Friday, December 31

Bedroom Reveal - Take 2

Yesterday I labored over this post for nearly 5 hours.
Then when I hit publish, only 1/4 of it uploaded!
I was edited by blogger!!!!
I almost cried, oh well.
I'll try it again, but if it doesn't work you'll just have to come to my house to see it.
When we moved in 2 years ago this place was filled with all of the lovely features of a  typical 80's house. Slowly we've updated & made it our own. 
All except for our bedroom.
It was 'no mans land', filled with laundry baskets, soccer gear, stacks of magazines & anything that didn't fit in the rest of the house. I dreamed of having a beautiful cozy room where Kevin & I could escape at the end of a crazy day.
Here is the before.

Popcorn ceilings, plastic dental crown molding...

& Hollywood lights!

Even this patio got a little make-over!

The theme of our master retreat is
white winter wonderland!
Here's the patio after.

The desk was a cast off from my SIL, I spray painted over old lace for a cool effect on the drawers.

 By hanging drop cloth curtains from the ceiling, we created a magical little sitting room.
It's so pretty at night.




 The view from our kitchen window.


Inside the french doors is our new master bedroom.
I wanted to fill it with everything I love,
totally kid 'un-friendly'!
Those little monsters still managed to make their mark!
LOL
We're on a tight budget so most of what you see I already had, or pulled from my attic hoard.
Two new additions were this amazing secretary given to me by my dear friend Judy. The damask tufted slipper chair came from my favorite thrift store....$30!


 My pretty Grandma.
I have a total infatuation with deer & antlers these days.



In a perfect world I'd have custom bedding from Sweet Pea Gloria. But it's not, so I plan on making my own. Until then, I'm using some pretty vintage bedspreads.

 No more popcorn, no more molding.
Yeah!!
It took quite awhile to scrap & re -texture. Then we painted the walls 'Manchester Tan' by Benjamin Moore.



Now for the bathroom.
This was fun, I couldn't wait to rip out those awful lights & mammoth mirror.

 The gorgeous lace valence came from Warrenton,
it's strung up 'Bolton' style.
 My sweet friend Pat (dumpster diver extraordinaire) sold me this cabinet for my toilet closet. 



 It looks perfect, don't you think?

 Vintage Neiman Marcus apothecary filled with egg soaps from Dawn's shop.

Over the months I relied heavily on the talent of my dear friend & long distance decorator Ann.
This would be a great show for HGTV,
Remote Design.
Maybe Joan Steffend would host it!

Sketches Ann emailed sometime in November!

Great design, huh?
Just a couple more pictures, I promise!



 The cone was my Christmas gift to myself. It came from the holiday open house at the Tin Rabbit .
 The peat pot was a gift from Dawn.
 A love letter to 'darling big' written by my Grandmother in 1935.


An ironstone bowl filled with some favorite things, including a beautiful Madonna ATC from my far away friend Dorthe.

 My patio recliner piled high with linens & an honest to goodness 'Sissie Pillow'!
Well friends, that's it.
It took almost a year to finish, & nearly that long to blog about it!


Tonight is New Years Eve, we will be watching the ball drop from our safe warm house.
Thank you for a great year filled with friendship & inspiration.
Can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for us all.
~Lisa


Friday, December 24

Laughing all the way....

Ha, ha, ha!!!
Why can't there be 60 days in December?
Then I'd have a month to decorate, shop, make & all the other holiday hoop a la.
And then a month to sit back & enjoy it all.
(these little elves would object to that idea)!

Every year at this time I say 'last call', clean off the art table, hide the visa & turn on 'It's a Wonderful Life'.
What didn't get done will have to wait till next year.

Here are a few projects I managed to complete.
White Christmas by Tricia Foley is one of my favorite holiday decorating books.
I've always wanted to make stockings like the one on the cover,
this year I did!

I transferred some beautiful sheet music for this one. It holds a gift card for a special someone!

I used a family photo & St. Joseph medal for this one.
A cuff off an old sweater.
 Simple & elegant!

Then I made a pillow inspired by my sweet friend Ann.

And finally, a gift for you.
I love this Christmas image, I've used it in countless projects.
I hope you enjoy it.
Thank you friends for giving me the greatest gift of all,
the gift of friendship.
I wish you all the Merriest Holiday,
filled with family, food & frolic.
Lots of frolic!