Lamp: from drabulous to fabulous...

I found this nice lamp and shade at the thrift store. It had a really nice shape, but the brass was really dated and the shade was boring.

 I gave the base a fresh, new look with spray paint and recovered the shade. Ahhh the power of hot glue..

 Tomorrow I'll show you where it's new home is...

Jen

More makeovers at the Thriftydecorchick's spray paint party.

The difference a bit of drywall makes....

With the dark paneling down at my Mom's house; I can't believe what a difference there is with how the room looks!

 I just had to share the before and after with you!

My mind is now teaming with ideas for decorating and colors. We've been trying paint colors on the wall. It always amazes me how different paint looks on the wall versus on the paint deck.We picked up  a super cute chair at Homegoods this weekend I can't wait to show you, and I finally found bookcases on-line that are going to fit perfectly on each side of the fireplace. Our time line is to hopefully have the cabinets and granite ordered this week.Things are finally slowly rolling along....

And hey, I've been nominated for a Homie award! I would love it if you would pop over there and vote for me!

Jen

Wacky Wednesday....let's play the photoshop my kitchen game...

"...It all began with that shoe on the wall, shoe on the wall shouldn't be there at all!!!"

I've been getting e-mails  from various bloggers and friends about seeing my kitchen around the web. It's kind of weird that all that came out of from one photo shoot for Country Living. While I am so completely flattered, and not criticizing by any means, this one made me laugh(Thanks 'Cuz.), because there was just a little photo editing magic done. I felt like I was reading the book Wacky Wednesday to my Little where you have to pick out everything that is just  a bit different.

This is from the most recent sighting on the  MSN.real estate page

So let's play a version of that picture game where you look at one picture and the other to compare and see what is different... I can spot at least 3... can you see any more? Some of them were some styling choices and were not digitally edited out. I'll post the answers at the very bottom.

Here is a similar picture from when my kitchen was first completed..

and  two more recent ones.

and here is MSN's pic

How did you do? :)

Jen

1. everything was brightened to ultra white... what I like to refer to as crazy teeth bleached white.

2.the chandelier swag was chopped out

3.Did you know I got a stainless steel fridge? Umm I wish... they made my old fridge seem like it's stainless

4. They photo shopped out the handle on the cabinet next to the fridge

5. They got rid of the bottom of my cook book stand under the cabinet to the left of the stove.

6. Oh, and there's no cracker crumbs on the floor or  a half spilled box of cereal that no one bothered to clean up.

The "before" the remodel pictures...

My very, very, brave Mom gave me permission to post pictures of her home just before we begin the big remodel. 

I am so proud of my Mom. She's a wonderful woman who loves us so much. She has spent many years doing for her kid's and other's before she has done for herself and sacrificing. She is finally taking that step to make her home beautiful just for her. I am so happy that I am able to help her with it  and that she trusts me to not mess up her house. :)

Her style is very different from mine, While I am very Modern Vintage Cottage, she is very Traditional European and she also loves English influences. But that's okay, it's fun to get to work on a space that stretches me a bit and look at things a bit differently.

Jason (from Klaske Construction just outside of Dekalb, who did my kitchen.), is also going to also be doing hers, so I know things will roll right along and it will be fabulous.

 She and my Dad had their house custom built in 1983, when that heavily grained oak was in style (as you can see). While they are solid wood cabinets, I think they are going to do much better in their next life garage storage. After 29 years, we are going for a much lighter wood with a grey tone and she want's her cabinets staggered at the top. We are also looking at granite counter tops. We have a running joke about the current counter tops because the laminate that is on there now, at one time in my teen years was the same ones that  McDonald's had. ..McDonald's changed theirs like 15 years ago. 

The flooring is going to be a darker wood. I know she is so excited to finally get wood floors after all of these years! I know she and my Dad had talked about it before he passed away and I am so excited for her that it is finally going to happen! I'll post updates as we go along.

 See that half wall and dark paneling? After this week they are GONE! Finally after 29 years! The mantel is being changed; and the furniture is going to charity. We had considered painting the paneling, but I think my Mom just wanted a fresh start. We are also going to be getting rid of the fireplace cover and open it up. I am trying to talk her into lightening up the brick, but ultimately, it's her home and should be what she loves.

 Isn't it funny how this picture looks like it was taken with an old camera? We are actually pushing the kitchen 3 feet  into the family room. It's such a long room, it can lose a bit and still feel cozy and not cramped.

 

The cabinets still need to be ordered so we are on the 4-6 week plan right now, gathering our inspiration and ideas, and picking out all of the bits and pieces.  My Mom has been such a good sport; my brother's and I have given her constant ribbing about the dark paneling, counter tops, and cabinets like any good, sarcastic children would for years and she's really rolled with it pretty well. I am going to be so happy for her when it is finally a space she loves.

