Quick Room Makeovers...I did it in 10 minutes...

Okay, by now you know that one of my favorite hobbies is to make things pretty. I like painting, rearranging, re-purposing, sewing, what have you. Crafting is delightful. It's my "downtime." A lot of my home inspiration comes from The Nester. Oh, wonderful Nester.

Nester has been doing a fabulous series on 10 Minutes to a Room You'll Love. Her philosophy is that It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. So there you have it:

My imperfection + short time frame to keep my attention= beautiful and fun progress!

I used her ideas in How to Tablescape with what you already have . I leaned the frames against the wall, rather than hanging them. And kept the arrangement tight. I used black and white with one hit of color...a flower arrangement, using all the same type of flower. It's not perfect (and it's not supposed to be,) but it makes me smile!! Success #1.

Her kitchen post tips were wonderful, but you'll have to go read all of them yourself. A few that I was able to incorporate immediately (meaning that day, in ten minutes): I cleaned off the fridge. I usually keep the front fairly clean anyway, because I like my vinyl shapes, but I did have to take down some old notes I had posted.

Then I uncluttered. All extra knickknacks. Deleted. Not gone, just put into sweet hiding spots where I can see them and smile. I open a cupboard and a little froggie peeks back at me from the corner. Another smile-inducer. Not only are my counter tops clean, but I'm not just overlooking my sweet treats anymore.

Yes, you see that sign by my vase? It says "Please do not put anything on this counter!" I have to train them. The extending counter between the living room and kitchen practically begs for stuff to be set down.

Okay, so I really just had to sweep things into a tub, and go through them later. That was the only quick way to get it looking spotless. I DID go through the stuff and get it all put away. :-)

Another tip, short version, is to incorporate fabric to soften the look. So I did. Meet the chair covers that my Mom gave me. She had two extras, so I decided to use them. They look nice with my window mistreatments, too.

And you see those plates? They were already there, but it's yet another Nester inspired idea.

Okay, and consider lighting. She suggests a lamp, and I do love that idea, but all of my "extra" lamps are too large for the area. The one that would work is already being used in my bathroom makeover. Soooo, I gathered a bunch of white candles and arranged them on a platter for the kitchen table. (Don't look too closely, it wasn't thoroughly scrubbed before I took the picture! Heh.)

Next, the bathroom. Okay, I went backwards, in case you haven't noticed this, from Nester's site.

So, bathroom. 10 minutes:

First biggie: hide the Crest. Check. I keep the toiletries under the sink in a tub. And I have another tub for hair products, another for lotions, and another for my plug-in thingies. (And another for the personals.)

Next listed was fabric. I have some rich brown fabric to mistreat my shower curtain, but I haven't accomplished that yet. My new sewing machine is undergoing a royal check-up. It's a grand machine and I love it, but there were a few little quirks with the fabric not feeding right... So, anyway, I borrowed my mom's for now, and I'll take on the fabric job after the kids are in bed sometime this weekend.

Now, I did bring in my "something pretty" to spa up the place. In fact, my something pretty is the same as hers. And I bought the wire rack cheap at a yard sale last summer. It was just wasting away in my cupboard, awaiting a greater purpose. This took less than 10 minutes.

And here is the top of the toilet cage and my bird/nest narrow shadow box. Already had them both, just moved it all around a bit.

What would a bathroom be without gentle lighting? I mean, who wants to look into a harsh fluorescent reflection first thing in the morning? I found this little bitty lamp for a buck a few weeks ago, and didn't know where to place until I read this post of hers. Plug in and go. Check (da-ding) on lighting.

This little light (of mine, I'm gonna let it shine...) doubles as our nightlight.

Just a couple of other pictures.

It's nice to look around and see the sweet gifts I've received.

The bird picture was from Julie.

Yeah. I frame everything.

Oh, I just realized that I totally missed the master bedroom makeovers. That must have happened when I was out of town. I have some catchin' up to do.
Here are a couple of random pictures. She posted about art, so I'm throwing this in. I love bright vintage art. Makes me happy. They're all laughing, scarves blowing in the wind, adorable outfits. What's not to love? And there I go with plates again!

A bird thrown in a cloche jar for good measure. Two yard sale finds, that are being re-purposed... the idea of a little white bird next to my adorable children. sigh. Such sweet things in life.

There you have it. I've been giving up pretty much ALL evening reading time to clean and move things around. And it is so worth it!! I love to read (always!!) but fixing up our house in "happy ways" just energizes me. And it makes me even more grateful for the things I've been blessed with. It also helps me part with the things that need to move on to another life, outside of my home.

Okay, so you've been given the inside scoop to one of my most inspiring decorators. What are you gonna do now? :-)

Remember, make the time short. Don't burn out. And use what you have. Or buy things cheap. Yes, I'm all about cheap. Must be worth it, smile-inducing and never bank-breaking.

And I'm learning, slowly but surely, to clean while I decorate. Thanks to Adelia for reminding me of the Messie's Manual. I can be a Sentimental Messie if I'm not careful. There are good places for sentimental things, but they don't have to be everywhere.

Night all!

Decorating with cents

I love these dishes and vase that I found at a local thrift store...ahem...I mean "junk store." Is that what a respectable Southerner is supposed to say? I was informed today that thrift store means "clothing," and the stores I'm referring to do not have clothing. I think I shall call them "treasure stores."
So, where was I?
Ah, yeeesss, I got this vase (it's large, white with multi-colored glass beads...the picture doesn't do justice at all) for only $1 and the dishes were even less. Love 'em!

