Mi Casa Updates

It's funny... I didn't think I would want to decorate this house. I mean, really, we've never had money to spend on home decor, so I didn't think I'd miss it much. But once we got settled and into a routine, there were a few things that really started buggin'. 

Like my living room window, for example. Suddenly, one day, it was just so bare I couldn't stand it. 

After HOURS of perusing fabrics (and a couple consults from Shells and Rach), I picked this:

Curtains certainly aren't hard to make, but it turned out to be pretty time consuming. 

Amendment.... hanging the dang curtain rod was the issue! Argh. I won't even bore you with the details, but be assured I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to measure holes, drill holes, charge screwdriver batteries, re-drill holes and take apart pieces. I may have stripped quite a few screws too. This just ain't my thing!

Here's another piece of furniture I've always loved, until all of a sudden one day, it hit me that I should repaint it. Why did it never occur to me before?! 

It's such a cute desk, but clearly old fashioned in color. (It was my Great Grandma Evans's desk... another reason why I love it.) 

But what to paint it??!! 

Again, projects are just never as easy as they should be, for me. I went to too many stores, agonized over colors and learned a few things the hard way.

Before:

During:

After:

The day I started painting, Collin got sick. Then Weston followed suit 2 days later. This thing sat in my garage for 4 days. 

I wanted to spray paint it, but couldn't find a large selection of colors. Come to find out, Home Depot is the place for that, not Lowes. 

So I brush painted it and it was SO ANNOYING!!! The Lowe's guy sold me on a primer + paint can and I didn't like it. Even after two coats you could still see brown.

And I hate how thick regular paint is. The desk had such pretty details that I felt the goopy paint mucked up. Spray paint would have been so much cleaner, I think. 

The only part I liked, was the glazing process. So much easier than distressing I've done in the past!!

I really like the end product, but I had to chuckle when I brought it inside. It totally doesn't match my house! 

It's so modern looking and cute and the rest of my stuff is so blah. SO. Decorating tips, anyone?! What can I do to help this little number fit in? She's needs someone to eat lunch with in the cafeteria.

I'm going to try and throw in more bright colors here and there, and I decided to start with a fun new pillow.

I just LOVE when tutorials say it only took them 1/2 hour. Ha! I won't even tell you how long this took me. I'm just glad I didn't have to tear out any stitches along the way. 

 Collin's room also needed a little work. I actually did all of this stuff before the curtains and desk.

Once again, why did it take me so long to refinish this dresser??!!

Before:

 Totally not a good picture, sorry.

I spray painted this time and although my hand had a cramp the rest of the night, it was worth it. 

I heart spray paint. 

I used a satin finish black paint and the Oil Rubbed Bronze on the hardware. A little Polyurathane spray on top and walah!

He absolutely is obsessed with Spidy. 

Needed a place for all that preschool art that comes home!

I really want make curtains for Collin's room, but am having the hardest time finding the fabric I want! It is impossible to find reasonably priced, medium weight, wide horizontal stripe, grey and white fabric!!! And I'm not picky or specific at all! :)

I'd also like to find one of those BIG wooden clocks for our living room, but that's giving me trouble too. Any ideas anyone?! I just need an interior decorator. No, I just need Shelley or Rachel. :)