Wallpaper Stencil LOVE

Well my sweet husband finished the LR wallpaper stenciling this weekend!! The stencil was roughly 17 x 20 inches & it took 3 days of painting. (RL stencil from here )

He says the worst part about it was having to wash out the stencil between every few applications of the stencil. We used a latex paint: Sherwin Williams 'Ancestral Gold' recommended by Maria from Colour Me Happy & the color coudn't be more perfect!! (a pale goldy-green- awesome with the sofa- Thank you Maria!!! :) He didn't use a stencil brush & we just went with a Home Depot cheapie about 2-3 inches wide. The application isn't even & is just what I was looking for. (perfect imperfection!!)

Here's what our living room looked like before:

And here it is after the stenciling:

(A clear glass floor lamp is on its way to the right of the fireplace to balance out the chandelier & we're adding a custom mirror in the fireplace box.) It's hard to see in the far away photos because of the light coming in through the windows, but there is a sort of grid-like pattern where the stencil applications meet. I've been going around by hand to fill in these areas (this will also take FOREVER) but it's worth it because it makes it look continuous.

It reminds me a little of my grandparents' wallpaper (where I lived growing up) and looking at it just gives me this feeling of "home." I seriously teared up when Dave finished it. (ha pregnancy! ;) It looks like a timeworn wallpaper & I couldn't be happier. It really warmed up the room & made that huge high wall feel smaller.

Now my dilemma is this: I don't think I can cover it up with my 30 Leonardo Da Vinci sketches!! (At least not right away because I just want to gaze at it lovingly.. not kidding.) But I already ordered them... SO now I think I'm going for a CRAZY gallery entry with them going all the way up the 3 walls in the entryway. Any thoughts??? Should I put them in the living room or entry? If I put them in the entry, what your thoughts on the living room? Should I put the black window-like mirrors back? (in above before pic-- they're very loft-like & strong.) Just keep it empty & lean whichever mirror and/ or art I feel like at any given time? (below) Do you think it feels too empty as it is now? (This is tough because it feels "emptier" in photos than in person because the wallpaper stencil stands out much more in person...)

Ok, would love your thoughts & ideas. And one last pic of my chemistry beakers!! (In case you didn't read the comments in a previous post, I had to laugh so hard when Terri of WindLost said she loved everything in the room except for the chemistry beakers because she's a scientist. hahaha Yes, I have to agree that I wouldn't feel the same way about them had I her job!!)

Looking back over the weekend stenciling project: YES, I almost told my husband to quit after it took an hour and a half to do the first 3 stencils. He was a serious trooper & just kept going & going but I KNOW I wouldn't have done it myself. I don't have the patience. IF you have an insane stash of patience, it's a project worth doing, but I agree with many of the comments in my last post that wallpaper doesn't seem nearly as expensive now. He's moving onto the foyer this weekend & that will be rough on a ladder the whole time but I'll post when we have pics!

xoxo,

lauren

ps- Head over to Velvet & Linen to vote for which readers' rooms you think deserve the GORGEOUS brickmaker's coffee table!!! I took part in the selection of the finalists & I cannot tell you how many beautiful well-designed rooms were sent in!! It was SO tough- bloggers & readers are so talented!!!

xoxo

Velvet & Linen's Brickmaker Table!!

Don't forget to head over to Velvet & Linen to vote for who you think should win the INSANELY BEAUTIFUL Brickmaker's Table!!! There are 10 finalists & they're all so different it's almost impossible to pick just one!!!

I wanted this thing BADLY but don't have enough space for it... one day... This was seriously the best giveway I've ever heard of!!

xoxo,

lauren

Wallpaper Stencils

Right now I'm helping (i.e. watching & providing wonderful & lively conversation for) my husband paint this wallpaper stencil all over our living room wall:

A very sweet reader, Mary, gave me the idea to try stenciling after learning that I lusted after wallpaper for my living room & entry. (It's a RL stencil from here and reminds of a henna tattoo & I just LOVE it!! ) It's INSANELY intricate and will most likely take years to complete... No really, it's baaaaaad. It's taking FOREVER. The ceiling is high and the wall continues into the entryway...

Stenciling is for the extremely patient, crafty or BROKE person. (And I'll give you a hint, I'm not patient or crafty... ;) Can you guess what color I chose for the stenciling? The Color Queen from Colour Me Happy (AKA Maria) recommended it to me & it's prefect!!

