Ikea for my bedroom

My husband grumbles at the mention of Ikea.
He rolls his eyes if I want to go browse, and he complains about everything there.
I am not sure where his disdain came from, seeing as how one of our best set of bookcases, which we have had over 12 years, came from there.  He just has a chip on his shoulder.

I am lucky in that I have sisters that share my love for Ikea with me, and one sister came with me on a recent trip.  Before I knew it she talked me into buying 2 dressers that I realized would be perfect for organizing my bedside.  With an enthusiastic pep talk she convinced me we could build these dressers before my husband even came home.

Here are the details and my tips to you:

Don't be stressed when you start your project

This is what my dresser looked like out of the box. Yikes.
We sorted through the items and organized them, and worked together.  This pile of pieces brought me slight anxiety, I am not gonna lie....


Follow the steps, read the instructions

The images of the screws, nails, and bolts are actual size, so you can compare side by side and make sure you are using the right piece for the step.  I am not real big on building my own stuff...like EVER...so this helped me feel like I could break down each step and do the right thing.
There are steps that use two people for bigger items- definitely get a helper. Don't think you balance large items by yourself.  I did learn this one the hard way after my sister had to leave.

Stick with it - the final result is worth it

Ikea dressers used as bedside nightstands

Truth be told it took me 2 1/2 days to finish my dressers.  I only had my sister's help for a few hours,
and then I got sidetracked, so I had to step away from my project. (another reason to strictly follow the steps, so you can always pick up where you left off.) I was actually proud of myself when I finally got them finished.  Hubby was out of town, so only one of us had to tiptoe around the piles of dresser parts scattered around the room.

I fell in love with these dressers in the store because of the color- they match our walls and I love their clean look.  I tend to lean toward ornate and shabby items (thus the light board above our bed) and my hubby loves clean lines- these dressers made us both happy.  He was surprised and really likes the finished look the dressers added, which made me even more happy with the leap of faith it took to buy and build these.

A good idea he had, (which I adore more than I ever thought possible) a hidden mounted surge protector.

It sits right at the side of my headboard, so we can light our wall mount and my night stand lamp with the switch.  You know those nights when you get cozy, only to realize someone needs to get up and turn off the light, or sit up and switch off the lamp.  No more. Now all it takes is a stretch of the hand to switch it all off, although let's be honest...some nights even that feels like a chore......
(note: don't use this to charge your phone if you turn everything off at night. Plug it into a wall so it is charged in the morning...duh.....I learned that one the hard way)

For my birthday I was able to convince him to take me back to Ikea for matching shelves.
I have always loved the thought of a reading nook, and I need a place for my books to make that happen.

We ended up not only getting 2 shelves, but also new curtains for our windows.

I am still in the process of sorting through my books and arranging my shelves, but this little space has already made me so happy. (note- side desk found on the curbside on garbage day- I used spray paint to make it over)

side by side book shelf corner

After moving to our home over two years ago it has been a process to make it feel like ours.
These projects weren't that expensive, and I sort of have to ask myself why I waited so long.
If you need a few basic furniture items  to help you complete your space don't forget the awesome deals at Ikea that can be used as your staples.  If your hubby is the type to roll his eyes...just do it without him, but don't tell him I said that.


and don't forget to enjoy your space

Religious Print Redo

I had an empty wall above my piano that I recently filled and have enjoyed the result...

Last year we had the privilage of viewing many of Carl Heinrich Bloch's religious works at a local university.

The paintings were all stunning, and  I have had this framed print for some years.

My dad found it at a yard sale and bought it, and I was able to buy it off of him.

( he tends to get a little overstocked from yard sales and second hand stores)

It came in a gold frame, which has never done much for me.

I covered the glass (it looked complicated to pull it all apart, so I took the lazy way out)

and then I just used acrylic paint on the frame.

I really liked the sort of scratchy look that I got with one coat, so I left it at that.

It did take some dabbing and work to get the paint into the etched designs on the frame's edge,

 but it was easy and the paint dried quick.

The frame was dry and ready to hang in about 30 minutes.

After passing an empty wall for months in our new house I am actually pretty happy to have a little

new spot that feels like home.

And the vinyl wall phrase as a constant reminder isn't bad either.....

may you be inspired to

create a space today

My Goodwill Grab

While on vacation I stopped into the local Goodwill on a whim.

I had a great time browsing books (bought 3), handbags (bought one fun tote),

and of course, the furniture.

I found this little nightstand which I HAD to have.

(Sorry kids, I am not sure how we are all getting home now)

The style is similar to some furniture we had growing up,

but mostly I love the lines of this little dresser.

Best of all, it was $6.99.

I decided to go the easy route, and bought a vintage white spray paint

that boasted "no sanding or prep work needed".

I was happy with what 2 coats of paint gave me.

I was in a panic, because I could only remove the top knob for painting.

After one coat, though, I saw that the spray paint really filled in nicely around the

lower drawer pulls, so I guess I got lucky on that.

