One Dashing Runner

Just so you know, I despise running.  Of all the ways to get into shape, it's #1 on my list of 0% fun activities.  If on the rare occassion I jump on a treadmill, I'm more likely to do something like this guy.  (With much less coordination because let's face it, this former ballet dancer looks awkward "in da club".)

Nope, this runner is more my speed:  

That pun just now was completely unintentional.  Although, a runner that just lays on the ground is really my speed. ;)

Our foyer has been one of the spaces, like most of the rooms in our house, that has slowly been coming together on its own.  I finally have a plan in my mind to finish it up, but it wasn't until I stumbled upon this mattress ticking runner from Dash and Albert that it really started to make sense. 

(Nope, this isn't a sponsored post.  I just really really am excited about this new addition.) 

I was worried that since it was partly white, I would have issues with keeping it clean, but so far it's awesome!  And I sprayed it with ScotchGuard to repel any dirt and grime and keep it lower maintenance.  

I think our little foyer update has gotten Robert's wheels turning too because yesterday he looked in here and said, "I want a cool looking front door with a window.  Want to get rid of that builder grade one?"  Oh, that man knows me too well.  A craftsman style front door is probably still a ways in the future, but it's good to know when he and I are on the same page.

Our entry table is still in desperate need of a paint job too.  I mean there's shabby chic and then there's just plain ol' shabby.  We got it for $50 on Craigslist last year, and I knew I would need to paint it.  I just hadn't decided on a color until now.  

(P.S. Just pretend you don't see the bits of debris under the table where I missed a spot with my broom...um...a month ago.  Okay, you caught me. I haven't swept in here in a while.  No judging.)

I'm thinking a light, blue-toned gray paint to go with the subtle blue stripes in the runner.

And I'm hoping this summer, we can add white shiplap on the wall behind the table so the gray I paint it will pop.  Painting the interior of our plain, white door to add some interest would be nice too if the craftsman style doesn't appear to be in the future any time soon.

If we ever do upgrade our front door though, the HOA requires that we keep the exterior our current blue color.  (Yep, #suburbanlifeprobs.)  But I do like the blue, and it works perfectly with the rug stripes.  Robert likes that the exterior of our house is Dallas Cowboys colors.  This Carolina Panthers fan has to overlook it.  Boo.  Although, I'd much rather have Cowboy blue on our front door too.  

I'm telling ya...if you give a decorator a runner, she'll have an entire room planned in an hour.  The key is to actually make it happen!  That's the hard part.  There aren't enough toddler naps in the day to accommodate my plans sometimes.  I'm still working on our breakfast area.  

What do you think?  Are you a fan of our new runner?  And maybe more likely to play on a treadmill than to actually run on one?  

Blessings,

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Revamping the Breakfast Area

When we first moved into this house, I experienced an identity crisis.  Since the time Robert and I got married and moved into our first apartment together, my go-to color was red.  

I have no idea why. Red doesn't express my personality at all.  I think of red and I think loud, vibrant, extroverted, and while those are all great qualities and I have nothing against other people decorating with red, it's not me.

I was the quiet girl in school.  I'm still the patient, usually calm introvert who overthinks everything...sometimes to a fault.  But I didn't consider that when we moved into our house.  I just picked red because well...I knew several people who already decorated with red and I thought it was the thing to do.  

But one of the biggest things I've learned in decorating our house is making it an expression of our family, not just because it seems like the thing to do.  Maybe the whole finding your style topic is for another post, but you get the idea.

We really don't have red anywhere else in our house.  Our breakfast area is really a part of our kitchen but opens up to our very calm, neutral living room.  The red is fun but it doesn't really make sense.  There is no flow and it bugs me constantly.  (Remember how I said I overthink things? Exhibit A, my friend.)

So I'm at it again trying to figure this thing out without spending much.  I still love our clock gallery wall, so I'll just be painting any of the pieces with red accents and putting them back up.  (Do you think I'm crazy, yet?)

I'll be selling our curtains for some that will brighten up the space.  I'm really leaning toward simple white ones, classic and clean lines.

Since painting our shower door, I've latched onto the idea of creating contrast throughout the rest of our house.  Painting our back doors black could really bring them to life.  I've even thought about adding some grids like I did on our shower door to make them look more upscale.

Via

So much drama, right?  I love how it can work for modern or traditional decor because I like to throw both in the mix sometimes.

Via

The more I look at black doors, the more I love them.  I'm not 100% positive that I'm going to do it, but it's a possibility.

Via

I still have a good bit of various shades of blue paint leftover from painting other projects to bring in more of the color I want on our kitchen chairs- anything from blue slate tones to light duck egg blue.  How's that for specificity, huh?

Doesn't blue seem more the quiet girl type to you? It's always been my favorite color.  Seems like a totally "duh" moment to realize I should have been decorating with blue from the beginning.  

Via

Since blue/greens are already accented in our living room, I'm hoping using a little of it in our breakfast area will make both spaces more cohesive.

Via

Via

If I play my cards right, I won't have to pay more than around $30.  Gotta love using leftovers and selling what you already have.  We'll see what happens.  

Are you liking the vision so far?  Have you had a decorating identity crisis before too?  Do you think I've totally lost my mind for changing it from the red?  I'd love to hear your thoughts on what you think I should choose. :)

And be sure to follow me on Pinterest to see what else I've been brainstorming too.

