Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Updated Dining Room


Whew! We've got quite a few projects going on right now - our upstairs hall bathroom is getting quite close to being done (well, not done but updated quite a bit!) and I've been priming and painting the trim in the little back hallway, the laundry room, the upstairs bathrooms. My goal is to have all of the trimwork in the house painted by the end of next week. I am not sure if that is a reasonable goal though. I will still have lots of touching up to do throughout the house and the playroom and master bathroom walls in a few weeks and then I will be able to take a nice little painting break and get to work on some actual projects for each room! And then eventually I do need to tackle painting inside all of the closets but I can't think about that right now without going a little crazy - haha!

In the meantime, I've shared a couple of cell phone shots on Instagram and Facebook, but I hadn't taken any "real camera" photos of the updates we've made to our dining room until a couple of days ago. We haven't made any major changes since I last shared images of this room at Christmas, but we have done a few little things. First, when I was working on one of the bedrooms upstairs I needed some white drapery panels. I had bought these gray ones but they just didn't look quite right. I ran downstairs and stole the white ones from the dining room. Once I did that, though, I had some empty rods hanging here so I thought it couldn't hurt to try the gray ones down here. Even though I don't necessarily think it works perfectly with the wall color (I think the curtains, walls, bench and sideboard are all a bit too similar) I think they worked well enough to keep. I've been on the hunt for the perfect wallpaper for in here since we first moved in and still haven't found it yet, but once I do and once I add some more touches to the sideboard that will add some interest so things won't all blend together as much as they do right now.

After adding the draperies I moved the table back to the original way it was and then added this bench underneath the clock. And then I added some hydrangeas and that was about it.


 



Here's a little reminder of what it looked like when we moved in. This room was one of the few rooms that really didn't need a whole lot of updating - just paint and changing out the chandelier!


I love the soft glow from the chandelier:

Along with adding wallpaper I am also on the hunt for a hutch for this poor lonely wall.
And I have a few other ideas for this room too, but for now it's nice seeing it come together a bit more even if it is still a ways off from being complete.

Source List:

Wall Color - Gray Owl at 75% in Matte Finish
Trim Color - Simply White in Semi-gloss Finish
Beadboard Wallpaper - Allen and Roth from Lowe's
Chandelier - Savvy in Williamsburg, VA
Dinnerware - Mikasa, French Countryside Collection
Chargers - Pottery Barn (seven years ago)
Placemats - Target (probably nine years or so ago)
Slipcovered Chairs - IKEA
Side Chairs - Joss and Main
Farmhouse Table - We made it - more details here
Clock - Joss and Main
Mirror - Restoration Hardware (six years ago but I think they still sell it)
Drapery Panels - IKEA Aina Panels in gray
Drapery Rods - Lowe's
Sideboard - The Velvet Shoestring (consignment shop - then painted with Annie Sloan's French Linen chalk paint from Lady Butterbug)
Lamps - Home Goods
Runner - World Market
Tufted Bench - Home Goods
Dough Bowl - wedding gift
(We get asked quite a bit about the hydrangeas - yes, they are real. They were from the Farmer's Market and dried beautifully) 

Have a blessed week!

Monday, February 24, 2014

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

http://www.dearlillie.com/product/my-redeemer-lives-11x14-chalkboard-print 

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the Tribe had a great win for Senior Night so it was a very happy weekend here. I am just popping in to introduce our newest chalkboard print that is available in the shop now. This one was created with Easter in mind but is also a great year-round option as well.


I'll be back later this week with some updated photos of our dining room! 

Have a fabulous Monday! 
 


Thursday, February 20, 2014

Soft Surroundings Dresser and One Finished Wall in our Master Bedroom


I am so excited to share with you today about Soft Surroundings. I first heard of them last spring and quickly became entranced by their website and all of the beautiful items they carried. The second I saw this three-ring chest I fell in love with it and knew it would be the perfect piece to design our master bedroom around. I originally was planning on going with a charcoal gray in here but I ended up doing that in one of the guest rooms and used this gorgeous dresser as my starting off point for our master bedroom. I love that even though I would consider it a traditional piece, the rings add an updated twist. And the color is perfect.  I was so excited when it arrived and it is especially nice to have one wall in our bedroom almost finished! I used items we already had around the house to display on the chest except for the tray - that was a fun clearance find. We are still working on the rest of the room. Since I took these photos we have added a rug (the rug from the family room in our last house - it's not a perfect fit, but the colors coordinate nicely in here) and some bedding. We are still waiting on our bed to arrive though. Our mattresses are currently on the floor which the girls think is great fun but I have to admit I am looking forward to having an actual bed again. And then once that comes I can figure out nightstands and something for the end of the bed. And then there's the light fixture and artwork and all sorts of other details to add. But for now here is what we have done and you can get a feel for the colors and overall feel of the room. (And I will have a source list at the bottom of this post).

This is what the wall looked like when we bought the house this past summer. Fortunately this room didn't have any wallpaper to deal with like two of the other bedrooms and bathrooms and the hallways and staircase had. It was pretty much a blank canvas.

And here is that wall now:


We moved a rug in here a day or two after I took these photos and that really helps warm the room up.





I absolutely love the gold trim and all of the detail work!






