Living Room Idea #1

So Like I mentioned before I have a really had time deciding on one style and going with it, hints the blog, right.  Well here's Idea #1 for the living room.  Here's a picture of the living room if you're standing in the foyer.  This picture doesn't show the left wall which has a large opening into the dining room.

The layout of this room is giving me some issues.  First off the offset fireplace is just awkward.  The other issue is that the room is pretty long.  the wall on the left seems like the perfect spot for the TV on the tv stand I already have.  It's dark wood, narrow and fits my TV perfectly.  the problem with having the TV on the left is that it puts the fireplace on the opposite corner of the room which makes for opposing focal points. Once I take full measurements of the room I'm going to do a layout of the furniture and see how it works best (all though knowing me it'll change once I get everything in the room).  I was watching an HGTV show tonight where they used blues, greys, whites and wood tones to lighten and warm a space.  I really like the combination and it inspired me.  I would like to use the furniture that I already have and luckily the sofa and chair are slip covered from IKEA.  Here's the sofa with a grey slip cover.

I also like this slip cover for the chair.

At first I would have never thought to use these two together but that's were my inspiration room comes into play.  The designer used pillows on the solid sofa to pull in the floral and color.  These are a couple pillow ideas but I think I'll be keeping an eye out for the perfect ones.

Here's a link to the floor tiles that will pull the room together http://www.flor.com/well-suited-graphite.html#

I like the idea of floor tiles so that I can easily change out a soiled tile (I have two cat's it's bound to happen).  I think the herringbone is a little unexpected but that's what I like about it.  I don't want the room to look too country so I think the herringbone will balance the blue floral and the graphite color will pull it all together.

A light grey paint color on the walls would brighten the room a little.  There is no overhead light so the only light is from the window and lamps.  My first instinct is for a light grey like this but...

since the living room is part of the foyer which goes upstairs and down to the basement I don't think I want to use this cool of a color throughout the entire open area.  so I'm kind of leaning towards a warmer french grey that will work in the rest of the spaces. 

 The wood coffee table, tv stand, and end tables that I already have will work really well with this design.  The only problem I have is that I need more furniture to really fill up the space.  But that can be added in the future.  I'm thinking a carved wood chair like this one would work well near the fireplace.  It's light enough that it won't block your view of the fireplace and the white will work well with the fireplace surround.

  

So that's idea #1 we'll see where idea #2 takes me :)

Wall Decals

Can you have too many wall decals?  In my search for one in the office I've come across so many that I like.  I can't see having one in every room but they are so pretty. 

I love love love this Peacock.  I have no clue where you would put this but I think it's beautiful and the size is so dramatic.

I thought this one could be a second runner up for the office but it may be a little juvenile.

I have no use for this in my house but isn't it just gorgeous!

I would love to have these in my bedroom

This is so awesome.  It's a chalk board calender wall decall.  I might have to get this for my office!

Damask has always been a favorite of mine.  Maybe in the living room ;)

Isn't this the cutest.  In the dining area theres a huge wall that needs a big piece of art.  I love the retro colors and simple outlines

here's another chalk board that could be nice for to do lists.

I could see forgoing the hall tree for this tree.  Love It!

Ok so maybe I'm a little decal crazy :-D

Office Wall

My parent's neighborhood sent out this monthly news letter for Mother's Day (sorry I couldn't figure out how to rotate it, I'm new to this remember :)  I love the colors and the playful design.  One of the upstairs bedrooms is going to be my office.  I figure if I'm going to be spending a lot of time in a room making my dreams come true then why not fill it with something that inspires me.  Here's a picture of what the room looked like before I painted it.

I love the three large windows that look out on to the back common area.  Since it's on the third floor it feels like you're in a tree house.  The tree right out side the window is a pink and white tulip magnolia that is breathtaking when it blooms.  I have since painted the room a Tiffany Blue which is a little brighter than I had intended but is still really pretty.  I would love to figure out a way to paint the flowers from the news letter under the windows.  I have these grand ideas that I would be able to paint something similar because it doesn't look that difficult but I know myself and my skills so I'll have to find an alternative.  I've been looking on Etsy to see if I could find wall decals that are similar and maybe I could fill in the decals with the fun colors.  I haven't found anything that is perfect yet so I'll keep looking.  So far this is the closest thing I've seen but it just doesn't have the whimsy.

