Before and Afters

So, what do you call 11:26 am?  It's not really morning.  It's not really afternoon.  I'll just say, "Good day to you."  Henry is in his room playing with his cars, being content in his pre-lunch, no-older-siblings-schedule.  I have been straitening the house because I have a couple of projects I'd like to work on this afternoon.  1) I can't "play" in a messy house.  Well, I guess I should say, "my messy house."  I could come to your house and if it were messy, it wouldn't bother me at all.  2) I feel guilty playing when there's work to be done.  It's a happy balance:  work in the morning =  play in the afternoon.  And sometimes work turns into play.  I love a good project.  Here are some before and after shots of our living space desk/library area and our master bedroom closet.  Keep in mind the before shots are taken with the before camera and the after shots are taken with the after camera.

Before:

Desk Library Area.  3 Bookshelves in a L-shaped pattern.  Before yellow wall color, too.  Crowded and dark.

Here is our messy closet "before".  We kept waiting for the money to do a "real" closet renovation, but the money never came and we got tired of looking at this mess and decided it was time to design on a dime.

I, first, have to share with you the inspiration for my living room design.  It's still a work in progress, but I have read/heard that you are so suppose to start with one focus piece you love and build on it.  I love this afghan from Pier One Imports.  However, it sheds and snags, so I have to keep it in a protected area on the back of the loveseat.  My opinion is that you shouldn't skimp on your "focus" piece, but it could be something as simple as borrowing a book you love from a friend and keeping it in the room you're designing until the process is done.  I blew my clothing budget for 1 &1/2 months on this but it really brought me into "focus" on the decorating direction I wanted to go.  My true inspiration for the area came from two other object that aren't present in the room right now:  1) The paper chain that hangs on our Christmas tree and a book about Chilhuly's works that isn't in the book budget right now. 

After:

New paint color on walls:  Wool Skein and Perfect Khaki

 

 

We love the craftsmen built-in look but can't afford the craftsmen built-in price.  I found these bookcases at IKEA.  The price for the three of them was what I paid for one of the old bookcases just 5 years prior.  I was able to re-purpose two of the tall cases in the boys room for toys and two cases in my closet for added storage.   A little brain power, some fresh paint, and my mad organizing skills and the closet is not my "dream closet" but a lot better without the buyers remorse.  Time for lunch.
smooch