Becolorful

Getting There { A Family Room/Sunroom Makeover Progress Post)

Welcome to our family room/sun room.  

In January I sold most of the furniture that had been in this room. All that remained was the trunk that we use as a cocktail table, two accent pieces that I had painted, and a couple of table lamps. We're not there yet but this room is finally starting to take shape. Now that most of the bigger pieces are in place  all it is needing is some of the jewelry and polish. 

 

Just today I read a blog post from

Home Sweet Homemade

She writes that you should come up with five words to describe how you want a room to feel when you are designing it. I was game and these are the words that I would hope would describe this space when it is completed.

Colorful, fun, comfortable, retro, and clean lined.

So far I think I am on track.

 

 

Of course, I am a woman so I can never be completely satisfied. One improvement seems to create a need desire for three more.

 

My current wish list includes the following:

1. Move the trunk to another room and replace it with something a bit larger and cleaner looking - perhaps something with a pop of color.

2. Add appropriate accent pieces to the entertainment unit as I find them.

3. Either replace the current carpet with a geometric patterned rug in a brighter color or layer another rug on top of the one that is already there.

4. Add a patterned side chair in the space where the painted clock is.

5. Add two smaller ottomans to the near side of the new cocktail table to bring the look of the furniture placement more towards the front of the room.

Whew. A pretty major list as I see it all written out.

I have to remind myself to be patient and that we have already come so far.

The first new piece to come into this room after the big purge was this

Logan wall unit from Pottery Barn.

I've begun adding some accessories but half the fun is finding just the right thing and that can't be rushed.

 

 

A few weeks later the Petrie sofas from Crate and Barrel were delivered.

 

The  20" Eclipse Pillows are also from Crate and Barrel.

Thank you Ms. S. It took me a year to spend my gift certificate but it was well worth the wait.

:D 

A few weeks later the swivel chairs arrived.

The room was finally coming together.

 

 

The chairs are from the Candace Olson line for Norwalk and not only do they rock and swivel but I love that the fabric is from Sunbrella. Amazingly, it looks and feels like a normal upholstry fabric but will wear better and be much more fade resistant.

 

 

Finally it was time to bring in some side tables.

I found this little lovely on Joss and Main

 

 

and these two matching vintage pieces were from a friend.

When they first arrived they looked like this.

 

 

I painted them a mahogany brown for The Traveling Door sale but they didn't sell.  I was disappointed at the time but now I am so glad that they didn't.

They have been stored in the paint stall of my garage for over a year so I decided to repaint them. This time I went with a soft white and now I love the retro feel they bring to this space.

 

 

A bit of higher and lower end and a combination of new pieces and vintage. Add a dose of black somewhere and a hint of glam and it will totally represent the BeColorful look.  As I look at where we are today, I think we are off to a good start.

 

xoxo,

P

Linking my update post here:

 

Pink Dining Rooms

 

For almost two years I have been thinking about painting our dining room a vibrant shade of raspberry pink.

It was this photo that got my color loving soul thinking about this scrumptious shade. Although I loved the color I didn't really want a pink living room.

 

Then I saw this one and thought that maybe this intoxicating hue should come and play in my dining room.

Our dining room is a  large room with big windows on each end. I think it could handle a strong color like this.

 

Initially I considered pairing this bold choice with a brown and black leopard print but as our first- floor update has progressed a black and white theme has won out over the animal print.

To my eye this color just dances so well with black and white.

Case in point - how great is this color when combined with such an incredible black and white ceiling? 

Then again, what wouldn't look good with that ceiling?

I would eat every meal in that dining room.

 

I don't have a spectacular ceiling like that but I am still crazy for the black and white rug I bought for our dining room last summer and I think it brings a fresh twist to our traditonal red walls and furniture.

I realize my red walls don't look much different from the inspiration photo but it really is a matter of degrees; the brighter lighter raspberry color here would definitely dial up that unexpected element plus I think our walls are actually a bit redder than they appear in this picture.

I also need to lose those valences. They came with the house fourteen years ago and they have seen better days but it seems like yet another week goes by and they are still hanging there. I seem to forget about them until I see them in a picture.

 As our living room begins to feel closer to completion and the family room is pulling together, my thoughts are turning toward the dining room which is nestled between those two spaces. While surfing the web I've accumulated numerous images of pink dining rooms to inspire me.

Sometimes I am drawn to the coral pinks.

Baubodance

 

decor pad

 

Other days I like the fuchsias 

Chasing Dreams

 

House Beautiful

 

 

and on still others it is carnation pink that speaks to me.

Creative Influence

 

There Comes A Yes

 

Betsy Johnson

 

Laissez Faire Design

 

 

Another option in the dining room would be to go with a more neutral wall and to bring the rosy shades in as accents.

The Lennoxx

 

Apparently a lot of people are passionate about pink chairs because I am seeing a number of them across the internet.

House Beautiful

 

Amonia Decors

 

Img Fave

 

Lily Pulitzer via Maryland Pink and Green

 

Maybe I could get my pink fix from a dazzling window treatment

Baylor Says

 

or neutral walls combined with a pink ceiling.

Design Style

 

As I said, I've been thinking about a raspberry flair for this room for quite some time now. Sometimes I wonder if I have waited too long to do it. I am a fickle woman.

Have I tired of the idea before I even started or do I just need to revamp it a bit?

Today I saw something that made me think silver.

I like the idea of a bit of glam here.

Silver and pink are, of course, gorgeous together but coming off of my neutral living room with the copper ceiling I think a bronzey gold would be a better choice.

Metallic washed walls? Bronze and pink? 

 Seriously? What's a girl to do? I have too many ideas and not enough rooms.

:D

xoxo,

p

Colorful and Unexpected Furniture as Yard Art

Perhaps it was the early Spring but my thoughts have been turning from bathrooms and bedrooms towards what is beyond our four walls.

Style for the yard if you will.

You all know I love an unexpected element, that thing that makes you look twice and smile. A jolt of color, a touch of whimsy. These things make me happy. I strive to include at least one of these things in every room of our home but why stop there? Why not decorate the yard, patio, or balcony with that same sense of capriciousness?

These are images I have collected over time. Some of them I found before I began blogging and I do not know who to credit. If you recognize where they came from please let me know. As I peruse the internet it is pictures like these that are inspiring me to bring my love of the unorthodox to the outside of our home. 

