Hello, dear readers. I am back after a brief blog lull and ready to show you a fun bedroom redecorating project that I just completed. You may remember that I recently added some drop cloth curtains to the bedroom. I loved the curtains, but the room seemed kind of heavy and a little too dark for my liking after I hung them. The added privacy they offered was necessary, so, well, you know how one thing leads to another…I decided to brighten up some of the bedroom accessories to give an added lightness and brightness to the room.

So, here is the before:

I liked the overall look of our bedroom, but I felt like the black lamps, bed skirt, dark headboard, dark wood side tables and black picture frames were just a little, well, dark. The rest of the room, drapes, walls and bedding, were a wash of various neutrals and though the space was clean a tailored looking it was just missing a bit of sparkle.

And After:

Bright and spring-y!

The purchases I made for this room redo were mirrored side tables that I found on sale at Target (I love them) and new sheets, bed skirt, shams and accent pillow from TJ Maxx Homegoods. I got everything on the cheap, especially the side tables. I noticed a small chip on the corner of one that landed me an additional 20% off the pair after speaking to a store manager. Did I mention that I love them? Like truly, madly deeply? We are talking real side table love here people!

A can of grass green spray paint and some new oblong lamp shades (also on sale at Target) brightened up the formerly black lamps. These guys were originally a steel, at $10 each, from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. If you have not already found the ReStore nearest you, stop reading this IMMEDATELY and RUN to your neighborhood location. I'm serious. It's an emergency!

I swapped out the black and white prints in black frames for colorful prints in silver frames (it's really nice having a talented photographer for my husband!) and added some mosaic glass hurricane votive holders as accents. I have actually had these for more than 5 years and originally bought them for a dollar each from the Dollar Tree as table decorations for our wedding!

Another element is a mirror on the wall opposite the bed by the closet. This mirror was actually just chilling next to the washing machine in our place and must belong to our landlady. I cleaned it up and now it not only is functional for helping to choose the perfect outfit, but also reflects the light from the windows on the opposite side of the room.

Lastly, our Danish modern style dresser ($60 from Craig's list) got a mad facelift thanks to some paint, hardware, and the help of my amazing friend Rachael from Lovely.Crafty.Home.

I'll have all the details on this beauty tomorrow so, stay tuned. But, in the mean time, here are a few more shots of our much sunnier and brighter bedroom.

I totally scored at Ross! Check out my new livingroom chair for $99 bucks. Silver leather club chair with hobnails?? Swoon!





I think it looks quite nice in the living room :)

On a recent trip to Oak Island, NC, my mom, Leslie, and I hit up a great little shop in neighboring Southport. Rebecca's Fabrications, on Howe Street, is a delight. First off, like many quaint Southport boutiques, Rebecca's is in a sweet little seaside cottage with lots of gingerbread and a sassy paint job. Inside, the shop is chalked full of treasures. Vintage items, china, furniture, fabrics and other notions, it's kind of like being at grandmother's house and getting permission to take home some heirlooms.

Although, I could have spent a small fortune, my keeps sake from Rebecca's was a large fabric remnant. I had hoped to find enough fabric to make a table runner, and for six dollars, came home with enough fabric to make that and four coordinating placemats for the breakfast bar plus eight napkins. Score!

Once back home in the mountains, I recruited the help of good friend Rachel Evans from Lovely.Crafty.Home. to help me get my sew on. She had a new sewing machine boxed up in the basement that she hadn't gotten the nerve up to bust out. It's funny, Rachael and I are both very skilled DIYer's but for some reason, we are both a little intimidated by sewing. Each of us learned to sew from relatives when we were younger, but most of our sewing experience came long ago and under close supervision.

With the help of some caffeine courage, we drummed up enough gusto to take out the machine. With some careful instruction manual study, and a few practice stitches, we were off to the races---sewing like pro's (sort of) and not hitting too many snags. We were even motivated enough to make a few pillows and wrap up another small sewing project. Go us! And although the stitches are not perfectly straight---and yes, great Aunt Jane, seamstress extraordinaire, would have probably made me rip some of them out and start over-I am just pleased as punch with the result. Not many things as satisfying as doing it yourself.

I had to share this lovely new pie safe my dad built for me to use as a hutch in my dining room.



Could it be any more adorable? I am totally in love with the color, style and all the little details that make it so perfectly retro: the hardware, the vintage inspired pressed glass (in a daisy pattern) in the doors, the fact that it is built out of reclaimed pine. It looks amazing with my refinished farm table and I could not be more excited to have it in my home.

If you would like some of this goodness for your own, you're in luck! My dad makes custom furniture for folks other than yours truly. And, in case you couldn't tell from the photos, he is very skilled. It's Ernie Cross with Precision Hard Woods in Oak Island, NC. Drop me a line and I'll put you in touch.