Light, Bright and Airy Master Bedroom Design Plan

A recent client needed help creating a vision for her master bedroom. 

She knew she wanted it to be light, bright and airy feeling, but just didn't know how to achieve the look.

The following is the design plan I created to guide her in creating a relaxing bedroom retreat.

 

1. Genevieve Sky Duvet & Sham, Ruched Platinum Euro Sham, Rosary Sky Quilt & Sham, Rosary Platinum Sham (Pine Cone Hill)

2.  Carlton Bed in Microsuede Oatmeal (JCPenney)

3. Stamford Reclaimed Wood Finish Side Board (Overstock)

4. Stacked Ball Lamp Bases with Drum Shades (Target)

5. Comfort Gray Paint (Sherwin Williams)

6. collection of sunburst mirrors for above headboard (various sources)

source 1

source 2

7. Peyton Linen/Cotton Drapes in Oatmeal (Pottery Barn)

8. Hamilton White X Slat Office Desk (Target)

9. Nimes Putty Grey Side Chair (Overstock)

10. Worn Wood Candlestick Table Lamp (Lamps Plus)

11. Levanger Oval Mirror (Ikea) spray painted white

I actually ended up loving this design plan so much myself that I'm thinking of making some changes in my own master bedroom! I especially l.o.v.e the Stamford Reclaimed Wood Sideboard tables from Overstock. So cute.

Family Room Curtain Options and GIVEAWAY winner

I have been struggling with what to do with our family room windows. 

Currently we have cream honeycomb shades on them. Since the windows on this side of the house face west, we get hit with the afternoon sun in this room. It's bright and gets way too hot. The translucent honeycomb shades do little to help this.

I thought about bamboo shades or roman shades, but Jacob didn't like those options. And I'm not crazy about blinds because I like having clear, unobstructed windows to enjoy the view of the backyard.

So that leaves us with curtains. And there are oh so many choices!

Whatever curtains I choose for the family room have to be the same as the ones over the sliding door. Originally I was going to do the same tan/white striped curtains in the family room as the ones I made for the breakfast nook, but I felt like that would just be took much tan in the space. While I love the look of the striped curtains (and they were a lot of work to make!), the color just isn't working.

I have been shopping for fabric for a few weeks and below are some of the options I've been considering...

1. Annie Selke Scramble Slate (JoAnn Fabric)

2. Braemore Conservatory Bark (Fabric.com)

3. Halo Mist (Beautiful Fabric)
4. Dwell Studio Botany Flora taupe (Fabric.com)

5. Premier Prints Towers Village Blue/Natural (Fabric.com)

6. Premier Prints Ozborne Village Blue/Natural (Fabric.com)

7. Annie Selke Links Slate (JoAnn Fabric)

8. Kravet Sommer 35 (Inside Fabric)

9. (Pottery Barn)

10. Braemore Fioretto Graphite (Decorative Fabrics Direct)

11. Dynasty (Designer Fabrics Online)

12. still looking for the source on these ones...

13. Gray Damask Fabric (Carousel Designs)

14. Fancy Lattice by Frontdoor (Spoonflower)

15. Grey on White Jaali by Emmy Upholstery (Spoonflower)

16. Taza by Dena Designs - Geo in Natural (Etsy)

 Obviously I want something with white/cream and a gray blue color. I was leaning toward #1, 10, and 14, but the prices just seem a bit steep for my liking ($49.99/yd, $34.25/yd, $18/yd respectively) and since I change my mind so often, I just can't stomach spending between $288-$800 on curtains!

When I saw these panels (fabric #10 above), I absolutely fell in love...

(Source)

So I started brainstorming how I could create this same look for cheaper. And then I came across Beth's tutorial for using a stencil on white Ikea drapes to create customized curtains!

Genius!

(Source)

I already hit up Ikea this week and purchased the Lenda curtains ($29.99 per 108" pair!) and I just ordered the Small Moorish Trellis Stencil from Royal Design Studio.

Total cost for fabric, stencil and stencil tools = $146 + cost of paint

I like that price much better.

The winner of the NOVICA gift certificate is Tamara, who wrote,

"Hi Erin, I would order the Soapstone jar, 'Jasmine Rose'. Love this new site, I'll have to visit often. Thanks for the tip!"

Congratulations, Tamara! I will be contacting you via email with the gift certificate info!

Hemnes Entertainment Center

Three years later, I finally convinced Jacob to let me go white with our entertainment center. 

My original plan was to paint our existing wood toned entertainment center white, but that just seemed like biting off more than I could chew right now. 

And I was never really happy with the size of the unit either.

 

So instead, I sold our entertainment center and I bought the Hemnes Entertainment Center from Ikea. 

