Curtain Indecision 2011

 You could tell me

that you prefer this set of Ikea KAJSA curtains

on the main floor gigantor windows

slung low and non-functional 

in front of the top |down blinds that almost ended my marriage.

Light, flowly, patterned, cheap ($29.99 for the pair).

or

you could tell me you prefer 

these horizontal close set striped ones.

That I would have to make.

Out of super heavy material.

That I didn't get enough

and can't get more of

because I'm not patient enough for my 5 followers

to scour their little town Joanne's to find me more

in their home decor fabrics

table of rejects.

 I should have known it was too heavy

And I was too cheap to get enough fabric to do it right.

I bought 3 yards

at $7 a yard.

Not bad, except that I don't have curtains out of them.

All to say it wouldn't matter what you told me

because I'm hard headed.

I went back to Ikea 

for the curtains I was looking for in the first place

and went something like this

 

Yes, eagle eyed observers.

I did indeed still use the first set of Ikea curtains.

LOVE where they ended up.

And how they ended up there.

But that's for another time.

The remaining indecision?

Should I stamp/stencil

these  bad boys up?

If yes, with what pattern?

I did cut off the tabs

and open up a slit of the hem on the top of the panel

to slide my rods through.

Tabs, so not my friends.

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Super Sized Runner Idea

I like the runner/rug that I currently have in my entry way.
Problem is,
it is so not appropriate.

Mostly, because it gets ruffled and rouched up
(pretty on a blouse, not on a floor)
when we open the front door.

Or the puppy mutt skids into it while running down her puppy runway.

Really, I need to give up on the runner idea.
But I won't.

I so need a long runner for my entry hallway.

By long, I think 21 feet should do it.

Considering most off the shelf runners come 7 ft long

And cost about $60 - $130 each.

I definitely needed to research a DIY option.

I need to research it again,

but there was a stroke of genius that I came across on the interwebs.

There was a handy/crafty/DIY blogger

who knocked off the above rug.

With a piece of canvas, some rug non-skid and some fabric.
Well...and some adhesive spray and a sewing machine.

Only because there are lots of parts and patience and a sewing machine involved is this probably an expert level project.  For me.

If you're handy with a sewing machine (so not me)

or don't think hand stitching is eye gougingly slow... (again, not me)

then this is probably maybe just advanced for you (budget to buy all that other stuff unless you are THAT freecycle patient).

But if you buy your fabric cheap from somewhere online

and you buy canvas at Jo's with a coupon

and you find a rug skid stop somewhere thrifty...

This could totally be reasonable. 
Especially if you are NOT making a 21 foot runner.
Just saying.
That's a LOT of straight stitching to make happen.

Especially since I now have a sewing machine.

Yes, it is still in the box it came in.

Awesome thought that counts.

Or, I could just go to Ikea already.

I'm sure they've got a solution for this dilemma.

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The Wish List | Kitchen Pantry Door

Most folks who visit

are uber impressed with our pantry door

as is

probably because they think

I was crafty enough to etch it

or something.

I moved in to it.

It was here well before me.

What I would like to do,

however,

is take a perfectly fine,

perfectly expensive

special little pantry door



and much it up with some chalkboard paint

you know,

like everyone else on the internets.

To alleviate the pain

of my significant other

probably not being down with that plan

I think I'll just buy that Italian chandy instead

I'm sure it costs as much

as the million dollar child

we're trying to conceive.

Just. saying.

The Wish List

chalkboard pantry door

In the Meantime | Mother In Law Suite

I should just call it
the "my mama" suite
because it is far more likely
my mama will move in
than his mama

Which suits us both well (for my mama to move in)
any day now mom

Anyhow, I decorate this space with mom in mind.

Many of you remember this oar

that almost ended up repurposed in the bathroom
before it actually ended up hanging out
(literally)
on this nautical flag wall

for the moment,
at least.

