Home Reno Update

  So far.... things have been moving pretty steady on the home updates. We purchased our home on moving out here to California and we knew it was going to be a commitment and needed some TLC. 

  I have not been on top of the ball as far as keeping our renovations posted so I'm going to try and give an idea of where we started and where were at now. 

The flooring we chose and really like it!

     Our first major project we tackled was all the down stairs flooring in November. My fabulous in-laws can into town and helped tremendously. 

    It took us about 7 days to complete the large living areas, kitchen, laundry room, stair case, and closet. We also had to redo the whole down stairs base boards. There were two different sizes throughout the house and so we made them all cohesive. 

   Another project we tackled was the fire place. Painted the brick, added the ship-lap and will eventually replace the actual glass face of the fire place. 

   There are a couple of smaller projects we have been working on during the months of January and February one of which is our dinning side table that use to be our master dresser. 

  We sanded, added legs to raise it, added new drawer pulls, and removed the middle two drawers so there is an open space to display items. 

                                                  

    Used Obsidian Glass on the dresser SW and I actually used the color Time and Space SW on the fire place. I found the brushed nickel pulls at home depot they are apart of the Martha Stewart collection. 

       Right now were working on the upstairs landing it was all carpeted and we needed to have an external trim put on since it was a curved overhang. Once we did that we were able to put the same flooring in as we have upstairs. 

      We still need to put in the transitions, and the baseboards to match the downstairs. We are also going to have a carpenter come out and match the thicker side trim below the railings on the right side and do it on the left along the curve. 

       Wowzers! it seems like a lot!, but was accomplished little by little over a four month time frame and were still working on it. I'm really enjoying what we have been allowed to accomplish, but at the same time feeling a bit daunted by what we are wanting to accomplish. Next two months are budgeted for working on our front and back yards.... guys right now we have just dirt and weeds so I am excited about it! 

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3 Little Projects

         Right now we are not tackling any BIG home projects, but that does not mean I have not been a busy bee. I left SC with a to do list and have been trying to complete it here in Cali. A dear friend gifted us a kids table and chairs that were well loved and used by her little boy. I had plans to revamp it and make it a bit more feminine for Payton, but still a bit neutral for future use. 

     It is a simple table with two yellow chairs and two red chairs and a royal blue table with matching frame. It took me a while to narrow down material and colors. I knew I wanted an oil cloth in a relatively simple classic pattern. I found this on Amazon and it is sold by the yard with free shipping so it was a perfect fit. I decided to paint the chairs Krylon's Catalina Mist in satin. The four chairs took four cans of paint to cover up the bold primary colors.

     I chose to work with the royal blue frame and not to paint it a different color. I found the matching color to spruce it up and cover some of the dings and nicks. 

       Second project was one of contention with my hubby. We have this decorative framed wall addition in our dinning room that he is not a fan of. I personally am not "in love" with it, but can live with it and wanted a stab at trying to make it work for us. I figured if it was an epic fail we can just rip it out, but that would include new dry wall, paint, and a lot of hassle. 

          I used basic chalk paint and needed two coats to completely cover everything. The items on the wall I collected from several different places and I really enjoy the ability change things up at any time. 

Gather 

Poster Hanger

Print  

(Other items:  the three pots I found at Joann's, the basket they are sitting in I got in Japan, 

but have seen many like it at Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Target) 

         Finally, I have these side stools I found at Home Goods four years ago and I used them pretty much in every room in our South Carolina home. They are versatile can be used as extra seating, foot stools, table, and can be easily moved out of the way for those impromptu dance parties. What was not working for me was the material it was hard to keep clean and over the years had a dinginess to it. Not to mention once we had a toddler game over! 
        So recovering them seemed a good option. I knew I wanted a warm, buttery, cognac faux leather, but I really did have a hard time trying to find what I was envisioning. I went to Joann's, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, online shopping at Amazon, fabric.com, and finally found what I was looking for on Etsy. Love the color, it is very easy to work with supple, its eco friendly faux upholstery leather so can really be used in so many ways. 

I only needed one yard for both stools and had a good amount left over.
These were my tools, and despite it being a bit tedious at times, and project itself is very basic and easy. 

Corners were the hardest part, not super happy at the way mine came out,
 but you got to throw in your towel at some point. 