*I'm still working on the accessorizing*

It looks a million times better than what we had before. It's taller, wider, and the color looks so much better with the rest of our decor.

Here's a before and after shot for comparison...

It was a pain in the rear to assemble it all, but it was totally worth it. 

I absolutely l.o.v.e it.

NOVICA GIVEAWAY (home decor, jewelry & accessories)

Have you heard of NOVICA? 

I hadn't until a friend casually mentioned that she had bought the cutest basket off of their website.

NOVICA works with National Geographic to give talented artisans around the world a place to express their artistic talents and provide access to the world market. 

They sell accessories, jewelry and home decor items on their website.

All of my favorite things!

 I just ordered this super cute basket to sit on our coffee table...

('Ixchel' Maguey Basket)

They sell so many beautiful items that can help you give your home decor that 'collected over time' look.

('Divine Cloud' Celadon Ceramic Box)

('Birds on Winter Wood' Iron Key Holder)

('Orissa Ferns' Soapstone Coasters)

They also sell great jewelry pieces,

 ('Infinity Love' Pendant Necklace)

and super cute belts.

(Diamond Heart Agate and Cotton Belt)

I highly recommend checking out the amazing hand-crafted items they offer on their website!

If you are interested in winning a $35 gift certificate to the NOVICA store, please visit NOVICA's website and leave me a comment below telling me what item you would order with your gift certificate. Be sure to also include your email address!

For an additional entry, become a follower of Meadow Lake Cottage and leave me a comment letting me know you are a new follower. Current followers can also leave a comment letting me know they already follow!

Giveaway starts today and ends on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 9PM PST. Winners must be 18, US address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner will be chosen using random.org from all eligible entries. Winners will be announced on Meadow Lake Cottage and contacted via email. Winners will have 48 hours to respond, or alternate winners will be chosen. Limit 2 entries (comments) per person.  

You many also like:

west African walking sticks

belts 

women's hats 

women's accessories from India

knee length dresses

modern and abstract bracelets

*GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED*

Currently

A snapshot of what my life is like at this moment in time.

Loving: being outside. We don't get a lot of vitamin D here in the Pacific NW, so when the sun is out, we try to soak up every minute of it. I especially love eating meals outside together.

Reading: Ten Big Ones, the 10th book in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series. The whole series is absolutely hilarious and I'm totally obsessed.

Waiting for: my third child to be fully potty trained. I've got two of them fully trained, but I'm beginning to wonder if #3 will ever get there.

Excited about: a two night getaway to Whistler, BC with the hubby and no kids in August. I can not wait!

Missing: Being here...

at Lake Wenatchee.

Trying to: lose 10 lbs. Why is it so easy to gain weight, yet so hard to lose it!?

Working on: blogging more frequently.

Enjoying: the luscious new green grass that we worked so hard to grow in our backyard.

We still have a ton of landscape work to do, but already it's a million times better than when we moved in!

Using: Photoshop Elements. I love this program and use it to edit all of my pictures and create design plans.

Wearing: summer gear. Shorts, tank top, and flip flops.

Planning: on making broccoli beef for dinner, using THIS recipe. Yum.

Singing: anything playing on the country music station. I'm especially loving anything by The Band Perry right now.

Needing: an iPhone with this cute case...

(Source)

Okay, maybe I don't need it, but I sure want it! I currently use an old-school pre-paid phone. It doesn't text. There is no Instagram. And it's definitely not 'smart'. Since we are living on one income while I stay home with the kids, this is one way we cut costs. It's only $100 for 1000 minutes and I only use it when I'm out and about to make quick calls. It'd be really nice to join the 21st century though.

Learning: to slow down and enjoy every minute that I get to spend with my kids. The time I get to spend at home with my kids before they go to school is quickly dwindling down. I need to learn to cherish this time because it will be gone before I know it.

Listening: to silence, sweet silence. The kids are napping and I'm cherishing every sweet second of silence that I get.

Wishing: I had lots of money so we could just hire a professional to finish landscaping our backyard.

Doing: cleaning up after the kids. I spend all day, every day doing this.

Praying for: patience. Lots of Patience. Age 3 is my favorite age of my kids so far, but with that being said, it is also an age that is riddled with whining, crying, and temper tantrums. Having THREE 3-year-olds going through this phase is enough to make a mama lose her mind. I keep repeating this phrase that my dear Grandma had hanging in a frame in her home...

Dreaming of: owning a waterfront vacation house on Lake Chelan.

 (Source)

One can dream, right?

This post idea was inspired by Emily at Jones Design Company.

Kid-Friendly Living Room Design Plan

A client recently contacted me asking for design help with her empty living room. 

 Her and her husband had started decorating the room by adding in gorgeous Brazilian walnut flooring and painting the walls Benjamin Moore's Gray Wisp.

