decorating | girl & grey

My favorite deals from the Serena & Lily Sale of the Year

November 29, 2023 No Comments

Have you heard the news? Serena & Lily is having their Sale of the Year and with only a few days left, I thought I’d do a round-up of all my current faves from the sale! You guys know I love me some Serena & Lily, and you KNOW I love a good sale, so this feels like a match made in heaven. Let’s start with some of the pieces that I currently own and love. Ready? Let’s goooooooo!

First things first, this nightstand (pictured above) has been MAJORLY marked down and is such a beaut. I love how casual the rattan feels, while adding a touch of glamour with it’s brass feet and hardware. I’m considering taking advantage of the sale and adding a second one to Nate’s side of the bed. It’s such a classic piece and complements so many different styles/pieces of furniture. Their Flynn wall sconce is such a charmer with it’s wicker shade. It offers the option of a brass or white base and casts the coziest light at night. It’s over 30% off right now!

Venice Rattan Chair

Venice Rattan Chair | Truro Side Table

These rattan chairs are oh so versatile and a favorite of mine! Over the years, I’ve used them in my living room to provide additional seating, on the front porch during the summer months, and even in a bedroom tucked in the corner for a cozy spot to put your shoes on. This cushion is an optional add-on but makes for a nice and plush spot to sit. Their Truro side table, pictured above, is such a unique piece that I always find our guests commenting on when they come to visit. The top of this table is so special and is made from polished fossilized clam shells. The attention to detail here is top notch and almost feels like a work of art!

Pretty neat, huh? They also have this piece in a coffee table version and would be beautiful as the center piece to any living room.

Downing Dining Table | Carson Dining Chair | Headlands Rattan Ring Pendant | Alona Rattan Tray | South Seas Rattan Console Table

South Seas Rattan Console Table

Told ya I love Serena & Lily! My entire dining room is made up of their pieces and I think it makes for a relaxed, but still beautiful vibe. The dining table is bright white with a see-through base, which I think works beautifully in a small dining space, like mine. The woven chairs are so comfortable with their generous seat size and woven seat/back. They also come in black, white, and natural color options.

La Jolla Baskets

I’ve had the La Jolla baskets for years and this is another one of those ultra-versatile pieces that can be used in a thousand different places around the house. I have them in my entryway to gather up those loose shoes, socks, hats, scarves, etc etc etc. They also would make for the cutest toy baskets in a kids room!

Finally, because Christmas is right around the corner, here’s a few other items that I wouldn’t mind seeing under the Christmas tree for me this year! And ALL on sale too! Nate, are you reading this?! Hint…hint…Ahem.

The hanging rattan chair would be so fun in a teen room. My daughter has been eyeing this one for a while now. I have the La Jolla baskets in white, but am thinking the natural ones would be great for our boys’ bathroom to collect all the dirty laundry. So. Much. Laundry. Like, how? These counter stools would be a fun addition to any kitchen and I love that they have a back – makes island roosting so comfy. These dip-dyed stools is another piece that you could use in so many places. I like them in the bathroom! This pillow would be beautiful on a bed or sofa, and comes in a few different sizes! I’ve had a crush on this pendant ever since Chris Loves Julia used it in their entryway a few houses ago. I always thought it was the perfect choice! This bar cart would be so fun, especially for the holidays. I love how it makes the ritual of mixing a cocktail a little more special. The sweet little scalloped detail on this lamp would make for a beautiful bed-side lamp. Finally, these sheets are just so lovley. And sateen? Yes, please.

Happy Shopping, you guys!! Let me know below in the comments if you scored anything from the sale!

Decorating, Miller Paint, Paint

My Bedroom Makeover with Miller Paint

November 26, 2023 No Comments

This post is sponsored by Miller Paint but all thoughts and opinions are my own

Hi guys! I am sooooooooooooooo (too many o’s? maybe…but I’m so enthusiastic about sharing this project!) dang excited to share this makeover with you today! Behind the scenes, it’s been almost 21 months in the making! So, I owe you a little backstory before we get into all those juicy details and all the photos.

