Progress in the Guest Room

A couple of months ago we took our scary storage/ workout room....

...And turned it into a guest room.  We started by tearing out the drop ceilings & then having the walls & ceiling re-drywalled.  A closet door  was also added to hide the massive storage closet/ understairs storage.  We took our old guest room and turned it into another office for me & my assistant, Meghan.  (We are still waiting for our furniture to arrive in the office but I'll post pics when we're finished!)

The guest room is pretty much a hodgepodge of things we already had, with the only new item being the linen curtains I had made out of my new Thistle fabric.  I used the vintage wooden dresser I found a while back & truth-be-told, it's stuffed with off-season clothes.  My wooden lady (who is super-heavy) makes me happy:

We're still missing one of the most important elements in the room- the headboard!!- so I have to warn you that the pics really don't look that great, but I'm excited about the progress we've made & wanted to share.  (The pics are also really grainy- sorry!!!)  It's a very tiny room so just room for a bed with a small trunk at the end.  (Which I couldn't even fit into a picture)  I used white/cream bedding we already had & have been having fun layering the bed with different quilts to suit my different moods.  Right now I wanted sort of a Fallish-Bohemian feeling so I used a couple of old vintage quilts.  Here's a blurry pic I snapped of the half unmade bed this morning:

{The quilts are vintage and the 2 boudoir pillows are in a Peter Dunham linen}

I used my favorite pair of massive glass lamps on either side of the bed & was able to just fit in our pedestal table along with the dresser:

{The window isn't centered in the room so we had to go with two totally different sizes of end tables...  Since we were using pieces we already had, the pedestal table is a bit shorter than I'd like so I raised the lamp up with some books to make it more even with its mate.}

I have a collection of old mushroom prints on one wall and wooden printers' trays that the boys & I are working on filling with natural objects on the other, so I'll be sure to share overall pics when we're "finished."  I'm planning on doing a headbaord upholstered in warn oatmeal linen that will stop right at the window sill.  I'm debating on on its shape because I am still to excited over my curtains to cover them up too much with a straight headboard so it will either be rounded or I'll cut out the corners.

Here's a close-up of the curtains in Thistle in Sepia & I'm pretty excited to see them in there:

{I chose them because I could mix them with just about any colors I wanted when my moods change}

Anyway, I'll share more when there's more to see.  I hope you liked it & that you're having a great week!!  I also took a few more photos the other day of one of our most recent installs & will be sure to share.  My client's bedroom turned out beautifully & is really different from this one, so I'll try to post soon.

If you're interested in purchasing any of my fabrics, you can visit my online store here.

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Easy Coastal Ornament

Most of my Christmas decorations will have a coastal theme to them this year.  I was asked by a family member why coastal when I don't live by the sea?   I love to change up my themes for Christmas and coastal is a theme I love anyway.  It is also really easy to pull off with out a big investment in decor you will only have out for maybe four weeks a year. 

So to create an ornament with any shell or starfish, try raffia.  You can find it in any crafting section of most stores.  The raffia just needs to be looped around one finger of the starfish like pictured above.

Pull the raffia snug and it "grips" the starfish. 

Tie a knot in the end of the raffia for the desired length of string.

And, that's it.  It will work on most shells and then they are ready to hang in your tree, on a wreath, or in a garland.  
 What Christmas decor have you been working on?

Sherry

I will link to:
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Coastal Christmas Linky Party at Sally Lee by the Sea
 

I'm back from Thanksgiving break and it was soooooooo great to get to just relax & hang with my family.  (And eat, of  course!)  I was thinking about it...  and isn't it funny that for this one day a year, almost all of us Americans are eating pretty much the exact same thing?  How weird would it be if we all did burgers on Tuesdays or pesto on Fridays?  ...  the grocery stores would be pretty profitable.  Random, I know. 

{We braved Black Friday - not bad at all, very odd- and found these cute little boots from Gap Kids}

We finally finished raking our yard and I got in a few pics of the boys:

{Christian, 4 and Justin- almost 2!}

I took a complete break from work, which was really nice, but I couldn't help going back to look at pics of some of our recent installs from last week...  Here's a mid-stage pic of one of my favorite rooms as we were moving everything in:

(The curtains are LL Textiles Live Paisley in Gold and I wish the were in my house :)

My client made a last-minute color switch on the walls & they turned out to be too pink.  We're going back to our original color which will be a cream.  {She had a color from one brand reproduced in another brand and it didn't come out perfectly to match the swatch... }    {I'd love to hide all of the not-so-smooth details from you to make it all seem perfect, but just keepin' it real & hopefully it'll help someone with being exrta careful about switching paint brands/ paint matching.}  This room is definitely going to be one of my favorite rooms we've ever done when we're finished.  My clients have the coolest style (she's traditional, he's a bit more edgy- so the mix is perfect) and I'm in love with the room.   

