Design Challenge #2 Fran's Screened Porch

Hi everyone, meet Fran from Eleven-0-One.

Well, technically this isn't Fran, it's her great side porch.

So, this is Fran; isn't she a doll?

(Be sure to go visit Fran, she's super talented.

She paints wonderful French Script Signs,

and a chalk paint dresser re-do that will have you drooling!!)

She has this fabulous screened porch at her lovely home in Florida.

It's right off of her Living Room with two beautiful French doors,

one on either side of the fireplace.

Here are a few of Fran's thoughts on this makeover:

1. I've challenged myself to redecorate on a dime!
2. Painting furniture is definitely within my abilities so that is an option.
3. I want it to flow well from my living room and the accent colors there are red, gold and green.
4. I love the pots at Heaven's Walk and would like something similar in English and I'd like some low maintenance plants that won't cover up the pots. (Could use some advice on what plants take low light.)
5. I also make signs and although I paint lots of French signs to sell, I want to paint something with an old American style advertisement or a fun saying. I just haven't found the perfect one or a saying that I think reflects our personalities.
6. Need some lighting for evening ambiance. We need to replace the outdoor light (probably with a ceiling fan but it has to be small).

Fran has used text on her photos, I love this!

It really helps to head us in the direction that's desired.

A punch of color for the porch swing?

This is the back of the fireplace,

so her husband has nixed painting it.

She needs ideas of how to make this

"less of a yellow-orange huge expanse of brick"

And a concrete floor that takes a lot of abuse from the elements.

What about a rug?

She has great wicker pieces,

but questions about repainting and fabric for the cushions.

This is a fun project,

let's share some good advice to make this space

a comfortable inviting "room" to relax.

Comments are open to all!

Thanks so much, Fran, for sharing your

Design Challenge with us!

And if YOU would like to share a Design Challenge with us,

be sure and email me.

Please just make sure you label it as "Design Challenge" on the email.

I'm trying to keep everything separated so I don't lose anyone.

The response has been great,

but I'm always open to projects.

xxoo,

I'm still painting...

Here's the latest...

My recent Living Room makeover has been accomplished in stages.

The most recent "installment" has been to paint out the sofa table

 and then the two chairs flanking it.

I sort of thought I might be able to get away with not doing it...

but no.

It all needed to be white.

(Before)

These chairs took me forever to paint and distress.

all the little detail work was a booger trying to deal with!

They look much prettier in person,

the camera just isn't picking up on all the nuances they now have.

LOVE my sofa table now,

and it has been decluttered of all the family photos

for the time being.

sorry kids...

you know we love ya!

Then I could bring back my faux Staffordshire dogs.

These little barkers may have been "faux",

 but they still weren't cheap.

Thanks again for all the great ideas and advice for this to happen,

and speaking of which...

A fun new feature is in the works,

and I need your feedback.

I'll share Thursday afternoon with

Vintage Inspiration Friday!

I'm partying here this week:

links on the sidebar with buttons.

See you Thursday for

xoxo,

Pottery Barn bedding peek...

Just wanted to share with you

my new pillow shams and duvet cover

from Pottery Barn that arrived this week.

The bedroom doesn't get a lot of light so it's hard to take photos here,

plus the rest of the room isn't blog-worthy at the moment;

hence the tight "bed only" shots.

The quilt is one my mother-in-law made for us about 20 years ago.

She has stopped quilting, but I have many of her lovely,

meticulously quilted pieces that I treasure.

I'm totally in love with this pattern, Camilla,

and think it really adds a luxe touch to the room.

As you can see, Miss Wrigley thinks I bought it for her.

She thinks the bed is hers and sleeps between us every night,

just like a spoiled kid.

I was happily surprised with the wonderful quality of his set.

The linen is heavy and true to color.

I'll get some more photos of the rest of the space soon,

I'm making some grain sack pillows today.

That's more fun than cleaning the bedroom!

love ya,

In the mail...

The redecorating ninja is at it again,

this time not as much work to do,

just some long overdue new bedding.

I've been scouring the catalogs and online for what I think

could work with some of my existing pieces;

An heirloom white on white medallion quilt,

antique white shams, and a bed skirt that fits inside our sleigh bed.

I'm excited to get these pieces from Pottery Barn.