Have a great weekend & we (he) will be meticulously painting away-- ahhhhhhhhhhhh

xoxo,

lauren

Thanksgiving Table

I wanted to share with you a Thanksgiving Table centerpiece & Post I did last year at my mom's house. (11/25/08!) I'd just started blogging and I had so much fun setting a pretend table.. How odd it seemed at the time but now it seems totally normal!! Just ignore the lack of silverware & napkins for my imaginary guests! ;)

_____________________________________________________



'
The items used are all flea-market finds from a trip I recently took to Strasburg, Virginia. I started with a simple oat-colored linen runner and put the large white pillar candle holder in the center. (Only $2!)





Then I layered ouwards symmetrically with the pair of smaller milk glass urns & topped them off with pumpkins ($10 for the pair!)




I tucked in a second, larger milk glass urn with a squash in it to informally balance the small milk glass candleholder on the opposite side. (When dealing with thrift-store flea market finds, since it's often hard to come by pairs, you get to have a lot of fun with mismatched pairs & informal balance.)



At the end of the arrangement, I used 2 busts of a little boy and girl. I debated over buying them & am now so glad I went for them. At only $8 for the pair and now seeing how quirky they look on the table, I don't know why I wasn't crazy over them from the beginning! (I love weird little objects :)



And finally, I added this little tree made out of amber that my mom & stepdad found on a trip to Lithuania. It's like a little gemstone bouquet. It looks good no matter where you put it.




I think my mom's wedding china looks perfect with such a simple arrangement. The room's crewel draperies, stained-glass window & bold-patterned rug made me want to do a really simple table setting.




Here's a close-up of the large urn with the squash in it. I thought it was a pretty picture. :)




Here you can see my mom's cabinet full of crystal. It's got some beautiful pieces given to her by my grandfather & also an amazing vintage cut crystal collection handed down to her from my stepdad's family. She's never had it displayed before & recently purchased the cabinet & was finally able to enjoy it!




Anyway, I'm off to pack for our trip to visit my dad for Thanksgiving! If I'm able to, I'll post some pictures of our table there! (His kitchen is finally in & I cannot wait to see it!!!)
Here's one last picture & have a very happy & beautiful Thanksgiving!!! Keep it simple & have fun!! xoxo







______________________________________________________

Hope you enjoyed the little trip down memory lane! Thanksgiving will be at my mom's house this year & I'm already getting excited for my grandmother's homemade noodles!!! mmmm mmm mm!!!
xoxo,
lauren

Pure Style Home: The Open Sky Project

I wanted to let you in on a little something that's in the works right now. I've joined The Open Sky Project & will be opening up an online store featuring some of my favorite products. The Open Sky Project is a new concept & company: It's an online store that sells products through a series of "Shops" owned by "Experts." Many of the experts are bloggers in various areas of interest ranging from cooking to gardening to fishing & we've all chosen some of our favorite things to sell. (I'll be joining in as the second interior decor shop.) Its goal is to make the online shopping experience personal. You're comfortable buying because it's a recommendation from someone you trust. If I were into fishing I'd trust him:

hee hee Anyway, I'm in the midst of choosing my products & would love your input! I've got my eye on a few things but am looking for more ideas! What would you like to see? What do you think buyers would be interested in buying?

It can be anything from lighting to pillows to rugs to accessories to artwork. Right now I'm leaning towards some of my favorite things in my own home- the things people email me about asking where to find. I definitely want to include a nice slew of beautiful & budget-friendly products. Any thoughts? As soon as my shop launches, I'll let you know. Thanks so much for your help & I can't wait!!

xoxo,

lauren

A Southern Living Before & After

I was asked to review this November's issue of Southern Living, and have to say that I loved so many things about it, but my favorite had to be this bedroom before & after. (Photos by Laurey W. Glenn) Here's the before, which is so much like my own (in-need-of-love) guest bedroom:

And here's the After:

I love it!!! It belongs to Mary Ankar & she was assisted by none other than Anne Turner Carroll. (I think it's safe to say we bloggers pretty much love anything she gets her hands on.) What made the biggest impact in the space was the addition of the gray-green grasscloth wallpaper. I think I MUST have this somewhere in my house:

Our guest bedroom has a pair of glass lamps just like this & a very similar bed and I will have to fight with all of my being to not straight-up copy this room!! :) hahah

Also check out the before of the antique chair:

And how perfect is it now?! :

The roman shades are hung just under the crown molding & I love their relaxed elegance...

