A Spare Room Finally Comes Together

Sometime last year I participated in a Share-A-Thon for Hometalk and wallpapered an old bed.  Here's a reminder of that project and a link to the original post.

Before

After

Yep, that's where I left the project, until recently.  I've finally gotten a room put together to give you a peek at a true finished product.

I still would like some accessories and artwork in the room but I tend to gather and decorate over time.  Eventually I'll find things that catch my eye, no rush.

These lamps were old faux wood bamboo lamps that I spray painted black.  The shades were a little wanky so I played with them as well by painting the interior a shimmering gold, thought it'd add a little ambience.

They turned out really cute (if I do say so myself).

The drapery behind the bed is a simple painter's dropcloth that I've stenciled (another Hometalk Share-a-Thon Project), a really easy way to personalize and make unique window treatments, bedding, pillows, etc.  Have you done anything unique with wallpaper or stenciled something unexpected?

A Look At My Favorite Flower Combinations to Brighten Your Garden

Do you have any favorite flower combinations?  I most definitely do and just like mixing fabrics I love to play with color, texture and "pattern".  Here's a few examples from around my garden.

This grass I love, believe its called Blue Lymgrass.  I planted two pots of it a couple years ago, it is invasive but easily controlled by pulling (if you keep on top of it).   I have taken starts of it and it is now all over my yard.  It looks good with anything that isn't blue.  Here I have it with a lilac bush.   I love the purple with the blue when the lilac is blooming.  The long stalks of the grass and the small leaves of the bush complement each other nicely (in a similar way that a large stripe looks good with a small floral print when dealing with fabrics).   It looks really good with black-eyed susans or other such flowers with the bold yellows/oranges.

This is a small portion of my island in the driveway.  I love the bold green of the weeping spruce with the light and bright lamb's ear and a backdrop of bold purples.  Purples, blues, bold lime greens, they always add a little punch.

Variegated Liriope is one of my favorite "ground covers".  I use it all over the place in the front of borders.  Here it is planted with a knockout rose, the rose has a slightest reddish/purple leaf which I love against the bold stripe of the liriope, and then it gets that beautiful purple bloom.  Love them!

Are you sensing a pattern yet? I love grasses, they add so much interest and texture, and purples with lime greens, so striking.   This is a plum bush with lime mop-head evergreens in front with a rose bush behind, even farther back is a really thin leaved grass and a huge bed full of purple coneflowers. This is my favorite area of the yard. Right now the coneflowers are just seed heads and the finches are everywhere.

The bush in the background in a ninebark and again, liriopes in front, great contrast.

I love the big leaves and bold, large flowers next to the thin bladed grass.  The orange just pops, this flower would be great with the blue lymgrass from the first picture.

This is probably my favorite grass (Miscanthus Variegatus).  It has a larger blade with striping, I have them all over the place.  They hold up well to the wind/rain and tend to stay upright better than the taller, zebra grass (I also have a ton of it). Again, the bold, bright striping looks great with the darker leaves and bold color of the knockout roses.  I always try to plant them together.  If you don't have knockout roses and your zone allows, they are so easy.  They need no extra care and when they grow too large I simply hack them off near the ground and they just keep coming back for more.   They really are amazing and quite hardy.

A knockout rose, I know, you're shocked!  The other bush is a privet, it is also a lovely bush.   It grows into a nice shape and has beautiful lime green leaves.   Looks great next to anything and really brightens things up.

So, what's your go-to flower combinations?

Use What You Have to Transform Your Living Room

Years ago I did a couple projects where I went in, put together a design with a variety of ideas that would work in the space and then let the homeowners at it.  They saved money by doing all the work and I provided them with space plans and a design guide to help them create a visually pleasing, functional room.  It worked out great.  This is one of my favorite projects from that time.

BEFORE:

I had to "splice" a few pictures together to come up with a completed picture, like I said, this was years ago and I wasn't thinking about good pictures (I have a hard time thinking of that now).  Anyhow, this room is your typical "formal living room" with a few common mistakes. 

First, pictures should be 6-8" above the couch.  Too high and they are floating with no relationship to the furniture piece below them.  Also, how much of your wall should be covered?  The artwork should be in proportion to the size of the furniture its supporting.  A good guide is about 2/3.  When I'm hanging something above a couch I want it to cover close to 2/3 of the width and cover the wall enough that eye-level is in the middle of the grouping.  A couch needs a substantial piece of art behind it.  Pictures are fine, just layer them.  One little row, such as this, is not enough!  For this grouping I'd say the row already there is fine if there was another row below it.  It's too skimpy and too high.

Second, the furniture placement is boring and expected.  Why is it we always stuff all furniture into corners or against walls?

 Same thing here, artwork is too small and I suggested a new storage place for the clutter.

AFTER:

I suggested a paint scheme to add some architectural interest and draw the eye up, expanding the space.  The color selections were pulled directly out of the furniture.  They did a wonderful job.  Their beautiful wood secretary was hidden away in the opposite corner, now its a show stopper.  Its seen immediately upon entering the house.  Your eye is immediately drawn into the room by the photo collage and the furniture arrangement, it draws you in and beckons you to stay a while. 

  Float your furniture!  As long as you have at least 3' for a walkway, go for it.  It looks so much better and makes for a much more personal seating arrangement.  Makes me want to sit down for a cup of coffee.

  Paint and trim work were the only expenses, everything else was simply re-used within the space or pulled from another room.  Amazing what a little rearranging can do! 

