One Room Challenge: Fall 2015 ~ Week 6

 

 

The big day is finally here. Reveal Day! I always enjoy participating in the ORC, and now have completed five rooms because of this challenge. This time I decorated my master bedroom. I was so happy with how it turn out, and it is so nice to have a completed room. Get ready for alot of pictures...

 

 

The roman shades above the window seat look so much better after the addition of a ribbon trim. Unfortunately, the cushion for the seat didn't get completed in time, but it will be here soon. Can't wait to curl up with a book and a cup of tea and gaze out the window while sitting in this cozy spot.

 

I am so happy with how the art above our dresser turned out.

I purchased these book pages from ebay, and I love the flower drawings.  It needed a little something extra, so I took gold paper clips and slipped them onto all four corners of the pages.

After using double sided tape to hold the fabric backing and the pages in place, I used an inexpensive poster frame to complete the look.

And the best part of the room is the rug. I purchased this rug following my tips to buy a rug on ebay, and was so happy with the way it looked when it arrived. It adds just the right amount of color.

I have wanted a pillow like this for my bed for awhile now, and I finally made one using a curtain I bought years ago. I never ended up using it for my original purchase, but the pattern of the fabric looks perfect in this bedroom.

Be sure to check out the other guest participants in the One Room Challenge.

 

 



One Room Challenge: Fall 2015 ~ Week 5

 

 

And we are in the home stretch, Week 5 of the One Room Challenge is here. 

 

I have a few projects I need to finish up, but for the most part, I am almost done with this room. Normally, I am in panic mode right about this time. In a way, though this has been one of the calmest rooms, I have done. I think the secret was I started out with a good plan and I haven't really wavered from it.

 

I can't wait for the big reveal next week, but in the meantime, here are a few sneak peeks.

 

 

Be sure to stop back next week to see the finished room.

 

Check out the other One Room Challenge Guest Participants over at Calling It Home.



One Room Challenge: Fall 2015 ~ Week 4

Week Four is here! I really feel like I need to put a Under Construction sign on my bedroom door. I am gotten bits and pieces done this week in the bedroom, but things are definitely a long way from being complete.

I put ribbon trim on my roman shades. I didn't want to take the shades down off the windows, (because...well...I am lazy) and the glue I tried to use would not hold long enough to adhere in the vertical position. So I did what any child of the 80's would do, especially one who has long time experience adhering ribbon to DIY decorated sweatshirts along with adding some designs drawn with puffy paint and a little blink with the bedazzler. I broke out the glue gun, and it worked like a charm.

I am still trying to decide how I want to put up the botanical pictures I bought.

Should I go the traditional grid pattern ...

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Maybe hang from a picture rail...

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Or do something different. Now I am liking this idea also...

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Decisions Decision...Any opinions out there?

There is still some pillows to make and a few extra accessories to add in. I have been lusting after a pillow like this on my bed for years, and I am finally going to make one.

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Also, I did decide to get the cover for my window seat made by a professional. Time was the big deciding factor. Can't wait for it to arrive next week!

Good thing I still have two more weeks because there is lots to do...

To check out the other One Room Challenge Guest Participants hop on over the Calling It Home. 

One Room Challenge: Fall 2015 ~ Week 3

 

 

Welcome back to my ORC. You can check in to Week 1 and Week 2 to see how far I have come redecorating our bedroom.

 

 

This week was spent shopping. Always a fun thing. My big focus was looking for a rug.  I thought a vintage Persian or Kilm rug would be just the thing to add movement and color to the room. I love how these type of rugs look in a space.

 

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So I turned to my trusty source, Ebay. Finally after about a week of obsessively looking at the listings, and losing out on one rug that I really wanted, I finally got the perfect rug for the room.

 

 

These are my tips to find a vintage rug on Ebay...

 

Avoid using too many keywords in your search. Sellers use all kind of words to describe things. If you get too specific you could miss out on finding an item. I wanted a rug that was mostly blue. I used that keyword at first, but quickly realized that with these types of rugs, there are so many colors, that most sellers were not even putting much of a visual description in their listings.

