3 words

So one of my favorite things is figuring out how to decorate my home. I enjoy waiting for that perfect "inspiration" and then figuring out how to execute it in my own way.
I have realized that I have a problem when it comes to actually putting holes in the wall, though. I can't seem to commit, which is very silly because nothing like that is permanent.
I did finally finish panting the little girls' room so I'm very excited to get in there and start making it homey and adorable.

One more wall and a smidgen to go!

One of my current goals is to come up with three words that represent the feelings I want my guests to have when they enter my home. I know that uncluttered is high on the list for me but I think it may end up being somewhat of a secret, fourth feeling. I do like the sounds of fresh, clean, open, homey, comfortable, warm, natural, artsy,  and inviting. I'll let you know what three words make the cut. Once I decide, I'm going to use words those as a basis for how I style the main rooms of the house.

Am I putting too much thought in to this? Maybe. But I really enjoy it so, oh well.

Let me know what words you think of when you close your eyes and think back to places you've been that you've really enjoyed. I really want your suggestions.

Renovations

This is where I was a few days ago with the renovations. The dining room walls were painted, but not the little, upper light indention. I needed new curtains, curtain rods, the new light hung, a new table (we have majorly outgrown our current one), and a rug. I'm kind of stuck on what kind of curtains I want- patterns wise. Solid? Print? Color? Neutral?

I have to keep in mind that the dining room is somewhat connected to the parlor, and I don't want to overkill both rooms with color and pattern. 

Also, I need someone to come arrange my gallery-wall paintings. I'm getting nowhere fast with that. I even had three other women helping me last night and we couldn't figure out how to make them look right. They will go on the wall behind the table.

This room is my next focus, well,  after I finish painting the girls' room. I want shelves on either side of the piano, and some kind of patterned rug. I also want to put a bench in front of the window and then place some nice, green plants on it. I have an abstract painting that's in Memphis, just waiting on me to come get it, that will hang above the piano. 

 These were the original sconces in the downstairs hallway leading to the girls' room. Ugly, plastic-looking spaceships. 

 Speaking of space...

This ceiling fan made me feel like I lived in The Jetson cartoon. Although, having Rosie the robot maid wouldn't be too bad.

This is where this room stands as of now. One coat of paint on one wall, half a painted wall, two more walls with no paint. And that's what I'm tackling today. This is one of those projects I could easily put off for a long time so I'm going to make myself get to it. We have a rare, free day and I'm going to make it count.

And for posterity's sake, a grand, glorious picture of the old chandler that hung above the dining room table. I mean, seriously, what were these people thinking?

It's a very normal thing for me to paint on a room while Jason is away. Poor guy almost never comes back to the same house. Something is always different. On this last trip, I worked on the dining room. It was funny because it was the first room that I have ever been nervous about painting. It's like the stakes were higher because it's a nicer house. But once I started working, all my nerves fell away and I was in the zone. I don't have an after picture because we haven't hung the light fixture yet, but here is one picture to give you a taste of how it will look once it's completely finished.

This will replace the existing light fixture.

I'm not totally finished with the dining room walls, but so, so, so close. In the meantime, here's a couple of "after" pictures to show you how's it's coming together. I couldn't be more pleased.

I guess since I feel a little better, I've decided to push myself as far as I can. Not only have I taken on the very large project of painting the kitchen cabinets and the dining room walls, I have added to the mix switching out the girls' summer clothes to winter clothes. Oh yes, and we have the stomach virus making it's way through the family. So, to once again sum it up, I'm crazy. 

Before Shot- Kitchen Cabinets

Before Shot- In Kitchen/ looking in to Dining Room

Before Shot- In dining room looking into kitchen

Before Dining Room 

Making some progress with the gray paint

A Makeover is Happening

This picture was taken almost a year ago. It was before we moved into our house, and there was a lot of renovation work going on.

When we first moved in, I made this room the schoolroom and since I was burned out from painting, and our very large bookshelf was taking up most of the wall space, I didn't bother painting the paneling. 

Then we pulled the ol' switch-a-roo and Jason and I found ourselves in a very brown bedroom. Brown is okay, but it's never inspired me in a decorative sense. 

And paneling for sure hasn't.

look. i didn't even bother removing the white board. i was in decorating denial.

I really, really wanted to paint the walls, but I didn't want to do it alone because painting paneling is such time consuming and very tedious work. I kept putting it off and putting it off until I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

So yesterday, I rounded up my paint and supplies and decided that since it always takes me one full day to completely paint a room, I should just suck it up and get it over with.  By this time the next night I would be sleeping peacefully in a "brand-new" room.

HA!

I worked from nine last night until one-thirty this morning and almost finished one wall. 

One. Wall.

 I have now changed my goal of completing this project from one day to one weekend. I am determined to get the task finished by tomorrow evening. This paneling just soaks in the paint and the edging takes FOREVER. I have to give the walls three coats and even edge the sides three times. I worked all day today and and I am just now half-way through the job.

Also, I decided that if I was going to do this, then I was really going to do this and I'm making myself paint all the furniture that needs repainting and I'm finally painting the girls' rocking horses. 

With my cousin's help, I was able to get the shelves and brackets above my desk put up and then I just threw some random decorations on them. I still have to paint that desk black and then organize and truly decorate the shelves, but it's nice to see a small part of the room finally looking like it's coming together. 

I have had a suggestion to paint the desk a yellow similar to the one below. I'm not totally sold on the idea, although I think the dresser in the photo is adorable. 

I'm just afraid it will take away from the picture I have in my head. There will be a black shelf above our bed that will be across the wall from the desk. Also, we have one black dresser. The nightstands and the other dresser are the gray color that you can see in the photos at the top of the post. 

What do you think? I would really like to hear your opinions.