a gray and yellow nursery (boy version)

I have been waiting several months to do my boy/girl gray and yellow nursery features - and here is the first!

We finally met my nephew, Asa, a couple weeks ago and it was a family effort finishing up the nursery and prepping it for the photo shoot. ("Photo shoot" being used very loosely here, folks.)

There was still enough light when we finished up and snapped the photos.

Besides gray and yellow, you will quickly see that Asa's room is owl-themed.

My BIL, Shawn, is quite the artist and designed and painted the "Asa" mural above the crib. Three walls are a slate gray and window wall is golden yellow. Crib linens will be featured tomorrow, so I won't go into them but see the peek of gray rug? IKEA!

Several of the decorative owls were found at Hobby Lobby. I also had a few squares of wood from a failed decor project that I brought along with three wooden initials. We painted the squares yellow and the "AMH" white. Cute, no?

Shawn is also quite handy with a bottle of spray paint and perfectly coated this ceramic owl. I think he's my favorite one!

And, remember the 9-square shelf for Ladybug's nursery? My dad built another but this time a custom built-in window shelf and bookcase! So impressive.

Jenn fell in love with these prints on Etsy and I quickly told her I could easily duplicate them in InDesign. So I did.

The full-size dresser was a thrifted find that they painted and then my preggo sister helped haul it up the stairs! Sheesh!

While we were there J&S came across a discarded garage sale lamp on the neighbor's curb - in all it's floraly goodness. But, seeing past the flowers, they saw a great lamp and Shawn used his mad spray painting skills (seriously, I'm jealous. He's that good.) to get this lamp in tip-top shape. Doesn't it look amazing? Practically brand new!

(I just realized I don't have a full-picture of the built-in, but every picture I took facing the window is awful! The other half is up a few pictures.)

We had fun "staging" the shelves.

Even the littlest details were thought of, like fan pulls.

And that's it! What do you think? Didn't it pull together nicely?

I really, really like it - J&S the hard work was worth it!

Reclaimed Lumber Shelf

A DIY on the reclaimed wood shelf in the living room makeover...

So I was driving to my last piano lesson of the day one Monday evening and I spotted some fence boards on the side of the road. On my way back home, I stopped to pick them up. It was obvious that they had been replaced because of some defect, but I chose boards that were salvageable.

The next day I hammered out all of the nails (duh).

Measured a 38-in shelf...

Then broke in my trusty handsaw and cut the boards to the same length.

Then I took a wire brush to get any dirt, splinters, etc from them. I wanted to keep the rustic, weather-worn look, so I didn't sand, etc. I knew it would also be up high enough from wandering toddler fingers that I didn't really need to worry about getting it super smooth. (Dusting it, however, is a challenge...)

I cut two small support boards from the leftover wood and nailed/screwed them all into place.

We screwed the decorative shelf brackets (found at Hobby Lobby clearance - $4 ea - a couple years ago) into two studs and then screwed the shelf from beneath.

And, here she is! Even after some decorating friend consultation, I'm still not 100% satisfied with it, but I'm working on it. I know you saw it yesterday, but to complete the post - here she is! 

a little livingroom makeover (rental version)

Pretty sure it was way back in the spring when I decided to do a little living room makeover. It wasn't bad, but I just wasn't satisfied with it and really wanted something with more of my developing (vintage) personality in it.

Here's the Before:

When my Grandma passed away last year, I asked for some fabric and this blue/purple/gray floral on cream was one that I didn't sell on Etsy. I kept all five beautiful yards for myself. This came in handy when I decided to use it for curtains! I cut the length exactly in half to get the longest yardage I could for both curtains and then doubled it over to make my pleated look.

For the curtain rod faux pleated look I just sewed the largest button holes my machine would give me all along the top. I alternated the holes as I put them up and voila!

I love them.

I'm hoping to pull inspiration colors from them for future pillows, decor, etc. but this is all I have for now.

I  snagged this birdcage from a garage sale last year and I'm so glad I did! It was sitting on top of the tv cabinet but when Jeremy's electronic project took over it found a new home. In the basement (*tear!).

Then I had a stroke of brilliance and decided to remove the bottom and the feeding bottles and rework it into a hanging light. After a little bit of research, a lamp wiring kit from the hardware store, and a bit of wiring help from my husband, I had a new hanging lamp!

Jeremy is always saying that we don't have enough light in our living room at night and this was a small way of helping the problem. Since then I've moved around another lamp so we're left with the same problem for now. Oh well.

