Picking Fabrics for a New Tableskirt

Since the new paint job I've been working on my living room and dining room little by little.

I moved this table from the living room into the dining room between the two head chairs.  The current table skirt fabric works,  but not as well as it used to.

The table used to be in the corner of the living room with a burgundy topper, which I have removed.

I found a yard of this plaid silk fabric at Calico Corners for under $10 a few weeks ago.  Since then I have been leaning toward this being the color scheme for the new dining room.

The pewter fabric with the dots would be the main table skirt fabric.  It has a good weight to it and would flow well as a skirt.  The other fabric is called Latika and is by Kravet and I love it in all of the colors it comes in.  This one seems to work perfectly with the plaid and the pewter fabric.
I think a skirt might be the easiest way to go, but I have also been considering a pleated skirt.

Living Room by Memphis Interior Designers & Decorators Anna Baskin Lattimore Design

Image

I still like the idea of a table skirt in the dining room as it gives me a chance to bring in a few pattern and texture to the space.  Calico Corners is having a sale plus they sent me a coupon so I may be ordering the fabric tomorrow.  My kids are off all week so I hope I have time.  While I'm at it, I might buy enough fabric to make a dining room table runner as well.

Hope to see you all at my link party that opens Tuesday evening at 8pm EST.

-Judy

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Easy Update - Wallpapering the Back of a Bookcase

It's another snow day here in New York.  We really got a ton of snow this time.  Being stuck in the house so much has given me a chance to do some little projects around the house that I might not otherwise get around to doing.

As you know we just painted our dining room a lighter and brighter color.  There is a small bookcase built into the columns that separate the living room and dining room.

I decided to take the bookcase from ordinary to something a bit more special.

I started by emptying out the bookcase.  It turned out the bookcase needed a little touch-up so I pulled out the paint and painted the shelves.

Next I used temporary wallpaper I had left over (which is the same wallpaper that I used to cover the DIY magazine holders).  

It only took a few minutes for this update.  

I had already edited what was going back before I decided to add the wallpaper, so it was easy to put everything back.

I love easy projects that make such a big difference.

Can't wait to hear what you think.

-Judy

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From Cereal Box to DIY Magazine Holder

I have been slowly deciding what goes back into my living room and dining room after their recent paint updates.  Having the room empty for a few days really gave me the push I needed to declutter both rooms and only put back what I really want in the rooms.  There are certain things that must go back, but I definitely need to put them back in a much more organized way.  

My kids piano books have never really had a home.  They would sit in a basket on the floor, but that basket was always overflowing.  I knew I needed a better solution.  I have a built in book shelf in my dining room and after using some of the home decor books in some of my vignettes, space opened up.  I knew I wanted to use magazine holders for the kid's books, so I decided to turn my kid's cereal boxes into magazine/piano book holders.

This is a really easy project...one I put together in less than a half hour yesterday morning.  I used two of the same extra large cereal boxes.  You want to make sure the box you choose is large enough to accommodate the magazines/books you plan on using it for.  I covered the boxes using some temporary wallpaper I had left over from this project.  

Temporary Wallpaper backsplash 

You could also use contact paper or scrapbook paper with mod podge.  The temporary wallpaper was easy to work with and is a little thicker than contact paper which gives the boxes more stability.  I covered both the inside and outside of the boxes for a more finished look, but you could certainly just cover the outside.  

After covering the boxes, I used my Silhouette machine and printed out these labels. 

I cut them out and glued them onto these name tag self-stick badges and then cut it out to size.

Using the badges made my labels self-sticking.

So much more organized than the pile on the floor. Lol

Can't wait to hear what you think.

-Judy

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Lighter and Brighter Dining Room Reveal

Last week I shared with you our lighter and brighter living room.  This week it's the dining room's turn.  The living room and dining room are an open floor plan with columns separating the two rooms, so they have to get the same wall color - both rooms are now painted Benjamin Moore Gray Mirage.

  

I actually didn't mind the color in the dining room, but I couldn't stand it anymore in the living room, and since the two rooms are attached they both got a makeover.

 The new wall color makes the dining room look huge.  The walls in the room literally look like they were pushed out two feet wider.

The centerpiece on the table is just temporary until I can come up with something a bit more interesting.

If you're really paying attention you can see that half of the photos are taken and night and half during the day.  Lol

Here's an close-up photo of the accessories on the server on the far side of the dining room.

Here's the other side of the room.  I have moved the table from the living room to in between the two head chairs in the bay window area.

I love this side with my plates hanging on the wall and one of my Lladro figurines under a cloche.

The only major change in this room is the paint.  

It's amazing what paint alone can do.

Can't wait to hear what you think.

-Judy

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Ready, Set, Go

This disaster can only mean one thing...

We have picked a paint color for the living room and dining room!  

I know that they say "it's just paint", but honestly it's going to take hours to just empty the rooms and hours to put it back together.   I am actually a good painter and enjoy painting, but these two rooms are large and there is so much cutting in with all of the moldings that it would take more time than I have to to do the right job.  So...I've called in the professionals.  They will be here Tuesday morning.  

Let's hope I love the color as much once it's on the wall - you will have to wait until the big reveal for the paint color.  

Have a great weekend (and wish me luck emptying out the rest of the room).  

-Judy

Trying to Find the Perfect Green Gray Paint Color

I think I am finally going to actually pull the trigger and change out the color in my living room and dining room.  I've been talking about it for years, but have struggled to figure out exactly what direction I would like to see the rooms go in.

One of the main issues has been that the living room and dining room are one big room only separated by columns, so the color really needs to be the same in both rooms.

It has made it difficult to settle in on a color.  I have been leaning toward a green/gray paint color. 

 I think I have narrowed it down to three choices, all Benjamin Moore colors:

Camouflage

Benjamin Moore Gray Horse

Gray Horse

Craftsman Living Room by Bellevue Home Stagers Lisa Lucas Design - Gray Mirage

I have painted samples on large sheets of poster board and keep moving them to different parts of the room.  I think I am leaning toward grey mirage, but I'm still not sure.  It's one of Candice Olson's favorite paint picks.  Candice says that grey mirage is a "can’t lose color  - a misty gray green is a great foundation for any space."  Maybe that should be enough for me.  
Anyone have any suggestions for the perfect grey/green?

-Judy

Simplify

My kids were on a two hour delay from school this morning due to the extremely low temperatures.  It read 5 degrees on my car this morning, but with the wind chill it is well below zero.  It's these cold days after the holidays that I just want to stay and be cozy at home.  Especially right after the holidays and after the holiday break, I long for things to be a bit simpler.  Before it's time to start decorating for Valentine's day and Easter, I just wanted a more simple decor around the house.

The family room looks huge now that the Christmas tree has been put away.

Last night I had a fire going to help keep the house feeling warm and cozy.

A simple, uncluttered mantle is what I need right now.

The same holds true in the dining room.  Simple.  I love the addition of my new Luminara candles.  These by far are the most real looking candles...especially in person.  Love the new blue color.  The dining room will most likely be the first big project of the new year, but more on that in the coming weeks.

Hope you all stay warm!

Don't forget to stop back later for my Winter Blues Wednesday party that opens tonight at 8pm EST.

Hope to see you there!

-Judy