redecorranging

Fall Mantel

September 29, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 34 Comments

my mantel is always an evolving work-in-progress

i made the rosette necklace yesterday and i thought it looked nice on the mantel…
but David probably doesn’t like it–at least not strung around his kingly neck.

if i can get my act together, i’ll show you how i made it.
i kinda love it.
the mantel—well, knowing me, i’ll change it tomorrow.
for today, i kinda like it too.
and my friend, the nester, inspired me to add my gnarly-so ugly it’s almost cute-pumpkin to the mix!

it was the perfect addition.

to make this the perfect fall day, i’m making this pumpkin soup and this apple cake and listening to these guys sing and play the banjo.

now go visit the nesting place and see a million more mantels. inspiration abounds.

Queen Chair Before/After and a Fair Little Brunch

August 14, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 21 Comments

I’ve been wanting to re-upholster this chair since I first bought it on clearance at T.J.Maxx. There was a rip in the upholstery which I disguised for 5 years with a throw. Finally, I painted it (a bright yellow from Valspar, whose name I’ve currently forgotten) and sent it to be recovered with a darling little fabric I found on sale online (bought quite a while back from I’m not sure where). I’ve had it in the bedroom and living room and kitchen. Currently it’s in the kitchen (which unfortunately may never be done) and provides the perfect respite when the coffee is taking too long. I’ll probably move it back to the bedroom but either way, I love it’s new look.

I should also confess to you that I’m taking an online sewing class at the Freckled Nest. I blame this all on Ruthanne, whose life and interests are so like my own. She’s such an overachiever and made eighteen napkins for the first project. Show-off. I’ve made a measly four so far. They extended the sign up until tomorrow so if you feel like you could add one more thing to your life, I highly recommend it. So far, I’ve made a few cloth napkins and a library bag. The girls want to follow along on some of the projects so they’ve made napkins and plan to make bags today.

And one more thing, I’m having a little open house next Friday (kitchen complete or not) which will be combined with a brunch and a CABi party and a bookclub organization party. It’ll be at my house from 10-12 and if you live in the area and can convince me you’re not an axe-murderer, you’re welcome to come. Email me for details.

If all goes as planned, I hope to do a little video tour for you internet lovelies who can’t make it.

Now, you have a happy weekend!

Post Edit: I listened to this segment of Issues Etc on church music and thought you might find it interesting too. Is church music just a matter of personal preference? Hmmmm…. this guy makes me rethink that.

Before/After: Painted Furniture

July 31, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 31 Comments

I’ve had this piece of furniture since the beginning of time and why on earth I haven’t painted it before now, I do not know. You probably have this piece of furniture too, don’t you? Or at least a side table or armoire like it?
Well, something told me it was time. Time to give it a little painted love.

So while these four cousins choreographed a hip hop dance and took the American girl dolls on a much needed family vacation, I painted.

I sanded it twice and then used the Behr paint plus primer paint {color to be disclosed soon but it was a shade of black from the Benjamin Moore fandeck} and applied two coats. I used a brush to apply the paint and then went back over it with a sponge roller–so that the brush marks weren’t visible. That paint-plus-primer has changed my life. It’s like buttah. It’s like painting with silky velvet. I love it.
And I added the pulls, which I ordered nearly a year ago from I don’t know where. And then I spray painted my flea market elephant with biscuit-colored appliance paint and then I cut down half a tree and put it in my lemonade server.
And that’s how I got this.

Now, I’m at my sisters’ with JamieKnoxville singing helping her get ready for her son Corey’s 16th birthday.

And by helping I mean laughing until I almost can’t stand up while Jamie and I quote Slingblade and Coal Miner’s Daughter and sing Mama Tried to Corey as an early birthday present. Now, I really must go and try to be of some real service since she’s invited waayyyy too many people to this party (95); although entertaining other people as they work should not be discounted.

Gallery Wall in lieu of kitchen photos

July 23, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 25 Comments

Our basement at the lakehouse has been officially declared ‘the Mancave’. It has housed many {sweaty} boys this summer and has been sorely neglected—as in, I try my best NOT to ever go down there.

And then there’s the dilemma of where to put all my art and photographs. This house has no walls, remember? Open floor plans have their downside.

Since I’m finally starting to ‘nest’ in this house, I asked Stevie today if it would make him crazy if I started painting the master bedroom.

