Back up and Punt!



My favorite piece of art which was made by my two oldest!
The only thing that will make a new piece as special as this one is that all three will have made it:)



Occasionally, the best of plans go awry. That would be the case with my dining room redesign. I had it all planned in my head, under budget, etc. Then, it just started falling apart. I just wasn't feeling it. It just wasn't clicking. Ever happened to you? The best test of your ability to design is how you deal with the issues that come up (my opinion).  I love watching Sarah Richardson's Design Inc. because she lets you see how that happens all the time with her team of designers. It's a fact of life. Sometimes, you just have to back up
and punt (Can you tell college football has started?!).

 My goal was to neutralize my dining room...using the same general color scheme but in a totally different way for as little as possible. The issue is that the family room, dining room and foyer are all open to each other meaning you have to keep the sight lines in mind when picking finishes and colors. It's all got to tie together. But, one thing after another kept going wrong. The only parts that went right from the beginning were the blue ceiling and chandelier remake. Which, honestly... are the best things that could go right. Neither were easy. The chandelier was to be my big focal point and it's the only thing I couldn't have done on my own. The rest I can handle "solo".
So, I just put the brakes on the other day and spent forever with a notebook and a pen.

Floor plan. Notice the how you see the family room from the dining room and the foyer is
essentially a part of the dining room.  The red represents rug placement to create some separation.

I listed every possible option that had crossed my mind for decor combos, then methodically narrowed it down based on a couple of things: budget, time, existing pieces and colors, etc. until I had the biggest WOW factor for the least amount of money. When I was done, I'd done a near 180°! Here's where I've been and gone:

1. Planned strie/dragging wall treatment...to solid. After I started the main wall, I stepped back to look at it and I realized there was just too much going on in the room for that to work. Too busy. So, back to white walls. Leave it white or paint new color?
2. Planned dining rug became no dining rug for now and new foyer rug! Long story short...found a brand new premium 5'x7' at the outlet up the road for 75% off!!!!!! Great colors and went great with existing family room which is directly connected. So, bought it for $50 ($400+/- new) and LOVE it! Adds the richness the room was lacking (remember...dining and foyer are all open space separated only by columns).
3. Color scheme planned was based on mainly blue & white...now based on new foyer rug. Loving it!
4. Curtain fabric was short 1 yard, so changed them up. May be changing again to coordinate better with new rug. Haven't decided yet.
5. Slipcovers fabric has completely changed.
6. My boys art work (shown at top) was to stay front and center...now they are creating new art work and the existing piece is moving to the family room.

The last few days I've been a busy bee (pun intended)! I've done a ton of painting, sewing and editing between workouts, soccer, dinners, school, grocery shopping, homework, house cleaning, play dates, planning a birthday party for boy #1..AND furniture painting (whew!). If I'm missing in action on Monday, it's because this busy bee is working overtime to present a finished dining room reveal AND new furniture piece!

Until then, you're in the dark and stayin' that way. I'll leave you with a peek at the two rugs I picked between for the foyer (yes...I didn't just buy one! I bought TWO! The one not used will go to the booth...it was that good of a sale!).

Rug option #1

Rug option #2.

 Aren't I just a booger?!

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Dining Rug Decision

On occasion, I hate being on a tight budget. Just once, it would be nice to just go buy what I want. Most of the time, though, I love the challenge it presents and the creativity it brings out. Obviously, something has me tied in knots. It's this: making a decision on the dining room rug. Ugh! I stopped and looked at a High Point outlet just up the road and they had a couple of nice options at good prices, but I'm not sure they're what I want. Then, the sweet sales lady informs me they can also order from a huge catalog. Excited, although leery, I immediately cut to the chase and ask if the prices were discounted like the ones there in the store. She said they should be very close. Yippee! I got the catalog and managed to pick out three before little guy informed me time was up. So, I gave her my number and she promised to call with the prices. Two hours later, I'm staring at the sheet of paper I've just scribbled them down on...completely depressed. I knew I was in trouble when she starts with, "You have fantastic taste!" Oh, boy. Two out of three were around $4-6K! Good grief! What happened to the discounts?

So, I hit the rug outlet right across the road this morning. They have some really nice very traditional options at really good prices ($300-$450 for an 8'X11') but that's still a little steep for right now. I can say without hesitation the hubby will veto that until the kids are more responsible (i.e. moved out!). Time to get creative. The main issue is coming up with the style. As much as I love that rug from HDC (Home Decorators Collection), it's just too stylized and if I ever want to change things up I'm out $500-$600.

A)



"Lyrical" from HDC.
Isn't it great, though?

 So, here's two the two other options I've narrowed it down to:

B) Seagrass...my old standby... in a basket weave pattern with a 1" border. I love seagrass's simplicity, texture, casualness and ability to go with ANYTHING. I gotta say, this is probably what I'll go with, just because it goes with ANYTHING and I know from the one in the family room they can hold up to my three boys and a dog.

"Sunbrella Bordered Seagrass Rug" from Ballard Designs

Or ...

