Family Room Media Wall Reveal

Can you believe it?  I finally have something completed in my house!!!

ONE WALL… YAY!  (just 3 months, 4 major trips, and 2 college move-ins later)

I’m lovin’ this simple board and batten treatment (and so is the hubby).

I must give credit where credit is due.  This was not my idea.  I repeat. This was not my idea.  I got this idea from outrageously talented Mandi from Vintage Revivals when I visited her blog after seeing her on the Nate Berkus show back in the summer.  Click HERE and HERE to see her examples.  She also has the tutorial HERE on how to do this.  Thanks, Mandi!

I knew this would be a perfect wall treatment for my awkward “not-done-properly when we built the house” media wall.

So here’s the breakdown:

Blah wall that’s masquerading as a media wall.  Doesn’t it resemble a jigsaw puzzle?

The new wall color that you see on the top is Sherwin Williams Wool Skein and it rocks!

I had already pre-measured everything and had the lines drawn onto the wall of how I wanted it to look.  The pencil lines just don’t show up in the photos.

Beginnings of a transformation.  Already better.  No more jigsaw.  Much more continuity.

My excitement is building.

 I can’t even believe it’s the same wall.

The lead carpenter, Brad, did an awesome job.  (Yes, I used our contractor.  I’m a wimp when it comes to more than just spray or chalk paint!).  Brad even installed a hidden panel to access the wiring to the surround sound.

And, voilà!

Materials for my project:

Existing crappy built-ins

2 carpenters

MDF board

Wood filler, caulk, nail guns and such

Oh, and saws and sandpaper

2 painters

Primer

1 gallon gloss paint—Queen Anne’s Lace

Did I actually say “finished”?  Now I’m wondering if I should add some artwork or cool letters or something to the top squares.

Maybe some vintage frames like Mandi used.

I wanted some contrast and texture so I picked up these baskets at Target and added some different antique enamel number tags from my French collection.

I knew they’d come in handy someday.

I may have even gotten carried away with the number tags!  But I love them!

Some might even think I have an obsession with Hermes orange right now!  I’m not sure where I’m going with it yet, but I can’t seem to resist it.

Remember the bright orange tray that I spray painted week before last using high gloss paint?

Guess where it ended up?

How do you like my lacquered Hermes tray?  (Hey, it’s my story and I’m sticking to it!).

Another great French basket from my friend, Cat sits atop the table.  Please visit her Etsy shop HERE.

I’ve had this antique Provencial tile for quite some time.

Here’s a different view of the room.  (Bad lighting when you are facing windows). The half-finished part.  The old heavy drapes came down and I’m going to do simple linen side panels over the existing blinds.

I now have the original Levier painting over the sofa.  Read about it HERE.

Can you say Dark Brown?  I realize we have too much chocolate brown leather furniture in here.  It just sort of happened that way.  It’s Bernhardt so it’s not getting replaced and besides, it’s easy to keep clean with Murphy in the house.  I’ll have to lighten the room up in other ways.

Checklist of what’s left to do in the family room:

Linen panels for windows

Decide on additional artwork

Style the fireplace mantel

Change the ceiling fixture

More pops of color with pillows (obviously with orange since that seems to be the direction I’m headed)

But for now….right now….I’m happy with my new and improved wall.

Happy Decorating,

Kim

Partying at:

WOW! Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

An Inexpensive Gilded Table Project

I woke up to this today:

But we still had power.  Let’s all continue to remember those adversely affected by the superstorm Sandy in our thoughts and prayers.

NOW:

I’m lovin’ all the little gold metal accent tables that have been so prevalent lately.  Their diminutive size and clean lines lend themselves well to many décor solutions.

My favorite style has to be this one:

(Sorry for the blurry image…this is in Suzanne Kasler’s foyer and she uses this table again in more of her designs).

It is based on an antique French design.

But I also like this style:

World’s Away also has some smart designs like this one in an hourglass shape.

This one with the ever popular “X” motif.

Or this simple round one.

One Kings Lane has Worlds Away tables occasionally and if you’re lucky you can catch them at a great price.

I needed a very small accent table next to a fireside chair in my master bedroom. 

Remember all those spray paint cans I showed you yesterday?

 

 

Well, it just so happens I had an old white, rusty metal table that I was saving for just the right time.  I think it had been a garden table, but I got it on the cheap at an antique shop a while back and liked the straight lines and sturdiness of it.  I don’t have any better “before” photos.

