Guest Bathroom Makeover thoughts

Post by Marilee


This is the guest bathroom as it looks like right now. 

It's pretty difficult to capture such a small space in a photograph - so here's a quick drawing to help to visualize. 

Some of the things I like in this room are the mirror and the light fixture.  The vanity and sink were replaced a few years back and they are not going to change.  What I have being tossing around are these few ideas:

These shower curtains are at Garnet Hill for $38.00.  I really like the orange one and think that it could be jumping off point.
My current shower curtain is just a plain white checkerboard style.

From there, a new orange rug that would really brighten up this dark room.  Mind you, I don't want to paint at this point, so these will be cosmetic changes, quick, fast and fun!!!  Plus, the blue in the below rug would tie back into the wall color.

What fun colors...this is offered on Amazon and is called the "Hanna Orange" bath rug for $26.81.  The color that you could use for towels could now go many directions such as:  brown, red, turquoise, yellow, lime green or white. 

White would be boring and I don't think that turquoise would go with Home Depot "denim Blue" walls...trust me the walls do not look anything like denim. 
The walls are painted in typical bathroom "high gloss" which I don't like and will change to a "satin" or "flat" once I change the color. 
Anyway, back to the color of towels, I think yellow would work.  Since I am a "grandmother" I tend to be safe with color at least that is the excuse that I will use...I could jump off the cliff and go lime green, for this exercise, let's try yellow and pick this one:

This is a Kate Spade Larabee Dot towel for $16.99.  I also looked at Overstock, JC Penny's, Macy's, Amazon, and Walmart.  I think this one - at Bed Bath and Beyond would be my favorite.

These 2 matching prints are staying in the bathroom.  I could change the color of the frame and/or add a mat to these.  If I did that, I would be losing the name of the artist, but as these are just prints...that does not bother me.  What do you think?  How would you change these?  Any other thoughts about changes?  What would you add as decorations on this shelf which could also be painted.

This is currently a bronze color and booorrrrringg!  Thoughts please!!!

Marilee

A for Effort

Post by Sarah:


Helllooo..
I'm Back with more changes and a lot of epic failures. Don't worry.. the story does have a happy ending.

So, this whole change started in my living room:

Basically a nicely arranged mess.

Yes, the one in the center even has it's goodwill tag on it.

So, I've been collecting all this art to eventually make a small scale gallery wall.  At this point I thought I was there but that I just needed a few of those in new frames with nicer mats. 

Off to Micheal's I went for their 40% off frame sale.


I grabbed a couple of frames that were ok.. and decided I would make them work because they were cheap.  I got them home and put my prints in them and ended up with this:

Two-thumbs down.  I hated it.  I'm not sure if it's the mat or the frame color.. ?  But my gut instinct was to return them and try again.



Back to Micheal's..   Ugh.  Luckily the frame sale was still going on.  So I returned and re-purchased these bad boys:

Which are way more my style!  Hooray!



So I laid all my prints out on the rug.  And I must say that I was pretty pleased with myself at this point. 

I'm actually looking at this picture as I type thinking "Hmm.. maybe I need to give this a go one more time.."  
The white one in the middle was also undergoing it's own special process - more on that later.




Oh. The. Suspense!





 So up my prints go on the wall (I reversed the layout) and things are going as well as me and hanging pictures can possibly go.

When I suddenly realize I have a light switch problem.

  Yes, folks - you should always be aware of your picture size vs. wall space ratio.  I wish it would've been as simple as a little scootch to the left, but at the point I actually measured and the large flower print was going to hug my thermostat.

So, yet another fail.



Oh!Oh!  Hey! ..  Did anyone notice the now "wood" frame leaning against the light switch.  Shaazam! (more on that in a later post.. ) 




I removed everything and played with smaller gallery-type groupings.  Screamed, kicked, and cried a little.
Then..  hung this:
It was actually my third attempt and I finally had to get Cody involved.  And I literally did scream, kick, and cry and forgot to take pictures.  :)

And then a calm wave of relief rushed over me.

So although I really liked my first attempt..  I've got to be honest with myself and the fact that I've always preferred the less is more route.  And this scaled down version is a bit more up my alley.

 

And there you have it.  Total project cost was $12.00 for the two frames (I ended up going back to Micheal's a 3rd time to return the one larger frame I no longer had a use for)

And for the final before and after:

1. Both the smaller hanging frames got re-framed. Twice!
2. The small frame leaning against the wall got a new mat
3. I also updated with some accessories I had on hand.

