Bedroom corners

Interior Design isn't fluff--your home really needs to be your sanctuary.
And that means surrounding yourself with colors and art and items that scream who you are.
Forget trends in style or what some 'expert' deems appropriate.
I used to date a contractor, and he had clients who filled their homes with the latest imported whims...but why?
Just because something is currently trendy doesn't mean it's applicable to you or what you love.

I admire minimalist design, but I could never live in it.
It's often beautiful, but I personally find whimsy and a bit of clutter holds more character.
That's just me.
My own style is sort-of Shabby Chic and Romantic Home magazine combined with an artist's studio.
Maybe cottage style at the beach.
I like making little vignettes.

I figured I'd share a couple corners of my bedroom, just for fun.
Just because they make me smile.
Yeah, they're probably an interior designer's nightmare.
So what.

I bought the mirror at a thrift store, intending to mosaic it, but the color was such a good match to the dresser, it looks like they belong together.
Encaustic crow atop mirror is by Jennifer Conway.
Vintage tiered metal basket displaying a collection of vintage seed bracelets.
The dresser is covered with a scarf I bought at H&M that happened to be the perfect colors of my room.
One of my favorite books, The Tarot Garden, features the art of Niki de Saint Phalle.
Fun, whimsical.
Wire man made by a guy I sat next to in sculpture class (I wish I had kept more of the items he left behind).
I made the flapper potholder.
Joy angel a gift from Mary Ann.
Top tier holds the card Jen made, and a magnet I love
The chihuahua statue is a like a Magic 8 Ball!An interior designer would say there's too much clutter, and it's too juvenile.
I say if it fuels my inspiration, then it stays.


Vintage enamel bowl by Catherine Holm.
Architectural book in Spanish. Cookbook by Tessa Kiros.
Sparkly candle from Indiana--a gift from my friend Michelle, to have something beautiful in my room.
One of the several metal banana leaf-shaped trays that I collect.
The bracelet is blown glass.

Anthropologie cabinet from a garage sale, over a smaller dresser, featuring some of my collection of seagull items.
Note the 'B' that I posted about yesterday.

Along with two saints ;)

Vintage photographs,
handmade ceramic seagull planter (ebay purchase),
and blue bird vase/planter by Haeger.

Sculpture/fountain of Saint Francis of Assisi.
The metal seagull was a hood ornament (I'm told).
Vintage postcard from Folies Bergere, with a woman dressed as a mermaid.
Vintage books, including Rebecca (still on my "to read" list), and Aunt Jane of Kentucky.

DIY inspiration

If I could go back in time...if I could have known myself better...I would have become an architect.
Buildings fascinate me.
I actually at one time studied interior design, and it still interests me, especially if recycling is involved.

A recent issue of Readymade Magazine featured this kitchen DIY--with a patchwork of wooden wine crates used for cabinet veneers!
I absolutely adore this idea.
It looks fun and exciting, versus chintzy.


The book Re-Creative: 50 projects for turning found objects into contemporary design, by Steve Dodds, has this entry table idea, also using wine crates (note Costco always has these available. You might ask liquor stores or BevMo if they have the boxes also)
click on images to enlarge


It's not wine crates, but another fun recycling idea from the Re-Creative book utilizes an old window sash.
Ideas like this just completely inspire me!

The Definition of Stressful...

...is going to a home improvement store.
For me, it's right up there with Chinese Water Torture.

When I was a kid, I remember how much my oldest brother loved shopping for tools.
He was giddy when we went to Sears.
I"d accompany him on these trips, and I remember loving the smell of hot mixed nuts (they used to have a candy counter in the middle of the store, and they'd roast nuts. The aroma was heavenly).
Today, he feels just as giddy about Harbor Freight or Home Depot.

I'll admit that even I can enjoy a trip to Harbor Freight.
Home Depot...not so much.

You see, the contractor guy is scheduled to be here at my house on Thursday to put trim around the doors and windows.
Currently, this house has no trim anywhere.
(note that wood door is going to be painted white)

I think new, taller baseboards, and a trim around the doors and windows will look more finished.
In order to save money, I'm doing some of the stuff myself on this project.
Last night I pulled up the carpet and padding, and the wood flooring is now sitting out acclimating to the room.
The walls are also old-school plaster (note the lack of trim on this window).

Yes, I did paint that bright green focal wall.
I've gotten used to it.

The other three walls are a pale green--almost white.
I removed and discarded the old baseboards months ago.
The more I can do myself, the less money I have to pay the contractor.
Hence going to the dreaded home improvement stores this week, and buying trying to buy the trim boards.

