My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Decorating the Living Room

I seem to be making some headway in this house the last 2 days. But wouldn't ya know it; I had to stop and resuscitate the mouse!! She's been giving me a fit lately and I usually just dust her off - her belly button, ya know, that scroll wheel. But she's been sucking some serious dust around here so it's been a miracle that I can revive the little darling. *Sigh*.........................



~*~

This was 2 days ago. I was so tired I didn't know whether to climb the ladder to paint/hang pix or get on my knees and put stuff back that was to be "lower"! My feet are killing me from standing on that ladder, chicks.
Do you realize that I "shopped" right outta this house??? Yep, old things placed in different places seem new again. Besides, hubs said to keep it to a minimum. They're just no fun when it comes to remodeling and redecorating. Actually, this whole remodel was his idea. Ya woulda expected me to say nuuuuuuuu?!?! Get a grip, chicks, this was decorating and spending money here. It's our lot in liiiiIIIIiiiiiffffffffee. (When I type the words that way you'll know I'm RAISING my voice and lowering it. Hah...No matter.......on with the show.)
Anyway, today shows a marked improvement.....in the living room. The family room??? Pfffffffffttttt. It's trashed! Now, I'm not so proud that I wouldn't show you but there's nothing to show in there at the moment. I've pretty much stripped the pix off the walls and brought them into living room.

Notice the french wire baskets. I don't know where to put them! I'll have hubs help me decide tonight. He's actually pretty good at noticing things and recommending things when I'm stymied. You all have been a big help with your email suggestions also. Thank you!

Clock was moved last night but moving a grandfather clock is a delicate matter. We had to almost disassemble it to move it - take out the weights and pendulum. But it's there. I've added 2 pix above it and some pretty little boxes on the overhead. Being from California I'm squeamish about putting things "UP" when they could "FALL" on your head! These are light however and not a problem.

The print on the left of the photo is 1 of 3 of my favorites. It's a Susan Rios print. The one in the middle below the painting of the girl (more on that in a moment) is my absolutely favorite of all times. When we lived in California I had a huge family room and had slipcovers made for a sofa I had. It was a wide pink and white stripe. That thing cost me a fortune! That was over 20 years ago and cost me $800.00. I could actually have bought a new sofa for less at that time. I loved it though.

One day when I was at the Valley Fair Mall in San Jose I went into the Martin Lawrence Gallery there and found this print. I immediately bought it because I absolutely adored it and it looked a great deal like my home with that sofa and the lace curtains. My heart was stolen, little sweets. But when we moved up here and then to this new house 3 years ago we didn't have room for it. I sold it for $100.00 and included 2 outdoor wrought iron chairs. Pathetic.

Anyway, the limited edition on the far right with a white frame is another of Susan's prints. So I grouped them all together.

Now, about that painting. I purchased it recently at Goodwill for a couple of dollars because it touched my heart and it has pink roses on her hat. BUT the thing is Susan Rios did a self-portrait once and that is a lot like her portrait. I have a book of her painting and prints in it and that portrait is in there. Except for the hat it could almost be her. It is truly amazing. So I hung it with her paintings. I've also included her self-portrait for you to see the similarities - the pose, the hair, the white blouse, the direction in which she's looking. You'll have to enlarge the pix of living room to see that portrait better.


My new sink!!!!!! I love it. I like stainless steel and it's not as deep as the old porcelain one. I did put one pix over the sink that I can look at. Still much more to do there but I had to get some of them off the floor and hung! I'll get Love Bunny to put a shelf in there - I have no "shortage" of shelves or I'll hang that little french country shelf for miscellany.


This is a mosaic my daughter and granddaughter made me. She never got a photo of it 3 years ago and is updating her portfolio of mosaics. So I had to photograph it for her. If you want to see some of her pieces for sale go visit Nan. This is a hobby for her. She's like me and CANNOT do nothing!
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Now I want to share with you a special gift that Katie recently sent me! She just started a selling blog. But I have to tell you also that she recently has taken up silk ribbon embroidery. (We've created a monster!! Aaaack!) AND she's recently had her first grandchild, Syllah May, which was a terrific thrill for her. We followed the journey with her from the announcement of her daughter's pregnancy to the delivery of Miss Syllah. She's a beauty also, but has the most extensive wardrobe of any new chick I've ever seen!! Anyway, Katie made this quilted tote for me and it's lovely. You have got to go to her blog and see her exquisite silk ribbon embroidery! That new baby had the most exquisite first wardrobe I've ever seen. Goooooo! Ooooh and why the tote???? I guess she just "loves" me for some crazy reason! :-)~*~

*UPDATE at 10:15 pm TONIGHT!*
I composed this post tonight at 6 pm or so after working all day (but I wanted you to view the "latest" of the kitchen) and adding to the draft of this post and scheduling it to come on line at midnight, but hubs put up a couple of shelves for me tonight so it's 10:15 pm and I've been up for 20 hours now and still going strong............ Hah! If you believe that you're nuts because you can tell by the run on sentence!!!!! I'm about to keel over. BUT I'll just post this and go because hubs is tired.
*Fini* Bon nuit!

