Showing posts with label decorating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decorating. Show all posts

Monday, November 3, 2014

Living Room Updates

As most of you know, I got married about four months ago. And slowly but surely, I've been updating R.B.'s bachelor pad. I started on the living room before we were even engaged, and I thought I'd let y'all in on some of the updates we've made in the last year or so. And, I need your help too, so read to the end!

*Please forgive me for the quality of some of these older photos. We had to scour our iPhones for old pictures, and they're not great. But, you'll get the idea...


The above picture is actually after a few preliminary changes. R.B. used to have a really large dark wood coffee table. It took up most of the floor space and made the room so dark. We got the glass top table at Scott's in Atlanta. The legs are bamboo, but we painted them gold to lighten it up. 

Those side tables (from Target) are also changed - R.B. had dark wood tables on either side of the couch (he seemed to love the color brown before I got involved).


This is from Christmas of last year. R.B.'s dad and stepmom gave him a cowhide rug for Christmas (on my recommendation). I love the texture and depth it adds, but it's still way too dark in there for me. 

Can you spot Zelda, the Frenchton?

There are several changes in this photo. First and foremost, the lighter couch. It makes such a huge difference. We also added a lighter chair on the left side of the photo. If you look at the previous pictures, you'll see a black leather recliner that used to be there. 

The pressed flowers/ferns on the back wall are from Scott's, and the frames are from Hobby Lobby


Oh hey, Olivia and Elliott. This is what the mantle and fireplace looked like before we painted the mantle. And, here's the preliminary after...






Isn't she lovely? This beauty is attached to the wall, and we can't really move it because the wall isn't painted behind it and there isn't any floor trim back there either! R.B. had this completely filled with books, and this picture was taken after we had taken the doors off the bottom sections to start painting. A coat of paint went a LONG way on this little booger.




See what I mean?? Paint works wonders!

Now on to what the room looks like today...

Zelda made another cameo in this pic. 

Doesn't it look so much brighter?? Let's go little by little...




I got a great deal on this antique sideboard at an Skyland Antiques in Tuscaloosa. We left four of the pressed flower pictures here and added the pressed ferns to our bedroom. The wicker chairs are from World Market and were in my old apartment. 




This is the newest addition to the room. We picked up this adorable little desk at the Trussville Antique Mall yesterday. That little chair and the mirror are from estate sales in Montgomery. They've both been sitting in our sunroom because we haven't had anywhere to put them, but they fit perfectly here. I should probably lower the mirror a little, but it's super heavy and a pain to hang. So, it'll have to work for awhile.




Whew! Doesn't that look better?? That mirror on the right is from an estate sale. The painting was my wedding gift to R.B. It's by Birmingham artist Dirk Walker. The little copper pitcher on top of the bookcase is from Cottage Collections in Montgomery, but most everything else is stuff we've had for awhile. 




These prints used to be where the pressed flowers are now. The bar cart is from Target, and the wreath was a wedding gift from Williams-Sonoma.




And, here's the mantle today. I want to change out those vases and that side table that the cable box is on at some point. The TV wires also drive me crazy; I need to get a cord cover for those. 




This is where I need your help! This little table is just not cutting it in this corner. Our Christmas tree will go here in a few weeks (!!!), but I need something permanent after the holidays. I feel like I need a plant/tree of some sort to fill out the space, and it needs to be tall. Give me some suggestions!! We love that vase - a wedding gift from Williams-Sonoma - but, it's just not working here. 

So, there you have it. It's still a work in progress, but it's leaps and bounds ahead of where we started. Do you have any suggestions for our space? What's your favorite part? 

Friday, September 26, 2014

Layered Rugs

I love the look of layered rugs.  It adds an extra texture to the room and a bit of depth.  I started rearranging our living room last night (hello, four months later) and I'm planning on using the rug that was originally in there and layering it with another natural jute rug we have.  I've had layered rugs on my brain and have been looking at some inspiration photos so I thought I'd share with y'all...


DM Living room- Layred cowhide with jute rug, patterened ottoman, slipcover sofa-

EJ Interiors - living rooms - Cowhide rug, Pottery Barn sisal rug, rustic wood coffee table, bricklayer's table, white slipcovered sofa, layered rugs, Horchow mirror, abstract artwork, glass lamp, imperial trellis printed pillows, wood candlesticks, Duralee fabric,

Mediterranean - Layered rugs and a brass floor lamp in a bedroom with french doors and deep-brown walls

Street Scene Vintage: Home Decor Trends: Layered Rugs

dressers

a beautifully simple, fresh, open, neutral bedroom
via domaine


via apartment therapy

Layered Rugs - A pair of upholstered armchairs atop layered rugs
via lonny

Layered Rugs - A gold faux-bamboo coffee table atop layered rugs
via lonny


via sanctuary decor

I've switched around our living room and rearranged several things. I love rearranging furniture!  It just makes the space seem new and fresh without having to go out and buy all new stuff.  Once I have a few things in place, I'll be sure to post pictures!

We're headed up to Mentone, Alabama, on Saturday for a good friend's wedding.  I just know it's going to be beautiful and the setting will be picturesque.  Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Friday, August 15, 2014

Link Love

1  ::  This hack has me thinking I need to make an Ikea run.
2  ::  I love a good monogram.