Back in the summer of 2022, we were well underway with our new primary bedroom/bathroom addition that we had been planning on adding to our home since we bought this old fixer upper. Construction was moving right along and all signs were pointing to an end of summer completion date. Pinch me!!! It was around this same time that the wonderful (and I do mean WONDERFUL) folks at Miller Paint reached out to introduce me to their brand new Northwest Collection of colors and asked if I would like to use these new colors for a potential room makeover. I didn’t even have to think about this one. It was an immediate YES YES YES! This curated collection of colors is rooted and inspired by the Pacific Northwest and is chocked full of colors that you find here in the NW…picture rocky coastlines, snowy peaks, and mossy trails. Did you know that Miller Paint is local to the Northwest and is also an employee-owned company? Their paints have been manufactured in Portland, Oregon since 1890 and was originally founded by a local artist. Pretty neat, huh?

And because your girl has DEEP NW roots and a (almost) completed brand new bedroom that needed decorating, this felt like the most perfect partnership! Well, construction gonna construction and timelines kept getting pushed and our completion date got moved back until NOW. All the delays were tough to swallow, but I am so happy to finally have this project behind us. We’re ready to start enjoying this new primary bedroom that we’ve poured so much sweat, tears, and money into! And the best part, Miller Paint didn’t get sick of me with all the constant construction delays, and agreed to let me still pull together this long overdue makeover to show you guys!

Choosing colors from this collection was no easy task, as they are all so beautiful! Fun fact: if you find yourself stuck and just can’t decide on a color, you can schedule an in-person or virtual consultation on Miller Paint. Isn’t that a cool service? But, I finally decided on Snow White | ROO8; a cool, crisp, white for the walls and trim. I like that it doesn’t have any undertones and feels bright without feeling stark white. We used a flat sheen for the walls, and a satin sheen for all the trim. Then, for some much needed drama, we went with Leather Panel | RO42 for an accent wall behind the bed. It’s a very saturated, dark brown that’s kind of a chameleon. Depending on the light and time of day, it can appear anywhere from a deep green, to a chocolate brown, to an almost black. I love that about this color. Now, I don’t mean to brag, but I have painted many a walls in my time as a blogger and an avid DIY’er, and I don’t know if I have ever been so impressed with the quality of a paint until using Miller Paint. It paints on so smoothly, I wasn’t even sure I’d need a second coat. In the end, I did opt for that second coat, just for good measure. But the coverage was amazing and it went on like BUTTAH!

As soon as I started cutting in around trim, I knew I had made the right choice. This hue of brown is moody, and adds so much coziness to the space. Perfect for a bedroom. It immediately started to transform the space. Don’t you just love that about paint? It can change the mood and feel of a space almost instantly. And can we talk about the contrast against that Snow White | RO42 trim? AHHH it’s just so good!!!

Now, let’s get to those AFTER shots, shall we?

For this space, because it’s relatively small, I wanted it to be clean and simple. With no extras and definitely no clutter. With the vaulted ceilings and the pop of color that is the accent wall, I think it’s visually interesting, without feeling too busy. I haven’t even hung any art above the bed because I haven’t found anything yet that feels right. The hunt continues on that front…

I chose this dresser because I loved how it complemented the black windows and french doors, and also because space was a factor. It was tough to find one that fit our small space and this one was not only beautiful, but actually fits in the spot that I had in mind for it! The bed has leather cushions that attach to the headboard, and I love how it has an monochromic effect against the rich accent wall. It seems to be discontinued now, but this one is quite similar. The plaid rug felt like the perfect nod to the Pacific Northwest, and I also loved the way it looked with the cedar ceiling. These sconces are my favorite – they add some nice texture and they plug-in versus being a traditional hard-wire fixture. Installing them is a breeze, and you won’t even need to call an electrician! This nightstand is such a classic piece, and I have been considering adding a second one to the other side of the bed, so they will match. Finally, this pendant is airy and bright and I love the round shape against the tongue and groove on the ceiling.

You can really see below how the color changes depending on the light. This photo was taken late in the afternoon as the sun was getting close to setting. That’s when this hue is the most moody, almost black. It’s very calming.

I love our new primary bedroom so much! Originally, I worried about how this new space would blend in with the original part of the house, but now it kinda feels like it was always here. I feel so grateful, and am even more grateful to the wonderful folks at Miller Paint who were so patient with me during this loooong process. A very special thanks go to Steph and Puji. We are so happy, and even Milton (our new kitten) approves! What do you guys think? Tell me everything in the comments below! XOXO

Decorating, DIY

Sneak Peek at Walmart’s new MoDRN line

September 19, 2019 2 Comments

Hey guys! We are busy getting settled into our new house and lemme tell ya…things are a bit crazy atm. My big kids are back in school and between their new schedules, unpacking alllll the boxes, and starting some exciting new projects, things are BUSY around these parts. But before we lost our minds, (jk…kinda) packed up our house, only to move a couple streets over, I had the pleasure of testing out and styling a few of the new and exciting pieces that are fresh from Walmart‘s new line, MoDRN. Stylish beautiful home decor and at affordable prices??? Sounds good to me!