If I ever get up the gumption time
to finally paint some furniture

And if I ever decide to find a spot already
for the oar to permanently live

then I might go from this in the MIL Suite's main bedroom

to something more like this

Still not sure what I want do to about the beast in the OTHER corner

I'm too chicken to e-do it,

let alone take a real paintbrush to her.

You'll need to bounce to that link and tell me what YOU think I should do.

I'm counting on you to bail me out already.

Gutsy | Gutless Redo (antique/handme down wood)

This

is the first piece of furniture

I really bought

I mean, don't get me wrong

I bought a couple of really cheap parsons chairs

and a thrifty coffee table

and a couch and a loveseat

Okay.  So I've bought furniture before.

THIS piece though,

has history.

The first time my mom visited Seattle

and got to hang out with my better half

we swung by a couple of yard sales

This was back in the day

(and still really)

when Yard Sales were not his thing

He was a good sport and put on the game face

and said something to the effect

that Yard Sales are just ebay in real life.

Uh huh.

Anyhow.

I was living in the MIL/Basement apt

of this great waterfront property

Man I miss that place

Up the road

(and up the tram that carried you down to my place)

was a yard sale

where this crazy woman

sold me this gorgeous piece

for $10

Granted.  It is delicate.

But it has made it through

a move down the tram and into my place (where I first discovered the wobbles)

a move up the tram and into HIS place (whereby a door got looser and he gently prodded)

a move into storage (whereby a drawer fell apart and he gently urged)

and a move into this place, down the hill (whereby a foot was stripped and he threatened)

All the while,

I've LOVED this piece.

Never in my wildest dreams contemplated painting it.

But now everyone else is doing it.

And I kinda sorta wanna give it a whirl

I mean, it's not like spray painting a chair.

And more and more, I'm pretty certain it has an interesting backstory

I don't know if I am gutsy enough to paint it.

Might have to paint some other stuff first

and then when it stands out too much

then go to town

I have a buttery/creamy yellow, a teal and a turquoise. 

And of course some white

Hmmm...

Decisions, descisions.

If you painted it,

what would you do to it?

Repurposed | Master Bath Switch

I'm not sure if I want to use this ladder

or these hooks



to replace this undersized towel bar

in my master bathroom



What do you think?

Closet Evolution

It isn't much
but it is something

Finally got the mirror off the floor
and into the spot
it was intended for when I bought it
so dang long ago

One day

I will replace or paint the jewlery chest

replace the wire shelving

maybe even paint the wall

Or maybe not

Yes, that is my wedding dress

in the back

I should get it covered

Seriously.



Bathroom | One bit at a time

YEAH!
I got up
a shower curtain

It is waffle weave
which is impressive
no?

okay.
really,
I need to figure out
what to do
with this room

Given that it is really the dumping ground
for all the bathroom stuff
we don't want to stash
in the bathrooms we actually use

Go figure.

This is probably most evidenced by the little mirror on the wall
or the black rug on the floor

Hey.
Don't hate
it works

Of course,
I'm thinking
nautical

And I have some cool crab print/sketches.
But that's about it

No,
I didn't even install the curved rod.
That came pre-installed.

I know...what kind of
home improvement blog
am I running here?

Growing on me

A while back

I asked ya'll if I should

or should not

paint this mirror black

 Dining Room Mirror Original

Overwhelmingly,

ya'll said heck yeah.

Which meant that really,

I'd just be doing what everyone else

thought was cool

(I mean, really, that's what it means)

And I would be (potentially)

throwing away a perfectly good mirror

if it didn't work out right

A perfectly good mirror that has some really

good

deep

sweet

history for us.

And so I thought to myself

"Self, it really isn't THAT bad is it?"

And you know what,

it is starting to grow on me

Once I got through the

"with gray and charcoal walls, everything must be nickel/satiny/silver"

phase

I really started to like the idea of maybe darker gray walls

and keeping the mirror gold

Especially with the mustard colored curtains in there now

and maybe some gray trim on the curtains

(which needs to happen anyhow because the curtains are too short)

I think it might really grow on me

Thanks for helping me to see the light

I'm going to procrastinate hold off a little longer

and see if it really grows on me