Decorating Cents

Yep, we've been in our house a little over five years now.  There's so much we've accomplished but still so much I wo uld like to do.  I try to keep the house tour page updated.  As I was going through pictures, I noticed how different the spaces look since the beginning.  I wanted to take you through a few rooms and the changes. Let's start with the family room.  Here are some photos from the house listing.  I don't think I ever took real before photos when we moved in.   Notice everything was still pretty builder grade.  I don't think the previous homeowners had done anything but move furniture in.  There were no holes from hanging any curtains, there was no color on the walls, and the light fixtures were original. Here is the same space shortly after moving in.  We installed hardwood floors, painted the walls, and changed the original family room light to a ceiling fan.  Before we moved in we bought furn...

The breakfast area is one we use daily.  We sit there for all our meals when we're together as a family.  I always keep placemats on the table to protect it from spills and scratches, especially with a little one.   The placemats that were there were old and a little dated.  They functioned great but the leaves weren't exactly our style.  A little country if you ask me. The size and shape of them are perfect for this table.  The sawed off corners made them fit together like a puzzle on the table and covered just enough while we were eating.  I was always on the look out for a better looking set.  At one point, I bought a round woven set but never liked how they looked so I never used them.  Plus they were woven so I didn't want to be scraping food out the holes. I happened to be in Target one day (surprise right?) when I came across these on clearance.  The color and design on them was good and they were plastic. ...

I originally used solid pillows for the family room.  I liked them for a while but they were so plain and it was starting to bug me.  I started the hunt for fabrics that were the same colors but would add more dimension to the space.  I told you before going into a fabric store is overwhelming for me.  I start to grab everything I like but I usually walk out empty handed. I had come across Online Fabric Store through an online search.  They have really good prices and have some of the same fabrics you would find in Joann's or Hancock.  It was good for me since I can search at my speed and not have to rush into buying something.  I found some Waverly fabric that I loved.  It uses the same blue tone but has a pattern.  It is the Chippendale Fretwork.   I mixed this pattern with an Ikat pillow cover from Pottery Barn.  No, not an actual Pottery Barn pillow cover.  I made my own using one of their napkins.  No one say...

I've noticed the new trend of Drum Chandeliers.  I knew I wanted an updated fixture over the breakfast area besides the ugly one that we acquired with the house.  I hadn't changed it yet because I wasn't sure what I wanted to go over the table.  After seeing a couple versions of it by Jackie and Carrie , I thought a drum chandelier would be a great modern and casual update. I went to Lowes to grab the Portfolio Mini Pendant Light Fixture .  The had a good selection of shades to choose from, whether it be glass or lamp shade.  I ended up choosing an off white shade after searching several other stores. The pendant was pretty easy to put together. 1. Gather your supplies: light pendant kit, shade, nipples, and couplings. 2. Dis-assemble the light kit by unscrewing the rods and canopy from the socket. 3. Screw on a coupling and nipple.  This lengthens the piece on which your shade sits on. 4. Slide your shade onto the cord and rest it ...

We've been here a few months now and things are progressing.  I didn't want to start the tour until the rooms were done but I don't think a room will ever be completely done. Let's start with the family room.  This is the hub of the house and where everyone will congregate.  It had to be the first room done since this is what our guests will see. Here are some before and after pics: Looking into the family room: Looking into eat-in from family room: Looking into eat-in from kitchen: View from the kitchen: The biggest change was the hardwood floors throughout the main floor.  I knew I wanted hardwoods before we started looking for a house so of course it was the first thing to change. They were installed the day after we closed.  (Yeah I work fast around here!!)  Couldn't get rid of that nasty carpet fast enough.  We painted in Behr Brown Teepee.  It will be the main color for the downstairs. ...