The new MoDRN line is so good, guys. Think earthy materials, raw finishes, and simple shapes…yes yes and yes. This dresser is a part of the new MoDRN Naturals line and I am IN LOVE! It is so sturdy and feels very well-made. Also, the detail on the legs add a nice touch, don’t ya think. The shade of wood is perfect and light and shows off the wood grain for some added texture. The size is also great and could work in a number of different spaces around the house…think kid room for gathering all the toys, or maybe in the living room for storing all of your extra home decor items. I can’t be the only one who stashes extra decor all over the house, right?! Also, peep that cute teal throw! That’s also part of the new line and it’s soooo soft and cozy.

Ok. Next up, is this mirror. I love this mirror. It has a metallic frame with rounded corners for an industrial/modern look that I cannot get enough of. I love to decorate with mirrors because not only are they beautiful, but they are particularly useful, especially in an entryway, above a bathroom vanity, or for bouncing light around above your mantel. They add a lot of visual interest to a space and this one does not disappoint.

And lastly, I had some fun with this copper floor lamp. Copper is a metal that I don’t use very much, but I love the warmth of it. The clean-lines are inspired by Danish design, which celebrates function ahead of form. The lamp has the cutest marble base and the neck adjusts to a variety of positions…great for reading. Something to note: the lamp came with its own edison bulb and that is one detail that I appreciate very much. I have bought lamps before only to find that I didn’t have an extra light bulb in the house. Not a huge deal…but still annoying.

Fun fact; if you zoom in on this last pic, then you might spy the reflection of yours truly while I was taking this photo. But seriously, I am loving this new line and I think you guys will love it too! You can check it out here or you can find them on Instagram @MoDRNliving or try searching the hashtag #liveMoDRN

That’s all for now! Wish me luck on all the unpacking!

Decorating, Home Improvement

Mission accomplished: the perfect entryway rug

October 15, 2018 2 Comments

This post is sponsored by Magic Rugs

Hi guys! It’s Monday and the sun is out in Oregon! Seems like the perfect time to show you a little refresh that I’ve been working on to give my house some more fall vibes. First of all, does anyone else decorate for the Holidays? I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about decorating in a more subtle way (i.e. introducing rich colors with pillows and layering up cozy throws for added texture) rather than flooding your house with pumpkins, ghosts, and goblins. I’m kind of riding the fence on this because I love a good excuse to add a pillow or a throw, but I also enjoy the occasional corny decoration. All in moderation, right? And why not? Anyways…feast your eyes on my fall entryway!

I have been searching and searching for the right vintage rug and I finally found her, ain’t she a beaut? I was sold on a vintage rug for this space as its a high traffic zone and vintage rugs are made to LAST. I have purchased many a rug from big box stores and always found myself replacing them once a year (or even a couple times a year). WHAAAAAA? Eventually, I began to realize that with all the money I was spending on disposable rugs, I could buy a better quality rug and clean them myself or take them to have them cleaned when needed. With all this being said, I am not opposed to buying a rug from a big box store, but I really appreciate a rug that’s made with materials that are meant to last, year after year.

For my entryway, I was lucky enough to work with Magic Rugs and am so excited to share this source with all of you because if you are like me, and cannot resist the charms of a vintage rug, I gotcha covered. Magic Rugs has over four thousand rugs in stock and you can call them any time with questions that they will be happy to answer for you. And….wanna know the best part? Their prices are actually affordable! So let’s go shopping! I thought I would share a few of my favorites that I found on their site. The first and second rugs would be perfect in a kitchen or a bathroom (adds tons of patina and warmth to a room full of hard surfaces) and I like the third one for a living/family room type situation…maybe layered on top of a jute rug if you’re feeling fancy. Ps. If you like any of these rugs, just click the images for links to see each rug in closer detail.

