Way Back Wednesday

Oh my word! I'm horrified! There is so much going on in this room. Flea market wing backs, color, pattern, rustic, damask, etc!

This was circa 2009 in my living room. This back room has always been awkward. It was added onto our house in the 1950's to accommodate Grandma Dionise, (long time owners of this place). It was actually her bedroom and sitting room. That's why there are so many doors-one to her original closet, one to the main floor bath, one to the adjacent kitchen and we added the slider to the backyard when we moved in the winter of 2006. 

It's been an impossible room to furnish for that reason and for the fact that it is extremely narrow and butts up next to the breakfast bar in the kitchen, which means no furniture can be staged on that length of wall.

 Remember the day that Kennedy and I stenciled this north back wall? (No, that white and brown quatrafoil pattern isn't wallpaper, it's 10 hours of work one day for Kenn and I)! That being said, she wasn't thrilled that I was ready for a change, but I was over it, even though she begged me not to be.

The walls painted Ben Moore's  Clifton Brown made for a nice cozy sitting spot in the winter, but come summer...I was suffocating in there!

After Ken said no to my request for wall of V-groove paneling, I decided to forge ahead and paint my own. I taped off 6 inch widths and dry brushed Annie Sloan's "Old White" chalkpaint over it the length of one wall. It didn't need to be perfect, thank goodness, 'cause i'm so not!

 Remember this? I blogged about it way back when....

 Here's the final product then: Circa 2012:

 Here's the same room with small changes made. Lime green out...brown chair in. Please keep in mind NO new furniture has ever been purchased to furnish this room. I guess that may be part of the problem. I'm trying to put a square peg into a round hole. :)

 Another shot of the same furniture rearranged. Still trying to stage this baby so I'm not disgusted. 

 Last year, I painted over the dark brown accent wall (left side of pic) and covered it with my kitchen wall color. (Cape Hatteras Sand)

 A few months ago, while Kennedy was at school, the stenciled wall was the last to go:

This took four coats of stainblocking primer!

The room is much simpler. Much more subtle.  Some (Kennedy) might even say "boring", but I'm calmer here. And that's always a good thing. 

I'm not quite ready to paint over the faux wood planked wall yet.  I like the way it makes the room lighter. In a perfect world, I would wrap the whole room with white painted wood, but this world isn't perfect and I can live with that. (sometimes)> :)

 Taken on the south side of the room facing into the adjoining kitchen.

 I would love to find an inexpensive clean lined taupe-ish/gray  sectional. Or a lighter sofa and two matching club chairs, but there's a daughter's college fund that is desperately calling for our attention so my garage sale finds will have to suffice. (Everything in this room except for t.v., far lamp, small sofa-which was clearanced at Great Lakes long ago and I always intended to have slipcovered, and West Elm striped drapes-the rest are garage/estate sale finds that have been altered/painted or left as is-Even the rug was acquired through bartering)!

 Built-in's would look so nice on that t.v. wall, but now I'm really gettin' the gimmies. Sometimes less is more.  I'm happy the busy patterns are gone and that this space and the kitchen now feel a little more connected. 

The color I used in here is one of my all time faves.Benjamin Moore's  "Edgecomb Gray". What rooms in your house have seen a slow transition over the years? If any are in need of a little change now, give me a call!

Room for Change: "Where a little change, goes a long way!"

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Featuring Fabulous Finds at the 'big booth'!

Happy Belated Independence Day!  We had a nice long weekend of some work mixed with play.  On the morning of the fourth, Ken and I hauled out our junky burley to hit the junky Burley Park flea market. :) It was a perfect morning weather-wise and we spent a few hours hiking and  hunting for treasures to make or modify for you Champs. We only came back with this bundle, but after cleaning up some of the mud-caked windows, I think they'll make great wall art with some stenciled sayings etched on them. I usually can't find them this small with this much character, so those alone ( 8 of 'em) was worth the hour drive north.

I also found some dismantled recessed door panels that are all chipped up already with some great paint colors and I can't wait to paint those with some cottage-y phrases as well.

