The Functional Space

Our Little Addition

2012-02-07T11:36:00.001-05:00

We took a secret mission out of town yesterday to pick up our new little addition.

Welcome to the family Mabel!

Though Rosie is still not 100% sure about the new little sister we think they will love each other in a day or too.

I've never had two dogs at once before. Of course the two of them combined don't quite make the size of one real sized pup so I think we'll be okay.

Happy Tuesday everyone and Happy 70th Birthday to my Father-in-Law!

Blooming in January, Really?

2012-01-31T14:34:00.000-05:00

I stepped outside for a little bit on Sunday and noticed something a little odd hanging out by the fence:

In January! I know we've had some warmer days lately, but daffodils, really?? It was a lovely little surprise.

By the way, this pic is from my new personal photo a day project I've been doing. I'll share the details later this week. What kinds of personal projects have been inspiring you lately?

A Little Something Pretty

2012-01-25T13:02:00.003-05:00

I've been putting off my next post because there is so many more things that need to go on the To-Do list that I'm starting to feel overwhelmed and exhausted and I haven't even started!! Let's all pause for a moment and look at something pretty.

Source: isleofviewblog.tumblr.com via Aimee on Pinterest

This is such a warm and cozy room. I love some many things about it, but let's talk about that spectacular wall of art. I have the beginnings of another art wall in the hallway just off the kitchen that is a crazy mix of styles and color. I still need more stuff to fill it out but as with most things in my house it's a work in progress. The image above is such a wonderful inspiration because it shows how disparate pieces can really work together. But it also reminds me of how important the magic of finding just the right pieces that will actually work together is. I might even be inspired to hang another frame or two.

What's inspiring you lately? I seem to have lost my mojo and wouldn't mind a creative shove in the right direction.

Making My To-Do List, Pt 1

2012-01-12T13:28:00.000-05:00

It occurred to me this morning that just because I think of things to blog about that DOESN'T been that they have actually been blogged!! And it's been over a week. Not blogging can be a slippery slope of continuing to not blog. It's time to actually write down some of the things swirling around in my head.

What I've been thinking about are all the projects, large and small, that I'd like to do around the Reslus Arms. As I mentioned earlier, thinking and doing are not the same thing. But if I make a list that is a start to the doing, right? So here I go with some of the around the house projects I'd like to accomplish in 2012 (because it's January and we should all make these kinds of lists at the beginning of the year)

1. Organize the Linen Closet

via Martha Stewart, of course

Well, almost all the closets really, but the linen closet needs it the worst. I need to purge a lot and better organize what I have. I'll be honest through, no matter how hard I try I can't fold a fitted sheet to look as nice as Martha's. It is definitely not a skill I have. Next I'll need to hit up the coat closet, which has it's own set of problems. And I'd also like to tackle the office closet and my Lady closet but I don't want to get too head of my self.

2. Finish the Guest Room!

Source: fieldandsea.tumblr.com via Aimee on Pinterest

After the big switch in the house more than 6 months ago our tiny guest room has acted as a holding area for other rooms during the move, Christmas gifts & wrapping, my growing stockpile of knits that need to be blocked, etc. Basically, it's currently functioning as a walk in closet for the rest of the house. I'm determined to make it functional and beautiful before the next time we have houseguests (I think I have until March) Thankfully, now I have a deadline I can now work towards. Here's what I need to do:

repaint the room - it was dinged up a bit when we moved the office out. That means actually selecting a paint and then painting it. After looking at the swatches below for months I think I'm going to paint it my favorite white (Benjamin Moore's White Dove). Is that a cop-out? Maybe. But I also really like white and think it will make for a nice little guest room

Line the drapes and hang them - though I found them way back in September and I've purchased the rods AND I think I have enough lining material in my stash I still need to do the work
Make a headboard - I've been waffling about the style of the of the headboard mostly based on my patience and skill level. Should I attempt what I really want, pushing the boundaries of what I know I can do myself

or should I stick with something a little more manageable and still really pretty?

