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A Spring Look in the Dining Room

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I love my deep, dark, velvet curtains. This was my Pottery Barn inspiration photo.

Here’s a glimpse of my dining room last week.

A few of my bloggy friends got me thinking that I really need to lighten up for Spring and Summer. As much as I love my warm and cozy dinging room, it does feel a little dark on an eighty degree day in August. Kim, over at Savvy Southern Style,lightened up her living room. The Thrifty Decor Chick, thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com has been lightening up. Enter the Lowe’s paint drop cloths again…

Remember how much I loved my drop cloth curtain in the laundry room?

Well, here’s the lightening up version of my dining room.

I used the paint drop cloths from Lowes. The first time I saw this idea was on Layla’s blog, theletteredcottage.net. She uses them in her dining room and they look perfect. I love the way they have a natural linen/burlapish feel. I’m so excited about the way they turned out. I’m not loving the tie backs. I’d rather not have tie backs at all, but I like the way the light comes in when the drapes are pulled back.

I have a lot more springifying to do in the dining room, but right now I’m glad I’ve lightened up a bit.

Organizing the Art Cubby

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Ok, that’s not the “after” organized art cubby. That’s what my kids’ art cubby looks like MOST of the time. Every few weeks I need to go through everything and find homes for markers, pencils, crayons, and papers. There is a place for everything and everything is in its place, but then my kids get to it. No amount of labels, bins, and pictures can keep the art cubby safe from disaster.

First I pulled everything out, just to see what’s there.


Then it all goes back to its proper home.



It will look like this until the kids wake up.

Now, if anyone has any ideas about what to do with Pixos, please share! I’d like my kitchen table back!

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
http://homeiswheremystorybegins.net/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in/

Reorganizing the Pantry

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Oh, the pantry! I have a love/hate relationship with my pantry. I LOVE the size. I LOVE the shelves we had installed. I LOVE my new floor. I LOVE the labeled bins. But, oh, how I hate cleaning it out every week or two.

Today I tackled the mess in the pantry. I think my kids mess up the spices and then time me to see how long it takes until I have them alphabetized again. There were a few science experiments in there. You know… the last piece of pita bread that no one knew was there.

On the plus side, my project of the day was completely free and it’s so nice to be organized.





Let the Spring Break projects begin!!!!

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
http://homeiswheremystorybegins.net/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in/

Master Bath – In Progress

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Once again, I start by saying that I have absolutely no decorating sense. There were a few classes in my Family and Consumer Science major on textiles and design, but I really have no formal training. I love to read decorating and design books and magazines. I know what I like: warm and cozy, contrast in colors, texture, natural materials, and FABRIC! Oh, how I love fabric! When I’m starting a new room I have no vision of my own. I could not create a space, of my own design, if my life depended on it. I’ll admit it… I’m a copycat. I look through books, magazines, and catalogs until I find an inspiration room. I love to watch Rate My Space because it validates stealing ideas from other people.

Our master bath screams 1991! Here’s the picture from real estate brochure, from when we bought our house. It’s a nice size bathroom, with lots of counter space, but that’s about all it has going for it.

I ran across this picture in a magazine and fell in love. It has everything I love; natural materials, texture, contrast in color, and a warm and cozy color on the wall.

So, here are the first updates in our master bath redo. I’m trying my best to copy the picture.

Painted cabinets (painted but not glazed yet):


Spicy orange walls:

Texture and contrast:
I need to learn to roll towels so they look spa-like, not shoved onto the shelf.)

We’re well on our way. Tile and flooring is on the to do list next!

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
http://homeiswheremystorybegins.net/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in/

Spring

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Saturday was an unusually warm and sunny day in the Pacific Northwest. My little girl and I took a walk up to the school, where my son was participating in his Pinewood Derby race for Cub Scouts. Along the way, we just couldn’t resist taking a few pictures of the beautiful flowers in bloom.

Enjoy!