The antique desk looks far from old with the modern lamp & artwork above it. They put sketches in ready-made frames for budget-friendly accessories:

The pillow (I have to say this!) is just like the body pillow on my bed! (here I thought it was so original!! oh well ;)But I just LOVE IT!!! It's from a rug they purchased for the room that didn't work & they had it turned into a pillow. The pattern is gorgeous & it really oomphs the style level in the room. (And I can tell you how easy haveing one big pillow is!)

And finally, Anne Turner Carroll created this arrangement below out of mounted wallpaper. She felt an entire wall or large canvas of it would have been too much for the space so she broke it up. What a great idea!!! Especially if you have pretty wallpaper remnants- which I do!!! (remember the kitchen nook?!) Love the pops of yellow throught the room...

Anyway, with the loss of some of my favorite magazines (Domino & Cottage Living--- tears!!) I was really happy to see such a fresh, young space in Southern Living. There are a few more in this issue & I'm hoping this is how it will stay. We're all out here begging for some new, budget-friendly, beautiful "real" spaces!!!

xoxo,

lauren

ps- Thank you SO much for all the sweet comments about our bedroom redo!! (previous post) It really make it all worth it!! :)

Our 70s Split Redo Part IV: The Master Bedroom

So I finally took pics of our bedroom! (a million!!- sorry!) Here's what it looked like when we first moved in. Scary, I know. The curtains were leftover from our old house & we had to hang them for privacy until I could get longer ones. (They were one of the last things we added to the room so anytime someone walked in I was so embarrassed! :) The limewashed paneling was pretty bad but appealed to me in a weird way... We stuck to our budget and spent just under $1000 in this room. We didn't replace the (new, clean-but-boring) carpet but have plans to do so. (Probably with a natural woven wall-to-wall carpet like seagrass or sisal.)

Here it is now:

I knew I wanted all-white because there's just nothing more relaxing to me & we really wanted to focus on the wooded views outside the windows. And I love getting into a clean white bed with fresh linens. Just love it!! (The duvet cover is from West Elm & I like the fact that it's pretty even when it's not made :) We keep our current books on the old step ladder (above) under the window that we found outside our house in the bushes. It keeps things neat.

What inspired the rest of the room was the antique brass headboard. (below) We found it on the side of the road set out trash when we first moved in. (One of my best trash-picks ever.) It's a double bed but works fine for our queen bed.



For our bedside tables we went with the Malm dressers from Ikea. (I think around $65 each?) We needed the storage space and I love having a big nightstand. I wanted modern & simple & I've always loved the lines of these. I chose an antique brass reading lamp by Robert Abbey suggested to me by Reichel of Copy Cat Chic (thank you!!! :) because it was such a better price than the Restoration Hardware one I was lusting after & had the same look. I love having the dimmer at night.

On the other nightstand we used the Chinoiserie ginger jar lamp I found on our first flea market with Eddie & Jaithan for only $20! I'd been searching for one of these for years as my grandmother had them when I was growing up at their house & I always loved them. (And she's not ready to part with them! ;)

I found the vintage crystal chandelier (below) at On a Whim (in Lucketts, VA ) last December and kept my fingers crossed that it would still be there when I realized how perfect it would be for our bedroom. I was lucky!!! I ripped the two fern prints above the bed out of a book we had & put them into $1 frames I found at a thrift shop. I love them against the paneling...

We have a semi-awkward wall on one side of the bedroom: not enough space for a piece of furniture but still a pretty substantial wall. I decided it would be a fun spot to hang some of my jewelry so I could enjoy it even when I'm not wearing it. (below)

I simply hammered in some large nails & had fun hanging the necklaces by color & size. It's one of those little things that just makes me really happy. I end up wearing it more instead of forgetting about it in my jewelry box. The chair was $13 at a thrift store & I painted it white.

The huge pillow on the bed is a cheap body pillow from Target that I had covered in a rich greeny-goldy ikat that I found at Calico Corners for 60% off.