This room is still a work in progress, pics on the back wall, and needing some lamps, but getting there. 

      ... Now on to more projects! 

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Etsy Finds

         To those who know me it is not a surprise I love to shop! After living overseas, and becoming a mom my online shopping skills are honed in. Even though I enjoy getting out, kid free, and shopping solo for a few hours that really only happens once and a while. So my main perusal method is online when I can carve out some time usually my kids nap or bed time. 
       So I thought I would share a quick post on my most recent and loved purchases from Etsy. 

      * CascadeIronCo - I did a good amount of online shopping to find these iron brackets for open shelving. Great quality, sturdy, shipped on time, I would absolutely use this product again and am actually thinking of using this in our kitchen redo. 

      * BittyandBoho - I am currently in the "baby" season of life where at some point someone I know and love is welcoming a little bundle of joy into their lives. Thus, I'm always on the look out for cute items to gift to the expectant parents. Love the unique saying and graphics! Shipping was speedy and packaging super cute! 

     * floralandfern - So this is a more personal referral my dear friend has a very precious shop with to die for little girl head bands.  

             These head bands are soft and because they have the nylon band it grows with the little ones head and does not leave marks on their precious noggins. She just released her fall colors, LOVE!!! and about to order some more for friends, family, and myself. Also, for all my Texas A&M friends this maroon & white is for us! since football season is coming up. WHOOP! 

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Kitchen Dreams

       Lately my mind has been spinning and twirling with DIY ideas. Most of the homes we have looked at and considered all need some form of upgrade and several projects would be required.
    Kitchens are one of the bigger endeavors you can tackle in a home upgrade. So many connecting elements that need to flow and compliment as well as being practical and usable. For most families the kitchen is the heart of their living, laughing, and memory making.  
    First order would be to figure out the layout you want/ or have to work with, and then what elements can you keep, reuse, or need to replace. 
     For now I am left to dream about all the possibilities and wait till I have an actual kitchen to work with. When we get into a home I'll post all our improvements we tackle in hopes some of my leg work, mistakes, and ideas will make it easier on someone else trying to do the same. 

.... I'll leave you with some images that inspire me.... 

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Beautiful Textiles

          I have to admit an addiction to prints, textiles, colors, texture... all of these words get me excited to create. I could get lost among fabrics and prints wither they cover your favorite comfy chair, a throw gracing your bed, or a wonderfully breeze dress that fits perfectly. 

Black &White patterns though simple can be 

combined in a way that is intriguing. 

Love the mixture of colors and textures 

         The above colors and patterns makes me want to travel, see the world, eat, drink, and SHOP! The creativity of the designers, and the talent of the weavers, and artisans astounds me and inspires me. 

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Baby's New Crib

Baby's New Crib 

              Its taken some time, but 99% finished with our baby girl's room and feel super relieved about it. There are still some small additions I have in mind, but I have a feeling I will be adding and tweaking things for some time to come. I did not adhere to any kind of definite theme more of a eclectic, anthropologie inspired vibe. 

          

          There are aspects that are old, new, gifted, and blue and I like the fact that I was not painted into a corner by using a narrow set of colors or theme. This is totally my preference I know others find more beauty in a cleaner, more "put together" look and I have also seen some stellar examples of this type of style. For me the more defined my style the more frustrating it is for me because I will search and search for just the right color or look, and end up sucking out the pure joy and freedom of discovery. 

Our crib we did a bunch of research, and ended up going with this Hudson. We ordered it through Amazon and it came quickly and we had no problems putting it together. It is a mid-range crib good quality and reasonably priced. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007CRJHXU/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We found the dresser at a cute shop in Savannah http://twowomenandawarehouse.com/
The rocker we found at babies r us and the foot poof I found at Target
As you can see thee are some empty frames that I am wanting to fill of pictures of Payton once she gets here. 

My quilt was made by a wonderful friend, Dulcy White, including the sheets and changing cover.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them

       This has been a joy to put together and love sharing it with y'all. I hope this will be a wonderful environment for our little girl to grow and thrive in. 

        

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Sweet Dreams

  There is so much out there in terms of decorating a nursery it is crazy! Pinterest has made it easier with so many different ideas out there and inspiration. Here are a few looks that I love and hope they inspire you as well. 

   

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