Jen

Fashion loves...

One of my boards on Pinterest is Fashion Loves. 
I am so addicted to Pinterest.
Though I find I'll pin a ton of stuff and then forget to go back an look at it.

I love to see all of the clothing outfits people have put together and I can imagine myself buying with an unlimited budget....

Source: justinetaylor.tumblr.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: thistleshomeandgift.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: greenbeautyandstyleslices.com via Jen on Pinterest

        I seem to be  drawn to cute and ruffly..

Source: polyvore.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: nibsblog.wordpress.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: allthingslovelyblog.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: modcloth.com via Jen on Pinterest

 dress from jeanne oliver designs

    

Source: jeanneoliverdesigns.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: ardenb.com via Jen on Pinterest

     

Source: gallery.me.com via Jen on Pinterest

I seem to see a common thread of yellow running through what I picked.. no pun intended....
Yellow, grey, a little green, a little lavender... what colors are you drawn to this spring?
I am drawn to a little pink. I finally dyed the ends of my hair now that it is growing out. I went to my Middle's school today for Recycling Wednesday and  the kids kept saying "Your hair is pink?!"..."Middle, your mom has pink hair!"
What can I say, I am totally "IN " with the first grade set. That's where all the cool people hang anyway... in the lunch room.. at 12 pm on a Wednesday afternoon, separating empty milk cartons from  the garbage, talking smack about the playground and Disney channel, all to the smell of tater tots...
I've achieved my dreams. :)


Jen
P.S. I wanted to announce my spring line is coming the second week in  March with a HUGE giveaway... over $500!  I am announcing it now, so I can motivate my lazy behind to keep going. I work better under pressure :)

Make something beautiful.....

My good e-friend Teresa Sheeley  is teaching a new e-course, Make Something Beautiful.

If you've ever wanted to learn more about art techniques, but never had the guts to go back to school, this is the class to really expand your horizons.

Teresa has a beautiful art style that has wonderful water color backgrounds. I would take a class from her just to learn that!

Here is more about the course:

"This course will focus on what you would find if you were going to art school.  Introduction to various tools of the trade; drawing, painting, color, technique and even art history.  Learning about tools, different paints, technique and color are such important aspects to any medium you are drawn to.  It's good to know why things work the way they do and even where they originated from.  Having these skills will only enhance where you are in your life of art."

Teresa has also generously offered to give away 2 spots to 2 of my readers! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. I'll pull the names next Tuesday.

Teresa is also giving away free class spots on her blog too make sure you head over there for another chance to enter ( and a discount for early sign up.)!

Jen

Pops of red and pink and a bit of catching up....

 I have to admit, I am dying for some warm weather, and for  some flowers to start poking their heads out of the ground.

We can feel it in our house too. My "Little" asked me the other day why "...that stupid groundhog had to see his shadow... I hate him that stupid groundhog."

While I don't like her using the word stupid. I have to admit I agree with her,

 

My mind is on spring as I work on my spring line, I really want to have it ready by the second week of March at the latest, the problem is, where do you  take "springy" pictures in Chicago in March?

 

 Needless to say, it's pretty drab here.  I think it's hard to stay cheery. Last week there was just a grey day in the 30's  and I felt like curling up on the couch all day and had no energy. I just didn't want to do anything. In typical Midwest weather the sun was out the next day, it was 50 out and I was bouncing off the walls with enthusiasm.

 When I came across these pics in my archives, they were just the bit of brightness I needed with their pops of red and pink. At least I can start planning my garden. I am going to make my potato patch twice as big this year. Last year we ate through all of them by September.

 

I am also helping my Mom  design her kitchen and family room renovations.After 29 years the dark paneling is coming down! whoo-hoo! Way to go Mom! It's new cabinets and the whole deal. I'll have lots of those pictures to show you as we go along too.

 I have some sales and things coming up! I am going to be selling at Polly's sale after my collection comes out, and then I am going to brave a booth at the Kane County Flea Market in May and then 2 weekends later is the Nada Farm sale... 

And this year is a big year for me... I'll be turning 40 this year over Easter weekend. I have to admit I am not super happy about it.But hopefully I will be busy enough to not really thing about it. :)

So I hope you guys can get a chance to stop by and say hi at one of those events. Thanks for listening to me babble. I hope you are hanging in there too for the longest part of the winter. I think this stretch is the hardest. I keep telling myself only another month or so until we see some real blooms.

Jen :)

Curtains from tablecloths....

Many of you asked about my new drapes... I thought I would let you in on my secret...