The rug that I chose for my entryway is so beautiful and I am SO happy with the quality. It is soft underfoot and fits my entryway like a glove. It was exactly as pictured on their website which I think is really important. There’s nothing worse than ordering something online, only to be disappointed that the pictures didn’t accurately represent what you thought you were buying. amiright? The colors are perfect for my house with deep reds (I can’t seem to stop using reds lately. Who am I???), blues, and pops of orange. I’m in love!

I think it really makes a big impact to my entryway while adding lots of texture. And I am getting all the cozy vibes now!

So there you have it! My entryway is looking all Fall-y and cozy with its beautiful new rug! We are busy planning Halloween costumes over here and as of right now, I have a zombie, a vampire, and a bumblebee! Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Oh and I’ll be back on Wednesday with my One Room Challenge update for week three…gulp.

art, Decorating, Living Room

My art ledge refresh with Art To Frames

September 19, 2018 2 Comments

This post is sponsored by Art To Frames

Hi everyone! With the kids FINALLY back in school, I’m feeling recharged and ready to make some changes around here before winter comes! I always get the bug to purge all the things in the Fall because I know we are all going to be inside a lot more the next few months. Also, it’s so much easier to get rid of all the old toys and excess stuff when the kids are at school and they aren’t here to try and talk me into keeping said stuff.

I’m excited to share a collaboration with you today that I have been working on the last couple weeks with Art To Frames. If you have been following along for a while or you ever see any of my instagram posts, then you already know I love collecting vintage art. I started going to thrift stores years ago when there wasn’t any room in the budget for art, and slowly but surely, I have accumulated a collection that I love. I even have a few special pieces that I believe to be quite valuable — so YAY to that!

The biggest downfall to collecting old art is the old frames that can sometimes accompany them. Think dirty, fabric frames that are sometimes falling apart or at the very least, in rough shape. So when I find a painting that I love, I buy it with the expectation of having to replace the frame. Kind of like house shopping, if it has good bones and you love it…go for it! It’s much less of a commitment than a house, but you get the idea.

When Shimmy(the most helpful person on the planet), from Art To Frames reached out and asked if I wanted to work together, I thought maybe I had died and gone to frame heaven! I’m. Your. Girl.

The past few months, I have been putting aside a few pieces that I thought would work well on my art ledge for a bit of a winter/autumn vibe so these were the paintings I had in mind when I placed my order.

I knew I wanted a natural wood finish look for most of them and added a few white frames to keep it fresh and modern. The variety of selection at Art To Frames is crazy good, not to mention that they are hand-made out of solid wood. When they arrived, they were packaged perfectly and not even one had a crack, a ding, or any other kind of damage. Also, I think it’s noteworthy to add that every frame comes with the hardware attached to hang them right on the wall! Easy shmeeezy.

Most of my paintings were leaning on the ledge so I simply left the hardware attached to the backs in case I get the urge to move to a new locale. The one painting that I did hang on the wall was this special fellow.

Oh hello, handsome. My husband and I disagree about this guy. He thinks he’s creepy while I think he’s spectacular. What say you?

So here’s my little update for the fall and I’m loving it so much that I just might leave the art ledge as is for the entirety of the winter….maybe. The moral of this little story is if you find yourself in the market for some custom-sized picture frames of gorgeous quality, look no further than Art To Frames. Mmmmmmmmkay?

Alsooooooo…..I haven’t forgotten about the concrete counter post that I promised last month. I’m working on it, but I have these three small humans that have been keeping this mama BUSY. Anyone else making any Fall/Autumn (which do you say?) updates around their house? I’d love to hear!

Decorating, DIY, Home Improvement

New Year, New workspace

January 5, 2017 No Comments

Happy New Year friends! It feels so good to be back to normal, well, a new kind of normal for our family of five. Our Christmas break was packed. The baby and I flew to Oregon to be with my sister as she had her baby girl in the middle of the biggest snow storm I have ever seen. She is happy and healthy and I am so grateful that I was able to be there for the special occasion. Nate and the kids drove up to join all the fun when they finished up school for the holiday. Our time in Oregon was spent with all the family we could cram into my sisters’ house and the cousins played in the snow, went ice skating, and ran around like hooligans. This was our best Christmas yet!

Even though my break was full of sleepless nights with the new baby, I feel energized and eager to begin this new year. We have so many projects planned in the next few months, it’s very exciting. Our house has a long ways to go but at the same time, it feels like we have turned a corner and our little place is taking shape! Let’s do this 2017! Thanks for hanging in there as I reflect for a second.

