drivers, teachers and a few relatives.}  Candles are another hard-to-wrap-without-a-box-item.

Couldn’t you see that dark gray glittery paper being used to wrap a wedding gift, too?  The modern polka dot paper could be great for birthdays, baby showers and Mother’s Day.  And that craft paper would work well for Father’s Day or any manly gift.  In case you’re wondering, I did use these papers to wrap my kids’ gifts too…but Santa breaks out much bolder Christmas-y paper.  It makes the Santa gifts really stand out!

So what about you?  Still have presents to wrap?  Or are you on the ball this year and wrapped all your gifts weeks ago?  Let’s just say I’ll be wrapping while I watch TV tonight.  Happy wrappy!

images:  all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

This is what our kitchen looked like last December…

1 – We emptied out the builder oak cabinets in preparation for sanding, priming and painting.  We removed the cabinet doors and drawers also.

2 – We piled the contents of our cabinets onto and under our dining table and covered it all with a plastic drop cloth.  This made it difficult for us to find what utensils we needed and easier for the kids to find what utensils they wanted to play with.

3 – After a light sanding to scuff up the surface, we taped off the cabinet frames and set to work priming while the kiddos snoozed away.

4 – Several coats of primer and paint later, we placed everything back in the cabinets.  It was another month before the cabinet doors and drawers were finished.

Looking back, I don’t remember the mess or the work much.  What I do remember are those orange-y oak cabinets that I was determined to paint white the day I saw them.  It took us 2 years to get around to doing it.  It’s definitely one of those things we look at and think, “Why didn’t we do this sooner?!”  Eventually, we added new hardware, DIY’d a glass-front cabinet, switched out the laminate countertops for granite, updated our sink and faucet, tiled the backsplash and customized the existing island.  For the full tour as-is, click here.  We’ve yet to find a suitable window treatment, hang industrial pendant lights above the island and install new flooring.

I wanted to share this with you to show you things don’t happen overnight here.  My kitchen has not always looked the way it does now.  Kids, real jobs, time and money constraints, and just plain energy levels usually dictate our project timelines.  And that’s fine.  We don’t have any big deadlines to meet.  So, if you’re thinking of taking on a similar DIY home improvement project, don’t be discouraged.  You may have to live with chaos, clutter and dust for a while but that’s what makes the end result that much sweeter.

Happy home improving!

images:  all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

Sometimes it only takes a few shiny decor items to make a space sparkle for the holidays.  The effect is subtle and easy.

Metallic handprints on velvet stockings, a crystal snowflake reflecting into a mirror, sparkling berry branches in a pot and some glitter garland draped along the stair rail dress up our living room. {There are those elusive stockings!}

I always like to throw in a few shiny bells and balls.  The vintage silver bells in the kitchen window are from Handy Hubby’s childhood collection.  {See more on our mantle here.}  A rippled mercury globe bedazzles the living room coffee table.  These quick and easy additions are great ways to take a room from ho-hum to ho-ho-ho-holiday.  {Sorry.  Couldn’t help myself.}  And they look even better at night under soft, ambient lighting.  How do you make your home glow for the season? White string lights?  Mesmerizing snow globes?  Sugar cookie scented candles?  I’ve been burning my favorite buttercream scented candle every evening for the last week.  Yummy.  Handy Hubby is always disappointed to learn that I’m not actually baking anything.

images:  all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking

The way people live their lives influences the way homes are built and renovated.  In today’s busy world, homeowners and/or renters are often looking for an open floor plan where nearly all of the family’s daily activities can occur.  Most current floor plans include a kitchen that is no longer walled off at the back of the house but that is, instead, adjoined to a family or living room.  Our kitchen is open to the dining area, family room and sunroom.  {No, that’s not my house below.}

{image courtesy of Angus McRitchie via Canadian House & Home}

In the same way, older homes are being ‘modernized’ by removing walls to combine individual rooms into one wide open space.  While an open layout can be easy to live in, it can be difficult to decorate and style. {Believe me, I’ve tried and failed many times!}  So, this week I’d like to share some key points to keep in mind when approaching wide open spaces.  Don’t have an open concept home?  Well, don’t tune out just yet. Even though these ideas are directed towards open living spaces, they’re applicable to nearly all living situations.  In fact, treating a smaller home that contains individual rooms as an open space could actually make it feel larger and flow more smoothly.  Ready?  Here goes.