He said, “Maybe a little.” {And then later seemed legitimately surprised that I wasn’t painting:)}

So, I decided instead to try to hang every painting and photo in the mancave.

And to my sweet surprise, I almost succeeded.
It doesn’t even look like a mancave anymore, save the cowhide rug.

This is what the powers that be call a gallery wall. A whole wall of art.

My question for Stevie is this? Can I paint tomorrow without making you wanna go jump in the lake? Pretty please? With s’mores on top?

And lastly, I’m posting this to try to keep you from sending me anymore hate mail about whether I EVER plan to post pics of the kitchen.

My most treasured internet friends, trust me when I say that I promise you I’m not trying to build suspense here. It’s still NOT DONE. I’m mean, it’s close. And I know you don’t care whether or not the trim is up or the corner shelves are in. But I really want it to be done before I show you the whole thing.

So please accept this post of the gallery wall as my humble attempt at appeasing you for a week or so.

Kinda like bribing your kids with fruit when they want brownies.

The brownies will be done soon. At least that’s what I keep hearing! Thank you so much for your patience and thank you for the oodles of encouragement and kindness you’ve given me. You are my favorite reason to love this space.

ps. I’m making this and this and this today. Can you say yummy?

Chalk Walls and Quirky

March 4, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 37 Comments

I was over at Nester’s today, visiting like I always do(virtually, of course), and she’s talking about chalk boards. I wasn’t even gonna post today but how can a woman who has 3 chalk WALLS in her house not post about them? I may have an inner 8 year old doodler in me that refused to grow up but what’s not to love about chalk walls? Chalk walls are inspiring and beckon you to sit and write a while. I have a hallway of chalk walls between my kitchen and dining room….

and an entire chalk wall in my craft room. It’s perfect because when the littles grow weary of crafting, they can craft on the chalk wall instead. And for teens, it’s the perfect place to smatter graffiti. The chalk walls in my house are well used. And I’m gonna go ahead and blame my dust problem on chalk. I’m sure the surfaces in my house would be completely spic and span were it not for all the chalk dust flying around. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

{oh and by the way, my friend Jessica sent me the most wonderful L-O-V-E banner a while back and now it hangs on the craft room chalk wall. Isn’t it perfect?]

And all that got me to thinking about whether or not I’m quirky. People have called me quirky before. I’m sure I’ve called myself quirky. So I went on a little jaunt around my house looking for oddities. For things that would make people call a person quirky. You might be interested in what I found.

Exhibit A:

My kitchen cabinets are turquoise. The most wonderful cheerful joyous shade of bluish green that I’ve ever seen. I painted them one year ago and I love them today more than ever. I’m certain that my cooking has taken a more joyful turn.

Exhibit B:

After attending to thirteen years of post graduate education , I quit my job and homeschool my children in my garage. {Everytime I say that it reminds of Chris Farley and his ‘living in a van down by the river’ motivational speech.} Granted, it’s painted and cozy and inspiring but it’s still a garage. Irony of all ironies: I feel very unqualified to be doing this.

Exhibit C:

And oddly enough, in aforementioned schoolroom, there is no chalkboard or chalk wall. There is however, a sofa.

Exhibit D

My friend Shawna pointed out to me when she was here this summer for Taylor’s Graduation Party that I have dressers everywhere…….

except in the bedrooms.

I guess I’m gonna have to go ahead and plead guilty to quirky.

Visit Nester for more chalk surfaces than you ever seen in one place.

Girls’ Bedroom Metamorphosis and a little Christmas Cheer

November 30, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 81 Comments

This is what I see now when I walk out of my bedroom door. The little girls’ bedroom—freshly painted and freshened up. It makes me wanna dance a jig. Or to quote Pioneer Woman, it ‘makes my skirt fly up’. And it’s every girls’ favorite color: tiffany blue. I know, I know–I’m teaching ’em early. I’m not sure what I love best, the tiffany blue walls, the currant-red beds, or the very large vintage multi-colored lights. Oh, or the vintage butterfly prints. I can’t decide. I love it all.

Here’s what you can do in a week with $150, a wonderful inspiration photo and numerous cups of the best coffee ever. I saw this amazing guest bedroom {first featured in Domino magazine} on the Little Green Notebook blog—and fell in love instantly.

