My Kitchen - The Old & The New - Make-over

It's been a while since my last post...although I have started a few balls rolling, I still don't have any definitive answers as to what I will end up doing...with my home.  You can read the post where I talked about Things Never Staying the Same HERE. 

Right now, though, I want to share some photos from 2 years ago...Christmas 2016 in my Kitchen, Sitting Room {dining room} and Exterior of my home.  Then I will show you lots of photos of the way it looks NOW, since the Make-Over!

Tour My Office - Pink

Today, I decided to show you my office.  I haven't shared pictures of my office for years. The last ones I showed you were from 2008...and they aren't on this blog...or at least I can't find them here.  These photos are of my Office, as it appeared at the end of 2015.  Right now, things are looking different once again.  I love changing things around.  I have a corner built-in desk with cabinets on the base, one on each side.  There are cabinets above as well.  Where you see the curtain on the very right side is the window where I take pictures when I'm in my office.

I have taken off the cabinet doors, to make room for displays [the cabinets on the bottom of the 2 bookshelves have their doors removed, too...for the Pup's Toy Storage].  I'd rather have that than a bunch of hidden junk!

I have 9' sloped ceilings, with beautiful mouldings.

The corner with my Black Armoire display...with a view of my Great Room.  [the doggie gate has been down for months...since my Pups stay with me quite nicely in the office without it]

This Bookcase is on the other side of the closet door and flanks the window in the back of the office.

What is a bed doing in my office?  Well, it's a Massage Table.  That's where I get my BioMat treatments.  You can read about the BioMat in my post Here. 

To the right and left of the desk are matching bookcases.  And here you see both of my windows.

One last view of my desk!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look around my office.  Hopefully, when you see it next, it will look a bit different.  And, I hope it's painted.

I'm joining the Link Party Thoughts of Home on Thursday at:

Laura at Décor To Adore

Stacey from Poofing the Pillows

Jemma from At Home With Jemma

Laura at White Spray Paint

Master Bedroom & Bathroom Make-Over

***Originally posted in February 2016***  [a few changes made since then, but those photos will be seen at a later date]  As promised, I was able to get the pictures taken and get this post done this week!  WOW!  Things certainly do look different around my home.  And this is just the beginning.  If you missed the post of How the Master Bedroom and Master Bathroom looked before, click Here.  I'd always wanted a Sleigh Bed, so when I decided it was time for new Bedroom Furniture, this is exactly what I got!  A sleigh bed, a high dresser...and 2 large nightstands.  In a deep cherry finish.  I love it.  The curtains, valances, lace sheers and pleated shades are on all 12 windows in my home.  Since I have a dramatically open concept home...it works so well.  They are a bronzey-gold and I love them.

 [the sunlight streaming in the windows...makes some of these photos a bit dark - but it adds to the drama of the room]

You'll notice that my large nightstands are not on the sides of the bed, in front of the windows as many people would place them.  Rather, I opted for a smaller lamp table [black], with a shelf and drawer [big enough for the remote for the adjustable mattress base I have and the remote for the ceiling fan] next to the bed, alongside an animal print [leopard, of course] chair.  After much hunting for the perfect bedcoverings, I opted for a beautiful quilt and shams, with roses and other flowers in a pink/ivory/burgundy color combination.  In the photo below, you can see that the quilt is scalloped along the edges all the way around.  So are the pillow shams.

The colors used in the room were all pulled from the artwork I already owned and had displayed in other areas of my home.  Roses above the bed...and Woman with Roses above the night stand.

  

I had this print framed and got it a couple of Christmases ago, as my Christmas gift!

In this photo, you can really see the style of the furniture and the color of the wood.  The sleigh bed is something I'd always wanted and when I decided to get new furniture, I bought this set.  A small, ornate Syrocco mirror, lamp, Love picture, chest with fleur de lis, a heart shaped picture frame with a lady smelling a rose and a mirror tray on a pedastal, holding candle cups is all I needed to complete the look.  Then I added the mate to the other Leopard print chair to the side of the dresser.

More syrocco plaques hang on the wall to the left, when you enter the bedroom.  On the nightstand is Picture frame with Marie Antoinette's photo, my clock radio and a small jewelry tray that was handpainted by a good friend of mine [Celeste].

Here's another look at the dresser, with the rose picture above the bed reflected in the syrocco mirror.

I have always loved quilts and now I have this one [well, I really have 3 of this quilt, in twin, queen and king - remember my open concept?  I use them in 2 other rooms.]

The pillows I've picked up throughout the last 7 years...and had put away, waiting to be used.  The large one has a chenille border around vintage material in the center...the woman with the rose is in the center of an oblong pillow...again with vintage fabric...and the pillow on the left is a heart, which you can see better in the photo below.

The wide lace edging all around the pillow, with the flowers and leaves and the wide white lace...is just beautiful.

Now, over the top of my lamp, I have a handpainted ornament with roses and a lady...and lots of white boa feathers hanging.  It was also painted by Celeste.

