A little no-cost makeover

Anyone else out there relieved to pack away the holidays?  The house always looks so large once the tree is down, and the holiday decor is safely packed away and out of sight for another year.  However, the large space always leaves me feeling the urge for a change, and a fresh room.  It'd be easy, given all the money in the world, to plan out a fresh new space.  The trick though is to try a no cost makeover.

Our room has pretty good bones.  The couches are neutral, there's a brick fireplace, white slatted blinds, hardwood floors, etc.  I couldn't picture the room pulled together though (for our no-cost makeover) until the other day that I sat on the opposite couch in the room and it came to me.

Our makeover will be based on this color scheme:

 

So, the execution plan will consist of the following:

Paint ladder shelf black (I showed you this shelf before here)

Recover couch throw pillows in white fabric (I've done that once before, here)

Add series of four Black and White NY City prints to the room (from the office, that's not being used)

Reorganize picture frame ledges (see them before, here)

Add white cylinder lamp shade to current lamp, plus add another lamp (this room is dark at night!)

Re-arrange furniture

Here's the room now (right after Christmas decor was removed).  

NOTE: This is not for the faint of heart... I'm not proud, and I wouldn't consider this room pulled or put together in any way... ok, disclaimer over, now you can see the photos.  :)

How on earth do you decorate/stage a fireplace like this?!

The tree (9ft this year!) was in that back corner

Anywho, I hope to work on this room this weekend.  Our adorable baby boy though is so cute, that I just love hanging with him, so I'm not sure how much I'll get done!

Just thought I'd share.  Now, to get this done, and be excited over our room again!

Another Quick Jute Project, from Portugal!

As I gear up to post another boatload of projects, I wanted to share a quick one similar to my $5 IKEA upgrade:

I found this small ceramic cache pot type thingie, made of terracotta at the local thrift this past weekend.  It was marked $2, but it was half off day, so I paid $1.  It was stamped on the bottom "Made in Portugal"

 

 

I liked the shape, and even thought once I did something with it, that it would look great as part of the shelf display I posted about yesterday.

So, again, with this project (like with the vase)- not a lot of effort, but totally awesome results!  I just love the texture of this stuff- $5/roll at Michael's, and with a 40% coupon, it's just $3.  :) 

The supplies again:
Jute/Twine
Glue Gun
Object to cover

Yep, that's it.

I started from the bottom, and actually turned the pot over until about halfway covered.  Turned it back over, and worked up the remaining half, and up the small neck of the pot.  I only glued every 3rd row or so, but more around the neck of the bottle.

 

 

I thought for a minute that I'd leave part of the terracotta showing, with the jute only wrapped at the bottom, but decided against that, and decided to continue covering the whole thing.

 

 

For now, it's sitting on the top shelf of my leaning shelf, next to my reed diffuser and the ceramic plate from Spain that my Nana gave me.

If you haven't tried this technique yet, you totally should.  Here's the IKEA vase I did a few weeks back.  You can find the link to the project here:

More NEW projects coming soon, but enjoy the ease of this one until then!  :)

Bookshelf Design Dilema

In continuing the honesty about my projects gone bad (see this one, and this one) I figured now was the best time to join up with Amanda in her Decorating Dilemmas Party.  :) (Make sure you stop by her party, on 2/10/10, here)

So, what I'll share today in the way of a dilemma is this leaning bookcase flanking one side of our fireplace in the family room:

(that clock used to be above the fireplace, but it loses battery life very quickly)

Oh, this bookshelf isn't the only thing wrong with this room (ie, that large H-frame brick fireplace, for starters.  Oh, and the white table does NOT sit in front of the fireplace, it was just moved there before I took this photo.

I feel like with endless funds, I could shop the stores, and put something together on this leaning shelf.  My problem is that 1. I don't have endless funds, and 2. I don't have endless time to shop those stores!  I look at enough inspiration photos you'd think I'd be able to pull something together. 

It's a great style, but I only have 1 (two would have been perfect- one for each side of the fireplace!).  It's a total of 5 shelves, gradually getting deeper as you go down.  Right now, it's got a mix of items from my Nana, things I picked up at some thrift stores, and other items from Christmas and clearance sales.

A few times, I've posted about things on the shelf, but never about the shelf itself.  (that sounds silly, say it three times fast?)  It offers the perfect spot for display in our room, that's undergoing it's renovation (see the inspiration here, and some of the project completed here)

I'd like to avoid it looking incredibly cluttered, but still cohesive and pulled together.

Here are some inspiration photos I think I could pull off:

 

Love those large baskets on the bottom, and the combination of white dishes

 

Love the frames on the top shelf, and the similar toned vases on the middle shelf

 

I love the orb on this one, and in fact I have one similar already!  Plus, isn't the color of the shelf fantastic?

  

I like the pop of green in the frame on the top shelf

  

 Great glass jars on the bottom, plus I like the repeating pattern on the second shelf, and the topiary

 

  

Bold plants, and baskets.  'Nuff said.  :)

  

I like that mirror on the third shelf and the blue bowl

  

This one is great for so many reasons:  barn stars, decorative colored boxes, monograms, vertical books.  Plus, another orb.  :)

So, there we have it... my inspirational photos.

Here's what I take away from the photos:

1.  Baskets

2.  Hard back books, or albums, both vertically, and stacked horizontally

3.  Contrasting accessories

4.  Picture frames or mirrors

5.  Plants

6.  Barn Stars

7.  Decorative Boxes

I think most of these things I have already, and just need to play with accessories.  BUT, what would a dillema post be without needing, or expecting, assistance from the crowd?!  I think you're opinions are important since you see it with fresh eyes.

But, let's be real- I do realize this is clutter city right now, and that the fake ivy plant has-got-to-go.  Funny what a picture will help you figure out.

Plus, any ideas how to cover, get rid of, or otherwise alter that H-frame brick fireplace, circa 1970's?

Can't wait to see your ideas!  Go! :)

PS:
Make sure to visit Amanda's great party!