The Formal Dining Room – Craigslist Style

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The finished room

When we moved into our house, almost 5 years ago, the dining room had cream walls, cream carpet, the original pink vertical blinds, and a brass light fixture. We didn’t own any dining room furniture, except the antique hutch that we found in my mother in law’s garage (waiting to be refinished).


The picture of the dining room from the real estate brochure.
(Water spots and all!)

The room sat empty for about a month and then my partner in crime (my sister this time) came up with a plan. First, we sat at her kitchen table thumbing through every Pottery Barn Catalog we could find for inspiration. At the time I was thinking, “Who keeps all of their Pottery Barn catalogs?” I know better now, thanks to my older and wiser sister. We found a beautiful dining room that I just loved, a light fixture that was simple, and velvet drapes. The wall color was a gorgeous wheat color. This was it, inspiration found!


Pottery Barn Catalog


Pottery Barn Catalog

Now for the second step of the plan. Keep in mind that this was five years ago… She had heard of this little website called “Craigslist” that I might be able to find some furniture on. I had never heard of it before, so this was all new to me. We found a listing for a buffet for $50 and it wasn’t too far from our neighborhood. I piled six kids into my car, which left her car open for furniture. Oh, the things we’ll do for a deal. I ended up paying only $40 for the buffet. I got it home and immediately started priming it and painting it black, like my Pottery Barn inspiration pictures.

The next day we found a dining table and chairs on that same little old website. I paid $80 for the table and the six lovely leopard print chairs. The table and chairs were in really bad shape. I knew sanding and refinishing would not be a great option, so out came the paint cans again. I painted the chairs and base of the table black, to match the buffet. I was hoping for a nice dark wood color for the top of the table, to match the antique hutch. Since that wasn’t going to happen, I opted for a crackled paint finish with a brown glaze over the top. I don’t think crackle would be my first choice now, but five years ago it was the thing to do.

The walls got a coat of Applesauce Cake paint from Lowes. The chairs got new fabric in the same wheat tone. Velvet drapes from Lowes and a $79 light fixture make it look almost as good as my inspiration pictures. Five years ago this was going to be my temporary dining furniture, until I could afford to buy a real set.

I still can’t believe how similar the chairs are to the inspiration picture!

Lessons learned:
Black paint is a good thing.
Save your Pottery Barn Catalogs.
That little old website called “Craigslist” is now my BFF!
Listen to your older and wiser sister.

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in.html

Clam Chowder and a Pretty Table

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I love clam chowder and I’ve passed this love down to my kids. My daughter is a picky eater, but one food she loves is clam chowder. I think it’s a odd thing for a picky eater to like. Clams are an acquired taste. Since it’s something I know we’ll all eat, Sunday afternoon I decided to try a new recipe. I found a recipe that looked pretty good on the Food Network website. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mikes-clam-chowder-recipe/index.html
The kids were in a good mood so I convinced them to help me make the chowder.


They peeled and cut the potatoes (with my help).


This is my absolute favorite kitchen tool. It’s a little mini chopper from Pampered Chef. I use almost daily to chop herbs, garlic, or onions. I don’t think I could live without it. We used it to chop the thyme and parsley for the chowder.


They stirred and added ingredients. Then they lost interest. My son took the puppy to the dog park and my daughter drew pictures. I decided to get ready for Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps on the Porch.

It may not be anything fancy, but my kids thought they were royalty. I don’t usually set a table quite like this when it’s just the four of us. My youngest was so excited that her cup wasn’t plastic! I love taking a simple soup dinner and making it into a special night for my family. Seeing their smiles gives me a joyful heart.

Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in:
http://homeiswheremystorybegins.net/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in/

Time to Plant Sweet Peas

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To me, this is the first sign that Spring is getting closer. My mom always says I should plant my sweet peas on President’s Day weekend. I think it’s a little early. The start of Spring is my favorite time to plant.

I soak my seeds overnight, so they will germinate faster.

Sweet peas need support. I found these old windows in my cousin’s barn, in Eastern Washington. They make the perfect antique trellis for my sweet peas. I can’t wait to post pictures of the flowers covering the windows.