SELECT A COHESIVE COLOR SCHEME

Obviously, if your kitchen and family room share a wall, you can’t tape off a vertical line between the 2 rooms and paint the kitchen one color and the family room a different color.  Well, I guess you could, but I wouldn’t suggest it.  Basically, you’ve got to look at the walls as if they’re a shell of the space.  Pick a paint color for the majority of, if not all, the walls.  Don’t know what color to choose? Start saving images of rooms that you’re drawn to.  Don’t think about why or how it would/wouldn’t work in your home.  If you like it, tear it out of that magazine or if it’s on the web, save it on your computer in a folder designated as inspiration images.  Give yourself ample time to do this…think months.  Once you’ve got a collection, go through all your images and purge any that aren’t giving you that feeling anymore.  It’s okay to change your mind!  Better now than later. Then select  a few images as your top picks.  Study them as a group.  Are they similar?  What do you like most about them?  What color are the walls painted?  Are the walls neutral with pops of color elsewhere?  Or are the rooms painted in rich, bold colors leaving the furniture mostly neutral?  What about the furniture and accessories?  Are they neutral or colorful?  Write down your observations in a notebook.  Eventually, you should see a pattern develop.  Follow that pattern and use it as your guide to picking a color scheme.  It may seem like a lot of work just to come up with a color scheme to live with but, I’m telling you, it will really help you focus. For fun, here are a few of my inspirational images…

{courtesy of Domino magazine via DecorPad}

{courtesy of Sarah Richardson via DecorPad}

{courtesy of Molly Fey and Michael Pertenio Photography via DecorPad}

Something of significance I’d like to mention here…just because your favorite color is {insert favorite color here} doesn’t mean you should paint your walls that color.  Case in point, I love green.  However, when I put together my inspiration folder, I found I was whole-heartedly drawn to grays and whites with just touches of green in the accessories.  So, my walls are mainly gray.  For my love of green, I tried painting a focal wall in a very lovely green hue {even though NONE of my inspiration pictures had green walls in them} and it was a total flop.  Pick a color scheme and stick with it!  Don’t think you can commit?  Then your best bet is to paint your walls a neutral color and let your fickle color-love shine through in easily replaceable pillows, artwork and accessories.

That’s my first piece of advice when in comes to decorating an open floor plan.  If you don’t live in a home with one open space, it would still help you to throw together an inspiration file, too.  Although you do have more flexibility in painting separate rooms different colors, I would urge you to pick a color scheme for your entire home.  Say you decide on tans and blues.  Maybe paint your kitchen a calm blue and paint your living room a light tan with peeks of that soothing blue in throws, pillows or painted furniture.  For an even subtler effect, pick 2 colors on the same graduated paint swatch for adjoining rooms.  Just make sure they’re separated by at least 1-2 spaces on the swatch or the difference may not be noticeable.

Once you decide on a color scheme {whew!  it’s tough, I know}, it’s all about location…the location of your furniture, that is.  We’ll discuss that tomorrow.  For now, let me know what some of your favorite color combos are or what color scheme you have going on in your own home.  Are you like me and get all woozy just looking at airy gray rooms?  Or do those gray rooms make you feel oppressed and bored?

It’s Feature Friday! On Fridays, I’ll be featuring one room in my house in its current condition even if there are some things I’d like to change about it. If I do happen to improve something later, I can always revisit it when the time comes. Plus, I’d kinda feel dishonest if I only focused on “finished” rooms in my house. And if what they (the professionals) say is true, a room is never really finished anyways…you’re always tweaking it. Concentrating on just one room weekly should give me some time to tidy it up a bit, too.

Well, here we are.  The last Feature Friday…the final room in my house tour.  I feel like it should be some wondrous room with a tremendous WOW! factor but, sadly, it isn’t.  Like my master bedroom, the adjoining master bathroom hasn’t been tweaked yet.  It’s next on the list.  It’s your typical builder bath {pretty much like the original condition of every other room in this house} but it’s a great size and gets lots of natural light.  Take a peek…

Straight ahead is the ‘water closet’, i.e. the tiny room with just a toilet in it.  The door to the toilet room is so coming off the hinges when I get my hands on it!

Oh, yes, I’m an over toilet paper hanger.  But back to the main part of the bathroom.  To the left is our large yet orange double vanity.

Not only is the stain hideous, it’s not consistent!  The doors don’t match the frame and some of the doors/drawers don’t even match each other.  It’s just crying out for some paint and hardware.

And the frameless mirror needs a DIY frame.  The marble countertops aren’t bad.

I like to keep my makeup out on a tray next to my sink.  I’m more apt to put it on when it’s staring me in the face first thing in the morning.  No pics of Handy Hubby’s sink.  I love that man but he keeps a pretty nasty sink.  I’ve learned to ignore it…or just clean it out of disgust.  {Good thing I have my own sink.}  Across from our double vanity is the shower and tub.