This will probably end up in my reading nook,

a place to stash all my notebooks and highlighters,

but for now I am enjoying it in the corner of our breakfast area,

where it can hold my (fake) Scentsy.

I love the final product,

and this has inspired me to take on more makeovers for around the house.

This may move around a few times before it finally finds it's permanent home,

but for now I think it's a great start.

Feeling ready to makeover your own little piece?

I used Krylon Fusion Gloss paint in Dover White.

Be sure to link up your post in my comments so I can come peek!

Mini Disaster

I guess you can call it a disaster.

I hate to do it, because it could have been so much worse, but it still shook me up pretty good.

We had a pipe burst in our basement.

This was my pride and joy just a few days ago

My very own crafting corner.

It was my sanctuary filled with all my favorite treasures

and goodies acquired in trades.

I was so happy about my space!

This is how my space looked when I got called home from the water park yesterday

(thank heavens a thousand times over my son stayed home and was here when it happened)

my drawers, my jars, my baskets and totes, all filled with water

I panicked, no doubt about it.

The pictures are so random because I was sobbing as I took them.

Hubby is out of town this week and I had no idea how I was going to conquer an entire basement of sopping wet boxes and books and supplies.

I didn't realize my sisters were on their way, and they took control of the situation and started setting things out to dry immediately.

I thought it was mostly my crafting goods, but everything was soaked in our entire basement. As we started emptying boxes we found the harsh truth....pictures. Lots of pictures. And numerous scrapbooks from my wedding and first years of marriage, my first baby being born.... I was losing it. My sisters stayed focus and set to rescuing it all.

We hung pages and laid pictures out carefully...a neighbor stopped by to see what was happening and bless her heart,she shed tears with me as we pulled my husband's photos from his mission he served over 20 years ago out of a sopping wet album.

Even sealed bags and containers were filled with water

These photos do not have digital copies, and I really had no idea they were stashed away with my craft supplies. It broke my heart to see them laying out as the sun started to go down, hours after we started the process.

In the garage things sat over night trying to dry out and wait for me to make sense of what can be saved.

Another thing that upset me was to see so many of my books ruined. They were like sponges, swollen and sopping, and just fell apart when you tried to move them. My favorite, marked up, well loved copy of Atlas Shrugged completely fell apart today when I tried to open it.

I am not sure if my crying is symbolic, therapeutic or even normal anymore....

I just keep losing it.

In case you wonder what a girl like me looks like on the morning after a day like yesterday wonder no more.

Bags under the eyes, greasy hair, blotchy skin....it is my badge of honor today.

And even though we lost a few precious things

(this bubbled picture is one of the few baby pics I have of my husband)

We saved hundreds and hundreds pictures and pages all together.

Today I pulled my 'baby blanket' out of a wet box I hadn't got to yet...I am so relieved with all the important things we have found just in time.

I can't complain in spite of the sadness. We are so blessed, we have so much... my heart actually aches for people who lose everything....EVERYTHING to a natural disaster.

My sisters and my kids and my neighbor made what would have taken me days take only hours to salvage and sort. I am so grateful to them for their help.

I hope I am blessed to remember this moment and help others more in the future.

Even standing beside someone or saving one thing for them is a gift.

I believe we will need it more in the days to come.

I hope others may blessed as I was in my time of panic and need.

Around the House

Well.....I hit a local antique store after reading about it on another blog. I was feeling a bit bluesy with all the changes of the school year and the drama that kids can bring to it, so I probably was an easy retail target that day. One thing I found that I am in love with is this little weathered parlor chair.

I wanted something with a touch of vintage flair to it that I could set my Diet Coke, iPad, and magazines on when I go for a long soak. (A bath is an escape around here). It is sturdy enough I can use it while slipping on my socks and shoes so it is perfect.

I am still in dire need of more decor around my sanctuary spot!

All the windows in the antique mall reminded me I had a few more in the basement of my old home. I ran home and grabbed one to bring to my new house.

I love the little flakes of blue that survived the high pressure shooting of the hose.

I did have a few other things on this armoire top, but I liked the size of this window better, so I swapped them out. With a few little touches I am liking this one better for the space.

I have added glass ware and bottles to my vintage 'to find' list, now that I have this little place to tuck a few more.

This next corner (I know, not decorated yet! Oh, the possibilities, right?)was one of the selling points of the house. I have always wanted a reading nook of some sort, complete with an outside view and plenty of shelves. This is a little wing in the Master Bedroom area.

Now that I have the space, I just need to add the shelves and outside landscaping to complete my corner! I got a shelf for Mother's Day, but it wasn't here yet when I snapped this photo. Let's call it my "before" photo and I will show you more as I get it done.

This weekend was the first day of our yard clean-up.

Have you ever looked at a pile of weeds and thought "wow...every thing in that pile was pulled by an (aching) hand." This truck full was a lot of work. We probably won't begin our landscaping until next spring, just due to some of the major stuff that needs to be done and we aren't ready to get to it yet.

But I do have my happy place on the porch.

I am anxious to get my house where I want it to be but life is reminding me....it's all about the process.

