The Rug Hunt
Remember seeing the antique rug in the dining room?
Well, we thought this rug was a bit too bright and attention grabbing for this area. Plus, it was really taking a beating being in the center of our home. We were on the hunt for a rug. A very specific rug. Most importantly, we had to be able to afford it on our teeny tiny budget. We also wanted it to be big. It had to be at least 3 feet wide and at least 12 feet long. Wider and longer would be even better. This was the hardest part. Almost all runners were only about 2 feet wide. Not going to cut it with a large room and two dogs creating a lot of traffic. We were also hoping for either a print we could agree on, or something fairly neutral, but also not too light so that it would get dirty fast. Gravel roads and a farmer living in the house, oh and those two dogs again, means dust, dirt, and crud on a frequent basis. Do we sounds picky yet?
We hunted and hunted. Then we debated and debated. We found the one. Or at least what will be the one for a while! It was a “dark natural” colored banded jute rug. This one was 3 feet by 12 feet and was from the Home Decorator’s Collection, bought from Amazon.
We really like how the rug choice turned out. Its nothing fancy, but the neutral-ness of it allows for us to paint and change the room when we get the chance. This rug seems strong and durable, but is also soft and welcoming. Actually those bands you can see in the close up picture are super comfy on your feet, almost massaging! It does slip some, and in the future we may get a no-skid rug pad, but for now it has been perfect!
We couldn’t leave the dirty old door mat there with the pretty new runner! Here’s the old grungy mat:
It just so happened that I fell upon an awesome, and very inexpensive door mat right after getting the runner. You will never guess where I found the new mat! Dollar General! $12! And so adorable! It is also jute and looks so great with the runner!
So, what did we do with the antique rug? We put it upstairs in the hallway. We had some traffic issues with the light colored carpet in the hall, but not enough to continue to wear this rug out super fast, so we are trying it out up there. So far I think it is growing on me!
I think this little rug rearranging is going to work out just fine! 🙂
Living Room Brainstorming
I’ve said it before, we hate our living room couch. We have a small living room, but would like it to work better for us. So, what do we do when a friend is wanting to get rid of an almost new L shaped sectional in cream? Snatch it up!
It looks huge and things are in disarray right now, but it is so comfy, and much more what we were wanting for a more functional room. A sectional seems more modern than our house, but this one combines my love for tufting too! So, now I have been on the hunt for living room inspiration before making any decisions about ours. Enjoy my eclectic collection of musings…
I love the horse photo in this one. And, it’s a sectional.
This one is an L shaped couch and a smaller room like ours.
I love the gray of this couch. They are using a coffee table and the ottoman is separate for more seating. We are considering doing away with our coffee table and using a large tray on the ottoman. Hm?
Not a sectional, but I love a Chesterfield. Always inspiring. lol
http://angelaglancy.hubpages.com/hub/Creative-Ideas-that-Bring-Rustic-Cabin-Style-to-the-Living-Room
I loved the patterned pillows in this living room. I am also digging the idea of the wall mounted lamps. We lack floor space and this might do the trick!
http://angelaglancy.hubpages.com/hub/Creative-Ideas-that-Bring-Rustic-Cabin-Style-to-the-Living-Room
Another gray sectional, and I loved the mix of fun pillows!
Bright colors and a rustic coffee table.
Not exactly our style room, but I love the big coffee table and even the tweed on the couch!
Another room with no sectional, but how pretty!? I love everything about this one.
The next few rustic rooms are for Jeremy 😉
I love the mix in this room. The more subtle antlers, and especially the tufted chair!!
This one has the Chesterfield for me and the antler chandelier for Jeremy!
Any more ideas? Let us know! And soon I will show you progress on our room!
Farm House Tour- The Upstairs
I have been wanting to show a mini tour of the new farm house, and finally got started! These are “semi-before” photos, as we already have our things moved in, but these our not our paint colors and mostly not our curtains. There will be many more changes to come, and I wanted a way to show the progress and changes. So, lets start with the upstairs!
Here is the view at the top of the stairs.
There are some frames in the hallway and the book shelf I redid…
At the end of the stairwell is an old antique wash cabinet from my granparents…
The view back towards the stairwell…
Next is the room on the left of the stairwell, next to the old wash cabinet. We call this the “kid room,” which used to be a little girl’s room…
The other side of the room…
And on the wall by the door there is a chalk drawing of Dora! lol
The door in the last photo goes to what we call the “baby room,” which will one day be a nursery…
The other side of the room has chalk spiderwebs, which were for a little boy…
Here is the view back towards the “kid room”…
Next is my walk through closet that leads the master bedroom. This is across the stairwell from these rooms…
I still can’t wait to have the time to paint the closet the dark navy I have picked out!