Again, nothing special but nothing wrong with them either.  I’m a shower girl.  {Personal hygiene is a tad overrated anyway if you ask me, but that’s a topic for a different blog.}  I think the last time I took a bath was when I was pregnant with Everett {3 years ago}.  The most action that tub sees is when Handy Hubby gives the boys haircuts.  He plops a chair right in the middle of the tub and trims ‘em up.

Handy Hubby and I would prefer to get rid of the tub and have one large, double-headed shower but who knows if/when that will ever happen.  We should probably add some type of window treatment to the window above the tub but, really, I don’t think anyone can see in due to the angle.  And if they can see in {neighbors!…why haven’t you told me?!}, well, the damage is already done so why change now?  Maybe just a decorative versus functional window treatment is in order.  I’d also like to DIY a shower curtain of sorts between the shower and tub, find a new rug{s} and add artwork and accessories…all on a budget, of course.  Sounds like a good winter project, doesn’t it?

And so ends my house tour.  For now.  My home is forever changing and I still have loads of ideas whirling around in this overactive brain of mine.  I hope you’ll hang around and see what else happens around here.

I don’t buy magazines on a regular basis although I do receive monthly glossies from BHG and House Beautiful {they’re gift subscriptions}.  However, on a recent vacation I picked up the current issue of DIY Magazine for the drive.  And I was not disappointed.

The particular article that grabbed my attention was “Keeping It Real” about a family who completely renovated their ranch style home in California with green design in mind.

Maybe it’s because they have 2 boys and we have 2 boys.  Maybe it’s because they used a mostly neutral palette with pops of color.  But, honestly, I think it’s their style.  Lots of modern pieces and prints mixed with rustic woods and stone.  Whatever it is, I’m in awe.

Take this entry nook, for example.  The matte concrete bench and wall are a simple yet pleasing backdrop for the geometric print pillows and shiny green vase.  {Green and gray are my favorite colors, you know.}  The wood floors add some warmth and contrast.  The woven storage baskets beneath the bench are practical but also contribute their own rustic texture.  I’m telling you, I could sit on that bench all day…even if it is hard on the buns.  And then there’s the family room.  Oh my. The family room…

If you ask me, this is the perfect balance of old and new.  The see-through built-in fireplace is modern and sleek while the wood beam mantle is casual and worn.  The midcentury modern-ish chairs look vibrant upholstered in orange and topped with more geometric print pillows.  {I could write an entire post on geometric print pillows.}  Are you picking up on the details of the room to see why it works?  OLD + MODERN = INTERESTING.  I want to point out that sliding door, too. {Notice the green arrow.}  What a great idea for dividing up an open floor plan when desired! Again, I reiterate…OLD {salvaged wood} + MODERN {metal hardware} = INTERESTING {interior barn door}.  Are you catching on?

The open dining area boasts an industrial metal and wood table flanked by 2 weathered benches. The recessed wall {painted a contrasting color} makes the perfect spot for a buffet.

Someday my kids are sure to want a cool ‘boys only’ hangout.  I can only hope it will be as fun as this one.  Straight-lined furniture pairs well with graphic and colorful walls.  Those beams aren’t too shabby either.

The master bedroom seals the deal.  I’ve always wanted a focal wall behind our bed.  This grasscloth covered wall makes the room by adding texture, focus and an element of nature.  I’m on board with the organized closet and fabric ‘doors’, too.  Having everything readily available would be convenient, and if you keep it tidy, it’s pretty nice to look at.  Why not?  I’m stealing this idea.

So, that’s what I’ve been eyeing the last few weeks.  This home speaks volumes to me.  The style, the organization, the clean look, the open feel, the natural elements, the pops of green, the contrasting materials, the simplicity, the rustic touches…I could go on and on.  But I won’t.