(I love it and its chippiness! And I'd love it more if it was hardwired into the ceiling, but renting makes that a non-option. Maybe some day.)

Finally, I switched out the three black and white European photography prints for a shelf I've been planning to make for quite some time. (Shelf tutorial to follow soon!) I wanted a rustic shelf to display some of my vintage finds out of the way of curious toddler fingers.

Here was my solution.

White pitcher (IKEA), faux flowers (Hobby Lobby), rustic wood frame (garage sale), metal letter "S" (vintage sale), brownie camera (antique store), vintage fan (garage sale), vintage books (free from library).


The Before (again):

The After:

Oh wait! I mean...

:-)

Upcycled Retro Throw Pillows

(I have a feeling things will be a little bit slow around here the next few days, but bear with me. I have projects to finish, just a bit of slowing down to do amidst my jobs and family. So, if I'm MIA around this joint, you know not to worry.)


*********

My sewing machine seems to work in spurts these days. I tried again the other night and successfully have sewn a project I've been meaning to do for awhile! I LOVE finishing these envisioned projects - especially when they've been longer in the works than necessary. 


Insert "Upcycled Retro Throw Pillows" !


Unfortunately, my scissors beat me to taking a "before" picture - which happens much too often! Sorry. It was just a sleeveless cross-bodice A-line simple handmade retro (think flower power) dress. I wore it to one college function, but it was a bit too tight up top. And, if you know me, that pretty much means any normal person couldn't wear it.


So, I cut it up.

Added some awesome vintage salmon polyester (never been used by my grandma) and ta da!!

Amazing (in my opinion), retro, flower power throw pillows. Check 'em out here! 

Some neat nursery additions.

I'm horribly late to the draw on this one. But last year, we added some fun little additions to Ladybug's room and I wanted to show them off.

For Christmas, Uncle Ryan and Erin got her the cutest little canvas growth chart. Very needed to chart this girl's growth! I think I'll measure her on birthdays and half-birthdays for now.  There are two little marks down at the bottom at 28" (12 months) and 31" (18 months). Yay for sweet, sweet growth charts. As long as she doesn't rip it off the wall, we're good.

A verse I can't stop relating to our sweet little girl after all of the troubles we had getting her here.
So I made some subway art for her room. I still have yet to hang it up, but I kind of like it on her side table. So, there it stays for now. Love these IKEA frames that hold 8-1/2" x 11" paper. So convenient not to edit to 8x10!

Aunt Jenn and Uncle Shawn made this amazing letter art for her first birthday last year and it sits on her big shelf. So pretty and creative! I love it - something that isn't too babyish that will grow with her.

Remember my post about nursery curtains? No, of course you don't. It's been over a year!! Well, friends, I've finally taken your advice and this weekend I finished her curtains. Hip hip hooray!

(Excuse the photos - it's really difficult to photograph a sunny window!!) I prefer curtains to the floor or short, but these aren't too bad for in between. I'm so happy I finished these - I hate unfinished projects.

Yay! Love these additions. Thanks to the aunties and uncles who contributed.

New Kitchen Valance - on the cheap

So, we've had this rolling shade from the Home Depot for about 3 years. It covers our big sliding glass doors at night. (Otherwise it's too freakalicious to be in the kitchen when it's dark outside and the whole world potentially has its eye on you. And your children.)

Anyway, it cost about $15 (maybe less?) and it's starting to look a little worn as only a $15 shade should. I mean, it's not like I'm going to put in a custom shade in a place we rent -- and don't plan to stay in forever. (*crossing my fingers and hoping we go sooner than later. Love the rent and the freedom - hate the neighborly sounds and poor construction.)

Here she is. Lookin' pretty sad.

Insert awesome $1 vintage Vera sheet picked up from a random garage sale a couple of weeks ago. It was fitted, so I cut it up.

I'm not really a butterfly, floral-y person, but I'm in love with this print for some reason. Butterflies, ferns and leaves in multi-green and khaki colors.

Pair it with some yellow walls, a free curtain rod (minus the hardware, unfortunately) and you have a vintage valance on the cheap. And one that makes me smile.

So, here's the before...

And here's the after!

(sheet - $1 (thrifted), curtain rod - free, rod hangers - $4 (Home Depot) = Total Cost: $5)

*Sigh. Trying to add more vintage into my personal decor style ... 

More "on the cheap" posts to come!