One Room Challenge Week Four

Welcome back.  It's week four (four?  Holy Hell!) of the One Room Challenge.  So last week was huge progress.  This week, not so much.  Between my husband's birthday, work, and Easter practically nothing got done.  Practically....

This...

is now this.

Paint goes a long way doesn't it?  We've had this fireplace for years and I was going to get rid of it, but it's found a permanent home.

And this...

now looks like this.

Just a peek here.  I'm trying not to give it all away before the big reveal.  Trying being the operative word.   I'm going to custom make the welt cord in the same fabric but haven't had the time to do it.  It's looking sooo good though.

And this Craigslist find is getting a makeover, but it's not done yet.

I also managed to sew a few pillow covers and finish the other roller shade.  I guess I got some things done but it pales in comparison to last week.  Wallpaper and carpet are tough to beat!  I'm still shopping for lamps and I think I'm going to get a sheepskin rug for the foot of the bed.  I'd like to get a bench but I'm having a tough time deciding on one.  Ugh.  Decisions.   So not my strong suit.  And lastly, I'm probably going to be making my own art.  Why not?  Not like I have ten million other things that I need to be doing, right?  Oh and I have an out of town conference that I'm going to next weekend, so this is my last weekend to work on the room.  I'm officially freaking out.  I'm sure I'm not alone though, right? Anyway, make sure to check out everyone else who is participating in this crazy adventure#what was I thinking?!

One Room Challenge-Week Three

It was a very busy week for us and a cubic butt load of things got done so let's get right to it.

Boo-ya!  Carpet and wallpaper-Bam!  And the light as well-Double Bam!  Ok, now about that snafu.  Someone didn't measure correctly and didn't buy enough wallpaper to cover the whole room.  That same someone didn't realize that this wallpaper was discontinued 1YEAR AGO.  No wonder it was such a steal on Ebay!  The real pisser is that there was another seller of the wallpaper at the same time so I would have had enough had I bought from that seller as well but I didn't realize my mistake until it was too late.  Wah-wah.  I've searched from the mountains to the oceans and into other galaxies and I can't find anymore of it.  Soooo, we now have an accent wall where the fireplace will go.  Not the end of the world really.   You know what they say, "when life gives you lemons...you say f-you and then move on".  That's what I was taught anyway.

Oh yes, also got to the window benches.  Very simple DIY to upholster those. Just took my fabric, batting, foam and stapled it to a piece of MDF.  And I bought some cheap roller shades from Lowe's and snazzed them up with some ribbon...and then promptly ran out of ribbon so I could only do one.  Typical.

And here is what it looks like closed (oops, didn't close it all the way.  You get the idea). I followed this tutorial  which was ridiculously simple.  The windows may be getting a little cornice treatment or maybe not.  I haven't made up my mind yet.

Got my cutting for approval for the headboard fabric.  Hells yeah!!!  Not feeling as enthusiastic about upholstering them myself though.

And bedding-check.

So here's what's left to do:
-Crown molding, new baseboards and shoe molding
-Window benches under both windows/ upholstery
-Window treatments (1 more)
-Carpet
-Light fixture/ table lamps
-Wallpaper (slight snafu with that which I'll talk about later)
-Upholster the headboard (and find bed frame and mattresses and bedding)
-Nightstands makeover
-Make pillow covers
-Art/decor/knobs
-Fireplace 

I found some nightstands on craigslist that are getting a makeover and still might have something planned for the windows besides what's been done.  I also need a bed frame and mattresses and some art etc.  That's what I was forgetting on my original list!  I knew I was forgetting something.  Oh and the fireplace.  Ok, I'm getting a bit nervous.  I still have a fair bit of work to do so I'm signing off.  Make sure you check on the ORCers and the linking participants!

Curtains. I Did It, I Did It, I Really Really Did It.

It was a crazy productive week for me.  I seriously got into a DIY groove that couldn't be stopped.  I said F-U to the things I've been afraid to tackle before and dove right in.

