All covered in paint!

My friends all make fun of me because I'm always found with a paint brush in my hand and paint somewhere on my body. Finding just the right combination of colors is always such great fun to me. I love the process of seeing something transformed. The greatest is when you actually have an inspiration piece that you can copy or have someone else copy for you!

This week I painted this mirror. It was originally a brassy gold and didn't go with the decor I was working with. What I really wanted was for it to go with the copper wall art that I had found for that bathroom. Below is the artwork I used as my color inspiration for my mirror.

After lots of layering; Gray, black, metallic cooper and hints of metallic gold, I got what I was looking for.

Just goes to show, don't throw out or pass up old brassy mirrors at garage sales, thrift stores, your grandma's hand me downs or even attic finds, etc. Look for mirrors that have character. If they have character they can easily be updated and transformed!

Don't get stuck with things you don't like. If mixing colors to get just the right color is definitely not your thing then "spray paint" it a different color, it's better than living with something you don't like. If you go to any home improvement store they have every color known to man, including metallic, hammered and textured spray paint.

Look around your house today....find something that you aren't that crazy about any more. I challenge you to spray paint it a different color and see what you think. If you love it, send it to me and I'll post it on my blog. Spray paint will cost you about $4.50 or less and you'll have a new TREASURE!

Happy painting!

Treasured Gifts

My Nephew who is 18 gave this to me this past weekend. On my birthday he said he had something for me and would give it to me as soon as he could. I had no idea what it could be. Well, he drew this picture in his art class and thought I would be the right person for it. I WILL treasure it and love to get gifts like this. THANK YOU BRYCE! You have talent.

My friend Carolyn Ann is so very talented. She made me this amazing bracelet! She personalized it just for me. She cut out all the individual words & pictures from magazines that she thought represented me the most and decoupaged them onto this bracelet. I have been wearing it to death. It even has a Starbucks logo inside the bracelet! I love you Carolyn Ann, thank you for making this for me! What a special gift! I posted several pictures so you could see every detail!

Happy Rooms

I've been stashing away pictures throughout the year that capture me and make my heart beat faster. You probably have something in your life that makes you get really excited. Well...mine is design and I know that it is a passion because when I see a picture that I LOVE in a magazine, book or on the Internet my whole body responds. I can feel my blood pressure rising from the excitement and my imagination goes wild. I start to think about ways that I can incorporate all the details of the picture into a client's home I'm working on or sometimes to my house. I get so inspired and it makes me feel exhilarated. It's fun to have something you LOVE in your life. I'm extremely blessed that I get to do what I love everyday.

Here are a few pictures that inspired me and got me excited. Thought I'd share my favorites and why.

1. The focal point in this room is definitely the mirror that is used as the headboard. What makes it so stunning is its grandeur. It goes all the way to the ceiling. Another thing that creates beauty is the distressed look on the mirror. The aged mirror compliments the aged matlesse coverlet that is on the bed.

2. The beautiful "spa like" paint color is so restful and inviting, allowing you to see the beauty of everything in the room.

3. The draperies add more texture and height to the room because of their color and the contrast against the paint color. The bench makes a loud statement too and it brings all the colors together.

I LOVE the simplicity of this room:

1. The monochromatic colors make it soothing.

2. The cream furniture gives a simple feeling to the room .

3. The rustic wood coffee table really adds some casual character to the space.

4. The cream draperies look amazing, especially since they are hung on a black rod. The rod acts as if it were the eyebrow to the drapes, finishing it off and making them look so classy.

5. The painting is not too strong for the space but adds amazing color and interest to the fireplace, especially since there is no mantel.

6. I always say that every room should have a touch of black. The touch of black in this room is the lamp and it really looks sophisticated along with the ethnic baskets along the fireplace.

7. My favorite thing in the room is the sea grass rug, it grounds the space and gives is a nice neutral palette for the wood furniture to sit on.