 From stand up and get noticed pieces of brightly painted furniture...

unknown

 

Living in Color

 

Alkemie

 

Midwest Living

 

 

 

unknown

 

Grandin Road

 

Finders Keepers Antiques 

 

MacKenzie Childs

 

... to  those re-purposed furniture and architectural items dressing up the lawn in unconventional ways.

 

 

Perfectly Imperfect Life 

 

Valley Gardens

 

Cottage in the Oaks

 

 

Confessions of a Curb Shopaholic

 

Robo Junker

 

Nine is Fine

 

Confessions of a Curb Shopaholic

 

via Junk Revolution

 

Garden Web 

 

Feeling inspired yet? I don't do well with plants but these statement pieces out in the back yard would be such a fun way to introduce some color and sassy fun to our outdoor spaces. I hope you found a few that stirred your creativity too.

Happy Easter to all.

xoxo,

P

A Splash of Color for a Neutral Living Room

 

A year and a half ago I delved into updating our living room.

 

Back in the day, 1999, I had decked this room out in a very traditional flavor of damask, chintz, elaborate fringes, and oriental style rugs.

I was a happy homeowner for about eight years.

Then, as suddenly as turning a page, I didn't love it any more.

 In fact, I get the same feeling looking at old pictures of this room as I do of looking at older pictures of myself with big hair or shoulder pads. 

I am convinced that when I started over in this living room that I was influenced by all of the neutral spaces and white rooms that I was seeing on the internet. As a result I followed the trend and decided to paint the walls a pale cream and introduce more conservative taupes and off whites to this room in the way of furniture and draperies. 

For a color lover like myself this was a bold move.

I knew I needed SOME color so I had the ceiling painted copper - a color that warmed up the room but was still neutral enough that I could introduce any number of colors later and change them up as the spirit moved me.

 

 

Since I last showed you my progress here I brought back some lamps to the mantel that used to be here but then some time last year were moved into the library. I also stole the black and white and bejeweled accent box from another room in the house to bring a bit more interest to the mantel layout.

I've been thinking of painting that wall behind the mirror but I just can't commit yet or maybe it is that I have a whole list of projects that seem to be more pressing than this one.

I also know I need some accent pillows on those chairs but I  haven't gotten around to that yet either.

I did, though, score this colorful canvas last week and knew it had to come home with me. I wasn't even sure which room I would put it in but I loved the black background and the vibrant flowers felt like a welcome dose of Spring.

For now I have settled on hanging it here...

 

... at the other end of the living room, and I think I am liking it. It brings a bit of unexpected informality, not to mention a mega dose of color, to this stylized room.

 

I had been thinking of a large nude charcoal drawing here. Something sophisticated and dramatic that would be more in line with the Hollywood Regency look I have been going for. I haven't seen what I am looking for but for now I think this splash of Spring color that didn't cost me much $$ will happily fill the bill. 

I am even inspired enough to take my cue from the canvas and maybe add some bright pink or golden orange pillows to those chairs as a way of repeating the colors and bring a touch of life to the other end of the room.

It will be my Spring and Summer look,

:D

because you know the only reason I went with all of these neutrals is so I can change it up continually.

xoxo,

P

 Linking up my Colorful dash here:

 

A Modern Take On the Traditional Quilt

  Believe Magic

Quilts, how wonderful are they to curl up in?

I'm definitely a fan and I have used them in our home for years now but as I get ready to trade up from my 2004 family room to something a bit more updated I am wondering if these fallback throws will still be an option for me.

 

Back in the 1990's I saw this red and white  quilt in Monica and Rachel's apartment on the show Friends and I knew I wanted one too.

I never found one just like it that was affordable but I have had several machine made versions on the sofas in our family room for years now. Like throw pillows they are an easy way to change up a room for the various seasons.

As you may know, I recently sold most of the furniture from this room and I although I still like this look I am recreating it into what I call our "green room 2.0".

This time around the sofas will be a soft off white and there will be a pair of vivid green swivel chairs. I hope to accent the room with different colors throughout the year. The pillows will be easy but I'm not sure that most of the quilts that I've acquired will really work in this updated space.

So, like every red blooded American woman that is questioning her design direction, I went to Pinterest and Google for some inspiration and look what I found...

quilts sprinkled in numerous thoughtfully designed 2012 homes.

Not only were these colorful and whimsical creations used in on - trend bedrooms,

 

Ankas Treasures

 

House Beautiful

 

but they frequntly had a fresh look in some less traditional color palates. 

E-Store

 

Plus, many of these newer quilts flaunted the dramatic and graphic designs that are popular right now.

Elle Decor

 

 

I discovered quilts being used as wall art,

Ankas Treasures

 

Casa Sugar

 

Amy Ahlstrom

 

Believe Magic

 

 

as table runners,

Ankas Treasures

 

 as tree skirts,

 

Fresh Lemons

 

and in pillows.

 

Ankas Treasures

 

I want to use our quilts as something to wrap up in while watching television but will they work well as throws in a more contemporary space? I think so.

 

via Indulgy

 

New Home Interior

 

This time around I think I may opt for less pattern. I may even go for a solid quilt like this tangerine beauty from Trina Turk

 

or this texturally intriguing yellow seed stitch number from 

Urban Outfitters.

 

 

Yes, I could definitely curl up in that. So after a bit of internet confirmation, I think these tried and true elements with their roots  from the past will work amazingly well with the 1960's inspired sofas I just ordered for my soon to be updated 2012 family room. A style for the decades if you will.

The Estate of Things

 

Now I just can't wait for the sofas to arrive.

xoxo,

p

 

 

This or That - Sofa Dilema

First off, I want to thank Barbara from 21 Rosemary Lane for flattering me with this Versatile Blogger Award.

I think it is so thoughtful of her to recognize me in this way.

I will be passing this award along to fifteen other inspiring bloggers shortly but I haven't had time to write a proper Versatile Blogger post yet. In the meantime I wanted to share with you that Barbara is offering a great Tote Bag giveaway on her blog.

To participate in her giveaway click here.

As for me, I have been focused on replacing the furniture here in our family room. I sold almost everything that was in this room a few weeks ago on Craigslist and this minimalist look is starting to wear thin.