Blessings,

Lauren

Making Resolutions: 2015 House Goals

So ya know that fancy schmancy 1 year progress house tour I showed you guys about a month ago?  The one with all of the pictures of the rooms in our home that Robert and I really focused all of our efforts and little bitty budget into?  

Well, y'all, I have a confession to make.  You haven't even seen the half of it.  Because we have a loooooong way to go.  But, hey, I'm totally up for a good challenge.  And I lurve me some resolutions, so now's as good a time as any to really put our to-do list into perspective.

This blog is a documentary about our journey after all, so what's a journey without the realistic scenery along the way? No matter how builder grade blank it might be.

Speaking of confessions, today, it is rainy and gray outside, so I'm substituting our "big snow day" shot from February 2014 because guess what!  Not much has changed outside, except for our porch furniture that we found at Goodwill last spring. (Can we please please have a snow day already though?!)

So prepare yourselves y'all.  What you're about to witness is my all-over-the-place brain on a usual basis.

I thought it would be fun to at least cross some items off the to-do list as we go along.  That's part of the fun of a to-do list anyway, right?  Crossing out those little tasks is so fulfilling.  I'm sure not all of my wish list will be accomplished in 2015, but a girl can dream.

Exterior (45% complete)

• Buy porch furniture
• Plant flowering plants like hydrangeas or gardenias
• Add a carriage garage door kit
• Replace pine needles with mulch in flower beds
• Plant more greenery
• Dig up our sad dead tree in front yard and replace- maybe a maple?
• Put topiaries on either side of door
• Add pavers to sides of driveway/walkway
• Build a backyard pergola
• Build a playground for the kiddo
• Remove backyard shrubbery, grade, and seed

Entry and Downstairs Hallway (50% complete)

• Paint
• Makeover lighting
• Purchase a foyer table
• Install wall hooks
• Find a super awesome entry bench
• Put in board and batten
• Find a runner rug for foyer- something with a little pattern for interest
• Paint interior of front door (or replace with a craftsman style one if we ever get lucky)
• Paint foyer table
• Get crates for shoe storage under bench

Dining Room (33% complete)

• Paint
• Buy table and chairs
• Replace builder grade chandelier
• Find a fabulous buffet table
• Replace wall art with wood beam shelving
• Change out curtains
• Find the perfect area rug
• Add molding
• Install wood floors (okay, okay that's pushing it. I know.)

Kitchen (30% complete)

• Paint
• Add a chalkboard menu
• Replace/makeover builder grade lights
• Paint cabinets white
• DIY concrete countertops
• Put in a farmhouse sink
• Upgrade faucet
• Change hardware
• Install beadboard or subway tile backsplash (depending on budget)
• Sell black range and replace with stainless steel

Living Room (75% complete)

• Paint
• Build a faux fireplace
• Find a coffee table
• Buy a new sofa and loveseat
• Put in shelving
• Figure out a media storage solution
• Hang artwork
• Hang curtains
• Install a decor-friendly ceiling fan
• Wood floors?  Maybe?  That might be a 2016 goal.
• Put in an area rug
• Install doorway wood encasement and corbels
• Add some architectural interest?

Powder Room (62% complete)

• Paint
• Change out builder grade mirror
• Makeover vanity light
• Paint hardware
• Hang artwork
• Find an accent rug
• Install board and batten or wall planking
• Makeover faucet or replace

Stairway (20% complete)

• Add a gallery wall
• Replace builder grade light with something more our style
• Paint the upstairs portion
• Add a plank wall?
• Add some artwork on upper portion

Upstairs Hallway / Playroom (0% complete)

• Paint stripes in hallway with light gray continuing into playroom
• Make curtains for windows
• Replace lighting- seriously, what is that little nubbin doing there? It's teeny.
• Create more storage- possibly built-ins
• Find a craft table
• Add artwork

Master Bathroom (33% complete)

• Paint walls
• Replace towel rack
• Change out builder grade mirror 
• Add a runner rug
• Install a plank wall behind the garden tub
• Paint cabinets
• Change hardware
• Create some shelving
• Dress up the window

Master Bedroom (25% complete)

• Buy a bed
• Buy a dresser
• Buy more bedding
• Paint
• Add a plank wall behind bed
• Hang curtains
• Hang some art / wall decor
• Find the perfect nightstands...they're out there somewhere

Olivia's Room (50% complete)

• Makeover bed
• Makeover dresser
• Hang mirror
• Get bedding
• Install lighting
• Paint entire room gray (figure out the perfect shade)
• Hang some art and printables
• Install a ballet mirror and barre
• Make a dress up costume rack
• Hang curtains

Guest/Olivia's Bathroom (50% complete)

• Paint
• Install shelves
• Hang artwork
• Replace towel rack with hooks
• Change out builder grade mirror for a framed one
• Paint cabinets

Laundry Room (0% complete)

• Paint with leftover Sea Salt shade
• Create some organization and storage solutions
• Hang some wall decor
• Add a more interesting light
• Find a great accent rug

Office (50% complete)

• Paint
• Buy a desk
• Makeover desk chair
• Hang wall decor
• Organize craft closet
• Make window treatments

It's a bit overwhelming to tally up how much we still have left to do, but I'm so excited at the same time.  I am all giddy just thinking about where our journey will have taken us by December 2015.

Are any of you planning some house goals after the New Year?  Do you anticipate having a paint brush and nail gun permanently attached to your hand too?  Are we totally crazy to attempt this list with a toddler under foot?  I think I already know the answer to that last one.

Blessings,

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