Source: houzz.com via Aimee on Pinterest

repaint the bedside table, hang some art, find lamps,etc - finish up the room. There are some big things to do in that little list but I'm getting tired of writing and I know you're getting tired of reading this.

I'll continue the list next time (and maybe even the next time! It's a long list) In the meantime I'd love to hear your thoughts about which direction I should go with the headboard. Help me make that decision!

2012 is Here

2012-01-02T12:53:00.000-05:00

the cattle barn at my Grandparents over Christmas

Happy New Year to you all. My new years plans were dashed by a sick stomach. And while I was home alone with the puppy and my knitting trying not to be sad about missing out on all the festive fun (Congrats Emily & Robb!!!) I started making lists in my head of all that I wanted to do in 2012.

We have packed away the Christmas decorations and now I feel compelled to clean out the closets and the office. I'm starting a new year long photo project (and I will finish it this year!!) and will be starting a new knitting project with my friend Leslie. There are things to be hung and put away. There are projects to plan. I am hopeful about myself and my work in the year ahead of me.

Welcome to 2012 friends. I hope you find it a great one!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

I'm looking forward to staying warm by the fire with my family for a few days. I hope you are doing something as equally enjoyable with the ones that you love. Thanks for keeping company with me during 2011. Looking forward to a spectacular 2012.

Brush, Brush

2011-12-20T11:39:00.000-05:00

Source: flickr.com via Aimee on Pinterest

I came across this image on pinterest last week and now I'm completely enamored with bottle brush Christmas trees. I don't have a collection yet, but I think i might have to keep my eyes open. I may have something new for the mantel next year.

Here, someone has amassed quite a collection

via here

I love all the color

via etsy

And the ones without color too!

via the Tortoise and the Hare

And the ones that are flocked and have their own ornaments are beyond sweet

via A Life in Focus Photography

I've read grumblings that I could easily pick up a few at Michael's or Hobby Lobby that could be turned into something. Maybe if I'm feeling crafty (oh, holiday knitting, will you ever be done???) I might try to create my own magical forest....they do look so cheery all grouped together.

ETA: apparently I have the start to my collection already! I just went downstairs and look what was sitting on the mantel

A View from the Party

2011-12-15T11:49:00.000-05:00

The Husband and I had a gig last night at The Jefferson Hotel here in Richmond, playing for a company Christmas party. I snapped a few pics of the festivities before things got rolling too much. Let's take a look at the party in progress:

dessert!

My view from the stage. I could look straight out the doors to the big tree and across to Mr Jefferson on the other side. The stage was set up in front of the meat table which made the Husband very happy. He could gaze upon the roast beef and pork all evening!

my view overhead while on stage

ooh, Shiny!

Multiplying Like Bunnies

2011-12-13T13:33:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend I made one of these. (thank you Rebecca Danger!)

I needed a little gift for my knitting students' last class (they're all 8 years old.) So just like bunnies do, they became this little herd.

And I don't know if I can part with them today or not. The cuteness is overwhelming!

I am offically a Bunny Nugget fan (or as the Husband likes to call them Nuggy Bunnets!)

Sharing the cuteness at Savvy Southern Style. You can check out everyone else's fab Christmas goings-on.

A Friday Sneak Peek

2011-12-09T10:41:00.001-05:00

Here's your pretty for Friday! Last night I went to a party for a client. I finally got to see her finished kitchen and bath. She was such a lovely and sweet person to work with. We had such fun shopping too! It was so nice to see her grinning from ear to ear after having to cook her dinners in a microwave in the laundry room for the last 3 months! Here's a sneak peek of the new bathroom and kitchen. I will do a more in-depth post in a few weeks when I have real pics.

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you have a great weekend.

A Little Holiday Cheer with some Thanks!