Perennials- A Few of My Favorites

I don't know about you but I am a Perennial lover!  I can't get enough of them.  I am not a structured gardener, very informal, and I love when the perennials spread out, intertwine and take over a bed, within reason of course. 

Here's a few of my favorites:

Golden Ragwort, I've only had this one a couple years and it really comes to life in early spring while nothing else is blooming and things are just beginning to fill in with bright yellow flowers lighting up a variety of spots in the garden. 

It spreads out like crazy.  I also love that!  One of my favorite things about perennials is how easily they spread and thrive. 


Russian Sage, every house I've ever had has included this lovely perennial.  It mixes well with a variety of other perennials and with it's wispy, feathery appearance it blends well with other, more structured plants such as purple coneflowers, black-eyed Susan's and Knockout Roses.  Really great combo's. 

After clearing out the debris last fall this is what I've got.  I love how easily it spreads out.  See all those little babies popping up.  All I've got to do is dig them up and plant them somewhere else and I've got a continual supply of new plants. 

Alright, this one's not a perennial but I tend to favor bushes that send out little "babies" as well that I can dig up and plant somewhere else.    This Lilac Bush is the perfect example of just that.  A few others that work for this are Dappled Willow and Little Henry's.  I've got transplants of all of these throughout my yard.

I found little "babies" growing around the outskirts of the bush so I dug them up and planted them.  I lost one but the other is slowly growing in.  It's tiny, but going to bloom beautifully. 

Finally, for today, Purple Coneflowers one of a few natives for my area that I just love.  (Shasta Daisies and Black-Eyed Susan's are wonderful too).  They multiply like crazy, attract birds and bees and they're gorgeous!  What's not to love.

They are a little finicky when it comes to transplanting, they really don't like it, but hang in there.  The parent plant might look dead but just keep watering and be patient.  I can't even tell you how many times I've planted these little buggers only to have the parent plant look dreadful for the rest of the season (and sometimes even die).  Many people want to dig them up and return them but I'm telling you, the next set you plant will probably do the same thing.  Rather than return, keep them watered and give them till the following spring (you usually have a year warranty anyhow so give them time).  I can almost guarantee that you'll have babies that will bloom the next spring.  That's just how they roll!

The largest plant in the following picture is a parent plant, dug up from somewhere else in my yard.  It wilted up and looked horrible after I planted it and for the remainder of that season.  The following year it came back, bloomed beautifully and produced baby plants.  This spring there are babies everywhere and my parent plants have doubled in size.  It's filling in beautifully.  Remember, patience is key, it's not going to happen overnight.

I am so excited for spring and hope I have some time to get out there and get things cleaned up.  I've got a to-do list a mile long but know this is not the year to get any of it accomplished (not with "The Chirping Frog" project").  I do need to carve out some time to do some clean-up.  Do you have any great plans this year for your gardens?

12 Gorgeous Decorated Ceilings

We spend so much time decorating our homes, then paint all the ceilings white.  What?  I'm not saying we need to do something different on every ceiling but come on now, lets quit ignoring them and go for the gusto.  The possibilities are endless and what an impact a strategically decorated ceiling can make.  Check out these great examples:

How about paint.....?

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997486752/

http://braysamlane.blogspot.com/2013/07/basement-remodel-with-painted-exposed.html

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997486838/

Or a Medallion of some sort......

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997486832/

http://simpledetailsblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/diy-gold-sunburst-flush-mount-light.html?crlt.pid=camp.VU7Kas2mA9SI

Metal..... love it!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997486751/

http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/decorating/cottage-style-home/metal-ceilings-cottage-style

Wood..... I can't decide which one I like the best....

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997486739/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997486759/



http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997486784/

What about Stencils......?  The Possibilities are Endless....

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365997486755/

http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/chinoiserie-ceiling-stencils.html

Have you done anything interesting on the ceilings in your home?  Would love to see your handi-work.

How to Make an Animal Pendant Using Tin

While playing with tin, making little book pendants with mom, I started thinking of what else I could make.  For some reason a whale popped into my head but this can easily be converted into another design.                                                                                                                                 The first thing I did was draw my whale and his pieces.  I made the body, a fin and a tail.   I cut out the pieces and marked on the body where I wanted them to fit as well as the connection spots.

Using the paper templates I marked and cut the pieces out of tin, sanding the edges with a file.

Punch holes for connections.

Use rivets to make connections.

I used cardboard packaging as a spacer so I could leave a little room while riveting the tail so that it could move.  Turned out so cute.

I added an eye and an eyelet for hanging.

I wanted to decorate the back in some way so I used pattern paper.  It leaves a very sheer, tissue paper look allowing the gold color of the tin to shine through.  Really pretty and simple finish.

Now, how am I going to use it.  Haven't decided quite yet but it'll become part of a necklace someday.  I'm thinking of other animals that'll work; monkeys, birds, frogs, a butterfly?  What do you think would be cute?  

Building The Chirping Frog- Part 2

Another week has flown by and we've been working hard trying to get site work done so we can move on to footings and get this building started.  It is really exciting to see how much progress we've made.

On Saturday I was a little depressed, we'd worked all day, my shoulders were throbbing and the rest of my body ached, yet it didn't feel like we'd accomplished much.  Well, it's amazing what a couple more nights of work can do.

Here's a quick reminder of where we started and a look at the progress we've made.

Before: