Dining Room Wall Art

I finally figured out a solution for my dining room art dilemma that I've been mulling over for some time now and am oh.so excited to share it with you today!

And can I just say that I am in L.O.V.E. Not the regular house love - like when you find a new area rug that fits just right {though I wish this would happen for me}, or a fabric you've been eyeing up for months goes on sale. Oh no. It's the can't-eat, can't-sleep, reach-for-the-stars, over the fence, World Series kind of stuff! It Takes Two anyone? Or does that show my age in a less than flattering way? No matter. I am pumped about my little project! Ain't nothing going to break my stride! *Better? Worse?

Do you remember what we started with? Here is a quick review. *Get the entire run down here.

Original

Progress

And this is what they look like now:

Comin' at you live!

If that is not a dramatic transformation I don't know what is! The entire room feels different when you walk in now. As if it is all coming together - a sense of cohesion.


The process itself was simple. But not instantaneous success.

First the flowers and leaves needed to be dried - done by placing between pieces of parchment paper and applying weight {I used books}. Between Meema and I, the plants were gathered, pressed, and ready to go in a week or so. Then after an hour of tinkering back and forth with different layouts they were ready to be fastened up and hung. Any stems that went outside the mat were taped to secure the placement. The rest were arranged on the glass, covered by the background paper {which was taped}, and sealed in with the back of the frame.

It is a combination of texture, colour, and simplicity that brings the entire space together.

I am especially delighted with the way the plant colours compliment the roman blinds flanking either side. The dark leaves bring out the hints of deep brown and the pale grey background is a near dead-on match with a grey that once blended in. Now the blinds and wall art work together to bring that space to life.

Even meal times feel different. They are that much more relaxing - either because this little DIY is off of the to-do list or the simple, natural feel has a zen quality.

Either way, I think we have made it to the World Series as far as house love goes!And what about you? Are you loving your house these days? Any spot or project in particular? Dish!

Chat soon.

Summer House Tour

Raise your hand if your home is well lived in!

I see those hands! Wow...that looks like most of you. And Im right there next to you in the crowd. Yeah thats me. The one in the filthy slippers. I forgot to switch them on my way out the door. C'est la vie!

This house of mine is not quite two years old and yet if the walls could speak I would be frightened of the tales. The combination of turbo dog, kids running and crawling a muck, and a bossy do-it-yourselfer results in a go-ahead, come-back type of situation. As soon as one project is done three more are added to the list. Then a jar of coffee gets dropped and cracks a tile. Tack that one on as well.

It quite literally will never end. Which is why I have decided to take this time and embrace the few spaces in my home that are on their way to decorating success. Do, however, keep in mind they all have a ways to go yet.

Main Entryway

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

Pantry

Laundry Room

Main Floor Bath

Finley's Room

I hope you enjoyed the tour! And if you ever want to do it again, and again, it will be easily located at the Our Home tab. *Do check back for updates! I for one love walking through my house online. It is much cleaner than the real thing. A lot less dog hair!

And if you are a regular around these parts you may have noticed a few changes we have made. Check back this week when I share those successful DIY projects.

Looking forward to a chat real soon.


Im sharing this at
The Shabby Creek Cottage Link Party

Frame Spruce Up

Is there anything in your home that just plain irks you? Something that has gone undone? Or a decorating dilemma you cant seem to muster up a solution for?

If you answered 'yes' to any of the questions above please read on. If not - well arn't you just the cats meow - this post may leave you wanting more. Do check back in tomorrow though!

My answer is 'yes' to all of the questions above actually. {I am clearly not the cats meow. Maybe the dogs bark??} There is always a plan or list rolling around in this coconut of mine. Always something to improve, purge, or rearrange. But then there are those times that I get stumped. The bigger picture, end result, grand scheme is not clear. I just keep walking by the space or item in frustration because there it is in all its ugly glory and the decorating corner in my brain goes all foggy.

Lately that headache inducing struggle is the wall decor in my home - specifically the dining room. Ill admit here and now that choosing wall decor is not my strength. I always seem to play it safe. Be all matchy matchy. And in the end nothing looks as I dreamed it would. *If I can even concoct a dream image to begin with.

So after months and months of staring at the four dull white frames hung between the windows in my dining room I decided I had to do something. ANY.thing!

Dining Room - Before

You see the problem? Our home is open concept which means my goal is to achieve flow between spaces while managing to create a distinct look for each. Which is why I originally went with the safe four white frames with a pop of colour in the maps. It did the trick until I fell in love with that grey and cream fabric and made those gorgeous roman blinds. {Officially tooting own horn on that one!} Now the frames and their maps stick out like a sore thumb - not in a good way.

My go to solution is paint. An easy way to give a facelift without major commitment. *Once again that word 'commitment' shows its ugly face. And if I change my mind down the road another coat of paint is all it takes. And the best news is that it will provide the same service to you too!

The maps will eventually need to go, but until a replacement is found to fill them that I love they will have to stay.{My simple decorating philosophy: Happiness with your home is achieved by filling it only with things you love. Feeling inspired?} But the white on white is not doing the trick. Paint the frames themselves, my other go to, or the mats for a little switch-a-roo? That is the question.

Previously Painted Frames

The living room art already has the painted frame look. So I opted for the mats this time.

My first attempt at a project is usually the most frugal. *One of the main reasons the common-law lets me get up to these shenanigans in the first place. But when the only grey paint in the house was a complete bust and not at all the colour I was going for it was essential to skip to plan B - Shopping. *One of the main reasons the common-law doesn't like me getting up to these shenanigans.

I behaved though. Picked up a sample size can of grey paint for $7 - remember we are in Canada and that is a steal - which was more than enough to do this little DIY. Then set to work. All you need is a roller, tray, newspaper, and the paint.

After doing one I panicked! This dark shade of grey is bold as far as I go. But I had chosen grey to bring the curtains to life and make them pop.

And pop they did! After all four were painted and hung the dining room came to life. The frames and art no longer blend in but actually add to the space.

It is amazing how much difference a coat of paint can do! Hopefully this spruce up will inspire change - a replacement for those maps in my home and a DIY in yours!

Happy painting!

Chat soon.