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.

I shared the process of decorating my boys’ shared room a few months back but here is the ‘official’ tour with bigger and better pics.

I painted the navy circles and hung store-bought letters in the center {after I spray painted them green} to personalize the space.

The bedding is from IKEA {duvet & pillow case} and Home Goods {geometric print lumbar pillow}.

The adjacent wall is a collection of license plates we’ve had over the years…including hand-me-downs from family members.  They’re in theme with the ‘car room’ the boys wanted without being too theme-y.

Across from the beds is a Craigslist metal credenza that I spray painted yellow.

The credenza serves as a cool garage for the boys’ CAT machines…an ode to Handy Hubby.

I Mod Podged car, truck and tractor pages torn from books onto stretched canvases to keep artwork cheap.

We hang the kids’ art here, too.

A cozy and kid-friendly vinyl chair is the perfect spot for bedtime stories.  The road signs hail from Handy Hubby’s college dorm decor.

I couldn’t find the exact curtains I wanted at a reasonable price, so instead I sewed 2 panels out of canvas dropcloth and painted stripes onto them.

And to keep my boys safe at night, there is a knight standing guard by the door.  It was their Pap-Pap’s and I spray painted him {the knight not Pap-Pap} acid green.  Layne has lovingly named him ‘Fred’.

So, there you have it…that’s where I tuck my kids in at night.  We’re still in the trial-and-error stages of letting our younger son {2 years old} sleep in his big boy bed in the shared room.  For now, we just kinda play it by ear every night.  If he’s super slap happy {and bothering his sleepy brother}, we happily return him to his crib in the nursery.

Sweet dreams and happy weekend!

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.

We’re fortunate enough to have an extra bedroom that serves triple duty:  guest bedroom, craft room and playroom.  It’s a little more playful than the rest of our house.  Take a peek! 

The bed frame was actually Handy Hubby’s in college and was wood veneer in pretty bad shape.  I sanded it down, primed and painted it.  The bed linens are simple white with cheerful, geometric pillows.

The frame above the bed was actually supposed to be a mirror but it arrived shattered.  In a bit of luck, the sender let me keep the empty frame because it was going to be more expensive for them to ship back and repair than sell…2 for the price of 1!  It’s the same frame/mirror as in our living room – only I painted the living room one black and this one white.

I found a pair of metallic gold sunburst plaques at Goodwill for $4.  I spray painted them white and leaned each in a windowsill.

Right next to the bed is a long, narrow table where I sew and do other crafty things…although not nearly as much as I’d like.  I found the lamp at a thrift store and the fabric storage boxes came from JoAnn’s on clearance.  The scroll wall pieces are from local antique malls.  I painted them white…surprise!

There is one large blank wall across from the guest bed.  Someday, I hope to add family photos.  The closet is my craft closet.  See how I organized it here.  Yep, it’s still organized!

A small vignette by the door holds special meaning.  The dresser is a family hand-me-down, the baby shoe is mine and the framed quilt was my great-grandmother’s.

Finally, the play area includes a hand painted train table, a reading spot and a bookcase for toys.

Here’s my little playmate now…sans pants…

So if you ever want to come sleep, sew or play (without your pants on) at my house, you can do it all within the confines of this room.

FYI – A huuuuuge ‘thank you’ to my mom who let me borrow her computer for this week’s posts…including today’s Feature Friday. 

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.  At least, I can throw all the toys into another room!

If you’re an avid reader of H*T, you’ve probably noticed the absence of my kitchen from the downstairs part of my house tour.  Well, that’s because it’s been in disarray for the last few weeks but I’m happy to share it with you today!  For fun, let’s see what my builder grade spec kitchen looked like before we tackled any DIY upgrades.

And here it is now after painting the cabinets, upgrading countertops, installing a new sink/faucet/backsplash and extending the island.

