Kid's Room Part Deux

I started this blog more than a year ago when we bought our new home. There was daily action on construction of the pool and poolhouse, and decorating inside. Because Doughboy's job takes him away from home Monday thrugh Friday, he was missing all the activity and wanted a way to keep informed. I never expected there would be other readers. I apologize for the boring topic of this post, but Doughboy has asked to see Mike's progress on our grandchildren's bedroom.

Mike Sheperd has finished his magic on transforming the walls of our grandchildren's bedroom into a marvelous southwestern scene. Mike is an amazingly talented artist whom we have used in both our present and previous home. One of our favorite areas that Mike has touched is the pool house where our family gathers on most summer days. Click here and on the Pool Label here for other examples of his talent.

Anyway, I couldn't be more pleased with the finished transformation of the walls in the kids room. I tried to take photos, but the room is dimly lit and I really needed to change to my wide angle lens. To enter the kids room, there are three steps up to a small alcove. Mike painted the walls of the alcove to resemble weathered wood planks. The metal sculpture leaning against the wall will be hung when Doughboy comes home for the weekend.



AJA Ranch is above the door as you enter the room - it stands for Ayden, Jameson, and Ava.


The longest wall in the room has been painted as if you're standing inside a barn or stable. The barn door is open to reveal a scene outside. I was very precise in describing the way I wanted the scene to look. Little Ava isn't born yet, but I wanted to show her with her brothers in silhouette against a twilight sky.


They're sitting on a fence rail watching a cowboy on his horse.

I'll try to get better photos this weekend when a) the light is better, b) I've changed my lens to wide angle, and c) Doughboy has helped me push all the furniture back in place. It's fun to watch the progress. I'm very excited to have it completed in time for Ava's arrival, but that's being overly optimistic. I'd be happy if it were finished by Christmas. Oh well...it has been more than a year with the room undecorated. A few weeks longer won't hurt. But everyone who knows me understands that I have no patience once I begin a project. It's one of many faults.

Have a great weekend!

So You Wanna Be A Cowboy

We have been living in our new home a little more than a year. Until the day our previous home sells, which isn't likely to happen any time soon, funds are tight. This translates to a meager budget when it comes to decorating. The three upstairs bedrooms remain unchanged from the time the movers put the furniture in place. We have no visitors so there isn't a mad rush to do anything.

With the soon-to-be arrival of our new grand-daughter, I am feeling a push to get the kid's room finished. The biggest challenge was to select a theme (I always need a theme to help gel my ideas). Not too babyish...something that will grow with the kids...but not too mature. I get my best ideas from Pottery Barn, but admittedly I get a lot of help from my decorator friend, Denise. She is a genius at selecting fabrics, paint colors, and coordinating all the accessories. And she acts as the general manager while I'm a half hour away at work. She is truly a master at her craft.

Here's the basis for our theme. It started with bedding...

...and this is the look we're trying to achieve.


The painter started today and next week Mike, a spectacularly talented artist, will do his magic creating a scene on the walls. The wood blinds are ordered and Suzy, a whiz at transforming fabric into works of art for the windows, is busy at work. We already have bunk beds and matching dresser, crib, and changing table. But I am checking my e-mail daily for this treasure to go on sale.

I want a safe, cozy room for our grandchildren to enjoy. Up until this past summer, Ayden was too young to stay overnight away from Mom and Dad. Now it's second nature for him and he cries when he has to leave us. All too soon his little brother Jameson will want to have sleepovers. Not all of us can fit in our bed, so it's time to create a comfortable place for them to sleep and play. I'll post pictures of the progress as their room takes shape. I can't wait to begin planning Ava's bedroom. Just kidding, Doughboy...don't have a coronary!

Scrap Sanctuary: Part Deux

As addicted as I am to Confessions of A Pioneer Woman and her love of Marlboro Man, I am equally obsessed about my scrap room. In particular, organizing my growing scrap collection. I obsess about everything being in its proper place. I love to pass the time arranging and rearranging in the peace and quiet of my room. No, I don't need to get a life. My life is pretty full already, thank-you-very-much. My scrap room is my sanctuary. It's my favorite place to relax, unwind, and strip away the stress of my day, much like peeling layers from an onion. Ahhhh... there's no testosterone here. You'd have to visit Pete's Man Room to get the low down on tool organization. While you are there, he will gladly pontificate on his hunter/gatherer theory. But that's another story... when you have a spare hour or two...

Magpie organization for storing my QuicKutz alphabets

My inspiration... my family

Stamp storage has never been easier -- my Clip-It-Up organizer

Making Memories makes the best acrylic paint -- aren't the colors yummy?

Partial punch inventory

Another use for Clip-It-Up -- embellishments

You gotta love paper!

My New Scrap Room

We have no furniture in our living room, no window treatments in several rooms, many projects are incomplete or in progress...but my scrap room is 99% complete. Pete willingly (okay, there was a teensy weensy bit of arm twisting) contributed to the scrap room completion by building a base unit for the paper towers, installing peg board, and building stamp shelves, and base unit beneath the shelves. I have only to paint the ceiling in the "ante room" and...voila! it'll be all done! Thanks honey...I owe you BIG time. It looks sooooo pretty!

This room is one-half of the original area. Originally it was long and narrow with a lot of unusable space. Pete convinced me to build a wall separating the room into two spaces -- one half is my scrap room, the other is the TV room. I now have two adjacent scrap rooms -- the inner most room houses the computer, printers and supplies; the outer room for the table and work areas.

Living Room Ceiling

Deb's NEW Hobby Room

OMG! It's done and ready to move in! I am soooooo excited! Although the color looks orange, it's actually SW Sumptuous Peach.

Progress

What a difference a days makes! Monday was a day of progress. The pool wall is nearly finished; the waterfall is beginning to take shape; furniture was delivered; tile is laid in the screen porch; and cabinets are installed in Deb's hobby room. The weekend was also busy. Bob Stevens worked in the heat to drywall Pete's work room and utility garage before working his way to the cool indoors. There is now a wall separating the media room to enlarge Deb's hobby room. Double doors are on order that will separate Pete's work room from the utility garage, and French doors will soon be installed in Deb's hobby room. Slowly, Pete and Deb moved a few pieces of furniture and most of the "memory wall". We decided... we're ready to take the plunge and MOVE! September 20-21 marks the mass exodus from Ashley Forest to Annelise Park. One door closes and another door opens...

I Love Thomasville

Amid the hustle and bustle, we eagerly await the arrival of our new Thomasville furniture for the kitchen dining and keeping room areas. ETA is within the next two weeks. Our house will soon begin to take on the look of home.