But then they got stuck and the room sat empty.

 The young family wanted the space to serve as a causal living room + play space for the kids + computer area for both mom and the kids.

The following plan is what I designed to help them complete their space.

 

1. Wall color: Gray Wisp (Benjamin Moore)

2. Art work:  Blooming Allium in Old Metal Coffee Pot (Art.com), 

Dahlia with Clouds Behind (Art.com)

Passion Flower Against the Sky (Art.com) 

in dark wood Ribba frames (Ikea)

3. Sofa: Ektorp Sofa in Vellinge beige (Ikea)

4. Throw Pillows: Coral Embroidered Pillow Cover (Pottery Barn), 

Vanessa Floral Pillow Cover (Pottery Barn - no longer available), 

Jute Braid Pillow Cover in Ivory (Pottery Barn), 

blue and white pillow cover is from (Etsy),

Burlap Accent Lumbar Pillows with Greek Key Pattern (Ballard Designs)

Grand Chenille Throw in Blue Smoke (Pottery Barn)

5. Coffee Table: Morgan Large Cocktail Table with Baskets in Aged White (Ballard Designs)

6. Area Rug: Poolside Brown/Bone Indoor/Outdoor Rug (Overstock)

7. Side Tables: Hamilton X Slat End tables (Target)

8. Lamps: Triple Gourd Clear Glass Table Lamps (Lamps Plus) embellished with coral colored trim ribbon

9. Chairs: Ektorp Jennylund chairs (Ikea)

10. Storage Shelves: Expedit shelf & Branas baskets (Ikea)

11. Desk: DIY Modular Office Desk (knock-off version of the Pottery Barn Bedford desk) - (plans from Ana White)

12. Drapes: DIY Burlap Panels (Tutorial)

The overall design plan for this space was to create a comfy, casual living room that had lots of storage for toys & books without looking too much like a ‘playroom.’ For the most part, I chose pieces that were kid-friendly and fairly easy on the budget.

In addition to purchasing/making the above pieces, I also suggested the client add white board and batten to the lower half of the walls to give the space some architectural interest.

I created two different, yet similar, floor plans to illustrate how the furnishings could be placed.

OPTION 1:

OPTION 2:

The left side of the room features a wall-to-wall desk with space for two chairs in both plans, while the couch & occasional chairs are in different locations.

I created a mock-up illustration to show the client what the desk could look like.

I included two open shelf base units on either end that hold baskets (Pottery Barn) for more toy storage. The center base unit could have drawers to hide important papers and/or kids’ artwork/schoolwork or doors could be placed in the center unit to hide printers, modems, etc. 

Above the desk, 3 large bulletin boards are hung for displaying the kids’ artwork.

The lamps placed on the desk are the Barometer Work Lamps (Ikea).

For desk chairs, I suggested finding two inexpensive (used) matching dining chairs and painting them white and reupholstering the cushions with a patterned fabric. 

The following was an inspiration picture for the desk area.

 (Source)

Now that the client has a plan to guide her, she's looking forward to finishing her space and turning it into a comfy, casual living room where she can read with her kids, watch them play, and spend some time on the computer.

A DIY Art Project (love sign)

 Inspired by these two images...

 Source 1

Source 2

...I decided to make a DIY art piece to jazz up our breakfast nook.

Here is my version of the two pieces fused together...

While the finished product is super cute, this project was definitely not without its' hiccups!

For the most part, I followed the tutorial from The Handmade Home, 

but with a few minor changes.

 Instead of painter's tape for the letters, I used vinyl letter that I cut on the Cricut (Plantin Schoolbook cartridge).

It took forever and a day to get all of the letters lined up and spaced just the right way.

Then I thought I'd be clever and spray a clear coat over the top to prevent the blue paint from seeping under the letters.

Bad idea.

The clear spray caused all of my perfectly placed letters to shrivel and curl up.

Total bummer.

 So I had to cut and place all of the letters. Again.

Once that fiasco was over, I painted it all using some leftover Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue (from our bedroom).

I should have removed the vinyl letters before the paint dried. 

But I got sidetracked after cleaning out my paint brush (I'm SURE it was the kids' fault) and didn't get to it until all of the paint had dried, resulting in this problem...

So I ended up using a tiny art brush to fill in all of the spots that had peeled off and an exact-o knife to scrape off the bits of paint that had seeped under the vinyl letters. 

 Tedious work.

After all of that work, the final step was to add a frame around the edges to hide the wood slats on the back that hold the whole thing together. I chose to do this last because I wanted to leave the frame wood colored and didn't want to have to paint around it.

Although this project was a pain in the you know what, I absolutely love it and would absolutely do it all over again. It was totally worth the work.

P.S. That gallery wall in the background is still a work in progress :)

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