project 1: girl's bedroom

I thought it would be fun to show you some of the projects that I have been working on this summer. The first one is the girl's room!

Thomas and Elle spent 10 days in Nebraska with their grandparents in June so while they were gone I redid their rooms a little to surprise them when they got home. Elle has wanted a pink room for a few years and this last winter I thought I was going to get serious and finally get it painted for her. We went and found just the right pink color and purchased two gallons of it. Then it sat in the utility room. :) I have a hard time tackling big projects while we are homeschooling! So, it ended up on the summer project, must get done before September, to do list.

Two coats and two full days of painting later the room was transformed into a pink-lovin' girls dream! Ava was such a good girl while I worked on it. She just played and played while I worked. I laughed out loud at several of the conversations she made up while she played.

It was so much fun to show it to Elle when she got home. She absolutely loves it! We bought the white frames in the picture above and both girls painted a picture to put in them. They look great!

One of my favorite things about the room is the toy storage. Several months ago Scott helped me hang a second closet rod with a shelf on top that Elle could easily reach. Labeled bins help keep all of the toys organized. The room stays so much tidier with the toys behind doors when not being played with.

We did the same thing in the other closet for their clothes. Ava's clothes are still small enough that this works. Elle has found that it isn't always very fun to share a room with a little sister that always wants to get into her stuff. So I got her a couple of baskets to keep her special things out of Ava's reach. Ava's a smart one though and has figured out that if she carries her little rocking chair from the other room over to the closet that she is able to just reach the baskets to get into Elle's treasures. :) We've found her under the bed playing Elle's Nintendo DS several times and the little rocking chair in the closet.

going a little wild

Several months ago a friend mentioned that a zebra print rug or window treatments would look really great in our family room. I loved the idea but was scared of it at the same time. I don't usually go too wild in my decorating. I saw this rug when I went shopping in the cities last November but didn't buy it. Instead I came home with a dark chocolate brown and cream traditional print rug. I ended up taking it back because I bought the wrong size. Also, my dark coffee table disappeared on top of it and it made the room feel too formal.

Last weekend Scott and I went shopping in the cities, just the two of us. (We were celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary!) We stopped in at Pottery Barn and both rugs were still there. After contemplating it for a long time, and making a call to my friend who talked me into buying it, we came home with it and I love it! She was right! It changes the whole mood of the room and makes it kinda quirky and fun. Now I need her to help me with window treatments. (I had purchased some in November but ended up taking them back with the rug! I have issues when it comes to decorating.)

gourd birdhouse

A few years ago my mom grew several different types of gourds in her garden and then dried them. She gave me a few and I turned this pear shaped one into a birdhouse. Scott helped me hang it this afternoon using a wire clothes hanger.

It's in the tree right outside the porch. It will be fun to see if any birds actually take up residence there.

p.o.o.p.i.e party

The Nester is hosting a P.O.O.P.I.E (People Opposing Objectionable Pretend plants In the Environment) party today. Read all about it here and check out the Nester's beautiful fall wreath! She's such a talented lady!

Before I show you my pretend plant first let me show you what I got to enjoy for a few short days last week -


The real thing! How I wish the grocery store would always have a buy one get one sale on a dozen roses! 24 roses for $12! Since it doesn't though, I purchased this arrangement that looks pretty real....or does it?!

It sits on the table in the basement and is supposed to distract you from seeing all of the scratches on the tabletop. Maybe the scratches would be better to look at than this though? It fakes my kids out. They thought these flowers were real for a long time. Mostly because of the water look in the bottom of the vase. Elle is convinced that it's even changing colors sometimes! I saw it sitting in one of the shops in town and when I looked at the pricetag it said $99. I quickly put it down. The owner saw me though and said to make an offer on it. I didn't think about making one though because I wasn't willing to pay even half price for it. Before I left the store he said he'd take $20 for it. He said it had been sitting in his shop for a year now and he just wanted to get rid of it. Fellow P.O.O.P.I.E.S, please be honest. Did I get a good deal or should I have left it at the shop?

basement decorating

I've been having fun decorating the basement the last few months. It's going to be a long time before it is done but I don't mind. I've learned to be patient and only buy something when I really love it and can live with it for a long time.

I remember when Scott and I were first married and we went furniture shopping for our apartment. I picked out a blue and white checkered sofa and loveseat with a 'coordinating' pastel floral wingback chair and throw pillows. Scott kept asking if I was sure I wouldn't get sick of that chair. I insisted that I wouldn't but, of course, a year later I was. :) I ended up hiding that wingback chair in our bedroom and the checkered sofas were all that were left in the living room with solid cream throw pillows. I was done with pastel floral!

I think it takes awhile to find your decorating style though and to be sure of things that you like. After awhile you realize the colors that you are always drawn to and the style of decorating that fits your taste and it becomes easier. Having a very patient hubby helps too and I am lucky to have one!

We have been enjoying this space. The throw pillows and lamps have helped to cozy it up and make it a fun spot to curl up and watch a good movie.

I was excited to find these nesting tables in the perfect color. It's a nice break from all of the chocolate brown!

We are unsure of what we want to do with this area. For now we moved the table that was in the upstairs school/play area down here. It goes well and is a good spot to play games or for Scott to work at on his laptop.

The shower was completed recently. I am so happy with how it turned out. It's actually kind of L shaped. There is a bench along the other wall but it was impossible to get a good picture of.

I'm starting to look into window treatments now. I think I'm going to start by getting natural woven blinds like these in the picture below and then keep my eye out for something to soften them up. I wish I had the talent of The Nester to come up with some sort of 'mistreatment' that would work here!