I really wanted the room to have a simple & modern feeling with a touch of feminine & ornate detailing... This picture below kind of embodies the whole idea: ornate gilded sconces from my grandmother topped with a simple white vase from ikea. (We have one on either side of the window.)

And this seriously scrolly hand-carved bevelled mirror found at Lucketts was our splurge at $250. Its lines remind me a little of fern... I stare at it in bed & find lots of shapes & faces (there's an owl guy hidden in there) and I never tire of it.

And whenever I take pics of our house, I pretty much move these chemistry beakers into the room. (haha oh well.) Here I used fern from outside (where the Boston fern now lives :) and love them paired with the fern prints. Such a simple easy arrangement...

The white roman shades are off-the-rack from Sears & I swear by them. They're thermal-lined & if you can find the right size, they're awesome. The curtains are from Ikea. One last little look:

Thanks so much for reading & hope you enjoyed the tour! Have a great day!!!

xoxo,

lauren

ps- Just in case you missed the others:

Part 1: The Living Room/ Dining Room

Part II: The Family Room/ Office

Part III: The Kitchen

Apartment LOVE: Monelle Totah

There are some homes that I can look at over & over and never tire of. These are the FAVORITES. We usually see them a million times splattered all over blogland and to me, Monelle Totah's home featured in Elle Decor a few months ago is one of those. It gets to the point where I almost feel bad posting because I know everyone's already seen it, but I just have to because I love it so much. Monelle is the head designer at Williams-Sonoma home so it's no wonder her place is GORGEOUS. Her living room is my favorite spot:

All- white with small hits of black and silver. It's sophisticated & just insanely beautiful. With its leggy furniture pieces, exposed wood floor & the color palette, it feels airy & open. That coffee table = yum yum!! Accessories are layered to perfection & it just feels ready for cocktails in there!! I'm also loving the dining room (below). It's a bit softer with a little more age due to the antiques, but has the same nice graphic punch of the overscale striped rug that the zebra hide had in the living room. I love seeing the silhouette of the table under the simple linen tablcloth. Such a relaxed elegance...

Below is a stocked little secretary & stylish mail-collecting spot. (At least that's what I'd use it for! ;)

The kitchen is light & airy & freah. The glass cabinet doors makes it feel larger than it is:

Of course I'm loving the white slipcovered headboard & general feeling in the bedroom (below). Also, check out her tired nightstand on the right side of the bed. How great is it for stacking books?! The two ottomans at the end of the bed are great touches (would be full of clothes at my house ;) and something about the green hydrangeas in the arrangement just seals this space for me. I love that hit of green! I have no idea what her budget was in this space but I think it could be fairly easily created on a tight budget. Headboard, ottomans, prints on the wall, books, seagrass rug... And I love the old sawhorse/bench under the window. I've seen them a lot while out shopping (Lucketts usually has one! - very inexpensive) and always consider buying them! (They're a little too skinny to be comfortable sitting on for any period of time though but look amazing... probably great for putting on shoes & setting books on... haha now I want one!! don't go to Lucketts!! just kidding ;) And for me, if I make a splurge in a room (which I usually do) it tends to be on the lamps...

I love seeing little stands & table & chairs in bathrooms... Do this one stay around after the photo shoot I wonder? Sadly, non of my bathrooms are big enough for any of these pretty extras... yet ;) hee hee... I'm also loving the toile in the shower area:

This bedroom has a perfect little galler wall & I love the splashes of gold and orange in the all-white space. How easy is this room to switch up seasonally?!! love it!

And the modern chair & art playing off the with the frilly chandelier & painted bamboo dresser = WOW

And finally, one last shot of the main area. It's just beautiful and if we didn't need striped rugs before, now we do ;)


Also, if you haven't seen already. Brooke from Velvet & Linen is having the COOLEST GIVEAWAY EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh I won't spoil the surprise if you don't already know, but just go over there.

Have a great weekend & I took photos of our finished bedrooms (finally) and will be posting Mon!!! We're painting those nursery stripes -ahhhhhhh!!!

xoxoxo,

Lauren

ps- I just have to tell you about the weirdest dream I had last night: I was at K-Mart and Martha Stewart was there because of her products (I think she's stopped selling there in real life?) and she was helping to put carts away in the parking lot. I thought that was very nice of her. ;)