(new pillow shams and a duvet cover)

I've chosen the taupe "natural" in the foreground, below.

I don't know how accurate this color swatch is but it's close to our wall color.

Sort of a "camel, butterscotchy, caramel" color, by Benjamin Moore

Doesn't look this bright on the wall.

I haven't shown our master bedroom,

because we tend to be a little "techy" in there with my husband's

laptop and stock manuals.

But I'll do a one-day "put-away" when I get things together.

Hope it looks as good as I think it will.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

I'm still tweaking in the Living Room,

more of what I've done, this next week.

xoxo

Now, I'm feelin' it...

What a difference a week makes.

Last Tuesday I was not really feelin' the love for my Living Room.

Don't get me wrong...

I'm happy and grateful;

I just needed to lighten things up in the worst way.

I think we all know that blogging gives us an opportunity

to expand our decorating horizons.

In this last two years I've really come to love and appreciate

a more light and bright aesthetic.

I don't consider the love of "white" to be a trend.

To me it's a cleaner, calming, refreshing outlook on life.

So over this last year I've found myself wanting to, and accomplishing,

some changes that are bringing my home to where I actually am "in my head".

Now I LOVE  my monster mirror,

it doesn't jump out at you anymore.

Same for the fireplace surround.

I don't like the texture of the heat resistant paint,

but at least it's not the jarring brass that it was.

These were two big impact makeovers,

that really changed the look of the fireplace.

I still have some things I am working on in here,

but the overall "feel" of the space is getting there.

I was surprised at the number of you that didn't "share my vision"

 for my grandmother clock.

(hope ya still love me anyway)

It's a new, inexpensive, battery operated, lightweight, reproduction.

Yes, it was pretty...

and it suited my taste 10 years ago...

but not any longer.

I waited till last to paint it,

giving it every chance to make it work,

but each time I looked in that direction it was all I could see...

Big, dark, and too busy.

I used two different paints on it.

My Creamy White from Behr on the body

and a special mix that I used on the walls in the kitchen,

also Behr paint, for the accent color.

I highlighted the embellishments...

Then used my stain/wipe on poly glaze technique

(Minwax stain mixed with Minwax Wipe On Polyurethane)

Then distress sanding with my mouse.

I'm really happy with it!

Then this small occasional table got the paintbrush too.

After spray painting the brass lamps

the shades now work for me.

To the right of the fireplace

 I had this ladies writing desk that I bought about six years ago.

It had been painted black to cover up a lot of faults,

but it had to go white as well.

It has some pretty detail that you couldn't see before.

But my favorite transformation has to be my coffee table.

Each time I look at it I feel all warm and fuzzy.

Right now, I just have garage sale floral pillows on the sofas.

Here's the new fabric for my four new pillows 

 that I'm hoping to work on later this week.

We have to get back our large ladder from the kiddos

before I can work on the chandy and the top of the armoire.

There's no way to spray paint that massive fixture,

(or take it down to paint)

I'm not wanting to spend a thousand on a new one,

but I do have some ideas.

For now this sofa table, below, has missed the paintbrush.

It may get it later,

but for now I'm taking a breather.

I've learned something big in this last week.

If you've given something a lot of time and thought,

and you still want to make changes,

don't be paralyzed and do nothing.

Our gut intuition usually is on target.

I love the changes I've made.

Maybe they aren't everyone else's taste,

but I want to wake up everyday and enjoy my spaces.

I cannot thank you guys enough

 for all the encouragement and input you gave.

Like I said, I looked at things with fresh eyes,

and was really open to some things I just didn't think I could do...

But DID!!!!

So far I've been able to do this without breaking the bank.

I spent $18 at Lowes for the silk accent lamp shades.

and $77 for the Pierre Deux 4 yards of material and trim.

(This is no longer available on the website,

but when new, their fabric runs between  $90 and $125 a yard.)

(can we say bargain...?)

I had all the paint on hand

except the heat paint that was $5.00

I'm linking this to these great parties this week

(links on the buttons on the sidebar)

the Power of Paint Party

at Domestically Speaking

 

Okey, dokey friends,

see ya back here on Thursday afternoon for

when I'll be joining in on the

Where Blogger's Create Party. 

Hope you'll join in.

"anything vintage or vintage inspired"!

love ya bunches,