My time off wasn’t just a swirling blur of bottles and diapers. We still managed to get a few things accomplished. First, Nate and I decided that some new appliances for the kitchen would be the perfect Christmas gift to one another. Aren’t we exciting? Some people go on vacation, we buy dishwashers. Although it isn’t a DIY project, it does really improve the overall feel of the kitchen. Is it weird that I want to pet the new refrigerator?

A few months ago, we bought a new range and hood and planned on replacing the refrigerator and dishwasher just as soon as we saved enough for them. Well, that time is here and I couldn’t be happier about it. Appliance shopping is my idea of a good time. So. Much. Pretty. Any big purchases we make, especially when it involves electronics/appliances, Nate does the research and I narrow down the options based on appearance or other practical aspects that I experience with every day use.

The other little project is a shared office of sorts or workspace for Nate and me. Nate often finds himself doing some work from home and it isn’t unusual to find him answering emails or checking his calendar from our home computer. He usually just does this from our dining room table but with our kids spending close to an hour every night doing homework at the same table (that’s a whole different issue…don’t get me started), it made more sense to make a designated space that he could work from, separate from the kids. I also have enjoyed having this space for photo editing, blogging and emailing. It’s a win, win, win.

There is an awkward corner behind our sectional in the living room that I have been scratching my head over since we moved in. Previously, I just shoved a shelf in the corner and I was using it to corral random decor that I didn’t know what to do with. That solution quickly began to feel like a waste of space and with three kids and only 1,648 square feet of living space, why would I waste a single inch of it? Enter workspace idea!

The desk is a parsons desk from West Elm that I scored off of Craigslist. I have always admired this particular desk from West Elm so when I found one for cheap on Craigslist, it felt like it was meant to be. I am still hunting for a chair and have been stealing a chair from the dining table until I find the right one. Here’s a couple of options that I am considering:

Via

I spotted this chair at World Market and was thinking that it might be perfect. I love the rich color of the wood and the upholstered seat is super fun. Since the desk has such modern lines, a wood chair might be a good way to bring in some warmth and texture.

Via

I love these acrylic chairs. I have seen them a million times and they seem to work in just about any kind of design situation. That’s super appealing to me as I could just move it somewhere else if I got sick of it or didn’t like it for an office chair. Hmmmm….oh the choices.

So those are just a few of the things we have been up to around this house. Like I said, I feel so good to be getting back in the swing of things around here. Oh, and we have some exciting progress to share that’s been happening in the bathrooms. If you’ve been following along you may remember our bathrooms were in serious need of attention. You might have blocked those pictures from your memory though and I wouldn’t blame you for that.

P.s. Be sure to check my house tour page because I FINALLY updated it!

Renovating

Knock me down…

July 18, 2016 4 Comments

So, I know that I said that I would be back to update the progress on the ceiling texturing. And nothing…well, the only excuse I can come up is that texturing your ceilings is hard. Hard and time consuming. The good news is, we are done. At this point, I only have a few rooms painted because after the super hard part is done and you have brand new texture, the last step is painting them. That’s your reward for your hard work. You’re welcome.

Right after we moved in, I started scraping the popcorn that covered every inch of our ceilings, even the ceilings in the closets. Oh, I was so enthusiastic about starting this project. I told Nate we could get this done over the course of a couple weekends. Now that we are nearing the actual end of the project with only painting left to do, I underestimated by about a month. Ha! Oops. Here is what we started with.

We did a lot of research about which new texture to go with and after asking our realtor what she sees in most houses in our area, we decided we would go with the knock down method. It’s pretty simple but after you spray on the texture with a hopper, you basically take a flat edge and knock down the peaks that leaves you with a smooth surface with little (and some not so little) islands, as we started calling them. After scraping the whole house, patching with joint compound, sanding, patching a second time, sanding a second time, spraying on the new texture with a hopper, and knocking the texture down, this is what we are left with.

Once it is painted, it basically looks the same, but has a more finished or polished look.

For all of that work and for such a long process, I wish it was more exciting than that. But, it is making a big difference in the house and I swear everything feels brighter and less dark. I think it will be one of those things that will make a overall big difference once we start updating some of the cosmetics in the house, like wood flooring, painting our trim white, and painting the walls. Popcorn ceilings are no joke people.