My master bathroom looks so different than before, too.    I love the bronze lights, with 60-watt PINK lightbulbs in them...the bronze framed mirrors, a crackle glass bronze candle holder [in front of an all-too-bright night light - which doesn't look too bright through it]...and another handpainted tray by Celeste hung on the wall.

You can see a glimpse of the chandelier in the mirror on the left, if you really look...

Again, the sunlight makes this photo darker than it really should be...but it does look dramatic, doesn't it?  This chandelier is hung on a chain from the ceiling and is hard-wired.  It's bronze in color with some golden antiquing...and I bought it at a garage sale - never used, in the original box, about 7 years ago...for...are you ready?...for $3.00!!! 

Here's looking at the counter wall from the other end of the bathroom, looking toward the door.

A rose clock that was purchased at a garage sale for $1.00 and had never been used.  On the wall, by the door [over there on the left in the photo] are my Syrocco Flower Plaques, painted and Rub 'n Buff-ed by me.

They looked like this when I purchased them for only $8.00 for the pair.

After I spray painted them black and added the Rub 'n Buff, they looked like this...

Because of the skylight in the bathroom and the sun shining in it, the flowers don't look as burgundy and the leaves don't look as green as they really are. 

When entering the Bathroom, the wall at the opposite end of the door has this arrangement on it.

Another plaque [this time plaster], painted and Rub 'n Buff-ed the same as the syrocco plaques, 2 sconces [painted too] and the beautifully framed in black Parisian Rose Print.

Looking out the door of the Bathroom into the Bedroom.

The prettiest Burgundy/Pink/Green/Ivory rugs, with rubber backing I've ever seen now belong to me and are used throughout the house.

My Pink Bathrobe hangs from a pretty hook on the door.

My walk-in closet...which measures approximately 13' by 6'...is so large, I am able to store lots of things, along with my clothes in here.

When entering the closet, on the left is the light switch and 6 4-foot shelves that are empty...empty because I rearranged the closet the other day.

The fleece DIVA blanket is covering pillows and some other artwork, suitcases and pads for my patio swing, of course, on shelves, too.

I have quite a few of these windows boxes that I put things in for storage...doilies, curtains, clothing, Christmas Ornaments [hand-painted by Celeste], towels, etc.

Aclothes hamper...hanging rod for clothes and the Quilt on the Pedastal is covering the Pups Den [their crate].  They love it there.  When it thunders and rains...that's where they head.  They did that even before I put their crate in there...because it's an inside room...against the heaviest wall of my home...where we go when there are any Weather Warnings.  They sleep so well in there.  It's their little CAVE!

Lampshades, finials, more boxes...shoes on the lower shelves.

Sweaters hung on hangers in a special "fold" so they don't pucker at the shoulders and don't fall off the hangers.  See the instructions Here.

Around the corner...lamps...winter pajamas, nightgowns, jeans, sweatshirts...

More window storage boxes with sheets, a suitcase, plaques, painting clothes, cooler and tool box.

I'm participating in the FIRST Thought of Home on Thursday Link Parties - stop by and see who else is!!

I hope you enjoyed seeing the re-do of my Master Bedroom and Bathroom.  There will be other BEFORE and AFTER pictures/posts to come of other areas of my home.

The color on the walls is Pixie Dust by Valspar.  It's a very pale pink.

The pink 60-watt lightbulbs that give a beautiful glow in any room...are from Lighting Supply Company...click Here

The hand-painted items I said were painted by Celeste are some of the many items I've purchased from Celeste at  her Celestina Marie Design Etsy Shop

My bedroom set is from ArtVan Furniture and is part of the Rochelle Collection Here

Quilt is from Bella Home Fashions...Here

Window Storage Boxes were found at Lowes

Curtains and Valances are from JCPenney Here mine are Topaz

Rugs are from JCPenney Here mine are Garnet

I've Been Diligently Working To Get My House In Order

You know how difficult it is to get anything done when you have little children under foot?  Or you have dogs going wild?  Or if you don't physically feel well?  Or you're depressed?  Or you simply run out of time and money?  Well...some of those things interfered in my getting my House in order.  For years, due to stress and Bell's Palsy and just not feeling my best...everything kept getting put off to another day...and
quickly months and years slipped by with nothing finished.

Well, 2015 and 2016 are taking care of that!  I am feeling so much better...and have almost no remaining symptoms of Bell's Palsy...and I'm not letting days "slip" by any longer!

I want to share the Master Bedroom the way it had been for a number of years.  I hope to share what the Master Bedroom looks like NOW, with all the changes a little later in the week!

I have never been a "blue" girl, but decided to paint the Master Bedroom a grey-blue.  With the golden sheers and flowers in the comforter and drapes...along with the little blue flowers in the fabric, it was OK.  I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either...so it remained for a good number of years.  These pictures were from BEFORE I had NEW carpeting put into the house in 2010...see, I told you things haven't been changed in a while.

