Mello-Yellow

We are painting our bedroom walls YELLOW because we have WHITE bedroom furniture coming soon... But deciding on what shade of yellow has proven quite the challenge. Kent was a light yellow, while I would much rather have a more mustard shade.

I'm thinking this last shade is my favorite. Any thots?

Summer Wreath

I have been searching for a spring/summer wreath for my front door. I'm a bit picky, but finally found one I like. I got this wreath at Oops! in Tontitown for $30. It's really large too. I added a couple flowers, but I love the dried flower look.

Close up:

I'm struggling with which way to hang it.

Option #1:

Option #2:

Option #3:

Option #4:

Which way should it hang? Help!

New Dining Room Table

I finally bought a dining room table! I'm really excited. Our formal dining room has been EMPTY since we moved in to our house in August. I really wanted to buy what I wanted in this house and not settle for hand-me-downs or a flea market find. So I saved my pennies. It took a little while (since we decided to pay cash for all purchases like this), but on Friday I took the plunge.

The above table is the one I purchased. It is 72 inches across. I had the hardest time finding a ROUND table that stayed round. Most round tables have a leaf that make them in to an oval. No thank you!

I did not get the chairs in the picture. I got these chairs: the "camel" colored parsons chairs with the tufted upholstery. I'm excited to see it all together when everything gets delivered in 4-6 weeks....

Find Your Decorating Style

You MUST go to this website: www.sproost.com to see what your personal decorating style. If I could design a room and decorate it EXACTLY how I wanted [without money being a concern] my personal style is 50% French Eclectic and 50% Rustic Revival. I agree! 

French Eclectic:

Rustic Revival:

I love certain things about each of these rooms. The constant in both style preferences are the open, airy spaces with white/light color palates. I would take certain components out of each room: a chandalier, white/cream furniture, burlap pillows, an old bench as a coffee table, etc.

Go take the quiz to find out your style!

www.sproost.com

Blinds & Oranges

When you buy a house that was a bank owned property due to a contractor foreclosure you get the best deal of the century. However, the contracter took the blinds out of my house before he turned the keys in to the bank. Therefore we have been spending money on boring, but necessary purchases for our house:

• First we put in an alarm system [to keep us safe]
• Then we built a privacy fence [to keep Captain Jack safe]
• And finally we got blinds installed [for privacy...duh]

Because the alarm system and fence are so not worthy of pictures [and completely boring], here is the difference blinds made in the kitchen....

BEFORE:

AFTER!

Formal [and empty] dining room....

BEFORE:

AFTER!

And I got distracted by my green kitchen, white plates and orange oranges....

I need to start looking for a couple more [permanent] orange colored accent pieces... Those oranges won't last for long.

I love these colors because they are young, fun and vibrant. The kitchen should be a happy place.

Big Empty Wall

In my formal dining room I have two 14 foot high, empty walls.

I was tired of looking at the emptyness. So I went around my house and gathered all the picture frames that I was not using. I took out the glass and back and spray painted them with Rusto-Oleum Stone Gray:

They turned out blue-gray, which I love.

I organized them on the floor how I wanted to hang them.....

And then did it!

What do you think? I'm not 100% sure.... but this arrangement sure beats the empty wall!

When I see this picture, the frames look tiny! [There are 13 frames + one "M"!] Either I need to add more frames or just be at peace with my high ceilings that result in empty space.

ReFINISHed Old Table

Kent brought home this table and 6 chairs a couple of weeks ago from his grandmother's house and said "I got us a kitchen table! All we have to do is refinish it!" I thought he meant to "redo" it, which is super easy. Just a couple coats of paint, a little distressing and viola! Nope, he said we had to REFINSH it. So we started the LONG process of melting the varnish off and then stripping the stain. It took several days. And it was hard work.

The table look like this before:

After stripping the maple wood down to it's natural state:

Then we put the stain on. We used Minwax stain in Red Mahogany. HUGE differance, huh?

I decided to go for the stained table top & painted legs & chairs look:

Don't you love it with the green walls?!?! [ignore the obnoxious curtains, blinds are being put in THIS week]

I primed the chairs with KILZ Original Primer. It is the best primer out there. It covers all stains and seals the wood before you start painting. I used Rustolem Heirloom White in the Satin Finish spray can. I love spray paint. The Heirloom White is the best thing ever. I know it's a little silly to be so crazy about a shade of white, but it's perfect. It isn't too bright white and doesn't have any almond or yellowish tones. I can only find it at Home Depot.

The white paint and dark stain contrast is great, don't you think?

Kent's Dad grew up eating at this table. When he was little one of his friends got his arm stuck in between the chair spindles. So Kent's grandfather had to cut the spindle out so the little kid could get out! See how there are only 4 spindles on this chair? Too funny!