The Big Reveal (Phase 1)

Finally the bedroom is at a point where we can at least sleep in it again. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out. I desperately need artwork! We still have to purchase the sconces and lamps. I also need accessories. The doors are not up either, nor is the baseboard and the ceiling trim is not finished (because of the doors), so we still have a ways to go. I did not make the headboard or platform for the bed yet (also to come) but progress has been made. Now, I realize that there is much debate on ceiling fans, but when it all comes down - I like them. I would much prefer to have the windows open and a fan blowing than all that a/c in the summer months, so I opted for a ceiling fan. If I someday change my mind, I can always have a ceiling light in it's place.

So, what do you think????

Some Scary Photos...

This is what the bedroom looks like today....

Pretty scary, huh?

Happy Halloween!!!!

Mama Cleans House AND...

It's been a long few days around my house.  We found someone who could do the taping and mudding of the drywall in the master bedroom at a price that didn't make you scream.  He was speedy and efficient and he cleaned up after himself (even vacuumed the carpet).  So, now we get to prime the room to prepare for the paint.  That of course, brings me to a new dilemma.  Paint colors.  Yikes!!!  My bedroom in my previous house was done in all chocolate brown with accents of taupe and blue and cream.  But, that was a HUGE bedroom.  This room?  About the size of my old closet, but location - location - location.  So, rather than cry about what I don't have, I prefer to feel joy in what I do have.  So, I'm trying to make the most of this room.  So, I broke out all the paint samples and got down to business.  I took several larger pieces of left over drywall, taped off sections and got busy.  Finally, I was able to pick just the right two colors for the room.  I'm really quite excited about them.  I've never done a house in light and neutral colors, so this will be new for me.  I've chosen 2 shades of cream and I'm going to do them in a horizontal stripe that I have seen on a few different blogs and it is also featured in Cottage Living.  I hesitated about going for this idea, but I was instantly attracted to this look, so I've decided to just go for it.  

So, I bet you're asking yourself...What bedding did she choose?  Well, you're going to have to wait and see...

So, I've been painting, cleaning, organizing, working, running back and forth to Home Depot, dealing with repair men for my phone, internet, and car and trying to get myself motivated for this room mom sponsored Halloween party on Friday (remember all the mama drama?)  Thankfully this is the shortest party of the year (due to a school-wide Halloween Parade), so I'm just going to jump in with both feet and be the "fun" mom (I'm usually the wackiest one there anyways).  Then it's trick or treating with my sister, niece and of course Mr. Big.  Then we'll hurry home so we can hand out candy to trick or treaters and everyone is invited to my house for my annual open house.  I make a huge pot of chili and a huge pot of sloppy joe and it's a come on by, help yourself to some food, and stay and visit a while situation.  I've done it for a few years and it works out great.  The bigger kids and their friends stop in to visit and head back out, friends and relatives come by to see the kids and to let me see theirs and I've got the food in crock-pots all warm and ready so it's completely stress free.

Then it's back to painting for me and moving back in to the bedroom.  Then I have to get the room all decked out and take some photos.  But, I have been informed that if the weather permits, we may be taking down a tree or two in the backyard this weekend (we've got a couple of dead / dying ones and they're getting dangerous).  I will be doing my best to head out to the flea market this weekend to see what goodies I can find.

Tomorrow and Thursday I have to work all day long (yuck) and Friday is full of fests and frights, so it's a busy week here.

How about you?  A busy week for you too?

Join Me In The Bedroom??

While hanging drywall in the bedroom today, I took a moment, sat back and just looked at the room.  In all it's stud glory with poof of insulation hanging out here and there, it hit me.  It hit me like a ton a bricks on the head.  But, then again, most of my best ideas seem to fly out of nowhere. So, now the question was..."Do we or Don't we let the hubby in on our *idea*"?  

You've got to understand, this is our 4th house.  Yup, you read that right.  AND we've rented 3 places as well.  Now, granted this may not seem much to you, but we've only been married 13 years and you're talkin' to a gal who lived in the same house from age 6 on; in fact, my parents STILL live there.   So, I get these kookie ideas and sometimes I just run with them.  This was one of those ideas.

