I know many of you are waiting to see my progress in the powder room I am making over. It is coming along nicely, but doing the work myself and then writing about it in as close to real time as possible takes time. I will show you how far I have gotten in my next post.
Today I want to share some new decorating items that I have gotten recently. You know how I love to transform the forlorn, aged, and side of the road goodies that I find. I love the thrill of the hunt for these items. I also love the thrill of getting something brand new. Perfect without any DIY intervention needed.
I haven’t had any truly new decor in a while, but back in December I bought something big that I found on Overstock.com for a great price. We truly needed it… I bought it…
…a 9 x 12 seagrass rug for my family room. I have had bare wood here since the summer when we trashed the old and gross rug that we had for years.
I love this style of rug – it goes with everything. Since it is an area rug, if we end up moving – we can take it with us. I haven’t mentioned the word “moving” in a while, but it will most likely happen.
The white and glass square tray on the table is new, too. I bought it at Target.
I also bought a lamp at Home Goods for my bedroom.
I am going to be painting this dresser, but wanted to find a lamp first.
I have a thing for lamps. When Ed and I bought our first house after we were married, we furnished the house with hand-me-downs. Most were not my taste, but I was happy to have them until I could afford to buy something I loved.
The first brand new piece I bought for that first house was a blue lamp. I searched high and low for this lamp. It had to be only so high and just right for my vision of how I wanted the room to look. When I brought it home, I was elated. I dusted the table it was going to go on and carefully placed it on. I plugged it in and was so happy to see something I liked and that was of my own choosing in the room. I think I might have even danced a little jig, I was so happy. I went to get some books and decorative accessories to add to the table and then heard a loud crash!
I raced back to see what the noise was…it was my brand new lamp in pieces on the hardwood floor. If you have a cat then you know how it happened.
I cried and then cried even more. I was elated one minute and in shock the next. Ed saw how happy the lamp made me and insisted I go buy a new one. The lamp was like a badge of honor – a newlywed and all grown up and able to make my own choice kind of honor.
We had the blue lamp for many years. Since then I have had quite a few more lamps – most found at a thrift store or that were given to me.
I have been searching the aisles at HomeGoods for quite sometime now, knowing eventually the lamp I envisioned for my bedroom would show up on the shelves. It finally did.
The cat we have now thankfully does not go up on this dresser, so this new blue lamp hopefully will be hanging out for a while. The lamp is still so new that I have not even taken the price sticker off the bottom. Now that I have the lamp, I can choose the new color for the dresser. More on this project coming soon.
When Better Homes and Gardens came in January to photograph my house, they asked if I could get a large mirror to place on a wall to disguise the big TV. I searched everywhere and found one I liked at the third Home Goods I went to.
I don’t need it to hide the TV now, so I moved the mirror up to my bedroom to replace an old and pitted mirror that makes me look sick and wavy when I look in it.
I have had this old mirror for years and got used to the dark reflection. What an amazing change to see the new bright and clear reflection looking back at me. Since it is across the room from two windows, the room looks 10 times brighter now, too. It is hard to see the difference in the photo, but the original mirror has lots of what one would call an “aged patina”. A wonderful look in the right setting, but not for this room.
I few weeks ago I posted a photo of all the plants and greenery that the stylist bought for the photo shoot of my Christmas decor. Since then, the paper whites have faded but the cyclamen are thriving in the sunny window behind the banquette and these Goldcrest or Lemon Monterey Cypress seem pretty happy around the sunny area by the kitchen sink.
I used to have fake topiaries around the sink, but I moved them to the dining room. I posted how I made them in this post.
I love the color of this type of Cypress. They also have a distinct smell. One that you would recognize immediately. They smell like Lemon Pledge when you rub your fingers over them. On the “How to Care for the Plant” card it said that they could be kept small and in the cone shape if you trim them regularly. So far, so good. I do not have a green thumb, but the fact that they are by the sink is in their favor – a little nudge to remind me to water them.
So a little “new-ness” in my abode. The only thing negative about bringing in new items – you have to figure out what to do with the old. I think a yard sale is happening in my driveway this spring or many drop-offs at the thrift store will be in order.
I will always enjoy my trash-to-treasure finds, but getting something brand new does make my heart go pitter-patter, too.
Now it is back to sawing wood and painting the powder room for me. I have to run to Walmart to get my favorite caulk. I have my painting clothes on and have not taken a shower, plus no make-up or earrings. I feel naked without earrings! I hope I don’t run into anyone I know… of course I will…. If I looked my best – I would not run into anyone. Does this scenario happen to you, too?
Have a fabulous day!
Yvonne says
02/25/2014 at 4:05 pmI am convinced you are my sister from another mother. The only time I go anywhere without earrings is when I am going to workout. FYI, I have looked high and low for affordable miniature cypress trees. Wish I had a stylist coming to my house so he/she would bring them.
Charlotte says
02/21/2014 at 1:07 pmLove your lamp. I’ve always been big into lamps…..but I haven’t bought a new one in years. All of mine come from thrift stores. We have our house listed for sale and if we should be for fortunate as to sell this one, I will certainly be looking for new lamps for the new house. Love the mirror too and I love your blog.