On Monday of this week, I spent two hours taking apart my booth at Not So Shabby-Holland location.  (From now on I'll refer to my two booths as 'big' and 'little'). I added lots of rustic items and marked down some summer inventory.  I am working on July 17 (11-3) and July 23 (11-3) this month, so stop in and say hello. 

 I LOVE these vintage seed prints with rustic frames! These I also found at Burley Park!! I looked high and low for a spot on my walls to hang them, but to no avail.  I probably should keep them to put in my laundry room if we ever get around to finishing it, but I'm not patient enough to wait for that. They would be super cute for a cottage or hanging over twin beds.  Even staggered next to each other in a vintage themed space or next to each other on a fireplace mantel.  The possibilities are endless!  

 This beadboard shelf I had in Kennedy's room for the longest time. It was painted kelly green but I put a fresh coat of Kendall Charcoal Gray over it and waxed it with a darker wax.  It looks so cute mounted on a bedroom wall holding all the little treasures that teenagers somehow manage to accumulate. The brown totes were housing mittens and hats in my makeshift mudroom/family room for a while until I switched that room from browns to taupes.

Two of these vintage scales I scored at Burley Park. I love them in a collection like this or use just two of them as book ends on a shelf.

 Another Burley Park treasure: I know you're thinking "how did she fit all that stuff in that burley?" Well, I did, believe it or not! 
This was an antique bookshelf but I was thinking it would make a great shoe organizer in an entry way or a bedroom even.Think about how amazing it would look full of mason jars! The large ones fit perfectly as you can see in the pic! In the meantime, it makes a great display rack for my 'smalls'.:)

 Here's one of the windows I bought. The others are single pane and I'm still working on the stenciling. This one is so cute and tiny.

 Ken helped me haul over these display shelf doors I used at the spring peddler's market. They are for sale now in the booth for only $75! Clients have them used them for character pieces in foyers, as display shelves for accessories, even as a storage pieces for perfume and jewelry . I can also see them used in larger bathrooms to hold rolled up towels. Or, flip out the window and replace it with a mirror and you have a vanity! This one is especially unique because it has the double arched windows. 

This piece of slate I bought from an Amish women at the Shipshewaunee Flea Market that we hit last week as well:I added the twine to make it a chalkboard.

 Chicken crate on casters makes a great outdoor coffee table.

 Mustard yellow with Gray wooden buntings. Use for parties, for baby's nursery or just to add festive flair to any room in your home! I use mine for birthdays and special events.  

 Rustic Beam that was removed from a 100 year old neighbor's home (no, the neighbor isn't 100, the wooden beam is). Use in a mudroom or even garage for sturdy storage of backpacks, coats, umbrellas, etc.  Screw right into the studs for maximum holding strength. I only have one of these. Like Big Lots always says, "when it's gone, it's gone"!

 I was drawn to this orange crate for some reason.  Use it upside down with open top to store blankets or books, or just like this as a makeshift nightstand or small scale coffee table.

 Another store bought bunting that I didn't want to part with.  I did make a pattern of it and will try to sweet talk hubby into making some in a variety of colors for the Fall Peddler's Market in which I hope to participate.

 Small black crown molding shelf with vintage looking block printing  stamps.

 Repurposed "petty coat" lamp and accessories:

 Another unique set of vintage hooks:

 I have to give credit where credit is due: This sign was made for a client/neighbor who had spotted it at World Market. I used the same dimensions and modified it a bit.  I loved the saying and the perfectionist in me needs this reminder daily!! I'll be making one for myself sometime soon. :)

 One more thing:  I am NOT a confident user of Facebook. I'm more like the creeper/stalker user who just loves reading your posts. But I am loving Instagram for quick pics and viewing daily updates of my kids' friends activities. I do have my own personal account with all 12  middle school aged followers, (what can I say, Brecken's friends think I'm cool)! :) But I thought it was high time to have a professional account. (I'll try to keep it professional. You know that's hard for me).  

