One Room Challenge Linking Party!

Have you heard about the One Room Challenge, affectionately known as the ORC to all the cool kids?  Linda, from Calling It Home fame, has organized a semi-annual, six-week get-your-shit-done party with twenty awesome design bloggers.  Each blogger selects a room in her home that she plans to make over in a six week timeframe and report the progress to us.  Pretty awesome, yes?  But wait, there’s more!  This time Linda has created a link-y party for other people to participate at home.  Kind of like singing along with American Idol from the comfort of your sofa. 

Although I have been the world’s worst blogger and haven’t posted in ages, I decided that it is high time for me to get my tail in gear.  What room did I choose, you ask?  Well, they all could use a ton of help, to be honest.  My front room is filled with garbage bags of fabric, a wonderful way to welcome people to the house.  My laundry room sucks.  And the kids’ bedrooms are hot messes…just like the kids J.  But to heck with all of them, let’s work on my bedroom shall we?

Currently, it’s a big white box.  Don’t judge, m’kay?  Say hi to Mary!

 

See, I told you it is bad.  But, we have to start somewhere, right?  I’m not going to show you more pictures, because they would just be of white walls.  I’ll spare you that eyesore.

My inspiration image, the much-pinned and lusted-after space designed by Oly.

 

 

 

Here is my to-do list:

·         Curtains

·         Art

·         Dresser

·         Bedside Tables

·         Bedding

·         Pillows

·         Seating

Totally doable in six weeks, right?  Let’s hope so!  Join me next week to see what all I’ve accomplished.  And be sure to check out all the ORC participants!

DIY Gold Splatter Cowhide Rug

Hello Lovelies!  Y’all know how you see those splatter cowhide rugs all over everywhere that is cool?  And you think to yourself, “Self, I need to buy that.”  And then you look at the price and you say to yourself a bunch of four letter words, “Maybe not.”?  Do you do that?  Me too! 

 

Anywhoo, I needed a rug in the breakfast room that was durable, looked like a million (okay maybe $700) bucks and really cost next to nothing.  I had a cowhide that was just sitting in another room beckoning me to DIY those gold splatters.  And so I did.

 

 

 

You will need:  a cowhide rug and gold (or whatever color you want) spray paint.  Stupid simple.  Again, I used a brindle rug I had and some Rustoleum Metallic Brass spray paint.

 

 

 

 

Lay your hide rug on a surface you don’t mind getting a bit painty.  Not a word?  It is now. 

 

 

 

 

Shake up your paint really well and spray a bunch into the lid.  (*Warning:  you will get paint splatters on your hands.  And arms.  It’s also best not to do this the day before a big interview.  Just sayin.)  Now, quickly throw that paint onto the rug.  Yep, throw it.  It’ll come out in splatters.

 

 

If you don’t like bigger splatters, you can avoid them by not throwing and just shaking the lid over the rug.  At first it will look kinda lame.  But then, as you add more, magic happens.  Finally, you will find yourself with this goodness.  And if you are like me, it was free.  Aw yeah.  (It is more sparkly in person.  #hardtophotograph)

 

 
 
 

 
 
 

What do you think?  Wouldn’t it be awesome in other colors? 

Oh and in case you don't believe me about the splatters, check out the goodness I'm sporting today.

 

 

Have a great day!

Kimber

A Bathroom for my Boys

Hey Y’all!  Look at me blogging twice in one week.  #overachiever.  I’d better be careful or you will get spoiled.  J

Thanks for all of the comments regarding the move.  It was stressful and HOT, but well worth it.  I’ve been sewing like a mad woman trying to get us settled.  I started with shower curtains.  Why shower curtains, you wonder?  So the kids will stop taking their showers in my bathroom!  Why is it that being a mother means having absolutely no privacy?  Between the kids and dogs, I constantly have a shadow.  But I’m blessed for it, even if it drives me crazy some days.  ;)

Let’s start with the boys’ bathroom, shall we?  Because, honestly, it was the easiest.  Their bathroom is off a little hall that joins to the breakfast room.  It is also the closest to the family room and is the one that guests use most often.  I cannot tell you how many times I’ve uttered, “It’s the boys’ bathroom so I have to apologize in advance.”  Or even better, “Just let me flush before you go in there.”  Boys = Gross.  No getting around it. 

 

I painted the bathroom Parchment Paper from Behr at the Home Depot.  Best Paint Ever.  Seriously, I love Behr.  I wanted a contrast for the cabinet, so I went with Farrow & Ball’s Tanner’s Brown.  It is a black with a bit of brown in it, which makes it more of a warm black.  It is gorgeous and is my favorite black from F&B.