While I loved my old drapes, I really needed something that would freshen up the room a bit and give it that "spring" feel. My only problem is that my window is 108 inches wide  and my curtain rod is 87 inches high. It takes 4 panels to cover the window. Last time it was almost $200 just for some panels on sale. I thought I would look for some cheap fabric when I got around to it.

I was out shopping and I walked down the linens aisle on a detour. A fabric pattern caught my eye on some tablecloths. A 60 x 102 inch table cloth was only $16! That was less than $70 for all four panels! They gave me not only more than enough width and length, but they were already hemmed at the bottom and finished on the sides! This was a much easier solution than buying fabric and almost cheaper.

I measured how long I wanted the curtains and sewed the top over with a straight stitch to make a rod pocket. Next, I hung them on the rod. It took less than15 minutes and was so incredibly easy. I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before. You could also do no-sew by folding them over and using drapery rod clips. I had tried that at first, but with having a double rod it looked kind of weird with the sheers.

I am so happy with my new curtains. They are a really nice heavy weight cotton and tablecloths are meant to be washed so I know they will launder well. When I want to change them I can just use them as tablecloths again or even make pillows out of them.

All posts in the BlogHer Winter Home Projects program are 100% editorial content presented by a participating sponsor. Our advertisers do not produce the content. This post is made possible by Home Depot and BlogHer.

Want a mug for that coffee?

 As many of you may know, I have  a mug obsession.

 It could have something to do with the fact my only vice is coffee all day long, but I love sipping my favorite drink out of a cute mug.

  

 When I was at my friend, Jeanne's, over the summer, I loved how she had all of her mugs on a french bottle rack. Being the good friend I am, of course had to copy her.

 I love having all of my prettiest mugs out, ready for one of my friends just to grab one.

...Coffee anyone?  :)

Jen

P.S. because you all asked.. here is one I found on Amazon for $69.

Confessions of a serial rearranger...

I am finally forced to admit it. I have an illness. My poor hubby. Every time he walks in the house, he thinks he's somewhere different. I was going back through some pictures last night and I came across some old pictures of my living room from 2007 when I started blogging and I can't believe how much things have changed. My tastes have evolved so much and how I have moved to a lighter, brighter more cohesive style. I never really knew what I liked when I started blogging and I have slowly moved into really knowing what I love.  I guess we all gotta start somewhere.

There is a very cool side to blogging, which is how you can chronicle the history of your style. However, the very uncool side is that you can chronicle the history of your style. 

Bear with me.... I am going to take you along on this journey through the good, bad and really UGLY.   There are many cringe-able pictures here.

2007

 Seriously.. the shelf isn't even straight, I can't believe those vases stayed on there.

The room was so long, I had no idea what to do with it for the longest time.  I just pushed everything up against the walls.

I LOVED that metal wall sculpture.  I thought it was the coolest and I still have it in my garage. I just can't bear to part with it.And then there's the red table and could someone PLEASE get this girl a level....?

 At this point in 2008 I had a redesign class come to my house. It was the best thing that could have happened to that room... and all of that crappy furniture.

 Couch, picture, coffee table paint job!

Wall color change! I thought this was sooo much lighter... ha!

I wanted a big mirror here and we couldn't afford one, so these are dollar store mirrors.

2009

 Another couch change!

2010

I took the mirrors down and wanted a big mirror. ...So I put  a tiny one up?

 

Moved the other couch in for more seating.

2011

My hubby found this dresser on the side of the road and I finally got that mirror...

2012
Only to finally get  a mantle and move it all around again....

Now here's a quiz.. can you look back through all of the pictures and find the one thing that hasn't changed?

Would you ever believe it was the same house? Owned by the same owners? Isn't it crazy how much it has changed? Me thinks this might call for some kind of  a party...

Of course, it's been over 3 years since the last bit of paint went on the wall so I am itching again I am so over yellow... :)

Jen

The little dresser......

Welcome to everyone who is coming over from The Lettered Cottage! I am  honored  to have my kitchen featured there today. You can see it here.
 ***
My super sweet, and extremely patient sister-in-law was nice enough to keep this little dresser in
 her garage for me for the last... um.... 6 years (sorry Jen!). I finally found  a place for it, and 

     now that she's home, I can't wait to give her a good scrub and nice new coat of paint!

Isn't she lovely?  It's the cutest thing, only about 3 feet tall, andhas a little secret too.

Can you guess? 

Look how the top drawer lifts up to become  a little writing desk!

 all those tiny drawers to stash secret things in.

 and  a pull out desk top as well.

 It even has the awesome original handles. I am thinking a pretty light grey or blue. What do you think?

Jen

I have some new things stocked in my Etsy store. This will be the last bit of stuff until my Spring collection release in March (which I am super excited about!). When it's gone, it's gone. :) You can use the coupon code  Jen10 for a 10% discount through this Friday.