Help Wanted

I just stumbled acorss this post from Little Green Notebook,

which caused me to click on over to Pure Style Home, one of my favorite whole-house makeovers ever.

I just wish I could translate their wisdom to work in my house.

Here's the home tour, and what I am looking for, in a nutshell...

Exterior

front garden

Front view

Back patio

Living Room

Living Room

Dining room

Dining room "progress"


And, these are my "Inspiration" Spaces...

 



Make it a Great Day!

Ann

Curtain panel decisions.....

Help! I found these nice curtain panels at Walmart....9.00 each. So I bought 5 of each.

There an Ivory silk-look panel with lining, and a soft taupe plaid... I like them both!

I need to do 1 big picture window in the LR and a set of corner windows in the DR--its really one big room, long and narrow....so these rooms are on one end and then the other...confused yet?

Plaid in the dining room

plaid and ivory on the other side--which one better?

close up of the "silk" ivory panel--really pretty huh?

ugh-sorry for the awful pic--imagine blinds gone, replaced by rattan shade--and which panels?

same window as above-plaid close-up...

peek of sofa with it--ivory panel...

Which do you like?

Make it a Great Day!

Ann

Choosing Paint Colors

WHY does it have to be sooo hard?

I have been at this for some 7 months almost. I've recently read of similar trevails at HoH (House of Hepworths ) and other blogs...sorry can't think of them now...

My quest is for a grayish-blue-green that will blend in with my couch and den/ kitchen area because its all one big space. One thats not cold, and that brings a bit of the outdoors in. This area is west-facing, with almost a complete wall of glass facing the backyard. But it's dark in there most of the time. My other challenge: I am also sick of beige/tan colors. But I don't want it to feel cold. I really want to avoid that "cell block h" gray-green... you know?

Here's the view of the den (and see a peek of the backyard) you can see my couch (which actually has a grayish-blue thread running through the greenish upholstery)

Here's the samples I chose. The really greeny looking one is Benjamin Moore's Quiet Moments--I had high hopes for that one, but on my wall its leaving me cold.... The light tan is BM's Aura in "Fossil"... I actually kinda like that one; it seems to add some much needed light in there even at night. But I worry there's a yellowish tinge in it, and I don't want yellow at all. The bright blue one is BM's "Constellation"--way too bright and baby-blue-ish for this application. Sigh... The dark tan is Valspar--one of their "historic" colors. I like the richness, but on all 4 walls its gonna be way too dark.

Here's the den entertainment center...thinking of moving it to that big wall



Here's the other side of the room--the kitchen.



same colors on kitchen wall...

Looks like I'm going to have to buy even MORE sample pots..great! because NONE of these colors seem right. Maybe I need to go grayer? Any suggestions, please chime in!

Make it a Great Day!

Ann

Should It Stay or Should It Go? (A new feature)

I am seriously driving myself nuts about what I should keep and what should go.... I should mention I went through this moving 5 years ago and got rid of lots of things I wish I hadn't: years of Christmas, Halloween, and Easter Martha Stewart Magazines..... a coffee table I could use right now, and some other things. Overall, it felt great to lighten up. But now I don't want to bring unnessary clutter into my new home, although I do need to buy some furniture-- I am short 2 sofas-- so I do need $$$ to buy new furn for my formal LR and Den.....

I decided that since I am in the process of PURGING prior to my move, that I will post the items I am seriously thinking of getting rid of at garage sale in 2 weeks. I will post the pics with a short description, then you tell me if I should get rid of it. Maybe you'll have some ideas on how to transform them also (if I keep em?)

Outdoor Set: I only paid 100 bucks for this at Big Lots... the cushions really need recovering, but overall its an OK set- but it is NOT comfortable... I am envisioning more of a "ooo this is comfortable" outdoor set- but those cost in the 1200.00 range... whacha think? Stay or go?

Pier One rattan chair: Also NOT comfortable... its just OK with a lumbar pillow... but I kinda like the style... but I will have to restain some of the frayed rattan parts... overall not in love with this... Stay or Go?

Iron Rose Shelf-Thingy: I guess I bought this when I almost went Shabby-Chic, then I remembered a man shares my house--how could I ask my burly, manly he-man to live surrounded in ruffles and crystals and pastel colors? But can I paint it? What can I use it for? It travels room to room in search of a home and a use. Stay or Go?

Daughter's Dresser: I love the style of this, but one drawer doesn't close all the way and my daughter says it looks "dirty" (she doesn't "get" the distressed look!) I had dreams of putting it in my foyer but me thinks me style has gone more modern than this now, although you can successfully mix pieces in I suppose... Stay or Go?

3 cheapy side tables: Got these with my coupon at Michaels and I think they cost me all of 8 bucks for all 3. Maybe I can paint them (ORB?) and mosaic the tops? Maybe for outdoors? Or bathroom? They fold which is kinda nice- but their surface is so tiny they really barely hold a glass of iced tea. Stay or Go?

(yes, there are 3 of these...ones in my teenager's room covered in....stuff.....)

Shelf I have had FOREVER...in my linen closet hidden away: OK, I have had this since before I married-- 15 years! I was in love with these little carved wood folk-art shelves you'd find everywhere in antique malls... used to have 3 others that have since gone bye bye. Everyplace I have been , he just ends up stuffed away because I can't find a use for him.. Stay or Go?

CD Unit: I am really toying with the idea of painting this, with big numbers on the drawers, and using it in my kitchen as a spice storage or something.. I really, really like the way its made, its all wood construction and solid. But will I do it? That also means I get rid of the CDs in it too- but I am a big IPod failure... I really don't like earphones.....I just end up listening to talk radio in the car and silence is golden in the house when I am alone... unless I listen to Maria Callas right off YouTube... soooo... Stay or Go?

Birdhouse: I know, I know...But I am so over white and blue beach house..... but Stay or Go?

2 Office Armoires: these were cheap on clearance at OfficeMax. Currently one houses my son's stuff & TV, the other I tried, but failed, at re-inventing as a "Homework Station"... I organized homework supplies, had a cubby for each kid, but it didn't catch on.. partially because it lacked proper lighting... If it stays its definitely getting painted.. Stay or Go?

Daughter's hutch and desk: This was free. Maybe my other daughter can use it, she'll need a desk, but their rooms are small in the new house... how can I make it current? Stay or Go?

Thank you--suggestions and ideas appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!