Dining Room Transformation

The interior of my last home was beige.  ALL BEIGE.  That was a big improvement from our first home before which remained builders white the entire three and a half years we lived there.  I simply was AFRAID of color.   I could not commit to paint colors so I simply just didn't paint.   Weeeeeell for some reason when we purchased this home I decided that color was GOOD so paint away we did.  Some rooms we are on our third color in ten years.  I now LOVE painting.    

Not only had I freed myself from my paint color fear, but I took an extra step and had my mom hang wallpaper in my dining room.    Everyone was in total shock because it not only had color but pattern as well.  This was huge for me.    However, after 7 years that pattern that I so loved grew old and I knew it was time for a change.  The only problem was having to take down the wallpaper.  It seemed like it would be a tedious job so I kept it up for 2 (yes TWO) more years until one day I pulled a corner and the ENTIRE piece came off.  Apparently I had purchased really good paper that was very easy to remove, which I did in 15 minutes.   

My hun and I love to travel.  Our favorite places are those that are tropical.  While we were on a trip to Aruba and staying in one of the resorts, I fell in love with the decor.  That decor was the look I decided to base my dining room off of.  I'm still searching for the perfect furniture but until I find exactly what I want, it'll remain as is.   What do you think? 

 The beginning 

(I forgot to get a before picture - 

there was more decor before this)

I actually miss this corner of the room 

The last little bit of wallpaper

Back to builders white 

(fortunately no wallpaper residue was left behind)

After a trip to Pier 1 and a couple other stores for decor

Something needs to be under this table but I'm not sure what yet.

I found this lovely tree at GW for $19.00 and I LOVE it!!

The pictures next to the mirror have been moved to the basement and replaced by sconces.  

I still need a rug but the room is 20 feet long and my table is long as well so I'm having a hard time finding one.  

So what do you think of an outdoor rug under the table.  Something with a sisal kind of look?

Lisa

My favorite blogs to link up to: 

Newbie Party - http://debbie-debbiedoos.com
Masterpiece Monday - http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com
Monday Link Up Party - http://makingtheworldcuter.com
Make it Pretty Monday - http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com
Motivate Me Monday - http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com
Before & After Party - http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com
Table Top Tuesday - http://www.astrollthrulife.net
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday - http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com
Tuesday's Treasures - http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com
Wow Us Wednesdays - http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net
Welcome Home Wednesday - http://www.vintageonadime.blogspot.com
Open House Party - http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com
Whimsy Wednesdays - http://thenymelrosefamily.com
Thursday favorite Things - http://katherinescorner.com
Feathered Nest Friday - http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com
Thrifty Things Friday - http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com
It's Inspiration Friday - http://www.atthepicketfence.com

REFINISHED BUILT INS

When my husband finished our basement several years ago, he had a Divine idea to frame out a wall unit around our huge( at the time) top of the line HD projection TV.   We hadn't considered at the time what on earth we would do if they went out of style and came out with flat screens.  Well that exact thing happened and after a few years we had to purchase a new one.   We temporarily (at least a year and a half) placed the flat screen in a spot it fit until we could come up with a new design plan.   We liked the existing cabinetry and it was well used so we decided to keep it but we replaced the tops with granite, had lighting added and had a built in installed where the big ugly old TV hole was.  I am very pleased with the outcome.   What do you think?  

YUCK YUCK and YUCK!!  What were we thinking??

A much improved beginning

Almost but not quite right

Now much better

Not exactly the "man cave" but we both love it

Hope you are having a wonderful day. 

This week I will be linking up to these wonderful blogs: 


Newbie Party - http://debbie-debbiedoos.com
Masterpiece Monday - http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com
Monday Link Up Party - http://makingtheworldcuter.com
Make it Pretty Monday - http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com
Motivate Me Monday - http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com
Before & After Party - http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com
Table Top Tuesday - http://www.astrollthrulife.net
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday - http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com
Tuesday's Treasures - http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com
Wow Us Wednesdays - http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net
Welcome Home Wednesday - http://www.vintageonadime.blogspot.com
Open House Party - http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com
Whimsy Wednesdays - http://thenymelrosefamily.com
Thursday favorite Things - http://katherinescorner.com
Feathered Nest Friday - http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com
Thrifty Things Friday - http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com
It's Inspiration Friday - http://www.atthepicketfence.com

Lisa

Rummage Sale Finds

Every year my friend and I attend a Hospital Auxiliary Rummage Sale.  It is a huge sale held in Virginia.    My friend clears out the back of her SUV and off we go.    This year traffic was horrible and in a panic we were missing out on something, we finally arrived about a half hour after the doors opened.    This sale is one of our favorites to go to.  They have EVERYTHING you can imagine from clothes, shoes, purses to housewares, furniture, antiques and just plain other junk, which we LOVE.   The other year my friend was fortunate enough to find a wagon to purchase, which made carrying our wares a little easier but last year we had to carry around the bags we brought.  This year we FORGOT, yes forgot bags.  How does one do this?   Luckily some of the "cashiers" had plastic bags that we were able to use.    We did pretty good this year only purchasing a few small items.  We couldn't believe that we were actually getting out of there without filling the back of the SUV when low and behold, I found a tree.  Yes, that is right, an artificial tree.   I didn't need a tree.  I didn't want a tree.  I certainly was NOT looking to buy a tree but when I asked the price and the sales lady suggested $20.00 I had to seriously think about it.   She must have thought I wasn't interested and immediately brought the price down to 15.00 bucks.  I didn't say a thing but looked at her like she could not be serious.  I was in shock.  These trees are expensive.  She must have mistaken my look as though I wasn't interested and at that point said she would take $10.00.  WHAT??? TEN dollars????  Okay, guess I was going home with a tree.    

