Archive for the ‘decorating’ Category

Fun with decor

Sunday, August 10th, 2008

I’m not an interior designer, but I do like to decorate. Slowly the Brick House is evolving…as money and time permits. Typically I like to let my thrift store finds dictate what direction the decor will go in, and I never really plan out or “design” the room – which gets me into trouble.

I wanted to show a couple of the before and after progress shots. Its been 6 MONTHS since we moved in! I just need to remind myself that things have been accomplished – even though sometimes it feels like nothing is getting done.

The Dining Room


Before & sort of After (don’t mind the Boy eating nuts in the kitchen – he just wouldn’t move out of frame.)

The Den


Before & In Progress, GOOD god I still haven’t painted the door or changed the door hardware. There is still a plate covering the deadbolt from the realtor…wow. I NEED to choose a door color.

The Office/Den


Before & After (the needlepoint is ever expanding – still needs organizing and something – I’m not sure what)

The Living Room


Before & in progress…I’m still working on it.

Here are a couple more shots, just for fun-sies!



The Longest Wall – well, if you think 108" is long

Thursday, August 7th, 2008

To the left as you enter the front door of the Brick House there is this long wall leading to the hallway and den. The wall is punctuated by a now defunct floor heater on the right side and needs about 30 inches of clearance on the left for the front door to swing open. So between were the door opens and the heater is there is 108 in. of blank nothingness…


*Sorry this is about the best I could get picture wise…its a small house…and I’m kind of lazy.

This above wall is in the living room and directly opposite the fireplace:

The crude diagram is what I imagine my floating shelves flanking the fireplace will eventually look like – well except less wobbly and turquoise. I want 3 shelves on either side that are 57 in. long by 11 in. deep. There is currently no space designated for books anywhere in the house (and one day I’d like to pull my book collection out of boxes).

I had thought of building a set of floor to ceiling Hungarian Bookshelves on the blank 108 in. wall, but I’m nervous it would be overwhelming and tight right when you entered the front door.

Here are my thoughts and inspiration for that area:
(images via: Apartment Therapy)

I like this open low wall unit shelf thing (here is a detail). I could probably build that pretty easily and cheaply and then be able to hang art above the shelf and use it as a landing strip…

I like these shelves, maybe I could build a shorter version…

I also like this idea of taking Ikea kitchen cabinets and making a low storage unit…

Hmmmmmmm, I just don’t know. I think it will come down to cost and ease of construction…

ENJE roller shades

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

The Brick House has a hodge-podge of random window coverings throughout. Most of the windows are uncovered and this unfortunately turns my neighbors into unwitting voyeurs. I bought one ENJE roller shade from Ikea to test out on our den window.

Here it is getting ready for install. The cheapo vinyl “wood” blind came with the house, and I’ve been desperate to tear it down.

Before and After.

I like it well enough, but there do need to be curtains… speaking of…


*Before and after – without the ugggglllly blinds.

I took down the blinds in dining room and hung some sheers. I like how the light filters in, now they just need to be washed…