Window Dressings?

 If you have picked up on anything from viewing my blog, I'm sure it's no secret that I love color!  Lot's and lot's of bright bold beautiful color.  There are times when I like to go neutral but for the most part I prefer to live in color.  My neutral color of preference tends to be black.  I like black because you can bounce so many vibrant colors off of black and that's exactly what I'm going to show you.

What do you think?  Too much?  Well, not for me.  Those new drapes I put up several months ago look fantastic against the wall color, but were just a little too dark for this old summer gal.  So I decided to liven them up with a little color.

I used this beautiful fabric to make some pillows and a table runner several years ago and still had a few yards left.  If I had my druthers I would have long beautiful curtains made in this fabric.  However, I've got to be a little more thrifty these days so I decided to just dress up the drapes I have.  Since I never EVER close these drapes (it's a claustrophobia thing), I decided what would it hurt to improvise.  I simply made little mini panels to go across the top of each drapery panel.   I could do this easily since I use rings with clips and let each panel swag a little in the middle. I'm still thinking about adding some type of tassels or fringe on the edge, not sure though.

I realize this may not be ideal or even close to what some of you might consider doing, but I love it!  I even love mixing these patterns like I did.  I was really surprised how much I actually liked the mix.

It was "sew" simple and I can take them down easy enough this fall and winter when I'll be ready to move away from the tropical look.

I even made some new slipcovers for the brown pillows we keep on our club chairs.  You've seen me make slip covers for these pillows before in a blue fabric.

I only had enough fabric left to do the fronts of both pillows so I used a mini check fabric that I already had on the back.  It's a black and tan color similar to the drapes.  I like the mix!

Here's a glimpse of one of the older pillows I first made with this fabric.  I used a beautiful and fun fringe on the edge for these.  I got the bright solid pillows from work before I stopped.  These were big sellers and came in all sorts of fun bright colors.  They only cost $7.99 each too.  I chose coral and ...

...and lime green to bring out a brighter pop of color on the sofa and to coordinate with my lime green lamp shade.

The turquoise blue leopard pillows were my last splurge from work.  My final employee discount!  Oh, how I do miss that discount!  LOL!   

This runner was one that I had made for this table several years ago.  It's reversible and has the gold fabric on the back that I usually have on this table.  I finally am able to flip it now and use this side without it seeming so out of place to me.  Fun!

The sailboats are moving around now and the shells are coming back out taking center stage for the season.  I still haven't finished tweaking the small vignettes yet.  I will get to it soon enough because there's plenty of time for that now.

It's feeling much more exciting around here now to me.  I love how color just makes me come alive!  How about you?

I think I'll link this up with Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life

for; 

Inspire Me Tuesday.

Just to show you how out of touch I've been, I just realized this morning that Marty had changed the name and theme of her Tuesday party.  LOL!  I'm very happy about that though because now I get to share my, let's call it, "window dressings", shall we?

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking it out.  Let me know if you likey!  If not, you can just smile anyway, okay?  LOL!

Have a great day Y'all!

He tweaked my Den!

With just a few days off I've managed to cram in a little mini vacay and help the Mr. finish off a few changes around the house.  Earlier today I shared a post about our lodging on our trip to beautiful Asheville. NC.  While I love the style I shared with you today about our hotel, it's quite different from what we have here at home.

  So tonight, I want to share a few changes in the den for Metamorphosis Monday.  We still have several other rooms in transition, funny how it all happens at once.  However, I want to share this one with you because this room is the closest to being finished with the exception of a few painting and refinishing details.

Here is our den as it looks today.

Here's the den from last summer.  Notice anything?

That's right!  We removed one of the sofa's and relocated it to the loft area upstairs.

Well, I say we.  Actually it was the Mr. that got this change started.  I came home one night and he had moved the sofa back and pulled the club chairs around facing the TV.  

 He said, he was tired of sitting on the sofa and really just wanted to sit in the club chairs to watch television at night.  See what happens when you leave a man at home alone too much!  

After I let this big change settle in, digest, swallow, and gulp... because I really do love my double couches.   I decided to just go with it and make a few additional changes myself.

I brought down my old office chair that goes with a beautiful desk from upstairs to fill an empty space by the fireplace.  It's temporary, but gives me an idea of what I might want to look for.  I love the pop of color it adds too.  

Then I dug around the attic and pulled out one of our very first tables.  It's an English pub table that my husband purchased when he was a bachelor and has been returned to us last year from our son when he moved and didn't want to keep it.  Like our other two tables, it also needs a little TLC and a new coat of varnish.

We do have the chairs that are original to this table but these are not it.  I thought these would be more comfortable and cozy for this room.  I am going to paint them black, unless you have a better idea on what you think would look best.  I am open for options on this.  I am excited to have a table in the den now.  The Mr. and I eat in here all the time on TV trays now that it is just the two of us.  I hope we will use the table now too.  If we don't it will be a great place to set up games and or puzzles.  

I felt like it was needing a centerpiece so I pulled out this green bowl I bought a few years ago.

