{Thanks, Irene}

So Irene has made her way out of NC finally!  The sun is shining & it's back to being 1,000 degrees.   We were one of the fortunate as we had minor damage to our home.  We never lost power although some in our small town did.  We are praying for those who lost loved ones, homes & power. 

Our porch was literally ripped from our house.  And thank goodness I was staying with my sister an hour away with our daughter because the awning landed where I normally park my car.  The porch was an eye sore and something on our to do list.  Thanks to Irene we can move it up on our list.  I'm so happy it was just our porch and nothing major. 

So now we just wait on our insurance company and go from there.  I'll be searching Pinterest for some inspiration photos.  We'd like some completely different than what was there.  You can see from this above picture that it was just an ugly metal awning.  I'll be anxious to get it done but until then I'll be painting the door and looking for new light fixtures.  I mean a new porch requires new accessories, right?

Hope everyone had a great weekend!



{A List That Never Ends}

I found this image on Pinterest & boy does it apply to me these days!  I drafted a list of things that need to be done before Christmas & it's quite intimidating.  We are having Christmas at our house this year & I'm a stickler for all things being perfect.  Right now I currently have 2 walls in our bedroom painted, beadboard put up in the breakfast nook with no paint & no chair rail and our exterior doors primed.  I love starting projects but hate finishing them.  I always get so side tracked by the next project & so our home ends up being a house full of unfinished projects. 

I decided to make a daily list of things that I hope to accomplish by Thanksgiving.  I'm hoping it will help keep me motivated.  Is anyone else having this problem?  I hate to think I'm alone in this boat.  What did you do to help you get things completed? 

First on my list is getting our doors painted.  We've never painted the side doors to our home.  The fronts are going white & the back black.  I'm going to test out Glidden's new Door & Trim paint in Deepest Black.  Bad news is Home Depot was completely out it when I went today to buy it.  I'm going  to see if I can order it online because the nearest HD is an hour away. 

I hope to see some progress on my to do list by the end of the week.  Our daughter is only 2 months old & so our time is extremely limited but thank goodness for her 4 hour naps during the day! 

Happy Tuesday!

{Allen + Roth Lighting}

I went to Lowe's today with my dad for a few items & while he was having a piece of tile cut I was browsing the lighting section.  I normally am not a fan of the lighting at Lowe's but much to my surprise I saw these amazing lights that were not the typical Lowe's merchandise. 

Have you seen them yet?  I so wish I had a place to put one or two of these.....

My favorite was this one

But I wouldn't mind taking this one home too

Or this guy

 The prices are just as amazing as the pieces themselves. 

{Gallery Walls.... Getting The Hang of It}

I'm in the process of redoing our bedroom.  It's always been the room last on the list but I decided that I was going to bump it up a few spots & get it done!  I'm painting the walls a color by Valspar called Cliveden Leather.  It's a gorgeous brown.  I'm doing a little at a time since we have a newborn in the house & don't have much free time on my hands. 

There's a wall in our room that has nothing on it.  You see it the minute you walk in or by our room.  I know that I want to do some type of gallery wall.  I've seen so many pictures online that I love & am using as inspiration but the one thing I can't decide on is do I want a true gallery wall or a gallery wall using shelving?

I love both.  I'm normally not so indecisive but this time I just can't seem to make a decision.  I asked my husband & he said "whatever you like" so that leaves the decision making all up to me.  

So, do I want no shelf?

Or shelf?

{Images courtesy of West Elm}

Lots to think about but thankfully I have plenty of time because painting the room is going to take me at least until the end of the week.

Happy Monday!

{Giving New Life to an Old Piece}

I have a favorite used furniture store that I visit quite frequently & I have only left there once without purchasing something.  Most of the pieces I've sold but every now & then I find a piece that I love & refuse to get rid of.  When I spotted this piece I knew I had to have it.  I had no idea where I was going to put it but I loved it & it was coming home with me.  It's solid wood & the curves are gorgeous.  I didn't take an appropriate before picture so I apologize for that but here's what it looks like upside down before I painted it. 

I used ASCP in Graphite on the top & Old Ochre on the bottom!  I waxed the entire piece to finish it off!  It looks great & even my husband loves it! 

Sorry for the horrible pictures!  I'm still trying to learn how to use our camera.  This picture truly doesn't do the piece justice. 

I hate that you can see the cords from the lamps.  I'll have to figure something out to hide them because they are driving me crazy.  We had a drop leaf table there before & it hid them well. 

Here's a sneak peek of my next project!

Happy Tuesday!

{AS Chalk Paint - New Colors!}

I have a severe obsession with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint.  It's the best paint E.V.E.R.  I am the proud owner of 5 colors.  Old Ochre, Old White, Aubusson, Graphite & Provence.  I heart them all.  I want all the colors.  Every single one of them.  Including the 3 new colors!  Yes, I said 3 new colors!  I'm so excited & have already pre-ordered mine.  They aren't coming out until September but you can reserve yours now. 

{Pure White}

Quite simply a pure clean white

{Coco}

A warm greyed brown, the color found on old French woodwork

{French Linen}

A cool neutral khaki grey inspired by old pieces of French and Italian furniture

I am so excited for these new colors!  I've been working on some projects using ASCP & will be sharing soon!  Hope everyone is having a great Monday!