Harper Valley

Bedroom Redesign

Hey everyone!  I just finished a bedroom redesign and thought you might like to see the before/after shots.  The homeowner was seeking a more cohesive look in her bedroom.  She said I could anything I wanted to the room, as long as I used the framed map of Barbados that belonged to her dad.  So I said..okay, I can do that! 

Do you have a room that you're exasperated with and not sure what to do?  Send me a message here.  I can redesign your room to look brand new using what you already own.  Redesign is affordable one-day decorating.  I want you to fall in love with your home again!  Contact me today, and I'll get your home in shape for the holidays.

Problem: The homeowner wasn't sure what to do with this large alcove on the right side of her bedroom.  She also didn't like the patterned rug under the bed.

 

Solution: I filled up the alcove with her dresser, a chair, a pillow, a lamp, some wall art, and accessories.  Now the alcove has a purpose. I swapped out her patterned rug for a solid one that contrasted her bedding vs. competing with it.

 

Problem: The dresser on the left side of the bed made the room feel crowded and unbalanced.  The art over the bed didn't follow the lines of the bed frame, and the art on the left was too small for the scale of the large wall.

 

Solution: I replaced the dresser with a small antique filing cabinet for a nightstand.  Then I added her wooden screen behind the bed to create texture and interest.  After that, I hung the Barbados map on the large wall and flanked it with the palm tree prints.

 

Problem: The large, open area above her closet housed some containers that made the space feel a little cluttered.  The palm tree by the vertical mirror was a bit small in relation to the large mirror.

 

Solution: I removed the containers from the closet area, and created one focal point with an interesting, woven tray and a silk plant.  Then I added an antique trunk to the mirror nook.  I accessorized the trunk with books, candles, rattan balls, and a large floral arrangement. 

 

With some rearranging and creative placement of the homeowner's existing accessories, she now has a room reminiscent of a luxurious resort in the West Indies. 

 
 
 

Bookshelf Redesign

Check out these before/after shots of a large bookshelf that I redesigned today.  Using the homeowner's existing accessories and books, I artfully arranged her items to create a fresh new look.  The best part?  She didn't buy anything new.  It's all her stuff.  Do your bookshelves need refreshing?  Contact me today! 

BOOKSHELF BEFORE

BOOKSHELF AFTER

 

Bathroom Remodel #2

At last, the day has arrived.  The day my second bathroom is complete.  As you can see, this one has a similar feeling with the bead board and green tones.  The paint is two shades darker than the first bathroom, and I used pink and black as my accent colors.  I went for the Granny-Chic look.

I would love to just sit on my toilets all day tomorrow and soak in the goodness that radiates from both of my freshly remodeled bathrooms.  But....life must go on, and my office would probably worry about me.  So for now, I'll just enjoy my before and after shots and marinate in the new bathroom vibes when I can.  Enjoy!

Bathroom Remodel #1

My name is Lisa and I survived a bathroom remodel.  Actually, I survived two of them.  At the same time.  I've always heard that home renovations are hectic, but somehow I just didn't think that rule would apply to me.  Boy was I wrong.  Looking back, there were no major catastrophes.  However there were almost daily trips to Lowe's for two weeks straight, a redonkulous amount of returns/exchanges, piles of ancient bathroom items in every cranny of my condo, and never ending beer runs.  But the temporary chaos was worth the reward.

I've always been SO embarrassed of my bathrooms.  I cringed every time my guests felt nature calling.  I tried to work with the 70s avocado green color scheme by adding colorful fabrics.  My inner decorating diva thought she could make a silk purse from a sow's ear.  Wrong again. 

How bout that heinous light fixture/medicine cabinet combo?  You can't tell in the pictures, but it was covered in a layer of permanent brown scum.  And don't even get me started on the tub.  If you've ever had an old tub...you know they are impossible to clean.  You scrub until you sweat, and it still looks vile.  I even stopped wearing my contacts in the shower so I couldn't see the filth I was standing in. 

Despite my tub hatred, I did keep the beast, and chose to refinish it instead of ripping it out.  I highly recommend tub refinishing by these guys at Avadco.  They showed up 10 minutes early for their appointment, and didn't make a mess.  Four hours and $400 later, I had a brand new tub/shower.   

Everything else was done by a friend of a friend.  He did an awesome job and I'm so proud to have non-skank bathrooms now.  Check out my before/after slide show below. The bathroom you're viewing here is my guest bath.  I'll post the master bath photos in a few weeks when my artwork is framed.

