My New Antique Yellow Mirror

After Photo

I have had this mirror for years but it has never been hung (look below) because I didn't love the finish.  So I decided to repaint it and hang it in my newly painted laundry room.  I wish I would have taken photos of the different steps in the painting process.  First, I sprayed it with a good quality primer.  Then I sprayed it with a nice soft yellow.  After I antiqued it with a wood gel stain, that I rubbed everywhere (with a sock) and then wiped off the excess stain.  I love how it turned out.

Before Photo

I bought this mirror at a garage sale (I can't remember how much I paid).  I love buying mirrors at garage sales, they are my weakness!

Fall Parade of Homes

I had the opportunity to see some of the homes during the Fall Parade of Homes the past couple Saturdays.  I love looking for, color, inspiration, and design ideas!

Above pictures top left and clockwise:  1- I like how they framed in the wall with stone and created a ledge by the window - it was very nice. 2- Cool shelf around top of bedroom.  3-Nice art niche.  4- I like the black, green and print in the family room.

 1- Beautiful kitchen cabinets with computer desk area.  2- TV room - I like the ladder holding the blankets. 3- They continued the stone work into the bathroom on the bathtub surround.

I wish you could a close up on the tile backsplash in the kitchen.  I like how they used a couple different sizes of tile, especially the small ones on a diagonal.  I also like the cabinet built-in inside the arched space.

This photo collage has my favorite two features of the whole parade.  The stovetop hood is gorgeous - it's all wood.  I love the curved lines.  I also love the arched doorway with double pocket doors opening into the office/library.  I am looking for small details like this since we are hoping to start building our home soon.

Notice the stone wall in the dining area - it was unique.  I also like how they made a ledge for shampoo by the bathtub - another idea I want to incorporate.  I also had to take a picture of the wheel chair ramp - not that we need one, but I am making this home wheel chair accessible on the main floor.

The girls went with me to a few homes.  Vivian found a home that she wanted to buy - probably because the bedroom was decorated to her liking.

The new "thing" is tile floors that look like wood - we saw it in several homes.  It looks nice but I wonder if it shows dirt easily.

Beautiful bathroom - I like the sinks, oil rubbed bronze fixtures, and the tile backsplash.  Tile is limitless - so many options it can be overwhelming!

This rock archway caught my eye!  I also thought the corner tub enclosure with chandelier was a nice touch.  Hummmm....I am thinking how to frame something above my tub.

Don't you love the detail of this ceiling?  We like the stained edge patio and the cutouts in the master shower.

A little touch of brick - it looks really but it really isnt' that thick, maybe only 1/2".

Who doesn't love tall molding or extra woodwork? 

I love the parade of homes - I always come away with a few good ideas that I want to implement.  You can tour the homes just for decorating ideas - the sky is the limit!

Cousin Haylie's Wall Collage - Adorable!

I saw this on Haylie's blog and love it!  I had to share it with all of you.  She shares her tips in how to make a wall collage without spending a lot of money.  Click here for her post.

Haylie, Where did you get the cute R?

I like how she arranges it like this on her wall before actually hammering the nails.  Smart idea - at this point it is totally easy to rearrange and get everything perfect.

Parade of Home Pics

Last month was the Parade of Homes. I love looking at homes and finding new ideas - I can always walk away from a home with at least one thing I want to incorporate later.

Things I love: big kitchens, arches, beautiful lighting, large kitchen bars/islands, nice finish work, big laundry rooms, crown moulding, storage rooms, closets, nice windows...and the list goes on and on!

Before and After Pictures II

Update: It's really hard to catch the real color with a camera, but here you can at least see that there is a big difference in the two colors.

BEFORE

AFTER

I started painting last night after the girls went to bed and I was done today by noon! (And no I didn't stay up late - I'm tired at 9:30pm). The pictures don't capture the real color- because the two colors are drastically different from each other and darker in person. The before color paint was a tan with undertones of red and the new color is a darker brown with golden undertones - much nicer with the couches and a warmer feel. I love it! Plus I paid only $2 for the paint (it was a mis-tint that I bought a while ago) and $3.50 for a new roller.

