One Room Challenge – Week 2

October 10, 2013 venicepup

Hello Everyone!

Did this week just fly by for you too? Were you able to make some headway on any of your projects? I have to say that after a day of deer-in-headlights, I threw myself over the dining room make-over cliff. Panic, anxiety, excitement… all strong motivators to be sure! And if you have time later, see what the other bloggers have got going on – Plenty!! Go here.

So, let’s just get this party started right. Cue C&C Music Factory (y’all better know who that is).

The Mother has officially moved in. Nothing will ever be the same.

See all the wonderful vents I’ve had to contend with? The bottom register will be the perfect spot for a desk area and the air vent above will be virtually hidden once the shelves go up to the ceiling. Yay-yo!

And just for fun, some make-it-work highlights…’Cause when you buy a pile of who-knows-what, you’ve got to seriously unearth those puzzle skills!

This bad girl’s getting sawed in pieces to fit in the center… See?

Try to avert your attention from the wall color as I want to talk about that later. Yes, I did put a coat of Dunn Edwards Red Ink in high gloss… am I done with the color? Not too sure on ‘er there.

But isn’t design (and almost anything for that matter) all about decision making. There are A LOT of options out there, and it can get soooo overwhelming to pull the trigger. Your mind is swirling with a zillion fabric swatches, magazine photos, trends, opinions and (damn it) that little voice inside, all smug, and British for some reason, asking you, “Are you sure?”

When you and I see a room in a strangers house all those nitty gritty choices have already been made. It looks so easy. Well, homies, it ain’t. It just ain’t.

So, wanna help me with what I’ve got percolating?

Let’s talk articulating sconces. This is kinda what I’m going for and I want to place them so they light The Mother up and show off all her goodies.

And here are the choices… all good I think. But which one?!?! (Major finger biting!)

$T2eC16J,!y8E9s2fig!fBQezCqVKdg~~60_3 — Ebay – Vintage

il_570xN.413876177_1uv8 — Etsy – Handmade

Which of these beautiful lights says?… I’m playful, but sophisticated.

I’d love to hear your feedback! Share, Share!

What’s on the agenda for next week, you ask. More work on The Mother (obvs), chair make-overs (Going Blue!!) and maybe the paint color’s finally done. Dare I ask for so much?!

Thank you so much for staying with me! We’re kinda in this together now, aren’t we?!?

Happy Creating!

One Room Challenge – Week 1

October 2, 2013 venicepup

Hi Friends!

I’m so excited that the One Room Challenge (ORC) has been opened up!

It’s like Festivus for the Rest of Us!

Interested in linking up? Just visit Calling It Home and follow the instructions. We get 6 weeks to transform a space, any space and anyone’s space – doesn’t have to be yours. Although given the tight 6 week timeframe, it’s probably easier to live in it.

After much (MUCH!) deliberating, I’ve decided to work over the dining room. Gotta tell you, that was difficult to put out there – there is a holy grail lot of work to be done and I’m more than a little nervous that I can bust it out.

Use the Pressure, Be the Pressure – My new mantra, by the way.

So, here’s the room when we moved in 7 years ago and sadly not too much has changed.

Poor little dumping ground for old, improperly sized furniture. That table came with me from two houses ago, the “bachelorette pad,” the screen and cabinet, though beautiful, just don’t go and the rug, too traditional for my taste.

I knew I wanted red, red, red! So I had grasscloth installed on the bottom with a chair rail on the top. Then, I tried my best to match the red wallpaper with a flat paint on the top. Such a no-no. The rail cuts off the room and the flat paint is so blah. It needs to go high gloss, BABY!

Here’s where I’m going…

And some Inspiration Photos, of course…

Yes, I realize they’re not all pictures of dining rooms, but that’s cool, man. Inspiration can come from anywhere. You’re creating something new, so there’s not going to be one picture that tells the whole story. Si?

Now for the mighty to-do list. Me fave!

1. Gloss up the Red

2. Install The Mother (click to catch up) on the funky blank wall with the zillion vents

3. Paint The Mother the perfect color -tbd

4. Switch out the dining table with Grandma’s heirloom piece and mix up the seating. A settee would be amaze balls.

5. Chandelier. Hello?!?!!

6. Brass Sconces for The Mother

7. Window treatment; pagoda inspired, perhaps.

8. New rug or maybe no rug or maybe multiple rugs… hmmmm

9. And last, but not least, organize The Mother with all my fun Chinese porcelain, get some new plants, table cloth, art… you know finishing touches =)

Can I do it??? I will remain doggedly positive until Week 5!! Stay tuned!

And as always, Happy Creating!

2 Comments Inspiration, Projects, The Mother Cabinet Project

Summer Palace Wallpaper – Dare I Emulate?

September 30, 2013 venicepup

Hi Everyone! Today over at the Pink Pagoda they’re having a cool Blue and White Bash! I, of course, just had to get in on the fun!! Bounce over there later to see all the fun posts about all things blue and white.

Remember I said I have been working on something kinda loco?? Well, due to my undying love of the Summer Palace wallpaper by Osborne and Little I am working on creating a stencil to imitate the spirit of the original, with obviously, my own little twist.

Check out this beauty…

This is no wallflower wallpaper! Look closely at the details… 3-4 different colors (depending on the color way), and lots of tiny, gorgeously maddening details. And I love, love, love the blue and white combination. Classic, yet adventurous.

So, where to start, right? I headed over to staples with a word document of 1 repeat of the pattern and had them enlarge it for me on medium grade paper. It will cost you about $10 bucks, but totally worth it. I got mine printed to be about 10″ x 24″ and of course it’s blurry. That’s where you get the power to decide how far you’re going to take the details.

I decide to do 2 stencils that will overlap to get the 3 color effect. First, I’ll paint the wall white for color 1, next I’ll put on the slightly darker color with broad details, and then finally (if I can do all this successfully!!), I’ll put the 2nd stencil over the first, for the super details and the darkest color.

I began by marking out the second color with a bright blue marker.

Can you see my little lines?

Now, this is crucial. You MUST make sure that the piece that you plan to cut out has a complete cut space. And also, anything within that space will be cut-out too. I know that sounds obvious but if you are imitating a wallpaper the way I am, you will have to manipulate the design a bit to make this possible.

Then I made sure to mark the template stencil and the plastic sheet with lines to match the centers together.

I actually taped both to my dining table with blue tape – which worked great! And when I had to put my fun project away, I just covered it with a table cloth. Haha, kids!! Hidden from your little eyeballs! So simple, yet so genius, huh?!

For stage 3, go back to your template and using a different colored marker, trace out the super details. Then transfer that to the plastic sheet too. It sounds so easy when you type it out – but I feel you if this is taking longer than you thought. Just marking out my two stencils in-between calls, potty training and dishes took me two weeks.

Next, the cutting!! Bu-ah-ha-ha! Catch up, so we can do that together next week, ok?

I want to thank Pink Pagoda for this super fun chance to participate!

And as always, Happy Creating! Tootles!

1 Comment Projects