Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Rugs, mirrors, shutters and more...

Hey Everyone...

things have been a little hectic around the new house this last week. Lot's of things going on, but not much that's interesting to share here on the blog. Cabinets were re-installed in the laundry, finished up the painting in the kitchen, painted the entire 3 car garage in one weekend (whew), carpet cleaning,...that kind of fun stuff...nothing very "pretty".




But I did want to share a quick couple of photos of the new Living Room rug "unrolled" temporarily, just to get an idea of how it will look. This is the 9x12 something. I also bought it in a smaller size for the Dining Room, and a runner for the main hallway. I spent lots of time searching the web for rugs, and found several that were contenders. I knew that it would be a pricey purchase, that's another reason I wanted to be sure of the colors. Trying to re pack this rug and return it would have been a real task. It's so heavy I can't even tug it around.





I wanted wool, and that's what these are. The quality is beautiful, and they are thick and look very well made. I found them on Overstock, which is a great source for rugs. I had originally wanted to go with a lighter color rug, but the more I thought about trying to match colors, fabrics and wall paint, the more paranoid I became. So this has a little of the neutrals, some grays, and some browns and gold along with the black. The black picks up the dark bronze metals, and I think the rug will "ground" the open space and pull it all together with the sofas and chairs. 


So, you know I have been complaining about the tv niches above the fireplace. This house is 10 years old, so it's right in they heyday of "lets make a cave above the fireplaces for our honkin' tvs to live". Yes, I've had a lot of angst over them to say the least. We discussed covering it up with sheetrock or cabinetry, but in the end I would only have had about 5 inches of mantel to decorate, as the mantel recesses in the middle. There would barely be room for a mirror or framed piece, let alone any seasonal decor or candles. It's hard to tell just how big this is, but I'm 5 foot even and the top of the mantel is several inches above my head.




A few weeks ago we found this Ethan Allen beveled mirror on consignment at Relics here in Springfield, and even though it's not what I envisioned, (all gilt and scrolly) I think it will compliment the larger wood finished pieces we will have going in here. Plus, it totally filled up the "hole" and has an arched piece on top that will match the shape of our tv armoire. We have it secured onto 2x4's attached to the back of the wall. I didn't want it sliding out if a door slammed, so I think it's pretty much there to stay for awhile. 



This week the old landscaping is being removed and the new is going in. I worked with our handy man/landscaper yesterday on placement of the shrubs, so hopefully it will get finished this week. The dead tree was cut down, so now we have to wait for the stump to be ground and a new maple put in.
The newly built shutters are up. (just what I wanted) They are bigger than the old ones by several inches, so they look more size appropriate. The door and shutters are Iron Mountain by Benjamin Moore. Love the color, it's just a nice charcoal gray. 


("before", with old shutters, shrubs, and green front door)




This isn't a good pic, but shows the color pretty well. It really picks up the grays of the brick. I'm super happy with how it turned out. So now I'm itching to get this done so some mums and pumpkins can be added. I've held off because of all the outside work being done, but I've about reached my limit of restraint in the Fall Decor Dept. I've been whiney each time I see a house with pumpkins on the porch. Poor Hubbs he just doesn't "get" my deepseated Fall Decor gene.




OK, that's about it for the update this week. Now that we can "officially" call it Fall, I hope you're having a great week and that you're enjoying all the fun of "Fallifying" your homes. I'll get there...

Be watching for a fun Give Away coming soon...

Joining in on these weekly parties:

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Show and Share at Coastal Charm
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

xoxo,

30 comments:

  1. I love seeing what you're up to, Debra! Your home is lovely and the rug and mirror are beautiful additions! Love the shutter color, too!

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  2. It's coming along beautifully. I love the shutters and door color.

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  3. Your rug is beautiful and I love the mirror in the mantel, looks great!

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  4. Debra,
    WoW!!!
    Love, LOVE, L O V E your choice of rug, dear friend!!!
    The hues blend "perfectly" with the wall color and accentuates your hardwood floors!!!
    I can only imagine how gorgeous all your furniture will be when placed atop this rug!!!
    A m a z i n g transformation already to the front of your home!!!
    Couldn't believe they hid that gray stone with all those overgrown shrubs!!!
    Stunning color on the new shutters & door!!!
    Vacation week. . .yea!!! I'll be visiting your lovely State!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  5. It looks great. I have been hunting for rugs and will have to check out overstock!

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  6. I think the mirror is a great addition to the niche. Solved that problem. Love the rug!

