Much Celebrating!

Life has been very busy!

But I'm excited to say...

this

has finally turned into ...

...these!

Yes, my pillows for the family room are done!

The bright cheery fabric is a huge change from

the former browns!

I have two fitted slip covers for my couch...

the yellow one that came with the couch

&

a dark khaki slip cover that I picked up

about a year ago at Big Lots for $30!

(the khaki pillows on the couch are from that set)

I just love the change in this room!

I am hoping to create a new piece of art for above the fireplace.

I can imagine a large charcoal sketch framed drawing.

I'll have to see what I can come up with!

I am linking up to Between Naps on the Porch

for Metamorphosis Monday!

I am also happy to share another exciting celebration

happening this week!

Tomorrow, May 24th, Wayne and I will be

celebrating our 18th wedding Anniversary!

Actually, Wayne leaves for a week long conference

tomorrow so we've been celebrating all weekend!

Wayne and I eating at McDonald's the day before our wedding!

Wow, we look very young!

I was very certain of many things that day...

1. I had found the "love of my life", God's blessing!

2. My Grandfather (a minister) would perform the ceremony

outside in his beautiful back yard!

(Despite the fact that it was cold and all my dear guests

had to wrap themselves in Mom Mom and Pop Pop's

extra coats and blankets!)

3. My Dad would walk me down the isle...

4. I would be surrounded by loving friends and family!

Mom Mom Friend , Wayne, Me & Nona

(My grandmothers)

What I didn't know...

was my precious Pop Pop would tear up during the ceremony!

Or that he had a surprise waiting to take us from

his home to the bank in town where we held the

reception....

A stunning horse and carriage!

I can tell you this today...

I have been more than blessed!

I married my best friend!

Sneak Peeks

Ever heard the potato chip slogan

"Can't stop with just one..."?

That would be a great way to sum up my

decorating projects...

"Can't stop with just one!"

As I mentioned before...

painting the family room, has turned into

painting the kitchen, breakfast room

and front hallway!

Added to this list is

making new pillows for the family room

as well as new drapes!

(See a trend?)

Family room has been painted, so

without further ado..

here's your sneak peek..

the before

and

the after

(see Zac on the couch?)

I hesitate to show you because the room is not "done" yet!

Wayne and I selected some wonderful fabric

for pillows and curtains to match

our new pewter wall color and

existing yellow couch and black furniture and chairs!

Once the room is complete

 I will be posting the finished product!

Now,

 onto our "almost" completed weekend project!

The hallway!

Walking into our front door, you would find

a large blank wall behind the steps.

The dining room is open to the entry on the left,

with the family room and kitchen to the rear

of the dining room.

(note this photo involved no staging... getting us as is)

At the opposite end of the hallway is my office

and a powder bath room.

(and Caribou's rear end.. whoops)

When I painted the family room,

I knew right away that the kitchen and breakfast room

would need painting...

One being now sliver and the other more brown/gold

I felt like I was living in a coin shop.

Because this hallway wall is the same color as the kitchen,

I now thought it was a great time for a change

for this wall too!

I decided to try and mimic the boxes on the columns

to create boxed trim.

We painted the upper part of the wall the

same creamy Hazelnut color in the rest of

the entry, to brighten the space.

On the bottom half we created box molding

using trim and chair rail and paint.

Wayne is wonderful at completing my crazy visions!

The finished product...

I'm so happy with the way it turned out!

We mimicked the same height as the trim on the columns.

It has brighten the whole entry and

added some visual texture and interest!

This front facing wall will be painted the grey pewter color.

Obviously, the next project on the list!

Oh boy, I see another project

This hallway now needs artwork!

Any thoughts?

I am linking to DYI Day
at A Soft Place to Land.
and to
Best DYI Projects of April
at Beneath My Heart!

A Change is Coming!

The Before....

My poor family room needs to lighten-up.

Many years ago we painted this room a

color called Mississippi Mud.

I liked the way this colored worked with the color

in my adjoining kitchen and breakfast room.

However, with the onslaught of Wii play,

my kids prefer the blinds drawn closed,

leaving this room to feel somewhat like a depressing tomb.

I decided it was time for a change.

Of course this "change" now involves not only this room,

but the kitchen, breakfast room

and

the entry hallway.

We have completed the painting in the family room

and hope to finish the rest this weekend!

Stay tuned for the Afters!