The 1/2 Bath

A 1/2 bath on the main level was a must for me while looking at houses.  I've been living in a 1 bedroom 1 bath for so long and I'm thrilled that my guests will no longer have to use my bathroom.  

For some reason I've wanted to paint this bathroom a purple color ever since I moved in.  I go back and forth between wanting a deep dark purple or a light lavender.  I know that I want white accents to play off the purple and this Sherwin Williams color just might be to right color.  It's not too dark but has the drama I'm looking for.  My mom has a new embroidery machine so I'm thinking of white towels with purple paisleys or flowers

I think a mirror like this would pop off the purple wall.  I don't really care what shape mirror is so I think I'll keep my eye out for an ornate mirror no matter the color and spray paint it if I have to. I found this one on Etsy!

I hate the toilets in this house with a passion.  I wasn't planning on changing out the plumbing fixtures when we were looking at the house but after living with running toilets that don't flush well I've decided I will put a line item in the budget for 4 new toilets.  I will definitely be getting water efficient toilets and I really like this dual flush option.  Not only is it good for the environment and will save me money but I like the way it looks too.  

The vanity in this bathroom is adequate.  It's a white cabinet with a cultured marble top.  Nothing spectacular but it's not something on the top of my list to change.  Part of my hesitation to change it out is that the floor and walls would need to be redone at the same time which seems like a bigger project than is really needed for the 1/2 bath.  The floors right now are a gray and white marble that I think would work really well with the purple. If I did change out the vanity I would like something like this

I love that it looks like an old apothecary cabinet and has cute bun feet. 

The Foyer

This is the foyer if you are standing in the living room looking at the front door.  When you come in the door to the left is an opening into the den and to the right are the stairs going to the basement and going upstairs.  there's also a hall closet and a nice half bath.  I've always wanted a hall tree and I was thinking the wall across from stairs would be a great place.

I love the look of this one but I'm worried the color might be a little dark

my grandfather made a bench for my family almost 30 years ago.  It's a throw back to the 80's with dusty blue and tole painted geese.  It's got a checker board painted in the middle so you can sit on either end and play.  Mom and Dad said I could have the bench so I'm think about painting it and creating something similar to this

I like the idea of having a place to drop my purse and jacket when I come in the house.  I also like the idea of having some baskets to put clutter that needs to go upstairs.  I liked the dark brown/black paint on the ones I've seen but I think that not having the back piece will help this stay light.  For the upper shelf I was thinking about using some corbels on the ends with a few hooks in the middle and a shelf on top.  I really like the idea of using old door knobs as hooks like this

so I'll definitely be keeping a look out for some old door knobs.

Before Photos

My parent's and I felt that the townhouse was a really great investment property.  It's in a great location in Sandy Springs right near the interstate and only 20 min. away from my parent's and my sister's.  I've lived in Sandy Springs for 6 years and really like the area.  The only problem is housing in that area is super expensive.  During my house search I looked at some single family homes but figured out pretty quickly that the good ones were out of my budget and the ones that I could afford needed a lot more work than I was looking for.  I also looked at some other townhouses but none of them had the space this one had plus the price was right.

Here's a picture of the outside.  It's a corner unit at the end of the row which gives it privacy, a nice side yard and an extra window.  The brick on the left is the garage with  a roof deck off the master.  The tall skinny windows look into the den off the garage (I haven't decided what function this room is going to serve yet).  There's a few steps up to the front door in the corner and the square windows are in the stair well and the upstairs hallway.  The guest parking is in front of the garage and there's a nice walkway up to the front door which has a nice view of the chandelier in the stairs.  I have dreams of a big white washed chandelier (we'll see if that happens)

Sorry about the quality of the picture.  I downloaded IT off facebook but it's the only one I currently have.  Bear with me for a couple weeks till I can take some new pictures.  (I'll explain the delay in another blog ;)

There's not much I can do to the outside of the unit.  The paint has to stay but that's ok because I don't mind the color.  I don't really like the hedges but I know nothing about gardening so I'll have to do some research as to what should go in there.

The New Place with a New Dream

When I bought this townhouse (with the help of my parent's) I had a dream of what it was going to become.  I knew it needed a little bit of work but I loved the fact that it was move in ready.  Well that original dream has changed a bit but the house still needs some work.  I'm going to use this blog as a place to plan my renovation and design ideas as well as keep my family and friends up to date on the progress.  I can't wait to get started but this is going to be a long slow ride.  Let the planning begin!!!