Office Makeover

It's finished!  It's complete!!  The office makeover is a wrap and it's looking mighty fine.  When we moved into the new space, our only decorative possessions were some sad artwork, four chairs, and a ficus tree.   But with a little imagination and a moderate budget, we now work in a whimsical, nature-inspired environment.  Aaaaah, how refreshing.  =)

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The Lobby:  Framed art from Z-Gallerie.  Lamp from Target with wood beaded embellishments from Joann.  Throw pillows from Home Goods.  Glass bowl from IKEA.

  

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The Lobby:  Custom logo decal from Dezign with a Z.  Console table from Walmart.com.  Lamps, copper tray, and cigar boxes from local yard sales.  Plant from Pier One.  Vase from Marshalls.

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Lobby View from Hall:  Floral grass wall decals from Dezign with a Z.

 

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Coffee Stations:  Coffee mug wall decals from Single Stone Studios.  Frame from old office artwork spray painted black (glass and prints removed).

 

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Printer Lounge Area:  Framed art from Marshalls.  Plants and pots from IKEA.

  

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Conference Room and Hallway:  Wall decals from Dezign with a Z.  Frames and mats from old artwork spray painted black (glass and prints removed). 

 

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The Hallway outside of Conference Room:  Wire leaf wall hangings from Pier One.  They're made to be hung vertically, but I propped them up on nails in a horizontal position.

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The Kitchen: Clock and plants above cabinets from Wal-Mart (plant pots spray painted black).  Bar stools from IKEA.

 

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More Kitchen

 

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 The Kitchen:  Square posters and glass frames from IKEA.

 

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The Kitchen:  Plates from Pier One.  Bottles from World Market.  Bottle fillers from Publix (red kidney beans, Piccolini wheel pasta, and split pea soup mix).

  

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The Kitchen:  Glass bowls from local yard sale.  Silk flowers from Joann.  Acrylic water from Wal-Mart.

 

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The Kitchen: Plates from Pier One.  Plate holder from our former kitchen, spray painted black (previously bronze).

 

Acrylic Water

Have you ever heard of Acrylic Water?  If not..you've probably seen it at the bottom of a vase full of  silk flowers.  I experimented with acrylic water for the first time this weekend.  I know, I know...fake flowers aren't as purty as real ones.  And they don't have the same life/zest/uniqueness as real ones.  But sometimes it's a necessary evil.  We need centerpieces for our eat-in kitchen tables at the office, so I opted for silks because bottom line...we can't afford fresh flowers every week! 

Acrylic Water is also known as Wonder Water, Quick Water, Liquid Floral Foam, etc. You can usually find it where floral arranging supplies are sold.  I'm happy with how they look.  Pretty sassy!  Here's how I did it....

1. Gather your materials:  Glass vase, silk flowers cut to desired length, acrylic water kit, disposable tray and stir stick, stones or marbles, rubber pads for bottom of vase (optional). 

 

2. Add marbles or stones to the vase.  Doing this adds weight to the bottom since the arrangement may be a little top heavy.  Plus, it looks neat!

 

3. Pour the two bottles in your kit into a disposable plastic container.  Begin stirring.  You'll notice that the liquid takes on a pearl-like hue.  This is normal.  Continue stirring for 3-5 minutes, or until the mixture is completely clear.  Be patient! 

 

4. When liquid is clear, pour it into the vase, avoiding the sides.  Arrange your flowers and set the vase aside for 24-48 hours.  Additional patience required!! 

 

Special Note: You may have noticed two boxes of acrylic water in my first photo.  I found the green kit on the shelf at Wal-Mart, but there was only one box.  So I bought a different brand at Jo-Ann since I had three vases and needed more kits.  Well...the kind I bought at Jo-Ann was a disaster.  It's called Quick Water (white box).  It got cloudier and lumpier the more I stirred.  Not good.

So I hunted down a few more of the green boxes at a different Wal-Mart, 10 miles away, which was kind of annoying because that is NOT my favorite place to be.  I'll take Target over Wally World any day.  Ugh..I really dislike that place, but they have come through for me a few times, especially this weekend. 

Anyway, I digress.  If you do make these, I can highly recommend this brand below, sold at Wal-Mart.  The kit came with its own stir stick, and mixing tray complete with pouring spout.  Very convenient.  The other brand came with nothing but a big ole headache!