As I mentioned above, I am a huge fan of Soft Surroundings and their whole furniture line. It's based off of French Antiques. They have more than just furniture though, they have so many gorgeous home decor pieces from lamps and bedding to pillows including this Madison Pillow:

http://www.softsurroundings.com/P/Madison_Pillow/


And here are some of my other favorite pieces:

Their Villette Mirror which I love:
http://www.softsurroundings.com/P/Villette_Mirror/

and their Helena Chair:
http://www.softsurroundings.com/P/Helena_Chair_I/

The beautiful slipcovered Tristan Chair:
http://www.softsurroundings.com/P/Slipcovered_Tristan_Chair/

http://www.softsurroundings.com/P/Le_Bien-Aime_Console/

This beautiful Bruges Secretary:
http://www.softsurroundings.com/P/Bruges_Secretary/

Disclosure: I have partnered with Soft Surroundings by trading store credit towards the three ring chest in exchange for advertising on my blog. We were so pleased with the whole experience and highly recommend them! Not only is the quality of my chest amazing their customer service is fabulous as well. It was an absolute pleasure to work with them!

Wall Color - Moonshine in Matte Finish
Trim Color - Simply White in Semi-gloss Finish
Three Ring Chest - Soft Surroundings
Drapery Panels - IKEA Ritva Panels
Drapery Rods - Lowe's
Roman Shades - Lowe's (they are now discontinued which is dissapointing because I had hoped to gradually add them to all of our window)
Lamp - the base was from Hobby Lobby I think about 7 years ago and the shade is from Target
Mirror - HomeGoods (It actually is the mirror from our powder room downstairs. I borrowed it for these photos but really like how it looks there so may keep it there and look for something else for the powder room. I haven't decided yet).
Tray - HomeGoods
Candle - Target 
Pitcher/Vase - IKEA
Picture Frame - a gift about 6 or 7 years ago
Painting - Savvy in Williamsburg, VA about five years ago
Chair - was my great uncles and got passed down to my parents and then down to us about six or seven years ago
Pillow - Target

I hope you all have a fabulous rest of the week and a great weekend! 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Adding some Spring Colors In our Kitchen and Family Room



I've been wanting to add some of this seafoam color in here for quite a while now. I figured I would wait until after the holidays once I was ready for some cheerful spring-like touches. One of the things I love most about sticking with a neutral palette is that it is so easy to switch around a few pillows or accessories and get a new look. It obviously doesn't change things that much, but it does help me look around and feel like the promise of spring is on the horizon!




If you are new here, this is what this room looked like when we moved in this past summer:













And here is what the other side of the room looked like: 























SOURCE LIST:

Fireplace, Cabinet and Trim Color: London Fog in Semi-Gloss
Wall Color: was here when we moved but very similar to Simply White in Matte
Flush Mount Drum Shade Fixture - Lowe's (Think it was called the Valencia Flush Mount)
All appliances are Whirlpool and were purchased at Lowe's during their Memorial Day Sale
Pendants - These were a hand-me-down from my mom and they worked perfectly in here
Wire Candle Chandelier - Savvy in Williamsburg
Circular Mirror - Antique Farmhouse (from my sister, Dana)
Oversized Chalkboard - made by me 
Metal Island Cart - IKEA
Three-Tiered Wire Basket - Collections at Laurel and Grove in Peterborough, NH
Metal Baskets - Joss and Main
Dishes - Emma Collection from Pottery Barn
Chocolate Cups and Saucers - L. A. Burdick (from my sister, Jamie)
Canisters - Williams-Sonoma
Pillows - Home Goods, Target, Dear Lillie, made by my mom
Table - Pier 1 years ago and has since been painted with AS Chalk Paint in French Linen
All Dining Chairs - IKEA
Sectional - IKEA
Chevron Picture Frames - tutorial here
Tufted Chairs - TJMaxx
Script Chairs - TJMaxx
Painted French Cabinet - makeover here
TV Console - Antique shop in Camden, SC
Frames above chairs - tutorial here
Sconces - RH Baby and Child
Mirror - Restoration Hardware
Rocking Horse - RH Baby and Child
Urns on Fireplace - Seasons in Williamsburg (years ago on clearance)
Lamp on side table - Joss and Main
Side Table - Pottery Barn (years ago and has since been painted)
Coffee Table - Pottery Barn (also years ago and has since be made over - you can read more here)
Rug - Rugs USA, Satara Edison Nickel Rug (I got the 7'6" by 9'6" but wish I had gone up at least one size larger!)
Runner - Home Decorator's Collection
Drapery Panels - IKEA Ritva Panels
Drapery Rods - Lowe's 
Window Treatment above Sink: Made my me - read post here
Basket on Coffee Table - Savvy in Williamsburg
Tall French Cabinet - consignment shop (you can read about that makeover here
Pillows on Sofa - Home Goods
Seafoam Colored Pillows on Chairs - World Market
Striped Pillows on Chair - Made for my by my mom
Green Knit Throw - Lulu and Georgia
Greenery in Urns on Mantel - Jasmine from Trader Joe's
Bottles on Mantel - TJ Maxx
White Pitcher on Mantel - Target
Moss Ball on Mantel - Savvy in Williamsburg
White Pitcher on Dining Table - IKEA
Table Runner - Dear Lillie
Blue Chevron Kitchen Items - Target
Seafoam Kitchen Items - World Market


 I hope you all are having a wonderful week!