Anyway, I'm off for the day to a master bedroom installation.  I'll be sure to share some peeks!!  Hope your Thanksgiving was special!!




If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

The Holly and the Ivy

I was just taking some pictures of my Christmas decorations and I kept thinking of the song "The Holly and the Ivy."  I found free Christmas Carol sheet music online for you to print for singing or crafts.  Click here.

More peaks of Christmas decorating.  

 Sherry

I will join:

I will link it to:

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage
Show Off Your Cottage Monday at The House in the Roses
Amaze Me Monday  at Dittle Dattle
Tabletop Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life

White Wednesday  at Faded Charm

Home Sweet Home #42

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  I am showing just a few peaks of Christmas decorating in progress at my house.  

I am so thankful for my family and that I am here every minute with them!  I am also thankful for all of you and the wonderful comments and kind words you come by to give me!

I have new reasons to be extra thankful this year.  I went into the hospital last weekend with a abnormal heart rhythm and I will be seeing a specialist for this.  It is now controlled with medication but a cure is most likely available.  Very thankful I am able to have an opportunity to go to this specialist! Everyone have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!  

 Now, I would like to feature some wonderful posts from Home Sweet Home last week.  I am sorry I did not get around to each post to say thank you for joining me, but thank you to everyone who joins me here at Home Sweet Home!

First, Alyssabeth at Alyssabeths created an adorable cloche from dollar store finds.  Click the link to view.

Janette, at The 2 Seasons remodeled their bedroom for the holidays.  Click the link to view.

Komali Nunna at Entertaining From an Ethnic Indian Kitchen  created a beautiful arrangement from her bountiful garden.  Click the link to view.

And last Debbie at Confessions of a Plate Addict showed off a gorgeous antique mall for some Christmas inspiration.  Click the link to view.  

Again thank you to all who join me at Home Sweet Home!  It is awesome to have you here!  

Sherry

I will join these ladies today:

 Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Fridays Unfolded  at Stuff and Nonsense 

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home 

Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party:

Attention: To link up with inlinkz you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or they will not allow you to link. 

My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)

Now let's see your beautiful homes!

Cottage Table

I have a cottage kitchen table that I showed this makeover on last year. 

The little table was from the nineties and had a tile top.  I wanted to update it and make it into a plank top table.

It wasn't hard to transform it.  My husband just unscrewed the tile top and we put two pre-cut pieces of pine in it's place.  They were sold this pre-cut size at Lowes.

What I am showing you today is the care of the pine top.  It is getting a little scratched up, but that was my intention.  I like it rustic with some wear so, any dings it has is okay.

To care for it every so often I apply this Boos Block Mystery Oil.  It is a mixture of linseed oil and some other oil.  It is the perfect finish for this type of top.  We have set glasses on this top and it gets no water rings.  This is a old finish that has been around for a long time.  It is very durable and works great.  If you use this be sure and dispose of the rags as directed on the label.  Linseed oil can become highly flammable on rags and should be disposed of properly. 

When I applied the oil the wood soaked it right up.

This gives your plank top a lovely finish that will last for years.  
I have been sick these last few days and will continue to post a little less.  I plan to have the Home Sweet Home party on this Thursday.

Sherry

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

I can't wait...

...For Thanksgiving.

{Barry Dixon}

I am so ready to relax with my family & eat some goodness!!    We have a few loose ends to tie up at work and then we're off on Wednesday for the holiday.

{Image by Lisa Cohen: From lisacohenphotography.com }

I've been collecting Fall & Thanksgiving images for a while on pinterest so I figured I'd share a few that really make me happy. 

{Image via soderbergagentur.com}

I am so excited to wrap up in a blanket by the fire and hang with my husband & some good music.  (I have to admit that Christmas music DID get played this weekend while raking.  I have a problem :) 

{From casa-diseno-blog.com}

 Anyway, hope you have a great last few days of work before vacation!!!





If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Family Room Redo: Sneekity Peek

To say this week has been crazy would be an understatement.  Installations are really the most fulfilling part of my job because it's like surprising someone with an awesome present.  I love seeing & hearing about my clients' reactions when they see their finished spaces & there's nothing better in this job than making them happy.  This week we installed for a few clients: a family room & some common areas, a living room, and we placed the final pieces of art in another favorite project of ours.  We get the chance to work with some of the sweetest, most amazing clients and I feel so lucky.

I just wanted to share a little tiny peek of one of my client's family rooms.  I particularly loooove her slipcovered linen ottoman and the rug she found on One King's Lane.   We had a few delays this week which were tough, but in the end it will all work out.  I'll be sure to share more when I can... the photos I took were all pretty grainy so I need me some Helen Norman. :)

Enjoy this beautiful weekend!!

(And thank you to my amazing clients if you're reading-- you are really all the best!) 

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.