Follow me on Insta at  room4change_

Don't forget the underscore at the end, k?

'til next time.

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Mulling things over Monday

Happy Summer finally! I feel like we have just started to enjoy some summer-like activities around here but the days are already flying by! I have managed to hit the beach a few times, camped twice over long weekends and paddle-boarded when the sun breaks through every now and then. I know you are out squeezing every last bit of summer you can as well 'cause I'm always slower this time of year in regards to home consults. 

Which means, more down time for me, but more missing you all.

At times, I've considered looking for a day job that consistently gets me out and about every day-in business attire, not just 'workshop rags' on my off days but I always come back to the flexibility and creativity of it all and I'm motivated once again. 

Talking about the ups and downs of owning your own business with my friend Dann who also sells repurposed junk and lamenting about the unsteady income and unpredictable schedule, he reminded me that when he did have to 'punch the clock'-even if it meant more 'you-can-count-on-it' cash, he felt his soul dying a little bit every day. 

I laughed and agreed.

I'm definitely not in this for the $. and it was a good reminder that I am so fortunate to be able to do what nourishes my soul every day. 

At times I've shared with you that all the remodeling, building, prettifying, and spending can seem like a futile, worthless endeavor, but I am always reminded by you guys that helping someone make a home that is comfortable and welcoming is worth something. 

I read a quote recently that said, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life"?-Mary Oliver. I have been mulling that question over as I contemplate turning 46 in a couple of a weeks. I guess the fact that I'm closing in on 50 has me analyzing or over-analyzing (which I'm great at), my one shot on this planet and am I doing what I can to make a difference? So many days, it doesn't seem so. 

My oldest daughter just returned home from a week long outreach trip to Pullman (a small impoverished town 40 minutes south of here) and I saw so many families struggling with providing the basic essentials for their families-living in trailers with no windows and doors-that yes-those moments make my day job picking out wallpaper and coordinating window treatments seem meaningless.

But then, I come across a client that has waited patiently for over 25 years for a new, workable kitchen and is so thrilled with how her new one functions and looks and is no longer apologizing for her living space or insecure to have company over that I do feel like I am helping and that my skills are beneficial to someone.

Here are a few shots of Tricia's beautiful new kitchen. Not huge. Doesn't need to be. Not over-the-top showy. Doesn't need to be. Not full of bells and whistles. Doesn't need 'em. 

Nope, sometimes simple and subtle packs just as much of a punch. 

Simplicity and Subtly. 

Two of my weakest traits. 

I think I'll concentrate on those today. Along with a little gratitude. 

Miss you Champs and hope you're enjoying these summer days.

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Not So Shabby-Zeeland

 Just brought a small truckload over to the Zeeland store this afternoon.  I'll let ya in a little secret....my prices are a bit lower here than the Holland store. Not on everything, but a lot of the 'smalls'.  My booth is smaller, and my rent is cheaper, so i am passing along those savings to you!  Check it out sometime! 

Cute patterned bunting for a baby's room? (below)

 Hand Stenciled embroidery Ring signs:

 Blue Wire Basket to hold keys, mail, junk: (It's all connected-it hangs on the wall as one unit). Print out cute labels and it makes a great organizer. Or use in the bathroom to hold hair bands, jewelry, q-tips, etc.

 Topiaries and accessories:

 Primitive Cabinet.  Would make a great linen cabinet in bathroom or laundry.

 Signs and Letters.  My sister always teases me that there's always lots of reading in my house and booths!:)

Vintage Oil Painting that spoke to me

 Small Blue Mason Jars: Too cute to pass up at only $6/each.

 Spring/Summer accessories 

And another book recommendation from yours truly. I just finished this one and will be returning it to the library tonight. You know I love memoirs and I'm a sucker for anything sappy. This is both and is SUCH a good read.  Kelle Hampton's Bloom. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll be amazed at her poetic voice, eccentric vibe, and breath-taking photography. 

Enjoy your weekend doing what you love!!

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