Bijou Red

Still love my bright red front door. 
Still get compliments on my bright front door. 
Still love how cheery it is and how it goes just great with the red brick. 
This cute gal just painted her front door Bijou Red too.
I'm in love with her pretty, new front door.
Me thinks it would look smashing on my house too.
Me also thinks that it's about time I figure out how to add some thick white moulding around the door.
And to touch up the paint.
But still, it's a happy place to enter.

Dream of our Old Home

Last night, I dreamt that we re-bought our old house.  It was kindof a strange dream.  I think it was brought on because I found this picture I took of my littles sitting on the doorstep yesterday. 

Oh how I love this little picture.  That was his version of smiling that month.  Cowboy boots with shorts, check!  She was just as sassy at one as she is today. 

Anyway....I dreamt that we bought the house and then I did everything that I wanted to do to it when I lived there but didn't.  I didn't do it because we weren't going to stay in that little house for more then 3 years.  And I worried that it wouldn't be as appealing to the masses if I did what I wanted.  I realize now that I was crazy to think that because really, it maybe would of sold faster if it wasn't so plain.

First, I would of added more bushes and plants to the front garden with a rock path from the driveway to the front door.  I would of painted that front door a bright yellow or red.  I would of made it look more like the little cottage that it was at just under 900 sq feet. ( It was something like 15 big steps from the front door to the back door and the most efficient use of space with not one nook or cranny wasted.   I could clean the house from top to bottom, front to back in just 2 1/2 hours!)

In my dreams, I enjoyed the freshly painted kitchen cupboards with the brushed silver pull handles (that I did buy but never installed) instead of worrying that the next owner would think that they weren't new cabinets.  I enjoyed the wood laminate floors that I wanted.  Much easier to clean then the big expanse of light vinyl that showed everything.

The front room would of gotten some color and hung something above the sofa.  And dark red and dark green?  I've never really liked those colors, but, I thought that was what you were supposed to do.

Those were just a few of things that I wished I'd done.  Silly dream?  Sure.  But looking back, those were little things, most not too expensive, that I could of done to make my house more our home.  It was a long process selling that house.  I see now that if I had done more of these things, my house may have been more appealing.  Hopefully, I've learned something from that experience.  Hopefully, I've learned to love and make my house now, my home.

World Map

via Urban Outfitters

I'm totally digging this wall mural and reeaallly think it would look smashing in the boys room!

Ahhh! Freak Out! Le Freak, C'est Chic

How to scare your husband in three easy steps.

1. Cover a perfectly good window with foam board and duck tape.  Be sure to run out of duck tape before it's actually done.

2. Decide that yes, the window sill really is in the way and you can't stand it anymore.  Break out the old tiles in the window sill.

3. Begin to starch fabric to wall but be sure to leave it out and half done because you started this project just two hours before you were supposed to go to work.

Works like a charm!  Here's to me crossing my fingers that I can get this project to work!  Eek!

Inspirations

There hasn't been a whole lot of crafting going on here, but there has been a whole lot of cleaning.  Dare I say that Spring cleaning fever has caught me early?  Possibly.  Whatever the reason, it feels good to clean it up.  Usually, I clean up the room, casually getting rid of things here and there that were no longer needed, then taking the rest of the mess and organizing it into bins and toy boxes and what nots only to have them multiply and grow and explode out of whatever "organizing" I just did.

It's a vicious cycle.

This time around, however,  I just got rid of it.  Cold blooded, ruthlessness, get it out of here and let me tell you, it feels great!  The kids didn't notice and I didn't notice and I can't just can't help myself.  I've been tossing, cleaning and organizing all January.   I've got a vision for my home and I'm making my way there slowly.

That is, until I get to the spare room.  The room that houses all of my crafting goodies.  My harden heart softens when looking at my crafting things.  Pretty papers and silky ribbons, tassel toppers, miles of fringes, little embellishments, stamps and inks, scrapbooking supplies, home decor projects, fabric and felt.  Oh how my little heart goes pitter-patter. 

Pitter, patter, pitter, patter.....it's still a mess.  A slightly better mess, but mess nevertheless. 

A plan must be made.  The stash must be contained yet accessible yet pretty.   Everything Etsy has lots of pretty inspiration this month and when I went over there today, she posted even more pretties.  I want these suitcases. 

I know that I want the IKEA expedit shelf.  My old Target shelf has nine cubbies, the IKEA shelf has 25! Oh the organizing and storing I could do!  The old bookshelves all contained into one unit.

