Who Needs Restoration Hardware Anyway???

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a good weekend. Sorry I have not responded to everyone right away, but it has been a little busy here at The Room. I promise I will respond to everyone ASAP. Here is the new news, Mr Swedish Room surprised me with a trip to Coco Beach in Florida. Here is the catch we are going in Gracie, ok not so much a catch, but I still have to pack her and get her ready. I ready don't mind because I'll enjoy Christmas on the beach in my BCOW (For those not in the know, Beach Cottage On Wheels). Just have to get a little tree and some beachy ornaments, I'm going to have fun. PS we are taking my buddy Zeus (check the side panel, he is the one with the smiling face and the wagging tail). I'll keep you posted.....

Ok its White Wednesday Time, and have I got a project for you. I'm sure everyone has seen how Restoration Hardware has this new French Flea Market look, but lets just say the price tags don't match. Ok I sell antiques, but even I have to look twice and shake my head. I love the look, but in these days and times a penny saved is a penny earned. So I needed a new lamp, now is my time to strike with the good old crafty imagination (Thanks Martha Stewart). I know I need to take step by step pics, but I was so excited, I guess I didn't think about it at the time until the end, darn...

I took a lided urn I had kicking around The Room and said LAMP!!! So off to work I went. I took off the knob. Enlarged the hole, and put the base together. I found a base for the bottom and faux rusted it ( I used Rust-oleum rusty metal primer and after that dried, put on Rust-oleum Multicolor Textured spray paint in Autumn Brown. Here is the part that makes it look rusty, take a hand towel and dap the Autumn Brown spray paint wet. You may need more than one coat and dap to get it where you want.) I had Mr. Swedish Room wire it, and I took my creation to Restoration Hardware for a shade (Can you believe someone wanted to buy my lamp in the store? It made me feel great). There you have it a Restoration Hardware like lamp without the price tag. Enough talking, here are some pics.

The faux rusty metal base goes great with the real rusty metal of the urn.
Silk shade by Restoration Hardware, lamp by me. After all they are copying want the rest of us have been doing for years.

Here is a before pic I found of the urn with the lid. The knob just unscrewed and away I went. Look around you never know....
For more Wonderful White Wednesday go see Kathleen at http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/
Go Hug Someone, you may make someones day.
See everyone later......

My Inspiring Christmas

Hi everyone, Thank you everyone who commented to my last post or have sent your prayers, they are all appreciated. Let's do Christmas everyone. I put Christmas up early this year, because Mr. Swedish Room wanted to have the office Christmas party at our house. Might I say parties are nice when they are not at your house. So instead of being the evil Christmas witch this year, I decided to give in and start the party. Did I say Christmas witch, I meant SUPER CHRISTMAS WITCH. Lets say my Martha Stewart gene was going into overdrive. Everything had to be perfect and unique, everything had to be cleaned and recleaned. The house had to be redone, and redone again. Might I say I yelled so much, I couldn't stand myself. Somehow by the grace of God we made it. It was a nice party and I will show you some of the redoes, but not today. Instead let me show you some Christmas at The Room.

I found this idea at Pottery Barn. I said to myself, I have a Christmas tree and I have a birdcage. Why not? Only thing I bought at Pottery Barn that day were the birds at $5.00 each. I thought they gave me the idea, so I could spend a little money with them.
This is a vintage ornament I've had for years. She get the royal treatment when she gets packed away.

A couple of years ago I painted some dollhouse furniture white and just stuck them in the tree. Everyone thinks what a fun idea. The little silver chair is actually a place card holder. I put a hook on it instant ornament.

A sort of full view of the tree. All white and silver, my two favorite colors.

Take away gifts for the party guest and on hand for visitors who stop by.
For more great Christmas ideas go visit Debra at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
for Vintage Inspiration Friday.

Go hugs someone today.

See everyone later....

Blog Breaks And Blessings

Hi everyone, I know I kind of disappeared, I hope you all aren't too mad with me. I really enjoyed blogging this past summer and enjoyed meeting all of you and seeing beautiful homes and even more beautiful thoughts. It has been a weird last few months, lots of ups and downs with Mr. Swedish Room and I. I felt so all alone with no one to turn to and no direction. I have been unhappy about my life lately, I know kind of stupid. There are so many that are way worst than I am, yet I could not see that, until last week. A friend came to visit me, I was so excited. I showed my friend all the local sites we laughed and had plenty of fun. We also talked about what was happening to me. This friend has never been that profound or inspirational, but I was truly surprised by what I heard. My friend said you only have one life to live if no one wants to walk with you pick yourself up and walk, eventually someone will walk next to you and then another and another. With this message in hand I decided recently to start walking and keep on walking. Today I understood the message fully, I decided not to do Scott's this month. I helped a friend, Angie, last month by storing her tables for her and I promised to bring them this month. I also wanted to bring Ms. Prue and older woman at Scott's who sells toys and pretty things, some toys I bought for her. I also wanted to give a Thank you note to Sonny the man that sells antique books at Scott's, because he did me a favor last month. When I got to Scott's all the other dealers I had talked to and knew gave me hugs and told me they were glad to see me. They said they would miss me this month at the show and couldn't wait to see me next month. I was so happy at the outpouring of love I was smiling and still am. My friend was right, and I'm glad. I missed my little blessings, but I sure saw them today. I hope you all take a minute and see your little blessings. I think my break is over and I'm ready to get back to life.