 The leather chair and ottoman were moved in here temporarily so I have something to sit on while watching television. The round table is on its way out too

The walls may or may not go a bit brighter and I can see a patterned colorful rug layered on top of this sisal looking wool.

 

Since selling the older pieces I have ordered two new swivel chairs from Norwalk's Candace Olson line in a vibrant green hue and now I am ready to pull the trigger on the sofas. The plan is to have two of them facing each other.

I like the black piping on this Norwalk Blake option. The fabric I am looking at from this company is actually a cream colored Sunbrella that is highly stain resistant and the black, also Sunbrella, wouldn't fade like the pieces I had in here before.

Good lines and the edging just dials up the jushe.

 

 

This Crate and Barrel Petrie is my other fave.

Definitely more modern but also a bit more fun and that may be what I am looking for here.  This sofa has a micro fibre anti stain treatment built in to the fabric and the reviews for this piece are good.

Tonight I'm leaning toward the Petrie.

I'll sleep on it and see if I feel the same way in the morning.

:D

xoxo,

p

 

A Do Over In The Family Room

Oops, I did it again.

I sold a room full of furniture without having a plan in place or furniture on order.

Yikes.

This is a photo I shared this past Christmas of our family room, or as we call it, "The Green Room" .

 

So many of you had such nice things to say. Thank you. 

With all of it's Christmas embellishments I thought it was pretty too.

After the holidays, though, it was back to reality and some strategically placed throws.

What I knew and you couldn't see was that the sofas were becoming quite faded. That and the fact that  I think one of the kids must have had a party here while we were away because there is a very mysterious  red stain on the flip side of the seat cushion of that yellow chair. 

???

The other thing you couldn't have known, because I didn't show you, was the jarringly obnoxious look of the other side of the room.

Who wants to look at an eyesore? Right? This just hasn't been working for me.

 

Yep, the big black hole.

It all started when our son took off for Japan and we "inherited" (bought) his humongous flat screen. Although, I love the bigger picture of this screen, it obviously wouldn't fit inside my tasteful entertainment center. So, we quickly purchased this black TV stand from another one of our darlings. Now this kid conveniently works  part time at one of the big electronic stores and he was so stoked that we were replacing our old tube set that he couldn't wait to show us this. The cabinet isn't bad but in the end it is just a whole lot of black in such an airy room. The other problem is I guess I didn't realize how dusty this place is. Wow. Dust and repeat, dust and repeat.

Even my big guy agreed that this wasn't the best look here but we were still finishing up the living room update and I was already making plans for a couple of upgrades in the library. The thought was we would basically put this room on hold until later this year but maybe go ahead and at least purchase a new TV cabinet.

So with a new TV cabinet on order, this one was quickly snatched up by our youngest  and now our ginormous television is  sitting precariously on an old shabby chic side table. The components are stacked on an end table and all the cords, manuals and such are piled up into some cardboard boxes on the floor. Just when I thought it couldn't look any worse, it does.

:0

Bet you're jealous now aren't you?

I placed an ad on Craigslist this week to sell a few other pieces of furniture that I just couldn't find a place for and I had three of the nicest women come and look at what we were offering.

I had to walk them through our family room and when I did they all told me how much they loved the colors and furniture here.  Now, truth be told, the hubs has never liked those sofas and has complained for years the they are  uncomfortable. When he found out we had some interest in them he told me to get rid of them. Really? Get rid of them? You didn't have to tell me twice.

So in the span of about twelve hours I went from a room full of furniture to a room that looks like this.

The leather chair we stole from another room so at least one of us has something to sit  on. If I had thought of it I would have sold the old phonograph table too. The trunk I wanted to keep, along with the rug and the pieces that I have painted.

I really think I want to stay with brighter colors in this windowed and porch feeling room and I know that red and green will still play an important role in my color scheme but I did have some fun last night pulling together some Olioboards to showcase  some of my ideas and concepts for this room as we move forward.

I want a little less of a country look and bit more of a mid-century meets Be Colorful style.

I still love a green sofa and that Chive green from Crate and Barrel speaks to me but maybe the sofa should be neutral and the chairs could be green this time instead. If I got tired of red I could mix in some turqoise.

 

and without the blue.

 

Then again, red chairs would be a fun alternative too, especially with green walls.

Olioboard is yet another way I have discovered to totally blow off an afternoon.

It's kind of like pulling together outfits for my room.

:0

So the adventure begins. I wonder where we will end up.

xoxo,

p

Fra-Gee-Lay or Look Who Arrived at My House

 

 

Months ago I stumbled upon a blog called Live Like You and I felt as if I had just discovered myself. How had this woman and her blog tapped into my soul without ever meeting me?

At the time I was in the midst of updating our living room and it was becoming painfully clear that I am a conflicted woman who loves many styles of decor not to mention every color ever imagined. I typically want to take away a little from here and little from there from the many blogs that I read but when I landed on this one it was like coming home. She hit all my design buttons. I was gaga for every image and even made this one my inspiration photo and used it as the wallpaper on my laptop.

Live Like You

 

The chevron rug, the pillows and the zebra chair. Be still my heart.

What made me pinch myself to be sure I was not dreaming was when I discovered this  is not just a blog but a website and I can SHOP here. 

I die.

I had been obsessing over some of her fabulous mirrors and those greek key pillows absolutely stole my heart away. 

Then one day while reading one of her posts on the Hollywood Regency style I saw him...

 

 THE GREYHOUND.

via Live Like You

 

I was in love.

I had to have him.

I googled him and found he was available through Neiman Marcus. Problem was he was sold out.

:(

I never quit looking for him though. I even put him in a polyvore concept of where I was headed with our living room.

Then it was if the seas parted, and the sun came out. I was window shopping on the Live Like You website for the millionth time and there he was in all his glory and for less money than he had been at N.M.

Add to Cart!

Now he took a while to get here. 

He did have to travel all the way from Italy and then he sat in port for what seemed like forever. I knew, though, that he was worth waiting for.

When he arrived this week I was so excited that I took his picture while he was still in the packing material.

Maybe it was because it was Christmas but

I had a moment that totally reminded me of the scene out of A Christmas Story.

The one where the dad is unpacking the infamous leg lamp from the crate and he declares, "Fra-gee-lay, It must be Italian".  His wife then diplomatically suggests, I think it say Fragile honey." 

