Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Living room updates

Remember that silly little design board I did for my living room the other week? Well after picking out the items on the internet I started doing a little more research and looking at the dimensions and the products in the store. .  .womp womp

Pretty much everything I picked out wasn't really the right size for the spaces they were going in. The mirror top tables were way too small for the large area between the two couches, the rattan ottoman thing was way too short for the space and the coffee table, well it was okay actually. Maybe a little shorter than I wanted but okay. BUT when I started changing up my side tables I needed a different style coffee table!

So here's what I've ended up with:

I love that look and that there is a second shelf down below for more storage
Ballard Designs

One of the mirror topped table for where I had the wicker ottoman- going between the leather chair and the couch (from Crate and Barrel)
And this large tufted ottoman in this pretty indoor/outdoor (for wear) blue trellis pattern. It even lifts up and has storage inside!! From Ballard Designs

I really think the room is going to come together nicely! Now I just need to save up to get rid of our very worn denim couch!


Monday, February 6, 2012

Paint colors

You may have noticed in my little design board for the living room some colors around the edges- these are options of paint colors I'm thinking about. I went and got some samples and much to P's dismay we have samples of paint up all over our house again! Hopefully this time it will inspire us to get to work sooner. . . unlike our bedroom that had paint samples up for months! These are more visible so HINT HINT- time to start painting P!

Here's our options for the living room/ dining room:
Top Left is Benjamin Moore's Pearl River, Top right is Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage at 50% (we had already painted a small swatch of full force Silver Sage and it was too dark/ green but we liked the idea so I started mixing) which is why the bottom choice is RH Silver Sage at an unknown % somewhere around 75% I'm guessing- if that's what we pick I'll have it color matched at BM.

Here's a shot from further away. I promise you that the top two colors are not practically white- just how it's showing up in the pics!

I'm also going to go ahead and paint the hall and probably our master bath (again!)

In the hall I'm down between BM Edgecomb Gray on the left and BM Baby Fawn on the right

And possibly painting our very small master bathroom a dark grey/blue. I would love to do this but was always worried it would look dark/ smaller. But I think the window and all the beadboard will keep it light. . .

BM Smokestack Gray

I think we have a front runner but I'm not positive yet. What are your thoughts?

Friday, February 3, 2012

Living Room design board

Like I said before, we are simultaneously working on a few projects at a time! Sounds time consuming and it is, but it's always fun to be busy with projects that you enjoy! I've been looking for a while to replace our couches in the living room. They are both kind of comfortable but neither are really what we are looking for. They don't match and mainly they always look undone. The minute you sit down on it they are messed up and you have to re-fluff all pillows to look decent again. It's kind of like having an unmade bed, in the living room, all the time! They just look messy and ick. And they are both old couches that we acquired through the years from family so I feel like it's time we get a "grown up" couch that we pick and pay for! YIKES I know- I'm growing up right here in front of you!

Except not really because after looking for weeks on end with no success, it seems the only couches I like are a bit more than I was hoping/ planning/ can spend. So, we will wait a little longer and continue to add to our "couch fund" and in the meantime I am adding smaller pieces to the living room so that when we do finally get the couches the room will be complete! At least for a little while!

Here is my poor attempt at a design board for myself (and P) so we can see how everything really looks together. This is why I need a new computer and Photoshop (this was made in Word, forgive me)!

We'll see how it changes over time as I add the different pieces. Thoughts?

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The Shed

Did you see me casually throw in the fact that we built a little shed in my patio update post?? Oh yeah! We did. And it was hardly a "little" shed. Coming in at 5 1/2 feet wide, 7 1/2 feet long and just under 6 1/2 feet tall it's aptly named the Extra Large Extreme Storage Shed!

We got to work on this Sunday afternoon thinking it was going to take us a LONG time and lots of frustration, but it was surprisingly easy. Now when I say easy, please don't read quick. It still took us a good two hours to put everything together but there was never any question about what goes where or what is this part for. Not even any leftover pieces which is always a good sign!

Here she is in all her glory

started out with huge pieces like this:

and about two hours later:



standing on the outside edge of the patio- you can see her haning out back there, but most other places you can't even see it!

And it's amazing how much space we have regained in our garage! We can actually put in some cabinets or something!