Fresh Wall DeZigns

 

Aaaaah...I'm back!  Did you think I abandoned my blog?  Kinda feels like it, huh?  My life's been pretty ordinary and downright boring lately, so there's been little about which to write.  Although, there is one cool thing going on ---> I've taken on the mission of decorating our new office space at work, so that's kept me on my toes.  It's been a fun project, and challenging as well.  I'll post some before/after shots in a few weeks when everything is finished. 

For now..check out this wall art above.  It's a vinyl wall decal from Dezign with a Z.  As you know, I'm decorating the office, but only the common areas (kitchen, lobby, halls, etc).  When we're not in the kitchen or lobby or halls, we're working in team offices (2-6 people each), so each team is responsible for decorating their own office...or not.  Anyhoo, we have a huge wall in our team office, so I thought it would be fun to try a wall decal.  Waddayathink?  Pretty fresh! 

If you try these, I strongly encourage you to keep the white paper backing on the decal while you position it on the wall with painter's tape.  The directions say to remove the white paper backing first, and to then position the decal on the wall.  Major problem with this tactic: You're left with a giant sticker that starts sticking to itself and to the wall in all the wrong places.  This happened to me and I had a damn near meltdown.  Heart palpitations and sweat were abundant.  I finally got the stinkin' thing up and it's quite less than perfect.  Tomorrow, I'll perform surgery on my precious wall decal and hope that helps.  You can't see what I'm talking about in the picture, but trust me..it needs an intervention. 

That's all I got for now.  I'm off to have a glass of wine and watch some soul performances on my fave new cable addition, the Gospel Music Channel.  Until next time....  

p.s. If you buy a large wall decal like this, call or write me for coaching.  I can give you several very helpful tips!

Something Old. Something New.

 

I spent the weekend turning something old into something new.  Well, new to me anyway.  A few weeks ago, I moved into a new office at work and quickly discovered that I needed a bookshelf or a console table...stat.  I searched around town, but just couldn't seem to find the right thing that wasn't in the $200 range.  So I hit up one of my fave used furniture stores -- City Bargains.  With a little TLC, I turned my $35 purchase into a custom piece that will match my office decor perfectly!  Check it out...

BEFORE:

 

AFTER:

 

After I sanded and re-painted the bookshelf, I added panels to the back (it was backless before).  I had some scrap silver fabric without a home, so I attached the fabric to illustration board using spray adhesive.  Then I attached the panels to the back of the shelf with upholstery nails.  I also added a silver stencil design on each side.  My office is a Classic Hollywood theme, so this will fit in just fab!

Bajalia: Finishing Well Sale

Most of y'all know that I'm a big fan and advocate for the work of Bajalia Trading Company.  They've grown by leaps and bounds in just a few short years.  I just read their latest newsletter and learned that they surpassed the million dollar mark in sales!  They have aggressive plans to double their growth next year, and in order to pass the two million dollar mark...they need our help!  They're seeking $125,000 to finish the year well.  Meeting this shortfall in operating expenses will help next year's starting numbers. 

In order to meet this goal, Bajalia is offering an online Finishing Well Sale.  From now through January 20th, you can receive 50% off your entire online purchase!!  Click here to start shopping and take advantage of this fabulous savings.  At checkout, use the coupon code - Finishing Well.

Bajalia Trading Company is a 501c3 and all donations are Tax Deductible.

Chinese Christmas Tree

While in China last year, I had the opportunity to stock up on some wonderfully whimsical Christmas ornaments.  So for the past two years, I've created a Chinese Christmas Tree by filling up my three-foot Colorado pine with these unique finds.  I love gazing at the tree and reminiscing about my life-changing trip to China.  Mostly, I'm reminded of the people who crafted these ornaments by hand.  Such sweet and humble people!  If you'd like to stock up on some of these hand-made ornaments or other Christmas items, check out the two websites below.  Might as well get a head start on the 2009 holiday season!

Hearts & Hands

Threads of Yunnan  

 

 

Twinkling Treetops

    

To make things a little more interesting at the office this year, we had a Christmas cubicle/office decorating contest. It was a blast!  Everyone really got into the spirit and it made the past few weeks a whole lotta fun.  I dubbed my office "Twinkling Treetops"...check out my sparkle and shine.  PS...I won the prize for "Favorite Desk." Yahoo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 10 Reasons that Christmas Rocks

How is it that every Christmas moves from joyful to stressful about 5.2 days after Thanksgiving?  Every year I vow that I will NOT allow my inner Grinch/Scrooge make an appearance.  But every year...he seems to creep up on me like a bad rash.  There are just so many financial obligations, time commitments, keeping up with the Joneses, finding the perfect gifts, throwing the perfect party, decorating the perfect tree, creating the perfect atmosphere, buying the perfect LBD for your work party, baking the perfect cookies, finding the perfect Secret Santa gift for the co-worker you barely know.  I could go on and on, right???? 