Pretty different, huh?  In total, the renovations cost us roughly $3,400.  We saved money by waiting to buy all purchases until we were able to pay full in cash.  Which is why it’s taken almost a year to get thus far.  In most cases, on large purchases you can get quite a deal offering to pay cash.  We saved 10% on our granite countertops…complete with installation of the sink and faucet.  It feels really good knowing that we haven’t put ourselves into financial jeopardy during the process of making our kitchen ours.

We replaced our builder sink and faucet with a Kraus undermount sink (9″ deep!) and chrome faucet-and-sprayer in one.  Both were purchased from Overstock.  We added IKEA hardware to the cabinets and drawers.

After a lot of thought, we decided to only do a 6″ backsplash along the window wall because 1) it may have looked strange just going up a few inches on either side of the window 2) it was cheaper than going all the way to the upper cabinets 3) we found inexpensive pewter tile to make a unique mod border that complements the cabinet hardware.  All tiling supplies came from Home Depot.

I stole a very ingenious idea from some friends of ours who thought of hanging their kitchen towels from rings attached to their upper cabinets.  (Thanks Jeff & Erin!)

Still need something for the window but nothing has jumped out to grab my attention yet so I’m holding off.

Handy Hubby DIY’d our glass front cabinet and I painted the interior gray with contrasting lime shelves for a pop of color.

The oven and refrigerator wall got tiled to the cabinets.  I love the subtle geometric pattern and concrete-like texture of the backsplash.  It’s a great contrast to the shiny black counters.

And then there’s the island.  Oh, how I love that little island.  It’s rustic and modern and warm and crisp all wrapped into one.  To see how we DIY’d it, check here.

As strong as the urge was to go out and buy a bunch of new stuff to display on the open shelves, I filled them with bowls, baskets and cookbooks that we already had on hand.  Another unnecessary shopping spree thwarted.  Go me.

I even clipped a pair of blooms from my hydrangea bush and plopped them atop my scalloped cake plate to make a quick, FREE centerpiece for the island.  I’m a little giddy over the fact that I’ve managed to keep that sucker alive long enough to enjoy clippings.

Our kitchen is open to the dining area.  (We have no dining room).

The capiz chandelier helps to ‘dress up’ the kitchen and its utilitarianism.

And here’s how our kitchen fits into the bigger picture…

This is my “workin’ with whatcha got” kitchen.  I still have some tweaks (window treatment, new flooring, creative way to hide my dishwasher, pendants above the island, etc) in mind but those will come all in good time when we can afford them and are willing to put in the time and effort to DIY them.  For now, Handy Hubby and I are enjoying everything we’ve created and accomplished in this room…and it tastes good.

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.  At least, I can throw all the toys into another room!

This week we’re touring the nursery because 1) I haven’t shared many pics of it and 2) it may not be a nursery much longer.  (Hint, hint, Handy Hubby.)  As far as nurseries go, it’s a pretty simple one.  The baby rooms I see nowadays are ubercool.  As was our decision, we didn’t find out the sex of our babies before they were born.  (Although, I had a very strong inkling they were both boys.)  Our nursery reflects that and is gender neutral.  The nursery you see today is the same one we used with our elder son, too, 5 years ago…albeit in a different house. 

We decided on a calm room that encourages sleep.  I don’t know if it’s the room or our parenting skills OR just plain ol’ luck but both of our children are excellent sleepers who usually enjoy going to bed.

We got the crib online from Target and the cradle in the left-hand corner was actually my cradle as a baby.  We used it in our bedroom when Everett was a newborn.  Now, it’s a great place for extra blankets and stuffed animals.

I put a few IKEA fabric bins beneath the crib for added storage…books, out-of-season clothing and small toys.  Under the crib and behind the bins is one of the boys’ favorite hiding spots.

We sealed an unfinished IKEA dresser then slapped a changing pad on top to make a changing station that can grow with us when diapers are no longer a daily part of life.  (Ahh, that’ll be the day.)  The drawers hold wipes, diapers, butt cream and pajamas.

This is the wall opposite the crib.  I can’t tell you how many nursing sessions and bedtimes stories that chair has seen.  A lot.  I’m surprised it doesn’t smell like foul spit-up.