 

A little bit of gold spray paint and Voilà!  A table masterpiece ala Kim!

 

It even had the original glass on the top.

 

The imperfections speak volumes and it was probably handmade.

 

I LOVE tables with shelves on the bottom for stashes of great books.

Not bad for something I already had, huh!

The curved feet add a cool detail!

 

Mr. Chair is much happier now that he has a buddy.  The master bedroom is progressing.

On another note, the contractors DID show up today!  Yipee!  By the end of the week I should have a new media wall in the family room!

Happy Decorating,

Kim

Linking up to:

WOW! Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

I’ve Been Trigger Happy & An Update

I’m talking about spray paint triggers!!!

Krylon, Valspar, and Rust-Oleum that is.

So, I got a little trigger happy with the outrageously summer-like weather we had last week…in the 80’s every day.  I decided I would enjoy the outdoors and do a few projects while I had the chance.  For me, spray painting things is just plain fun (or a little like therapy).  I don’t exactly think of it as crafting.  It’s way too easy.

I might have gotten a little carried away…

I did metal pieces, wood pieces, resin pieces, Christmas items and well, just about anything I was tired of and wanted to change.  I figured if I messed anything up, I could get rid of it since I was a little bored with it already.  (I don’t have before pics of EVERY thing I painted because it was too monotonous and uninteresting so this is just a sample).

No white or old world treatments on most of the items.  Nope, not this time.

I stepped out of my comfort zone and went bold with statement colors.  Don’t be alarmed (well, maybe…my husband is, lol!).  You’ll soon see how I intend on incorporating these into my house.

And, now for an update on what else I’ve been doing.  This is the BEFORE of the family room media wall the contractors were supposed to begin work on this morning installing board and batten.

And here is the AFTER:

Yep, that’s right.  The contractors postponed until yet another day.  And, the painters are scheduled to come back on Thursday.  Why oh why can’t things be on schedule?

And, now I have to tell my husband he has no big screen TV to watch after I promised him this wasn’t a big project and it would only take a day or two to have completed.  (I’m just kidding…my sweet husband is very understanding when it comes to decorating and it’s a good thing).

On a happy note, I found this great barbola basket that I had purchased a couple years ago for $8 (yes, only $8) when I was searching through my stash of things to paint.  I had forgotten about it.  I know, how could I forget about a barbola basket?   It happens to the best of us.

It only has a little gesso detail missing on one side.

It still needs a facelift and so far I only have it primed.  I’m thinking of maybe treating it to a a gray wash.  What do you think?  (You know you’ll see the pair of deer at Christmas!)

PLEASE STAY TUNED AND CHECK BACK OFTEN AS I HAVE A COUPLE OF EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING UP!

Plus, I DO promise to begin some room reveals.  It’s been a slow and interesting process but I’m getting there.

Please say a prayer for our friends who are affected by the storm Sandy. I hope none of you are in harm’s way.  We are currently under a winter storm warning here with snow and strong winds expected thru Wednesday morning.  I can’t believe it was in the 80’s all week last week.

Stay safe my friends,

Kim

Thinking Outside The Box, They’re Gone, & Swing Arm Sconces

Yep!  I heard you!  The shutters have to go! LOL

They are already gone.  I guess I was thinking outside the box a little too much!!!   Trying to force something that just wasn’t right.  That’s the beauty of design.  It’s never done.

I’m sticking with the white quilt and toile shams.  I think it’s crisper and “pops” off the bed more.

Now what about the lamps?  I don’t think they work anymore.

I REALLY would like to do swing arm sconces to free up nightstand space and because I just really think they are cool.  I’ve been looking at Shades of Light online and they have a great selection.  The one below is by Alexa Hampton and comes in 3 finishes.

 

Or what about this one?

This one by Mary McDonald  has ostrich leather.

I’m off to Lexington this morning for the weekend.  I’m gonna hit Home Goods, Hobby Lobby, Pier 1, TJ Maxx…..well, you get the idea…..to see what I can come up with!

Toodles,

Kim

P.S. BTW…I’m not leaving the room all faded and beige.  This is just my starting background palette.  I’ve not gotten to the pops of color yet.  I’m thinking turquoise and Hermes orange…..or maybe buttery or bright yellow?

Opinions?