2011-12-07T12:13:00.001-05:00

Thanks to my ever-resourceful Aunt Nancy I have these beauties making the house festive.

red berries in the kitchen

joy on the mantel

She had a bouquet of red berries picked and a boxwood made for each of us before we even got to Grandmother's over Thanksgiving day. They are definitely making things more merry & bright around here.

Shabby Apple Giveaway winner!

2011-12-05T11:59:00.001-05:00

We have a winner to the Shabby Apple Giveaway! Using random.org to select the winner, I can now congratulate the winner: Larc

Larc I will contact you to get your info and soon you will have this lovely watch/pendant for your very own. Thanks again to Shabby Apple for the wonderful giveaway. And as a reminder Shabby Apple is still offering 10% off for the next 23 days to all of my readers (great for holiday shopping!) Just enter THEFUNCTIONALSPACE10OFF for the discount. They really do have lovely things. Go check them out.

Friday Inspiration

2011-12-02T11:29:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday! This room makes me very happy. It's warm, cozy and inviting without being too perfect. Hope your day feels like this too.

Keith Johnson's Home in Anthology Magazine (issue #5)

Don't forget about the Shabby Apple Giveaway! Get your entry in by Sunday for the big win. Winner will be announced on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

White Tree!

2011-12-01T10:44:00.001-05:00

The tree is up and this year it's a white one! I've always wanted a white tree. I found a really inexpensive one and decided to give it a whirl. I thought I was buying a tree with white lights but when we unboxed it they were colored. After a little freak out I've grown to like it. The lights really work with all the sparkle-ly balls and snowflakes.

Don't forget to sign up for the Shabby Apple giveaway. It's open until Sunday. You could be the winner!

Deep in the Fabric Hoard

2011-11-30T11:18:00.001-05:00

It was like being in an episode of Hoarders but with fabric!!

My Mom has wanted to take me back into the Remnant Shop (in Galax, Virginia) for awhile now. She kept saying "you won't believe the piles of fabric they have! You can't even get to 75% of it!" Finally, during our Thanksgiving visit we were finally able to make it happen. It didn't disappoint.

It was just like I remembered from my childhood except even more. The little old man was still sitting in the same seat behind the counter. The chatty wife was still grumbling and complaining around the stacks of fabric. What I remember most about being in there as a little kid was that the owners HATED little kids. My sister and I spent a fair amount of our childhood in fabric shops. This was never one of our favorites. But look at the possibilities now!

There was a bit of a path through the shop which made things still passable. It was hard to see what was in the stacks beyond the first few layers though.

They also had a large collection of quilting/ cotton prints that were stacked everywhere too.

Though we didn't find fabric for Mom's new kitchen we did find some interesting stuff. If you are willing to dig there where some treasures to be found, and usually for a really great price too. I won't say that every bolt is a treasure but if you have patience I'm sure you can come out of there with something.

There was a crazy collection of pleather/vinyls. Not usually my thing, but I have to say I really love this ostrich and crocodile patterns. Wish I had something to cover.

They had a large selection of old school floral prints. I also loved the green buffalo check and the navy polka-dot. There was also a chicken toile that I forgot to photograph that was wonderful. Just imagine, Chicken Toile!

I also really loved this one. It has a great graphic pattern and an beautiful woven texture. I couldn't think of an immediate use so I left it all behind. Now that I'm home though, the wheels are turning....
Do you know of any great fabric hoards? Please share!

Don't forget to sign up for the Shabby Apple Giveaway. There's still time and lots of opportunity to win!

Applesauce & Shabby Apple Giveaway

2011-11-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

First, let me say that I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend filled with friends, family and food. I got to spend the week with my family in my parents new home and have some fun things to share later this week. My Mom also graciously shared a jar of my Grandmother's homemade applesauce with me. Don't be jealous (though you really should.)

The big news for this Monday is that the wonderful Shabby Apple is offering a necklace giveaway for you lovely readers!! Not only will you want to own their entire collection of fab dresses but they have beautiful vintage jewelery too.

