Living Room Update July 2011

Goooood Morning Readers!! Hope you had an a-mazing fourth of July!

Awhile ago I mentioned my crazy painting spree & while it hasn't quite finished yet I thought I could show you a bit of what I've done. Please let me know what you think. This is technically a 'before' picture. I say this because I was way too excited to paint to take the before pics and this picture is from about a year and a half ago, maybe a little older.

The room never really looked quite this dark, but it was a dark color. A LOT has changed since this picture, but I will start with what had already changed pre-paint. Removed the large coffee table and replaced it with a small storage ottoman/table that had been at the foot of the bed in the master bedroom, different rug, different wall hangings, removed pillows (yeah, haven't replaced those yet.) Um, that might be it.

One more super blurry before.

The before color was 'Chilled Wine' I kind of had a whole jewel tone thing going on. I liked the traditional color schemes but, I really needed something lighter and brighter. Here is some priming;

I really hate priming.  Especially entire rooms. I just get so darn anxious to see the new color on the walls. Sorry the picture is a bit dark, but this was waaay late at night. I just had to stay up and get this part done and over with.


Next was the fun part. The new color was called Creamy Pebbles. As I was putting up the new color I was l-o-v-e loving it! I got it all painted and waited about a week annnd....there was just one problem. The wall above the couch. I had flipped the couch and love seat so the longer couch was on the windowless wall. I had been able to do this by replacing the old end tables with new ones (real wood end tables on clearance at Wal-Mart for $97 each.) Way cheaper than a furniture store and the quality appears about the same. Above the couch I had hung back up what was there before - Ballard Designs entomology plaques and punched metal mirror I got with coupons and sales last summer. It was nice, but it just looked a little plain, needed some pizazz. So I channeled my hours of HGTV watching and thought about painting the area behind the art a different color. As I tend to over think everything, that decision took awhile. I finally decided on a color called Pick Me Up (could I have found a color name more fitting?)

Here is the before with the lovely addition of the painters tape.

I always am nervous doing these projects with painters tape as straight lines and I are not friends. I always desire perfect straight lines, but they just don't like me. : (   However, the taping this time around was much quicker than the nursery project. Maybe I am getting hang of it? Maybe I was just lucky. Anyway, here is the after;

 I like it waaay much! Huge difference. I still want to trim it it out with some slender moulding, kind of like a frame, so I am adding that to the list. Here is a room after, though I warn you the living room is a haven for unfinished projects.

This little dresser was in the Diva's room before the girls had to share and she begged me not to get rid of it so it ended up here. Very cute I think. Plus, lots of storage. : ) The area above it, of course needs quite a bit of work. I already had the jars and basket, white flower dish from Goodwill, lamp also something I got from Goodwill and painted plus shade from Target. Frames were also also from Goodwill, with the exception of the white one which I already had. I will get those sorted out better once they actually have pictures in them. Here is one more after.

If you look close, you can see the kitty hasn't moved much in the past year and a half ; ) The cutie basket on the brown table is from Homegoods. I was originally going to replace the curtains and rug, but they looked totally different with the new paint color and I decided I want to keep them.  I would love to move the love seat out and put some chairs in their place- on the list- and get a new couch, but that may be awhile. Finally, one last time, the before-

And after-

Love the difference so far! Well, I hear I am going to a tea party on the front patio, so have a great day!!

New Updates

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! I have gotten some planting done, now hopefully I don't kill the little things! Unfortunately I won't be doing any decor stuff this weekend as I will barely be home! Saturday I will be taking the kids to a couple of activities, church and then a friend of mine is turning 30 and having a little party. Sunday we are going to Polish Fest and then a Father's Day BBQ. Monday morning I have a dr's appt so I get to hear the heartbeat for baby #3 and I have some real estate work to do for a friend. Phew! Also, I have been doing projects for my online shop as well.
Far as my decor goes - I got my new Ballard Designs punched metal mirror up in the living room - gorgeous! I also had my first experience with Homegoods store. Bought quite a few things there for my youngest daughter who is converting to a 'big girl' bed. I bought her a kind of night stand type table, a little ottoman thing that she absolutely loves, a table runner and several picture frames that I filled with simple art that I made. I also bought her some of the Amy's Romantic Floral bedding from Pottery Barn Kids in the pink. She loves everything and is very excited!
I also had my first experience with Craigslist. I was kind of scoping it out to see if I should maybe advertise my upcoming rummage sale there. While browsing I found a solid wood, french style twin bed for ONLY $45! The very next day we went and picked it up. A little sanding and paint and this thing will be amazing, I can't wait! Ofcourse I will post some pictures once things are closer to completion. I will post again soon, until then keep dreaming design!

ALSO: If you live in southeastern Wisconsin (milwaukee, waukesha areas, etc) and either you yourself or someone you know has a home not currently listed but that you want to sell quickly, I may be able to help you out! I do not charge you anything for this service. Email dreamingupdesigns@yahoo.com for details.

Weekly Update

Hello! Haven't done too much remodeling work this past week. We will probably be selling our home, but not for awhile yet. The details are still a little sketchy. I am waiting on an approximate date and then will be making a list of what needs to be done when as far as projects to do beforehand. Right now I am going through our storage areas and cleaning and purging. Because of other obligations we had to postpone our rummage sale until probably the end of June. I am finding more and more items so it is not all bad.
We also find out this week we are having a boy! I am already looking at the Pottery Barn Kids website for some nice bedding.
My Ballard Designs items (punched mirror and topiaries) came so that was exciting. Now I am just waiting on the pedestal which is on backorder until September : (
Is anyone else looking forward to the new season of Designstar starting in June? I can't wait!
Back to cleaning I go - Have a great Memorial Day everyone & keep Dreaming Design!

Some Updates

Sorry I have been MIA for a bit. We have been trying to get out and enjoy the weather and been very busy with other things as well. Our curb appeal projects are on hold, I am not sure for how long. More progress was made on cleaning up the massive tree that once lived in the front yard and we enjoyed a nice bonfire the other night from the wood. As far as the living room goes, I received my Medici capitals from Ballard Designs this past week. They are gorgeous! I believe I will use them as a small side table, but we'll see. I used my coupon from there to purchase 2 dome topiaries, a punched metal mirror in cream and a mercury glass pedestal. I can't wait for them to arrive! The topiaries and mirror should come within the week, but the pedestal is on backorder until September 13. I also priced furniture (way more than I thought it would be!) There is one large set that contains couch, loveseat, oversized chair, accent chair, coffee and end tables. I would like to get all the pieces, 2 accent chairs, 1 of everything else, and divide them up between living room, LL family room and master bedroom. That way if we ever move to a better space we have all the pieces to work with. I also looked at bedroom furniture and bedding for my two year old. We are expecting a baby in October and the 2 year old will lose her crib to the new baby so she needs her own special 'big girl' bed. I am holding off buying anything for now, waiting to find out if the new baby is a he or a she. Hopefully we will find out in the next few weeks.
Mainly I have been doing major cleaning and reorganizing, setting items aside for our rummage sale. If weather and my husband cooperate this Friday should be the day. I also found out we may have to move, but will know more within the next week or two which is why some of our projects are on hold as we learn more. Today I will be trying to finish going through the master bedroom and office areas, reorganizing and finding items to add to the to sell pile.
More posts to come soon and until next time, keep dreaming design!