 

Select categories instead. First I go to the Antiques category and then selected Rugs and Carpets. I could then further narrow it down by picking the category for the size of rug I was looking for. I then reorganized the listings by resetting sort to list the lowest price first...I am looking for a bargain after all.

 

Read the descriptions. Most sellers are fairly detailed and honest when describing the rugs. They will list the condition of the rug and most of the time it's place of origin. Vintage rugs do not come in a standard 5x7, 8x10, etc. so look at the description for exact measurements, or ask the seller if they are not listed.

 

Look at pictures carefully, but don't completely trust them. I did study the pictures to see what condition the rug was in and to see if I could live with the kind of damage they had. (I was looking at vintage, so I expected the rug to have had a life with a few bruises along the way.) I did realize though that the color was probably not exactly true to life, since that can be easily enhanced. I was right when my bright blue rug from the ebay listing arrived looking a much darker navy...which was what I was hoping and was very happy with.

 

Look early and look often. New listings are added frequently. After a few days of looking, I did start setting the sort to list the most recent listings first. It helped me save time.



After following these tips, the rug I found looks great in the bedroom. So excited to show it to you all during the final reveal...just a few weeks away.


Check out the progress of the other One Room Challenge Guest Participants by going to Calling It Home. 

One Room Challenge: Fall 2015 ~ Week 2

 

 

Welcome back for week 2 of the One Room Challenge. I am joining in with Linda at Calling It Home to make over my master bedroom.

 

I played around with some ideas today, and came up with a plan. Here it is....

 

 

 

Some of the things I already have in the room. I will be keeping the green dressers being used as nightstands and the bed I already have. Also, there is a large wooden dresser I bought at a thrift shop about a year ago. It needs new handles and I am making the decision if I should paint it or leave it as is. Last is the roman shades on the window. Right now they are plain white, but they are just begging for a ribbon trim which can be easily added. Besides for all that, the room is a blank slate.

 

The first thing I need to find is a rug. I am currently scouring Ebay to find an antique Persian rug that will look right in the room, is the right size, and is the right price. Placed at the side of the picture above are some of the rugs I am considering. I need to make a decision soon, or it won't make it here in time.

 

I also wanted to add some nature inspired elements to the room to give it more the feel of the inspiration room I mentioned in week one. I am starting with framed flower prints. I love the image of Emily A Clark's botanical art wall. I am on the hunt for some similar pictures. I am considering framing them and placing them in a grid pattern like she did, or doing something different and hanging the pictures from a rod similar to Jenny's picture rail from Little Green Notebook. Also, I want to do a project with my kids where we create art using sun sensitive paper. I think it will be a meaningful and low cost way to get large artwork on the wall.

 

We also had a window seat built in this room which I am so excited about. I have always wanted one, and I am daydreaming of curling up on it on a lazy afternoon, with sunlight streaming in the window, and a cup of tea and a good book in my hand. But first I need a comfy cushion made with some sort of navy fabric. Of course the big question is do I try to sew it myself (what I have pinned on Pinterest doesn't make it seem to hard) or do I just pay someone. Budget vs time will probably make that decision.

 

There is one thing that will most likely not get finished. I really want the baseboards and doors painted white (currently they are a dark stained wood). Now I hate painting trim as I learned when I did it during the Fall 2014 ORC. For my sanities sake, it is worth it to me to pay a lovely painter to do that. I am not sure if I can get someone here in time to do all the painting, so I am just going to accept now that the room might not be completely done in week six. But it will be much better than it is now...

 

Be sure to stop by some of my other fellow guest participants taking part in the One Room Challenge.

 

 

 

One Room Challenge: Fall 2015 ~ Week 1

 

 

It's that time again when many of us in blog-land join in with Linda of Calling It Home to take on the challenge of redoing one room in six weeks. I will be popping back in each Thursday with my progress. This is not my first trip to this rodeo (you can see my past ORC rooms by clicking here), but I only decided about 5 minutes ago to throw my hat in the ring again. Our master bedroom needs to get put together, and I know the only way I will stop waffling on what to do and make some decisions is if I have a deadline. The One Room Challenge will definitely give me that.

 

 

I am thinking of keeping the room mostly navy with a touch of green. I was really inspired by this room designed by Lauren Liess.

