Happy St. Patty's Day!

6 Weeks Left .. The Den

I spy a Christmas book - do you?




That is an old map of the Panama Canal ~ my birth place



These are from our Pearl Harbor trip ~ what a great time



By far this was the easiest room to clean but for goodness sake it took FORRREVVVERRR to dust *.*  I kept hollering at Mr. (who was in the other room) 'who's was the brainiac who came up with a whole wall unit .... oh yea that's me' -- all you heard was 'sorry honey' but the translation was more like 'I told you so' ... something that no wife likes to hear `.`

This room is my sweet Mr.'s office/music room ... which, like all the other rooms, isn't quite done. We still need to get an organizing system together - maybe something over the computer like a white board or a calendar - he is still getting the feel of the room but I think he might need a bill holder instead. I am going to see about getting a mirror or something reflective above his desk because we all know that you shouldn't have your back to the door and this room has 2. The desk Mr. and Prince built as part of Prince's bedroom set - I love the size but not the color ... trying to convince Mr. to re-stain it a darker color - only time will tell. The shelf units, green boxes on the shelves, wicker baskets, the beige box on top of the shelves and picture the frames are from Ikea --- my second favorite store in the whole wide world. I did see a tan and black faux leather chair (gosh I hope it's faux) at Ikea that would work great here but I am still debating on that.

This room is partly in the helpful people/travel and the career sections of the bagua. So it makes sense that I decorate the den mostly with the helpful people/travel elements. The colors here are black, grey and white and the element is metal. The little decorations are easy here ... picture of our travels, little nick nacks from those trips, pictures and momentos of family and the map. I didn't have anything really that I didn't really like or loved in this room ... well maybe except the old black stools and they will be going away when I find a chair that will work for Mr. when he plays his guitars.

The idea of this room is to bring the helpfulness and kindness of people - whether friends or strangers - you can add Angels or a picture of Jesus ... basically anything spiritual that you feel would help you bring kind strangers to assist you. Also if you use this room as your 'work office' then try to honor your mentors here - business cards or a picture of the two of you. This is the travel section so add posters or brochures of places you want to visit - then when you went change the poster to someplace else and hang the pictures of your travels. Or a world map and 'pin' where you have been. Try not to have too many bare walls - this would make  you feel like you have either no choice but to stay where you are or you have no dreams or aspirations. If you don't like to travel but say you rock climb - then find posters or pictures of places you want to go or have been. Or of a picture of your favorite mountain or scenic view. This room is very personal ... it is your dream room - fill it!





Of course my Girls would be front and center



little travel trinkets - tiki from Hawaii and hippo from San Diego
I remember listening to my mom's jewelry box as a kid
Prince 'painted' the little pot as a mother's day gift

my father's scent was old spice and inside I keep a few of his items
harmonica that Prince used to play
little treasure box that belongs to Mr.
farthest picture is of the kids

 




what the den looked like before ~ I LOVE the changes

 

7 Weeks Left ~ Living Room and Entry

living room ~ before



living room ~ before

mantel and entry ~ before

So far ... so good. The hardest part about cleaning these rooms is that fake palm in the corner. I really don't like dusting that darn thing but I love the look of having a plant there .. keep, donate, keep, donate .. the debate continues.  It's just a little messy, the night before I was finishing a cross-stitch project for Eldest Grandbaby, Husband likes to recline on the couches (since I won't get a recliner), shoes are under the coffee table and yes that is Santa (he just wasn't put back).


mantel favorites



Hi Henry ...



I love how the floors flow from one room to another




weird how the wall with the tv looks white
and it's the same color as the wall by the door *_*

Henry is so funny .. every time he hears the camera chime he starts running in front of the camera like he is trying to photo bomb and as you can tell he was successful =D  I know what you are going to ask ... where are all your wall pictures? Well I haven't developed them yet and I need two frames from Ikea. I have a photo collage that is going right over the couch, which will be so cool. By the front door I was thinking about doing a rustic worn piece of wood with hooks for a coat rack but I am also thinking of a small lap quilt would be nice there and be used on cool nights or maybe just a framed picture. By the door is this long side window and I want to make a macramé curtain to go there. Did you just laugh? What?


apartmenttherapy.com

I know it's not the 70s but I think it might be cool in a natural jute or twine color and no beads just knots. I even love the plant holders and if I get my way I would get rid of the fake plant in the corner and put a side table there and have a hanging plant. I am so in love with my floors, they took me forever to lay but I couldn't be happier with the way it looks. I love that it just flows from one room to the next without a break. It makes every room look bigger. BUT I do need to sweep almost every day. The wall that the tv and electric fireplace is on wasn't there .. do you remember it had the pass thru bar?

about 3 years ago .. white walls, carpet, maroon couches,
and pass thru are all gone  =D

Do you like my super cool chair? It's from Ikea .. I didn't get the matching footstool because I thought I didn't have enough room and now I am thinking I do. It would be handy to have another place for someone to sit. But I don't want to crowd that area so maybe I will make just a small one instead. Husband did a fantastic job framing the windows and he made the side shelves on each side of the fireplace .. he is so talented. I never ever get tired of walking thru this room. It is coming along nicely =D  My favorite little treasures in this room are:  the little side table by the chair was my Dad's, as is the wall clock (I have heard that chime almost my whole life), my electric fireplace isn't old but I love it and the pitcher with flowers in it by the chair is from my Husband's family (the base is in another room).

The elements in these two rooms combat each other .. the living room is fire (red) and the entry is water (black). Water douses fire and fire can't survive in water. I need to add more red in the living area .. too much black will douse any fire in the fame/recognition area (meaning all your hard work will go unnoticed and who wants that). Jazzing up the entry reminds you what you are working so hard for .. family and career. A pile of bills or an unwatered plant will remind you that you still have more work to do before you are able to unwind. Remember 'clutter clogs' all it does is block up the energy.

The next room will be the den/office .. this room is in between the travel and career area.