We’ve been in the process of a very long remodeling project – very nearly done now, just minor details remaining.  Since we are mostly do-it-yourselfers, it’s a long process indeed.  After that the ball moved more into my court for a decorating makeover.

Uhhhhhhh….

Not my forte.

I finally threw up my hands in defeat and enlisted the services of a sweet friend from church who is an interior decorator.  And a genius interior decorator at that.  She allowed me to use about an hour or so of her time to walk through my house and throw lots of ideas my way, even using stuff I already had!

As soon as she left, I immediately used one of her ideas to spray paint some frames I wasn’t too crazy about.  By doing so, they were changed into something I love.  With spray paint.  Imagine.  And here I thought everyone was kidding about the wonders of spray paint.

From frilly silver frames to a nice satin black

Did I mention that while I was spray painting them that our friendly neighborhood snake came out to visit.  I think he wanted a new coat.

*hahahahahaha*  I crack myself up.

Fast forward a couple of months.  I put the rest of the list of to-do’s from Monica’s suggestions on the back burner as I dove into homeschooling research, piano lessons, and, well, life.  Then this week a sudden change in plans for some friends’ upcoming nuptials resulted in their rehearsal and rehearsal dinner being held in our backyard and on our deck.

Being the delightfully fully female woman that I am, my mind immediately looked around my home and thought, “Oh no, I’ve GOT to finish the house.”  Which made complete sense considering everyone was coming to hang out in the backyard.  Of course.  But if you are female, you understand that this does not matter.  It must be as close to finished as financially and physically possible.

Enter Hobby Lobby.

I ever so gratefully entered Hobby Lobby and encountered and 50% off sale.  They knew I was coming and would be in desperate need, didn’t they?  Love it when that happens.  I found the frames I needed for a picture project for my piano studio, a piece of art I fell in absolute love with also for the piano studio.  Wanna see the almost-finished piano studio?

Photo frame collage - Piano Studio

Monica suggested a cube-layout of pictures for above my desk.  Yes, I know one or two are crooked.  I’ll get there.  I also know a couple of the mats are a different color.  I’ll get there, too.  But when pressed for time…it’ll do.  I love it, tho!  I love looking up and seeing my whole family in the great pictures that our friend Jess took last summer.

Dance Me to End of Love - art print above digital piano

This is an art print by Jack Vettriano called Dance Me to End of Love.   I’ve always loved it.  We have another print of his called Singing Butler hanging in our living room as well.  I saw it on sale for 50% off at Hobby Lobby and couldn’t even bring the letter N-O to my lips.  I know it probably needs to be a little bigger for the space but we’ll work on that later.  For now, I love it.

Almost the full effect in the studio...

So the piano studio is almost done.  I need some book shelves in the corner where I am standing the take the pictures, and Monica suggested some tall greenery behind the other corner of the grand piano.  I do have a desk chair for the desk – it’s just not put together yet.

The Homeschool Classroom

Monica suggested getting canvases and letting the kids paint to their hearts’ content and hanging them on the walls for the classroom (former formal dining room).  G’s canvas was fairly minimalistic.  S’s was wild and crazy.  Are we surprised?  Not in the least.  We can all tell who guided the middle canvas.  Yes, there is a slight uphill slant to the canvases.  Mommy apparently can’t hang straight.  We’ll straighten them later.  Or just have fun as I watch everyone tilt their heads to the side as they look at them.  :)  Anyhow, in the future, this room will get some coats of paint, shelves, a computer, etc.  Lots of work to do here before fall.

Ready for the living room?

Couch - before.

Scary, I know.  You might want to avert your eyes.  Dogs, kids.  Dogs, kids.  Stains.  If anyone tries to sell you on microfibre and how easy it is to clean, don’t believe them.  It’s a lie.  Monica made a great, easy suggestion for making slipcovers but since I don’t have that kind of time I thought I’d trying buying bed sheets to use as slipcovers on our L-couch.  I chose dark brown jersey (t-shirt material) sheets and wrapped the fitted sheets around the top cushions and the flat sheets around the bottom cushions and draped around the edges.  What do you think?

Living room!

I’m SOOOO excited about how well that turned out.  I bought new throw pillows also.  Hobby Lobby had the crosses for 50% off and S helped me pick out several to put in the empty space on that well (where there used to be a doorway).  Yes, there is a train table as a coffee table, why do you ask?  ha!  It has since been moved to G’s room.  No opportunity to get a real coffee table yet but I have my eye on one at World Market.  Maybe later this summer.

So while we are not yet complete with the home redecorating project, I certainly got a major part of it done in two days!  Perhaps hosting spur-of-the-moment large parties motivate me…who knows?

Anyone home redecorating big or small you would like to share?