The contractor gave me all the dimensions I needed, and said both Home Depot and Lowes carried environmentally sensitive wood.
With trepidation, I walked into the lumber area of Home Depot.
Four or five employees were standing in a group shooting the shit.
I attempted to figure out what I needed by myself, but it was overwhelming...all this huge vertical feet of board--how the hell am I going to deal with that?

Finally one guy asked, not too enthusiastically, if I needed any help.
Me: "Which of these are FSC certified?'
Employee: (deer in headlights)
Me: (questioning look)
Employee: "Go over there and ask, and (whatever name it was) will tell you"
Me: Where's "over there?"
Employee: (turning on his heel and leaving) "To the left, and there's a window"
Me: (after turning left and seeing no window, and having no clue what he meant, I thought, you know what? Never mind)

and I left.

I mean, it totally sucks.
I don't know what I'm supposed to do.
It's like trying to talk to me about repairing a car--I glaze over.
Ditto here.
I grew up with three brothers and a dad who did everything for me.
I have no desire to get up and go.
It is what it is.
It's just not my personality.

Note to Home Depot: if you're offering FSC wood as a sales point, um, maybe you ought to tell your employees about it.
Just sayin.

I had had a previous experience with Lowes that was even worse than any I've had with Home Depot, so I vowed to never go there again.
But those boards need to be purchased and painted and ready to go in a couple of days!
What to do?!

I figured La Mesa Lumber would be a good option because it's a small business and maybe I could get some actual customer service.
Only problem is...they close at 4pm (though their website, ahem, says 5).
Kind-of a problem when I get off work around 3pm, quite a few miles away.
Aarrggh.

So I decided to try Dixieline.
I walked in, and there was an actual customer service desk in the center of the store.
There were sample boards of available baseboards and casings.
Employee: (without my having even asked him anything) "Do you need help with anything?"
Me: (in the state of shock) "huh?"

Wow, what a concept.

I wanted pre-primed, and they only had mdf, but at this point I didn't even care.
Mdf isn't the best quality or best environmental choice, but I took the service over that.

Three employees came up and joked around with me and were really cordial as they wrote up the order.
I was able to drive up to the back and another employee (also nice) loaded the boards in my car.
Like I said, what a concept after so much incompetence lately.

It was an interesting drive home.
My car was a kabob ;)



I hope the contractor likes what I picked out, seeing as I got a taller baseboard than he suggested, and got the only 2-1/4" casing they offered, though I liked a 2-1/2" one better (the space is too tight).
Too many choices, and stress overload...my brain is ragged.

Bedroom project continues...

Room progress is sloooooow.
I agonized over the flooring.
Initially I purchased a red oak flooring (an engineered hardwood) because I got such an amazing deal on it (after an instant rebate, it was $1.75 per square foot).
Normally I'm not an oak fan, but this was beautiful.
Here's a photo off their website to show you the color.

The problem was I didn't initially understand the difference between a floating floor and a quick click.
The oak needed to be floated, and even the installation instructions recommended a professional installer.
It required gluing and clamping and too much time.
I finally decided it was too much of an imposition to ask my brother to undertake, so I returned it today.

Instead, I went to Simple Floors and I chose a laminate.
Laminate can be quick clicked, meaning it snaps together like puzzle pieces--no glue necessary.
So much easier.

I should have scanned all the sample colors I considered, but I've already taken the samples back now.
I considered dark woods, I considered laminates that included a pad on the back of each piece, I considered so many variations.
Again, each decision took me a lot of time.
I weighed out all the pros and cons.
So many choices was overwhelming.

Well, their sale ended today, so I figured it was now or never.
I chose "Surf Wood".
It's really cool because there are random color variations, making it look worn and bleached in places.
I like that--it feels more real.
detail from the sample (the color is very similar to cedar): Each piece is really thick, so no hollow sound like some other brands.
Each plank has beveled edges, so no flat fake look.

I usually love whorls and knots and texture, but sometimes in laminate it looks so painted.
Surf Wood had a more of the appearance of real wood.
The price, surprisingly, about $100.00 more for my small room, at $2.09 per square foot.

Anyway, it feels good to have decided.
Next step: buy new baseboards.
I didn't know this was going to be such a huge project!
I'm so looking forward to the finished result.

New Drapes!

I bought draperies for my bedroom yesterday.
This is really a big deal for me because I don't often make purchases this large (a couple of hundred dollars), and I've never bought any kind of window treatments before, so it's exciting for me.

I wanted to take advantage of Columbus Day sales, so I headed over to Joann's and considered this gorgeous lemongrass-colored silk.
The lovliness doesn't really come across on the scan--the sheen, the cripness...