I painted the wall art after scoring a good deal on a canvas from JoAnn Fabrics.  Next to the chair is a large dresser.

The top of the dresser holds mementos and family keepsakes: a piggybank that was a gift from a neighbor, a sheep music box that was Handy Hubby’s as a child, Everett’s cast from when he broke his leg last fall (hey, the doctor asked if I wanted to keep it!), Everett’s newborn footprints, framed art from my sister-in-law, a starfish from Everett’s Grammy and a personalized wooden block that was a gift from a good friend’s parents.

Some details…

The baby quilt is from my childhood.  I have pictures of me spending tummy-time on it.

Just inside the door to the room are hooks for sleep sacks…a winter must here in the Midwest if you have a baby.  We do…

That baby blanket was mine as an infant also.  Since this room faces east, it gets drenched in sunlight early in the morning.  Blackout drapery liners are another must here.  In broad daylight, I can make the room nap-able.  Thank goodness.

So, that’s our basic nursery with a few meaningful pieces thrown in.  My favorite being the 2-year-old in the crib.  I should disclose that Everett has slept in his big boy bed (in the shared room with his big brother) a half-dozen times.  He’s good at it…once he falls asleep.  He just gets soooo excited to be in the same room with Layne that he giggles for hours.  Handy Hubby and I crack up outside their door on the nights they share a room.  But both boys wake up grumpy and groggy the next day after laughing late into the night.  For now, we’re just playing it by ear and letting them have ‘sleepovers’ together when they ask.  Often times, they just want their separate space after a long, exhausting summer day.  And I’m not forcing the issue.  I’m not quite ready for an empty nursery.

My good friend, Robyn, and her hubby, Scott, are finishing their basement.  Robyn asked me for some input on furniture pieces and colors for the new space.  Don’t let her fool you…she’s an amazing decorator herself.  But since I like to pretend I’m an interior designer, I put together a little mood board for her.

I broke the basement into zones: 1) an eat-in kitchen 2) a TV area 3) a sitting area 4) a kids’ play area.

1) A mocha pub dining table would contrast with white chairs while a round jute/seagrass rug and circular mirror soften all the hard lines of the basement.

2) A few green and navy pillows in fun geometric patterns would add interest to a comfy, khaki sectional.  Large number art (possibly DIY art that celebrates Robyn and Scott’s anniversary date?) above the couch would anchor the couch and hide a fuse box on the wall.  A modern mobile could fill the empty area above a tricky corner that houses a sump pump.  A flat screen TV hung above/set upon a streamlined console makes this space perfect for family movies.

3) A small reading area off of the TV room could house a pair of slipcovered chairs angled in towards each other.  Two seagrass ottomans could be stacked on top of each other to mimic a coffee table.  Just add a green tray!  The dark ladder shelf would add some contrast, height and storage.

4) Last, but not least, we can’t forget the kiddos!  A large bookcase placed against one wall and stuffed with baskets, bins and toys would keep the little ones occupied.

All the white, mocha, khaki, navy and green would be set against a taupey greige backdrop…possibly Benjamin Moore’s Coastal Fog?

Makes me want to finish our basement!  All in good time.

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.  At least, I can throw all the toys into another room!

This week’s feature room is my pantry.  For a ‘room’, it’s small; for a pantry, it’s big.  At least, to me.  It’s right off the dining area and can be entered through this chalkboard door that I painted here.

Somehow, it’s turned into our “I’m Thankful For…” door.  On a whim, we scribble down things that we’re especially thankful for.  It’s nice.  Sometimes I forget it’s there and guests will giggle under their breath at the dining table.  Usually it’s because of something they’ve read on our pantry door – or maybe it’s my cooking? 

This is what lies beyond the door…

The wall to the left holds food items.  I have them separated into baskets by genre per say.

I also added a detachable wire shelf to the bottom that holds diapers, wipes and such.  No more running upstairs to grab a diaper while a naked toddler awaits downstairs.

