Bedroom Update!

Some major changes have been happening around here lately.  We have gone from this:

To this!

Please pardon the camera.  Unfortunately, the best camera we own is an iPhone.  The rug came from Urban Outfitters and the chevron pillows came from Joss and Main from the most recent "Pillows Under $50" sale.  The "Hello Sexy" pillow was purchased at a local store called Feathernesters.  I highly recommend stopping by if you are in the Richmond area.  The patchwork quilt in the first picture was actually a wedding gift to my parents and my mom gave it to me a long time ago.  

We got rid of the chest at the end of the bed because all it did was encourage us not to put clothes away.   Also, we decided to live with the pink striped bed skirt for now since we are going to eventually upgrade to a queen-size bed.  

I'm thinking about painting my bedside table navy, possibly with chalk paint.  I like what I've seen so far in other people's projects and it might be perfect for the look I want.  I also have to paint the walls and put up some art because the walls are in need of some serious TLC.  

In the meantime, Billy is throughly enjoying the newly decorated bedroom: 

Thrifty Finds

Check out this chair from Urban Outfitters

$369

Now check out is eerily similar one from Target

$149.99


Update: ON SALE for $127.49!

So I thought I was back in September but...

This guy arrived!

Three weeks old and abandoned by his mama.  We originally thought the was a girl so he was Penelope for 24 hours before we took him to the vet.  Introducing Billy Bacon!

He's been with us for about two months now and I'm hoping that with work somewhat under control and both Billy and Sassy past the two month mark that I will have time to blog!  I've gotten a lot done but haven't had time to write about it.  Updates in the kitchen, dinning area, living room, bedroom, and guest room.  Whew!

I'm Back!

I have been absent from Blog Land for over two weeks!  School started back in September and my priority was setting up my classroom and getting a handle on 25 kindergarteners.  Needless to say I was exhausted and working on the house was not a priority.

Then, a week ago we got a new addition to the family.  Meet Sassy.

We got her from the Richmond Animal League and she is 4 months old.  We weren't really sure if we were bringing a kitty home last week but how could we say no to that face?

I have a few updates to share in the next few days but I will start with a clue:

Have fun guessing Blog Land!

Kitchen ReDesign

We have a very small kitchen and when I say small, I mean small.

Yes, there are two microwaves.  The white one is what we bought when we moved in and the black one is what we use now.  In order to unplug the white microwave, we have to pull out the fridge and neither of us is comfortable doing that without my dad present and since he just had hip surgery, we are waiting on him.  The little black cabinet was a recent thrift store find and added some much needed storage and counter space.

We have lived without a dishwasher since moving in and finally our landlord (my parents) have agreed to put one in and to replace the countertop!  The dishwasher is going to go where the cabinet to the left is now.

Did I mention that the entire downstairs is also going to be painted AND I get to give input on the colors (actually the shade of white but still, YAY)!  Hopefully a brighter white on the walls and painting the trim white instead of cream will lighten the place up.  The hardware will stay the same in the kitchen but the cabinets are getting painted along with the walls and there is also the possibility of putting in a backsplash.  We have also talked about putting in a shelf or some cabinets above the stove to provide more storage space since the new dishwasher will seriously diminish the storage in our already tiny kitchen.

Hopefully when it's done it will look more like this:

 or this

The Pillows Are Here!

I made my first purchase from Joss and Main last week.  These fabulous pillows!

Here is how they look on the couch.  I love how they pick up the orange in the picture above the couch.

We still need to find some simple green pillows and maybe one other pillow.  I love how they pick up the orange in the picture above the couch.

I was thinking about putting one of the pillows on the red leather chair.

Here is what the chair looks like now.

It has the bargain pillow I got from Garden Ridge the other week on it right now.  The green pillow at the back matches the green striped chair and helps pull the room together.

And here it is with the new pillow on it.

I think there is too much going on in the picture with the new pillow.  I'll have to try it in a few more places(meaning on the only other chair in the room) before I can be sure I want both pillows on the couch.

Living Room Before Take 2

The pictures from my earlier living room post were  pre living with the boyfriend.  Since then we have moved around some furniture, my mom has reclaimed some of the pieces she lent me, and we have bought a new couch and rug.

 Some time in 2008:

 Now:

 Here are a few close ups:

New couch!  It needs to be accessorized.  We are using stuff we had around the house for now but I just bought two pillows from Joss and Main.  Can't wait for them to arrive!

The desk I had in high school.  That is staying in the room because I love it and it holds a ton of stuff.  We need to figure out a permanent place for the whiskey bottles because they are all over the place!

Ugly entertainment center.  Needs to be replaced.  

Oxblood leather chair.  Found this at a thrift store a few years ago for $80!

It may appear that things are clean and organized but now I have to show you the other angle in the room:

This used to be the dining area.  Now it holds everything we haven't figured out where to put, craft projects, and stuff from me for work.  Every time we visit the boyfriend's mother, she gives him more of his stuff.  Even after almost three years, we are still figuring out what to do with his stuff.  

You can't even see all the boxes in this picture.  

To Do:
1. New pillows for couch- ordered two from Joss and Main.  Need to find some green ones too.
2. New throw for couch
3. New rug
4. Replace entertainment center
5. Figure out what to do about dining area
6. Come up with permanent home for whiskey bottles
7. Find bigger coffee table