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....

Interior design nightmares....

Perhaps "nigh mare" is too strong of a word, but doesn't exaggeration always make for a better story?  OK, we're all tired of the Venetian plaster disaster story, and it's coming to an end; although I thought I could say that last week before i found the glob of paint in the bottom of the can...  One wall was white, one wall was streaky yellow and white ...  I went over it for the 4th time yesterday.  After I made that mess I decided we should paint the fireplace wall light blue... well, after that was painted my stomach hurt for 2 days knowing that wasn't going to work!  I finally came clean with the Mister and then we had that to fix (and by "we", I mean the Mister!!) with another layer of paint.  My walls are now 4 inches thicker with paint, that should help with the heat bills next winter!  

WINNING!

Dark, dreary green going to light turquoise (which looks baby blue)

 Light turquoise, which was pretty but did NOT go with all our bright artwork, but did look nice with the pastel Easter decorations.  Fireplace waiting for tile, windows waiting for trim...vacuum waiting to be put away.

So when it was time to repaint the wall, I took a suggestion from a friend;  the wonderful Angela of http://picklesonpizza.blogspot.com/ .  She suggested we use the same paint we'd used on our cabinets.

The true colors are a little hard to see since I live in dreary MI.  Trust me, it's SO much better!!  Thanks Angela!!

You'll also notice my new window trim is UP!! Yippeeeeee!  The fireplace is getting new tile tonight and then.... I need to get the mantel and walls decorated.  I'm thinking of making (another) fabric banner for the fireplace wall.  I love how the one in my bedroom turned out and it was easier than I thought.

I think a banner will help tie all my colors together.  I've been thinking over and over of how I want my house to look and what my style is...

This is what I want to do to our dining room set

So I think my style is shabby, vintage, carni junk!  Basically if the Queen of Shabby Chic: Rachel Ashwell would have a baby with a Carni, that baby would be my interior designer!  Do you think she's up for it?

I better run I have LOTS to do today!  

(Speaking of "run", I started running again and my knee isn't acting up so I'm off to sign up for my 10k, only 2 weeks of training left...gulp!)

**Happy Tuesday and make sure you let me know if there's a carni baby available for hire!!**

Big Changes coming...

I thought I'd share with you some changes that are coming to chinamommy... not the blog (well, maybe some) or the person (ok, I AM getting my hair done tomorrow) but chinamommy the etsy shop!  My shop has NEVER been a great success.  If we had to count on my income we'd be wrapped up in the bubble wrap sleeping in the shipping boxes.  It's always been more for fun, but suddenly it wasn't fun anymore.  I would make and make and make stuff and then watch it sit and sit and sit... It was like my shop saying to me "Hey, very few people like what you do".  I don't say this as "Poor Me", I just say this because it's true and I needed to DO something about it.  When you see people that are highly successful it's almost ALWAYS because they are doing something they are totally passionate about.  Although, I have always liked what I've made, I've always had a nagging feeling that if I had to make 5,000 of whatever it is I'd end up in the fetal position!  Last week when I painted that orange mirror for our bedroom,

Darling said to me "Mom, we (WE!) should re-do stuff like that for your etsy store".  Have I told you what a genius my daughter is?

So, that's a little hint as to what you're going to see coming to 

chinamommy

I love the hunt, I love dreaming up the color combinations and I love makin' stuff!

Tune in tomorrow for a really cute tutorial and then on Wednesday I'll have some sneak peak's of new items headed into the shop!

I wanted to

Thank everyone for reading my blog, sharing it with friends and making comments!!  I REALLY appreciate it!

~Happy Monday~