Such a fun movie.  

                           Anyway, I unpacked him and  I think he is magnificent. Now my only problem is I like him in so many different places that I am having a hard time deciding on where he stands out best. 

 

He looks so grand by the piano 

and he looks regal by the fireplace.

 

He looks stately at the end of the sofa

 

 

but I also like him standing sentry in the foyer.

 I'm so glad he's here.

 Merry Christmas to me.

:0

How could you not love him?  He doesn't shed, or chew the furniture. He doesn't need to be taken out and he costs nothing to feed but the best part is he is that nod to the Hollywood Regency style that has crept in to my design soul and that iconic statement piece I have been longing for.

Now all that is left to name him.

???

:0

xoxo,

P

 

 

 

A Genius in the House

Life has been so busy for the past few weeks that I didn't even have time to introduce you to the genius in our house.

He came home with us earlier this month and is definitely here to stay.

Actually, the big guy and I attended a fund raiser with some  friends a a few weekends back and we came home with a fabulous piece of art.

We were both so thrilled with our purchase and I have been waiting for some down time so I could share it with you.

We have wanted a work by Tomas Lasansky for several years now but I never expected to come home with one that night.

LIfe is so fun that way. When you least expect it, there are those big smiles moments that memories are made of.

 

A photo op with the artist

We saw this work from across the room that night and we both fell in love with it.

It is such an interesting study in psychology watching people bid on something and I was really fascinated watching my guy go for this piece with such calculated determination. 

Tomas Lasansky's work is highlighted by his iconic historical figures and Native Americans.

Lincoln,  Einstein, Walt Whitman, Sitting Bull, Geronimo and Picasso are his most frequent subject matter.

The piece we purchased is an Einstein Intaglio.

The eyes and the detailing are magnificent.

We proudly hung him in the living room.

 

So now when I come down the stairs in the morning he greets me and I say, " Good morning smartie. What am I going to learn today?' and I usually wave to him again as I say goodnight and head back up the stairs. His wrinkled wise expression just makes me smile. He is like a new friend and roomie that just fits right in and he is so easy to get along with.

:0 

xoxo,

P

 

Room By Room - The Kitchen

Today I decided to participate in the 

Room by Room - Kitchens 

event over at Cottage and Vine.

To see more kitchen ideas click on the icon above.

Our kitchen received a major remodel seven years ago. We were without this room for a full six months but in the end I would have to say it was well worth it and even though we are now seven years into it, there isn't much that I would do differently.

So, welcome to our kitchen.

 I have always loved white kitchens. They are so timeless and because our home is nearly 100 years old I felt a white kitchen was perfect for a house of this era. When we began this project the only two things I knew for sure were that I wanted a traditional look and I wanted it to be white with gray granite. 

My goal was to keep the larger and more expensive to replace features neutral and classic. So we stayed with white subway tile and wainscoting, chrome faucets, and cherry floors.

After living here for the previous six years with a dramatically smaller kitchen and barely functioning, nearly twenty year old appliances, Mike and I both had some definite wish lists for this space.

I am a bit of a dish addict so plenty of storage space was a priority for me. Our kitchen designer didn't let me down.

I thought this butler's pantry turned out to be so pretty

 

 

and I love this wall of cupboards.

 

Almost every single cupboard in this room has full roll out shelving to make items easier to find and put away.

 

 

 

 

I also asked for deep drawers under the cook top to easily store large pots and pans.

 

 

Mike had more to say about the appliances since he is the better cook.

We were rather land locked when we designed this new kitchen and as a result, even though we had a lot more real estate here than we had before, we had to make some choices. More storage and a warming drawer won out over a double oven and for us this seems to have worked out fine.

 

We went with a Sub Zero frig and a gas cook top with an encased commercial grade hood.

We opted for the Fisher Paykel drawer style dishwashers and I love them. I wish they had been side by side instead of on top of each other but this was the layout that worked the best and it really isn't a big issue because the lower drawer seldom gets used except for parties or large family get togethers.

 

 

We are fortunate to have two large windows in this room.

A large bay window over the main sink

 

 

and a triple window in the dining area.

 

These are both places that I like to change out the tchotchkies with the seasons.

 

Another priority for Mike was an island with an ancillary sink.

 

 We had to move a wall out three feet into another room to make it work but the man knew what he wanted.

:0

White kitchens with granite are nothing new but the one feature in this kitchen that is rather unique is the table we had made for this space when we did the remodel. 

 

I remember being flabbergasted by what those legs set us back but they have held up beautifully through all the abuse that a family of five dished out. Not a chip to be seen and yes that is one big a** piece of granite for the top.

 

It took six guys to move it in here.

I'm sure that if we ever move it will stay with the house.

Finally, what is a kitchen without art?

We bought these two pieces from a local artist in Galena

and this Sticks piece was an anniversary gift from Mike several years ago.

 

 

 

 It is hard to believe that this room is already seven years old. Since losing the old oak tree out back this summer I am thinking I may have to break down and add a roman shade to the bay window and I am ready to update the rugs.

Something a little less country and bit more like this.

 

 

or this

Something with a bit more of an edge.

Thanks for visiting.

Now I am off to get some more kitchen inspiration at

Cottage and Vine.

xoxo,

P

Also linking our kitchen here:

 

Linden Living Room Goes A Bit Hollywood

 

 

 

A little more than a year ago I began the update on my living room.

Can you believe it looked like this just thirteen months ago?

I started by taking the walls from a soft yellow to a pearl white and then I decided to have the ceiling painted a metallic copper. 

I replaced the fringed floral swags and jabots with clean lined luxe panels.

Except for the piano, everything was moved out for the painting.

The problem was, I didn't want to bring any of it back in.

Well, reality check. I would have to pace myself here.

I wasn't even sure what look I was going for. I just knew that somewhere between my mommy chauffeur years and early empty nester phase my tastes had changed.

My mid life crisis?

:)

The day we put our son on a plane to Japan I knew I wouldn't see him for a year. I needed a pick me up. So like any heartbroken mama, I went shopping. While I was looking at bar ware at Crate and Barrel I picked out a sofa.

I was still sad about James but it made me feel better about my life, at least for a little bit.

:)

This was a total 180 for me style wise but I was committed to change.

