Living Room Mirror

I have been living with a blank wall in the living room. There are not many walls in this room, as it is very much a part of the open-concept. 

I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do on that wall.

Right now I am really into textures. What grabs my eye is when multiples things are together but all the same color. I contemplated adding trim to that wall and painting it the color of the wall. It would add interest, yet not be bold. I researched a lot of different styles and found many I liked.

I even thought of doing it myself, but I wasn’t sold on the idea enough as I was not finding myself going to the lumber store right that minute.

I then was watching a Fixer-Upper and saw a mirror in the entryway. That was it! I needed a large mirror on that wall. I wanted the EXACT mirror I saw on Fixer Upper! 

Fixer Upper

The mirror was a great idea because it would make you feel like there was a window there. It would continue the look out the front door, yet you’d actually be looking at the backyard! There are glass doors leading to the backyard that are picked up by the mirror.

I searched for the Fixer Upper mirror and found similar ones at Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn. But with the size, I had to be aware of the weight and make sure the mirror could be hung in the landscape position and not the portrait way. That was the hard part. Most large mirror were wardrobe mirrors that are meant to be leaned against a wall (with proper anchors).

Pottery Barn

Restoration Hardware - Lucent

My mom was then looking at Old Time Pottery and found lots of large mirrors. I found time to go and look for myself. I looked the first time and thought about it. But I went back the next day and hung it the minute I got home.

Luckily, how it was centered on the wall lined up with studs and I did not have to use special anchors! That right there, made me so excited! In ten minutes, the mirror was hung and I was happy. 

I love the way it looks. It really does give the illusion. I love mirrors that pretend they are windows! And the itch to decorate that wall has now subsided.

New House Lighting - Bought

I have had so much fun picking out the lighting in the new house. It is another way to add that much needed character I’m after.

My mind has changed many times, but I think I’ve narrowed it down quite well. Lighting can be quite expensive! Especially when the goal is to add character. I remember looking at updating the lighting in the bathroom and not wanting to pay $99 for 1 light. Luckily, I didn’t. Remember when I found them for $39? I bought several and replaced mine and my parents’ bathroom lights. I painted mine satin nickel and left theirs alone. I sold the old lights, so when we sold our house, I couldn’t take the new lights with us. However, I did still have my parents’ old lights, so I took their new ones down with intentions of using the new lights in the new house.

Because there are light deals out there that I stumble on, I have already purchased some of the lights. I know most builders don’t want you to do this because it takes away another area where they can gain profit, but if I can get a good deal on a light I want and get it before it is no longer available, then that’s what I will do. There are other areas I’m sure he can tag on the extra profit to.

1. Francis Sconce – Pottery Barn website $79-149 
2. Allen & Roth – Lowes $99 (no longer available)
3. Pearson Flusmount – Pottery Barn website $199 
4. Portfolio Litshire Outdoor Flushmount – Lowes – Website $40  
5. Talbot Lantern – Pottery Barn website $250 no longer available
6. Portfolio 6-Light Black Chandelier – Lowes – website - $79
7. Econoswitch – Amazon – website - $40-50 
8. Brayden Sconce – Lowes – website - $60

Above is a list of the lights that I have bought. THe description tells where in the house they will go, the number in () gives how many I will need, and the price in green is the TOTAL amount spent (not individual price). The list with the website info gives the individual price.

Lowes and Home Depot are great at providing lights that imitate the higher end models. One of those replicas I selected for the garage lights. Sea Gull has a higher end version for quadruple the amount. For one week back in July, Lowes had theirs on sale for $10 less than their list price of $60, so I bought the two that I needed.

I really like this light because of the glass above the light. It will allow light to come out at all angles. I don't look forward to them getting dirty, but if I only have two, that's not a bad chore to have.

The Pearson Flushmount was a flushmount that didn’t look like a boob. Ha! I had boob-type flushmounts in my house and they just weren’t my thing. Sometimes a flushmount is what you need, and I’m glad there are different shapes available. I liked the Pearson collection had a square-shaped globe to it and not a dome. 

"Boob" Flush Mount - Builder grade

 One day I was browsing the site and saw that the brushed nickel finish was on sale for $99. I thought $199 was way too high, but I know that Pottery Barn can run some good deals when they want to. I jumped right on it. Now they have other finishes on sale, but the lowest is $129. I struck a good deal.