There have been lots of other smaller updates going on around here too. Since the ceilings are wrapping up, I have the luxury of focusing on some prettier things. Like lighting! Nate hung the fixture in the kids’ room yesterday and it looks so good. For the last month, there has been a vacant hole in the ceiling with wires hanging out so this is a big improvement.

I scored this guy at Anthropologie a few years ago when I was wandering through the home section (you mean they actually have clothes???? What?!) and noticed this light fixture that someone had ordered online and returned it to the store so they marked it down like 3000%. It casts a very warm light that feels super cozy and Grey told Nate it was his “party light.” Five year old minds are the best.

In other parts of the house I have a little experiment with spray paint happening. You see, the hardware on our doors is just ugly. On a scale of 1 to 10 in ugliness, 1 being beautiful, and 10 being the worst of the worst – ours are a 10. So, since it looks like we will making a little investment in door hardware, (which I have come to learn is NOT cheap) I thought I would try and give it a coat of paint to see if it holds up. If it doesn’t, we haven’t lost anything because we are planning on replacing them anyways. I have seen other bloggers use Oil Rubbed Bronze on door hardware before with a top coat with positive results so I thought I would give this a whirl and see how it goes. This is our hardware before paint and top coat.

Geesh. After a couple of coats of paint and top coat, they are looking more like this. I probably should have also mentioned that I started painting all of the doors and trim around the house too. I know, I have a million things going at the same time. F.O.C.U.S. I have been feeling good lately with lots of energy so I am taking advantage of this momentum before baby boy comes in November. Too much to do, too little time. But the doorknobs are looking better, no? I will keep you posted if the paint holds up through every day use.

Here are a few more shots of the trim around the house that needs to be painted. I believe they used a very deep chocolate brown and just painted the trim. From far away, it appears to just be a very dark, stained wood. But it is not. It’s shiny too and reminds me of milk chocolate if you melted it on the stove top. Yum. On our trim though, yuck.

And once again, white paint for the win.

The last update that we made to the house this last week isn’t diy related but I thought I would mention it because Nate is in love and it is a house update. We bought a new range for the kitchen! This was a fun one because it’s functional and looks so pretty. The range that came with the house worked just fine but we are eventually going to upgrade all of the appliances to stainless steel so we thought the range was as good of a place to start as any. We listed it on Craiglist and it sold the next day so we were even able to recoup some of our investment.

IMG_0529 - Edited

And here is the new one.

IMG_0531 - Edited

So, I think that about wraps up everything going on around our house for the week. Sorry about the brain dump but we’ve been busy. Really busy.

Ps. I updated my house tour with some progress pictures so you can see where we started when we moved in and where we are at today. It’s starting to look better…I hope!

Decorating

Details, details, details

July 8, 2016 No Comments

Happy happy Friday! This week flew by after having Monday off for a holiday. But I wanted to do a quick update on the fireplace since I am loving my new little additions. I have been having too much fun trying out new art and decor on the mantel but I also had some birch logs arrive from Wisconsin that I am loving. They are so pretty I just want to pet them. Some people would call this a problem…I don’t.

IMG_0525 - Edited

On another (less weird) note, I am hoping that I will have pictures on Monday of our ceilings done! Or at least, a good chunk of them done. We are renting a hopper tomorrow morning and getting this project buttoned up once and for all. Also, we are going to sneak in a trip to the movies to see Finding Dory. Should be a fun weekend. Wish us luck! We are going to need it!

DIY

Fireplace facelift

July 5, 2016 1 Comment

IMG_0487 (1) - Edited

Whew! This weekend we celebrated the 4th of July and attended a parade, a fireworks show and two different BBQ’s. It was kind of a whirlwind but we all had fun. The parade was one of the best I have seen and shouldn’t have been surprised that Texans know how to do a parade right. The kiddos scored major in the candy department and we all nearly died in the almost 100 degree heat.

In between all of the festivities over the weekend, we were able to get a project done at home. Yes! Am I talking about our ceilings that still need texture and paint? No! I swear though, it is happening this weekend. Seriously.

I think I mentioned previously that I was going to try my hand at white washing the brick fireplace. I have been looking at tons of inspo pics of white washed brick and I love the way it looks. My favorite thing about white washing is how it leaves the differences in the individual bricks behind and doesn’t completely cover them in an opaque finish the way a latex paint would. So the overall impression is a much less polished look which I think is appropriate for brick because it’s not meant to be perfect. Here is our fireplace.