Well this year, I still feel the stress, but I'm seeking out little snapshots of time to ENJOY these precious few weeks that we all come together and celebrate.  Whether it's sitting on my back porch and chuckling at the Charlie Brown lights my neighbors hung, or just lounging on my couch reflecting on what it must have been like the night Christ was born....I am doing simple little things that keep me connected to the spirit of Joy.  Here are the top 10 reasons that Christmas rocks to me:

• Peppermint everything!
• Shine and Sparkle
• Finding special gifts for special people
• More reasons to buy stuff from Pier One
• FOOD. BAKED GOODS. MIMOSAS.
• Pine tree candles
• National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
• Clear blue skies and brisk air (gotta love FL winters)
• Partaaaays!
• Celebrating the birth of the man who changed the world (best for last)

p.s. The shot above is my nativity scene, courtesy of Dollar Tree, Pier One, and Target.

p.s.s. I almost forgot one more KEY thing that I'm doing to make Christmas more enjoyable -- I'm saying "no" to a few things.  Usually, I want to be at every single party and volunteer for the many serving opportunities available.  This year, I'm not over scheduling myself and I'm already seeing the benefits...try it!!

Unique Christmas Gift Ideas

 

Are you looking for unique and special Christmas gifts this year?  Look no more, my friends!  Check out Bajalia Trading Company @ www.bajalia.com.  I traveled to China with Bajalia last year and had the privilege of meeting many of the folks who make these products.  They are the sweetest and most humble people!  Bajalia partners with artisans around the globe from places like India, Morocco, China, Africa and Afghanistan.  They offer them business and marketing skills, then take their products to the US market for sale.  Many of the artisans that Bajalia painters with have experienced super difficult lives, but because of Bajalia, they have the opportunity to create a new legacy for their families. 

 

And....calling all teachers!  Ever get tired of seeing those school fundraiser catalogs full of overpriced wrapping paper and cookie dough?  Bajalia recently joined forces with Great American Opportunities, a well-known school fundraising company.  Check out the flyer Download HelpingHands and contact helpinghands@gafundraising.com if your school might be interested.

 

 

Every purchase through Bajalia is another turning point in someone's formerly hopeless life.  I know this for sure because I saw them in action.  I'm heading up to GA for Thanksgiving, but I'll try to post while I'm there.  See y'all soon! 

No-Sew Weekend Project

Do you have ugly curtains?  Do you have no curtains?  Are you tired of shopping for unique window treatments only to leave the store less than thrilled and empty handed?  Then try this easy solution to jazz up your drapes. 

I recently bought some thermal curtains for my bedroom to help maintain the temperature and block out light.  But they were very plain.  Vanilla, if you will.  Literally.  And I am not a plain girl. I am “fancy”, as my niece Avery tells me frequently.  Nothing stays vanilla at my house.  I alter everything.  If it’s plain, I will find a way to make it sparkly, textured, colorful..or just more interesting!

So I lived with the vanilla curtains for a few weeks and tried to like them.  But I couldn’t.  Their functionality was great, but they were so boring and sad.  So this weekend, I bought spools of ribbon and attached them horizontally at the top and bottom with Heat-n-Bond.  Check out the before-and-after shots below.  Now which one do you like better???

If you’ve never used Heat-n-Bond…you should start!   It’s the best invention ever.  Its iron-on adhesive for fabric (aka - -glue).  You simply place the piece of adhesive in between the two pieces of fabric and use a hot iron to melt the “glue” which fuses the fabric together.  It’s very sturdy and you can buy different levels of strength.  I’ve made full sets of curtains with this stuff.  You can use it for all sorts of crafts and you can even hem your pants with it.  Go buy some today!   (no, I do not own Heat-n-Bond stock)

Do you have an easy “no-sew” project that you’d like to share?  Feel free to leave a comment with instructions or a link to your blog or an outside website.  I’d love to hear from you!!

Check out www.thermowebonline.com for lots of great no-sew ideas.