Weekend Decorating - Splurge & Save On The Master Bedroom

Most people work full-time during the week, leaving only the weekends to pack in chores getting done, errands run, family time, couples time, and somewhere in there, fit in a little time to maintain  (or update) home decor. What helps to fit it in, is take a moment during the week, perhaps during lunch, to plan what tasks need to be completed, and little by little, tackle them and cross them off your list. Since we just moved this past November, getting settled has taken a little time, especially with the holidays, but it also means not every room has been rushed to get thrown together - we've been taking time to 'get to know' the new house and its spaces. One room that is finally (slowly) coming together for us is our master bedroom.

Now yes, it would be nice to toss out all the old furniture, rip up the rug, tear out the builders ceiling fan, but, as with most people, we don't have those kind of funds available. So how do you get the most bang for your buck? Planning. Have a vision of what you would like the end result to include: Added moldings around windows, crown molding for ceiling and tray ceiling, replace existing ceiling fan with a chandelier (or updated fandeleir), and eventually, change the rugs. Those are some of the bigger ticket items that can help refresh a master bedroom, and another is to work with what you have, making minor alterations (such as changing hardware on furniture, update art for walls, layer in a new metal, invest in better quality bed-linens and drapery panels, update decorative hardware - and of course: paint.

Just right find at The Red Collection!

 Gorgeous - but too large for wall space.

Left - too skinny. Right - too short & chipped.

Friday afternoon, I ventured out to a few of the local consignment shops, specially hunting for a new shape of mirror to hang over our existing silver-leaf chest of drawers. I was looking for oval, and found a few, but they were either too small, too large, too skinny, too short, or a good price (only $24!)  - but damaged. Since shopping consignment is pretty much a final sale (vs. shopping a specialty home  store), you really need to trust your gut - and follow your instincts. Although I was specifically looking for an oval mirror, I also kept my eyes open to what was around me and spotted an elongated octagon mirror - it was the correct scale, wide enough and tall enough for the space, it was gold and it was priced just right and not damaged. After I circled the shop two times (like one of Katy Perry's sharks! lol) I made my decision and said, this is the one!

Although the scale was right, the shade of gold was too yellow - but fear not! A quick dry-brush of a burnished gold from Ralph Lauren paint, and it became just the gem I was looking for. And perfect timing too, because the weekend before, I had finally found a sunburst mirror online, and it arrived Saturday morning. The sunburst mirror was a bit of a splurge at $59 (from Kirklands) but it had the right finish, and the right style of rays I had already been looking for, both in stores and online. A similar style on Overstock was $128 and the SAME mirror (from Overstock) was $500 (oh the games retailers play). To relate the two mirrors I bought for the space, I'm layering in a few other gold hints - one tiny detail being new drawer pulls for the furniture.

 

Tons of brass hardware at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore! 

Octagon knobs relate to the octagon mirror over the silver chest.

You would think that because drawer pulls and knobs are so small, their cost would be too - but no, their not. Luckily I remembered popping into a habitat ReStore back in Phoenix and was floored to have seen all of the gold hardware they had available. Makes sense though - so many people buying homes built in the 80s or 90s wanted to update to nickel, so they removed all the brass hardware - from bathrooms, from kitchens, from closets and doors. So when I knew I wanted to change the hardware on our existing furniture, I knew a source to check on would be the Habitat ReStore. It took a little digging, but I did find 3 octagon drawer pulls (from Hickory Hardware) two weekends ago in Greensboro, and found the 4th at another location in High Point. So this weekend, along with the mirrors, I also updated the bedroom side tables - I just need to find two smaller pulls for the top table pull-out. in the meantime, I just painted the pull front with the same gold mirror paint. And just need to change hardware to brass on the dresser too.

 Tested the back of the bedroom door to see how he greys would flow with existing wall color and the black furniture.

This past week, we also had the door opening to the accessory closet fitted for a pair of 15-lite French doors, which will be getting installed this Friday (yay!). And speaking of doors, I painted two of our bedroom doors a medium grey. Just like with picking paint for the house, testing the colors with tester samples was a huge help. C (Marquee - Magnet) was just the right shade of grey to pair with the existing pale grey walls (Behr - Gentle Rain).

