Living Room~ Before and (almost) After

We just finished changing the paint in the living room from a drab sort of yellow to Diverse Beige, by Sherwin Williams.

Before: 

 

I really love this color! Even more that the darker version, Utterly Beige, that we used in our bedroom.
I also added some curtains, but I'm not sure this is their permanent home. I think something less patterned might look better in here. They may be moved to the guest room. ;-)
                                                                  After:

 

I've hung this quilt on the wall above this sofa in 3 houses now. :-) I think it is my favorite out of the quilts I've made.

We have plans in mind for this fireplace, but they may have to wait a few months. A quick fix that we are considering is painting the bricks the wall color, so they blend in with the room better. And painting the mantle white. Eventually, Ben wants to cover the bricks with white wood paneling and molding. Over the hearth, too. I am afraid of brick hearths once we have another little one crawling around and learning to walk.

For now, we are much happier with the living room, and can move on to all the other rooms needing some paint attention. ;-)

Odds and Ends

I love the built in storage and shelving in our living room, but the knobs left somewhat to be desired.

They were basket weave which looked more suited to an African safari theme or something. ha Not our style. Even Nathanael didn't approve of them. ;-)

I bought 4 pink glass knobs half price at Hobby Lobby and switched them out.

Yes, I do display my American Girl dolls in the living room. ha I make and sell period doll clothing for the AG dolls, and these are my models. I have Kirsten and Samantha from the days of my youth when I actually played with dolls. ;-) However, I still love these dolls so much that Ben gave me a Rebecca doll for Christmas year before last. I need to change them into some of the clothes I made, but haven't had time lately.....

                                          This was our 4th of July look for the front entry:

The Spring/Summer wreaths were on clearance at Hobby Lobby, so I bought this one for the front door while I was there:

                                         The flowers are made out of a burlap type fabric.

Speaking of burlap, I cut some in strips to make tie backs for the neutral curtains downstairs. More light comes in now, and it looks cuter. ;-)

I had to buy some burlap "ribbon" to use on the last two panels, since I ran out of my left over burlap fabric.

Thought I'd show you a couple more pictures of the downstairs family/rec room. How do you like Priscilla's eyes in this shot? haha

                           The boys always have to pose in a shot or two, as well. hehe
The pool table came with the house, for a small price. The previous owners didn't want to have to move it, and Ben loves pool, so that worked out well. Nathanael and Teddy are learning how to play now, too.

The Family Room

The family room is one of the few rooms in our new house that we could just move into without any painting, etc. (We did have the carpet cleaned, though.)

 

 I love all the built in shelves and cupboards in this room. My white TV blends right in. ;-)

 We had planned on putting our big, comfy sofa in this room, that matches the oatmeal colored chair and ottoman, but it wouldn't fit through the doorway! So, it has to stay in the formal living room instead. :-(

Two chairs were not enough when all of us gather to watch Andy Griffith, etc (ha), so after some research we took a trip to Ikea and bought their Ektorp slipcovered sofa. It comes flat packed, as does everything is that store, so there was no trouble getting it into the room. I remembered trying one of these sofas out a few years ago and thinking it was way too firm. However, I was surprised at how comfy this one actually is. Maybe they changed them in the last few years?
The slipcover is machine washable, so we don't have to worry over the whiteness too much. But to reduce the number of times I need to wash it and put it all back on, we do have a "no food" rule in this room. ;-)

 

             

 

I think Priscilla approves of the room. ;-)

 

 There is a cute little bathroom off of the family room. I love the vanity. It looks like a piece of furniture.

 I wonder how much use this shower will get, though? ha Doesn't seem like it was needed in this bathroom, but I guess we will find out.

Master Suite, before and after

The master bedroom had scuffed up, blue walls and worn out, stained Berber carpet when we bought the house. It also smelled like a dog, since the previous owners' dog slept there.

 

                                    

 Ben painted the walls "Utterly Beige" by Sherwin Williams and we had new frieze style carpet installed. :-) The walls look more brown/tan to me than beige, so that name is not very descriptive of the color.

 I bought the ruffled "Simply Shabby Chic" curtains from Target. I love ruffles. ;-)

                                                     A view into the master bathroom...

                         The balloon shade/curtain is also "Simply Shabby Chic" from Target.

Our master suite now feels very restful to me. And we have both been sleeping better back in our own bed once again. Nothing like your own bed, after all. :-)

Joining the monthly Before and After Party with Sarah at http://www.thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/

Entry Way, before and after

We have been very busy of late, settling into our lovely new home. :-) I am mostly unpacked now, and Ben is working on the all the painting that needs to be done. Our room and the baby's nursery are all painted, with new carpet installed, but I still need to finish decorating those rooms before I show pictures. ;-)

 

One "room" that is all ready to show you is the entry way, which leads into the formal living room.

Before, it was a shade of yellowy cream that I do not care for.

 

 It is now painted Diverse Beige, by Sherwin Williams. It is a soft, sort of greige color, and it has really improved the look of the entry way.

 I also added sheer panels to the windowed part of the door and the sidelight. It adds a little privacy, and also, I was being driven nuts by the smudges and finger prints that showed up so well in the afternoon sun. ha I just couldn't get those windows to look clean at all.
There is a little "mud room" before the entry way. A double door entry sort of thing. Not sure if you can tell in the pictures...

I can't wait until all of the living room and the kitchen are painted Diverse Beige, as well! I think it makes it look so fresh and updated compared to the colors that were in here before.

A New Name- Again

Well, it's been ages since I last posted, and so many things have happened!

I am now over 20 weeks along in my pregnancy, and my "morning sickness" is finally gone. Yay! It was worse this time, but contrary to popular opinion, this did not mean I am having a girl this time. Our third little boy will arrive sometime in late August or early September. ;-) I was hoping for a little girl. After all, my favorite color is pink. ha But we are thrilled that the Lord is blessing us with another precious baby boy. I can't wait!

This pic was taken from an odd angle, but you get the general idea of how I look at 20 weeks pregnant. ;-)

In other news, we recently moved to the beautiful state of North Carolina. So, I now need to figure out a new name for my blog. Seems like I just changed it, oh, about two years ago. ha

We are excited to come and be a part of a wonderful church here. It has already been such a blessing to us over the two months since our arrival.

Our house in "the heartland" is finally under contract, and we will be (Lord willing) closing on a new house here at the end of May. I am so excited to post all the before and after pics here that we will have soon!  ;-) We will be doing a lot of painting and carpeting a couple of rooms, besides the usual decorating, since it is not a brand new house this time around.

                                      The boys in the front yard of the house we are staying in.

                    Hopefully I will post again sooner next time, now that I am feeling better. ;-)
                                                     Jessica
                             

"Again a Dreamer of Dreams"

In one of my favorite books, "Anne's House of Dreams" by L M Montgomery, I always remember this quaint phrase letting the reader know that Anne is expecting another baby:
" For Anne was again a dreamer of dreams"....

Well, I am happy to convey that I am once again a dreamer of dreams. :-) Dreams of a precious little baby who promises to join us sometime around September 12th this year.
I dream of what this new baby will look like, whether it will be another boy, or a girl this time. I even decorate the baby's nursery in my mind before I go to sleep at night. One version for a girl, and another for a boy.

Ben and I are so excited! The boys were thrilled to hear the good news, although the time until the baby's arrival will seem so long to them.


I had this vintage print hanging in the boys' room for several years, and will use it in this new baby's room, as well. :-)