PS go hug someone today, you may make their day.

See everyone later........

Who's Ready For The Beach???

Hi everyone, Here we go. I finally did it, I finished Gracie (well at least most of her, I still have some small bits in the bathroom). I couldn't wait to show you all. Lets start at the beginning, Gracie was inspired by Kerrie at Sea Cottage, she has a vintage camper she calls the Pearl. Seeing her adventures, and hearing about the wonderful times she had got me thinking. So I decided to go for it this summer. Mr. Swedish Room at first looked at me like I lost my mind, but I convinced him we could be in the great outdoors more often. Saying that cinched it. So we started looking for campers, or for those in the know BCOW (Beach Cottage On Wheels). It took so long, and seeing so many dirty, expensive, and bad layout campers, I thought this was never going to happen. Then we finally found my Gracie, don't get me wrong she needed a lot of work (a new ceiling for one thing). Well you can see for yourself........

I'm going to enjoy the great outdoors more, as long as its done my way.
You always need a layered bed, on those cold nights. I made the pillow in the front, the rest are Ikea and Target(I love both of these places). The nightstands were refaced. All the hardware was replaced. The lamps are also Ikea. I know you all remember the headboard from three post ago.
A wider shot. Yes, those are wood floors (actually laminate, but it still looks good).

The kitchen. This might get some use in the morning (I love my morning coffee), but not much cooking (I have to draw the line somewhere). Rug and trash can, Ikea.

Tray is Target, teapot is an antique I found (yes it's going camping with me), and mugs are Shabby Chic.

Where the eating action is going to happen, naaaaaaa just laptop work. Oh the slipcovered cushions are from Ikea (actually I tucked and fitted them, they don't really go). The lantern is Ikea also.

The refrigerator door was damaged so I took some embossed wallpaper and covered the inside panel then painted it (semi gloss so I can wipe it down).

I see a lot of reading going on here. Another slipcover from Ikea, so are the two white pillows and the rolled up throw. I made the other two pillows.

Don't disturb me, I'm in repose.

Curtains as room dividers are from Ikea. All the other curtains are from Target.

Some before shots......

Fixing the sofa.

Refacing the nightstands.

Oh No Ceiling Down!!!!

Just kidding Mr. Swedish Room taking down the bad ceiling, it only took $300.00 to get it back up. Great job Honey. ( I guess this is why he don't want to be in the blog)

I was cleaning lots of this.

Now that it's done. Watch Out World, Here I Come!!!! and with a white camper named Gracie, oh and Mr. Swedish Room and Zeus (our dog) can come, I guess.

Ok I'm doing things a little different this time. I'm posting this on three parties.

Cindy at Cottage Instincts, Make it for Monday

Kathleen At Faded Charm, White Wednesday

Debra at Common Ground, Vintage Inspiration Friday

Thanks for visiting.

See everyone next time........

A Louis Chair In Disguise

Hi everyone, I'm almost done with Gracie. I can't wait to show you. Today I'm joining Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday. I have been thinking who has inspired my style the most, I have to say Rachel Ashwell has. Ever since I saw her slipcovered furniture and use of vintage pieces, her embrace of imperfection, I was hooked. I love white, but I have included other colors as well over the years. I even learn to make slipcovers thanks to Rachel. I think she has influenced every part of my life. This includes my thinking, embracing the imperfect, and seeing it's perfect beauty. I had these Louis chairs (I have two) for a while (you may have seen them on other posts already slipcovered), but I want to share with you what inspired me to slipcover, instead of upholstering them.

I love the big ties I put on them, I love seeing big ties on slipcovers it gives them an extra detail.

One of my inspirational pieces (these two pics are from Shabby Chic), I love the loose fit of the slipcovers and the tie details. After seeing these two pics years ago, I knew I could slipcover my two Louis.

As you can see I modified the Shabby Chic design, but the spirit is still there. It took a little figuring, but I got the design done.......

right down to the arms......

For more vintage inspiration go see Debra at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/. Now back to work on Gracie, Yaaaa!!! I'm almost done.

