Easy happenings

Sometimes it just happens. No planning. It's just meant to be.

I "won" these drapes for my bedroom through a blog contest. Ordered them from Target and love them!

They had enough pattern to be pretty and not busy. But I so needed new bedsets. I had looked and looked but nothing seemed to work with the pattern and colors. 

Then I happened to run across a clearance item at TJMaxx. I think it was clearance because someone had opened the package. It was the texture I wanted. I like the coverlet type. It is perfect for summer and winter. 

The pattern within the coverlet is very, very similar to the pattern in the drapes. The stripes add to the decor by adding some needed texture. And the price for the coverlet AND shams was $29. I like!

Versatile Gray

Versatile Gray. Looks gray. Looks beige. Looks taupe.

Versatile Gray is a SW color. Light and airy. Soothing!

I went with it in my open living area and foyer.

I like the way the dark drapes contrasts with the gray. (Sorry about the dog on the couch--he refused to get down). 

It also allowed me to use some gray chevron pillows. 

  The white wainscoting still provides enough contrasts to satisfy me.

And I also used it in the kitchen. I do want to add some tile to the backsplash but since the paint is an eggshell finish it is able to be washed.

I had used blue drapes that were solid but it just looked too washed out for me.

Before:

After:

I'm getting in the decorating for Christmas spirit! 

Autumn Inspirations

It's here! Summer is a distant memory. 

Just a hint of fall colors. And saying goodbye to my beautiful ferns. 

I've tried to keep them through the winter months but never have succeeded. They always lose their leaves and look pitiful. Thanks to Lowes they are easily replaced each spring.

Love the spice of warm fall dinners. If you have tasted this creole sausage and beans dish--it will definitely warm you--maybe a little too much. You can find the recipe shared by Cara here.

The touch of autumn creeps into the living areas. Time to curl up with a good book and relax.

Color change

Paint is the cheapest and easiest way to make changes. HGTV told me so! And I must believe because I tend to redo my walls much more often than needed. 

Before:  

I liked it. The issue was that the dining room is on the north facing side of the house. Also, it is next to the screened in porch. Which made darkness even more so! It just seemed dreary.

After:

The two colors are on the same SW strip. The before: Portabello. The after: Practical Beige.

But...I'm not sure. It seems washed out now. 

I really, really wanted a shade of gray but since the "open concept" living, dining, kitchen, foyer all would be affected I couldn't see having a gray next to the beige. And I'm too tired right now to attempt to paint all. those. spaces.

But, since HGTV says paint is the easiest way...well...maybe...someday...soon!

Letters/ABC

Hobby Lobby has the greatest selection of letters of all kinds--metal, wood, plastic! And...they were 50% off this week. I had been wanting a few to do some special decorating!

These were plastic ones. I love the shape of the letters--fancy Nancy! They were white but a little spray paint took care of that. The little washboard underneath was a present from my big brother I got YEARS ago! It's had a place in my laundry room. I'm just glad that I have those little white boxes named washer/dryer though.

This one was already black so no painting needed. I liked the size and the more "formal" shape to the letter. It earned a place of distinction over our fireplace in the living room.

I got my inspiration from a blog: Life With Team Carroll. Cara has lots of decor items you can visualize in pictures! You can take a goodbye tour of her house here. Since they moved recently I am awaiting her new tour on...HOUSE HUNTERS on HGTV. How exciting is that!!!!

Until next time...

Window covering update

The before:

My son was moving in with us for a while when he relocated back home and his house was leased. I did a quick makeover to make the downstairs more masculine--note the dark brown slipcovers and brown blue drapes and pillows.


The middle:

I updated the fireplace to make the room a little lighter. But the dark slipcovers and drapeless windows still didn't "make me happy".


The after:

These drapes have been stored for a couple of years. I used them in the dining room and living room.

I had a bolt of fabric I had  purchased years ago (when I used the drapes) and had never used. With my new  love of Chevron fabric I had enough to make four pillows that are two sided--one with the chevron and the other side with the black floral. 

I ordered new slipcovers on line from Walmart! At a good fantastic price! I may paint below the chair rail a lighter shade--maybe!!!

The total make over was less than $100! My kind of budget.

The slipcovers were a total of $75 and the chevron fabric I picked up at Hobby Lobby for $13. The fantastic thing was that it was the same quality of fabric as the floral!

I feel much better!

Good Daughter-in-law Deed

I've been wanting to get rid--yes want to take a hammer and knock these down.  They are from the 70's in case you are too young for that. They don't belong to me. Which creates a problem. It would really be tacky to say--do you know how ugly those are?

Now, do you understand? Enough said. Every time we visited from 900 miles away I stared at those. This time my mother-in-law isn't quite herself. As in suffering from pain and short term memory loss. We actually did a few projects around the house and casually mentioned--would you like those painted? 


We couldn't tear them down. That would have caused a bigger problem as in replacing the carpet. (That is another story--we heard over and over about the dirty carpet). 


MIL said that it was fine. This is the result. Better. Not what I really want but much better. I wish we could have taken down the spindles but she is in l-ooo-ve with those.

Removing the spindles is possible. I know. We used to have them in our house--here:--they were right behind the loveseat. Much better. Refreshing.

So my good deed gave me a little peace of mind! Mr. Spouse is going to paint the dining room since he is still there. MIL is in the hospital after having surgery yesterday. Prayers accepted.