Inspired Room: Lovely DIY Golden Heart Walls for a Little Girl's Room

We are on the hunt for a new rental, so I know I will be getting the decorating itch soon! Since Elisabeth will finally have her own room, I am thinking of something temporary to add lots of girly glam. Then, I saw what Holly of In the Fun Lane did to her little girl, Wren's room, and I so love it! The metallic touches will go great with the ones I have in Elisabeth's fabric garland I made.

Using these gold heart wall decals from Danielle and Paul at Urban Walls, she mapped out pretty little touches to the room for a lovely, mini-makeover. I am excited to see what else they have, perhaps something like this airplane for the boys room?

 

Vintage Suitcases Memento Craft Idea via A Drawer Full of Pretty Wishes

Megan of A Drawer Full of Pretty Wishes blog has got some serious fashion and craft talent, more on that in later posts. But I just simply adore her vintage suitcase ideas. They would make a wonderful keepsake gift, using mementos and special touches all in a nice, traveling package. Almost like a scrapbook or shadow box , but on a bigger scale. I pass by vintage suitcases all the time in thrift shops. If you made several, they would look adorable stacked in a corner together. Imagine, one for birthdays, seasonal holidays, then they easily fold up to be stored away until next year. I look forward to making some of these soon!

I love the dainty details of ribbon and lace. Personalized buntings and banners are easy to make with either fabric or paper and add an extra special touch. This dance themed case is complete with a tutu and vintage art of a ballerina. I know many little girls who would love this!

Love this frame idea. Paint and distress an old frame, than glue vintage rhinestone buttons or clip-on earrings or brooches to decorate it. Add a pretty saying or photo. Simple and sweet.

I love how she added sport items and comics for an 8 year old boy! Imagine making a Star Wars, Minecraft, Leggo, science, dinosaur, animal, military, cowboy or car themed case. They would make a cute table display at a birthday party.

A Pretty Halloween

I have seen some very pretty crafts that would make even the most cottage chic or elegant home ready for the holidays. I love Halloween, but I am not into things that are too scarey, so these would be perfect for 'round these parts.

 Blinged out Spider Web and Spider on a White Pumpkin via BHG

 

Pretty Lace Ghost Tutorial by A Beautiful Mess

Glittered Spider Web Doily, just glue a web on wax paper, glitter. let dry and peel! *full tutorial here*

Lovely Halloween ideas by Rhonna Designs

 Shabby Chic Fabric Chandelier Tutorial 

Shabby Chic Pumpkins

Halloween wreath by 36th avenue via snap creativity

Thrifted Vintage Master Bedroom Makeover

For those who have followed my blog over the years, many of you have seen my sporadically different bedroom changes, in three different homes. The first was the diy painting of the garage sale headboard here. Then the vintage linen room, then the plate wall  and total bedroom makeover (my favorite), and now in this yucky rental (with the nausea inducing mustard orange accent wall.) Well, it's the end of an era, because I just sold my pretty white headboard and my adorable vintage french provincial dresser last weekend. A bit is due to earning some cashola to get new baby girl gear, but I'm also going through a mega purging phase right now. I have boxes and boxes of clothes/decor/craft supplies/linens and stuff just waiting to get out of here. My room feels naked now without a headboard, so any free/cheap/diy ideas for that would be awesome.

But, I did find these two amazing vintage lamps the other day for only $12. I have been looking for lamps because all of ours have broken. I never find quirky/cool lamps in a pair that actually work at a thrift store.... and these lamps are definitely pretty quirky. A woman at Goodwill commented that she liked the lamps... if the shades were different, but I happened to love the silky drum shade and the pretty pale robins egg blue color, even though it does clash a bit with the interesting pink and green glass/acrylic (?).

The wall sconces were another find for $2 and the vintage crewel embroidery art was $3. I am not usually a big symmetry decorator, like my blessed grandmother, but I love the simplicity it brings to the space.

 I have a beautiful vintage crewel embroidery on a down stuffed wool pillow that accented this art beautifully, (as seen on a chair that I also sold, *sniff*)... but I RUINED it! I wasn't thinking and washed the thing... now it is all moldy and the embroidery colors ran. I am so upset with myself. I may just cut the front part off and try to frame it?

My little boys love picking me little flowers they find. I put one in my hair the other day and they thought I had magically transformed into a princess.

Of course, the end tables usually have medicine bottles, glasses of ice water, cell phone chargers and a way huge ugly alarm clock. But you know, gotta look a little gussied up for pics right? Since the thrifted tables are pretty banged up, and I still haven't sanded and painted them, I cut this vintage thrifted lace panel in half and now we don't get splinters on our end tables at night.

 

 My hubs' Far Side looking elephant piggy bank. And his studly glasses. He looks so cute in those glasses.

 A few slip covered pillowcases my aunt, the professional seamstress made for me. I stuff them with cheap (and washed) thrifted pillows. I love how she made me so many covers, I can change them throughout the seasons and always have a fresh update. That is the beauty of slip covered pillows people. I really need to get over my fear of sewing machines and just do it. Rae Gun has a great envelope pillow case tutorial here.

