Bedroom update...

Now that I am almost finished with our living room, I'm moving on to the bedroom. My inspiration, of course, is Phoebe Howard. Her bedrooms are so classic, tranquil and luxurious.

Here is one of the photos that really inspired me. It is from the guest bedroom in her Atlanta apartment. In an interview with House Beautiful, Phoebe Howard said that the wall color was Blue Hubbard by Sherwin Williams (it was from Martha Stewart's line and now discontinued, but apparently Sherwin Williams can still mix it). She said that it is a grayish blue, with just a touch of green in it. (I've also heard good things about Sherwin Williams Sea Salt - it's supposed to look like sea glass according to Layla at The Lettered Cottage.)

I think the Blue Hubbard color will match perfectly with my new bedding. When Pottery Barn had a recent sale, I bought a new duvet cover and shams from their Grand Embroidered collection in Porcelain Blue. They are really pretty and soft. The color of the blue detailing is even softer in person. I also bought the matching Hanna Quilt in Porcelain Blue to create a similar look to the image below:I love this image too. The starburst mirror is just gorgeous. I have a smaller one hanging above the headboard in my guest bedroom. I found it in a thrift store on the Cape for $20. I may try to find another one for the master bedroom, although I doubt I'll be that lucky again with the price!

Although, for a different look, the painting below is just gorgeous.Here are (a lot) more images from Phoebe Howard that I'm using as an inspiration as I think about the other elements in the room.

All images from Phoebe Howard

How wonderful are these rooms? Phoebe Howard really has a way with bedrooms. Although, to be fair, the rest of her homes are absolutely stunning too.

I may also try making a headboard based on the Colette Bed from Crate and Barrel. I made the headboard in my guest bedroom following the instructions by Young House Love, found here, and I'm very happy with the results. We will likely be moving in a year or two, and at that point I want to upgrade to a King size bed, so there is no reason to spend a lot of money on a headboard now.

So, what do you think?

A Big Thank You!

Earlier this month I won a giveaway from Emily A. Clark, and this week I received the beautiful print from Sofia's Sketchbook in the mail. I love it! I chose this little owl, and I couldn't be happier.

How could I not be jolly looking at him? Thank you so much, Emily and Sofia!

Updating a pair of chairs...

This weekend I finished up a project that I started the weekend before - painting and reupholstering two chairs that I bought on Craigslist. I love how they turned out, and this project has given me the confidence to tackle more furniture projects in the near future (in particular, I would love to paint my kitchen table and chairs).

First, here is the Craigslist picture of the chairs. The seller claimed they were mahogany, but were worn and in need of work. I loved the detailing on the backs of the chairs, so I thought they would be the perfect chairs to paint.
After following the tips suggested by Kate at Censtsational Girl, here, Brooke from Blueprint Bliss, here, and Janell from Isabella and Max Rooms, here, I first sanded the chairs (or should I say, my kind husband detached the seats and sanded the chairs for me). Next, I used leftover primer that we had to prime the chairs. Since it is winter here and I had to work indoors, I didn't use spray paint. Next, I applied two thin coats of Sherwin Williams Dover White paint, which was also leftover from painting all the trim in our house. For the last step, my husband applied wipe-on poly to give it a nice shine and to protect the paint job.

Here is the end result:

For the seat cushions, I only kept the original wood and replaced everything else. The original foam cushions were gross, so I used two foam cushions that I got at Joann's Fabrics that I cut to size. In hindsight, the cushions are probably too plush for the height of the back of the chair, but, they are very comfortable so I don't mind that they are not proportional. I then wrapped some batting around the foam cushions and used my staple gun to secure the batting to the back of the wood seat. Next, I centered and wrapped around the green trellis fabric that I bought at Joann's, and stapled the fabric to the back of the seat. Then the seats were reattached to the chair.

Here is another look at the finished chairs.
We are going to use one for our computer desk and the other for my sewing desk. I also think they're cute enough to pull into our family room when we have guests over and need extra seating. I can't wait to paint something again. I may have a problem . . .

Happy Valentines Day

Usually I'm not too sappy, but I do enjoy Valentines Day. Mr. DE and I always stay home and cook a special meal (usually a few courses) and enjoy a bottle of red wine. This year, I gave Mr. DE a little extra help with my gift, and pointed him towards three little landscape paintings that I really liked on etsy. They have already arrived, and I love them. I'll do a post on them soon.

This home, featured in Traditional Home magazine, would be a beautiful space to enjoy on Valentines Day (or any other day). I love all the rich, saturated colors.I'm not sure I could convince Mr. DE to paint our bedroom pink, but the color certainly works in this space. I love all the textures in the room, and that headboard is fabulous. The white linens keep the room from being too sweet.
I love the bedroom for the owner's two daughters. It is so fun, and certainly one they can grow into as they get older.

All images from Traditional Home, photography by Julian Wass

Next week I'll be back with some before and after photos of the two chairs I painted and recovered. I love the way they came out! Thanks to everyone who gave me tips on how to best tackle the project.

I hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend! Anyone doing something special for Valentines Day?

Great vacation and a little more sewing...

I'm back! I had a wonderful time in Florida with my family, but unfortunately I caught a nasty cold and so I've been away from my blog a little longer than planned. Luckily, I'm feeling much better now.

First, I would like to share the dish mat I made for my mother, with matching kitchen towels. Again, I used Darby's tutorial from Fly Through Our Window, which you can find HERE. I love how it turned out (and my mom did too)! I used Amy Butler's Love fabrics, and I think the colors and patterns are perfect for my mom in Florida. I also had a lot easier time making this dish mat with the thinner towel.

While I was at it, I also made some dish towels with Valentines Day fabric that I bought at JoAnn Fabrics. The fabric on the left actually has glitter in it, which brings a little bit of sparkle to the kitchen.

I have lots of crafty plans up my sleeve too! I bought two chairs from craigslist that I plan to paint and to reupholster the seat cushions. I bought a fun green trellis fabric that I think will great. I've never painted furniture before, but I can't wait to give it a try. Any tips you would like to share before I start?