Enjoy the start of Spring! Happy planting!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

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My kids and I spent the afternoon making one of our favorite cookies…frosted sugar cookies. I make these cookies for most holidays, to share at our volunteer tea at school, to take to Seaside, and simple snowflakes to give as gifts at Christmas. Here’s the recipe:

Just kidding. Here’s the real recipe:

2 Cups Flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
6 TBSP butter
1/3 Cup shortening
3/4 Cup sugar
1 egg
1 TBSP milk
1 tsp vanilla
Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Cookies for Christmas

Beat butter and shortening until fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla. Beat well. Add dry ingredients. Beat until well mixed. (I usually make a triple batch. They freeze well.)

The dough needs to be refrigerated for about 3 hours to make it easier to handle.

I like a thick sugar cookie. That way they are soft, rather than crispy. I roll them to 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 375 for seven minutes.

I frost my cookies with a simple powdered sugar and milk frosting. I don’t ever use a recipe. I just pour in a little powdered sugar and a little milk until I get a consistency I like. The Wilton food coloring paste is the only way to go. You can buy it at Michael’s. It gives a much more vivid color than regular food coloring. Stir it up until the color is well blended.

I love to frost my cookies and then use a little sanding sugar from William Sonoma. Oh, they’re just so pretty. It’s a tradition my kids love and it makes the house smell great too.


Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Here are a few linky parties I like to participate in.
http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in.html

The Laundry Room – Checking it off the “To Do” List

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The laundry room can finally be checked off my To Do list! It’s been a long process. We do a little project and then wait for the money tree to grow. Then we do another small project and wait some more. We moved into our house five years ago and I think I’m finally done with all of my little projects for the smallest room in the house.

When we moved in, we had the old top load washer and matching white dryer, from Sears. They were a wedding present from Great Grandma, back in 1995. We brought them to our new house with us, because they were in fine working condition. Well, I can’t say I was too sad, two years ago, when the washer went, “CLUNK!” and stopped working forever.

We started shopping and found the great set, above, but they were so big that we had to have the plumbing moved so that we could reorient the washer and dryer. The old set was along the right wall. Once the plumbing was moved, we could place the new set along the back and actually have room for a mini-mudroom. It was a dream come true! We finally had a place to hang coats, right where we walk in the door. Is this the perfect mudroom? No. Is it really big enough for the entire family to use? No. But, it does add enough space for the kids’ coats, most of their shoes, and a place to throw their backpacks after school.

Since we moved the washer and dryer, space planning was a big issue. I wanted to be able to maximize storage in this tiny space. We had California Closets come out to give us some ideas of how to best use this space. Ultimately, I loved their plan, but couldn’t afford their price tag. My sister had used a company called Space Plus. Judy came out and came up with the perfect plan. It allowed for basket storage above, a place for coats, and a shoe cubby below.


I had a really hard time finding the perfect wicker baskets to fit this space. After buying and returning three expensive sets, I finally settled on cheap plastic. It doesn’t look too bad. It’s durable, practical, and the price was right.

I LOVE to organize things in labeled bins. So, out came the scrapbook paper and laminator. I think the labels may be my favorite part of the room.


Next came new floor. My husband wouldn’t let me do it myself, so we hired it out. That was installed just a few weeks ago.

All that was left to do was a curtain. One day I was thinking about what to put on that window. (I spend a lot of time just looking around my rooms and thinking. Thinking. Thinking. Not doing. Just Thinking.) Finally, I was fed up. I went to the craft room to see what fabric I had on hand. I have been thinking about using paint drop cloths as drapes in my family room and I just happened to have the small one in my craft room… perfect. Perfect size. Perfect color. I didn’t even need to cut the fabric. One line of stitching across the top and it was read to hang.

A little twine from the gardening box made the perfect, rustic, tie-back.

I’m thrilled to have the laundry room done and move on to other projects. I just wish it looked this clean and organized every day! I guess that old saying is right- Take a picture it will last longer…

Here are a few parties I like to link to:
http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com/p/linky-parties-i-like-to-participate-in.html