I've wanted it ever since I saw it in Tara Whitney's office two years ago. 

Source: Tara Whiney

And love it more in Benita's home found on her blog Chez Larsson.

I'm saving my pennies for this workhorse but the question remains, which color shall I get?  Black-brown or white?

Pretend it's Tuesday.

Did I say "come back tommorrow and I'll show you the afters"?  I meant come back in a few days when I finally get back to working on my little project and get 'er done.  You totally got that, right? 

It's hard to photograph because it's small and dark, but that aside, this really was a fun and thrifty project.  By shopping my house and a bit of elbow grease, this little stairway got a big improvement. 

So, we got through the walls being painted and the door going the best watery green-blue.  Best $1.50 I've ever spent at Benjamin Moore.  Go ahead and admire the door.  I'll wait.  I've got a can of oil rubbed bronze just itchin' to spray that brass door knob and the child-proof door knob cover is the height of home decor fashion.  Tres chic!  

Next, I was lucky enough to get a custom magnet board made personally by my good friend Jodi.  I painted the frame the same red as my front door.  I planned on adding some fun decorative trim on it but I couldn't wait to put it up!  It might get some in the future.  I think it would look extra spiffy.

A piece of trim I already had was cut to size (thanks neighbors!) gave a secure landing for the inexpensive hooks from Target.  My kids are thrilled about their new hooks.  Hopefully, they will use them.

I had the iron bird scrolly thingy for a while.  I'm on the fence over it.  It's looking a bit like a tattoo to me for some reason. 

So voila!  A small and dark stairway transformed into a hardworking space that is much better to look at and even better since it was done with mainly supplies I had on hand. 

So what about you?  What's your favorite spiff up that you've been able to do by simply shopping your house?  Did you organize your office?  Brighten up your bedroom?  Breathe new life into an old t-shirt by embellishing it?  I'd love to hear what you have been up to.

Done!

It's done! 

It's so much better!

It's too dark to photograph tonight but here is a sneak preview.

Just five easy steps...

This "hallway" has been a thorn in my side.  It's tiny.  It's dark.  It's got an outdated electrical panel and a entry to the tub's plumbing next to it.  And the beloved dark blue carpet.  (Why oh why would one put carpet in the kitchen?)  How does one correct these issues with little or no money and minimal time?    Here's how in just five simple steps.

Step 1: Have Jodi make you a custom size magnet board to cover the mess of the wall and provide a place for artwork and homework reading charts.   In your excitement, forget to pay her.  Call her and beg for forgiveness and tell her what an awesome, wood workin' goddess she is! 

Time Spent/Money Spent:  TBD.  Gotta pay the girl.

Step 2: Get over the floor.  Eventually, I will get the flooring of my dreams installed.  You know, the one that cleans itself and always looks brand spankin' new.  I haven't found it yet, that's why I don't have it yet.  Haha! 

Time/Money Spent: Zero!

Step 2:  Clear off the door of artwork.  Clean the walls and door of the kidlets finger prints.  Much, much better already.  Pry off the old molding around the water entry thingy. 

Time/Money: 15 minutes, zero dollars.

Step 3:  Go through all of your paints to find the paint from the family room, front door and a mistint that only cost $1.50.   Gather painting supplies and paint halls, paint door, paint magnet board frame.  It's hard to tell, but the walls went from dingy, poorly painted white to a very nice Nantucket Gray which is just a nice way of saying they are tan.  Door, Withye Blue by Benjamin Moore.

Time/Money = 2 hours,  Less than $15 since

I ran out of the wall color.

Step 4:  Paint frame bright red.  Love the red.  Be happy all over again for painting the front door bright red.  Praise Behr for their Paint + Primer goodness. 

Time/Money:  15 minutes for both coats, FREE!

Step 5:  After waiting the appropriate drying time, hang magnet board and decorate.    Afters to come tomorrow.  I'm still playing with the arrangement. 

Total Time and Money Spent:  Three hours and less than $15 for paint plus needing to pay for the magnet board.

Bargain!  This is my kind of afternoon project!

Halloween Book Basket

I love to have a seasonal book basket for my kids.  We really enjoy it, and even though there are a lot of board books, Jake still likes to read them with us too.  Nothing is better than a snugly soft blanket and a basket full of books to read on a cool Autumn day especially today when it's dark and SNOWING!

