Staging the Living Room

There once was a living room that was blah.

Well, blah until I had a little birthday cash.

So I did a little shopping, and for $100.00 plus a $15.00 Kohl's gift card I ended up with:

I LOVE this pillow, it adds the perfect pop of color.

This little bird makes me think of my Gramps.

Candle sticks from Target.

New curtains for $11.97, crazy good deal from Fred Meyer.

    I love how my living room turned out.  My decor leans toward the traditional look, dark leather furniture paired with classic dark wood.  This look is lovely but can become dark and a little stuffy, so I wanted to add  pops of color that enhanced the traditional look, yet add a modern edge. 

Blessings to you and yours!

Decorating Above Kitchen Cupboards

    The quandary of my life:  I'm in a decorating mood and Sandy is in a penny pinching mood.  Typical, so typical.  He just doesn't understand my dilemma.  How am I supposed to become a world famous Decor Blogger when he won't loosen the purse strings.  Seriously.  Has he no mercy?

   If he loosens the purse strings I just might try my hand at masonry and build my own rock fireplace.

Source

    Okay, I might be exaggerating, a bit, I realize I am the lady who puts fruit in a vase and calls it fantastic.  You never know, I could become a world famous shopper.  I have potential.  I might not become a mason, but I could redecorate above our kitchen cupboards.

 The space above my cupboards has been driving me crazy, it is dusty, cluttered and some of the plants aren't even real. 

 

   

   Sandy is not bending, so I will just have to be clever and use what I have.  The good news is I have a small box of things I have been saving since I was 18.  I received some platters from my Great Grandmas' that I was afraid to use, for fear I would break them, so I left them in bubble wrap and packed them away in box for "later".

This platter is from around 1900, and was used by a Great, Great, Great Grandma.

I love thinking of the history behind antiques.  I bet this platter was pulled out to serve Sunday dinner

after church. 



Sorry about the horrible photography.  It is REALLY difficult to take pictures of white plates

the reflection is horrible.  This platter was used in the 1940's.  Imagine the history

that took place when this platter was used- possibly a martial spat about

money....one will never know. 



   I decided to use my platters and redecorate for free.  Okay, I'm lying I needed to purchase a platter stand for $5.99 from Ross, but that's almost free.  It's basically a latte at Starbucks plus a tip.   

     I love it. The fake plants are in the garbage and the clutter is gone.  Simple, elegant and full of   nostalgia.

I'm linking up to Frugal Friday.

Blessings to you and yours!



Decorating Fever

  Does anyone else have the after Christmas decorating/ shopping bug?  I definitely do, though I probably shouldn't do any shopping.  I want to redo my whole house. 

         There's that dresser in Grace's room, from our dear friends Nancy and Gene,  that needs sanded and painted white.

     And if I'm going to paint the dresser I probably should repaint her room pale pink.  And if I'm going to paint her room I should try my hand at installing some crisp white bead board to really make the room POP.

Then there's the dresser that's in Christian's room that I want to paint dark blue and then distress it. 

I should mention that this particular dresser is the first piece of furniture Sandy and I bought together.  We found it at a little second hand store in a neighboring town for $50.00.  I've been meaning to paint it for the last 14 years.

   To add to my shopping/decorating debacle I had to go and read Traditional Home's Holiday issue.  Seriously, why am I torturing myself? 

Source: Traditional Homes



     I rolled across this article and now I can barely contain myself from heading out to Hancock's and loading up on glorious amounts of ribbon. 

Traditional Home 2010 Holiday issue.

    Just image how I could jazz these babies up with some turquoise and jewel toned green ribbon.  Hummm...it is only 4:15, I could head over to Hancock's.

Note the hideous white and gray tile in our bathroom.  Hummm...we could retile the bathroom.

   Alas, I should not, so I will decorate my mantel with what I have on hand.



   We put away all of our Christmas decorations, except my favorite Costco trees.  I realize they don't really go with my grass vases, yet I don't care, because I really like them.  I plan to keep them out until January 30th, and then they will be tucked away in the Christmas vault (garage rafters).

   These candle stands were blah by themselves, so I added some candle rings that I picked up at Micheal's for 75% off.  (No, I didn't go out today, or I would have grabbed some ribbon, too.)  I used my favorite scarf as an accessory to add another pop of color.  Fun, easy and  free- just the way Sandy likes me to decorate.

   Checkout more fun, frugal ideas at the Frugal Friday link party at the The Shabby Nest  or the Winter Mantel Party from The Stories of A to Z.

Blessings to you and yours!