Over the past year or two I have found that although I am still a lover of the traditional style I am increasingly drawn to the flavor of mid-century modern and the glamorous looks of designers like Dorothy Draper.  

A transitional meets Hollywood Regency look if you will.

In the spring I took the plunge and sold the oriental style rugs that had been here and purchased this black and white retro vibe tweed.

It was like a Chanel jacket for my floor.

:)

Total love.

I found this great little accent table at the same time.

 

 

It was a start.

A few weeks later we added the cocktail table,

 and a mirrored chest.

(decorated ala Halloween)

 
 
I am still in need of lighting, art and accessories here.

Who knew decorating took so much time?

As for this chair, well I still like it but it isn't right in this space.

 


 

I may have it sold.

I see either a  pop of color or a black and white accent chair in its place.

I will know it when I see it.

In August the arm chairs I had been waiting for finally arrived.

My vision was coming together.

Then I found this fabulous table from Maitland-Smith.

The Pier 1 lamps were moved to another part of the house after I scored a pair of these from Joss and Main.

I found this shade at Tuesday Morning. It is helping me give a new look to an old floor lamp.

Now I'm looking ahead to what comes next.

These stone topiaries have flanked the fireplace since we moved in. I'm considering moving them into the dining room to make room for this iconic Hollywood Regency find from Live Like You.

 

Isn't he fabulous?

I die.

:0

He should be here later this month.

So this is where I am now a year later.

Quite a change. Don't you think?

 

 

 

My room is like a woman. She has her dress on but she still needs her shoes and jewelry.

Art, pillows and just a few significant and choice accessories.

A little Greek Key, a touch of quatrefoil, a fabulous mirror...

the joy is in the hunt.

xoxo,

P

I will be linking up my living room update here:

 

 

 

Neglected Entry Way

 
 
 

Our home is nearly one hundred years old and it is unusual to have a walk out basement but we do.

The house has a stone foundation that was later covered in brick.

You can not get cell phone reception in our basement even if your life depended on it.

I hope it never does.

Then again, the walls are just so thick I think you could survive just about anything down here.

This is the part of the house where I have my studio.

We have lived here for thirteen years and I know they gave us keys to this door when we moved in but we misplaced them. Then, finally,  last month, after thirteen years, we finally found the key that opens this door. Yes, it has been locked and deadbolted the entire time. Consequently, my family, friends and clients always had to enter down here through the garage doors to the right.

This meant they either needed to know the garage code or I had to watch for them to let them in.

Kind of annoying but whatever.

We probably could have changed out the locks but that would have been too easy.

I always call our house a big old rambler and what I've learned is that with big houses there come numerous neglected projects. This entry way has been one of ours but now that I can use this doorway again I want to spruce it up and give it a fresh coat of paint before it gets too cold.

I've never been shy when it comes to color. 

Our front door is a golden yellow and I have never regretted that decision so I will be equally bold here.

I need to consider that there is a lot of brick back here. Even our driveway is the original brick. It's pretty cool. I love the sound of cars coming down the drive. It makes this great low rumbling sound that I just associate with home.

So I've been looking at some paint options lately and these are some of my faves.

I love this corally red shade. It is probably my go to color in the crayon box.

This paler turquoise is pretty and would definitely be a break out color for me. I think I could get by with it on the back side of the house.

Then again, maybe this brighter version is better.

I find myself drawn to this color lately and can't wait to paint SOMETHING this color even if it isn't this door.

Pale pink is pretty. Again, unusual, but I'm not sure this is where I would want to use this shade. I'm just trying to have an open mind with myself. :)

 

I love these brighter pinks but not sure I would like them against the brick.

 

I did love this picture of the inside of the garage door.

I use one garage stall that is directly off my studio for spray painting and to store larger pieces of furniture. How fun would it be to do this in that garage?

But that is another project for another day  month. 

This Periwinkle reminds me of The Traveling Door.

It would certainly be approrpiate for my studio entrance.

I am also drawn to some two tone ideas

like this pink and white

or even black and white.

Oh the options.

I need more doors.

:0

xoxo,

P

It's All About the Pink

 

 

 

 

It's all about the pink today.

For starters I would like to finally thank Sabrina at

Pinkytopia

for this thoughtful award.

 

It is so rewarding to have that confirmation that someone values what you have posted.

As the recipient of this award I am supposed to tell you seven things about myself.

Hm-mm. This is the hard part.

After blogging for three years I feel like you all know everything there is to know about me, my house, and the fam.

I am an open book and I have nothing new to say at parties.

:)

So here are a few random tidbits...

 

1. I despise cheap toilet paper

2.The trunk of my car is an extension of my purse.   

3. I really do throw like a girl

4. I sometimes get in such a hurry that I forget deodorant so I have a back up in my car ( see 2)

5. There is a bathtub in my hallway that has been there for two months now. I bet it will be there another two months.

6. I don't have one thing ready for the November Traveling Door show that I participate in. Yikes.

7. I work well under pressure. See 6.

:)

I am also supposed to pass this award on to fifteen newly discovered blogs. I will have to get back to you on that. It is hard to narrow it down to just fifteen.

Thank you again to Sabrina. I hope you will stop by her blog and check out Pinkytopia.

 

Keeping with the pink theme, I did finally add those needed touches of raspberry to the breezeway.

After painting the oak piece in this unexpected shade, I knew I needed to balance it out with some pink on the other side of the room.

So this is what I came up with.

Pillows were a no brainer way to add color for not much money.

I found these at Younkers and TJ Maxx.

and this one matches a throw I bought last year. Score!

 

 
I painted up a small plant stand I had in the garage in the same shade of raspberry. The watering can coasters were also something that I had already.

This uplifting artwork from Kathy McCullen also brought in that lively touch of color I was needing.

 

Flowers, a funky placemat from Pier 1 and my latest issue of House Beautiful completed my look.

 

 

  

 

As soon as I get a chance I think I will curl up in one of those chairs with that magazine.

:)

 

For now, I am off to pull together a fall door candy idea for the front door.

I hope you will join me here on Sunday night for Motivated Monday.

I thought it would be fun to do a theme this time and that theme will be Fall Doors.

Hope to see you this Sunday.

xoxo,

P

Linking up my Pink Punches here:

Kathy McCullen Came to My House

Well not really.

Kathy McCullen didn't come to my house but her art work did.