Usually, I love unpainted brick because I am always partial to rustic finishes, but this particular brick was related to the brick that was used on the outside of the house and most definitely had some pink undertones. Pink brick = not a good look. So, let the white washing begin already!

In addition to white washing the brick, I knew the existing mantel needed to be altered. Some ideas included starting a fire in our fireplace, ripping it off with sledge hammers and throwing the mantel in the fire. But, instead of going down this road, I found some pictures online of some simple chunky mantels that people built themselves. I showed these pictures to Nate and asked him if he thought he could do the same. After quite the pep talk, he reluctantly agreed and was nice enough to give it a try to see what he could come up with.

The white washing part of the project was FUN! I already had some white, flat paint and just mixed equal parts water and paint and painted it on with a brush. It went much faster than traditional painting and the bricks do all the work for you. After you apply the wash, the bricks soak up the water and paint that leaves the uneven, white washed effect.

Please ignore my sun burnt arms, I went outside for three minutes and only used a sun block with spf 1000. Also, please ignore our ceilings. Seriously, we are going to get them done this weekend.

After Nate had taken down the old mantel, only the supports were left. Nolan and I decided that it would be fun to write a message in a bottle and hide in the frame before Nate attached the new mantel. We had so much fun dreaming up scenarios where/when someone would find our letter. Her ideas were too cute.

After our letter was hidden away, there were a few, last minute jobs that needed to be done in order to check this project off our list. There were some very visible cracks that became even more visible once the bricks were white washed. It was a pretty simple task but I had to mix some mortar cement and patch all the gaps and cracks. We also used some black, high-heat spray paint and sprayed the inside of the fireplace so the brick inside looked new again with a fresh coat of black paint. And, finally, Nate finished the mantel and attached it to the existing frame. I am so proud of him. Not too shabby for his first try at building something, right?

IMG_0512 - Edited

IMG_0507 - Edited

He made the mantel out of cedar planks and I haven’t decided if I should seal and/or stain it. This was a really fun project and being able to include Nate and Nolan made it even more fun. And because I already had the paint for the white washing, the grand total for lumber, mortar mix and a can of spray paint only made a $32 dent in our pockets. Big impact for a small amount of cash! Everybody wins.

Decorating

Kings and Queens

June 29, 2016 No Comments

I just googled how long you are supposed to sleep on the same mattress and it sounds like you should be replacing your mattress every five to seven years. Uh oh. Our mattress is old. Like, really old. I bought this mattress from one of those horrible mattress stores when my sister and I got our first apartment together and I was in my third year of college. That was in 2004. When Nate and I got married in 2007 (I totally just texted him at work to confirm that date too – I’m blaming baby brain), we started sleeping on this same bed and never stopped. I’ll let you do the math…

I’m embarrassed to say that this is that SAME bed while we were moving into our current house last month. The mattress had begun to sag and every night I would spend a good amount of time trying to climb out of the hole that was the middle of the bed. As this baby gets bigger and so do I, I finally convinced Nate to consider a new mattress. After some shopping, we found a super good deal on a king size set at Costco. Done and Done!

It’s so nice sleeping on a king size bed. I think the few times I slept on a king was when we stayed at hotels on vacation. Nate is 6’3″ and I am 5’10” so this extra space is so much sweeter for two tall people and the occasional cute five year old boy who sneaks in for snuggles with us at 3am.

Finding pretty bedding for a king bed at a good price though, proved challenging. I have been so inspired by the African mud cloth throw blankets and I wanted to score one for the new bed. But, all the ones that I loved were in the $120 range. I could already hear Nate asking me why I spent $120 on a blanket for the end of the bed. So, I passed and decided I would come up with a different look. Okay, I guess I could spend some more time hunting for beautiful bedding online…sigh.

africanmudcloth

Image via

Beautiful, no? The good news is, I ended up finding some shams at Target for $15 a piece that almost mimicked the over-dyed blue look of the mud cloth. Paired with a Turkish pillow that I found on Etsy, ummm, yes, please.

Our room still has a long way to go but a bed seems like a good place to start. I have yet to hang curtains, paint the walls, and add some art. Also, we still have a gold ceiling fan above our heads that desperately needs to go. Until those things are done, at least we’ll be sleeping soundly!

1 2 3 Next »