 



 

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I loved the different color combinations, textures and uses of nature inspired fabrics. The room has the same kind of feel I hope to replicate in my bedroom.

 

 

I will be back next week with my plans for the room...

 

 

Be sure to check out the other guest participants for the One Room Challenge.

One Room Challenge: Spring 2015 ~ Week Six

 

It's Reveal Day!!!!

 

 

It is week six of the One Room Challenge Linking Event hosted by Linda of Calling It Home. This time I was a little late getting the room done (so it is technically week six and a half), but good things come to those who wait....

 

 

My entry way is finished, but it was definitely a journey getting to this point. The before pictures I showed in week one are now just a distant memory . I showed my plan for how I would style the space in week two, and asked for help solving my dilemma. In week three, I showed the items that would go into the powder room that is right off the entry way. I also talked about the rug I had picked to use as a runner on the stairs...and then changed  my mind in  week four.  Even though I didn't have a lot of pictures to share that week, I did list the things that I thought every entryway should have. Week five, I showed the progress I had made, so far. Which brings us to week six and what the entry way looks like now...

 

 

 

 

I am so happy to see this room now every time I open my front door.

 

 

 

The stairs are such an improvement to the space. And I am so glad I picked this rug runner. It has great texture and the right amount of pattern to satisfy my design style, but is still neutral enough to not overpower the room.

 

 

 

I added accessories to the table that was already in the room, including a lamp I had for years. I just put on it a new lamp shade, to update it's look. Two X-benches tuck under the table, but can easily be pulled out and used when putting on shoes. I also included a fern to fill in the space between the table and the stairs.

 

 

 

My favorite thing in the room is the art I added to the wall above the table. I love decorating with maps, and luckily found a great website that had beautiful vintage maps ready to be printed. I selected states that had places that meant something to us as a family. Plus, I added a little heart to each state, because I am corny like that.

 

 

 

The powder room is actually not completely finished. I didn't order enough of the fabric to cover the walls, so there are a few spots that are still bare awaiting the shipment to arrive sometime next week. Putting the fabric on the walls is going well so far.  I do love the bold pattern, something I feel you can get away with in a powder room.

 

 

 

The mirror looks great (although it did take some work getting it on the wall since the studs were not lining up with where I wanted to place the mirror. Actually, my husband figured out how to make it work, because he is smart like that.)

 

 

 

I added some brass accessories that I think ties everything together. The powder room now has the same great style of my inspiration picture.

 

 

 

So that is my entry way and powder room. Having this room put together is such an improvement to my home. I loved participating in the One Room Challenge for the fourth time. The tight deadline and motivation from the other participants helped me get another room in my house finished and looking great. (If you would like to see my other ORC rooms, here are the links to my laundry room, mud room, and library/living room.) 

 

Be sure to head on over to Calling It Home to see the other linking participant's room reveals.

 

And keep in touch by either subscribing to all my posts by leaving your email in the box in the sidebar, or following all of my Pinterest boards. And feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you like.

 

Until next time....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



One Room Challenge: Spring 2015 ~ Week 5

 

Week 5 is here! This is definitely crunch time....and what do I do? Take a trip. Probably not the best plan, huh?!. But I just spent three days enjoying myself, and now I am ready to hunker down and finish this entry way.

 

Before I left I did rip all the carpet off of my stairs. It was actually strangely satisfying....

Now I am left with this.

 

 

 

And we paid someone to take down the wallpaper in the bathroom, so I have a blank slate in that room.

 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to stop back next week to see how it all turns out....

 

And see more productive people by checking out the other linking participants at the blog Calling It Home.

One Room Challenge: Spring 2015 ~ Week 4

And the One Room Challenge continues....

The entryway and powder room in my house are coming right along. If you would like to see the progress so far feel free to check out my past weeks here.

There have been some set backs.

The mirror I ordered is heavy, and it looks like it needs to go into a stud or risk it falling off the wall and me getting seven years bad luck. Of course there doesn't seem to be a stud anywhere near where the mirror needs to go. Because that is just my current luck! I am sure we will figure something out...

