Finished Office and Living Room - new paint

I think I am finally done with painting!  My downstairs rooms at least.  I'll just share all these AFTER pictures, if you want to see the rooms before you can read these posts about the green desk

or this one has some pictures of both rooms.  The color was not bad, but just beige, so I was ready for a change and it needed fresh paint as that was a flat paint that showed every little mark.

Here is my office, painted Behr Dark Ash on the top, and Benjamin Moore Simply White on the bottom below the chair rail.  I LOVE the way it turned out.

I found this color online and it has been on my pinterest board for a while (see this picture).

I keep craft and scrapbooking supplies in this dresser:

And the plastic drawers are not pretty but they don't look too bad on this shelf.

I got a few of these white frames from IKEA for $1.99 for a few favorite family pictures........

 With my Mum (I'm in the backpack) and one of my Dad when he was young.

and pictures of my grandparents....

I love the color against the white crown molding.

And this new white curtain rod (also from IKEA).  These curtains have moved around the house in a couple of different rooms but I think they look good in here.

And the living room got painted my favorite light gray - Valspar Seashell Gray.

I'm trying the chalkboard hanging vertical, I read somewhere that hanging things this way makes the ceilings seem higher, not sure if this is true, but I like it this way for now! 

I like Kate's little quote and artwork better than my 'tree' I had as a temporary filler.

and my globe "collection" (I guess 2 counts for a collection, right?)  The little one is a bank so it's actually in use to keep that spare change.

And my other bigger collection has moved back to the family room (this room is also painted Seashell gray)

I love it all in here and the blue-ish fiestaware looks good with my blue dresser.

Emmy is happy she can nap in peace without painting or furniture moving going on around her....

The knitted blanket I bought at a flea market / thrift store in New Zealand last year.

See the cute stool the lamp is on?  I bought it from a blog "friend" Pamela who lives close by.  If you haven't already visit her blog From My Front Porch to Yours.  She is very talented in furniture painting and decorating.

 The blue chest and pillows have also moved back here to co-ordinate with the other blues in the room

Have you been painting or moving furniture lately??

Painted Office

I painted my office yesterday:

More pictures to come later...........

I am on a roll (literally) for painting projects this summer.  So far I have done 2 bathrooms, utility room, upstairs hallway / kids playroom and stairway and the blue dresser.

I think I have only one or two more house projects to finish, other than that I'm getting things together for my classroom and cleaning and organizing closets.  We go to Goodwill to donate a few bags, but usually end up coming home with new treasures again too.

I LOVE summertime, getting things done around the house, and relaxing with the kids.

Green Summer

This year we are thankful to be having lots of rain which is keeping the yard green.  Last year we had no rain all summer and we lost our big oak tree.

I planted a few sunflower seeds in our little veggie garden and they popped up quickly.

We also have a pumpkin vine growing like a weed.  Last year I put out our pumpkin after Halloween and it self seeded.  We have already had one little pumpkin but our beagle Molly ate it!  Maybe we'll have some more by Halloween this year and not have to buy one.

Also have some flowers in pots in the front.

Including this hydrangea, I think this is the third time I've tried growing a hydrangea but the only time it has survived.  I thought by keeping it in a pot I will remember to water it.  So far so good.  It just had the first flower this week, it is a pretty pale pink.

Bold blue

Two years ago I bought an old dresser at a yard sale.  It has served well as a TV stand and we even took out the top 2 drawers for the cable box and DVD player (Chris drilled some holes in the back for the cords).  This week I was doing some other painting and I thought maybe that could use a fresh coat of paint too.  Just thinking of the paint colors I have already I thought maybe it would look good the same blue I just painted the kids bathroom cabinets.

Anyway, are you ready for a before and after picture?

Here is what it looked like BEFORE.  It was a cream color and the paint was pretty shabby and chipped.



And here it is AFTER:

Let me know what you think?.........   So far everyone in the family gives it a thumbs up.

Do you spy someone watching?

Emmy follows the sun

Here's the view to the other side of the family room /kitchen:

these little coasters I thought were so cute, found at Urban Outfitters last week:

 And also in the room the new blue pitchers that are a similar color to the dresser now......

One more time, here is the before and after:

Sharing at Treasure Hunt Thursday:

and the Before and After Party:

and

Piece of Work Wednesday