So, I got me a little mini makeover for now. I have a challenge on my hands on how to make this space a little more comfortable while spending zero money on a headboard alternative. I have found a few cute ideas out there, that I will likely be posting soon, do you have any free/diy headboard ideas?

Linked to:
Thrifters Anonymous 
Her Library Adventures Flea Market Finds 
Nester's It's Not Perfect But It's Beautiful 
Between Naps on the Porch 
Chic on a Shoestring Budget 
Remodelaholic

Homefront: Reviving a Framed Painting with.... Paint

I got this large, Barbara Hails 1990's print in a semi-lovely fame at a garage sale for $7 a few months ago. It's been sitting here, looking all park bench floraly and very dull, sucking the energy out of the room. I only wanted it to bring some color to this massive brick wall, but the frame drabbed out any colors in the otherwise pretty painting. Obviously, the only clear solution is to paint it, white.

I'm lazy and don't sand, not even when I did my headboard or my mirror. But if you did prime and sand, you will have more longevity on the paint job and it will look better. I really don't mind if I have to touch up a nick, or I may even add intentional nicks to balance out accidental nicks.

 You can dry brush for a naturally shabby chic look and call it fin.

But I liked to pile on the paint, too thick layers, before allowing the first to dry. I'm impatient. I used plain old acrylic craft paint in ultra white. This painting doesn't come out of the frame. But if it did, then a can of spray paint would have been easy.

The print is a textured vinyl, so any paint I got on it, easily wiped off with a lightly dampened paper towel. I even think it would be fun to stencil or free paint some crazy design on here. If your picture surface is also not removable or vinyl, then be sure to cover it, so paint doesn't ruin your picture. I went around right under the frame edge with a piece of paper as I painted and it worked fine.

 It really does seem to brighten up the whole fireplace and give the colors some subtle intensity.

Our inheritance from my husband's grandmother's passing. His parents got this in Germany when he was  born and gifted it to his grandmother. A lovely, huge, vintage scenic candle, handcarved by Johann Gunter.  There are a few broken parts, but it's been moved around 20 times, though it is still very charming.

 I got his lovely bust and The Dicken's Bedside anthology book a few months ago at some antique shops.

 

Love my little bottle collections. This one is from my favorite antique mall a few years back and I glued a vintage brooch on with E6000. The flowers came from the mister. You know how a dying bouquet usually has a few good flowers left? I usually remove those when throwing the bouquet out and add them to small bottles.

Inspired Interiors: Shabby Chic, Le Magnifique!

 updated shabby chic, a modern approach via apartment therapy

If you are looking for a style which is light, airy, feminine and bright, try a little shabbiness. Similar to cottage style, it has a softness which carries throughout furniture to textiles. We mostly all know this style, but it's easy to get lost in the images, so breaking it down will help one pick and choose elements to incorporate, if so inclined.

Painted floors

via houzz, shabby chic redux 

Painted white or pastel coloured floors with simple rugs can be not only inexpensive to implement, but add space and texture to the room.

Roses

via houzz, shabby chic redux 

Chintz style roses or prints are a must. Pink is always good, but if you want to tone down the femininity then you could use another chintz style in a blue hue.

Distressed style furniture

via i heart shabby chic

{Photo Credit: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn}

There is styled furniture available which means you don’t have to go to the trouble of painting and sanding a brand new reclining sofa, but of course if you wish to make the furniture to your own style then you could try this glazing technique yourself. It involves giving the furniture a distressed, battered look. You could paint the furniture in several light, pastel colours and sand the upper layer away in areas such as the corners, drawer fronts and around handles. Stick to white or very light colours to maintain the look. Other touches are roses and little flowers painted on areas of furniture.

Fabric

   

Traditional types of fabric such as lace and chintz cotton fabrics are a hallmark of Shabby Chic. Use these as throws, tablecloths, cushions, curtains and blinds. Bunting is a wonderful touch; hang around the room, across walls.

Lighting

  via love lauren

 

via houzz, shabby chic redux

Lighting usually consists of light chandelier type fittings. This contrasts with the relaxed air of the rest of the room but gives the design its inimitable style. It provides a little glitz and glamour amongst the relaxed softness.

 Hearts

 via i heart shabby choice, notice the heart candelabra?

 

shabby chic heart side table by old new again

Lots of decorative hearts in various styles are a common theme. They can be made from fabric, petal or painted wood and are usually hung on walls, door and furniture handles. They provide a little ornamental touch.

Walls

  

Walls are bright, light and soft. Pastel hues are common, although white is a firm favourite. For those who like wallpaper, rose wallpaper could give a touch of the country, but be careful not to use too much or the room may look old fashioned rather than stylised.

Shabby Chic is a timeless classic, and can be achieved with a minimum of fuss. For the creative it can become a project, decorating furniture and walls, but remember to keep it simple, relaxed is at the heart of this look.

*guest post text by Susan, courtesy of Sofasandsectionals.com, a leading retailer of recreational seating.