Diane Henkler says
02/21/2014 at 5:00 pmThanks Charlotte – Some girls have of closets full of shoes, I have lamps :)
Donnamae says
02/21/2014 at 10:37 amLove your new lamp! If I go out of the house without earrings and make-up…I always run into some one I haven’t seen in years…never fails! Looking forward to seeing your powder room. Enjoy your day! ;)
Diane Henkler says
02/21/2014 at 5:04 pmHi Donnamae –
Luckily I did not run into anybody yesterday. I did get a stare from a teenager. He either thought I was really cool or really crazy as he was staring at the streaks of white paint I had inn my hair. :)
Sandy P says
02/21/2014 at 8:58 amI just got a new mirror from Kirklands. I had an old one of my Mom’s and the new one is much brighter.
I too have a thing for lamps. We have a local store that always seems to have very cute lamps at a great price. I have a hard time not to buy a new one every time I go in. I did get one to go below my new mirror. The old one was too short on the console under the mirror. It is amazing what one new little piece can do to life a room and your spirits!
Thanks for the posts and the great visuals!
Kim Ellen bailey says
02/21/2014 at 6:49 amGood morning! Loving your changes,and enjoyed “watching” the shoot. I have also been admiring on overstock, the identical rug that you purchased as a possibility for our living room.. Is it soft at all? And what is the backing? I have oak floors in a gunstock finish and don’t want to scratch them. But I will be hungry for texture in our living room. We are totally remodeling/repainting before we move in there. Wanted to say I love your blog! I practiced interior design for over 24 years in Louisiana and I am staging our now house for sale here in hot springs village ar. Moving from one golf course to another. It’s loads of fun !
Diane Henkler says
02/21/2014 at 5:14 pmHi Kim Ellen –
Life sounds good for you. Moving from one golf course to another – Ed would like to hang out with you. The rug is not soft, it has an uneven texture. We can walk over it in bare feet, I actually like the way it feels on my feet – like a massage. It does have a thin fabric backing with tiny rubber dots all over to hold it in place. I bought a no slip rug pad to use with it, but returned it as it was not necessary. After unrolling the rug, it did have some creases in it that took a few weeks to flatten. I am very happy with it.
debbie says
02/20/2014 at 11:46 pmI look forward to seeing your newly decorated BR. I know it will be pretty. I really like those cypress. Are they dwarf cypress so they will stay this size?
Diane Henkler says
02/21/2014 at 5:27 pmHi Debbie –
If planted outside, they could grow up to 16 feet. When planted inside, you need to prune them to keep them the size and shape you desire. They are native to California. I am not sure they would survive in my area if planted outside. Everything that I have read about them does state that they are a dwarf variety of cypress.
Jill says
02/20/2014 at 11:32 pmLove your new finds. Thank you so much for showing what a difference a new mirror makes. I am going to have to investigate the condition of ours. ;)
I am excited to see your bathroom progress. I am kind of stuck in my bathroom renovation. I know seeing how yours is going will give my lagging motivation a kick-start!
Jan '77 says
02/20/2014 at 9:03 pmDiane, one of these days we’re going to run into each other in the Montgomeryville Home Depot :-) I’ll be in my painting clothes with no makeup or earrings either. Love seeing all your creativity on the blog!
Diane Henkler says
02/21/2014 at 5:36 pmHi Jan –
I do go to that Home Depot when the Lowes in Hatfield doesn’t have what I need. I will keep my eye out for you my DIYing sister. :)
katie says
02/20/2014 at 2:39 pmI love how bright and airy your home is and love how BHG brought all sorts of greenery for the shoot! :)
Diane Henkler says
02/21/2014 at 5:49 pmHi Katie – Thanks The stylist said she always uses what the homeowner owns to use to style each photo, but always buys lots of flowers and greenery for every shoot to accent the furnishings. She came to my house the day before the shoot and we went out to my local nursery to buy them. I was eyeing the Lemon Cypress before Christmas, so I was happy to find that she loved them and wanted to use them. Now I just have to make sure I keep them healthy. XO
Princess Pindy says
02/20/2014 at 12:49 pmThank you for sharing. I bought that white tray too!! I waited until it went on clearance so could justify buying it, lol! I LOVE it!
Diane Henkler says
02/21/2014 at 5:52 pmIt got my attention the minute I saw it on one of the end caps. I would have loved getting it on clearance, but it was the only one left so I bought it. Still a deal, though.
Desaree Martin says
02/20/2014 at 12:43 pmI love all of your new finds. I almost got that white tray from Target after Christmas and now I am wishing I had. I love it.
Diane Henkler says
02/21/2014 at 5:55 pmHi Desaree –
When I see decorative items that I like, I can usually talk myself out of buying them, but this one was just perfect. I bought it as a Christmas present from me to me :) Have you looked at Target.com? It might still be available online.
Sheryll & Critters. says
02/20/2014 at 11:41 amI guess it is a good thing that I was limited, for you would have surely seen tear drops on the page……
Sheryll & Critters. says
02/20/2014 at 11:40 amOh my, oh my! I a so excited with you…….. and I love all your new stuffies. I would just have to….. I mean ‘have to’ put shells in that lamp. It is a driven thing with me….. ya know, living in Florida and all that rot.
And if you move, I will surely cry. I so love your house and all your changes to make it yours. I will try to be brave for you though. I mean I have only been loving and following you for (a few?) years now……… and I feel like your home is kind of like mine or what I would love for mine to be.