2  ::  This video is pure joy.
3  ::  I want to wallpaper my entire house with this paper.

Pineapple (Mint) – Hygge & West

4  ::  This mirror needs to find its way to my home asap.
5  ::  This outfit has me yearning for cooler temps.

black boots + white dress + leather jacket :: Kendi Everyday

6  ::  I could eat this several times a week and be completely happy.
7  ::  I would be perfectly happy with this art all over my home - good thing there's a giveaway!


8  ::  My favorite lipstick (especially the Mulberry color!).
9  ::  I've got these boots on my radar.

Happy Friday!

Monday, August 4, 2014

Mantel Decor

The DIY Picasso art and the DIY gold corner picture frames made their home above our mantel late last week!


I purchased the federal mirror last year from the same place I got our rug a few months ago.  The mirror might be my favorite piece in the whole house.  Clearly, I have a thing for gold.  And aren't these little Staffordshire dogs adorable with their spots?!


I picked up the Staffordshire dogs from a local antique hotspot called Eastbrook Flea Market.  If you're in the area, you need to check it out.

 


This is our mantel for now, but I'm sure I'll switch things up with the items sitting on the mantel.  If I do, I'll let y'all know!

Friday, August 1, 2014

Master Bedroom Inspiration

So, remember how I updated our master bedroom bedding while R.B. was out of town? Well, the makeover bug has bitten, and I'm ready to completely redo the bedroom!

Here are a few inspiration photos...


Via



Via



Via

I love the bedside table in this pic...

Via


Via
"That's a bathroom," you say. Yes, yes it is. I just love that grasscloth wallpaper. It almost has a metallic sheen, and I'd love to have it in the bedroom. 

As you can see, I love the neutrals with a little blue/green pop. I want our room to be light and airy and comfortable. It also can't be too girly, per R.B.'s request. 

What do you think of these inspiration photos? Which is your fave? 


Tuesday, July 29, 2014

DIY Gold Corner Frames

Happy Tuesday!  If you missed our post last week on the DIY Picasso animal art, be sure to check it out!  It's the perfect easy art project to use in a grouping of frames - or even just one on its own.  Okay, on to the frames now!


Here's what you'll need:
You'll want to start by measuring a few inches from the corner of your frame.  I measured in two inches and really just eyeballed how I wanted it to look.  So if your frames are smaller, you might want to decrease the measurement and increase if your frames are a bit bigger.  I marked in two inches from each corner on each corner of the frame.



I then taped off the corners exactly at the two-inch mark, making sure to press down a bit on the tape to seal the edges (don't want that paint to seep through!).


You'll be left with a frame that resembles this...


Before you start using your Rub 'N Buff, you'll want to work it around a bit inside the tube so the paint is a bit more mixed together. Then, using a paint brush or your finger (you can use gloves to make it less messy, but I just dove right in) rub on the paint until it covers the surface.



Continue doing so until all of the corners are covered.  You may need to go over a few spots twice depending on the coverage.  Let it dry overnight and you're done.  Step back and admire your work!


The frames have a new home above our fireplace mantel, but by the time I realized I needed to take a photo it was dark out and the pictures just weren't up to par - so I'll update another day this week! #bloggerprobs

Friday, July 25, 2014

DIY Picasso Animal Art

We moved into our new rental house in November, but it all happened so quickly that it's been hard to get organized and decorate and all that jazz.  I've had six of these Ikea Nyttja frames for quite some time now, but couldn't figure out what or where I wanted to hang in them until I realized (duh) that I should try and recreate my favorite living room look!

So, I started with the art and picked up some mixed media paper, printed out a few of my favorite Picasso animal images (you may need to adjust the size of the images when printing) and got to work.


I started by taking my images and centering them on top of my art paper.  I traced over the lines with a thick ball point pen.  Doing so, left an imprint of the traced item on my art paper...


Since I didn't want the background of my art paper to be stark white, I used a small foam paint brush and some light gray watercolor to age the paper a bit and make it stand out against the white mat.

Side note: Those aren't really mats!  After finding out that the most basic of mats for these six frames would be more than $130, I decided to use thick cardstock and an exacto knife to create the illusion of mats.  Bada-bing. Bada-BOOM.

I used a thin black sharpie to go over the imprint leaving me with this...


I finished up the remaining animals and placed them in the frames (DIY on the frames soon!)...


I'm already loving how they look!  We'll be posting the DIY on the frames next week and showing you where their new spot in the house is.

Have a great weekend!

Monday, July 7, 2014

Currently Crushing :: The Parsons Bookcase

Happy Monday!  How was everyone's 4th of July?  We spent ours in Zach's hometown of Guntersville, Alabama.  We saw wonderful friends and watched the fireworks on the lake.  After this weekend, I plan to restyle our bookcase in our living room, and although it isn't a Parsons bookcase I completely wish it was.

One of my favorite looks and pieces is that of a Parsons bookcase.  The lines are so simple and a bit of a modern touch, but are still a traditional look.  I love seeing them in all sorts of different colors - from white to blue, red to yellow, purple to green.  What's even better is how people display their books, collections and keepsakes on them.

Here are a few of my favorites...




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Hope everyone's Monday is off to a great start!