Weeks 5, 4, 3 & 2~ Master Bedroom/Bathroom (Also the Kitchen, Guest Bedroom/Bathroom - Whew!!

Sorry I haven't posted .... I've been super crazy busy at work, Mr. got knee surgery (just out patient but he was still laid up for recovery) and we have been watching the Baby Princess (funny I remember not sleeping much when my kids were born but I don't remember never sleeping LOL) ... which means nothing around the house has gotten done and now I am really in pinch.  And then above that I didn't even bother taking pictures *.* Super lame ... I know ... so I will post older pictures since we haven't renovated these rooms yet. I was cleaning the master bedroom and bathroom while Mr. tackled the kitchen and Prince took on the guest bathroom and bedroom. The info below is just on the two master rooms since those are the ones that I was doing and I will have to touch bases on the other two rooms some other time.

I kind of worked these two rooms in tandem ... when I was washing the curtains I was sorting under the counters and when I would spray down the shower and I would change out the laundry and by then the shower was ready to be scrubbed. I thoroughly cleaned every nook and cranny of the bathroom and boy did it need it. I had to get real with myself and toss out things I knew darn well I was never going to use. Which wasn't as painful as I thought it would be - I kept saying to myself that 'I can not make room for the new until I get rid of the unwanted' and that seemed to help ... actually it helped so much I tossed out a full kitchen sized trash bag of stuff! I didn't even know I had that much old or expired stuff. As I was cleaning these two rooms I made a conscience effort to really look at my décor and truly acknowledge what I was wanting to keep after we renovated. So into the donate pile went little wire baskets, votive holders, the curtains and even a large conch shell that I have had for soooooo long that I don't even remember how I got it. Seriously ... why would I buy something like that. Or is it one of those gifts that float between family members like a bread machine? Now the room looks like I just moved in but I can really start putting some effort into doing these rooms. The bedroom wasn't as bad and that is because I didn't even tackle the closet. I straightened up the piles of shoes and the unused purses -- I only use one at a time and the only reason I stop using a purse is because it has broken a strap, so I have no idea why I think I am one of those girls who changes purses with outfits because I am not and I am not too sure if I want to be. The closet will be revisited when we do the rooms because I want to get closet organizers and change out our gold trim sliding glass doors with something else - I was thinking curtains since the cat likes to sleep in there and is always getting locked in. Sorry Bobby ... Plus in Feng Shui the mirrored closet in front of the bed brings negative energy in the bedroom and I definitely DON'T want that!




this bathroom looks like I just moved in -- super bare



I love an organized linen closet



my night side table
the glasses are from our wedding
my absolutely favorite book

As for the Feng Shui of these rooms: the bathroom is in the helpful people/travel corner (element is metal and colors grey, white and black), the bedroom is in the love corner (element is earth and colors are pink, white and red) and in between those two rooms (which is half of each room) is the creativity/children section (element is metal and the color is white). This is A LOT of things going on in these two rooms and the color scheme isn't quite what I was wanting .. I was hoping for green/white or beige/white palette but maybe I can lean towards a grey color scheme instead.

Yea .. that just might work *smiles* As long as it isn't too modern - I might be able to live with it. I also am wanting to add some pictures of the Mr. and me in the bedroom and take out the kids' pictures since I am going to do a family wall in the living room above the couch (see the living room post). And maybe find a few photos from our vacations to add in the bathroom since that is in the travel section (see this post) .  We are still debating if we will add curtains and blinds or just blinds ... I think we might add the curtains - this room is south facing and not only does it get HOT but also BRIGHT! Great during the week days but not so much on week ends *giggles* If we get our way - in the bathroom we want to move the corner soaker 6 person tub - which never gets used - and get a normal size tub. Change out the cabinets - I am not sure if we will paint them or replace them. Remove the shower insert and put in white subway tiles - maybe with the grey pebble flooring. And I want the medicine cabinet removed and either replace our mirrors above the sinks with two medicine cabinets with black frames that we saw at Ikea or just frame those mirrors. Oh and frame around the windows like the rest of the house. Yup ... tons of plans for these two rooms. Can't wait to start =D

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.

Happy 300th Post!! 8 Weeks Left ~ Dining Room

Wow! 300 posts - it's just crazy how the time flies. I went thru some of my early posts and I can remember the moments I wrote them. Is that weird? I am just really happy that I get to share those moments with you. There are some types of posts I want to get back to ~ the beauty and recipe posts are my top ones and I still need to post the house remodel ~ I have the world's largest DIY/CRAFT list ever that I need to get started on and with any great luck I won't be in my 90s when I am done LOL

Ok, back to the task at hand .. the dining room.  This room wasn't too hideous, it just needed me to put my stuff back (and yes it is always me who is the pile maker) and clean up the hutch. Angel always has a great time when it comes down to his cage being cleaned since he gets to come out and fly around. About a year ago I started putting snails in the fish tank to see if the tank will stay cleaner and I do have to say that they (Eleanor and Rigby) did a fantastic job. And when they passed away I didn't know if I would replace them but I found that I had to clean the tank much more often so back to the pet store I went .. I got a grey/blue and a  yellow/orange, so their names are Jean Grey and Phoenix. LOL .. I can't help that I am such a spaz =D  ** Incase you were wondering about the fish .. the orange and white one is Two Tone and the orange with a black tip fin (which looks like a mohawk) is Magua from the Last of the Mohicans **  I usually have my stand-by creamy yellow table runner that I use but I think I am done with it .. the other side has a southwest design and now I am going for a clean relaxed grandma's farmhouse kind of look and so I think it needs to go, along with several napkin rings which I have never ever used and our outdoor place mats which have been rarely used. We are not those fancy people who do tablescapes .. I love the look but it just isn't in my nature to overly decorate the table with stuff so I need to let go of what I don't use. The tablecloth I got 2 years ago at Target and I really haven't had a chance to use it. Well wait that's not true, I've had several chances to use it but I like having nothing on my tables but a plant or candles, that I just haven't used it. This room houses tons of our little treasures: the antique phone belonged to my Husband's grandfather, the tea pot set belonged to my Husband's aunt and the Mola above the fish tank was my father's and we have had it since I was a child, the little quail stitch work was something I started the 1st year of our marriage and it took me about 4 years to complete (it's been a running joke in the family) and our hutch holds our china and silver which we use for Passover and have wonderful memories. Again the motto: IF I DON'T LOVE IT OR IF IT DOESN'T HOLD A SPECIAL MEMORY THEN IT NEEDS TO GO. Besides maybe perhaps someday getting a bigger fish tank and stand, I think this room is about as decorated as I want it. It's clean, simple and easy to maintain.

Both this room and the living room are in the 'fame' section .. so I need to think red, triangles and flames and all I can think of is natural, airy and bright. I do want to make a redwork table runner  .. I love redwork I think it is so beautiful and I really like it when it is used with a cream or tan background. So I will put that down on my project list .. I think that is project number 515 LOL

The next rooms are the living room and front entry.