 

How lucky am I?

I found Kathy's blog, Amusing Muses, about three years ago when I first started blogging and I was looking to pull together my own studio.

I fell in love with her and her studio first and then her artwork.

These two pieces arrived last week. Just in time for our party.

They are both mixed media pieces.

I need to ask her how she gets that layered bleed through look.

It is something I would like to try my hand at too.

Maybe it is a trade secret.

 

She also added some paper elements that give the piece that great added dimension and texture.

 

For me to fall in love with a piece of art it has to evoke some sort of emotion. These two pieces did just that. They both are just happy exhilarating  pieces that reflect the feeling I want in our home.

Second of all, they need to showcase the space where I intend to put them. For example, I knew I wanted one bolder more dramatic piece of wall art here as opposed to several smaller pieces. The subject matter was traditional enough to lend a feeling of sophistication but the colors were vibrant enough to give this piece and the entry a touch of whimsical light heartedness that I am drawn to and striving for.

Then, as an added bonus the black and white pattern in the canvas seemed to reflect the rugs and the oranges and pinks were a nice repeat of the copper ceiling in the living room and the raspberry dining room. 

I wouldn't choose a piece for that reason alone but it was nice how it worked out that way.

Someday I may move things around again and hang the two paintings together because they compliment each other so well but for now the smaller piece is in the breezeway.

Again, another uplifting piece that seemed to have the perfect vibe and colors for this space.

I just wish I didn't have to look at that thermostat.

I think I will be framing the smaller piece but I'm not sure about the larger one. Sometimes I like the look of an unframed canvas. 

Kathy McCullen,

Google her or just click here or here to see more of her work.

Don't buy it all now. Leave something for me, won't you?

xoxo,

P

Dining Room Update

 

Is is just me or does everyone feel the need to polish and update their home before a party in an almost manic way?

It started with a deep cleaning of the chandeliers.

I was a bit amazed myself how much better they looked after I was finished.

Guess they need to be done more often than every two years.

:)

I also added a new accessory to the room.

I saw this tray at Phelan's and knew it would be perfect on this sideboard because it had the weight and substance that this space called for. I also liked that it had that vintage feel that is a nice contrast to the more modern touches I am hoping hoping to bring in.

It is true that we are in the middle of a design update here and I knew the new look would not be completed before our little soiree but I did feel the need to bring it as far along as time and the budget would allow.

 

So I was totally stoked when the rug I had ordered for the dining room over the 4th of July weekend finally arrived.

 

 

The old rug looked like this.

Also notice the chairs.

 

 

It was absolutely acceptable but where was the wow factor.

No shrinking violets allowed here on BeColorful.

If I wanted some wham bam damn I would have to start with the rug.

I had gone with the black and white in the foyer that leads right to the dining room so the two looks needed to blend well.

So I limited my searches to black and white and I needed a 9x13 for something less than the national debt.

I found this one and I liked it. It was a bit traditional but also had that wow I was looking for.

The price was good. After buying all of those Karistan rugs the first time around and selling them for a fraction of what I paid for them, I knew I didn't want to make that kind of investment this time around. I am too fickle. I only want to be married to my husband not my rugs.

So after I found this rug on an internet rug site I googled the style number to come up with all of the retailers that carried this design.

I was amazed at the price variance and guess where it showed up for the least amount of money?

JC Penney's!

Never would have thought to look there but don't rule them out.

They had this rug on sale for 40% off.

That had my attention. Delivery was a bit steep but even then I couldn't beat the price.

The next problem was the chairs.

Those gold and red stripes on the side chairs and the gold and red floral on the Host chairs just wasn't working. In fact, it was a huge detractor.

So, with less than 48 hours to go until show time I went to the fabric store and purchased a neutral fabric, loaded up my staple gun and went to work.

 

The problem was  I have ten of these bad boys!

These chairs are Ethan Allen and I was a little less than impressed when I popped off the cushions and found that most of them only had  only two or three screws holding them to the chair. Then when I tried to put them back together I discovered why.

None of the holes in the seat line up with the braces in the chair!

So much for more money getting you better quality.

There were more than a few expletives thrown around

As my friend Sally says, to listen to me you would have thought I have Tourette's.

But get it done I did.

I'm not sure how committed I am to these chairs so I went right over the old fabric that is upholstered much better than my hurried job.

If I sell them I will just take my coverings off again.

All in all, though I am pleased with the look.

I am thinking about losing the window treatments in the dining room.

Not sure we need them and the windows themselves are rather pretty.

I would like to change out the mirror with something with a bit more of a Dorothy Draper feel.

Also, I am looking at a new wall color to replace the red that I have lived with for thirteen years.

Time to mix it up a bit.

I am still thinking a brighter pink.

Although a silvered purple

has been on my radar too  I think looking into this room that probably the pink would be better companion.

Thoughts?

 

I have so much to share.

Too much for one post so this week I will try to bring you up to speed on our living room update, new artwork I am so thrilled with, and the pops of raspberry I brought into the breezeway. I also have some temporary wall decor,  a bedroom failure and a workable temporary fix. Just so much.

Then there are the functional art projects I have been working on.

Too many post ideas, too little time.

I hope you can stop back.

There will not ba a Motivated Monday this week but I hope you will be here next Sunday night with a front door decor post.

I am thinking Fall already.

Can't wait to see what you come up with.

xoxo,

P

 

I will be linking up my dining room update here:

Yes, I Painted My Antique Commode Raspberry Pink

 

 

 

Oh yes I did.

Avert your eyes if you have issues with painting perfectly good antique pieces,

because that is exactly what I did.

Horrors right?

Please don't un-subscribe.

:)

 

 Until this week this was a  golden oak commode that I bought back in the 80's.

( Behr primer + paint)

Back then I didn't have a car that it would fit in so my dad picked it up for me and helped deliver it to my apartment.

That's just what dads do.

I know a lot of you are shaking your head in disdain that I painted this piece at all and as if that wasn't painful enough, I had to commit my sin with a raspberry pink.

I must say,

I'm not sorry.

It was the right decision for me.

 

In my defense, when I first bought my little oak piece she was coated in a very ugly shade of green.

I went to work laboriously stripping it down to bare wood and then staining and varnishing it.

The detail work was a bear but it is what makes the piece interesting.