The jewelry area…
Next you walk through the closet door and into our sunken bedroom…
The walls are currently yellow, which is fine, but we plan to paint them a nice gray at some point. The little white shabby dresser was found in the back of the house and makes a perfect TV stand for us…
The wooden shelf above the chair is a barn board we found…
Recognize the blue chair from the old office? It was too big. The next photo is of the antique dresser from my grandparents that matches out bed…
Our bed…
The shelf by my side of the bed we made out of another barn board that we call the “cow board,” because its front is smooth and wavy due to cows rubbing on it…
Our stained glass window and exposed rustic beams…
Next is the main bathroom. This shot is a view in the doorway from the closet…
The blue and flooring aren’t really our first picks, but they will make due until we can paint and spruce…
Well, thats the upstairs. What do you think so far? A lot to do, but so far we love it! 🙂
Thrifted and Rearranged
We have been busy busy. It all started with a quick stop at the D.A.V. (Disabled American Veteran’s) thrift store. I happened upon a cute little vintage typewriter table for $3.95! I love the metal industrial look, so I couldn’t resist. It was just a bit dirty and scratched, so we painted her white. With one more coat and a small black swirl on top (this weekend) this beauty will sit next to the door to the backyard in the dining room. It is on wheels and easily movable, so it will serve as an outdoor drink table as well. We have been searching for something to go outdoors while enjoying grilling or the bonfire, and nothing seems pretty but built for the outdoors. This way we can just bring the little table in when we aren’t out there. Here she is:
While I was there I also spotted an antique, claw foot, drop leaf table. Hmmm… We got to thinking. We have been wanting a bigger table for the dining room and decided to try moving the red table to the kitchen. After giving the rooms some rearranging we fell in love. Here’s the kitchen:
It feels so nice and cozy in there now. We even sat here yesterday morning and had coffee together. So, after giving the new arrangement a night we decided it was a keeper. I headed back to the D.A.V. and snatched up the dining table. We got a great deal, but it does need some work. I removed some scuffs, but there are scratches. We are probably going to cover it with a table cloth until we get some other projects finished and then start stripping and refinishing it. We are thinking of staining it either a lighter brown to match the maple bar or black like the desk that is still in progress. I am still hung up on my mis-matched chairs, and am in the process of adding a few different styled ones, so although it doesn’t match perfectly right now it will when we get done! Bonus: I found out that the table expands for adding leaves! Although it didn’t have the originals with it we can make some for it to have big family meals here! 🙂 Here’s the dining room:
Well, what do you think? Any suggestions or ideas? Its always a work in progress, but it’s getting there! Oh, and Romeo the camera hog says hi, too.
Rearranged
The cluttered corner of the living room just wasn’t working, so this morning (we are both home again due to awful weather) we moved the old Coke crate to the entryway of the bedroom. This took care of two problems at once. The marquee letters we had hanging in the doorway were looking a little lonely as well. We were happily surprised by just how much tiny changes can help a space out!
The space isn't completely finished, but it does already look a lot less cluttered.
The Coke crate could still use a few odds and ends, but this is a great improvement. All in good time!
I am so glad my fiance is understanding with me when I want to move shelves three times before its right! And, thankful that he is willing to do all the work, even on his day off! 🙂
On An Organizing Spree
After being so impressed with my organizational skills with the jewelry in the medicine cabinet, I decided not to stop there. I moved onto the closet next. Mostly we were already pretty organized in there, but rearranging a few things helped free up some space. I also hung a hook on one of the walls inside the closet to hang a few extra long necklaces from my costume jewelry collection. Things seem so handy and visible now. Here’s a peak inside the space of our home that everyone is afraid to share:
This is a view of the closet as a whole. The shelving was already installed when we moved in, so we are using it as-is. It is helpful, but we do not have "sides," just "areas." A little confusing at first, but now it works.
We hang belts, scarves, and ties on the low bar, along with a few of my shorter shirts. My giant shoe rack fits in the corner.
This is the hook of necklaces that I hung along a side wall of the closet. This is so helpful!
Here is a close-up of the hook I used. It is actually a hook that fits over a door, so one end is flat, which I use to hold multiple necklaces. The other end is curved, but I twisted it with pliers to hang agianst a wall. So simple I even did it myself.
Quick Trip To The Antique Store
Last night before the ice storm, we took a quick drive to the antique store the next town over. I love this store. All antique stores are fun, but this place is so big that you always see something new. I did find these two little gems:
A coke box with the cubbies still in. I have been wanting to hang one of these up for a trinket shelf.
This is a very old cigar box. I though this would be beautiful to hold little odds and ends.
The cigar box in the TV cubbie.
This was the spot we chose for the coke box. Don't mind those awful curtains! 🙂
The back of the box has a bit of a wierd shape, but this is a close up of the little candies if you can make them out.
Make Mine Eclectic 