My house seems like paint but is looking better everytime I paint! It's becoming more me. You need to come see my progress.

More Paint!

Well this afternoon I was in a slump so I tried to take a nap. But after laying there 30 minutes and unsuccessfully falling asleep, I thought I should get up and paint my living room! So I first scoured the garage for any paint. Lo and behold, I found a gallon of a great warm golden color. I could not have picked a better color at the paint store, the color got even warmer when I added some chocolate brown to it. (Sometimes I like to mix paints together to create my own color!)

I have part of the room done and it looks fantastic....I can't wait to show you the before and after shots when I am all finished.

Before and After Pictures

Before shot of kitchen and dining area

After! What do you think? I still need to add a decorative elements to the wall.

Before picture of family room - next to kitchen.

After! I just love this color - it's Saltillo made by Kelly Moore Paints. It sure changed the feel of the rooms. I have used this color in three homes now.

Making Progress

This morning I plugged into my ipod and listened to Glenn Beck as I totally cleaned out my corner kitchen pantry. I had to be extra creative with my small spaces - I used some wire shelving things to help me utilize every inch. I have to say that I enjoy opening the pantry - it's a welcoming site!

I also organized the hall closet - that performs many function, such as: 1-coat closet, 2-mudroom with big tote for backpacks, 3- shoe organizer, with three hanging organizers, 4-emergency backpack storage, 5-overflow from my pantry, and 6- way up high it holds all our sleeping bags. It sure holds a ton!

Then I moved to our laundry area. And got that cleaned up. Yesterday I bought some storage organizers made my Closet Maid at Fred Meyer (also available at Lowes). This room is still in progress. It needs to be painted first of all. Then I think I will hang a lovely mirror above the washer and dryer (you know how I love mirrors and collect them), and perhaps add a coat rack on the wall (I'm not too keen of that idea - I'm trying to cope with the tiny coat closet as long as possible). Maybe some artwork on the empty wall opposite the washer and dryer -something to cheer up this area.

Cool Color Blog

I came across this Color Contest blog from It's the Little Things That Make a House a Home blog. It is full of creative decorating ideas in many color palettes.


Did you all know that I love color?


Check out these before and after pictures of ikea dressers from this post.

Fall Collection of Homes

Paul and I walked through several parade homes today in the Fall Collection. We are looking for ideas for our next home. I took photos of the highlights. Next weekend we will catch the rest that we couldn't see today. Hold on I took lots of pictures!

By the way, if you live in my area, the Fall Collection continues next weekend and it's totally free!

This a room that I loved. This picture doesn't do it justice. It was painted a light blue/with hint of green - just gorgeous with the white, black and brown accents. I love the two designer chairs.

I like the pink and brown little girls room - the stars tied it all together. I liked the frame work of the top-right picture (this was a child's bedroom). I also like the bottom green bedroom - green is my favorite color.

In the top left picture, I like the tile back splash with a touch of color from the small square glass tiles - Paul like the river rock in the sink.

Middle: I like the colors and design of the towels and shower curtain

Bottom: great idea to have extra storage on the back of the pantry door.

Side photo: Cool idea to make framed artwork of silverware. Classy.

I sort of like the tiled entry accent. We liked the wainscoting look with the textured walls. I also like the offset tile floor.

Different back splash in kitchen. Nice drop down vanity in master bath. Nice warm colors in bedroom.

I love looking at moldings. I love the curved arch in the entry area and in the bathroom- check it out. Also the bedroom ceiling with lighting accent.

Okay, I just LOVE those big framed windows - gorgeous molding. They really pop! Nice color in office and I like the white framed mirror in kids bathroom.

Love the colors!

Can you tell that this homeowner is a U of I fan? Look at the laundry pass through -from master closet to laundry room. Also love the big windows in dining room.

Unique tile back splash in bathrooms and kitchen.

Love the moldings and the ceiling! Nice warm colors again.

This home is not in the collection, but I love the look of the outside. I also like the look of this closet door- this was a sliding closet door but I like the look.

Look at the outdoor patio with full kitchen, pool, TV and sitting area -gorgeous. Another ceiling I like!

Color and design!

Unique little desk areas - one is under the stairway.

Cool bedrooms!