 

Whenever I re-do a room for my kids, I always unleash them in my workroom and ask them to pick a fabric.  That is always my jumping off point.  They pick the fabric(s) that they like, and then give me free reign.  This time, my boys loved F. Schumacher’s “Fireworks” in chartreuse.  Sadly, this colorway is discontinued.  Boo.  I was so happy when they picked it because I knew that it would play oh so nicely with the F&B cabinet color. 

I cannot stand normal shower curtains.  They drive me crazy.  I’m not sure why but I think it has to do with the way they cut off a room.  Kind of like when you try on an outfit and the cut just isn’t figure flattering?  Well, shower curtains generally aren’t figure flattering to a room.  Instead, I always do a pair of panels and a cornice hung to the ceiling in our bathrooms.  I add a second rod and an extra-long clear shower curtain that is the functioning shower curtain.  When not in use, it simply slides behind one of the panels and disappears.  Not only does this style look better, it also prevents grubby hands from dirtying up the pretty fabric curtain.  #notmyfirstgoround

 

The art is the boys bathroom is easy peasy.  I got super cheap frames from Hob Lob, added a piece of coordinating scrapbooking paper to the back and then selected some fun black and white pictures of the boys.  Stacked up behind the potty, it adds color, personality and height.

 

Opposite the art is a shelf that is supposed to hold their wet towels.  Note the “supposed to”.  J  Above it I have a super sweet print that I got from etsy and a coral that we picked out together in Key West on vacation a few years ago.  I drag my kids to estate & garage sales all the time periodically, and my youngest son, Conner, found this vintage trophy and wanted it for his brother.  They *swear* it is a vintage Heisman trophy because of the pose of the football player.  I love their enthusiasm!  Next to the shelf are their initials that I got from Michaels and sprayed with my favorite spray paint, Rustoleum Metallic Brass.

 

I still need a rug for the room and a hook for the hand towel by the sink, but otherwise it is good to go for my two favorite boys. 

How do you feel about shower curtains?  Decorating bathrooms?  Do you think boys are gross too?

XOXO,

Kimber

Happenings and Hot Deals

 

Hey Y'all.  I hope that you had a wonderful Fourth of July!  God Bless America!!!

 

Things have been progressing at #projectlemonade.  There has been lots of rain which has slowed the move, but we finally started getting some furniture in today.

 

Speaking of furniture, I have lots.  And by that, I mean TONS.  After all, we are downsizing from 7,000 square feet to 3,100.  No need for four (yes, four!) sofas in the new house.  AmIright?

 

Anywhoo, I hope you don't mind, but I wanted to spread the word on a few goodies I am parting ways with. 

 

 

First up, we have this custom King headboard built by yours truly.  It is upholstered in Scalamandre silk velvet that is TDF (Mama, that means To Die For).  It is uber luxurious and is beautiful. The fabric is HUNDREDS of dollars per yard, so this is really a steal!  Can ship via Greyhound or other carrier.  $700, not including shipping.

 

 

Iconic Hicks Pendant by Visual Comfort.  It is the XL version and retails for $693.  It has been hanging in my keeping room for a little over a year and is in like-new condition.  $475.  (Also, remember HoP offers a buying service for Visual Comfort, Currey & Co and many others!)

Hicks Pendant

 

 

 

Finally, I wanted to share a sneak peek at the awesomeness that is my office ceiling at #projectlemonade.  No, your eyes do not deceive you.  That is malachite baby. 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that you have a fantastic week!  I'll try and be better about touching base. 

 

 

 

Best,

 

Kimber

#ProjectLemonade Entryway

Hello Lovelies!  How is your week going so far?  I am very excited that it is almost the weekend!

 

Yesterday afternoon demo started on the flooring in the new(old) house and I snapped some pictures before they started.  As soon as the new flooring is installed, the kids and I can start moving.

  I.  Hate.  Moving.  (As I'm sure most do). 

 

But this time I plan to move differently.  I am going to decrapify in the process. 

Is that a word?  It is now. 

I am not allowing anything into the house that isn't useful or needed.  Because, honestly, I have boxes still unpacked from like three moves ago.  Do I really need whatever is in those boxes?  I think not.

 

Anywhoo, back to the entryway.  Unlike the huge house, I did not use a ton of color in the new(old) house.  I'm sure subliminally I chose a ton of white because it is clean.  Clean house.  Clean slate.

 

My thinking in doing so was that I could use it as a backdrop and add color through textiles and furniture and accessories.  That and the fact that we spent 15 days straight painting and I never want to pick up another paint brush again.  It's much easier to change a pillow than a wall, right?

 

I painted the house Behr's Parchment Paper.  Behr from The Home Depot is the best paint out there (well other than Farrow & Ball but that rings in at about $75 a gallon) by far and I won't paint with anything else.  And I've tried them all.  I did flat enamel on the walls and high gloss on the trim.

