Bay Windows and Odd Spaces

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My living room mocked me for a number of years.It faces north and like my kitchen, doesn't get a lot of sunlight in the afternoon. The bay window posed another challenge. Curtains hung awkwardly and went up and then came back down, furniture had no clear place to land... I tried my usual painting and painting and then painting again as a quick fix, but color clearly wasn't the answer. 

 

This room has one interior wall, two interior doors, five windows, a  fireplace wall and a 9' long bay window, all of which added up to a challenge.

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How to Paint the Union Jack

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I am a big fan of red, white and blue, but less a fan of traditional Americana - likely the residue of all that stenciling, pewter and miniature apple wallpaper my mother decorated with in rural New England. Recently the Union Jack has been popping up all over the design world and I'm a fan.

I just happened to find a GREAT dresser last Saturday and had no plans for it, so I decided to use it as the focal point for the "map bedroom" I've been working on. I'm incorporating red, white and blue with maps from all over the world, so what a perfect way to use the palette, without going too "country." (Sorry, Mom.)

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Furniture Jewelry

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I spotted this round coffee table last week at our local thrift store and thought it would make a perfect companion to last weekend's turquoise end tables.

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Weekend Yardsale Wrap-Up

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Another weekend, another successful round of treasure hunting.

First, this vintage desk- didn't we all have this one as kids?

I think a few coats of French Linen and some updated hardware will lend new life to this piece.

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Maps, Monograms & Material

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Tonight while checking out the spring fabrics at the fabric store, I came across these great three-dimensional paper letters. I picked up the monogram for our adventure boy's "map room." I hate to cut up a good map, but the way the world's changing, I don't think it's going to matter, and isn't it adorable?

Once the glue is cured, I'll add some paint to the seams and sand the edges to give them a bit of an aged look before I spray them with a clear coat, but for now, phase 1:

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A Boy's Room

Pin It I can appreciate the value in the easy-to-assemble, mass-manufactured, themed-decor kids' room packages that some companies sell. They allow many parents to update their children's rooms with the latest and greatest trends "in a bag"--but they're just not for me.

I give an exception to companies like The Land of Nod, Garnet Hill, Company Store and Pottery Barn, who do a great job of making quality kids' bedding...but folks, as fun as our PB sheets are, don't our kids deserve a thread count over 200? (Can you say "exfoliate?) Cuteness aside, no matter how many times I click through the PB kids site, I just can't swallow the $300 price tag for a Star Wars quilt set that my boy may grow out of in a year.

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Twice is Nice

Pin It I was absolutely thrilled to wake up to the news that Seaside Shelter is featured on not one, but two fantastic design websites today. Check out Remodelaholic's post on my coastal Rhode Island home, then head on over to DIY Show Off's feature on my recent guest room rehab. While you're there, bookmark both sites for ongoing tips and creative inspiration!



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Turquoise

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I love turquoise. I especially love turquoise and gold. Turquoise reminds me of summer, of sparkling water, of vacations, of Elizabeth Taylor (must be the Cleopatra connection). I can't think of anyone or anything that doesn't look good in turquoise. I can't be alone in my love of turquoise...just ask Tiffany's.

Check out my finds from this weekend's yard-saling trip, all spruced up, waiting anxiously to move to their new home! And read on to see how Annie Sloan paint can breathe new life into just about anything.

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Think of the Prospects!

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A friend recently enlisted me to help her give a quick facelift to her new home. Armed with my shopping list, some cash and a head full of ideas, I'm ready to hit the streets in search of treasures for our new project. The home is an antique colonial with loads of character and charm in a country setting. We're aiming to turn it into a clean, bright, contemporary home perfect for a young family.

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Wine Glasses in the Bathroom?

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Our home was a construction site for the first four years we lived here. While the major construction is now completed, I'm still always working to determine how to maximize every inch and create more storage space. Large old houses may be full of character and charm, but the reality is, they weren't built to house today's modern family.

When we first moved into our home, we had incorporated a first floor in-law apartment. Once we mainstreamed my father into the guest room we no longer needed the spare kitchen so it was re-purposed into a laundry area.

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Trash to Treasure

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I have been looking for a good way to organize my jewelry for a while now. I have jewelry boxes and bags and cases...

We're not talking about the crown jewels here, but I do like my collection and have been trying to make a better effort to buy less and start wearing what I have. This means the first step is actually knowing what I have.

I've looked at traditional pieces, but they aren't my style. Too new and frou frou.

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Happy Mother's Day!

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Every year my husband asks me what I want for Mother's Day and my answer for the past six years has remained unchanged. I want a hall pass to go to Brimfield. I want to buy what I want (within reason) and I want the rest of the weekend to work on projects revolving around my finds. This year I debated taking my camera to Brimfield but decided last minute that it would just be one more thing to carry and with carrying capacity being too valuable to waste, I left it at home. (Losing the lens cap was kind of an issue as well.)

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Chevron Accent Wall

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I've been wanting to try out a Chevron accent wall since I hung the black and white Chevron drapes in my bedroom, but to be perfectly honest, the thought of all that measuring and taping just made me tired.

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Electrical Spool Side Tables - step by step

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I have been wanting to make this table since I spied one in the PB Kids catalog a few months back.

As luck would have it, my friend Jenn was heading north from Raleigh to come to the Brimfield Show, AND her husband just happens to be a commercial electrician, AND she happened to have room in her truck, so... If that's not a sign that I was destined to make this, then I don't know what is!

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Featured today on www.remodelaholic.com!

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Thanks so much to Justin and Cassity for featuring Seaside Shelter and my coastal cottage "Before and Afters" on Remodelaholic.com today!

If you haven't seen it, check it out here and leave me a comment so I know you've visited!

I'm looking forward to unearthing some new treasures at Brimfield next weekend to add some more character to our home away from home!






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DIY Tile Wall

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Tile Wall, shared by Dani Braun on Tip Junkie

I've wanted to do this wall forever, so when I found the "SimpleMat" product in Home Depot  I couldn't pass up a chance to try it! If you already know how to tile, this will change your world. If you are new and have been wanting to try it, this is you chance. No mess, easy to apply, and best yet, NO CLEAN UP! I tiled this wall with a friend while my father sat on the couch and watched television. As a retired builder, he was absolutely amazed.

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Pretty Can Still Be Practical

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When I started furnishing this house I had a husband and one child. Today I have two children, who come with a pile of friends, one dog, one cat, two pet rats, and my 78 year old father.

I am fussy. I admit it. Perhaps to a fault. I see dirt like that kid in the Bruce Willis movie saw dead people. My husband says it drives him nuts. It drives me nuts, too. It's a curse. Which is why I need to live in house that's easy to clean.  Enter, slipcovers.

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Countdown to Brimfield: 9, 8....

Pin It Just over a week until I make my annual pilgrimage to the Brimfield Antique Show.
I was chatting with some neighbors on Saturday at their yard sale and we agreed - Brimfield is NOT for the faint of heart. This particular gent was reselling items he picked up at other yard sales, for the same price he paid, just for fun. Clearly we are kindred spirits.


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