See everyone next time......

Rusty White

Hi everyone, I'm taking a small break from working on Gracie (I hope to have pics for you next week, cross your fingers), to join in White Wednesday. I love urns and have quite a few, I can remember years ago seeing them everywhere, and loving them. There is nothing like a rusty urn showing it age. I always wonder, what was planted in it, if it was in a cottage or a grand home. Most of the ones I own are not old (those are too expensive for me), but they still have lots of rust. Well if you leave them outside......

Here are three that I love, I put them on a rusty base table....

White and rusty.....
Rusty base table. I found the base years ago, rusty and white, then added a white painted wood table top. It is one of my favorites.

An urn with a lid, when I don't have flowers in it, it still looks good.

This one is really rusty and crusty.....

This one I painted white, planted it and left it outside, nice and rusty. As you can see I love urns, especially white and rusty ones. For more white inspiration go see Kathleen at http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/.

Ok I'm back to work, Happy White Wednesday.

See everyone next time.......

French Beach Cottage Headboard

Hi everyone, Its that time again, Make It For Monday. I didn't post for the party last week for two reasons. One I have been busy working on Gracie (for those in the know my Beach Cottage On Wheels), and two I had nothing to show. This week I have a great project to show. I call it a French Beach Cottage Headboard, this was the solution to needing a headboard for Gracie, and having a small budget. I hope it inspires.....

Don't mind the blue tape, I'm still working on Gracie. A little of the finished product.

I had some beadboard from another project, but its not that expensive (also you can have it cut down at the home improvement store). I bought some 1x6 finished lumber.

I put it all together like this (BTW its better to nail the beadboard into the 1x6 from the back), also mitered corners look better (If you ask real nice they may do it there too, Mr. Swedish Room helped me with that).

What? Oh that, I had this laying around the house so I just put it on. I'm sure you can find something like this at the flea market or something like it at a home improvement store. You can be as fancy or plain as you want.

Add a little primer and paint, Wa La a French Beach Cottage Headboard. Go try it, I had fun. For more inspiration go see Cindy at http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/. Have a good Make It For Monday. I'm back to work on Gracie........

See everyone next time.......

Seasonal Change

Hi everyone, I thought I would take a break from Gracie and show you some small changes I made for fall. Fall is a great time of year, you can sit out without being burned up or frozen. Depending on where you live you can feel a pleasant nip in the air at night. Fall colors are not usually in my palette, but I make small changes for the season. I find its cheaper to make small changes, and it does have more of an impact than you might think. First change dining room, all I did was get a black urn I already had (I know its not white, I don't paint everything white), rolled up some paper (in this case a clearance calender from Anthropologie I bought years ago, because the pages had an old parchment quality), threw in some pheasant feathers (I did have to buy them, but they weren't much), and a vintage paint brush I had around the house. Wa La... a cheap and cheerful center piece.

Here is a no money change, some lavender (ok I know everyone has potpourri, or can get some cheap, I had this in a baggy doing nothing), Pour it in these apothecary jar I had (try a glass bowl, or silver platter), and added some watch faces. Quick and easy....

My favorite crown in some river rocks (I usually use the rocks to put around orchids), some old hardware I picked up a long time ago, in a silver bowl I had in the china cabinet. Fall for no money......

This one is another freebie and only took 2 minutes, I took this piece (my favorite) off a bookcase shelf and put it on the coffee table.

Some more pics of this wonderful piece...

Look around, you may have a piece if you look at it a little different may make the perfect seasonal change. After all why should the big designer stores get your money, you use whatever you buy from them for a month, maybe two, then toss it or have to find a place to store it. I hope this inspired some of you. Now back to Gracie, I hear her now........COMING GRACIE (she sure is a taskmaster!!!)

(No I don't hear voices, just kidding LOL!!!)

See everyone next time.......

Gracie's Glam Camp Gear

Hi everyone, It's here another White Wednesday. I took some time from glamming up Gracie to show you some of the things I'll be taking for my glam camping (a friend told me that's what all the magazines are calling it). This the outdoor dining set I'm taking, I know it's white (wait until you see the inside of Gracie). The two side chairs were from the Ballard's Outlet, the table and bench are from Ikea, so is the lantern. I can't wait to hit the road.

I like the idea of using real dishes, I know who wants to wash dishes on vacation, I don't mind.
Sweet little mini roses.....

Sitting in French style, I love it!!!!

Well I'm back to Gracie, Mr. Swedish Room (that's right I never mention him, he's not into being part of the blogdom, but you may hear me speak about him more this year) is helping me work on her (Actually doing more of the work, but that's ok. I'll do the fun stuff real soon).
For more great white eye candy go see Kathleen at http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/.
See everyone next time.......