Friday I picked out the greys (ONLY 3) and tested them on the back of the (black) bedroom door - watching their color change in different light: sundown, nightlight, candlelight, sunrise - made a decision, got the paint the next day, and now, builder white doors are gone - but again, maintaining the existing hardware (to help save on expenses - sanding the dated yellow tone & shine gave them a more vintage look)) - plus, this grey (Magnet) is the grey I'll use to 'quick-fix' update our bathroom vanity (until remodeled next year), creating color harmony in the spaces. Although I've done bold pattern mixes for the bedroom before, I'm using those mixes in common areas (such as the living room) and wanting a more soothing and sophisticated look for the bedroom.

Little by little, the new space is coming along - and without breaking the bank. Just a little saving here and there, mixed with a little splurge and paired with existing pieces - plus paint.

Very much looking forward to the doors getting installed Friday - French doors to allow the light from the accessory closet window to still come into the bedroom space (I love natural light - especially from the sun!) - Hoping to get them painted Sunday!

Thanks for stopping by!

Storage Solutions: Jewelry Organizing for a Small Space

I love collecting bowls, especially from thrift, consignment stores and my favorite home specialty stores. I'm probably drawn to them because of their design quality having both form and function. The bowls I like mostly include woven bowls, ceramic bowls and even wooden bowls. Bowls not only come in handy for pasta, soups and salads, they can also hold travel treasures or seasonal details for a vignette, and they are excellent as a functional solution for organizing jewelry in drawers. Since my jewelry amoire is actually downstairs, I keep a portion of my seasonal jewelry a drawer in the bedroom. When I first did this, I set the seasonal jewelry in wooden bowls in the top drawer of my bedside table. However, this Spring and Summer, I've been wearing more jewelry, and found I needed more space. I'd love to have the amoire upstairs with me, but it would be another bulky piece added in our small bedroom. With a little condensing of a larger drawer from the silver chest, I was able to swap my jewelry from the bedside table drawer to the top drawer of the silver chest, organizing it with simple bowls in ceramic, wood, and woven bowls I've collected over time from my favorite home stores and thrift...

 

The wooden square bowls I thrifted in Florida. The two ceramic bowls I picked up last year at Goodwill. The two small woven bowls I found this year, also at Goodwill. Several of the wooden plus black and white bangles I've also found through thrifting and consignment shops. I wear these bangles more now stacked and wear the cuffs a little less.

 

For the square bowls, one has all rings, one is gold earrings, one is for three gold cuffs, and one is for the turquoise I'll wear most.  The wood platter is holding some of my summer necklaces, but the majority of my wooden beads are downstairs on a dress form next to the amoire - which I actually pass on my way out (through the laundry room to get to the garage) so I can still easily grab one on the way out.

 

This silver chest now gives twice as much storage space as the bed-side table did, plus it's easier to see everything at a glance. With the exception of the wooden beads downstairs, plus a small pedestal bowl on this chest, I don't have any jewelry "on display" or hanging outside of the drawers. If I did, our cat Sephora would ave a field-day playing with them! :)

 

 I love this petite white bowl - it's just the right size to hold another category of jewelry: Lucite & Gold. It was only $2 at TurnStyle Consignment. I like the way it works to complete the trio composition on the rattan platter I'm using as a tray. To layer pattern in the bedroom I've picked up a few new blue & white finds at HomeGoods - a vase for flowers and the jar, with its top is great to stash hair ties.

 

Above is my Summer jewelry organized in the bed-side table last year...

 

Above was how it started out - which is what happens over time living in a new space - You start to learn what does and doesn't work for your lifestyle. Sometimes the concept may be right, but needs a tweak - which a simple shift and shopping thrift can help resolve and help improve home organization functionality, which is very important in a small space.

 

This is what the chest looked like when we were first settling into this house (Nov. 2011) 

The black lacquer box + frame + candle tray (holding cuffs) are from HomeGoods.

 

While the second and third drawers remained relatively the same, the top drawer is what got a serious downsizing, and now fits into the bedside table - so it's all still conveniently located adjacent to each other when getting dressed.

 

A dress form is great for layering wood beads - although it's probably three less today.

 

Don't get offended - it's just for the idea - but a garden statue or bust can also work en lieu of a dress form to display beaded necklaces...

 If you prefer you necklaces hanging, maybe inside your closet if you have the space, I think this idea of repurposing shower-hooks and a towel bar is clever.

