Need your opinion...

I ran across this flickr image and thought it was super cool. I've been toying with the idea of building a built-in bench below our stairs but this seems like a really unique and much less expensive option. Plus, I won't be very committed if I get tired of it and decide to try something new in a few years!

So, I did a little Craigslist search for cots and it looks like there's a local one available...

Apparently, it was found in an attic so the seller doesn't know much about its history.

It looks like it's not in the best shape but it does have the wooden base I'm going after. So, there wasn't a price attached, the seller asked for interested buyers to make offers. Agghh! I can't stand situations like this.

I've searched a little and it looks like new cots run around $40 but have a metal frame. There's one vintage cot listed at $70 firm but it looks like it's in much better condition. What would you do? How much would you offer? I know many of you are craigslist experts, so go ahead and impart your wisdom!

fun & affordable lighting options

I love unique lighting but I don't love the big price tags that so often accompany these pieces. Amen?! Below are a handful of finds that will elevate your design without emptying your pockets.

Click here: 1/2/3/4/5/6

Happy weekend, friends!

Inspiring Design and bathroom paint

I was fortunate enough to tag along on John's business trip and spent the the last several days in Vegas. While Vegas isn't my favorite place on earth, it sure was nice to lay poolside in 85 degree weather while smelling the aroma of orange trees in full bloom. I only say that to give you guys hope who are still dealing with the crazy snow...spring is coming, I promise!!

I spent a little time walking around and taking in the amazing designs Vegas has to offer. I was blown away by the architecture in Aria. Talk about inspiration!

Check out this agate staircase...

It's absolutely stunning in person! John and I were talking about how incredible it'd be to dream up something off the charts like this and have the people on your team to make it happen. Such a dream come true.

Isn't this an incredible structure? It's houses a restaurant on the middle level and the concierge desk below.

My parents have been watching the kiddos while we've been gone and they were a little worried about being bored during the daytime hours while they were at school. I took full advantage of their possible boredom and left my dad with a couple paint cans, rollers and our master bathroom! (Don't worry, he loves to paint...seriously.) I can't wait to get home to see it (and the kids, of course). 

Here's what we decided on...

Hazy Skies by Benjamin Moore

With the walls complete, I don't have any other excuses to keep me from tackling painting those silly cabinets. I'm a little scared...we have lots of cabinets!

How to hide the uglies

I titled this post before I added the picture of my new do, but it still kind of fits. Too funny! I don't like including pictures of myself on the blog much but I always like it when other people do. It's fun having a face to go with the verbiage, so here ya go...

I always know it's time for a haircut when I realize it's been way too long since I've worn my hair down. The lazy doo-doo roll becomes an everyday habit and the only way for me to break it is to chop it all off so it's not an option anymore!

Moving on to a design-related topic...

This may be a little obvious but just in case it isn't, I wanted to give you the 'behind the scenes' look at how I hid our unsightly breaker box and sprinkler system control box. It's pretty simple...we used a L-bracket. Since my 'art' is a chart, it worked out perfectly.

It stands away from the wall enough to act as a shield while continuing to allow easy access to the boxes if/when need be. There's another function that's not pictured. Can you guess what it is? Yep, there's just enough room to put a hanger or two up there if a piece of clothing needs to dry. Dual purpose greatness!

 

I walk through the laundry room a gazillion numerous times a day since it's a pass through to our garage. I love having a more inviting entrance and exit for our family.

No cost makeover (Before/After Pics!)

I've had it with wheat colored walls! I've been a painting machine and I've almost eradicated our entire house of this color. Once the guest room is painted then there will be no evidence of this golden hue anywhere. Can't wait!

I initially thought I could endure this color in the laundry room so it was low on the list of priorities. But as soon as I realized I had just enough paint left over from our office...boom, it was a no brainer.

I didn't want to spend a lot, okay, any money in this area of the house. So I've come up with "4 no cost tips" that show you how I achieved my goal...

No cost tip #1: Use leftover paint.  Laundry rooms are typically small spaces so leftovers work great.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

No cost tip #2: Shop your house for accessories. 

Don't be afraid to dig in those closets! I had the hanging chart in our guest room but knew I didn't want it there for the long haul so it made for an easy decision to pull it into this space. Stay tuned for the simple 'how to hide the uglies' post where I show you how I hung the chart.

No cost tip #3: Use unused baskets as your laundry basket. 

The striped basket had been moved all over the house but never really had a function. One day the light bulb went off and I realized laundry baskets don't have to be white and plastic. Ding, ding, ding...let's give it a function and let it hide our dirty clothes until they're ready to jump into the washer! (Don't you wish they did that on their own?)

