First project for 2012 The Basement

I needed to update the basement. And I went a little Frenchy.

I started with paint.  I know bad blogger I didn't take before shots. Sometimes I get overwhelmed and excited and just dive in!!
The bottom half of the wall was wood paneling similar to the floor, which is a medium to light wood laminate. (It had been carpeting but we changed that out about 5 years ago.)
The top half of those walls were wallpaper which  we had too much trouble getting off, so just painted over. I like how it turned out...The wallpaper had a texture so the paint looks neat.

The fresh coat of paint was nice but needed a bit more. ...I did get that before picture, after the paint was done..

After some organizing, hanging paintings, and cleaning up, time to get to the finishing touches.

I took an old cookie pan that was almost destined for the recycle bin,

 And mod podged it into a tray for cocktails

 With images from the Graphics Fairy

I gotta tell ya those sofas are slipcovered with a faux leather,that comes with separate seat covers I bought from Surefit 3 years ago and they have withstood the test of time and teenagers... boys no less! These slipcovers have held their ground on 2 totally different sofas, that are too old to comprehend.
Trust me you don't want to see them as a before!
One is a T cushion seat and one is a regular seat. These cover a hodgepodge of leftovers, they are the best slips I ever bought and have a soft suede like feel. I highly recommend them.

The seat with all the throw pillows, lift ups for storage and I just covered four kings size pillows

with dropcloth for seating

  I added a mix of pillows we had with a few new ones from Home Goods

The old trunk has been around forever and was painted pink when I purchased it.
 It got a fresh coat of a Behr color called "calming retreat", the same as on the walls.
It's a nice soft neutral beige with a tiny hint of pink, like soft sand, at sunset.

And a calming retreat is what the basement actually feels like now, when I want to get away from the noise above.
 It even reflects more light the minute I open the door to head down there...( which I avoided when it was dark paneling )
A Frenchy candle here and there adds to the effect. Also mod podged with images from the "Graphics Fairy"

hmmmnn... maybe I will just start working down here in this space. It turned out pretty cozy.
What'ya think?

Joining the parties below:
Making the World Cuter Monday {January 9}
Metamorphosis Monday
good life Wednesday's

It's Always Summer in Florida

I know soon the Fall decorating begins in blogland. Too soon for me.
I will be the very last to indulge in that.

I love summertime, and no matter how hot it gets, I always want the season to remain. I have to admit September is one of my favorite Summer months. Yes, summer doesn't end until September 21, so it is officially, mostly, a summer month. The water is warm and the beach is delightful in September. So, being my favorite summer month, I savor it. I celebrate the last stages of summer, like it was the final stages of a ceremony, and aren't those final stages always the best?
Now when I am down the shore in New Jersey I can literally tell when summer is coming to it's final 3 weeks by the blooms on the seagrass out back. .
As you can see from this picture taken today, the blooms are just beginning to sprout. August 14th, plenty of summer left. ( My neighbor got a nice new picket fence.... I might need to plant some roses! I love roses on a picket fence)

There is actually only one visible plume sprout, dead center in this photo just popping out

 By the end of summer there will be tons of plumes up and they get real plump and full like I showed you here in this tablescape post where I filled a fabric basket with the seagrass plumes.

So Jersey's summer will end in 5 weeks. But Florida, now that a different story.

What I truly appreciate about Southwest Florida is that it's pretty much always summer. And that's why I go there, in the dead of winter after Christmas when I start longing for sunshine again.
My mantel in Florida will forever reflect summer. The tropical painting was a Home Goods find.

 I suppose if i were to actually live there, well then I might actually make a Fall and Christmas mantel, ...for like.. a week....but in no way, no how, will I do it now. First off I won't be there till after Christmas.

I go there for the never ending summer. To get way, far away, from the cold.
To drool at the warm delights of the sea. The shells are all collected from beaches on the gulf coast, except the starfish. Both mason jars are old, an Atlas and a Ball, found at a little antique shop in Englewood. And the large shell my daughter found while snorkeling at Boca Grande

I love my Florida fireplace!  It is made entirely of fossilized coral.  My little nymph was found at a thrift store, isn't she sweet? A candle or seashell fits perfectly in the flower she holds. The picture below is only half of our gang. Hub, me and our 3 girls. We also have 3 boys.

And I love how tall this fireplace is, it goes all the way up to the ceiling, and they are high.

I am seriously considering painting that black and gold  to  beige. ( hummmnn another project reason for me to disappear to Florida for a month)

I cozied it up by with some throw pillows, It's another place to plop down when there's a crowd.

I made the pillows myself

One side is a novelty fabric, the other side is dropcloth with beachy words written on it.

Thanks for stopping by, Smooth Sailin to ya!
Eileen


posting at:
Show off your cottage
Metamorphosis Monday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Good Life Wednesday @ A Beach Cottage

Mary's Room remodel Phase 4

Yippeee.. Mary's furniture came!!

The before of this same wall..

Re-do Phase 1, 2, 3 posted here
And we had some fun bonding time, picking out a throw rug for the bed area.
We found this one at home depot.
Just so her toes don't freeze the minute they hit the floor in the winter :)
She says she likes swirly stuff.. Say that five times. She sells sea shells by the seashore.

And I get to shop... yippee, I love shopping at Home Goods.
Look at all my choices. beachy stuff, swirly stuff. Help me out will ya?
Which ones would you recommend?

 The last one is bed bath and beyond

I like this bedspread at Bed Bath and Beyond.

I like this bedspread  at Home Goods

but I am thinking  a white bedspread

with swirly toss pillows.

What ya thinking?

Final reveal when I get all my shopping done, and curtains hung. Maybe end of this week.

See if I pick what you would pick.

Thanks for stopping by!
Eileen
I'm off to join some parties.

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