The back wall of the pantry houses everything from potatoes to batteries to the kids’ crayons.  A few empty baskets await any new items in need of a home.

A round metal tub keeps an overstock of toilet paper and paper towels ready for quick dispensing.

Another shelf added to the bottom stores paper and plastic bags.

The right-hand wall of the pantry is used for hanging items such as a master calendar, reusable shopping bags, aprons, and a broom.

We also park our vacuum and the kids’ large dry erase board against this wall.

This teeny room packs big function and allows our kitchen cabinets to remain relatively food-free (except for some spices, oils and baking supplies located closer to the oven).  Since we open and close the pantry door at least 4,288 times a day, we decided to paint the pantry walls the same color as the dining area to keep things cohesive.  I’m glad we did because if either of our boys get in there, it’s a good bet the door will be left open.

Next week, you’ll find out what’s on the other side of the pantry.  Wanna hint?  It’s another small room.

I received a new lunch bag for Mother’s Day this year and it included fabric sandwich baggies constructed of organic linen. 

After using them a few times (and loving ‘em!), I realized we could probably cut back on our plastic Ziploc baggy use by throwing a couple of these bad boys into our bad boys’ packed lunches.  I searched Etsy for some possibilities – and, my-oh-my, were there possibilites.  I settled on these cute-sy kid ones…

 

 

 

I told ya they were cute.  (And that baby is sweet, too, isn’t he?)  They are the Bebeloosh Mini’s handcrafted by Elena Berlo right here in the good ol’ USA.  I bought 4 bags for $25.  Each bag measures 7.5″ x 7.5″ and is made from recycled hemp and organic cotton.  They’re reusable and when they start looking a little crumby just throw ‘em in the wash then line dry.  I absolutely adore them for sandwiches, crackers, pretzels and other kiddie sides.  Of course, we still use the occasional Ziploc baggy for juicer items like fresh cut fruit but I expect these Bebeloosh Mini bags to be a part of our packed lunches for years to come.  Thanks, Elena!

 

All photos courtesy of their relative Etsy sellers.

I’ve gotten a lot of feedback on the boys’ shared bedroom that I revealed last week.  Namely the “L” and “E” wall monograms.  Today I’m letting you in on how easy (and cheap!) these personalized monograms were to DIY.

What to have on hand:

*level

*tape measure

*pencil                                               

*push pin    

*hammer

*string

*flat paint in color of choice (mine was Lowe’s Valspar Fly-by-Night Blue)                      

*2″ or smaller angled paint brush                                                              

*dry wall anchors and screws

*screwdriver                                                                                                                

*wall letter of choice (got my L & E from Hobby Lobby for $4 each on clearance and spray painted ‘em green)

First, I marked out where I wanted the center of my circle to be on the wall above the bed using the tape measure, level and pencil.  At that mark, I gently hammered a push pin into the wall.  **I recommend using a push pin to mark your center because it leaves such a small hole you won’t have to putty or repaint.**

I tied one end of my string to the push pin and the other end to a fabric paint brush (you could easily use a pencil instead) at the length I wanted my radius to measure.  For example, the circles I made are 24″ in diameter meaning they have a 12″ radius…the length of my string from push pin to tiny paint brush was 12″.

As I said, a pencil would suffice but I chose to use a fabric brush and dipped it in my paint to trace out a circle.  A word of caution…try to hold your pencil/brush at a 90 degree angle to the wall at all times!  Otherwise your starting and stopping points won’t align correctly.  This is what my circle looked like after I drew an outline with one large sweeping motion.

The rest was easy.  I removed my push pin and string then painted inside the outline with a 2″ angled brush.  Here it is after 1 coat…

…and 2 coats (still a little wet)…

After the paint dried, I hung the letters centered up within each circle using drywall anchors, screws and a screwdriver.  I don’t want a sleeping somebody getting bonked in the head from a fallen letter!  The final monogram…

A little advice if this is something you’re wanting to take on:  Paint the circle in flat paint.  Glossy paints can give the look of a sticker or decal.  Instead, paint your letter in a glossy finish to give the monogram more dimension and depth.  Also, choose contrasting paint colors so the letter really stands out from the circle.  Contrast makes a dramatic effect.

