Decorating

Enter curtains.

And not just any curtains, inexpensive red ikat curtains.  Because – could I, would I, do it any other way?  No.

And by inexpensive, I mean on-sale-at-Wicker-Emporium inexpensive.  As in, regularly $39.99 a panel marked down to $11.99 a panel.  Best part?  I didn’t have to hunt for them, my friend Catherine texted me and I said yes!!!  Why wouldn’t I!?!

The thing is, they were purchased long before we moved in.  I’ve had them waiting in the wing.  I enjoyed the openness of the living room with the sunlight streaming in.  And then I enjoyed the living room all decorated for Christmas.  And I knew, I just knew, that I would need these curtains in post-Christmas.  I knew I would want to have something to make the chill of winter go away and make my house feel snug.

Friends had placed an Ikea order way back and so I tagged onto their order and got some curtains rods.  Plain-jane curtain rods that simply hold up the curtain.  I didn’t want big, bulky ones or anything with finials that were dramatic.  And, I have to say – they are so easy to install!

I’ll admit I was a little hesitant to start poking holes in the plaster walls.  But when I actually opened the package with the brackets in them, I knew it would be simple.  So, I grabbed the lovely cordless drill that Mr. Byrne gave me for my birthday, pre-drilled some holes and hung those rods up!  And the awesome thing about these brackets is how adjustable they are!  When I wash the curtains, if they shrink at all, I can adjust the brackets and still have them floor length!  As any old home owner can attest to, the floors are not straight here.  The brackets are all mounted at the same height but some panels are grazing the floor while others are a little higher!  I knew the couch would hide that fact so I didn’t bother making any adjustments.

One of the things I love about the new curtains is how they mimic the ones in the dining room that followed us here from the old place.  So, even though they are different patterns, the colours are the same, which is nice since one space flows into the next.  Even the curtain rods are similar in their basic-ness.

And, just as a reminder of what the living room looked like when we moved in…..

We’ve come a long way…

To be continued,

Lori

I feel as though I could title this post Storm Day Take 3!!  Our world is being blanketed in a thick layer of ice.  I’m hoping to get out for some pictures soon, before it all melts off.

So, with plans being changed and the planned events of the day being postponed, I have time to write about a few things I picked up yesterday for the studio.  I’ve been following Funky Junk Interiors and she’s been busy gutting a few areas in her house so that she can clear out some clutter and get organized.  She also has some great storage options for all her tools and paints and other things she uses on a regular basis in her space.

So, yesterday, I stopped by Van de Pol’s, a shop in our local area that sells lots of interesting things. I’m not sure what I’d class this place as but I quite enjoy stopping in every now and again to see what’s what.  I didn’t have any set item I was looking for, you never really can when you frequent shops such as this.  I did see lots of beautifully shaped furniture that I’d love to do some more experimenting with Milk Paint on – but it’s hard to justify the $$$ if you don’t have a purpose for it, other than to paint it!  I did see a gorgeous – and I mean gorgeous – Regency Corner Etagere that left me dreaming.  But with a price tag of $795, it had to stay there!  I did, however, mention it to the handsome Mr.Byrne and he seemed quite interested in it….so we’ll see!! 😉  {Alas, it’ll be a piece that will NOT be allowed to be painted!}

What I did come home with is some fun, unique storage options.  I’m trying to use neat storage in the studio as everything is on display.  I want things that are a) inexpensive b) not precious c) that have character.  As I’m sure I’ve mentioned, I want to eventually paint out the walls in there with a white paint.  I find the knotty pine too distracting and busy.  It’ll open up the space, too, making it so much brighter and better for photographing.  So, I want things that will stand out against the future white walls.

Enter loaf pans and a library card drawer.  For….wait for it….a total of $15!!! Score!!  I was happy with those finds.  They will provide functional storage, look cool and generally be awesome.  I’m currently working on a little makeover of the littlest one….I’m having a problem not painting everything with Milk Paint right now! But, that’s a whole other post!

I was recently given a bag of old silverware to add to my collection.  I love how this stuff finds its way to me! I had a lovely wooden toolbox-y-type-thing and it was crammed full of bits and pieces but I thought I’d like to collect all my silverware in it, so I dumped it out on my worktable and put my selection of silverware in it and added it to my shelf.  I like it, a lot.  I love seeing like things grouped together and on display.  The patina of the pieces along with all the various patterns makes for interesting texture.  I do have a few little special pieces that I have stored in a glass jar, random little butter knives and spoons with extra pretty bowls.  Their future as intact silverware is pretty secure.  The others, not so much!

What do you use for storage?  Do you shop the local department stores or the local antique or thrift shops? What’s the biggest problem area in your house?

To be continued,

Lori