Front Porch Makeover #2

When we moved into our home six years ago I began a love hate relationship with the front porch. I love that we have one. I use to hate that it’s enclosed but over the years I have grown fond of this fact. I continued to hate the carpet and am weary of the wicker furniture. About three years ago I did a makeover which was better but still not great. So after much debate I finally tried again and I think this time I got it right (at least for now -wink). 

What do you think?

The table is from Ikea and was redone with chalk pain. See that post here.

The checker board was a find from a thrift store as was the lamp/shade. I bought some burlap ribbon at the craft store and just tied it around the shade. The rocker was also from the thrift store and was spray painted yellow. The rug is from Ballard Designs. 

As for the floor; I ripped up the old carpet and the concrete floors were actually in pristine shape so I cleaned them and stained them with this. 

Note: I originally bought the smaller one that is in some of the photos but decided I wanted a bigger one (photo above). When I emailed customer service at Ballard Design to arrange to send it back for a refund I quickly received an email back saying I would be refunded back and to just keep the rug as a give. Needless to say they have a customer for life with me. 

The curtains were left over from my dining room and the baskets were all from the thrift store. 

The table, rooster, vase and wooden apples all from the thrift store.

The tin pail was from the Dollar Store. 

More about my wreaths

To change the look of the wicker I just spay painted all the chairs, bought new cushions and used the same pillows. 

This was the before-before and after from 2013. Looks better huh!?!

Thanks for visiting,

Wall Art Inspiration is Everywhere

I am always looking for wall art ideas. Not just framed photos but anything that is beautiful and interesting and can adhere to a wall and fill blank space. I even have a Pinterest board designated just for this purpose. I have found some great ideas online but I have also found some great ideas throughout my daily travels.....hence this post. Below are some unique wall art I have come in contract with including where I found them. Enjoy!

First I will take you back to my son's apartment where we decorated the master bedroom wall with wood planks (blog post here). For the dining room we went for a Los Angeles Street Scene in 1942 Wall Mural from Eazy Wallz. Very Cool!!                                                                                      

 

About a year and a half ago I became a Real Estate Agent so I have the opportunity to tour many homes and some of the owners are quit talented. Below are two examples. I love the three dimensionality of these designs.

So the other day I had to stopped by my Eye Doctor to have some paperwork filled out and while waiting I used the facilities. Much to my surprise I found this really cool art work. It's a little hard to see but the frame and canvas are not attached but hung to look that way. Again, I love the three dimensionality of this design. Who would have thought I would find inspiration in the Eye Doctor's Bathroom. LOL!!

  

The area I live is on the east coast, near water and full of little shops. Mostly for tourists but us locals have been known to buy a thing or two (hundred). Here are a few cool pieces I snapped photos of last summer. Unfortunately I can't remember which little shops I was in.....there are so many!

Here are also some links to wall art I have done and blogged about in the past:

DIY PB Knock Off Mirror

50's Inspired Starburst Wall Art

Rasterbator Wall Art

Thanks for visiting!

Apartment Master Bedroom OR New York City Hotel Room?

Last week I flew to LA to help my youngest son decorate his apartment. My assignment was to paint an accent wall in the master bedroom and help attach wood wall panels. Since I only had three full days to accomplish this task (and more) I went on the Home Depot website and filled a shopping cart with everything I needed and set it for "pick-up". Of course it was at the Home Depot near where he lived and a few days before my arrival my son went and picked it all up. He also chose the paint that he wanted. Now I am on "Team Sherman Williams" but since his place is a rental no worries if we went off brand. When I landed I found a big box of all my needed supplies waiting for me in the living room, (my son was at work). So....I got right down to it and started working. 

First...painting the accent wall.

Second...attaching the wood wall panels.

I first found the wood wall panels, called walling by this company, and showed them to my son who loved the idea. There are numerous companies out there that sell these self-adhesive (peel-and-stick backing) panels but this company had the best price. Full disclosure; they did not stay up. It might have been because I had painted the wall the day before and it was unseasonably hot those few days, just not sure. For him it was not a big deal anyway because he lives in So. California and due to the occasional earthquake and the placement of the boards over the head of his bed we were planning on placing a few nails anyway. Hence the photo of him with a hammer...haha. So if you are apposed to nailing them up then maybe do a little more research in regard to the adhesive. Also, the panels he chose are the "Genoa -White Oak".

Third...shopping for bedding, wall art, end tables and lamps. 

(sorry, no photos of our excursion but you get the gist)

And here it is....the finished room. 

So I ask you...apartment master bedroom or New York City hotel room?

Night Stands

Lamps

Paint

Bedding

Wall Planks (walling)

Note: About a month prior to my arrival I started a Pinterest Board so I could share my inspirations to Kyle. He wanted a very sleek and clean look in neutral colors. Below is the board. Trust me when I say I pushed hard for pops of color but he held steadfast with his ideas and I think he hit the nail on the head. 

Kyle's New Apartment Pinterest Board

Thanks for visiting and don't hesitate to send questions. 

It's Been A While!

Wow...I just received a message on one of my pages and realized I stopped blogging about a year and a half ago. Honestly, there was no real reason why I stopped, at least not one that I can remember. I do recall feeling overwhelmed after I did the blog challenge; it really was a challenge and it ended up not being fun. Coming up with something to post daily for 31 days was hard and a little boring toward the end. I ran out of ideas to post and that was frustrating. I do remember thinking I would take a brake but not for over a year. As you can see I did post a few times after but my I guess I just lost my motivation somewhere along the way. Even as I write this post I wonder what I will write about moving forward. I have continued to read other blogs and I am impressed by those who post daily. I actually look forward to a couple of bloggers' daily posts and am disappointing when they miss a day or two. I often do something or see something or learn something and think to myself "I should blog about that" but those times are far from daily or even weekly so to start blogging again will require effort coming up with what to share. Is my well dry? 

Of course over the last year and a half there have been many small and significant life events in between the big ones. Birthday parties, holiday gatherings, community outings and lots of time with my granddaughters including a weekly adventure that we call "Kids Day Out". I continue to be crafty in and around my home and have even started crocheting and sewing more. Maybe I do have some ideas to blog about....Hmmm! I think I might be back.

So...while I ponder to blog or not to blog (at least on a committed regular basis) I will share some of the big events that have happened since I last blogged. 

In August of 2014 just days before her 92nd birthday my beloved mother passed away. She suffered from Alzheimers for over a year and God finally called her home. As hard as it was to say goodbye it was a relief to know she was Home. 

On Thanksgiving day of that same year my four legged daughter, Chloe, also went Home. God blessed me with her presence for over 15 years. She is missed daily, especially by her partner in crime Buttons, who is still trying to adjust. 

In December of 2014 I stepped away from a 31 year career in healthcare and became a Real Estate Agent which is what I am doing now. There is a lot to that story so I will save the details for another post. This is a photo of me at work during my first year of nursing. I bet you can tell the decade by the hair. LOL!

This past November I celebrated fives years of marriage to my best friend. I still pinch myself. We bought a Butterfly Bush to celebrate which also has a story that I will also save for another post. 

See you Soon!!!