So, I live in your basic 70's track house.  You know the kind, builder comes in with say 7 models and up goes a subdivision where there used to be a farm and they build it up in a matter of months.  No style, no character all the homes seem the same.  So, since I'm all about the character, this just does not sit well with me.  

Anyhow...So I'm looking at the closet (which I completely redesigned) and then I'm looking at the bedroom door.  Hmmmm...we're lacking some symmetry here.  So, for kicks, I blurt out my idea.  Hubby looks at me with absolutely no amount of concern or confusion on his face.  So, I'm wondering if he even heard me.  Now, the guy likes to humor, well torture me when I make a bad decorating decision (like when I wanted to paint my daughter's room the palest shade of yellow and it looked like a school bus exploded on her walls and he laughed and said you wanted yellow, you got yellow) so I was a bit nervous.

A moment later, armed with hammer, he did it.  He took out the drywall into the hallway which was just about the opening for the door.  It was amazing!  I can't believe I will have them in MY house.  The difference just ONE made in the hallway was so wonderful I almost cried.  (okay, not really, but I'm painting a picture here - LOL)  I can't wait until all the doors have them.  

What you ask?  Well...

Transom (architectural), the horizontal lintel or beam across a window, dividing it into stages or heights. In the U.S. it also can refer to a fixed window over a door or another window

Now, obviously, although I could show you mine, it ain't pretty yet people.  So, here are some wonderful transoms I found via the wonderful internet.

And for some snuggle up nights and yet more bedding dilemmas, I found this bedding and cannot get it out of my mind. I'm all about the neutral. Why? Because I love change. I don't do astrology, but I am a Gemini and I do have that twin thing going on sometimes. You know, I'm a little bit country AND I'm a little bit rock and roll. OR do you prefer, I like both kinds of music - country and western. I'm loving all the input I'm getting on the bedding and wow have I thought about all your advice and opinions a ton! Thank you!!! So, while you take a gander at this little number, here's why it struck me. It's completely neutral. I could layer it with some amazing and luscious sheets in a wide array of colors. Chocolate? Robin's Egg Blue? The options are endless. Patterns, solids, mix and match. I could layer with a quilt or a wonderful faux fur throw. Completely versatile. I could change weekly, monthly, seasonally, heck even for the holidays if I wanted to. In fact, I was picturing this with a rich pumpkin colored throw pillow (or two) and maybe a bamboo throw blanket to match for the Fall. Then I could do a silvery gray or a rich red or even a coppery color for the christmas holidays? A romantic red for Valentine's? A lime green for the spring? OR maybe Pottery Barn will introduce me to a brand new favorite! Plum? Cobalt Blue? Lavender? As you can see, I've been really giving this some thought. NOW I'd like to hear YOUR thoughts.





OH! And don't forget...check back about mid-week for my very first blog give away.

So, my very talented and gifted blog buddies...whatcha thinkin'?

We're Still In Bed...

CHOICE A

CHOICE B

CHOICE C

Three Choices seems to be what I'm torn between. A, B, or C. What do YOU think???

More With the Week in Bed...

I like this bedding from PB (let's call it bed-set #3) because of it's simplicity.  I already have the duvet, but I would have to purchase a quilt to be layered underneath it.

The sheets and the pillow shown above I fell in love with.  The pillow is a linen fabric and the embroidery is in a beautiful cream color (that coincidentally matches the duvet shown in bed-set #3).  The tassels are a combination of a silver gray (that matches the above sheets) and the same cream color in the embroidery.  I can see this paired with a silvery gray (or is it grey?) quilt/blanket and the above shown duvet.  I envision a headboard covered in a burlap/linen look fabric to match this pillow.  Let's call this bed-set #4.
In bed-set #5, I love the rustic appearance of the wood wall with the simple elegance of the iron scroll headboard.  I love the all white bedding accented with one simple color.  
Bed-set #6 is also from Pottery Barn and has two different quilts paired together.  I love the simple elegance of this layering and the blues are wonderful together.  

Okay, so hear are my concerns about this room.