A cute little candle for a dollar.

 Every girl needs a fun wine glass and this one was perfect

especially for fifty cents.  

Two candle holders - fifty cents each.  

They are sooo pretty lit up at night. 

I paid ten dollars at a kitchen store for the red spatula and 

just got the yellow one for fifty cents at the rummage sale.  

I should have waited!!

I loved this picture and with a little paint on the frame love it more. 

It goes perfect in my basement bathroom.  

Loved the granite whatever the heck it is.  

I just added a cloche and pumpkin but I still need to figure out what to do with it later.  I loved the fat little rooster too.

I put the fat little rooster inside my kitchen cabinet.

I smile whenever I see him peeking out at me. 

The TREE - so happy I got it

Of course there were several other things I didn't get pictures of but these are some of my favorites. 

What good finds have you found recently?

Lisa

UPDATED LIVING ROOM

We have a formal living room in our home.  I don't really care for it because it is rarely used.  I do like the fact that it is right off of the foyer and is what you see when you first come in the house.   The white furniture I have in this room was the first furniture my husband and I purchased together when we were married 18 years ago.  I still like it and it has served it's purpose (to look nice and not be used, LOL).   I was tired of just seeing this room and never using it (despite the amazingly comfy couch) so I decided to bring up some books from the basement and purchase a bookshelf to keep them on and now I use it as a reading room.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.  It is like having an addition to our home without any of the work.    

The boring living room before

Some things from around the house to fill the shelves.  

I used the basket for the "ugly" books.

The new shelf

Not such a fun experience putting this thing together. 

All prettied up

The after shot - I love that the shelves are opened on the side. 

Well that is all for now.  I'm off to sit back and read.  

Lisa 

Painting Ceramic Tiles

I just posted about my new kitchen color but I forgot to mention one thing.... one awful thing.  One of those things you don't think of ahead or even notice until a project is complete.   Once we had the kitchen repainted I stepped back to take a look at the finished project when I noticed that my ceramic tumbled tile did NOT match.  It looked great with the walls red but with them a different color the tiles now looked a little peachy.  Why hadn't I noticed this before?   After a quick moment of panic and some funny looks from my husband I took the wall paint and started painting the tiles.  Mostly it stuck in the crevices and the little bit of grout that is in some of the crevices but it changed the look like I wanted to.  Thank goodness the crises was avoided.  No need to redo the tile.  

THE "peachy" TILES BEFORE

THE "golden" TILES AFTER

Don't ever be afraid to try a little paint when you need something to match.  Especially if it is going to be something you may replace anyway. 

Lisa

FINALLY FALL

I have seen so many lovely fall decorations lately.  I was a little slow getting the fall decor out due to a hectic work schedule and a little stint in the hospital for a bout of the whooping cough (did you know you should get a booster as an adult because I didn't).   I debated even decorating for fall and moving right on into Christmas but I knew I would miss it if I didn't do it, especially since I have a big Thanksgiving get together at my home every year.   I didn't decorate as much as I normally would have but I am enjoying what I have done.  What do you think?

Hope you are having fun decorating for fall.  

Today I am linking up to:  

http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/ http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/ http://makingtheworldcuter.com
http://www.vintageonadime.blogspot.com/
http://thenymelrosefamily.com

Lisa

NO MORE RED KITCHEN

We have been in our house for ten years.  The kitchen was the first room that we painted a month after moving in. While my friends and most of my family still liked the red and thought I was out of my mind for wanting to paint it again I went for it.  It was difficult because I had to match the color to the eat-in area and family room, however I wanted a little more of a creamy gold instead of a beige.  Sooooo after fifty thousand or so non matching paint swatches I finally found one that matched and started painting.   While I loved the new paint color, I still felt a couple changes were in need so I added a pot rack I got at GW for $10.00 and a new desk chair that I found at Ross. 

    Here are a few of the before pictures. 

Some of the paint swatches

I didn't realize how much was on top of the cabinets

I forgot what a mess painting a kitchen can be 

Behr paint and primer in one is the best paint. 

 It only took one coat to cover the red.  

That is a great man on that ladder :)

AFTER 

Now onto project number....  too many to count. 

Hope you have fun with your next project, no matter how large or small. 

Today I am linking up with          

Newbie Party - http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/
Masterpiece Monday - http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/
Monday Link Up Party - http://makingtheworldcuter.com
Motivate Me Monday - http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/
Table Top Tuesday - http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday - http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/
Tuesday's Treasures - http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com
Wow Us Wednesdays - http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/
Welcome Home Wednesday - http://www.vintageonadime.blogspot.com/
Open House Party - http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
Whimsy Wednesdays - http://thenymelrosefamily.com
Thursday favorite Things - http://katherinescorner.com/
Feathered Nest Friday - http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Thrifty Things Friday - http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/

                                                                                                                        

Lisa