This is also the old bedroom set - which was replaced in 2014.  YIKES!  The lamps in the photo here were purchased at Lowe's - 2 in a box for $99 in 2005, before moving into this new house.

From the closet door into the Master Bathroom - with a jetted tub under the window.

The door is to my closet which measures approximately 12 feet x 7 feet...big right?  I love it.  I don't only have my clothes in there, but just about anything and everything that doesn't have a regular storage space is in there.  I don't have a basement, an attic and I don't like storing things in the garage...too much trouble getting to it up on shelves and all.

Just a couple of not-so-in-focus photos of the walk-in closet!

A glimpse of the Master Bathroom and it's chandelier.

I really liked the neutral color scheme I had with this blue.  It was very soothing.

But, NOW, after getting out my paint, roller and ladder and getting busy painting...it looks alot different.

Now...to leave you with just a hint of how my Master Bedroom looks is this awful photograph...taken several months ago. 

Until later this week...♥

Time Flies - One Year Since Last Vacation

My goodness, how time has flown by - this year is a blur!  And, the things that have changed around here...is remarkable!  Last year at this time, my family [hubby and the pups & I] were on our semi-annual vacation in Michigan.  You can read about it in This Post.  While it was cold last year at this time...it is warm here this year.  We're about to set a...

warm temperature record over the next couple of days!  Yesterday was 72°.

Here are some of the photos from last years' vacation in Baroda, Michigan...near the beach.

NO PIX HERE...They were from the website where we stayed...and it is no longer in business. 

The 3 Pups, Jasper, Angel & Rosie certainly enjoyed themselves - a new place to check out, people to meet, steps to run up and down...and a few resident dogs of the property too.

I haven't been able to take a vacation this year at all.  I've spent money on other things...like re-painting the interior of the house...which I'm doing by myself...and saving a ton of money.  And that's a good thing, since the Pups and I are trying to save money.

Hubby is no longer in the picture.  He left on April 3 this year and moved in with his oldest son and his family.  It was all quite a shock, because he never mentioned the idea of leaving me.  Due to him being incommunicado, I haven't spoken to him since the day he left.  He doesn't write, text, call or answer emails.  I am out-of-the-loop. 

There have been good and bad days, due to all the changes.  But, the good have far outweighed the bad.  Now, don't take me wrong...I have not suffered any illnesses and neither have the dogs in the past 7 months.  I've not suffered abuse at the hands of my hubby...be it mental, verbal or physical abuse.  I haven't felt afraid.  I haven't felt frozen.  I haven't felt helpless or hopeless.  I haven't felt defeated.  At the time I was experiencing the mis-treatment, I didn't realize that I felt those things.  It was a gradual thing...over a period of about 7 years...where hubby changed, due to what we both think was onset of Alzheimer's.  That really changes people.

In the past 7 months, I've lost 62 pounds.  I've gotten physically and emotionally stronger.  I've done things that a year ago, I was afraid to even try to do [like climbing a ladder to paint].  I felt weak then, which limited the things I felt I could do around the house, with the dogs and just stopped doing them!

Not any more.

God has been by my side...guiding me...pushing me...waiting for me...loving me...blessing me...filling me with His peace...and so much more.

And my friends...I've been blessed by all of you as well.

I will be away from blogging regularly for a little while longer, while I finish painting the last rooms of my house.  Hopefully, I will be finished sooner, rather than later.  My goal is to be done the week before Thanksgiving, not that I have anything big planned...it's just the time I selected to finish.

But, I'll be around.

Garage Sale

After taking my car out of the garage in the morning...I set up one table and loaded it with my Old Country Roses China and Platters and Accessory Pieces.  Then I took the Patio Swing pieces out to the driveway...pulled 2 huge rugs over to one spot on the floor where I could display them partially...swept a few spots...put a Garage Sale sign on the roof of my car and parked a few houses closer to the main road...hauled my old wooden ladder out to the end of the driveway with a Garage Sale sign and Red flags on it, so people could see...
that I was having a sale...and then I sat and waited!

It was a lovely day - 69 to 72 degrees and mostly sunny!

But, I sat and waited some more.  OK, I didn't sit and wait...I gardened and waited.

I waited a total of 3 1/2 hours and absolutely no one came!  There were very few cars even driving through my subdivision...and the entire place was having Garage Sales.

After I moved the items outside, back into the garage and pulled my car in...I began walking up the steps to my door...and I stepped wrong...so for most of the day, I've been limping around.  Just wonderful!

I know I shared these items that I had on my sale - and they're still there.  Maybe I'll try tomorrow, early.  I don't like doing sales on Sunday, but there won't be a time for Garage Sales here until next Spring and I certainly don't want to be sitting here for a year with all of this stuff.  Tomorrow is supposed to be 87 degrees - not at all my kind of weather!

Collapsible Picnic Table - Heavy Duty Plastic and Metal

Vintage Kromex Lazy Susan

Vintage Pyrex

Royal Albert Old Country Roses Serving Piece

Royal Albert Old Country Roses China Service for 8 + other pieces