First, I am afraid of a busy pattern being entirely too overwhelming.  I don't want to be overpowered by the bedding as I seek for the room to be inviting, serene, cozy, and of course, a bit of romance too.  BUT, I do NOT want to be boring beige.  I do NOT want to create a home that causes people to yawn in boredom.

I have never been afraid of color, but this house has small rooms (the polar opposite of our last house) and I am longing for the elegant simplicity that I seem to be drawn to in the general Pottery Barn style.  I also am seeking a timeless look that will be able to serve me for years to come.  I am trying to decorate in a style that is light, bright, airy, and timeless but at the same time welcomes you and gives you a feeling of cozy comfort that you never want to leave.  

Make sense?

I am LOVING all the opinions I'm getting.  Keep it coming!!!  

You all are helping me to think of things and see these options in a whole new light!!!

Thanks to everyone who is taking the time to comment on the bedding AND the white choices.

You are all awesome and I am planning a super give-away to say thanks!!!!  You are all the BEST!!!!

Coffee and Chit-Chat

Well, I have to go to the shop again today (can ya hear me groaning?) That testosterone filled place is entirely too much for me to handle everyday of the week. I did however make great progress on the computer yesterday and I am hopeful that after today I will back to normal and working from home. My house is a wreck and I'm exhausted and frustrated.
Thanks to everyone who commented on the bedding yesterday. I had no idea it would be so popular. There is another bedding ensemble that has pulled at my heartstrings too. (Actually there are several). Today I'm showing you one that I found at Kohl's. I love how it's completely neutral and soft looking and would go with anything I chose to put in the room. I actually have 3 other options that I own from Pottery Barn that I'm trying to rule out as well. Yes, I'm losing it. The only thing that I can tell you is that I'm going to paint the walls a cream color or perhaps a light taupe because this room is very small people. We're talking 14 x 14 max and most of the space is unusable (closet, 2 windows, and 3 doors) and our furniture is too big (but new furniture is not in the budget right now). So, let's just call this week - a week in bed (LOL).


So, this is bedding choice #2. Would you choose yesterday's or today's? Whatcha-thinkin'?











Have a wonderful, wacky, Wednesday!!

All is Quiet on the Homefront (for the moment)

“The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.” Albert Einstein


Shhh...I'm alone. Okay, well I'm not alone because my bed (a.k.a. mattresses on the floor) is in the living room and hubby is asleep and Mr. Big is having a sleep over with us out here, and the dogs, and teenage girl is in her room on the computer. But, teenage boy is out somewhere, so one of my peoples is not home. But, for the moment I have no interruptions. No phone, no one screaming mom, no projects screaming for my attention, just me and my news on television and my diet coke. In case you didn't know, I am a news junkie. It's a sickness and I can't get enough of it. I've tried, but I can only go so long.

So, looking back over the week, it's been a long week here. Poor hubby has been working from 3:00 a.m. (or earlier) and not leaving the shop before 6:00 p.m. He's simply exhausted. I was at work 3 days this week myself (and I don't go in to the shop) and I would have been there yesterday and today as well, but Mr. Big has been home from school with a wicked head cold.

I was sitting here looking at hubby and big sleeping side by side in this disaster of a living area and feeling like crying over the mess when I realized that this is just one more step in making this house a home and I should be thankful.

So, in this moment of quiet in my never ending chaotic life, I wanted to take a moment to be thankful and take note of my joys.

I am so thankful...
that hubby is the hardest working guy I know, next to my father.
that I have both my mom and dad alive and well and living mere blocks from me.
that I have finished all but one of the kitchen cabinet doors and that I can start priming them this weekend.
for this moment of peace tonight
for the great ideas I glean from the blogging world and the internet
for the day being filled with sunshine and wonderful temps
for taking the time to play Uno with Mr. Big today
for pumpkin spice coffee on crisp autumn mornings
that I am learning to step out of my comfort zone
that I'm taking time to get back to the things that bring me joy every day
for not stressing out because I am not certain what to do in my bedroom
for forgiveness
for being blessed with an abundance of work; may it continue