Some of our favorites:

• Where's Baby's Pumpkin? 
• Who Said Boo? - Mia loves to read this to us.
• Little Spider - Sam thinks it's hilarious to smush the finger puppet spider back in the book for me to pop out bonking his head. 
• Charlie and Lola's Boo! Made You Jump - I love anything Charlie and Lola.
• No More Monsters for Me - an easy reader for Mia 
• I am a Leaf 
• Stellaluna 
• A Halloween Mask for Monster 
• I Spy A Pumpkin 
• The Monster at the End of this Book - my favorite! Who doesn't LOVE Grover?

 I would love to add to our collection. Do you have a favorite book to share with us??

Making a Grand Entrance

The little chair that inspired me to get off my undecided hiney got a little makeover. It went from country blue to semi-gloss black.

And paint that safe but dull navy blue door........

changes to a stand out red.

I used Bijou Red from the Behr Paint + Primer and it rocked. Covered right over the navy in two coats. However, unfortunately for me, I put up three because just an hour after the second coat was applied, it started to pour rain right under the eaves onto the door. The dull silver light got a coat of Oil Rubbed Broze and made all the difference to me.

This was a quick and simple project that made a huge impact on my home. What once was dull is now bright and inviting. I looked up to see what "bijou" meant and this quote came up:

"A beautiful red bijou that symbolizes the firey blaze. In the East, people
believe that this bijou can help wishes come true."

Now, as my friend Kem put it, I have a wishing door. ♥ love ♥

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Don't forget to enter my give-away that I am sponsering at Blue Cricket Design!

Give away now closed.

Four Dollar Inspiration.

I found this little ladder back chair this weekend at my local thrift store. It was only $4! I knew it would be fun to use by my front door. Even it in all it's painted country blue goodness.

And this little chair inspired me to finally get off my undecided hiney and paint my front door something way more exciting then the navy blue I did last year. And I love it! Can you guess what color it is?? (Kem, Jackie, Jodi - no cheating!)

Bath

My favorite part of newly re-decorated bath.

I'm planning on hanging big hooks underneath the bath sign to hang fluffy towels. Or in my case, towels that will be fluffy until the first child walks into the bathroom and wipes their chocolate covered hands on them then leaving it on the floor. But until then, it's going to look fab!

Vacation - Stay-cation

For Ryan's vacation this year, we opted for a nice "stay-cation". We had a great time celebrating the 24th of July by finishing up the bathroom. (It's looking good in there! Just a few more details like finding a light fixture that will work with the mirror or a new mirror to work with the light fixture we have. Decisions, decisions.) We went swimming, we went to the park, we celebrated Ry's 34th birthday, we went to the baseball game, we ate out, we shopped. It was great!

With only two more glorious days before he had to return to work, he suggested that we pull out the carpet in the front room. He didn't even have to say it twice before I was practically throwing the furniture out the front door. Yippee! This has been my kind of vacation! Home improvement projects galore.

At first, the floors looked promising. In great condition and just needed a bit of cleaning and a new coat of poly. But alas, they were just like all the rest of the house. The previous owners used the hardwood as their drop cloth for their painting projects.

My son and his friends really helped. They pulled out staples, pushed out the old carpet and demolished the old tile. They were great help!

At one point during the full on destruction of the tiles, Ryan said the boys "Thanks for destroying my house." You should of seen their faces until they realized it was okay.




Now that Ryan is back to work, I am filling in holes, washing walls and cleaning the floors, trying to decide on a stain color. Oh boy. Decisions, decisions. I can't wait to see them done! Now if I could just get that sectional sofa that I have been wanting....

How to hang beadboard- Megan style

Step 1: Wait until husband goes out of town and then decide that the bathroom must be done right then and there.
Step 2: Measure, measure and measure some more. Decide that it would be good idea to balance the bead board on the metal bar above the old linoleum.
Step 3: Go to Home Depot and have them make the big cuts for you.
Step 4: Try to put the biggest piece of bead board up by yourself because you can do it and you have that handy-dandy metal bar that will help you.
Step 5: Find out that there is no way that you can actually hold the bead board 4 inches off the ground because that handy-dandy metal bar is in no way helping.
Step 6: Call Dad.
Step 7: Dad will come over at 9:30 at night and help you hang the big piece of bead board which required way more strength and flexibility than you ever thought possible for such a lightweight material.
Step 8: Run out of adhesive but that's a good thing because you actually bought the wrong kind of adhesive anyway thus the difficulty getting the board to stick to the wall while you hammer in finishing nails.
Step 9: Beg Dad to come back with his jig saw the next day. He does thankfully.
Step 10: Laugh and giggle over your stellar measuring skillz as nothing is lining up right and cuts are too deep. Decide that if you were a pair of carpenters, that you wouldn't make a dime. In fact you would have to pay them to do the work.
Step 11: Measure all cut pieces from Home Depot and realize that it was Home Depot's mistake. All pieces were cut incorrectly. Feel smug because your measuring skillz have now been redeemed.
Step 12: Have Dad save the day by figuring out how to use all the pieces anyway.
Step 13: Finish hanging the rest of the bead board yourself because now you have mad jigsawing skillz to add to your mad measuring skillz.
Step 14: Smoother Dad with thanks, hugs and kisses and think that maybe it would of been a good idea to wait the day and a half for my honey to get home.
Step 15: Admire your work! Next step, finishing trim and paint!