 

Welcome to #ProjectLemonade.  Come on in y'all.

 

 

Foyer




We are standing in the foyer directly in front of the doors.  To the right is the dining room, the left is the study/formal living room.  Down that long hall is the family room.  Kelly Wearstler's iconic Imperial Trellis wallpaper was installed prior to us moving.  The tenants did a bit of damage to it (bastards!) but I think that my wallpaper whisperer can fix it.



View of front doors from hall



 

 

 



Study/Formal Living Room



Study looking into dining room

Dining room that I'll be using as my office/sewing room

I've got big plans for the tray ceiling up there, which begins with a gorgeous new chandelier.


So, what do you think about the entryway?  What do you think about white walls?  Do you decrapify when you move or do the traditional stuff dump?

Best,

Kimber
 

 

Lemons and Lemonade

 

 

The Lord certainly works in mysterious ways.  I know that's a statement commonly used to try and explain or justify baffling life events.  But, I have seen the truth in it so many times in my life.  And this time it holds true again.  Allow me to tell you a story.

 

About a year and a half ago my husband and I moved into our dream home.  Twenty-three acres of gorgeous land dotted with graceful oak trees.  Seven thousand square feet of our dream home.  A pool.  A huge workshop perfect for HoP.  In a word, Paradise. 

 

 

 

 

We rented out our home in town to a woman who came highly recommended by her previous landlord and moved without looking back. 

 

Fast forward to August of last year. The rent checks started coming a day or two late.  By October it was a week or so late.  By January they stopped coming at all.  I'm not sure if you've ever gone through an eviction process, but it is long, frustrating and expensive. 

 

About two months ago we got a late night text from a neighbor in our old neighborhood telling us there was a moving van parked outside our house.  Aware of what we were going through with the tenants, he wanted to make sure we knew they were leaving.  We immediately drove into town and asked the tenant what was going on.  She assured us that her boyfriend (who was listed as an occupant on the lease) was moving out.  Cool as a cucumber she told us that she and her children planned on staying. 

 

Being the good Christian that I am, I gave her the benefit of the doubt.  I even stopped by the next day to check in on her and her kids and make sure they were all ok.  I told her we could work out the arrears amount for the rent and move forward with the following month's rent.  She promised I could pick the check up on the 25th. 

 

I called and texted the 25th.  No response.  Same story on the 26th and 27th.  By the 28th I stopped by the house and it was empty.  She, too, had left. 

 

Unfortunately, she did not leave before destroying the house.  We are talking about around $30K in damage.  Everything had to be replaced.  Carpet, wood floors, stove, dishwasher, microwave and even some walls & trim.  There was a TON of trash that I was left to sort through.  Included in the damage was ketchup and BBQ sauce squirted all over the walls and floors, missing door knobs and spit balls everywhere.  I'm not going to even go into the filth everywhere.  It was so upsetting because I had left the house a "home" for them with everything pristine. 

 

At the same time that this was happening, my home life that had been spiraling out of control finally exploded and my marriage came to an end. 

 

This left me with a mortgage on the dream home (that I cannot afford alone), a mortgage on the house in town that was an absolute mess and three broken-hearted children. 

 

What's the point of this story, you ask?  To tell you He does work in mysterious ways.  Had the worst. tenant. ever not left, I would not have had a home for me and my children to go to.  A home that will always be full of light, happiness and safety.  Because, let's be honest, a dream house is not a dream house if it's not filled with love, happiness and safety.

 

#ProjectLemonade House

 

 

For the last fifteen days straight my mom, dad and I have worked tirelessly cleaning and painting the house in town.  Every. Single. Surface of the house has been cleaned and painted.  By the grace and generosity of my parents and my sister and brother-in-law, new flooring will go down this week.  The children and I will likely start moving in this weekend. 

 

This is why I have been quiet these last few weeks.  I've been working hard to make lemonade out of the lemons I've recently been given.  And just like good summer lemonade, this new phase of life is a bit bittersweet.  But I look forward to sharing the journey that will go into #ProjectLemonade. 

 

Best,

 

Kimber

Decorating Every Inch...Again

Hey Y'all.  The other day I posted about the importance of Decorating Every Inch of your home.  Someone commented that she wanted to see what was under the other side of the bridal staircase.

Here is the side I recently shared with the table and Leopardo chair.  This side is open to the dining room.  

*Let's talk about the dining room for a minute...I'm thinking that the chairs may need to be a different color.  Don't they look kind of dark here?  I keep dreaming about them being a creamy white.*

The other side is against a wall and is the perfect place to put a large credenza I have.  

So, there you have it.  A little peek at what's under the other side of the stairway.

Do you Decorate Every Inch?

Best,

Kimber