Wow, talk about having black in a room. I don't know if I would be so brave as to have this room as my own but I love the way it looks. The reason the black works is because it's balanced.

1. The tall black wood headboard has some balance because of the LARGE credensa at the foot of the bed.

2. Of course they then put an arrangement on the credensa to add more height, therefore making the two work together.

3. The rich black color with the soft toille red compliment each other well and they make a good marriage.

4. I love the "modern" mixed with a touch of "upscale country".

5. The chandelier really softens the black too with it's traditional lines and crystals, adding another interesting element to the room.

6. The columns on each side of the bed as well as the painting with coordinating colors again creates the overall balance. Without the painting, the black would feel too overpowering but the painting makes it work.

This kitchen is fabulous and this is why:

1. The mix of wood finishes adds character. Putting the white cabinets above with the tile work makes the room feel bigger. Adding the dark wood gives it character.

2. The painted ceiling is the focal point of the entire room.

3. The backsplash has all the colors that the ceiling motif has.

4. The light fixture is different and unexpected.

Happpy 1st Anniversary New House

BEFORE WE MOVED IN

Today marks a year that we've been in our new house. We really love it. We did lots of projects when we moved in and then life got hectic and we didn't do much more inside. Now that it's summer again, I'm feeling the itch for projects so here's my latest.

Mantels are always such fun to redo! Here is one that I enhanced. I added corbels to the bottom of the mantel and then stained the mantel all the same color. Adding a mirror above it makes the room feel bigger. I had the fireplace surround painted black too and that really updated it. Leaning an original oil painting on top of the mirror adds some color and texture to the mix. I've always wanted to have lamps on a mantel and think that this really added a nice feel to the room. The room needed light so this was a functional solution too. I wanted a little bit of a "garden feel" so I added this candelabra and instead of putting candles on it, I used stone decorative balls in different sizes.

I found this carving in my "thrifty finds" and decided to place it under the mantel itself. The carving was made in Guatemala and I lived there when I was a child. Love to add a lot of different styles giving an eclectic feel. Not everyone would want this mix but for me it's perfect because it tells a story of who I am and what I love.
Like the difference? I do!

Renew your treasures!

Ruth

And the Oscar Goes to???

I had the wonderful opportunity to decorate the stage for my youngest daughter's 5th grade graduation. The best part of this challenge was having a very small budget. I love this kind of challenge because it makes my creative juices go WILD. I had such fun finding great ways to make the stage come alive.

The black curtains were already there so that was a great backdrop to the overall design of the stage. Black always looks so smart and gives a formal look to any occasion.

We were able to borrow this paper mache' Oscar from COMPASS CHURCH in Grapevine and he was the star of the stage. Balloons are also a great way to fill in the space. Mylar balloons are the best because they stay up longer and the different shapes add some class. We chose gold and shimmery white STARS because they are "THE GRAPEVINE STARS". Don't the colors look incredible the black background?

Thank you to my sister who works for an exhibit company and they let us borrow these ropes and stanchions from their warehouse inventory. They really added the "Oscar" feel and gave the kids a walkway to follow. Adding the red craft paper made the theme complete.

Recognize these windshield protector's. I found them at "Dollar Tree" and they were perfect for the sparkly effect of a theatre Marque.

We took each graduate's picture before the event and then blew them up and placed their picture on a star. We laminated them and cut them out. Each kid got to take their star home after the show.

CUTIE'S!!

Fun was had by all and the finished the program off with an awesome surprise for the parents. They sang an amazing song for us and I don't' thing there was one dry eye in the house. My little darling is in this picture with her teacher!

The best part of all this is that it was easy to put up, easy to take down and cost very little. I had a blast creating and spending time with my friends as we put it all together! I love it when we are given the opportunity to use our gifts to serve our children! What a privilege!

The balloons went to the pool party after the graduation and we let them go at the end. It was bittersweet as we watched "the stars fly away". Boo hoo! Middle School here we come.

And the Oscar goes to GES 5th Graders! Congrats!