It was hard to decide but I really do love the White Rabbit's Time Keeper .

My Dad has a few pocket watches that I wished I could carry myself. Also, I've always loved the idea of a lady time piece that you can wear round your neck too. I could pretend I was the school mistress or librarian from the turn of the (last) century. I would be able to wear lovely hats too! Too bad I can't be in the running for this beauty! It really would be a great accessory (and functional too!) for your favorite dress or sweater and jeans.

Okay, so here's what you got to do to make this baby yours:

1. Like Shabby Apple on Facebook

2. Become a Follower of the Functional Space either through Google Friend Connect (it's on the right side of this page) or Facebook

3. Leave a comment on the blog to let me know that you've done numbers 1 & 2

*Bonus Entries - If you tweet about it, you can be entered again, just leave another comment letting me know about that too!

You must have a US shipping address to enter and there will be no exchanges for the winning piece of jewelry. The Giveaway closes on Sunday December 4th.

Also, Shabby Apple is offering 10% off for the next 30 days to all of my readers (great for holiday shopping!) Just enter THEFUNCTIONALSPACE10OFF for the discount.

I'll announce the winner next Monday. Good Luck Everyone!

Feeling Under the Weather & a Pretty Table

2011-11-17T12:07:00.001-05:00

I'm just now starting to right myself from an icky stomach bug and a fall down the stairs earlier in the week (yes, I'm that clumsy & no, thankfully I didn't break anything) Let's all think of something pretty to make me feel better. In honor of Thanksgiving just around the corner how about a pretty fall table courtesy of Country Living Magazine

It's so light and bright. I love the natural color palette of white and linen mixed with pops of orange, green and blue. Now that I think about it I must really love this color combination. It's the colors of my living room!

Are you setting planning to set a beautiful table for your big holiday meal next week?

My First Sweater

2011-11-11T14:06:00.001-05:00

Here it is!!

I can't wait for it to finish drying. I might not ever take it off. It took me over a month and there are plenty of mistakes in it, but I love it. It's the Effortless Cardigan by Hannah Fettig a.k.a Knitbot.

It's a happy Friday here at the Reslus Arms. I hope you are having a great day too!

Sit Right Down Write Myself a Letter

2011-11-08T12:14:00.001-05:00

Not only did I spend the weekend joining the 21st century (see the sidebar for links to facebook, twitter, etc) I also finished the last boxes from my Parents' move. The last box was mostly letters written to me from friends and family during my high school and college years. What I loved best about those letters were that they were mostly just snapshots of what was happening in my loved ones lives at the moment (my Mom having a cold, my Granddad's cows ready for calving, a girl friend's boy troubles, etc.) I used to love getting letters! I was never a great writer but I loved collecting and using great stationary and all that came with it. (I had sealing wax and my own seal!)

I decided to do a little virtual shopping via Etsy to see if anything caught my eye today, in case I wanted to put a stamp on it and send a letter the old fashioned way. Here are a few things I found:

Animals seem to grab my attention,

Elk Stationary

Hand Drawn Buffalo Note Card

I LOVE letterpress too! How could you not, really.

Letterpress Fox Note Cards

Letterpress Hedgehog Thank You Notes

And for those of you who get weak in the knees for anything with a chevron pattern, check this out

Letterpress Cheveron Note Cards

And if you are looking for something more personalized what about these

Sunburst Personalized Note Cards

Custom Address Stamp with Wooden Handle

And because I can't find my sealing wax and stamp, this pic is a good stand in (if you think I was pretending to be in 1811 instead of 2011 you would be right)

via pinterest

If anyone wants to write me an old fashioned letter I'd be happy to receive it. I could send one too, I need an excuse to buy some more paper!

Check out my Sidebar!