A regular H*T reader contacted me after seeing the mood board I put together for Scott and Robyn’s basement.  Michelle was wanting help with an inexpensive bedroom makeover.  And being that I like to pretend I’m an interior designer, I happily accepted Michelle’s request.  Currently, her bedroom looks like this…

It’s not a bad room to begin with at all.  Did you notice the floors?  And that upholstered headboard was a DIY project that Michelle and her husband completed together.  Michelle was wanting ideas for paint color, bedding, window treatments {well, door treatments I guess} and accessories.  After seeing my fandelier, she also wanted to incorporate the World Market pendant light into her room. Michelle asked that all the furniture stay {a bookcase also resides in her bedroom but is not shown above} but said that the sewing table and/or bookcase could be painted.  She was also looking to make the sewing table into more of a desk instead of a stand-alone piece.  After reviewing several pics of inspiration rooms that Michelle sent my way, I gathered that she was leaning towards a light, mostly neutral palette with a soothing feel.  In her original email to me, I also learned that Michelle likes a mix of crisp white and contrasting mocha with hints of green.  Taking all of that into consideration, this is what I came up with for Michelle’s budget-friendly room makeover…

I’m suggesting that Michelle paint her walls Dolphin Fin {by Behr, Home Depot}.  It’s a slightly tan-y gray.

Here’s a living room painted in Dolphin Fin so you get the idea…

{image courtesy of Alaina Kaczmarski}

For a fresh fix, clean white bedding {you can find it just about anywhere!} will instantly lighten all the dark furniture.  I found a few geometric print pillows along with a leafy green lumbar pillow to add interest.  The good news is they’re on sale for less than $13 each!  A white round mirror above the headboard will add in some curves.  {Frugal hint:  find any round mirror at Goodwill and spray paint it white.}  Spray painting the bedside lamps’ bases white will help to lighten things up, too.  The World Market chandelier is going to be the WOW! in this bedroom.  A furry sheepskin rug alongside the bed will add texture.  To keep all the furniture from looking the same, I suggested that Michelle paint her sewing desk green {similar to the one shown here} and her bookcase white.  Sliding up a white chair and hanging a DIY linen pinboard {like this} will further help the sewing table to act as a desk.  Those vertical blinds on the patio sliders have got to go!  I can’t wait to see how large and bright those sliding doors look when topped with a dark {either black or rubbed bronze} curtain rod and long, flowing white curtains.  Opening up that wall by hanging the window treatments high and wide around the patio doors will really have a huuuuuge impact.  {That’s one before-and-after I can’t wait to see!}  Finally, accessorizing with woven baskets, white ceramics and greenery {I had to throw in an orchid} will really bring some ease and life to the bedroom.  I dig these Jonathan Alder birds but really any cutesy piece found at Goodwill could be spray painted white for the same effect.

So, that’s how I would tweak Michelle’s bedroom without breaking the bank.  I was happy to hear that Michelle is excited about her mood board and actually has many of the items I suggested {rug, baskets, plants, white pots, etc} in her home already.  We must be on the same wavelength.  I know she isn’t in a hurry to tackle her bedroom makeover head-on, but when she does do it I sure hope she shares some pictures!  Pretty please, Michelle?

It’s Feature Friday! On Fridays, I’ll be featuring one room in my house in its current condition even if there are some things I’d like to change about it. If I do happen to improve something later, I can always revisit it when the time comes. Plus, I’d kinda feel dishonest if I only focused on “finished” rooms in my house. And if what they (the professionals) say is true, a room is never really finished anyways…you’re always tweaking it. Concentrating on just one room weekly should give me some time to tidy it up a bit, too.

There are only 2 more rooms in my house that we have left to tour:  the master bedroom and master bathroom.  And there’s a reason why I’ve been putting them off.  They’re the only rooms I haven’t tweaked since we moved here nearly 3 years ago.  I know, I know.  Your bedroom is supposed to be your sanctuary, the first room you make yours.  Well, I’m doing it all backwards.  But I am doing it.  So, until my bedroom is ‘finished’, you’ll have to settle for these lame pics.

BEFORE {via Rate My Space}

IN PROGRESS…

Notice the green arrow.  It hints at some accessories to be incorporated into the makeover.  Yep, I’m goin’ gray and mustard.  And there’s a reason why the bed is dismantled.  The wrought iron bed frame is a little too feminine for our taste but we’ve slept with it for 8 years.  Also, when we bought our first mattress, we thought we liked soft mattresses.  In fact, we do NOT like soft mattresses.  But we lived with that, too, until we just absolutely hated getting out of bed with aching necks and backs.  So, yes, we bit the bullet and bought a new bed and mattress.  {Luckily, we found someone in the family who liked the bed frame and soft mattress so we were able to keep them out of the landfill.}  The makeover will also include a new furniture layout, an accent wall, DIY wall art and my take on IKEA’s BILLY bookcase as a cheap storage option.  And you’ve already seen the fandelier…

I can’t wait to finish and show you the results.  Next week will be the last Feature Friday {my master bathroom} and will conclude my as-is house tour.  Don’t worry, though.  I’ve still got lots of budget-friendly ideas for all the rooms in my home.  Keep watching!