Before and After Home Decorating and Hot Pink LOVE!

remember how I was painting this gorgeous pattern on my bedroom wall?  well, i want to show you the before and after.

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

yeah...i got off track, the pattern got crooked and i got psycho. i'm trying to talk the mister into painting over it and snapping a chalk line, i haven't totally given up because it looks SOOOOOO cool when it's done!!

 here's another before and after.

 my repurposed, repainted junk for my  wall...

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

yeah...another project that turn a hard right turn.  our living space is a "great room" (that in my opinion is NOT so great) and the "living" portion of the room is really not very big and this book case was crampin' my style, so i moved it. yep, me! i know it looks stupid in this picture but it's just made me realize i need a nice vertical piece of sumpin', sumpin' on the wall.... Ooooo, maybe pinterest has a good idea for me!! (you may notice my trim still is NOT up... the mister has been busy reading the entire "left behind" series and getting himself in shape. obviously, he is not overly concerned with my interior design dreams!).

 ok, now, here is my before mantel look and... oh, wait.... what's that?  patricia heaton ?  Oh, wait, not patricia...are those new chairs? new HOT PINK zebra print chairs? why, yes they are-thank you for noticing!!!!!!!!!

 ok, so how can i even get irritated at the mister for not putting up the trim when he lets us girls put HOT PINK ZEBRA CHAIRS in the living room!?!?!?!  you may (or may not) remember my last chair love that fell through. the orchid pink and tan chairs at tj maxx that i waited to go on sale and then missed out on.  well, when i saw these babies at marshalls last week i knew i better snag them because the orchid pink ones are gone, gone, gone... never to be seen again (except in someones yard sale in 5 years that i'll miss out on too).

 that tv stand needs moved so i can center these chairs, the mister is dreaming of an over-the-fireplace flat screen which may not be the loveliest idea, but again...he has PINK chairs in his living room, i'll cut him some slack!

 so now i'm collecting my pieces so this room can finally come together in all its funky, colorful glory...

i'm going to repaint the trim around my mirror, get new lights and pull this mantel together.  my beautiful orchid will prob. be dead by then, but for now i'm basking in its beauty!

for my interior design friends (and i KNOW you're reading!), feel free to give any tips or advice you'd like, except telling me i need to start wearing a bump-it and move to jersey with my hot pink zebra chairs!

❤Baby Hat Drive update tomorrow!!!❤

 it's NOT too late to get in on the donation! just hit the donate button above, every cent goes to hats/postage. only have $1 to give?  that's fine!! every dollar helps!

❤❤❤

Happy Tuesday

Hand painted wallpaper adventure!

let me start with the fact that i have done NOTHING for days... Ok, i've got Darling on and off the bus and i have used the bathroom but other than that a big fat NOTHIN'!  i haven't even had any coffee because i have no 1/2 and 1/2 and i'm too lazy to go to the store!! yesterday i was feeling like such a slug that i pulled a ladder inside and got started on a PURE CRAZY project: hand painted wallpaper!  

Source: jonesdesigncompany

the picture above is from the lady who is kind enough to show you how to do this AND give you a free template.  she did all 4 walls of her office with double lines...i'm just doing a single line because i know myself and myself is a slacker!

So, here's what i've got going on...

you do NOT even want to know how long that took me!  i'm only doing the wall behind our bed-there is NO WAY i could do all our walls and it would be too much!  i'm going to use silver paint to paint the design, i think it will be nice with this lamp

(next up: i need to revamp the little side table i got from my gram)

so, needless to say, i will be spending many hours on my nice green ladder.... it's one of those projects you can't just leave, it's a little obvious and it's too late to turn back now!

**don't forget: the countdown for the baby hat drive is coming FAST**

see all the information in the tab above or just hit the donate button at the top- every $1 helps!

Living Room Re-do

Whenever I do an interior project, I ALWAYS have a mini stroke during the middle.  I get the sweats, I try to add new styles, colors, and designs, I have feelings that none of it will work, just general "design anxiety". It's funny how you can do 1 little thing that can really help you turn the corner, for me, it was removing my RED slip covers.  We have Pottery Barn furniture with removable slip covers...  The RED was totally throwing me off and once I put new khaki ones on.... I was GOLDEN!! So I'm going to give you some sneaky peaks because it's NOT done.... You'll notice some "ratty" spots where there is no trim,  lack of tile on the fireplace or a spot where the carpet is torn away...

My colors are a little wacky... the couch is NOT grey...

 the wall is not grey/blue...

Ok, I'm off for a run, but wanted to share some peaks and let you know I am NOT in the fetal position naked and sucking my thumb- although it was touch and go for a moment....

Plaster Disaster and other interior design mistakes...

So, you all (or "Y'all" for my friends down south) are aware of the mess I've made of our front entry!  First I painted it a yellow that would peel the skin off your eyelids, then tried to cover it with a layer of venetian plaster then looked like a bad 90's sponge paint... Oh the horror!  Thankfully I can't get our front door open so everyone comes through the garage.  Anyway, I was debating sanding the 1st layer of plaster off when the Mister shook me violently (just kidding) and told me there was NO way I'd ever get that wall smooth and that I should put the next 2 layers of plaster on and SHUT IT!  I spent the last 2 days leisurely slappin another layer of plaster on the walls.  I'll say this: IF I had the option of redoing this, I wouldn't, BUT... it does look better with another layer!  The splotchy yellow is gone, wish this mess was!

