A Great Comeback

 Wallpaper is making a comeback in a huge way, I remember cursing it's name in my first condo as I ripped wall after wall of it down.  Now there are finally some GREAT wallpaper sources out there that have so many options to help transform your room.  Even wallpapering just one wall can add much needed style to any room.

My husband cringed when I mentioned I was going to wallpaper our kitchen and bathroom, but I reassured him I knew what I was doing :)  I decided to wallpaper one room in the kitchen that we had repaired due to a water stain, here is the before, during and after...

 I found this fun wallpaper at Graham and Brown, and the best part is that it was only $15/roll!  It took two rolls to do the one wall, but I love the way it came out!  My Husband was even impressed.

So there you have it, something I once hated, I now love :)

 

The No Sew Shade

 If you need a quick, affordable way to add a window covering to your windows, this no sew shade is the way to go!  Our home is on a main road, so privacy is very important.  When I moved into this house almost 5 years ago, I needed something to cover my windows that was cheap and effective.  So I outfitted all of the windows with $10-20 vinyl roller shades. 

 Later I added the fabric curtains, but still liked the privacy the shade offered.  The white vinyl on the shade wasn't working for me and the need for accent color in this room made me think there was a great opportunity!

So, I headed off to my favorite fabric store in Burlington, Nido, and grabbed a fun coral fabric to add some pop to the blues and browns in the room.

I unrolled the shade, cut a piece of fabric to fit and hot glued it on all four sides.  Rolled it back up and hung it right back on the window.  So simple!  I have been thinking about this project for a while now, and also considered using wallpaper which would work well too.

Now to use the scrap fabric for some fun pillows to go on my chairs :)

 

Much Needed Spring...

 I am feeling the need for spring in the worst way!! With no snow this winter, it's starting to feel pretty long.

A quick solution is to bring a little spring in the home, since it can't be found outside :)

These bulbs did just the trick! And I can plant them outside when it finally does warm up :)

I bought them from my favorite florist, but are easy enough to start on your own.

 

 

 

A Classic Valentine's Day...

 We kept things pretty traditional for Valentine's Day this year... flowers, sweets and little heart shaped cards.  I figured why re-invent the wheel, right? :)

 Clearly Matthew had the same mantra that I did, here are the wonderful flowers he had delivered to the house for Bea and I...

 The great part about these flowers is that they came from the BEST florist in the world... In Full Bloom.  They are neighbors of ours and did the flowers for our wedding. The owners are amazing and beautiful just like the flower arrangements they create :) 

Even though Matthew is diabetic, everyone deserves a treat once in a while :) Valentines Day is a good excuse for that.  I made his favorite cookies, with a Valentines day spin...

 I put them in jars I decorated with scrap fabrics and ribbon.  An emergency stash if you will :)

 Lastly, it was time to make cards for all of Bea's little friends in her class.  I used some card stock and scrap fabric, pleated the strips of fabric and hot glued between two hearts cut out of the card stock...

 Matthew helped stamp the names on them and fix my mistakes :) then we decorated with stickers! This all happened about 10pm last night, talk about 11th hour!!

Simple and sweet, just the way I like to celebrate this Holiday! 

 

Welcome 2012!

Now that the new year is here, I have decided to document and make a list of a few projects I have been meaning to get to, but just can't find the time!  I am hoping that by publishing this list it will hold me more accountable to get them done :)

Project Number One...

Paint over the dark red color on my kitchen floor, the dark color shows all dirt, dog footprints and dust! While making the small room feel even smaller.  The plan is to do a diamond pattern in ivory and creamy yellow.

Project Number Two...

Repaint the dining room color and make up new curtains.  The mustard yellow is boring at best and the cafe curtains do their job of privacy but are a little too grandma for me.  No plan yet, just know it needs to change.

Project Number Three...

Paint out the dark trim in the bedroom to a bright ivory white and redo the curtains to something a little cozier.  I am thinking a heavy vintage fabric would do the job.

Project Number Four...

Do something fun with this bookcase.  It just looks cluttered and I don't need all of the books on the shelves.  I know that I am going to line the back of the shelves with either a great Wallpaper or bold fabric.

Final and Fifth Project...

Get Bea out of this crib and into a big girl bed!!

The goal is to get them done in 2012, but am not going to be upset if I don't.  One more year won't make a difference.  So stay tuned!