Little by little, we decorate our life

If you love it, keep it

I have heard several times that you don't need to worry about everything matching, you just need to love what you have. I am not sure if all decorators would agree with that, but I am finally learning as a grown up to quit buying things just to 'fill the space' and wait for something I love.

Before hanging up my WELCOME sign ( that I have adored for a couple of years dangling on my old porch) I realized it was a very stark white, and the letters I touched up last summer were almost too perfect. It looked out of place on my new porch, so I decided to mess it up a little.....

This is one of those times when the result looks better than I had pictured it.

I just wanted it to look darker, but the smudgy stain started to look like natural wood, with the painted finish looking like old vintage chipped paint. I can not wait to get it up on my porch now!



And since I am still gathering (hoarding) things I love to look at and to group and display everywhere possible, I had no room to make my husband put away his eye candy either, so we kept the best of his collection in the antique crates for display in the "man room"

constant dusting aside (isn't that what kids are for?) I am happy with the way everything came together

This fun gas tank reminds me of one that is in my great-grandparent's past, so I am especially happy to see it on these shelves.

I am going to find a way to bring this photo into the space.

A reminder of a simpler time....

but no less enjoyment for the day we live in today

especially when we surround ourselves with things we love

this blog is linked up- click here to see more fun transformations

When you don't feel glamourous

You can at least look at someone else who is.

I loved these pics in Glamour mag.

Natalie Portman looks gorgeous, glamourous, sweet but sexy in these new adverts.

She kind of makes me want to highlight my hair and stick a bow in it.

(Don't worry, I won't. It would never look like this)

And this fabulous shot was one of many

Astrid (like Jan's baby on the office?) Berges-Frisbey

( the new Pirates of The Carribean movie) had a beautiful layout

in this month's issue. I love this layered sheer and sparkly dress-

wish I could see the whole thing.

And while I may be actually schlubbing around the house in my baggy capris and faded t-shirt I do have to admit to one thing. My kitchen makes me feel slightly glamourous.

It is much more fun to cook in a kitchen with space.

The island is so great for setting out food when my kids have friends over, or for working on when I am making dinner. I did not have anything like this before, so it really feels like a luxury to me. I am still getting used to where to put things and how to get around.

When you live in one place for 16 years you can do anything with your eyes closed.

Now I feel clumsy and awkward, but I am not complaining one bit!

I am logging in and blogging from this corner. Strangely, I don't get quite as distracted (for hours and hours) because when I am in my kitchen I kind of get reminded of what is around me and needing to be done. I think that is a good thing. I think.

We are still back and forth trying to empty out the old house and start the home improvements. We leave early and fall into bed exhausted late.....

I am counting down the days to spring break and not because I am going on a great vacation......I think I may stay in bed for the whole week. Maybe read in my tub or sleep on my couch.

I just want to enjoy my new place...at my own pace.

Hope you are looking forward to spring too.

enjoy your space today

Right Place, Right Time

I am actually almost in tears of joy that I have a moment, just a moment to sit down and blog. We are getting closer and closer to being completely out of the old house and into the new one. There are still closets and storage areas to empty, but for the most part we are out. I am happy to be back.

Once in a while you receive the happy gift of just walking in to a store and suddenly finding the thing....the one thing that you would have dies without but didn't know it. The one thing that makes the whole day of trudging around worth it. You know what I am talking about. For me, it was this funky fun sign.

I am slightly obsessed with positive words and sayings on signage, and I am wondering...how many is too many for one room?

Next I spotted this amazing clock- slightly out of my budget, but hey, it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission, right?

Okay decor experts- don't fret at the height of the clock's placement. I am in search of a beautiful shelf, like one my sister picked up last year at Tai Pan, to go under this clock which I can stack with favorite photo prints. It may be a long journey.

I am in so IN LOVE with this scrunchy comfy couch and the fact that it is always cleared and clean and waiting for a guest. (A luxury I have never had before)

A close up of the decorative pillow that came with the couch.

Is it reasonable to buy an entire couch for one pillow?

Finally a moment to brag......

I bet my dishes are shinier than yours.

(again, same sister as the one with the awesome shelf ~ If you want to absorb her everyday knowledge and greatness follow this LINK to her blog) She sent me to a website that sells dish detergent that has been able to remain effective in spite of the ever looming EPA and it's ridiculous ideas. They sell commercial grade detergent that still contains phophates, so it is actually effective at removing spots and food from your dishes. I actually thought the milk in the bottom of my glasses wasn't getting rinsed well enough after my dishes started all turning white. That is a problem no more.

'Boo' on ridiculous regulations from the ridiculous EPA. How is excessively rinsing my dishes, even rewashing them, or using extra detergent helping the environment? Please. 'Nuff said on that.

We are settling in. I am taking more photos and will share more soon, but getting situated has been a long and grueling process ( please remind me to never move again!). I am still very nervous about putting holes in my walls and trying to figure out where I want to place things. Some of the rooms are slightly empty, which is no fun to see in pictures, so you will just be on this journey with me as we slowly fill the home. Help me be patient!

Until next time

Feather your nest beautifully