2011-11-07T11:48:00.002-05:00

via pinterest

I'm not what you would call an early adopter. I am usually very slow to accept new ways of communicating in particular (did you know that I've only reluctantly started texting a few months ago when I got my iphone? I still think it's an odd way to communicate most of the time.) That being said check out my sidebar!! The Functional Space now has a Facebook page! I tweet! You can easily follow my current obsessions on Pinterest! And if you are crafty minded you can check out what is currently and/or has been on my knitting needles via my Ravelry page. It's a brave new world people and I still don't have a compass. Let's take that leap together though. It should be a fun time. If nothing else you'll get a good chuckle at my expense.

Come on, click those buttons. You know you want to...

Friday Inspiration

2011-11-04T12:45:00.002-04:00

It's a cool and slightly drizzly Fall day here at the Reslus Arms. I've been looking for a bit of inspiration to make me feel warm and cozy. I think this pic from Traditional Home might do it.

traditional home via pinterest

I love a great overstuffed room with lots and lots of layers. Here, the neutral color palette helps it to feel cozy without being too overwhelming.

Happy Friday everyone and have a great weekend!!

More Treasures from the Past

2011-11-03T12:57:00.000-04:00

I'm still digging through my childhood ~~junk~~ mementos that my Mom sent home with me after a visit a few weeks ago. The latest boxes had lots of letters from family and friends that I got thoughout my high school and college days. (Remember when people wrote actual letters?) It was so nice to relive those moments from their lives all over again. I also found one or two things to share that are actually decor related!

First up, a piece of the wallpaper selected by me and installed by my mother when I redecorated my room at the age of 12. (so sorry about the lo-fi quality of the iphone pics!)

I loved this paper with it's delicate blue flowers on a twisting vine with pale pink pinstripes and gold dots. How could it not be awesome. Seriously, considering it was selected by a 12 yr. old during the 1980s I think it's a pretty nice choice.

In general, I've always thought it was a bad idea to do any major decorating at such a pivotal age. To paraphrase Brittany Spears (I can't believe I just typed that, ugh) "I'm not at girl, not yet a teenager." I was more than ready for more of a room that looked like me but I also decorated every surface and wall with teddy bears. By the age of 15 I was BEGGING my mom to get rid of the dainty wallpaper and all those teddy bears. I have some of those bears in a box downstairs if you really need proof.

I also found these ceramic book ends, made by my next door neighbor and gifted to me around the same time as the wallpaper and all those bears.

They're keepers, right? I think i like them. I don't know where they're going to live but I'll find somewhere, eventually.

November Needles

2011-11-01T11:36:00.001-04:00

I haven't jumped into Fall decorating this year. I don't even have a pumpkin. I keep meaning to pick up some gourds, or find some colored branches for the mantel. We did go on a walk in the park with the Puppy and I was taken with all the Fall color. this little acorn made me smile.

Instead of trolling the pumpkin patch for the perfect gourds, or lining up at the garden center for the best mums around, I can't seem to pull myself away from the knitting!! After a month of doing almost nothing else, I only have the collar left of my very first sweater. I'd show you a pic but I'm going to have the big reveal once I'm actually done (hopefully withing the week). Here's the sweater I'm making though.

I am also teaching a knitting class that starts today! It's a class for 3rd and 4th graders and I can't wait to get started. We're going to start out making these:

They are super easy and I'm hoping will give the girls some (almost) instant gratification for their new skills. After bracelet making we will move on to making a little bag. (I seem to be all about accessories for this class) It will be knitted up like this.

Then we are going to felt them into this:

It still needs a button for the clasp but you get the idea. It would be really cute with some embroidery or embellishment too. I have yarn on the brain people and I just can't stop myself.

Friday Inspiration

2011-10-28T11:44:00.000-04:00

Here's a few pretties from shopping with my iphone over the last few weeks. First I spotted this bench for a client's bathroom in Homegoods

and this mirror to go over my mantle which I didn't buy (it was only $25) and now I'm kicking myself a little

Then I saw this Carlisle chair in Pottery Barn. I'm thinking about the sofa version of this chair and I love the red pinstripe of this one. It's super fresh, though I'm not sure I'm that fresh.

