The Final, Final Reveal...I Promise

So remember when I told you I'd picked the perfect paint color and then revealed a "finished" room that wasn't painted at all?  Shame on my laziness and impatience.  It got me in the end.

It was just hours post-completion when I realized I couldn't do it.  The room had to be painted.  That perfect gray was lingering in my thoughts and I knew it wouldn't go away.  David was working yesterday so I text him to see if he'd agree {it was a long shot but I knew I had to try.}  It went a little something like this:

Me: "Soooooooooo...I think we really need to paint in here.  The blue isn't working for me and all I can think about is that perfect gray.  Project day tomorrow?" Smiley face
D: Straight-face smiley
Me: "What is that? A 'whew' face?"
D: Another straight-face smiley
Me: "Can you use your words please?"

Husband wasn't too excited but {thankfully} he agreed to go along with the plan and {due to an unexpected change of plans} we even decided to start that evening. 
It was around midnight when we finished bringing in the last piece of furniture into our newly painted, beautifully gray-walled room.  It's glorious. I am completely enamored. 

Here's the blue before:

Here's the gray after:

Ok, you might not think it's that big of a change...and perhaps on camera it may not come across as that spectacular...but, oh it is. it is. it is. IT IS!  The gray is much more rich and more sophisticated than the soft blue.  It also heightens the contrast in the room and packs a powerful visual impact.  The gray is stunning.  Truly.  

Please ignore Chick-fil-A cup and sleeping Nigel.  

 The girls got their new black frames.

*Yes, I will get to Grandma's couch eventually...poor thing.*

Bothered by the lack of LCD or Plasma?  I'm not. 

I have a strict "no-TV-in-the-bedroom" policy. 

 

This is probably the most accurate photo in regards to the actual color of the room. Due to a number of things {namely, 1) a cheap camera and 2) zero photography skills} the color doesn't read correctly in most of these photos.   It looks almost blue, but make no mistake, it's not.  It's this great charcoal that changes in the light (it will go from a light dove gray to this deeper smokey color depending on the light outside.)  Thank you for the perfect gray Martha Stewart['s team of highly paid but grossly neglected designers & stylists].    

lamps off...I really need to educate myself a bit more on the who photo-editing thing.  

I wish the camera did the room justice.  It's a beautiful, relaxing, and tranquil space...but it's not boring.  It has so many wonderful textures and variations in color, dimension, and style.  It's whimsical and classic, luxurious and approachable; modern and vintage...it's the absolute perfect room for us.  Even David agrees.  He LOVES it and said having a room this amazing was worth all the hard-work last night.  That's success folks.  

Happy, happy room.  Happy, happy me.

Now, for a nap. 

THE *Not-Entirely-Done-But-Close-Enough* REVEAL

Guess who got her quilt in yesterdayyyyyyy?!!!  I was able to finalize my plans last night so as soon as I got off work today I ran around like a busy, busy little bee.  I couldn't wait to get our room D.O.N.E.  And since hubby is working late tonight {and I'm not exactly known for patience anyway}, I decided to finish the room without man muscles.  I'm so excited it's finished!  Now I need a month to recuperate. 

Let's all take a walk back to 2008.   

Not horrible but certainly not a reflection of my taste or style.  Plus those red pillows have got to go. I like the print but I really, reeeeally dislike the color.

The above stayed with us until I could stomach it no longer. Then the room slipped into a coma.  

pitiful. 

{but you should have seen it before those gorgeous nightstands spiced things up...tragic}

Well, tis sad no more friends.  Our room is finally done...or at least it's close enough that I don't mind showing you. 

     new stuff - quilt: Anthropologie, rug: Garden Ridge, pillows: Garden Ridge, art: Me (inspiration: David Bromstad); lamps: Home Goods

Oh and I guess the nightstands are new-ish too: Craigslist, (inspiration: Southern Living/Knack Studios) 

not new stuff - curtains: I kept what I had because I couldn't find anything that worked.

I was inspired by David Bromstad for these paintings.  I wanted something abstract with lots of movement and loved his idea of using acryllic paint and a spray bottle.  These pieces were so simple and took me under an hour to finish.

I am head-over heels about this shag rug.  I wanted something with muted color but lots of texture and this fluffy, unbelievably soft rug was just the right choice {and at $150 it's hard to beat on price too}.   

Sam and Nig think it's grand.