 

Ideally though, having a chest of drawer trays, inside your closet is the best solution of jewelry organization. The covered storage will help protect your pieces from dust, or worse yet, getting caught on something and breaking. Drawers also make it easier to colorize... which if you have a small space, and you need to use what you have, small bowls are an optional solution.

If you're not going away for a Summer vacay during the July 4th long weekend, closet organizing may be a task to tackle. Usually, the specialty and department stores will have their end of the season clearance deals (to stock up on more jewelry!!), as they start to get their sales floor cleared for Back To School goods... and... Fall. 

What are some ways you organize your jewelry?

For additional organizing tips, see my prior post: 

Closet Organizing For the Gals

Closet Organizing for Him 

Closet Planning & Organization

Thanks for stopping by!

Adding Pattern & Palm Fronds for a Budget Friendly Living Room Update

Even updated spaces can be refreshed with just the simple addition of one element: adding pattern plus a simple shift of accessories. This homeowner already loved her simple and clean hotel look I did a few years ago, but to help re-energize it on a budget (for under $200), I added a great pattern to the space with window panels & pillows made from four shower curtains I found on clearance along with adding some other clearance & thrift finds...

 

Simple clip rings were used to attach the panels.

Three of the four shower curtains were cut & sewn together plus finished with a band of a wide grosgrain cream ribbon creating two 96" printed panels. Thankfully, since I don't sew, my friend Jose managed to make these. The homeowner already had the double rod & bracket mount, plus 2 pks of drapery clip rings. With the fourth panel, I also had Jose make 4 printed pillows. To layer in the patterns a bit more on the sofa (without getting too crazy), I shifted some other (subtle printed) pillows she had around the house.
 
 

With the fourth panel, I asked Jose to make 4 printed pillows to add to the sofa. To layer in the patterns, (without going too crazy) I shifted some other pillows she had around the house. A few new white vases (found on clearance at Homegoods for $5) subtle printed pillows from around the house.  I relocated the faux flower filled vase off the dining room table to the buffet and flanked it with two verdigris lanterns I found on clearance for $10 ea. From another room, I brought over a shell filled globe, sat it on 3 woven Ikea placemats, and flanked it with 2 $1 taper holders I found while thrifting. To update the look of the chandelier, I added 6 mini shades I also found while thrifting for only $1 each.
 

 I added some starfish (extras from another project) to a basket she had on the bench, plus I added an apothecary jar I found on clearance at Pier 1 for only $10. I filled it with more of her shell collection - after this picture was taken.

I switched out her floral & picture display from the thrifted console table for some FREE palm fronds (cut from front yard) I placed in the new white vases - PLUS - I added her sentimental Key West conch in an over sized cylinder she had in storage. I pulled two bleached curly willow sticks from an urn she had, to add more height & drama for the tropical summer vignette. Coffee beans worked great as fillers plus complimented her vanilla scented candles.

Space BEFORE

RECAP OF ITEMS USED FOR UPDATE:

4 Shower Curtains $32

4 pillow fillers $16

3 white vases $15

2 lanterns $20

6 thrifted mini chandy shades $6

2 thrifted taper candle holders $2

3 round woven placemats $9

1 Apothecary Jar $10

18 yds of ribbon $38

Total cost: $148 +TX = 157.62

2011 Update

BEFORE

2011 Update

BEFORE

2011 Update

Sometimes, it's just the little shifts, shopping thrift, or little changes that can create the biggest impact.

It also pays to sneak a peek through clearance,

and look at reusing those items in new ways.

2011 FL Living Room Update

If by chance you had stopped by yesterday and already viewed this post, my apologies for the repost - Thank Blogger! For whatever reason, Blogger had lost half my post from yesterday. So rather than try to re-fix the post (tried 4x's already) I'm re-posting a new one. Thank you for your patience... Hopefully after tomorrow's Birthday Bash & Trash Sale (aka Garage Sale), I'll have an updated post on Sunday - if not, see you back here on Monday! Now back to organizing goodies for the Community Garage Sale happening tomorrow! If you'd like some info on it, please email me at nyclq@comcast.net

THANKS AGAIN for stopping by!!

LINKING POST TO:

The DIY Showoff - Project Parade

Under the Table and Dreaming - Sunday Showcase

Between Naps On The Porch - Metamorphosis Monday