Update on my To-Do's of 2011

As part of my 'New Year's Resolution' I came up with my To-Do list. You can see that here....

Then I updated the list to incorporate the little one on the way. You can see that one here....

So here's how I'm doing on my lists.

• Get Published (a carry-over from 2010). Check!
  

I can't say much about this yet-- but good news in the upcoming weeks~

(hint hint)

• Finish our Bonus Room. Half-Check!

  
I am happy to say that we are well on our way to this goal getting complete! I still want to create a better organized office area- but maybe that can be a maternity leave project! 

We still have to install a fan, rug, and accessories. Art is being framed at the moment and hopefully we can hang them in the coming weeks. I plan to make a matching Roman shade to the drapery panels-- again another maternity leave project?

• Kitchen Backsplash 

--This is on hold for now-- maybe Christmas present?

• Wallpaper the Powder Bath.

 
--I am still looking for that perfect wallpaper to go in there. I want something dramatic, but not overwhelming because it is a pretty small room.

I have a pretty good idea of another maternity leave project in the works....here's a hint.

•  Make Roman Shades for our bathroom.  

Still hasn't happened. I can't find a fabric that I like with the wall color-- maybe it's time for a new wall color :)

• ART.  Half-Check!

We have finally bit the bullet and decided to put holes in our walls. Everything is still in progress, but finally looking like a home!

• Furniture. Check!

We actually did more for this category than I thought that we would. 


We now have our sectional-- that we are obsessed with! We then moved the old sofa upstairs to the bonus room. 

We got this bed at an incredible price 

and the metal coffee table. 

Bought this kitchen table-- which still needs to be refinished. And these dining chairs.

• Make an upholstered headboard Check!--sorta
 This is no longer on the list since we bought our bed. So easy check-off!


• Work on the screened-in porch.

Not much has changed here. A few cushions are here, but that's about it-- I can't wait to get a real table out here, maybe one will be on a ridiculous sale soon and we can grab one!

•  Get our backyard functional!

(I'm too embarrassed to put a picture of our backyard on here!) 


Again, nothing has changed here- in fact, it's probably worse than before. We have decided that this will be a spring project for us and hopefully will get it done for Mr. Brodie to play in!

•  Design a Gender Neutral nursery- Check!

Well, it's not gender neutral-- but it's done!

• Guest Bedroom Refresh-Half-Check!

We are 90% done with this-- Now I just have to find a chest and a chair and this room is finito!

•   Paint. Check!

This is something that I have really enjoyed doing this year. I am by no means a professional, but I do enjoy to paint.

•  Paint my Laundry room.

Well this hasn't happened yet, but I did 'accessorize' it and get SOME color in there. Maybe another maternity leave project?


How are your to-do lists going?
 

Exciting Happenings at the Casa

I am so excited to show you everything going on this weekend at the house!

Several months back, I went shopping in Dothan, AL with my mom. There is this great store where I got some of the best deals on furniture! The best part is that this store supports and gives jobs to those who are mentally or physically disabled. This is such a great concept--so many neat finds at this store that helps those in need- who doesn't want to shop there!

So here's what we got...

 Although it's more traditional than I normally go for, I really like this bed and plan to modernize it with some great bedding! (plus for $200, who could pass up a queen size bed?)





 

  And this cocktail table....

(This isn't the exact cocktail table that we

bought, but you get the idea!)

My parents are coming up for the weekend and are bringing these goodies with them! I can't wait to get them in the house! The bed has to wait to be revealed until the bonus room is finished and we can move the tv and desk out of the front bedroom and into the bonus room. But...

Next in line this weekend is putting up trim and base moulding in the bonus room.
While Mama and I are off to market in Atlanta, Daddy and Greg are going to be hard at work with the moulding!

Trim Color:

White Chocolate from Benjamin Moore

Sometime next week the carpet will be installed in the bonus room. This is the carpet we have selected!

Bonus Room Carpet

Wall Color

Next comes a fan and light. I have picked them out, now it is just to order them!

We had to get a "hugger" fan because of the low ceilings and Greg being so tall. This isn't my favorite fan, but it's got the look we are going for in the room.


There are a few more goodies being picked up this weekend- you will just have to come back next week and see the "results" pictures!

Office Inspiration

So most of my morning has consisted of me sitting in our temporary office working on bills and getting some Christmas presents painted. I have been day dreaming of getting a new desk and found one at a local store a couple of months ago that I can't get out of my head. The design has snowballed since I found the desk, now if I can just get the funds for the room transformation!

Bonus Room niche: just waiting on trim and carpet.

Right now, we are using our front bedroom for our office while we finish out the bonus room. Once, it's finished, the office area will 

go in the front nook.

 
 Our walls are Benjamin Moore 212 Happy Valley. We painted with Valspar's flat enamel paint and I love it! It has no sheen; yet, it is very durable and cleanable, not to mention easy to roll on the walls. It has a softer feel than most flat paints, which usually feel rough to the touch. I highly recommend this type of paint!





We are also using Greg's MDF desk from college right now. It's not terrible looking, just not the best quality or look. All the desk's storage is open and makes it look cluttered and messy. He used several plastic drawers for most of his desk stuff, which we are still using. Anyone who knows me knows that doesn't fly with me! So I am looking forward to getting new office furniture where everything has it's own place!


 I apologize for the messy desk, I have been painting and things are all over the place. After seeing this picture up I wonder if I need a Hoarder's intervention? This just gives me MORE motivation to get our new office together so my junk everything has its own place!




Here's my jumping off point: (the picture doesn't do it justice!!)

It looks great and has a thick glass top: just what I have been dreaming of! Let me know if you want one too, I hope to order it in a couple of weeks!










I found this light at West Elm and thought it was the perfect look for the room, but then I found another little beauty in an antique shop yesterday that threw me a curve ball. The new one has a qurky wow factor to it. I also love the pattern on the iron. The best part? It's less than HALF of the price of the West Elm one. Which one do you like?

West Elm lighting

Antique Store find.

I am perplexed about the rug. I want pattern in the area that is fun and bright, without being too juvenile. I am not sure if I want to get that pattern in my rug or my drapery. I guess it will depend on me going shopping for fabrics and seeing what's out there! Here are some of my rug options that I like so far.

Overstock.com

Overstock.com

The one on the left is simple and has little color to allow for a colorful print on the window and would still work with the tan carpet selected. The one on the right is a bold image without color that would work with a colorful, small patterned fabric on the window and still add to the room's overall feel.

Overstock.com

 Then there's this one. It works with the colors of the room, is a darker color which will hide dirt/stains better, and work with the shape of the Antique light (if I go with that one). I would have to use a simpler window treatment than I originally planned, but it might be worth it!







"Whitney, what about storage?" you say? Well here's what I'm thinking: built-ins, possibly a project for hubby and me. On each side of the niche are half walls and just adding long, short cubbies and drawers would be perfect.  Here's my quick photoshop of everything in the room.

I am sure that colors of the built-ins/drapery might change. This looks a bit too matchy-matchy for me, but it's getting there.


If this was yours, how would you decorate it?