 

 

I was so proud of my work but alas, things change.

Styles change and my home has changed numerous times.

I stripped it myself so I felt entitled to paint it again if I wanted.

 

 
I went back and forth between pink or a bold green or yellow.

For now I am happy with my pink choice.

It does go kind of red in the evenings though, and yes,

I even painted the back so it looks good from the back in front of that window.

:)

I could have sold this piece as it was but it had some memories for me including the one of my dad who is no longer here.

Over the years it stored my china. We had a small wedding so early on I didn't have much to store.

Then for the first six months of Lizzie's life it held toys.

As the toys multiplied we moved on.

For a while it contained an overflow of video tapes.

Later on it stored booze.

A few years after that we must have started drinking more and decided we needed a built in bar.

:)

So this little commode was relegated to the place where I keep extension cords, light bulbs, batteries and candles.

Just recently I moved it out of the media room and onto the breezeway.

I wasn't sure at first if I really liked it here.

I didn't like the look of the oak but I hated to give up a storage piece.

Then it hit me,

I was ready to take the plunge.

I would paint it and feel not an ounce of guilt.

I didn't want my usual multi patterned look, just a solid color this time with some new hardware.

 

 

Yes, painting the commode was the perfect solution.

I still have my memories, I still have my storage but now I also have a fresh pop of color in this formerly demure green yellow and white room.

 

Hmmmm. Now I'm thinking I need some raspberry pink and red pillows on the other side of the room to balance things out.

Well that settles it.

Gone shopping.

xoxo,

p

 

 

 

Room By Room Party - The Foyer ( Half Dressed)

Today I am joining Rene over at 

Cottage and Vine

for a Room By Room Party.

This month it is foyers.

Too bad mine is in the middle of a makeover.

We moved into our house a little over thirteen years ago and I thought this old house needed a more formal and traditional approach, so that is what I did.

Then about a year ago I knew it was time to change things up in this old house of ours so I started with the front door and painted it a bright yellow.

I had this epiphany moment.

Just because this Linden Lady of ours is rapidly approaching her 100th birthday doesn't mean that she needs to be a stuffy old broad.

No, it was time to sass things up a bit.

The only pictures I have of the foyer before I began our update were from  this past Christmas.

 

So here are the befores...

Looking down the front hallway towards the dining and family rooms.

 

Looking back towards the front door.

Then earlier this year I took the plunge and sold most of the first floor rugs.

These pieces just weren't jiving with the look I was striving for.

So it has been looking pretty naked around here.

 

 

Our foyer has some nice architectural elements with those archways so it doesn't need a lot to dress it up but while the space was emptied out I took the time to clean the chandelier and rethink the artwork and accessories.

So Welcome to our home as she looks today -

think of it as in her dress but without her shoes and jewelry.

:)

Come on in!

 

Looking down from above.

What I see as I come down the stairs in the morning.

This view just makes me happy especially now that I know the living room chairs will be delivered next week - before our party. Yay!

Today's job - find some tables for those lamps. :)

 

It's a start.

I still need to do something with this mirror.

Paint it cream or paint it black.

Maybe move this one to the living room and replace it with something a bit smaller.

I removed the table that was in front of this mirror but it may be coming back.

I like the openess of not having it here but this winter I will miss the little table lamp that I put here.

Maybe it will be a seasonal change up.

:)

I'm also still looking at art work for inside the door.

I think all of these pieces by Kathy McCullen are saucy and welcoming.

It all comes down to size...and money.

 

 

I love her work. You can see more of it here.
 
Thanks for visiting. I think Rene's house parties will be a regular stop for me and maybe will help me to keep progressing forward.

xoxo,

P

 

How to Clean a Crystal Chandelier

 

 
 
 

Do you have one of these?

I am fortunate enough to have two.

Fortunate? This week I was beginning to wonder.

:)

They are definitely glamorous and I love them when they are clean.

Even dirty, they are still pretty but it has been well over a year since I last cleaned ours. They were taking on that cloudy look.

We are having a business event here at home in a couple of weeks.

Funny how knowing that makes me look around the house with fresh eyes.

When I looked around this time I saw numerous neglected things that need a little TLC and elbow grease. These chandeliers were two of them that I can now chalk off my to do list.

 

 

So while I was in the middle of this project and trying to entertain myself with idle thoughts, I thought that I might share with you some helpful hints I have learned along the way to make this whole process go a bit more smoothly.

 

Let me begin by saying that really, there isn't a short cut to doing this job right.

Early on, in an attempt to avoid the whole deep cleaning procedue, I tried one of those spray on products that claim you just spray it on your fixture and you are done. 

Three words about this type of product;

Save Your Money.

This only left my light looking spotted and still dusty and dull.

Suck it up and do it the right way.

It isn't difficult to get that spectacular sparkling effect but it does take a little extra time and effort.

In the end, though, the results will definitely be worth it.

 

First off these are the things you will need.

An uninterupted block of time.

This is the hardest part for me. The rest is much easier.

I promise.

It will also be much easier if you can do this during the daytime.

Natural light is so much easier on the eyes than staring into those bright bulbs.

 

 

Next, go and get yourself a couple pair of latex gloves that fit snuggly, not the dishwashing gloves that don't fit tight to your fingers.

These are a critical item because you don't want to touch the crystals with your bare hands and leave oils and fingerprints on your chandelier.

The fit of these gloves allows you to handle the small hooks and clips that the crystals hang from easily.

The latex makes it easier to hold on to slippery and breakable crystals.

 

You will need just plain old dish washing soap.

If it is good enough to hand wash your better glassware and china in then it is perfect for this job too.

 

You will need a half a dozen or more tea towels to lay the crystals on after rinsing them and then to pat them dry.

These tightly woven styled towels are better than terry cloth ones because the small hooks on the crystals are less apt to get hooked on this type of fabric.

 

I also use a cookie sheet to lay out and organize the crystals and fobs on as I transfer them from the foyer and dining room to the kitchen sink and then back again.

 

If you are over 45 I would suggest a pair of these too.

It really is so much easier than squinting.

Now you are ready to begin.

Take a good look at your fixture.

If you have the assembly directions you could remove all of the crystals and label them as you remove them, grouping them by size and crystal style. After washing each piece you could then reassemble your light fixture according to the original directions.

