Living Room Feature

After a much needed hiatus, I'm back with a few new ideas and projects going on! Today we are being featured on Remodelaholic...so head on over there and check it out!!

Happy Monday to you!!

Rachel :)

$50 Room UpDate

Shannon's living room has a few more tweaks before I show the entire room, but I am super excited to bring you a sneak peak. Yes...its only a wall...but a great new look...Remember before?...

This wall of a door and windows leads out to their backyard. Here is what it looks like today...

Completely different. Minimal money. Seriously. I started by removing the window panels, bamboo shades, and the wooden grid on the door and windows. I primed and painted the walls and doors. I kept the same curtain rod (really I would have liked to used a longer one, but sometimes you need to use what you've got), sprayed painted it black and gave it a RAISE! If you are hanging panels, raise the rod!! We discussed using the old panels and sewing fabric to the bottom to lengthen them, but ended up purchasing two drop cloths instead (I love those things) and hanging them. Total cost for the paint and panels was about $50.

She went from being scared of going too neutral to loving the new look! The black door keeps the color pallet neutral but adds enough contrast to make her happy. Happy Shan =  Happy Rach!!

Rachel :)

Family Room Inspiration

See this little guy...

He is the inspiration for a little updating I'm doing at my friend Shannon's house.

I heart him. Really, really heart him. And it turns out he was here all along...

Can you find him? Top, center shelf...check him out.

Sometimes you don't have to go very far to find what you are looking for. I will say he has provided oodles and oodles of inspiration. It's like he spoke to me. Seriously. Charlie Horse now has a shelf front and center. All by himself. Just as it should be. I can't wait to show you the rest.

Rachel :)

In Living Color

Last week I started to work on a living room....

before

This room belongs to my dear friend Shan...She is cute, smart, funny, and she loves color...but she is ready for a change! She is saying goodbye to the green walls and hello to a much more neutral color. We've been talking about doing this for several months and she's been holding out on me. Seriously, the wall color was picked out and the paint was bought about two months ago... I finally pinned her down on a day (she cancelled on me twice) and we got to work last week. I think I'm the bossy, motivating force behind this makeover and I'm really hoping we are still friends when it's over. So far, so good...there was only one minor meltdown last week after the walls were painted and it wasn't from me...Here is what the rest of Shan's family room looked like a few days ago...

And here is a little more information about Shan...her kids are stinking adorable...

as is her dog...

and she loves monograms...

really, really loves monograms...

Her husband is just as cute as the rest of the family, and is uber, uber talented. Check out this awesome frame he made...complete with a picture of their beautiful daughter...

They moved into their house six years ago, and did not paint the family room. Her main goal is to move to a more neutral pallet. She doesn't want her house to look like "an Easter egg basket" and she wants to update the look in this room. I found a great little piece of vintage inspiration  for this project and can't wait to tell you about it...

Rachel :)

Organic Bloom

If you haven't heard of Organic Bloom yet, rest easy...you will! They are a framing company based in Oklahoma, run by a very cute 20ish husband and wife team. Their business exploded overnight and when you take a look at these pictures you will know why. The good news: they rock! The bad news: they only sell to independent photographers...

my personal favorite

You can learn more about them from their website, blog, or facebook page! All images via Organic Bloom.

Rachel :)

Little Changes

A few weeks ago Cassity over at Remodelaholic wrote this post about a room she decorated for an event sponsored by HGTV Home Flooring Line by Shaw Carpets. While the area rug was the least thing I like about the room, there was something in it I loved...

Check out the easel in the corner...can you say love!?! The subway art is rocking too, but I love the idea of displaying something on an easel. Hmmmmmmmm...once again, i was pretty sure I had a great, old easel in my attic. And yes, this would make the third time this month I had "shopped" there, which has been great on the budget.

  

  

Mr. T found the easel, got it out of its hiding spot, and put it proudly in the living room. After I cleaned it (and he reminded he 200 times who bought it - him!) it was ready to go. Which brings me to this great antique mirror my parents picked up when I was little. The glass was cracked, but my dad built the frame, and he and my mom glued pictures from my first few years to make a giant collage. My dad died in 1994 and I have always loved this piece from him. It was never in usable shape, but a few years ago my mom sent it to a very talented man that specializes in rebuilding and refinishing old furniture. He fixed up the frame and my mom gave it to me for Christmas then. It has hung on the wall since, but I think it has finally found a perfect home on the easel from Mr. T.

Rachel :)

A Little Something Extra

I love helping friends with projects around their house. Some ask for it...like my dear friend Shannon...most don't...like my advise to Penny about her stairs. Shannon is currently working on changing the color pallet in her house from reds and greens to more neutral blues and browns. I really don't know why she wants my input...the girl has got killer taste and the talent to go along with it. Plus her husband is super handy. Together they make a GREAT combination. She is currently working on her family room and foyer. Her family room has a wall of fantastic built ins. I've seen so many great looks recently using blues and paint or wallpaper. Here are a few...

Houzz

I LOVE this room. Neutral seating. The pillows are Ralph Lauren that TJ Maxx has had the past few weeks. Pottery Barn also makes them and you can find them at an outlet. The coffee table would be a super easy built for Shannon's husband. The teal adds a great pop of color that brightens things a bit.

Little Nanny Goat

I also love the idea of a wallpaper, painted stencil, or fabric behind shelves. It looks great when painting the same color that is in the rest of the room and stenciling in a contrasting color. Stenciling can be more time consuming than wallpaper, but is a lot cheaper which is always good on the check book.

A few other pieces of inspiration for her family room are:

Tobi Fairley

and for a pop of color...



Palmer Weiss

Design A Glow

Centsational Girl

You call follow our board on Pinterest to check out our other ideas. Stay tuned to see what great design she comes up with. I hope she'll let me share!!

Rachel :)

What You Can Do with $1

You can't do much with $1 these days. Or, can you? Saturday morning the Smurfs were over at a friends house, Mr. T was at work, and I was at home scrubbing the kitchen floors. OK...just kidding! I took advantage of the time and boogied on down to the Habitat ReStore. You know, the one where I bought this. I spent $6...yes, I know this post is about $1 and I'll get to the other $5 later. So, what did I buy with a $1? Here you go...

It's a pallet. Yes, a wooden, often found on the side of the road for free, pallet. I had a project in mind and didn't want just any pallet, I wanted one in good condition. Apparently those cost $1 these days...sold! Here are a few things you can make with a wooden pallet:

Under the Sycamore

re-nest



Apartment Therapy

Life on the Balcony

Amanda Carver Designs

 Here is what Mr. T and I did with our pallet:

A few weeks ago we unbunked Brainy Smurfs bunk beds. All of a sudden we had two twin beds and lots of wall space.  By sticking to our super small budget we were able to create two great walls spaces for Brainy to use! What can you do with $1?

Rachel :)