And here is a sneak peek at the Secret Garden Bathroom:

This beautiful iron over-the-door robe rack was also a thrift store find
for a couple bucks. Can't beat that.

This tiered rack was a cheap-y yard sale find...
I don't think I paid more than 50 cents for it, but I really can't remember now.

See that chunky soap? Oh, if only you could smell it through your monitor! It is heavenly rich and enticing lavender. My grandparents bought it for me in 2004, and I've kept it hoarded in a plastic bag in my room, sniffing it now and again. I finally broke down, unwrapped it, and placed it on display. Every time I walk into the bathroom now, the deep wonderful fragrance hits me...and I just want to stay in there. Maybe someday I'll actually wash with it! ;-)

Fred is happy that I can repurpose and redecorate with only a few dollars a month.

Seeing Stars

It's no secret that I love nature and particularly birds. Recently I've started incorporating stars into the home decor as well.I adore these mirror stars, but I'm having trouble placing them. They're in the living room right now, but they may end up in the kitchen by the end of the day.

This one is perfect here, even though the points come off the wall. Love seeing this when I come in. My whole living room theme is "smile-inducing."

Not sure how long this one will stay here at the end of the hall either. It may end up over my bed soon. It was rustic looking, but I'm not exactly a country chick (although the picnic basket right there may send me over the edge,) so I spray painted it ink black. Now that's more like it. This baby was just a few bucks at a thrift store. I picked it up before going to Washington.

More on cleaning, organizing, decorating to come. Oh, and I created a "spa Secret Garden Bathroom Retreat," and will post pictures soon!

The decorating bug!

Okay, come on. You can tell me. What have you been up to?? I know I'm not alone in the household jitteries. Christmas was barely over when I started packing all the stuff away. It's so beautiful and fun to decorate...but then it seems to suffocate me and my house. Just too much STUFF. So away it went, back to the attic and shed to await another crisp November day.

And then it happened. I was bit by the decorating bug. "Things must change," the little critter whispered. "Do this." and then "what about that?"

And before I know it I'm painting and modge podging, and the kids are finger-painting and doing block creations, side walk chalk, and sculptures.

I received some beautiful papers for Christmas.

Remember my philosophies regarding my home? "It doesn't have to be perfect to be Beautiful" (from the Nester, of course,) and "Why NOT?" Anything is fair game if I enjoy it. As long as it makes me smile (and my husband can live with it,) then it passes the test. What freedom and fun!!

This is a pic of the counter side, in progress. See all those scuff marks and doodly drawings? Away they went, under cover of whimsy paper.

And here is the finished project. Something sweet, colorful, cheerful...

I modge podge my stuff on, and then spray it with this wonderful stuff:

Spray it on a nice day, so you can open the windows. This stuff is smelly!

Next I went after the kitchen/schoolroom door. The new color plus Nature Man's rocket picture made it perfect!

Then the sewing table at the end of the hall. It was plain white before. Wish I had thought to take "before photos."

Isn't this fun paper?! Ahhhh.... refreshing.

When I ran out of obvious stuff to glue paper to, I began rearranging, and bringing nature treasures in. I love these wild sticks. Mrs. Smiley and I gathered them on a hike the other day. (I still have yours, by the way.)

Some here, some there, some everywhere, even on the lights. :-) That is definitely a smile-inducer for me. I love nature, sunshine, and God's creation is certainly better than anything I could create to go up there!

Oh, and here's a plate I moved. See the new wire birdie that my sis gave me? I know, it's not a great picture. Trust me, the bird is precious.

So, what have you been up to?
Give me some more ideas! :-)

before and after, paint jobs!

I'm making progress! Half of my living room is done (the faster half!) I still need to bring a ladder in and do the top trim, but I'll wait until the weekend when Fred is around and awake. I've fallen off of ladders before.

BEFORE
My sis said it looked beautiful, classic, "like a hotel lobby." Heh, heh. Nice description. Who doesn't love hotel lobbies??

But I have four kids. Small house. I need vibrant color, shapes, fun and cheerful dots, and joyful swirls. It's like a circus in here, so we might as well have the same FUN!

AFTER

And next is the side wall that leads into the hallway. Plate display from my aunt. The ones in the kitchen are from Dollar Tree. The black iron one in my dining room was a yard sale find. Total cost of two iron plate holders and five single ones: $6 The color is a little off in this picture. The actual color is a bit more vibrant, light and bright, not at all sage.
Next Up--the rug!

Check it out!!! I went shopping today, for last minute birthday stuff for The Artist. This rug beckoned to me. All of the rugs around it were marked down, hundreds of dollars less than other beautiful ones I've looked at. Anyway, this one looked like someone had scrawled "44" on the back. Might as well ask for a price, right? The guy came back, looked puzzled and said there were none of these rugs in stock. It was just a display, and it was misprinted. So they rolled it up and gave it to me for $44!!!!!!!! -- it's about 6 x 8 feet. Love it. :-) The swirls almost look yellowish in my living room, which is awesome for my "spring glow" paint.
Excuse the sideway picture in cluttery living room. Baby was grabbing for the camera. ;-)

It's all coming together. But tomorrow we'll take a break from interior design to celebrate my daughter's 9th birthday!!! NINE YEARS OLD. I don't know whether to laugh or cry (or both!)