Pillow from Placemats!

While getting some spring cleaning done, I came up with a few projects to update the kids' bedrooms...

The first was for our oldest son's nautical theme bedroom.  I found these placemats on clearance at The Christmas Tree Shop (for 88 cents each!) I thought they would make a cute throw pillow.

I found a tan colored thread and sewed down the edges by hand.

The sewing machine would have been quicker, but I'm still a bit intimidated by it!

One side sewn...

After sewing three sides together, I stuffed it with batting and closed up the fourth side.

I also picked up a set of similar placemats with a crab on them that I may also make into a pillow.

AFTER

BEFORE

I have another super quick sewing project to share tomorrow, 

and later in the week a small project for the airplane room!

Our newest addition... a puppy!

The breaking news around here is that we've gotten a puppy!

He's a blue merle Australian Shepherd, and just the cutest ball of fluff.

He has beautiful blue eyes...

I'm looking forward to great photo ops this summer of the boys & their dog...

....as soon as we get through all this snow!

For now, we're all just snuggling up with him :)

Family Room Update

We've been so busy with finishing up the Media Room, that I neglected to mention the other new couch we bought... this one for the Family Room.

Then I realized that it's been quite a while since I've posted full room photos here (when I spruced up the built-in shelves, I never got around to taking a wide shot!)

So, I figured now's a good time for that...

From front left corner of room

From front right corner of room (behind the piano)

From back left corner of room (by back door)

The green loveseat & chair are on their way out... I'm just looking for the right thing to replace them.   I thought about getting the loveseat to match the new couch, but I'm going for more of a "lodge" look in here and I think that'll be to "matchy-matchy".  I'm leaning towards getting two chairs- but haven't found ones I LOVE yet.

From back right corner of room

The other update will be the coffee table.  While I love the storage that the leather ottoman-style table gives, it's too low for the new couch.  I plan to move this up to the media room (which will give us extra movie/game storage space up there) and get a new table in here.  Again, just haven't found the "right one" yet.

We're also thinking about getting a new rug in here.  The moss green one was from the old house, and while not terrible, I'm thinking we could get a larger & more impactful rug in here.  We'll see!

I remember thinking this room was just OK when we viewed the photos of it online during house hunting. Here's a photo that's similar to what we saw then...

It was taken from the foyer doorway, but the angle doesn't give a true feeling for the depth or width of the room.  When we actually toured the house and saw this room, we fell in love with it!

Just for the heck of it, I took a new picture from the same angle...

Anyways, we're going for a cozy look & feel (especially when the fire's going in the fireplace!)
There are little nooks in the corners of the room... so even if we're not all watching the same TV show, we all tend to hang out in here together.

The nearby radiator makes this seat
one of the warmest in the room!

Chair is on the way out, but is so comfy
for curling up to read at night.

Corner Cabinet & chaise lounge.
Not usually used for lounging...
more often is my laundry folding station!

The piano,
which doesn't get nearly enough use!

Quick Project- candle holder

A really quick project that I completed a while ago but never posted about...
I wanted to add more yellow accents in the family room, to go with the backs of the built in shelving.

Here's what I started with...

It was cute as is, but the off-white color just didn't pop.

Luckily, I had some yellow spray paint left over from making a big yellow sombrero for my son's Curious George party a few years back.


After a couple of light & even coats, we now have this...

It's sitting on the piano with a little votive candle in it.
It's a small little update, but a happy one :)

Media Room- Before & After

This room has come a LONG way!

Here are the Before & After photos...

From the Doorway:

From the Left Corner of the room: 

From the Right Corner of the room: 

There have been a bunch of posts as we've finished this space:

Before/Start of project

New Windows installed

Electric to do list and work done

Radiator re-installed

Ripping down attic hallway ceiling

Insulation
Drywall
White washing beams
moldings and more
Painting
Flooring
Under the Eaves
Window Safety
Curtains
Decor

As I mentioned earlier in the week, there are still some items up in the air:

Here it's set up with
"Vader-ade" & "Luke SkyWater"
for my son's Star Wars birthday party

-put mini fridge & microwave up here?  - We brough our wine fridge up here, since we weren't using it downstairs.  It's located in the right corner of the room (but can't be seen in the wide shot from the doorway because the couch is in the way)

-put the mini combo foosball/hockey/pool table up here, and maybe a desk for doing homework? - you can see we've added the foosball table (photos above).  Will have to see about a desk, since this is the same wall I thought we'd put it on.

-add a bookshelf or armoire?  I'd like to put some of the board games up here (the linen closet may also work well for this since it's right outside the door of this room).

-bring leather coffee table from downstairs living room up here? 

-Pull the couch out into the room a couple of feet (it would still be a good viewing distance from the TV), and put a console table and two bar stools behind the couch.  I think it would be perfect for the kids to sit back there while eating, or whatever.  We're debating this one!