On the homefront...
I've decided that since it may be a long while before I am able to afford new stainless steel appliances, I am going to paint the kitchen cabinets a cream color rather than black. I would be so stressed out about getting stainless appliances if I painted them black that it would be just beyond my ability to be patient and wait for what could be a couple of years for new appliances. The goal this weekend is to get the bedroom re-insulated and get the new drywall hung. If all goes well then perhaps we will even get the taping done. I have to make the final decision on the paint color(s) this weekend too. I'm debating and I'm torn on what to do. I want the bedroom to have a simple cottage look, Pottery Barn with a touch of bling. I'm hesitant to use a color on the wall because I love to change things. I like the idea of being able to switch out bedding or sheet colors or accent pieces without being limited due to a color on the wall. We are considering either a tongue in groove ceiling or putting planking on one wall as an accent. I'm considering painting horizontal stripes or putting beadboard on the walls too. The colors I'm leaning towards are two shades of cream. I'd love any input you could suggest. the room is really really small and simple. It's a 14x14 room and we currently have mahogany furniture. I am going to make a headboard, probably fabric covered and I'm going to make a platform for the bed with cubbies underneath for baskets (we need the storage). I still have to decide on a color to paint the platform too. What would YOU do?

Have a Wonderful Weekend!!!

The Nightmare In My House...

Well, I said I'd share photos of the disaster we affectionately named "Ugly House" which is where we reside.   Now, if you're logical you're probably asking yourself, why on earth would somebody buy a house that they think is ugly.  Simple, it was the ONLY house available in the neighborhood we wanted and we were behind the 8-ball.  Plus, we've renovated houses before, so no big deal, right.? WRONG! We had NO idea what we were getting ourselves into.

Brief summary...about 3 months after we moved in, the hot water heater exploded and consequently flooded the entire lower level, causing us to completely gut the entire downstairs. We were secretly thrilled as it was beyond hideous down there, but what lurked behind the walls was worse than we ever could have imagined.

Move ahead to the summer of 2008. We attempted to paint our master bedroom. It was a very dark mocha brown color, with lots of wall patches hidden (not so well) underneath layers of paint. The windows were original 1972 as was the door leading to the deck, the storm door, and the metal painted white closet bi-fold doors. Can you say yummy? So, we painted it a very pale green color and wallpapered the wall behind the bed. We sanded and patched and sanded and patched some more, replaced the windows, the door, etc. We instantly knew we hated the whole thing, but we figured we'd just live with it for a while. Then the paint started peeling in huge chunks off the wall. For no reason whatsoever. Never seen anything like it. So, hubby said, that's it, we're gutting it and doing it right.

As you can imagine I'm thrilled that we're going to have a room that we can actually enjoy, but ugh the work. And what lurks behind those walls??? Well, yup, apparently they were here too. If I could, I would have run from the house screaming and pulling my hair out in big chunks, but I refrained. I just put on my mask and my gloves and tore that room down. It's not a glamorous job, but somebody's got to do it.

Now, if you look closely you can see the little trail that the buggers made and their mess they left behind. I believe they're gone and gone for good as I have sent them packing (okay, I sent most of them to an early grave, but I've found their entrance and it's been eliminated).

These photos may scare ya, but it's not for Halloween, it's my life, my home, my bedroom. It's my nightmare.



This is the "green room"  - it's difficult to tell in the picture but it wasn't pretty people.

In this picture you can see our attempt at making the room work, but there was just too much green (for me anyways).Bye Bye Green Room.  You won't be missed by me.  No way - Adios!  Farewell!

Okay, if you look closely (I'm relatively certain you can click on the photo to enlarge) you can see on the left side the rodent's trail down to his home near the electrical box. 

Yes, this would be mouse poop.  They have no class and just do it right there for all the see.  Yes, this is also the mouse house.

More destruction, uh construction, uh okay, it's a mess people.  LOL.

Another view of the mouse house.  And folks, mine is NOT the house for mouse.

Mickey don't live here no more!  Can you say disgusting?

Well, that's it for today.  I'll show more as the job progresses.  Not getting much done right now during the week because we have a guy out on vacation which means I'm needed at the shop and hubby is working extra long hours.  Oh, the joys of being a business owner.  Does my fun ever end?