I followed this tutorial which was SOOOO helpful.  Lots of pictures for people like me who desperately need them.  I'm never buying curtains again.  Well, never say never, but I feel pretty confident about making them.  I just feel like I can tackle anything I put my mind to right now. Tutorials.  Where have you been all my life?

One Room Challenge Week Two

It's only week two of the One Room Challenge and I'm already exhausted.  I guess I need to put on my big girl pants and get right over it cause I still have a LOT to do in my guest room.  My husband and I (really my husband) worked like a dog to do all of the crown molding and baseboards this weekend.  He had such a hard time with the angles since, once again, nothing is square.  Somehow (with wood filler, spackle, caulk, and paint) he managed to make it look a-mazing.  And he built the window benches.  They still need a bit more trimming out but I'm super impressed with his carpentry skills right now.  Remember what it looked like before (sorry for my absolute crap photography skills)?

And voila!

 We had these cabinets left over from our kitchen so I'm glad they're getting a home.  It'll be nice to have a bit of storage.

That space is where the fireplace will go.  We bought it two houses ago and we were going to get rid of it, but this seemed like the perfect spot for it.  It just needs a bit of tweaking, which will be the subject of one of my posts.  Next up is the carpet and wallpaper.  They're both scheduled so unless all hell breaks loose next week will be a big one.  In the meantime I've got something semi cheap and cheerful planned for window treatments that I'm hoping to get started on this weekend.  Crossing my fingers that it will look as good as it does in my head.  Now I'm off to see how all the other linking participants are doing with their rooms.  Don't forget to see what the varsity team of ORCers are doing.  Ridiculous goodness.

The Light Is In

I'm going to be slowing down a bit on the craft room.  I'm literally laughing as I'm writing this.  Can I get any slower?  I'm working on another room for the One Room Challenge and that's going to be my focus for the next few weeks.  I'm still going to try to do a few things here and there, like the curtains, but I probably won't have as many updates on the ol' craft room.  BUT, I did (and by "I did" I mean my husband) put up the light and I got my chairs.

I'm pretty happy with both.  So that's it for now.   I'll post a picture of the curtains as soon as I finish them.  Until then I'm off to slave away in the other room.  Why do I do this to myself?  In truth I need the motivation or my whole house will end up like the neverending craft room makeover!

The One Room Challenge-Week One

It's that time again.  Linda from Calling It Home has organized another round of talented bloggers transforming a room of their choice for the One Room Challenge.  I'm going to try to keep up with them and link up a room that I've been saving for this.  A six week turn around may be tough, but I'm going to try to keep up.  Want to see which room I picked?

In all fairness, this is what the room looked like when we moved in.  And yes that's a drop ceiling with a missing ceiling tile.  Why? No clue.  And this is what it looks like now.

I know, right?  Not much improved with the exception of a proper ceiling.  It's been rewired, which is why the baseboards are off and it's had some plaster repair.  I also recently painted the closet which was a scary mess.

It's amazing what a coat of white paint (and a sponge) can do to make a space look fresh again.

So here's the plan.

via Pottery Barn, Shades of Light, Calico Corners, Elle Decor, Electric Fireplace Pros

I know.  My moodboard skills are totally lame.  Whatever!  You get the idea.  I bought that bed frame over two years ago and it's a dirty mess.  I need to upholster the panels.  I also need to learn how to upholster the panels.  It'll all work out I'm sure.  Here's the complete list.

-Crown molding, new baseboards and shoe molding
-Window benches under both windows/ upholstery
-Window treatments
-Carpet
-Light fixture/ table lamps
-Wallpaper (slight snafu with that which I'll talk about later)
-Upholster the headboard (and find bed frame and mattresses and bedding)
-Furniture i.e, nightstands and maybe a chair?
-Art and whatever else I'm forgetting at the moment.

How many weeks is this?  I've got to go.  I'm already about 5 months behind.  Make sure you check out what all of the One Room Challenge bloggers are doing.  I'm sure they will not disappoint.