Bathroom During

Good bye poorly painted walls.
Hello fresh paint and yummy beadboard!




Good bye super ugly green counter tops!!

Hello pretty sandy counters!

Plans are coming along nicely. The paint is taking ages to dry since our swamp cooler is making everything so humid. (Don't you love swamp coolers? Not me! Everything is sticky, wet and still too hot. Especially our bedroom. Ugh! )

PROGRESS

1. Paint walls with leftover paint from family room. CHECK
2. Cover the walls with tub-height bead board painted bright white. INSTALLED - BUT NOT YET PAINTED
3. Paint vanity dark brown. ALMOST - DOORS AREN'T FINISHED
4. Paint and seal counter tops a sandy color. CHECK
5. Extend length of bargain curtain. FABRIC BOUGHT
6. Install new light fixture handed down from dear Sister. NOT SURE IT'S GOING TO WORK.
7. Find new mirror or medicine cabinet. CHECK- FOUND A MIRROR AT THE THRIFT STORE FOR ONLY $5!
8. Budget $100. SPENT!

Decorate with new lamp - check

A while back, I was the lucky winner of this lamp from Imparting Grace. I was so thrilled when I received this lamp but had to put it aside until I had more time to play with it. As I walked past it for three days, I realized that I liked the place that it was in so I added my favorite bird tassel and called it a day. I still would love to fancy up the shade and put something by the lamp eventually but, for now, I am happy with it!



Thanks so much Richella!

Bathroom Plans

I like to live with a room for a while before I decide how I want it done. It helps me narrow down my thought process and look for inspirations but for my bathroom, it seemed that a whole gut was imminent. Emerald green faux marble countertops and blacksplash, vintage green tub with huge shower surround attached, walls in poor condition from a bad wallpaper striping and paint job and white carpet. Who puts carpet in their bathroom?? It just felt that this bathroom had no choice but to go.

After a few months we tore out the carpet, a few months after that, I stripped off the wallpaper border, a few months after that I took down the shower doors. Considered beadboard to cover up sad looking walls but nothing ever happened.

After reading the last issue of Do It Yourself magazine (my favorite!) I became inspired by their spread of tiny bathroom fix ups. Love the bright color and the crisp white. The fun shower curtain and the big white mirror.
Inspired, I put up a darling shower curtain that I had bought from the thrift store a while back because I liked the fabric for Mia's room. Turns out, it's the superstar that pulls together the vintage tub and flooring. There was no denying it, this tiny bath was going to get a fresh new look.

PLANS

1. Paint walls with leftover paint from family room.
2. Cover the walls with tub-height bead board painted bright white.
3. Paint vanity dark brown.
4. Paint and seal counter tops a sandy color.
5. Extend length of bargain curtain.
6. Install new light fixture handed down from dear Sister.
7. Find new mirror or medicine cabinet.
8. Budget $100.

To be continued....

The Bathroom - Before

I know I took a whole bunch of "before" photos but somehow, in the mess of things, but, I think I deleted them before I downloaded them.



This is how our bathroom looked when we first moved in. It's a beauty, isn't it?!?! Tiny room with cream carpet, vintage green tub with gigantic-in-the-way sliding glass shower doors, plastic curtain, badly painted white walls with a wallpaper border that featured magnolias on a forest green background. Light alder cabinet with a fancy-dancy emerald green faux marble top and backsplash with a teeny, tiny oak medicine cabinet mirror with matching oak and brass light fixture. Sooo pretty!!

It's in desperate need of a little TLC and since we have no money for a major bathroom renovation, I thought long and hard about the saying that goes a little something like this:

"Wear it out, fix it up, make it work or do without."

Or at least something like that. So, armed with $100 bucks, determination, repurposing and lots of elbow grease, the face-lift has started.

To be continued...