I have done it that way but I found I spent a lot of extra time labeling and keeping my crystals organized. Sometimes there are only the most minute differences in the sizes of the pieces but the wrong piece in the wrong place is so jarring to the overall design. So it is important to remember what pieces go where.

Instead, I clean my chandeliers in layers.

I start at the very top and remove just the crystals from the top circle.

I lay them out on the tea towel covered cookie sheet as I remove them.

I take them to the sink and rinse each one individually in the soapy warm water and then rinse immediately.

Pat them dry to eliminate any water spotting and lay them back out on the cookie sheet.

 
 

If there is a crystal stem at the center of your chandelier like this one, then spray a bit of Windex on a rag and wipe the exposed part of the stem to remove any dust before you rehang the crystals that you have cleaned.

Proceed one layer at a time and slowly move down each layer of the chandelier.

The strands of chrystals that form a chain like effect can usually be removed and cleaned as one piece so it really isn't as daunting as it seems.

The end result is that sparkling prism of light that only cut crystal can produce.

This deep cleaning doesn't need to be done that often.

Once a year is probably enough.

In between times it may help to remove and wipe down the bulbs and bobeches around the lights that seem to collect dust.

When it IS time for that heavy duty annual cleaning it doesn't have to be all bad.

Put on some good tunes and decide that a bit of alone time to get something productive done is a good way to spend an afternoon.

:)

I hope you can visit again tonight at 9:00 pm Central as I post this week's

Motivated Monday.

Until then, thanks for visiting.

xoxo

P

I will be linking up my post here:

 

Moving On Again - The Library

Decorating is not for the impatient.

While I wait for the living room furniture and the dining room rug my mind wanders to adjoining spaces that need a make over too.

I was excited though that my Thomas Paul runners came for the foyer.

I love them.

 

 
 
 

I feel like they are perfect with the living room rug but I am not as thrilled with how they team up next to the entry rug.

Add this to my to do list too -

I hate that tile but that is a "whole thing" as my youngest would say and not anything I can do anything about right now.

So now while I am looking for a rug for the library I will have to keep a replacement for this 4x4 entry rug in the back of my mind too.

As for the library, it is a small and challenging room to pull together.

 

The room is narrow with a bookcase at one end and an archway at the other.

Add in that big old radiator and it is a design dilemma for sure.

My mom may want this love seat. If she does, great.

I have a big old wing chair that I would recover and put here.

Or I could recover this love seat and leave it here or take it back into the living room. Whatever I put here I want to see in a bold graphic print fabric.

I can see a black and cream stripe of a bronze or brown damask or ikat pattern.

I've also thought of a dusty purple.

Crazy I know.

I would then do the opposite design on the rug.

I also have this chair that isn't so pretty but is incredibly comfortable and has an ottoman. It is a Bradington Young chair so it is a quality piece and perfect for a library.

I like this little side chair too. It was in the living room but doesn't work now.

I like it here with certain fabric and rug choices. Otherwise it may have to find a new home.

 

So considering the rugs in the foyer, I am thinking one of these for the library.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: rugstudio.com via Pamela on

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts or input?

You know me, always asking and listening.

I will be linking up my post here:

 

xoxo,

P

PS. There is still time to link up to the Motivated Monday Party. To join in click here.

 

Moving On - The Foyer

I am subtitling this post with this -

 

Ramblings of a Budget Constrained Wannabe Designer That Wants It All Now But Needs A Reality Check

:D

 

So while I wait for the rest of the living room furniture to arrive, my thoughts are moving on to the library and the foyer.

Today, I will concentrate on the foyer.

This is how it looked at Christmas.

 

It looked magical with all of the garland and lights.

On any given day, though, this foyer is a bit on the boring side.

Standard height 9' ceilings and not a lot of light.

I wish it had sidelights next to the door but there are closets flanking the door and Lord knows in an old house you need all of those you can get.

This part of the house has had a very traditional feel and I don't want to leave that behind I just want to give it a bit of an edge.

So we lightened up the walls with a fresh coat of paint and then I removed the runner and I ordered two of these instead.

They are from the Thomas Paul Damask Collection.

 

 

I liked the idea of two runners instead of one long one this time around.

I think I was influenced by this photo.

 

traditional hall design by san francisco interior designer Amoroso Design

 

 

My inspiration for my choice of runners was the hallway carpet at the Wynn in Vegas.

They are very similar.

I loved it there and I think it will bring a little updated sass and flair to our

foyer here.

 

For now I have moved the small half moon table out of the foyer and into the dining room so things look a bit naked here. I also took down the artwork  above the radiator ( it is sitting on the floor) but it may have to return for awhile longer.

 I got rid of a lot of pieces when I started my living room update so in a lot of ways it is like starting over and I can only rob Peter to pay Paul so many times.

 

My next question is what to do with that mirror.

I like having a mirror in the foyer so I can check my face, hair and what not before I answer or head out the door. I just don't really like THIS mirror anymore.

We bought it to help us sell the last house.

I thought it would help make the dining room there look a bit larger.

It must have worked because the house sold quickly after we put it up.

Now, though, it is a bit fancy schmancy for me.

It is rather large which I like but extremely heavy and very ornate.

 

So lately I have been wondering,

do I paint it a glossy black? Very Dorothy Draper?

It could work well with the new runners, if they ever arrive.

Or maybe an off white that just blends in with the wall? That would play down the frame and still work with the runners. Too boring though?

Maybe I paint it silver.

Or, maybe I move it all together if I can talk the big guy into rehanging it here.

Originally I was thinking new artwork here and a mirror over the fireplace.

I stole this chalk drawing from our bedroom for now.

I don't want too many mirrors so if I bring that large mirror in here I will have to find some art work for this space.

I know I will not get as much for the mirror if I paint it and then decide to sell it but it isn't making me happy  and I am not sure I want to whittle away at my decorating budget for a mirror right now. 

I have bigger fish to fry.

There are just too many wants on my list.

ARGH.

This make over IS fun but I close my eyes at night and see $$$ signs.

So loved ones I come to you. This mad housewife needs to hear your thoughts on the mirror? What would you do?

Chuck it? Paint it? Paint it and move it?

What's a girl to do?

In the end I will make up my own mind, but I love hearing from you.

xoxo,

P

I will partying with the best of them over at

Between Naps on the Porch. Join me there.