Of course, I ran out of plaster, so now we must invest another $40 in a bucket of crap we aren't thrilled with...

I also spent the day cleaning this giant bowl chandelier (that I did not pick out), it's the perfect shape to catch dust and dead bugs!  Lovely!

Ahhhh, yes, there is a GREAT shot of the spongy looking plaster disaster!  The yellow looks very day-glo in the pictures, which it isn't, thankfully!!

In other news, I don't like my fireplace wall and will soon be repainting it a different color.... NO, I am not available for hire!!

DIY Ugly Mirror Make-Over

I found this ugly mirror at Goodwill for $4.99. I thought with a little spray paint it would make a good orange accent piece for our bedroom.

 I put a magazine in the middle and then taped all around it to keep the paint off the mirror.

 Make sure you cover every bit of the mirror

 I primed the gold with white, thought that might be a good idea, so orange didn't look all GLITZY!  

 Yep, I spray painted on a snow bank, the Mister isn't so fond of spray paint on the paved driveway :)

 Ta-daaaaa!

  It needs to be hung straight but it's still a little tacky (since I'm always last-minute Lucy).  I wanted to get a picture of it on the wall but didn't want orange on my blue...

 Creepy baby likes it!!

I've seen a lot of people using spray paint to re-make all kinds of {UGLY} things.  I wish I could find the blog I read the other day where she spray painted bird figurines {the kind my Gram use to collect} robin egg blue.  She took something {really} tacky and turned them kitchy cool!

Have you caught the spray paint bug? Won't you join me in destroying the ozone layer?

Shhhh, don't tell my pal Cheeky Green!

Come on back tomorrow to see what's new in my shop:

www.etsy.com/shop/chinamommy

What happens when I can't sleep...

Thankfully, me not sleeping does NOT happen often!  I'm that girl that lies down, closes my eyes and the next thing I know, the alarm clock is going off... or Darling is standing next to our bed, 2 inches from me  breathing that stinky kid morning breath in my face!  Last night I was tired, but not sleepy... you know that feeling?!  So anyway, I'm laying awake thinking of how I need to re-do the entire house, except not my kitchen, which I still love...for now.

Ok, "love" once the appliances are all stainless, the trim is done and there is an awesome window treatment, THEN I'll be in love...maybe!

Our master bedroom needs some love too...

I'm thinking these giant stars and a draped backdrop would help

(and a flat screen TV)

plus some new lighting is a must

I was so exhausted at this point I finally fell asleep, but don't worry, I woke in a panic trying to figure out how I was going to get it all done by tonight!

Great, I just realized 

I haven't even started on my living room, front entry, or lower level...

I better go....

Anything you've done in your home that you're loving right now??

Feel free to add a link in the comments!

Happy Thursday!

what is your STYLE?

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

 to those that have voted for my blog over at bloginterviewer.com!

You just click on the link below and then click on the thumbs up!  Easy-peasy, I swear!

http://bloginterviewer.com/page/11

How sick are you already of the vote begging?

Ok, moving on to where I just beg you to buy me this couch:

I realize it's not for everyone, but I would LOVE this couch!!

I found this through 

http://one-artsy-mama.blogspot.com/

It's from squint

http://www.squintlimited.com/

I think the closest store that carries their furniture is in NYC... probably not going to happen!

I was saying to the Mister on Saturday (when we were at Home Depot and I was begging for him to buy me the paint for the cabinets so I could get started the moment we got home that night...) that even though I could 

 make our home all pretty and put together, my style just isn't "grown up".  I can appreciate beautiful homes with cherry cabinets and gorgeous matching furniture, but If given my choice I'd rather live in Pee-Wee's Playhouse!  Sad, but true!

I can appreciate good design but I'm always drawn to WHIMSICAL and to me this can be good design if it's done right... Let's just hope I can do it right!!

more from SQUINT

I wouldn't want EVERY piece in my home from here, but a statement piece would be GREAT!

and if I could only have 1 piece it would absolutely be the chandelier!!

I could kick myself for throwing out the ugly brass chandelier I had at my last home... It was ugly and out dated and would have been PERFECT to do a remodel on... I know I should NEVER throw anything away, but it's a matter of space!  How many things have you gotten rid of and then years later known it would have been PERFECT for what you have going on now??...  Last night I was thinking of all the fabulous "vintage" pieces I never gave a 2nd look at that belonged to my 100 year old Great Aunt Mable (everyone should have an Aunt Mable!).  

 I'm going to crochet today and that's it... oh and watch the First 48 Hours and Cold Case Files and maybe the Harry Potter movies I dvr'd... that's it!  I'm not doing anything else and I'm not going to feel 1 bit guilty!  I'm tired today, I clean everyday and even though I do spend a lot of time in my art room, I don't ever just sit without thinking of what I need to be doing next.  I didn't sleep well, maybe I'll rest with my eyes closed too.. and dream of my blog getting a thousand votes and 5,001 followers!

Happy Thursday and again...

Welcome new Followers, so glad to have you aboard!