22 comments:

  1. Looks Great Sweetie!! You must be over the moon with it!! How fun!! Tiring but Great to step back after and see all your wonderful work!!
    mandii

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  2. Connie.. I like the way you decorate your new area.. simple and yet sweet with pink here & there.. nice!..

    and btw don't work to hard.. rest!.. hehehehehe

    smoochies!.. take care!
    xoxoxoxo
    Fitty

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  3. Connie, you are such a whirlwind!!! Its coming together nicely:) Rachaelxo

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  4. Love Katies tote, you luck girl. The "Wall" is coming along very really well, are you finished? LOL

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  5. Everything looks great! So sweet of Katie, that tote is beautiful.
    Glad you are done, now enjoy!

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  6. Oh connie everything is looking so pretty. I know how you felt with all the dust cause we did some redo's in our kitchen recently and there was dust everywhere from hubby working on it.

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  7. Such an undertaking Connie and it all looks so good! I'm just delighted with how much fun you've had with all this! Very lovely home as always! And of course the Soft Treasures bag was cuz I love you, and as a thank you for all you do on PRH, and how you inspire all of us!

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  8. Hi Connie, LOVE IT! Everything turned out great!, and I really enjoyed seeing it come together. Sort of like a Weekend Warrior episode. Now work hard the rest of the day, then relax your pretty little feet,hands, and mind. Deb

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  9. Well, you should be poopeedeeepoooped!! BUT there is nothing as satisfying to me as moving things around and re-aranging stuff!! It makes you feel like you are in a new place and makes you observe stuff you had just gotten used to not seeing! I love the painting of the entry-way.

    I have an old porcelain sink--it is so old that if you pour a cup of coffe or tea in it you have to bleach it!! But there is something about porcelain I like (the pain of cleaning it? no) . I like the feel of it. Stainless is easier however, so I hope you enjoy the new sink. My daughter (where I am visiting this week) has a deep porcelain one--hers does not stain when you pour coffee and such in it because it is way way newer!! Mine is probably from the 50's!

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  10. Hi Connie,
    Your remodel looks super. The clock looks perfect there. Get some sleep... :)
    Warmly, Deb

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  11. So glad you are "dressing" the wall and getting everything into it's place. It's really coming along!
    Love the mosaic. I'll have to stop by and take a peek at more. Now, get some rest!

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  12. Oh sweet Connie...I love how you decorate! It looks beautiful! And thank you so much for telling me about the plate holder...duh, I'm such a dork! Also, I need your snail mail address because I found you something I need to send!

    Take care and hugz,
    Michele

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  13. It's looking great! Keep up the good work, but do not over due it! :)

    Have a lovely weekend, Connie

    cielo

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  14. Your decorating is exquisite. I especially love your prints. Everything looks fresh and clean.
    Sweetie

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  15. Connie - everything turned out so nicely. I love the way the clock looks!!! It all looks so much better like this. I can just imagine how tired you are. You have done so much!!! Get some rest so you can enjoy it!

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  16. It is looking real great Connie. I love the kitchen wall, and the ones in your living room are so pretty. Love Bunny is doing a pretty good job for a man. lol; Hope you get some rest this weekend.

    Hugs;
    Alaura

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  17. It's looking great Connie . whew !! you are wearing me outwith all that work you are doing .
    Have a blessed day dear .

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  18. ********GASP****** Where have i been !!!!!!!!!! Lookie at what you've done gorgeous one! Ohmygosh what a transformation, it looks amazing!
    Poor you, you must be pretty tired now hey? But hey it all looks so good so its worth it huh?

    Oh hey luvvie i like your piccie of YOU on the side bar. Im waving ********HELLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOO******* to you.

    Did ya see me ???

    *GRINS*

    Love Ya
    Shann

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  19. Hi Connie! Gosh, everything looks beautimous! What a pretty kitchen sink & faucet!! Oh, how I love those three pictures over the sofa table in your entry!! I'm so excited for you that you are getting things just the way you want them!! Now, rest up a bit ~ you are beginning to sound HYPER, Ethel!! LOL

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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  20. It is beautiful!! Aren't you proud of all that hard work? Sore but proud? : )
    I can't afford that house I posted about either! Not even CLOSE!! Abd, in reality, even if I could? It is waaay too big! I have enough trouble cleaning THIS one! Hm...but I guess if I could afford that house, I coudl also afford a live in maid huh? *laugh*
    Nah...

    Besdies, I love YOUR home. It is warm and pretty and all sink shiny!
    I LOVE a shiny stainless sink! It glistens!! Ooh!

    Have a sweet week pretty lady.

    Love,
    Sue

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  21. Love the bed with the beautiful pillows. You've done a great job.

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  22. Everything looks so MARVELOUS! You are obviously have SOOOOOO much fun!

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.