And finally I stopped in my friendly neighborhood Shades of Light with some clients.

There was lots of lovely things to catch your eye. Besides lighting, this fun little chair grabbed my attention (when does a chair NOT grab my attention!) and I loved all the mirrored pieces surrounding it too. That Suzani print in shades of blue is super-fantastic.

And I drooled a bit over all the lovely rugs on display. Who doesn't love a good carpet!

Happy Friday Everyone. Have a great Fall weekend.

2011-10-27T12:58:00.001-04:00

The always sweet and thoughtful Ashlyn from Pinecone has passed along the versatile blogger award to me - thank you so very much Ashlyn!

To accept this award you must thank the person who awarded it to you and include a link to their blog. Then choose 15 fellow bloggers that you've recently discovered or follow regularly to pass the award along to and share 7 things about yourself.

Now for my 7 things:

I LOVE organization but I am not an organized person by nature. I guess it's more of an appreciation rather than an ability.
I'm very left handed and was told that I would always have bad handwriting. I worked hard to have really lovely penmanship and I do!
Though I'm not supposed to eat it, I'm completely addicted to sugar.
For a brief period between senior year of high school and sophomore year of college I was planning to be a physical therapist though my heart was always with interior design.
In my household our two cars are currently station wagons. We don't have children, we have upright basses and I don't like giving up the front seat to a bass.
I am NOT a morning person.
I'm not very good at making lists about myself. This was hard!

And here is my list of blogs that I am awarding The Versatile Blogger, that I enjoy reading and I look forward to seeing what they will say or do next.

A Dreamer's Den

The Mustard Ceiling

The Nelson House Diaries

My Interior Life

Happenstance Home

Classic Casual Home

Green Street

Take the Side Street

Rooms

Milk & Honey Home

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday

2011-10-25T14:02:00.002-04:00

Just hum a little Boyz II Men while you follow along...Now that my Parents are moving I've had to take possession of a trunks worth of my childhood. It's all memorabilia of from my early life. The stuff that the Parents lovingly saved (report cards, kindergarten papers, awards, etc) but not something that I need to or should hang onto for the shrine of Me. Basically I was happy to know that it all existed but I don't want it at my house! Last night I made it through the first of several boxes. Almost all of it will go to recycling but there are a few things that made me laugh/cry and I thought I'd share.

Here I've signed my name to the top of a paper brought home from Kindergarten.

I'm left handed and when I first started writing I wrote from right to left, completely mirrored. In fact I can still write like that today without a lot of thought.

Here I am practicing writing my name. Apparently I also liked to practice writing my sister's name (Alison) as well. I have her name written all over lots of my papers.

I found my Cabbage Patch dolls' birth certificates. I had erased their given names and had given them my own. (Cleveland Yves became Chad Ryan because it was 1985. I feel like it's 1985 just reading that again. And Callie Calli became Kelly Calli for awhile) But at some point I decided to go back to their original names and had rewritten them back in pencil, including a heart over the i.

The dress I wore while performing 'Tomorrow' from 'Annie' in the school talent show from 4th grade was wadded up in the bottom of the box next to my ribbon for first place. My Mama made that dress for me. I loved it. It's a shame I can't even come close to wearing it now. I'd still rock it if I could in some way.

Apparently I've been drawing floorplans for my entire life. I think I was around 12 years old in this one.

Clearly this was long before I learned anything about scale and proportion. But I had a vision then and I could see every detail in my head.

But my favorite thing by far in the box was this handmade Christmas card from my sister, sometime during our elementary school days.

I think this sums it up for both of us even now. She's still my best bud(d)y even though we're sisters and I love her very much.

Kitchen Deconstruction

2011-10-20T11:41:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday I started to show you the Parents new house and all the work that they are doing to make it their own. Today it's all about the kitchen. The situation is very similar to the master bath. Lots of wallpaper and border, unprepped walls, with lots and lots of hard work. So hard in fact that we wore out the dog.