After 50% off, it was $12 per yard.
That was do-able (I needed 10-1/2 yards for a sliding glass door and a small window), but I figured I'd go back to Home Fabrics and see what they might say.
I'd rather support Home Fabrics anyway.
Joann's, especially this particular location, is scattered brained.
Just to get a 1/4 yard sample took over an hour.
It was ridiculous.
I'm not fond of the changes made to the layout of the interior either.

Anyway, the assistant manager, Jake, at Home Fabrics in La Mesa was so incredibly helpful.
For less money than any other place I checked, I got drapery rods, a lightweight fabric to sew into sheers, and pre-made panels in a simple neutral (whew, that saved me some serious time--I had planned to sew my own tab-style panels, but these are fine. And easier).
My God, the sheer fabric was only $3.99 per yard!

Jake helped with color choice, with telling me what hardware I needed, how to sew the sheers (they have how-to leaflets they give to customers at no charge), how long and full the drapes should hang, and honest-to-goodness customer service.
I would not have even gotten close to that at Joann's.

When I showed Jake my bedding colors and paint swatches, he stood back and said, "that's a whole lotta green".
Hmmm. I guess I had better break it up a bit and bring in one of the neutrals.
A beige/yellow was perfect.
Jake said it should feel "aaaahhhh".

(note whatever that spot is on the corner was on my scanner and not the curtain itself).
The beige fabric has what Jake called a "slug" slub (thanks kt), meaning lines of texture--kind-of a faux silk look.
Granted these are both polyester (eeww), but it really is a lot more practical.
Poly can be washed, it isn't as wrinkle prone as linen or cotton, and it doesn't absolutely have to be dry cleaned like silk.
This fabric is also light and simple to match the room, versus something heavy or overly dramatic.

I found a mosaic'ed shell rod at a thrift store--I thought this was a fun find for $6.50.
I purchased the other three rods to match the nickel finish (a simple metallic ball finial on the longer rod will be fine).

Home Fabrics was having a sale too, but in typical Barb fashion, every item I chose was full price.
But their prices really are amazing (geez, I sound like an advertisement. Like I said, I'm just kind-of excited).
I guess I'm excited because the project is all mine.
My space, my stuff, my research...

I got out to my car, reviewed the receipt, and realized the cashier had forgotten to charge me for the long rod ($24.95).
I wish I could tell you I didn't hesitate, but a small flick in my brain wanted to take the value and run...
but I pulled the good karma and went back inside to pay for it.
I had to.

Of course I'll blog completed pics when I finish the room (which will hopefully be soon).

Same old...

I am STILL working on fixing up my room.
This is taking a ridiculous amount of time.
More so in that I am often at someone else's house taking care of a dog, versus here finishing this project.

Too, it has all just been overwhelming.
Just SO MUCH STUFF.
One of my biggest flaws is continually adopting an attitude of
"I'll get around to that later..."
I mean, the intentions are good, but after awhile there are too many magazines to sort through, too many unfinished sewing projects, too many collectibles, too many letters to write, too many blogs to read, too many papers to file and organize...
it all becomes overwhelming to the point of my not wanting to do ANYTHING.

So half my battle with my room has been going through stuff, making like piles, putting stuff elsewhere to make space, figuring out which stuff to donate, which stuff to toss...
Finally I just had to stop and throw stuff in crates and, yeah, ironically, get around to it later.
The cycle is evidently never ending.

Anyway, I have scrubbed and scrubbed, and that's as far as I've gotten.
I had hoped to finish weeks ago, yet I haven't even primered yet.
Sigh.
I should be able to primer on Friday.
I will be dog-sitting this weekend, but I may try to sew curtains while I'm there.

The colors I need for drapes just don't come pre-made.
I considered it.
I looked at Ikea and JC Penney and World Market.
Then I went to Home Fabrics, and the guy there was so helpful that I am going to go with buying fabric and sewing my own.

I initially was going to purchase vertical blinds, until I spoke with an employee at Home Depot who said that is "so apartment. Curtains are much nicer."
You know...she's right.
I used to have a client who had heavy, hideous, motel-looking drapes, which totally turned me off to fabric as window coverings.
But my stuff is simple, and sheers with a soft cotton over the top will be perfect.
Just simple tab curtains--I don't need fancy pleats or anything.

I get my stitches out tomorrow after gum surgery last week.
The experience was really not so bad--a good doctor makes all the difference.

I also got satellite tv installed yesterday--woohoo!
My mom and I have not allowed ourselves that luxury in five years, so this is a huge big deal.
And DVR too!

Funny, the economy has tanked, yet I have been spending more money than usual lately (I took a loan out of my 401K).
I have been living paycheck to paycheck for so long, this fear people are experiencing just seems like a "welcome to my world".
I'm not going to worry anymore at this point.

More soon...