I also put about 20 nail holes in the wall.
Oh jeez...
Did I mention I'm a renter?


<3 Sarah

  

Gallery Wall

Post by Marilee:

This is my gallery wall above my couch in my living room.  I have lived in this house for 16 years and had never put anything on this wall until recently.

Not wanting to spend the money to change the lighthouse picture with a new mat, I took the picture apart thinking that I could reverse the mat...no success there AND I forgot to take pictures, please forgive me!  I will promise to do better next time...Oh and Sarah suggested we reverse the two pictures so that the coloring was more consistent.  Do you like it like this or the other way????

 

So I spray painted the frame and got rid of the age defying chrome frame and went to a soft yellow.  I used Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover 2x coverage in Satin Strawflower.  This is the same color that was used on Sarah's bacon thingy.  I have made one for myself too, BUT I dont want to hang jewelry from it, nor do I want it in my bathroom (more on that later), so what do you think I should do with it???  Any suggestions?????

Marilee

A Bacon Recipe

Post by Sarah...


Wha?  A recipe post from Sarah..?

I know.  I'm crazy.

This is some sort of bacon hook do-dad.  I can't say that I'd ever use it for it's intended purpose, but as soon as I saw it I had immediate plans. It did not start off this color - and I don't have the pre-spray paint photo.

I know!  I'm already breaking blogging rule numero uno!


So I have this awkward bathroom right in the middle of my bedroom.  With this blank wall that begged to have a bacon hook hung from it.  

So, I gathered my tools...
The hammer is actually Cody's, it was given to him as a gag-gift - but I use the thing all the time!  It's just too handy.  :)

And I hung the bacon hook:

Shazaam!  Mad Skillz.

I've actually seen several pictures (probably pinterest, but I have nothing pinned to pull from) where people have taken these and hung jewelry from them.  I'm sure possibilities are endless with this thing, but jewelry was all to perfect for me.

Side note: I'm not a jewelry wear-er.  And prior to this all my jewelry was tucked away in a box up in the closet and rarely saw the light of day.  Now that I do have this I'm happy to say that my jewelry is getting a lot more use.

Cute, right?

 

I like that it adds something sparkly and happy to an otherwise awkward sink area.  

 Plus, I have awesome things like necklaces of me and Cody.  Two, actually. 

So, there you have it!  Zero-cost, high-happy-inducing decorations. 

<3
Sarah

Spread Em'

Hey All,

Sarah here with some bedroom updates..

A NEW BEDSPREAD!

So, I've been secretly stalking this bedspread that I've found at JC Penny.  You know, watching prices and waiting to pull the trigger on buying this thing.  When who buys it?!?!  My mom!  She knew nothing about my love affair with it and was randomly buying it for her own bedroom.  Great minds think alike?!?!  Long story short - she didn't like it.  Or pretended she didn't like it to make me happy.   

So I stole it.

Here she is: 

 It's the Linden Street Wellington Comforter Set.  Reversible, but I prefer the flower side.

 Cody and I were actually gifted the ginormous Cal-King bed from Cody's parents.  And we LOVE it!  There have been several discussions about it being our most favorite thing we own.

 This outrageously large bed in an awkwardly shaped and small room makes for some odd camera shots.  And yes, you can practically brush your teeth from the bed.

 The bed is actually sitting on the floor.  Yes, it's that BIG. 

There are still several changes and updates I'd still like to do..  but my severe lack of space keeps a lot of my bedroom fantasies bedroom upgrades impossible.  

I have visions of new nightstands, upholstered headboards, rugs, and art.

Someday....  :)

And now the final before and after shot:

 

Besides the addition of the beautiful bedspread..
I also fixed my wonky drapes and added a few accessories.



Anyone else have large thoughts but a small bedroom?

<3 Sarah

 

 

Start at the Beginning.. Part 2

Post by Marilee..

My Turn!
You've met me, you've met my daughter..

You've seen my daughters home.. 
Now, tour my home:
(Which I've also made into it's own page for a quick reference)

The sidewalk from the driveway leading to the front door:

The Front Door - Come On In!!

The entryway looking to the right

Straight ahead is our living room and the kitchen is to the left

Looking down the hallway towards three bedrooms and a guest bath

The guest bedroom (this was Sarah's room when she was younger)

The sewing room



The guest bath

The Office

 The kitchen

The living room

The master bedroom

The master bath

The Backyard:

Thanks!

Marilee