All the other lights I have bought have also had some kind of discount applied to them. I do have a Lowes and Home Depot coupon for when we changed our address that expires this month, so I may be using that to purchase more lights at a discount! We’ll see!

An Old Crib Bumper

When I’ve put together the nursery for both of my boys, I never picked out nursery sets. I knew I wouldn’t use the quilt that comes with it and I liked the idea of mixing and matching.

With Little JCrew’s room, I bought the crib bumper to match the comforters on the twin beds. That way they all tied together. I fell in love with that bumper.

When he started getting mobile, Mr. JCrew walked in on the babe sleeping and his face smooshed into the bumper. This scared Mr. JCrew so we removed the bumper. We then switched to a breathable bumper after Little JCrew got his foot stuck.

That has since come down because it was such a pain during sheet changes.

We tried selling the crib bumper in two consignment sales with no luck. I had it priced really cheap, too. I guess most people are going to the breathable bumpers now.

Instead of wasting the bumper, my mom gave herself something to do. She made pillows out of the bumper!

She even tacked on the label.

Sorry, Pottery Barn doesn’t make these custom matching pillows!

I think they go great with the beds. Mom used the stuffing from the bumper to fill the pillows.  

Actually, these pillows are pillows she had on hand, but mom made more pillows from another bumper and used the bumper stuffing to full those pillows.

This bumper is also Pottery Barn and we bought it at a consignment sale. 

It came in a set and we wanted the quilt out of the set (go figure!) The quilt was for the toddler bed at Mimi and Poppi’s house.

Now it has a matching pillow. The other pillow is at my house.

Little JCrew immediately saw the balls and said, “Ball.”

Thanks, Mom! I love my custom pillows!

Nautical, Not Boats

Little JCrew’s room has been a fun one to put together. I went with a Nautical theme. This is not to be confused with a boat theme. 

There are only two boat objects in his room. It’s his painting of boats and a wire ship I got from Pottery Barn. It was my goal to decorate using things that are boat-related. I knew I could get tired of seeing so many boats in one room. The matching nursery themes go overboard in my opinion.
 

I linked the painting to let you know it is actually a poster! I bought the frame at Hobby Lobby and stapled the poster to it. There is no glass. That was a project I forgot I did.

I highly recommend AllPosters.com. I've gotten a few prints from there and was so impressed. They are posters of paintings for a fraction of what the real painting would cost.

Back to the room...

Every sailor needs a map.

Dock pillars to tie your boat to.

A pulley for the sailboat.

Fish that swim in the sea.

Lanterns to guide your way.

A porthole clock.

Buoys.

 Propellers to get over to big waves.

Sharks and Alligators.

The only thing I wanted, but don't have for this room was a boat rocker.

It was too pricey, but wouldn't it have been perfect?

And now we have a turtle shell that you find on the beach.

This is from Nate Berkus’ Target collection. I saw it and loved it, but didn’t know where it would go. I think I was on Little JCrew’s bed staring at the wall, when I found where I wanted to hang it. There was a perfect blank spot above his crib.

The crib originally had a mobile hanging in the center of the intials on the wall. Once that was removed there was a blank space.

The shell was a perfect fit. I might try to raise it a little and see what that looks like. Right now it looks okay, but everything on that wall looks like it's lined up to go to the cafeteria for lunch.

I think it's a great addition! It’s a SEA-turtle shell. (Grasping to make the idea work, eh?) 

What will be next to add to our nautical-theme?

I thought it was funny as I was linking the things in this room, how much of it is Pottery Barn inspired. I guess they do a lot of nautical  things I like. 

Pottery Barn Has Done It Again!

Sure enough, as soon as I have created something that I couldn't find for my nursery, Pottery Barn has come out with something similar.

I am in love with the crib! I don't mind the white color, but I am in love with the lines. It's just beautiful.

And let's talk the bedding. It's grey and white with elephants!!! Oh, and I love the crib skirt!!

Not only did they come out with a grey and white elephant design, but there are some more out there.

This one is a cute girl design called "Georgia." It's cute, but I'm loving the elephant rocker and toys.

I love this one because it's a different take on the monkey theme. And the colors are pretty. I also like the idea of putting a shelf really high!

Giving me more ideas. I love it all. Good job, Pottery Barn. I was getting tired of what you had available, but then you came out with some new stuff. Sorry I won't be buying it, but glad you've made some changes.