Funny-story time: It's a wonder this thing even made it in the room. The monster { all 7x9 feet of it} and I almost came to blows.  It was challenge enough getting her majesty into and out of my car single-handedly, but I when trying to place it in the room I had to seriously woman-up.  I spent 20 long, sweaty minutes trying to simultaneously lift up the bedframe AND slide this beast under the bed posts.  one. side. at. a. time.  Oh, and I was so busy working harder {not smarter} that I forgot about the center post.  Awesome.  It was then I realized that in order to get the rug underneath ALL bed posts and placed properly, I had to remove both the mattress and box spring. Fun times.  

   

Grandma's couch still needs a little love. *to-do*

Those creepy-lady frames are getting a new coat of black paint this weekend too.

yellow pillows: Home Goods, white lacey pillows: Garden Ridge

 This gorgeous hunk of natural fibers is 100% silk on the top and 100%cotton on the reverse.  A perfect marriage of luxury and practicality. 

Love me some Ikat!

pillows for Gma's couch: Home Goods & Garden Ridge

Creepy/beautiful heirloom art from my Nana.

My inspiration for the room.

*gonna paint those frames this weekend...did I say that already?*

This bureau is also an antique piece from my Nana.  I love furniture with history and charm.  This one delivers on both.  It's a forever piece. 

 vintage French and American stamps: purchased at a north Georgia antique store, postcard circa 1901: purchased in Llangollen, Wales (antiquing again)

More 1905 postcards from my favorite Welsh antique shop.

 1810 copper plate engraving: purchased in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England

Online print (copyright expired don't worry)

If I were a single gal I don't know that my bedroom would look like this.  But since I'm not and because I want to design spaces for both of us to enjoy and feel comfortable in, I'd say this project was a success.

Jolly Good.

 



The Quilt

My beautiful accent quilt still isn't here and I'm growing rather impatient.     What can Brown do for me?  Well, you can bring me my package today sir, if you please. 

Remember how I told you of my affection for all-white linens?  Well, tis still true but I also like some color and pattern thrown in for good measure.  Additionally, I share a house with a man whose internal thermometer is always bumped up a good 20 degrees higher than mine.  While I would be perfectly warm and content with my plush, billowy down duvet year-round, hubby would die, literally, from heat stroke.

The solution?  A quilt!  {No, not like those hideous ones you've seen at  bad B&B's.}  Finding the right quilt can be challenging, but it is not impossible and is well worth the effort.  I chose a quilt for several reasons:  1) It's warm enough for me but light enough for hubs during spring/summer, 2) I severely dislike regular comforters {aka polyester knapsacks};  3) Quilts can serve multiple purposes. For example, our quilt(s) will be our main blanket during the warmer months, but during cooler months when my down nest returns, it can be a throw, a picnic blanket {cuz you can have picnic's in fall & winter here in TX}, or I can use it to change up one of the guest bedrooms.     Quilts are grand.

Here's mine:  

I love ikat patterns.  Seriously, they are so beautiful.  Some remind me of smeared watercolors while others of graphic Native American prints.  I love the eccelctic mix.  This particular ikat pattern is bold.  Honestly it's a LOT more pattern than I usually prefer.  [And it has red in it...my least favorite color ever.]  But there's something about this that I just couldn't get over.  I think it's a lovely mix of masculine and feminine.  It'll be a great accent piece; a zip of unexpected in an otherwise neutral palatte.  I've also decided on getting a second quilt [still hunting for that piece though.]  This quilt is going to be a bit more muted so when I want to change things up, I have an inexpensive solution on-hand.  You can never have too many quilts {or pillows for that matter}.     

Here's hoping I come home to quilt #1 today.  I am really itching to finish this project and show it to you.  Well, I lie...  Mainly I'm just excited to finish my room and live in it.  Selfish me.   

Quilt: Anthropologie

The Art of Easy Wearing

So if it isn't already clear, I'm about as low-maintenance as a girl can get.  I'm all about simplicity and ease of style.  I don't care how cute something is, if I have to suffer to wear it I won't.  The thought of staring my closet hangers for 20 minutes every morning trying to find something to wear is agonizing.  I refuse to do it.  This is why I only buy what I love, but not just that, I buy things that are classic in silhouette, color, or detail.  And when I'm shopping I'm not looking just for pieces, but for outfits.  My goal is to figure out as many ways of using a particular piece so as to make sure my wardrobe is flexible and full of options.  This is what we call the art of easy wearing. 

One of my favorite ways to do this is with dresses.  I love dresses - one piece and you're out the door. {Ah, perfection!}  And with spring just around the corner, all of my favorite stores are beginning to reveal their lovely spring ensembles.  These are a few of my favorites:



all courtesy of Anthropologie