C) Just a traditional wool Persian style in VERY muted blues, creams, browns and greens....very versatile. Haven't found the exact one yet I like, but it'll probably be along these lines:

"Gabrielle Persian-Style" from Pottery Barn
shown below in a room as well:

What are your thoughts? Want to take a vote again? Let's do! Send a comment with the letter of your choice. I'm definitely leaning with B, but still not sure yet. There's a considerable price difference between the seagrass and the others ($200-$300) and that could end up making the decision for me, but I'm trying not to let that be the deciding factor. So, what say ye?! A,B, or C?

Caution: Dining Room in Progress!

Warning: This post is just kind-of all over the place...kind of like the evening news...with updates.

No, this is NOT my dining room OR my laundry room, but it has me completely inspired that an open hall concept could work for my one day laundry reno!

I just gotta share something from my personal life, which I try and leave out of blogging for the most part. This summer I haven't accomplished one of my big goals - redoing my laundry room. The main reason was little bro, who was supposed to come up and help take out THE wall, went and got himself a really good job...as a passenger pilot for Delta and is now based out of Detroit. That's just a little far away for a "weekend reno". Go little bro! I'm incredibly proud of him (although terrified at the same time!). I think I can forgive having to wait on the laundry redo for that:)

My little brother...who towers over me...seriously by about a foot!

Can I just tell you how surreal it is to see the kid you remember in diapers dressed like this?!

So, what about my other projects in the works? Did you think I'd forgotten about my dining room? Nope, it just had to wait a little while for vacation and for me to get some pieces down to the booth. Now, I'm hitting it hard this week to knock out painting the walls. I did manage to score some great fabric for the new curtains since the original fabric I'd planned to use was just a yard or two short and have gotten them temporarily hung. I'm really restraining myself with this room and keeping it simple and fairly neutral. What do you think?

The pattern is very subtle.

The material is a soft green with a very slight shimmer. It has a very subtle various size kinda' mod daisy shape pattern in various shades of gold, super pale blue, and cream. It continues the green that is in the family room and kitchen but only in the fabric. That way it's not overwhelming. The pale blue ties in the ceiling and blue accents in the other adjoining rooms. Gotta love open floor plans and having to tie it all together!

New ceiling color. I'm loving this!

I'm planning to do some small accents in this lovely coppery-orange shantung throughout all three adjoining spaces to add warmth and liven them up a little:



Kay Unger dress via http://www.bluefly.com/

These three rooms use the amount of orange I'm looking to incorporate and are serving inspiration right now.



via Verdigris Vie







via House of Turquoise



via Suzanne Kesler



I'm really torn with this room on what to do with those walls. I'm dying to put some blue on the walls, but I'm trying hard to keep it fairly neutral. So, I've decided to go with a dragging technique in a slightly darker creamy pearl metallic over the base of creamy white already up there. That way, I shouldn't have to repaint...possibly ever (right!) - just change out accessories. Although this example is green, this is the look I'm going for. Imagine a pearlescent cream over white:

Dragging Paint Technique

via http://www.valsparpaint.com/

Step 1. Before you begin, carefully tape off all areas where you do not want to apply the finish. Apply Valspar base coat to the entire surface with a roller. Remove tape. Allow to dry overnight.

Step 2. Reapply tape. Apply selected glaze with a roller. Work in wall sections no wider than 4-6 ft. at a time so the glaze does not dry too quickly. Maintain a wet edge from section to section to prevent lap marks. Only stop at the end of a wall.

Step 3. Using a dragging brush and holding bristles parallel to surface, drag the brush down through the wet glaze. Work from top to bottom, holding the bristles of the brush against surface with handle tilted slightly toward you. This keeps the bristles rigid, creating the streaked look. Wipe excess glaze from the brush after each downward pass to ensure a dry brushing surface. Remove tape within an hour and allow to dry.

Just thought I'd throw the directions in there for fun. We'll see if I have any tips to add when I get done!

I've also been collecting branches to play with the chandelier transformation when time permits, and the slipcovers are still in process. This room is not a top priority right now so I have to just take it bits at a time. Sometimes I feel like such a yo-yo because I have to bounce between home decor updates and keeping up my booth with furniture redos. I'm dying to finally pull it all together because when school starts up, the kitchen is next in the line of attack!

Although not planned, the room has suddenly begun to remind me a lot of this room!
via Suzanne Kesler

Last, but not least, I am trying to narrow down rug options. I love seagrass and have that in my family room...which is open to the dining room. I've contemplated that again, but don't think I want that under a table with kids. I may look for a carpet remnant at the carpet place (hubby's high school friend owns it!). I've also contemplated doing the carpet tiles from FLOR. I love those, just not sure I want to pay that much. This is one of times when I realize I'll get what I pay for, so I'll probably not skimp too much. It's gotta last. The more I look, the more likely I'll get an indoor/outdoor carpet like one of these. Lot's of wear in this room...even if it's not usually dining (kids, dog, me...you name it!):

Lyrical by Home Decorators Collection
I'm in love with this but wonder if I'd tire of it quickly. I does a great job of tying the ceiling, walls, furniture and drapes together, though! I didn't realize just HOW good until I was putting together this post and saw the pics side-by-side!



via Outdoor Rugs Only
Kaleen - Turner Creek - linen


Ideally, I can find one at an estate sale. I let one go not too long ago that I should have snapped up that would have been perfect! Ugh! Why do I do that?! Were only talking a difference of SEVERAL HUNDRED dollars!