Also, the rug I wanted for my stairs is sold out at the nearby store, and I haven't had time to drive around and find it elsewhere. The thing is I am almost taking it as a sign that maybe I need to rethink this rug since I was facing a dilemma with picking it anyway. Have to make a decision soon...

My camera is acting up, so I can't take any "pinworthy" pictures of me pulling up the old rug on the stairs, and putting up the wall covering in the powder room. I should have it all fixed soon, so do not worry. Anyway, I have to save something for the reveal, right? If you would like to see some great eye candy of beautifully styled entryways while you are waiting out my malfunctions, check out the pinterest board I put together. And feel free to follow all my boards if you like...I love to follow back and discover what others are pinning that way!

In the meantime, I did take a quick picture with my phone of the lamp that will go on the entryway table. I bought this at a Pottery Barn outlet almost fifteen years ago. It was one of those times where I walked away from it since I didn't really need it, then once I got home had second thoughts since I really wanted it! I had a sleepless night where I tossed and turn and finally woke up in a cold sweat panicked that someone else would get it. Quickly, went to the store the next day, and it was still there. So happy! It has now been on many tables in a few houses now, but it always seems to look right at home.

I purposely picked a small shade for the lamp this time since the maps I framed will go on the limited wall space behind it, and I didn't want a large lampshade to cover them up.

I also am playing around with how to style the console table. I am sure it will change several times in the next week, but will definitely have my must haves for styling an entryway.

-A lamp for task lighting. This is where I check my mail, and since the entryway doesn't have natural light, I need a something to brighten the space.

-Console table with drawers. I keep things I have to get quickly when I am dashing out the door, like my family's membership cards to the pool and the dog's leash.

-A tray. This is essential. Once I started making myself always put my keys in the tray, I suddenly never lost them. Amazing!

-A candle. I always like to add something nice smelling to the entryway. Love being greeted by it when I walk in the door.

-A plant. Once again it has to be a something that is ok with low light, and I am struggling right now to find something that meets that requirement and that I like. Now that the flowers are finally blooming, and it feels more like spring, I will most likely do a few clippings from my yard and put them in a small vase. Love the pop of color that flowers can add to the space.

What is your must have for an entryway?


Be sure to check out all the other linking participants on Calling It Home.

One Room Challenge: Spring 2015 ~ Week 3

Yikes!!! How is it already week three of the One Room Challenge hosted by Linda at Calling It Home. I am redoing the entryway of my house and the accompanying powder room. You can see the before pictures in Week One.

I haven't gotten very much physical labor done so far, but I did do a lot of shopping this week...so not all bad.

First off. Thank you to everyone who left a comment last week. You all gave such thoughtful advice to my big what-rug-to-put-on-the-stairs dilemma. I so appreciated it. It was a hard decision, but I finally decided to do the stair runner in a colorful pattern. Since I picked one that was fairly inexpensive (for once!), it would not be too hard to redo if I ever wanted to down the road.

Marrakesh Rug

 

 

The one easy decision I made was what to put on the walls of the powder room. I wanted something blue and white. While I liked the wallpaper in the inspiration picture, I really wanted something more geometric instead of floral.  I looked around at wallpaper, but just wasn't finding the right pattern. Then I saw this fabric featured on Beth's blog. It was perfect! After a little bit of research apparently it is fairly easy to put fabric on walls. We will see though...

 

 

 

valori-wells-ashton-road-fern-stripe-indigo

 

 

The mirror for the powder room was also love at first sight. I really needed more white in the room, to tone down the bright pattern of the walls. The frame of this mirror fit that bill. Plus that pattern done in nailhead trim matches the brick design on my fireplace in the next room. I think it will be a nice tie in.

 

 

Upton Home Fayette Mirror





 

 

 

And of course I had to add a little more shine to the powder room with some brass bling.

 

 



 

 

Faceted Soap Dispenser

Moving on to the other part of the room, I did get the art made for above the table in the entryway. We have moved several times since we were married, and I want to do something to remember the many places we called  home. I have always loved decorating with maps.

 

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I decided to frame vintage maps of each state we lived in. I then added a little heart over the city that we called home. Fairly easy, but very meaningful. I will have the tutorial up soon.

Be sure to check out the other linking participants. I am sure they got a lot more done than I did!