BEFORE:

No cost tip #4: Revamp items that bug you.

This one needs a little explaining. Scroll back up to the before picture. See the scrolls on top of the hooks? My taste has changed since I made this purchase as I tend to lean towards less ornate items now. So, instead of trashing this and buying a new one, we simply sawed off the scrollwork. In less than 5 minutes the hooks were transformed into a piece that didn't make me cringe every time I looked at it.

Quite the transformation for something that didn't cost a cent, right?! It almost, just almost makes me want to do laundry now. ;)

Bathroom Cabinet Before and After

Our master bath has a tiny 'toilet room' that houses the toilet and shower. One of the first things we did after moving in was remove the doors from the cabinet above the toilet. It was a must to make this space feel larger.

Before:

We ripped the doors off so quick that I don't have a proper before picture. Here's a picture of the other cabinets so you'll have an idea of what the area looked like with the doors. They have a really bad stain job and the color is, well, just yucky.

After:

Here's a basic breakdown of the details:

There are a handful of steps not represented here, like using wood filler to patch the holes left behind from door hinges and caulking around the stained panels and trim pieces. 

Curious what products we used? Here are the main players: 

Zinsser Water-Base Primer and Sealer

Minwax Oil-Based Dark Walnut Wood Stain

Rust-Oleum Oil Based Gloss White Enamel 

One last look at the finished project...

Ahhh, much better!

Linking to: Tip Junkie

Art by Lisa Golightly

I can't thank you enough if you're one of the sweet friends that left a kind message on Friday's post. We feel our hurts heal a little each day. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts, stories and words of empathy. It really means a lot to me.

On a lighter note, I love finding new artists. Have you seen the beautiful work of artist, Lisa Golightly? I ran across the piece below on One Kings Lane and it mysteriously kept showing up in my facebook feed. (Side note, I think it's super creepy how you look at something once then suddenly it shows up everywhere.)

The Boy with the Orange Bow Tie by kikiandpolly

I guess the advertising gimmick totally worked because I purchased a print of the precious, faceless boy. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but there's something that draws me in when I look at it. "That" is what I mean when I tell clients that art is personal and you have to pick the pieces that "speak" to you.

In the Depths by kikiandpolly

I think it's the simplicity that I love. And, her shading is amazing.

Hazy Beach by kikipolly

This piece is coming to live in our house too!

All Together by kikiandpolly

mini photobooth print by kikiandpolly

Lisa's Etsy shop is Kiki and Polly. Do yourself a favor and take a second to check out her other works of art!

Broken Hearts

Decorative walls don't matter today. Our hearts are hurting as we had to say good-bye to Ranger unexpectedly yesterday.

He was my baby, even though he was 15 y.o. He's been going downhill, with very limited vision and absolutely no hearing left. I'm pretty sure yesterday was the worst day of my life so far. You see, I backed over Ranger as I was leaving to take Bryn to soccer practice. It was horrific. He appeared fine initially but we rushed him to the vet anyway. As time progressed we realized he could hardly stand on his own. The vet thought I 'just bumped him' which triggered a neurological response that's been a long time coming. He said his condition was like a ticking time bomb and it could have been anything that triggered it. The vet was very kind in not pointing his finger at me as the cause. We decided to bring him back home for the night so we could process everything but he had a major seizure in my arms as we were leaving. We made a quick turnaround and went back to the vet. It appears our decision had been made for us.

I debated sharing this information, but in some odd way I felt I needed to so I could heal. I'm the type of person that feels better after I spew out my problems. I said earlier this was the worst day of my life so far and that's true. But, looking at that statement with my rose-colored glasses shows me how extremely blessed I am. I'm not dealing with the loss of a child, mine are all healthy. Relatively speaking, my hurts are minor. Yet, hurt is hurt and broken hearts take time to heal. We'll miss our sweet Ranger beyond belief.

Working on the wall...

We lost steam but we're back in business! This is on my agenda today...

Roadblocks are the cause of redesign. And, yes, that's why this picture doesn't even closely resemble our original plans. Time will tell...

On a completely unrelated note, I had a chance to count my blessings this past weekend. Can you guess what we were doing with our combat gear on?!

We celebrated Reed's birthday with some serious paintball, well, let me rephrase that...Reed and 4 friends celebrated with some serious paintball. John, Bryn and I thought the role of bystander sounded much more appealing, although we still were required to wear the flattering headgear! 

Anyway, I remember praying that Reed would have enough friends by this time of the year (following our move) to pull off a successful birthday party. Should I even be surprised that finding friends to attend the festivities wasn't even half a concern? Of course not! God's good like that. Just counting my blessings, friends.