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  7. Thanks so much for visiting me on the blog today! I know your home will be just gorgeous, you have such a knack for making every room inviting, warm and cozy. Love the rug. I can't wait to see what happens in your front garden, we are almost ready to re do our front lawn and replace it with more water conserving plants. xo

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  8. Hi Debra... oooh, your rug is exquisite!... I love all of neutral colors in it along with the black... perfect!... and your mirror above the mantle... what a great idea!... you guys have been doing a lot of work, whew!... I know how you are itching to get those pumpkins and mums on that wonderful front porch and steps!... soon I hope you can!... xoxo... Julie Marie

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  9. I love your rug, It is gorgeous. Such a great idea adding that mirror to that alcove. My sister has what seem like a hundred of those things in her living room...dining room and foyer. It makes decorating kind of awkward. Way too many!! Have you considered placing sconces on each side of it? I was just trying envision that. Anyways just a thought. Oh yeah, and I love the bricks...they are gorgeous.

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  10. Your house is going to turn out so pretty Debra. I hope you are enjoying the process. It's overwhelming for sure but you are so good at it.

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  11. Outstanding choices, Debra. I love the area rug, and black based rugs always look so rich to me, esp against lighter walls like you have. The mirror looks great, I think. The scrolls you talk about are not noticeable - all I see is the arch and the perfect fit in the niche. And you know i love landscaping - can't wait to see that either. DOesn't it feel so good to get these foundational things accomplished?! I know you must be close to being on cloud 9 if not already there. Happy Fall!
    Rita

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  12. Debra,
    The house is coming along so nicely. Love the rug, and love the mirror. Your new shutters and front door in the grey are really pretty. I love it with your brick too. I cannot wait to see the living room with all your pretty new furniture in there.
    Kris

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  13. The rug (s) are gorgeous and so great that you have nice thick wool ones. The changes outside really add to your home. Love the charcoal colour, the new shutter size and how the accent brick is now more exposed. Don't over do it! I know what you mean about itching for outdoor Fall decor. I still have the front door to paint so I have been holding off on the porch decor.

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  14. Debra I have not visited in you in so long :-( .Well you know how blogging is,Wow your new home is gorgeous! Okay so now I need to scroll back a bit and find the post that you talked about why you moved.What fun a new canvas to decorate in! I am hoping to be in your shoes in a few years.One more move for me,but this time it's for good so everything will have to be the way we want it.UGH don't even tell me about TV's.I just shared my little....well it's not little.My big ugly secret in my family room...it's not pretty oh well.
    Okay off to read a few more posts,hope you are doing well.

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  15. Everything is coming along so nicely Debra...love the new rugs!!

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  16. It may not be the pretty part of fixing things up, Debra, but it is coming along wonderfully. Love the new rug and the shutters, too. You'll have pumpkins on your porch in no time it sounds like.

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  17. Debra, what a beautiful house! LOVE that rug!!!! The black will really anchor anything your put o it!!!! I love to see what you are up to!

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  18. The mirror is great and will reflect a lot of light in the room. But.....the rug.....is perfect....it will anchor whatever you decide to put on it!!! You are really moving along......get some rest......

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  19. I love your choice of rug Debra. I'm in the process of doing some of the same things in our new home and it can be so difficult. The new rug for my living room shipped yesterday so I'm crossing my fingers! Great choice of mirror for the niche and I love the new door color. That is also something I'm trying to decide on and I've been pinning painted doors. Thanks for keeping us up on your progress. I definitely look to your blog for style ideas. Take care of your health with all of that work you are doing dear lady.
    Blessings,
    Patti

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  20. Hi Debra, we don't know one another but I find it so fun to get to know someone via blog land. I have been having a wonderful time following you along your journey with your new home. To me there isn't much more satisfying than making a house a home, you are doing a lovely job with yours.
    Fondly,
    -Lisa

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  21. It's all coming together beautifully, I love it!

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  22. Neutrals are so stylish and I love that rug Debra. You have exquisite taste...x

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  23. Hi Debra,
    I can't wait to see your home all prettied up for fall because you decorate so exquisite! Nice home!!
    Blessings~

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  24. Hi Debra, you have a lot of moving excitement and activity going on. I have been away because Joe had surgery and now I am about to have surgery too (we are falling apart apparently). Love the rug-buying one online is a tad scary. xo, olive

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  25. It may not not be about "pretty" but I am enjoying seeing your new home transformed literally from the bottom up. It's interesting to see the whole process to really appreciate it!

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  26. The mirror looks definitely better than a tv above the fireplace!

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  27. The beautiful rug you chose will also act as a great anchor for your room. And I like your solution to the tv hole above the fireplace. The color of your outside shutters and door are just perfect, Debra! Sounds like things are moving along...of course, never as quickly as we'd like.
    Mary Alice

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  28. Love your rug Debra! And your shutters look wonderful, such a nice color. The mirror looks nice in your niche, maybe one day you can just have a piece of glass cut as a backer for it? It won't get in the way of anything you want to put on the mirror and you'll always have the light an reflection a mirror offers. Will look great for holidays when you have candles lit. Everything is looking wonderful!
    Maybe you and I can pull out all the stops next fall since we are missing the decorating this year! :)

    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  29. hi Debra, I love what you're doing to the new home. In fact, I put your link in my latest blog.
    hugs,
    Leslie

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