Unlike the hotel we just stayed at, I didn't have any green apples on hand even though I usually do because I love green apples.  After being sick with the flu during the holiday though, I have been keeping oranges around instead.  So, they will have to do for now!

So, what do you think?

Do you like the new look?  I think I can live with it a bit.  How do you handle things when the hubby decides to decorate on his own? Also, If you have any suggestions for the chairs I would love to hear them.

I am joining the following parties today because things are changing around here for;

Metamorphosis Monday

and 

Tabletop Tuesday

Thanks for stopping by again today!

I hope you all have a great week!

The Glow of Christmas

Tonight the lights.... burn sweetly!

Even though a few strands are testing our patience,

Our home for the most part is ready for Christmas!

A strand on the dormer window on the left is giving us a fit.

But....my den is finished, cleaned and decorated.

The kitchen is full of merriment!

The dining room is all a glow in splendor of silver and gold.

And the back porch is floating in a sea of light.

That's what happening at my house in the land of 

The Decorative Dreamer.

Your all invited back for a closer look at a few more rooms decorated and detailed later next week. Thanks for stopping by!

My Woodsy Christmas Den Decor

Hi All!  Long time no see huh?  I'm sure most of you don't need me to explain how hectic things are this time of year so I will skip all the chit chat and just show you a little of what I have been able to get decorated for the holidays so far.  Okay?

Okay!!! The den is done!  Whew!  It's pretty much the same as last years theme, only I added and omitted just a few things.

For example, I went with a natural looking topper this year by adding bunch's of willow to the bow and berry's.   I think I will eventually put my copper star trio back up too if I can do so without destroying what is already there.  LOL!

I actually left off several ornaments this year if you can believe that.  The newest two additions were the deco mesh which I cut in strips across and tied on in knots for a more rustic look.  Then, the addition that I like the most is the willow garland.  Why haven't I thought of this sooner?  I love it!

On the mantle it's very similar to last years set up again but with new garland.  I bought two on sale from Michael's this year.  One is strictly greenery with a snowy looking cedar and pine and the other has the berries and pine cones with greenery. I also added a few branches of willow here too.

   

My pine cone candles came out again.  Of course, I just had to add a little bling bling as well with the beaded candlesticks.  

Do you remember the reindeer I purchased last year from work?

I just love these guys!  They are why I have stayed with this very woodsy theme.

The lantern on the table moved across the room to new location for the holidays and received a woodsy look as well.

Hello Mr. Claus!

Can you tell I went a little crazy adding the willow everywhere?  I love it! 

I also love the view from my favorite chair where I use my laptop in the evenings or daytime depending on when I am home.  

Last but now least, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, in hopes....

Speaking of hoping, I surely do hope you enjoyed this little peek at my holiday decor in the den again this year. 

If you liked that be sure and come back tomorrow okay because I'll be showing you the kitchen next. The holidays are my favorite time of the year for pulling out all the decorations.  It's when I have the most to share.  I've gotten so many ideas from most of you and am truly grateful for that.  Thanks so much!

And thank you so much for stopping by!

I really appreciate hearing from you.

Have a great day everyone!

Repainting the Den

Hi Friends! I hope you have enjoyed the past weekend as much as I have.  In fact, I am still enjoying the weekend as I am enjoying a rare 3 day off weekend.  Woohoo!  

Since I had 3 days in a row and miraculously Sherwin Williams also had a 40% off paint sale I decided it was a great time to tackle repainting the den.  If you follow me at all you know I've been wrestling with what color to choose for some time.  I really loved a bluish green shade that I saw at a parade of homes house last year and even got a paint sample shown here.  But, I decided as pretty as it is that would be a color that I just could not live with.  I next started leaning very heavily towards one of the neutrals that I keep seeing many of you choosing.  I love how beautiful they are, but....again I just knew deep in my heart that is not me.

So, long story short, this is what I chose.  My new color is called Lucent Yellow.  It is shown on the left side of this picture.  I finished the sofa wall Saturday.

 It is very hard to describe because while it is a yellow it also has a slightly greenish tint.  It is such a subtle change from what I had but looks so much fresher!  I love it!

Here are a few more up close shots of the two colors.  The one on the right is my new color, Lucent Yellow. The color on the left is the old color which was a SW custom blend that is a mix between Compatible Cream and  Napery.

Yesterday, I did one more of the small walls with the french doors and today I hope to finish up everything.  I still need to do the fireplace wall and the wall that faces the street.  I am taking my time and moving the furniture out from the wall as I go so I haven't had to clear the whole room.  

Here is one more photo showing a small box of the old color from yesterdays paint job.  I cannot wait to have this room finished.  My youngest son came down stairs yesterday and said it was a very subtle change (his words exactly) and almost unnoticeable except for the fact that is looks so much cleaner.  I love that!

Well, I'd better get offline now, I've got to get busy again!

I am sharing these subtle changes with you for

Metamorphosis Monday

Have a great day yall!