Jenny did a copy cat design of this room, giving tips on how to get the look for much less. And though her tips were extremely helpful, I settled on an even cheaper/less authentic version than her copy cat version. But it turned out beautiful and my girls love their new ‘grown-up’ bedroom. And if you don’t already read Jenny’s blog, you should. You’ll love it and her and you’ll learn stuff.

Domino guest bedroom

I started this project by painting the beds. These are actually bunk beds that I ‘debunked’ many years ago. I also previously painted, distressed and glazed them about 8 years ago.

In the Domino guest room photo, those upholstered beds can be found at Target online—and I LOVE those beds. But alas, painting our existing beds red was not a bad alternative. I chose ‘Currant Red’ from Benjamin Moore and after sanding the beds twice {to remove the previous finish} I painted them in semi-gloss with two coats of paint. I actually used Behr Paint and Primer and just had them look up the Benjamin Moore color in their computer. I adore this paint—it’s thick and luscious and goes on like butt-ah! And as someone who paints things frequently, I say that with a fair amount of personal experience.

I then used this little rub and buff product {from Hobby Lobby} to give them a more antiqued look. I used my fingers to rub it on and then used a damp cloth to wipe most of it off. It’s kind of subtle but I like the beds much better with this addition. The color is called Spanish Copper.

By the way, I painted the beds in the room. I just put butcher paper on the floor underneath them went to work. It’s a little tricky to paint the very bottom of the bed posts but it can be done.

Next, I started on the walls. I chose ‘Robin’s Nest’ from Benjamin Moore and again had the paint mixed at Home Depot using Behr Paint and Primer {did I say thank you to my friend The Nester for this tip? I owe you a debt of gratitude}. This paint goes on so well that it covered in one coat on these walls!! And those letters on the wall that spell GRACIE—-those must stay forever. When I tried removing them, sheetrock began to peel as well—so I just painted right over them—again. My painter Rick—whose number I have on speed dial—helped me with the 20 foot ceilings in this room. And my somewhat-afraid-of-heights-self was thankful.

I then took Jenny’s advice and printed these vintage butterfly prints from Village Printables and framed them in my $6.99 frames from Ross {a lot better than the $625 each for the prints in the Domino room}. They are exactly the perfect complement to this room and it reminds me of the metamorphasis that will all-too-soon take place in these little girls. I want to cherish the days while I have them.

Scooter, our 4 year old Maltese, sleeps with the girls so we found him a coordinating dog bed–which will, I hope, prevent him from rubbing his dirty paws all over these white quilts {Target–shabby chic collection}. The zebra print pillows are also from Target {$14 on sale} and are a fine and enormously cheaper substitute to the beautiful IKAT pillows on the Domino guest room beds ($240 each I think). I also just happened to be moving this winerack—which I’ve been using as a nightstand—out of my bedroom, so I moved it in here because it was just the right size and shape. Any ideas for what we could store in there, aside from wine bottles of course?!

I then finished it off with a beautiful Christmas cactus, some pine garland and the big-bulb Christmas lights.

This room has the softest glow at night and is the perfect spot to snuggle up with some good reading and our Advent devotionals. I have to take turns sitting on each little one’s bed {“you were on her bed last night”} and have to make sure to give each one the same amount of kisses. I will hold on to that as long as possible!

So there it is: the sort of grown up little girls room—where butterfly kisses and tooth fairy visits are still welcome! But pink is not.

I should also mention that moving the beds toward the center of the room has been a huge advantage. The girls can easily make their own beds. And for now, they LOVE the job.

Before After

What I still need to do:

1. Add a brass-type rub onto the side table/winerack.

2. Find a cheap black and white striped rug.

3. Keep Scooter’s grubby paws off those white quilts.

4. Tackle the very messy closet.

5. Find the perfect ‘thing/s’ to store in the winerack.

6. Read a million more pages together—before they get tired of me.

You can see more photos on my flickr photostream.

Thanks a million to Jenny for making this room seem possible for the average mom.

Oh and come visit me at Blissfully Domestic today where I’m posting my sweater stocking tutorial.

I listened to this episode on Issues Etc—on Luther and Calvin and how you know you have true faith–while working on this project. It’s well worth a listen!

p.s. I’m adding this project to Kimba’s DIY day. Visit the most fantastic DIY’ers here.