Who am I kidding this is what George likes to do everyday! Okay on to the kitchen! Again, the existing color palette was mauve and teal...everywhere. From the walls to the floors to the countertops it was on almost every surface.

Before:

from the dining room looking into the kitchen

the sitting/breakfast area off the kitchen (hi Dad!)

And now the in progress shots during all the hard work.

In Progress:

from the dining room into the kitchen

the sitting/breakfast area off the kitchen

Did I mention that the Parents will have an incredible view from their kitchen and sitting area. You can start to see it out the windows in that last pic. It was also close to the peak of color for Fall where they live so I got to fast forward my Fall and see some really beautiful color.

As of last night my Mom and Aunt have been working on the kitchen walls for 11 days, peeling paper, washing down walls, priming and now painting. I have a great shot of them hard at work but I'm sure they appreciate that I'm not sharing with the world. They are standing on a ladder, their butts in the air, trying to peel the last of the paper from around the refrigerator. I can't wait to see it again when I return in a view weeks. There is still a bit of work to be done. Walls are being painted, countertops are being selected and I need to get cracking on some great fabrics for the windows. I'll update you as this story progresses.

And So It Begins

2011-10-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

My parents bought a new house. This is a huge change for them. They moved into their old house the year before I was born. Now they are packing it all up and moving to town (with the exception of several boxes of my childhood junk that they sent packing with me over the weekend!) They have been working slavishly hard for several weeks now to make the new house their own. I went for a visit and to lend a hand over the weekend.

The new house originally had LOTS of wallpaper. I mean lots, as in two different patterns plus a border in several rooms. But even more heartbreaking, the walls were not properly prepped so the paper was only coming off in tiny little pieces (insert Mom's tears of frustration here). My Mom and my Aunt have worked for over a week to get all of those little pieces stripped away plus washing the walls several times, patching, standing and priming before the real transformation can happen. Let's all take a look at their hard work.

Behold the Master Bath Before:

Notice the three patterns and a border in that last shot! Now here it is with all of that stripped away but before Dad and I started priming.

Even it's raw state it feel 100 times better in the room. Moving forward there are a few things that are still going to have to be worked around. Did you notice the pink tub, pink vanity counter, pink shower and all the gold fixtures??? Yep, they are all staying for now. When I shot the before pics a few months ago I didn't even notice all the pink fixtures because of everything else going on in the room. I had envisioned watery blue walls and clean white fixtures. Clearly we are going in a different direction now. I'll keep you posted.

Come back tomorrow and I'll show you the kitchen progress.

Fallish Friday

2011-10-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

It's Friday and I am enjoying a little bouquet of fall loveliness courtesy of my sweet Husband....well actually I'm headed out of town to strip wallpaper all weekend with my Mom at their new house. I'll have some crazy before pics to share with you next week. Until then, Happy Friday and wish us luck. I hear the stripping so far has be slow going!

Happy Three to the Husband and Me

2011-10-12T14:22:00.001-04:00

Happy Anniversary to my Love! Three Years ago today, on a BEAUTIFUL October day we said I do. I'd say it again without one hesitation.

Before & After Sneak Peek

2011-10-10T16:07:00.000-04:00

I am happy to report that I am finally on the mend from that terrible cold that had me down all last week. Now I have a few exciting things to show you. First up, here's a little peek at at family room project that's still in progress. The fireplace is one of my most favorite things. It's another reminder that I really need to do something with my own fireplace!

Here's the before:

And here is the newly paneled and painted after!

Construction by DesignLine Home Transformations

The recessed panels, silestone hearth and surround, gas logs, and brass sconces have taken this focus pulling corner fireplace and really turned it into something you want to focus on. I also love the warm terracotta of the new wall color that really gives a lot of life to the room.

I really need to do something about my own fireplace!! Happy Monday to you.