So, that’s how I added a little personalization to Layne and Everett’s bedroom for cheap.  (I used leftover paint from the dropcloth curtains to make my circles, 2 metallic gold letters were $8 and the green spray paint for the letters was $4…that’s 2 monograms for $12, peeps.)  I’m pretty infatuated with all things typography.  Some smart alecky people (ahem, Jimbo) think it’s funny to ask me if I had to label my boys’ beds so they’d know where to sleep every night.  That wasn’t my intention but it should help to settle some brotherly fights that are bound to occur!

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.  At least, I can throw all the toys into another room!  So, without further ado, let’s tour my sunroom.

Last week we ventured to the back of my house into the main living space and visited my family room.  Just beyond the family room is our sunroom which juts out into the backyard.  We prefer to call it our sunroom versus our morning room (which is what most builders name this type of room).  Why?  With 5 windows and a set of sliding patio doors, this room is flooded with natural light even on the cloudiest of days.  Plus, we don’t usually spend mornings here.  In fact, somehow this room draws us (and guests) into it in the evening time.  Maybe it’s because it faces west and we’ve seen more than one awe inspiring sunset beyond our backyard trees.  Whatever the reason, this room keeps us in touch with nature – one of my all time favorite inspirations.  We’ve been known to watch snow fall, rain pour, lightning strike and breezy winds tousle our trees from the confines of this sitting room.  One of my favorite memories of this room is comforting my lil’ guy, Everett, as he cuddled against me during a storm.  He was “skeered” of the “funder.”  To keep the focus on Mother Nature, I went easy on the decor. 

Here’s the view from our family room

The view from our kitchen

An overhead shot.  For furniture placement, I took inspiration from a room I saw in a magazine that had 4 rounded chairs all facing a table in the center of a square room.  The layout allows for easy conversation.  To keep the chairs from “floating” too much, I laid down a sisal rug from Natural Area Rugs.

This room is pretty much all IKEA:  the chairs, the table, the basket and the floor-to-ceiling curtains.  Many people with children are afraid of white furniture…for fear it will show dirt and stains easily.  But these slipcovered chairs clean up nicely in the wash.  (My sister even spilled the contents of a burrito on one and it didn’t stain!)  Plus, the fabric has a denim quality to it that makes it easy to spot clean if need be.  I added a few cushy pillows in a green leaf print from Etsy and a khaki leaf pillow and knobby green throw from Kmart.  The “Keep Calm and Carry On” print is from Etsy also.  The fake flowers (everyone asks if they’re real) are from Wal-Mart.

Even though we absolutely looooove looking out all those windows, it was necessary to add window treatments to block the hot summer sun that pounds down after 4:00pm.  (Not a great scenario when you’re trying to eat dinner in the adjacent dining area.)  I wanted something that would open and close easily.  Roman-esque shades were our answer.  I bought the inside mounted shades from JCPenney (got them on clearance for $20 each!). 

I added custom fabric and trim to the velcroed (is that a word?!) valances…

…then made ribbons from the same fabric and stitched ’em onto the shades so that they run vertically.  I was wanting some contrast against the all white room plus I thought it made the window treatments look less boring.

Here are the shades drawn shut…

…and half shut.

I had a round table in mind for the sunroom but the $8 price tag on this IKEA one was too cheap to pass up.  I change the tablescape easily on a whim when the seasons turn.

The basket below holds Lincoln Logs and a remote control car.  Betcha never woulda guessed that!

To soften up the room a bit, I added flowing curtains to either side of the patio slider.  I hung 2 panels on each side to achieve a fuller effect.

A few “for fun” images…

So ends my sunroom tour.  Swing by next Friday for a peek at my dining area.  Yup, that’s right.  I said area not room.